Survivor 42

***Survivor 42*** is the forty-second season of *Survivor*.

Adhering to the format of its predecessor, this season notably featured a greater degree of character development as its cast attempted to navigate the dangerous twists of *Survivor'*s new era. After a medical evacuation at the start of the season, the tribal phase saw two tribes succumb to infighting as the Taku Four emerged as the only unified bloc heading into the merge. Following a fairly straightforward early merge controlled by a supermajority alliance, Maryanne Oketch broke through as a pivotal player that dictated the endgame. In the end, Maryanne won in a 7-1-0 vote over Mike Turner and Romeo Escobar, becoming the second Black woman and second consecutive Canadian to become Sole Survivor.

## Contents

* 1Production
* 2Twists/Changes
* 3Castaways
* 4Season Summary
* 5Voting History
* 6Trivia
* 7References

## Production

Seasons 41 and 42 were slated for May 2020, but the outbreak of COVID-19 pushed the production and filming of both seasons a year later. Safety protocols and mobility practices used in *Survivor 41* were still enforced.

According to *Survivor 41* contestant Ricard Foyé, his cast had left for the airport the same day that the cast of *Survivor 42*, who had just finished their quarantine, arrived at Ponderosa.

Eventual *Survivor 43* castaway Lindsay Carmine was initially cast for this season, but was removed after testing positive for COVID-19.

Capitalizing on the fact that the cast had yet to see *Survivor 41*, production decided to keep most of the twists introduced in the previous season for *Survivor 42*. Another holdover from *Survivor 41* was the on-location after-show held directly following the conclusion of Final Tribal Council and the announcement of the Sole Survivor. Jeff Probst has expressed his preference for this after-show format, stating that it will be employed for all seasons in the foreseeable future.

For the first time since its introduction in *Survivor: Micronesia*, scenes at Ponderosa were not published for unknown reasons.

## Twists/Changes

* **Shortened Game:** As was the case in *Survivor 41*, the game lasted for 26 days, 13 days shorter than the standard 39. Like in the previous season, no food rations and limited camp supplies were given to the castaways and reward items won in challenges were scarce.
* **Tribe Division:** The 18 castaways were divided into 3 tribes of 6. No unifying theme was used in dividing the tribes.
* **Penalties for Losing Immunity Challenges:** The tribe that lost an Immunity Challenge was forced to surrender their flint to Jeff and could only win it back if they won the next Immunity Challenge.
* **Shot in the Dark:** By sacrificing one's vote at Tribal Council, a player in trouble may invoke this advantage for a chance to be immune from the vote. While the chance of a favorable outcome was slim, if successful, the play acted as if a Hidden Immunity Idol was played. In a change to its original mechanics in *41*, this power could be invoked until the final six.
* **Advantage Amulet:** Each player who performed the second leg of the first Reward Challenge had the choice of taking an Advantage Amulet for each of them. If all three amulets were used, they could collectively cast an Extra Vote. If two amulet holders were left, using them together would give them a Vote Steal. If only one active amulet remained, it could be used as a regular Hidden Immunity Idol. The amulets remained in play until there were six players left.
* **Beware Advantage:** Game advantages were hidden in packages labeled "Beware Advantage", the contents of which may only be obtained if its finder opened it and fulfilled its demands.
	+ **Hidden Immunity Idols:** Each camp had one idol, that if found, its finder had to utter a certain phrase before an Immunity Challenge, and if members of the other tribes respond with their own code phrases, all three idols will have power. Until then, the idols remained powerless and their finders without a vote at Tribal Council. Unlike in *41*, however, the idols had full power after the merge when the vote penalty ended. A regular Hidden Immunity Idol with no restrictions was also hidden after the merge.
	+ **Knowledge is Power:** At the Day 15 Reward Challenge, a Beware Advantage was hidden for the contestant sitting out to find. Upon opening the advantage, that contestant must then find the Knowledge is Power hidden at camp by sundown; failing which, they would lose their vote at the next Tribal Council. The advantage entitles a player to ask another castaway if they possess a Hidden Immunity Idol or an advantage at Tribal Council. If the target is indeed in possession of the demanded item, the asker may steal it from them; otherwise, the advantage becomes useless. In the event that the target had more than one advantage in their possession, it is up to them which advantage to give up and they do not need to reveal every advantage in their possession. This advantage can be played until there were six players left.
* **Journeys:** Castaways from different tribes were taken to another island where they were given a choice between protecting or risking their vote on their next visit to Tribal Council. If all of them chose "protect", they kept their votes. If all of them chose "risk", none of them were able to vote at their next Tribal Council. If there was a split decision, those who chose "protect" get to keep their vote, but those who chose "risk" obtained an **Extra Vote** which would remain playable until the final six.
* **Idol Nullifier:** On Day 8, an Idol Nullifier was introduced and hidden at the camp of the tribe that won the Reward Challenge. This advantage however went unaired.
* **Earn the Merge:** The 12 remaining survivors abandoned their tribe colors and competed in an Immunity Challenge in 2 teams of 5. The winning team earned individual immunity, a spot in the merge tribe and merge feast, and the power to choose which of the 2 unchosen players from the challenge will be joining them. The last player unpicked was sent to Exile Island until the next Immunity Challenge.
	+ **Hourglass:** The exiled castaway was presented with an hourglass. If the player wished to "reverse" the events of the challenge, they must break the hourglass, hence revoking the winning team's immunity. The exiled player and the members of the losing team were given individual immunity instead, while the members of the winning team were forced to compete in the individual Immunity Challenge.
* **Double Elimination:** On Day 17, the Kula Kula tribe was subjected to a Double Elimination, where the tribe was divided into two groups of five and two castaways were eliminated through two separate Tribal Councils. Following the Immunity Challenge, one group remained at the Kula Kula camp, while the other was sequestered at the old Taku camp for the afternoon.
* **Do or Die:** On Day 21, the first player to be eliminated from the Immunity Challenge was subjected to a game called "Do or Die", the mechanics of which were identical to the Monty Hall problem. At Tribal Council, the player had to select the box with the fire symbol to win individual immunity. If the chosen box contained a skull symbol instead, the player would be eliminated from the game with no official vote taking place and any advantage or Hidden Immunity Idols owned by the player cannot save them. The castaways were given the option to sit out of the Immunity Challenge if they did not want to take the risk.
* **Simplified Final Four Tribal Council**
* **Expanded Jury and Final Three:** The Final Tribal Council was held with a Final Three facing an eight-person jury.
* **Reformatted Final Tribal Council:** Instead of having each jury member speak individually, an open forum was held to ensure a more insightful rapport between the jury and finalists. The discussion was divided into three portions—"social", "physical", and "strategic".