Survivor Retrospective: Fiji

Rating: 4.5/10

Like most seasons dominated by a runaway victor, Fiji featured a generally insipid cast and little voting intrigue. But its victor didn't run away from the field until Final Tribal, as he battled neck-and-neck with a trusted ally and fellow hero for control throughout the competition. It was this ally's tragic fall that generated the season's only lasting memory.

The Moto tribe won the first eight challenges, several of which provided significant living advantages. But Gary was med-evaced and they opted to trade one of their immunities for comfort, muting their advantage at the Merge. Moto's sharpest player, Alex, recognized Dreamz and Cassandra would flip at the Merge, but was unable to convince his allies to oust them before they consolidated. Dreamz spearheaded a delicious backstabbing of Moto, creating some of the slackest jaws in Tribal Council history in the season's best episode. Alex persisted as long as he could before bowing out in seventh.

Earl served as Ravu's leader and its tour guide, simultaneously bonding the tribe while dissecting it strategically. He formed trusted alliances with Cassandra, Michelle and Moto's Dreamz. But his strongest bond was a feel-good alliance with Yau-Man. These were the season's only strong players - astute, hard-working, uncomplaining, strategic and honorable. They found the idol in the sand, then buried a fake one in its place. The payoff never came cause the rest of the cast was too lackadaisical to hunt for the idol.

With six players left Yau-Man won a truck in a reward challenge, then bartered it to Dreamz in exchange for a promise he'd give him immunity if he won it with four left. Dreamz immediately targeted Yau, who successfully used the idol to stave off elimination. He then won a do-or-die immunity with five left, sending Boo packing. Dreamz then outlasted Yau for what they learned was Final Immunity, with three players going to Final Tribal. He famously reneged on the bargain and Yau was voted out.

Dreamz of course then got zero votes at Final Tribal, as did resumé-less Cassandra for the first shutout in Survivor history. Earl, who'd never seen the show, never won immunity or had his name written down, gracefully rode into the Survivor sunset with the most immaculate record in its history.