Stephenie wins and returns to camp alone. Bobby Jon and Stephenie are forced to face off in a fire-making challenge-the first occurrence of such a twist. Ulong destroyed - As mentioned, the utter destruction of the Ulong tribe makes for compelling viewing, especially when it gets down to just two members. It also sees Angie Jakusz accidentally screaming, “We’re not going back to Immunity,” which, you know, turns out to be true in a way. It once again sees one of James’s premonitions failing to come to reality when Coby defeats him… twice.
The Sumo challenge - This is a classic pre-merge challenge with some funny moments. It’s a cruel and controversial twist that sees Wanda and Jonathan Libby take a premature exit. However, the next day, Jeff Probst announces a schoolyard pick, with the two unchosen castaways being instantly eliminated. Jonathan & Wanda - The opening to Palau is unique in that the castaways arrive at the same beach and are not initially broken into tribes. But Palau is a completely original season that offers something a little different from the usual Survivor template. And some of the show’s under-editing problems begin to creep in here. The opening twist of a pre-Tribal elimination, which deprives us of the eccentric Wanda Shirk, is highly questionable. Tom is called out for his hypocrisy by the jury, but his overall strength in challenges, camp life, and strategy, give him the victory over Katie, who, while perhaps underestimated for her gameplay, isn’t as respected by her tribemates. Heartbreaking because you sympathize with Ian, but also frustrating because it feels like he was guilt-tripped by Tom, who wasn’t exactly a saint himself when it came to lies and betrayals. It’s a memorable moment, one equally heartbreaking and frustrating. However, this isn’t a Richard Hatch move of deception this is Ian trying to make amends for betraying Tom and Katie, offering them his spot in the final in order to earn back their trust and friendship. The season culminates in one of the most dramatic final Immunity challenges ever when, after almost 12 hours atop a pole, Ian decides to give up, handing victory to Tom. Their relationship becomes strained over the season, as Ian finds himself pulled between friendships with Tom and Katie Gallagher, leading to some really compelling end-game back and forth. But there is a strong emotional tie to Tom & Ian’s journey too. They’re able to sniff out potential uprisings and plot counter-attacks against the likes of Coby Archa and Gregg Carey. Tom and Ian Rosenberger control the majority of the game as a duo, becoming fast friends and even better allies. Led by powerful firefighter Tom Westman, the Koror tribe purports values of respect and integrity, but under the surface are some cunning gameplayers. The dominant Koror tribe also features its fair share of intriguing characters and intricate gameplay. It’s not just Ulong’s downfall that makes the season, though. But it’s also uplifting to see the tribe’s perseverance, particularly from Stephenie, whose perspective we follow closely through the pre-merge. The fall of Ulong is, at times, humorous (James Miller’s failed gut predictions), sometimes frustrating, and definitely heartbreaking. It also creates a superb underdog story, particularly for fan-faves Bobby Jon Drinkard and Stephenie LaGrossa, the last two Ulong members who battle it out in a fire-making challenge to survive. While you might think the one-sided destruction could become boring, the fact it hadn’t happened before makes for fascinating viewing. I’m talking, of course, about the utter decimation of Ulong, the only tribe in Survivor history to lose every single Immunity challenge until whittled down to one lone member. But what makes Palau standout is its wholly unique story-a story unlike any other season that came before or after. As the last of the pre-Hidden Immunity Idol seasons, Palau has all the classic old school Survivor hallmarks with an interesting group of characters and some solid social gameplay. That is not an accusation that can be leveled at Survivor: Palau.
In Survivor, there are familiar tropes and gameplay methods that play out repeatedly, which can make certain seasons very same-y. For any show that has run for 40 seasons, especially a reality show, you’re bound to get seasons that blend into one another.
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