Season 27 of the Emmy award-winning reality competition Survivor sees the show return to the Philippines for its third straight season. Set this time on the northeastern island of Palaui in Cagayan, the 20 castaways feature former Survivor players who have returned to compete with – and ultimately against – their loved ones, in order to outwit, outplay, and outlast, for the title of Sole Survivor.
Palaui Island, Survivor’s new location, is also known as the 10th most beautiful beach in the world ( a list compiled by CNN). Visitors must trek through thorny grass and a mangrove forest to reach its “glorious white sands,” coral gardens and marine reserves.
The game starts with the 10 pairs sent out at sunset to 10 different locations on the island where they must live by themselves for the night. The next morning they congregate with host Jeff Probstwhere it is revealed that the returning players and their loved ones are not playing with one another, but rather against each other. The castaways are then split into two tribes, with the returning players making up the yellow Galang (Respect) tribe and the first-timers comprising the red Tadhana (Destiny) tribe. Relationships will be put on the line when mothers, daughters, brothers, spouses and partners vie against each other for the million dollar prize.
After being absent for three seasons, this season of Survivor will feature the return of Redemption Island, where castaways who have been eliminated from the game can seek redemption and return if they win a series of challenges. The twist this time around, however, is that loved ones will be given the option to “save” their partner on Redemption Island and switch places with them, thus allowing their loved one to immediately re-enter the game, or leave them in exile and continue to play the game themselves.
With twists abound at every corner, and the question of loyalty on everyone’s mind, this season of Survivor can’t help but raise the question: which is thicker – Blood or Water?
Survivor: Blood vs. Water premieres via satellite on JackTV on September 19, Thursday at 2PM with a primetime telecast at 9PM
VERY WANG 