Survivor: Panama

***Survivor: Panama*** is the third season of the reality show *Survivor: The Sims*. For the first time in the show's history, returning players were given another chance at winning the game. *Survivor: Thailand* contestants Michaela Thompson and Shamar Neal joined eighteen new players for this season. Stephanie Morales became the third Sole Survivor in a 5-3-2 jury vote over veteran player Michaela Thompson and new player Laura Goldsmith, marking the first time that a new player has defeated a returning player.

*Panama* was met with generally positive reception. Many viewers enjoyed the presence of Michaela and Shamar, as the fans felt the two of them left too soon on *Thailand*. Critics praised the new players as well, stating that they kept up with the returnees and had a high level of strategy from beginning to end.

## Production

Prior to casting this season, discussion between production had focused on having returning players come back and compete with new players. After seeing the fans' reception to Michaela Thompson and Shamar Neal's eliminations, they were asked to come back, both of which said yes. While Michaela and Shamar had been casted for this season in advance, the rest of the contestants were casted after the conclusion of *Survivor: Thailand*.

40 semi-finalists were chosen and flown out to Los Angeles for final interviews, where 18 new players were selected, forming an overall cast of 20.

## Twists/Changes

* **Returning Players:** Michaela Thompson and Shamar Neal from *Survivor: Thailand* returned for a second chance at winning the game.
* **One Returnee Per Tribe:** The two returning players were placed on opposing tribes at the beginning of the game.
* **Hidden Immunity Idol:** A Hidden Immunity Idol was hidden at each tribe's camp both pre and post-merge. As per previous seasons, idols are eligible for use until Day 36.
* **Legacy Advantage:** During the marooning, the legacy advantage was hidden on the ship. This advantage can only be used when there are 13 or 6 people remaining in the game, and it is played like the Hidden Immunity Idol, granting immunity to its user.
* **Tribe Expansion:** On Day 7, the 18 castaways were divided into three tribes of six. The Yeguada tribe, wearing red buffs, was introduced as part of the expansion.
* **One-Time Exile:** After the second tribe switch on Day 14, the castaway who did not draw a buff was sent to Exile Island.
	+ **Advantage Menu:** The exiled castaway was given the option of three advantages: a kit to design a fake Hidden Immunity Idol, a challenge advantage for their tribe, or an extra vote at Tribal Council.
* **Early Merge:** The tribes merged with 13 castaways remaining.
* **Final Three and Expanded Jury:** Instead of the typical Final Two facing the jury, the Final Three castaways will face a larger jury, made up of 10 previously voted out castaways.

## Castaways

### **Future appearances**

Adam Brower, Lexi Schulz, Stephanie Morales, and Woo Park all returned to compete on *Survivor: All-Stars*.

## Trivia

* *Panama* is the first season to feature 20 contestants.
* *Panama* is the first season to feature returning players (Michaela Thompson and Shamar Neal).
* *Panama* featured the earliest merge at the time of filming, on Day 18.
* *Panama* is the first season to merge with 13 contestants remaining, as well as with more than 10 contestants remaining.
* *Panama* is the first season to feature a ten-person jury, and a Final Three at the Final Tribal Council.
* *Panama* featured the first evacuations from the game.
* *Panama* is the first season to have a third tribe introduced pre-merge.
* *Panama* is the first season to feature two tribe switches pre-merge.
* The first appearance of Exile Island is on *Survivor: Panama*.
* This is the first season to have a Tribal Council cancelled.
* This is the first season filmed in North America, and in the Western Hemisphere.