Does Anyone Still Watch Survivor?

With the conclusion of the 24th season and 12th year of the reality television show Survivor, for the first time ever, the person who I was routing for walked away with the million dollar prize. 

I must say, my relationship with Survivor has been in flux. When the show first came out in the early years of the new millennium I was completely enthralled. I can remember specifically the horror of being in the sixth grade and having a school fine arts night on the same evening as the survivor finale and rushing home to see Richard walk away with the million. The first few years of Survivor I was an avid fan, then my interest started to dwindle. 

More recently, thanks to the invention of the PVR, I have been able to reconnect with Survivor. There is something so terribly appealing about reality television, especially when people are experiencing such extreme emotions under extreme conditions. Also, my interest in psychology gears me towards analyzing the different interactions and interpersonal relationships that exist when people are all trying to achieve one goal, being the ultimate survivor.

Last nights season finale offered an interesting twist on what I have seen of Survivor throughout the seasons, the most deserving person actually won! Kim, a bridal shop owner, dominated virtually all of the challenges as well as the social game. She intricately figured out a way to have five women left at the beginning of the finale episode, eliminating all of the men. 

Not only did Kim call all of the shots, and win the majority of the individual immunity challenges, she made the respectable decision to bring Chelsea and Sabrina to the final three. She could have taken an easy win by bringing two less likeable players, Alicia and Christina, but instead decided to fight like a competitor and win fair and square. A decision that most likely gained respect from a jury whom had all been burned by Kim in the past.

I was most pleased with the outcome of this season of Survivor because, unlike most reality television shows on the air, it showed women working together to achieve a goal. It seems all too common to watch any reality TV show where the women are absolutely evil to one another, which seems to only reinforce women in real life being cruel to other women. It was refreshing to see a little bit of good old fashioned girl power, and a deserving winner walking away with the cash!