Survivor: Blood vs Water

***Survivor: San Juan Del Sur***, also called ***Survivor: Blood vs Water***, is the fifth season of the reality show *Survivor*. It features returning players competing against their loved ones. The season brought in a new twist of Redemption Island.

## Production

Host Jeff Probst stated during the Africa Reunion that a game changing twist would be involved in*Survivor: Blood vs. Water*. Casting call was the same, and shortlist contestants included:

* Eliza Pancakes from Australia, who could not compete due to both her partner and her back-up partner being unable to play.
* Kyrie from Africa, who was asked to play with his mother, declined the offer to appear again.
* Jameson, originally from Borneo, who was asked to be compete alongside with his sister; the two had to back out due to Sister's pregnancy.

## Twist

* **Returning Players:** In mid-May Year 3, it was revealed that this season would feature returning players.
* **Blood vs. Water:** Players will be paired with a competing family member or loved one on the cast. Every castaway will be playing individually, so they will remain in the game even if their family member is voted out. This season, the pairs will be comprised of returning players and their loved ones, where the returnees would be put on Hunahpu, while all of their loved ones would be put on Coyopa.
* **Day Zero:** A day before the actual game starts, the 10 pairs will be sent out at sunset to 10 different locations to live by themselves for the night, under the notion that the pairs will be placed in the same tribe. They will then all meet up to be officially welcomed by host Jeff Probst and start the game the next morning.
* **Redemption Island:** Anyone voted out will be sent there and will then compete in a three-person duel. The last place finisher in each contest is out of the game for good, while the top two remain. However, if someone's loved one is on Redemption Island, they can take their loved one's place before a duel.
* **Hidden Immunity Idol:** The person who finishes first in each duel will also get to give a clue to the location of a Hidden Immunity Idol to any person from either tribe that they choose. If a castaway wins a game-returning duel, the castaway could also keep the clue for his or herself.

## Season Summary

Upon entering the season, the eleven pairs of loved ones were separated onto two tribes: Hunahpu (Returnees) and Coyopa (Loved Ones). Coyopa had a very rough start, losing four consecutive Immunity Challenges. While the tribe was initially dominated by the Coyopa Guys Alliance led by Brad. Dustin and Santiago was torn between allegiances to the men and a separate alliance with Isabella. After Brad verbally tussled with members of the other tribe after a challenge, Dustin and Santiago orchestrated Brad's ouster and blindsided him. With Thorne getting voted out next due to the fall out. On Day 8, Everyone was then informed that Redemption Island was in play, with the added twist that a player could take their partner's spot on Redemption Island. Shockingly, Dave decided to switch with his daughter Parvati, sending Dave to Redemption Island and sending Parvati to Hunahpu.

When the Hunahpu tribe eventually went to Tribal Council after finally losing at the fifth challenge, Alex spearheaded the elimination of Octavia in hopes to cause a set of easy vote-offs of the returnees whose loved-ones were already elimination.

After a tribe swap on Day 13, the women came into power on the new Coyopa, while Parvati was in the middle of the new Bacab tribe. While Will and Candy vied for control on the new Hunahpu.

At the merge, two factions emerged: The Hunahpu Alliance, led by Will, and a new Huyopa Allaince, now headed by Zara, with the couple of Alex and Isabella in the middle. While they prepared to side with Zara's alliance for the first post-merge Tribal Council, it was cancelled after Hayden was medically evacuated from the game; giving Jon and Jaclyn time to change their minds and side with Will's alliance to eliminate Parvati and Zara.

Will's fortune was not to last, and he was blindsided by Alex's own alliance, and with Loni's help (turning the alliance into the "Water Warriors"), they resumed picking off the remnants of Zara's alliance, with Thorne as the last outsider remaining. However, Thorne was spared as Dustin spearheaded Alex's elimination for going against his brother, leaving with a Hidden Immunity Idol in his pocket. While Thorne survived the next Tribal Council after winning immunity leading to Mei being voted out.

New sides formed as the game continued with Isabella, Dustin, Santiago on Coyopa and Loni, Liberty and Throne on Hunahpu side. But due to an idol played by Dustin, Liberty was the next to go being the last pair left in the game. Zara returned back into the game and sided with Thorne and Loni and being scared of rocks. Dustin switched his vote last minute sending home Santiago.

With Dustin being on the outs with everyone and with him losing the immunity challenge he was soon sent to the jury. With Isabella being the sole remainder of the Coyopa alliance, it was set to be a 3v1. But with winning the Final Immunity Challenge, Zara was the last player voted out of the game.

Ultimately, Thorne, Isabella, and Loni became the Final Three. At the Final Tribal Council, The jury eviscerated Thorne's character, while Isabella was questioned for having only made moves with others, primarily Alex. Loni was praised for making bold moves but was questioned due to having Liberty's support for as long as she did. However, Loni ultimately awarded the title of Sole Survivor with four votes to win, compared to Isabella
s three and Thorne's one.