Why ‘Survivor’ 47 Winner Wants to Ditch the Fire-Making Challenge
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for the Survivor Season 47 finale.]
The Survivor fire-making challenge has been determining the final three for several seasons now. Before it was introduced, tribal council voting is how players made into the final round (and oftentimes it was just two players pitching their cases to the juries). But the challenge has fans and players divided. We asked Survivor Season 47’s winner — a self-proclaimed Survivor superfan with encyclopedic knowledge of the CBS competition show’s history — what they think of the challenge that is loved by some fans and players and disliked by others.
The fire-making challenge takes place in the season finale and requires two players to compete against each other for the third spot in the final three. The two players are chosen by whoever wins the final immunity challenge. That winner gets to bring one player with them into the final three, and the remaining two have to build a fire high and hot enough to burn through a string of twine suspended above their station. When the twine snaps, a small flag raises, and the losing player joins the jury.
This heated event is seen as an equalizer by some fans. With it, the immunity winner can potentially send the season’s biggest threat to compete in an elimination challenge where there’s a 50-50 chance they’ll lose. If they couldn’t send them home through votes, this is an appealing option. But then there’s the argument that if you weren’t a strong enough player to get a major threat voted out, do you deserve to win the $1 million? It would also benefit this strong player, who could save their skin in the game by winning the fire challenge and thus preventing the majority from voting them out. And then there are people who think that if you didn’t bother to learn how to make fire for a show with survivalist elements, you don’t deserve to win it all. As Jeff Probst says, “Fire represents your life in this game.” Fire-making challenges are also used as a tiebreaker in tribal councils when needed, but it’s a rare occurrence.
Season 47 winner Rachel LaMont is of the belief that Survivor isn’t about surviving the elements but rather a game of social politics. As she explains it to TV Insider, Survivor “is about voting people out,” so she feels the final three should be determined by voting. Rachel won the final immunity challenge in the December 18 finale, and she brought Sue Smey with her into the final three, leaving Sam Phalen and Teeny Chirichillo to make fire. Teeny looked like she was winning for a long time, and then a big gust of wind redirected her blaze just as Sam was catching up. Sam ended up winning, and some fans on social media noted that the challenge isn’t as fair as the format implies.
CBS
“At what point do we stop calling this a Fire-making challenge? Congrats to Sam but Teeny objectively had fire before him lol like there was an inferno. That was a fire,” one fan tweeted. “A million dollars should not come down to literally which way the wind blows.”
LaMont’s game wasn’t ended by fire, but she’s still not the challenge’s biggest fan. “I don’t love fire because I think that at this phase in Survivor, probably half the time we’d end up in a two-two [split vote] anyway [in the final four] and go to fire [as a tiebreaker],” she says. “So I don’t understand why we just can’t have a normal vote.”
She continues: “I get the idea of letting perhaps the favorite, like a Jesse [Lopez, a fan-favorite to win in Survivor 43 who lost the fire challenge] have a shot when everyone’s going to overwhelmingly vote them out. Or if I had lost that immunity, they would’ve overwhelmingly voted me out. And to be able to redeem myself in fire would be cool. But I think that the game is about voting people out, and that is a very crucial vote at the very end of the game.”
If they had gotten to vote in the Season 47 finale, LaMont confidently believes that she, Sue, and Teeny “would’ve voted Sam out.” That would’ve made her less “intimidated” by his strong jury pitch, but that still made for good TV in the end and LaMont still walked away victorious.
Making fire instead of voting in the final four “does change the dynamic,” LaMont says, but “you play the game that’s presented before you. We have fire-making, and that’s part of it. And so we anticipate fire-making and we plan around it, but it’s not my favorite.”
What do you think about this challenge? Do you want Survivor to return to voting in the finale? Let us know in the comments below.
Survivor, Season 48 Premiere, Wednesday, February 26, 8/7c, CBS
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Comments are closed on this story.
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R
I say bring it back to final 2. Usually a third person never gets votes anyway.
62 1
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C
It's not about the third person getting a vote but rather the second person being a an actual contender to win.
7 1
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O
Yes!
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C
The problem is social politics is what Survivor has become...thats not what it was. It has become a boring repetitive show. Bring in the nerds, social outcasts and underdogs and sprinkle in a couple strong people. Let's watch them bloom and find themselves. TIRED. Let's see real Survivor. No flint. They dont even come to the show with survival skills anymore. Give me a show with a bunch of Ozzys and Stephanie's. All the strong people get voted out now. Fiji is boring too. If the show plans on continuing it needs to go back to its roots.
45
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G
Its to much about what people wont be offended by. Not every walk of life needs to be represented. It needs to be people who are entertaining, strong enough to survive the challenges (aka have to be able to swim!) Different walks of life sure but the BEST of them. Im native american I promise I wont cry if im not represented lol. Yes to going back to people like ozzy, rupert rob,coach even! Versions of them! Characters! Its sooo boring watching people quit because they miss their husbands, have zero skills to do anything at all etc. and COME IN GUYS ISNT OFFENSIVE AGHHH! I'm done lol
23 1
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G
I want to go back to only two people at final tribal council.
47 4
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G
I would have to verify but since 3 people there has been none or very few that all 3 got votes.
12
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O
5 votes in 30 seasons. Always just 1.
Laurel Johnson broke a 5 to 5 tie in season 36
Only reason to have the 3rd
Probably should have been on jury anyway
1
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C
It's not about the third person getting a vote but rather the second person being a an actual contender to win.
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G
I love the fire making challenge. I think it is one of the most suspenseful parts of the entire season. My heart races. For those of you who say it isn't fair, one could argue that there are a lot of things about Survivor that aren't fair. Like, some people aren't as good at lying but, lying can certainly give a contestant an edge. How many necklaces did Rachel win because she was really good at puzzles? How is that "fair"? Is it fair that Rachel helped Teeney practice fire making but not Sam? Haha, it didn't matter anyway! Survivor isn't a game of fairness. It's outwit, outplay, outlast . . . or something like that. And sometimes it isn't fair. Sometimes it is luck. 😁 Please! Keep the fire making challenge!
44 6
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G
I agree - keep the fire challenge. I was shouting at the tv in the excitement!
14 3
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O
Me too!
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B
I always thought the challenges where they have to stand on a narrow raised plank was unfair because women have smaller feet than men so therefore easier to stay balanced on the narrow plank. Eventually the challenges even out. Some easier from men, some easier for women.
12
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C
I agree. Kep the fire making challenge.
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O
Keep the challenge, as for this season Teenie could have stood up and used her body to shield the wind
39 3
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G
If they keep it they should have the 3 without immunity do the fire building. And either just 1 moves forward or two.
36 3
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G
Right all three battle for a 1v1 final
12 1
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C
I want only 2 people in the finale but 1 needs to get there through the fire challenge. Too exciting to get rid of it.
24 3
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O
I like how the current format is. If you make the final four, it's still anyone's game. A player still has a chance. It's funny that Rachel thinks that they should get rid of the fire making challenge for the final spot, because I really believe that if Teeny or Sam won the final immunity challenge they would've had Sue and Rachel competing in the fire challenge. As far as the way that Teeny lost the fire challenge, oh well, get over it. How many times does a player lose a challenge by a second, or their stack falls at the wrong time, or in Wendell's case he does yell out that he's done loud enough.
19 1
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G
Go back to two finalists. The third person rarely gets any votes at all.
16
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B
The only reason that they created the fire making challenge, I believe, is because they wanted Ben (Season 35), to be in the finale, and he wouldn't have had a chance to be in it otherwise. I feel like he was production favorite, and it was a ploy to get him in.
18 2
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O
Here is the thing Rachel. Fire making is a challenge event, the winner is basically getting immunity. This is what the game is all about. This leaves the loser as the only person that could receive votes to be ousted. It also goes deeper than just a challenge. Being stranded on an island would require fire as a skill to stay alive. What better way than to showcase this for the 3rd spot. My vote is to keep it!!
10 1
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P
My opinion is keep fire making . If by end of game you can't make fire . Too Bad. See you .
6 1
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G
That would make sense if that's what it came down to. But it didn't, both made fire unfortunately for Teeny the wind took her fire. I like the fire challenge but there should be a windbreak of some sort to make it fair for both players
10
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G
SURVIVOR isnt survivor anymore! changing clothes all the time earings shoes! what happened to wearing whatever you brought? and starving? never see them in a storm! its not a popularity contest and not a place to speak your politics, your sexual preferences political correctness! you come to play the game! lets go back to the olden days!
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B
Teeney was a fave of mine until about the last 3 episodes or so and her attitude charged. Then on the finale she said a bunch of unnecessary essay and mean things about Sam who took the high road. The winds were Divine when they made fire and justice was served.
2
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C
Fine for the fire challenge to continue bit at least protect the players on 3 sides from the wind or completely. Then it's more fair.
2
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P
Bring back voting. Final 2 only.
4 2
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P
Anyone know if the person closer to Jeff usually wins the fire? Is the wind coming from the person further out ... just need to pick the right spot and fight for it
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G
Normally I don't comment.
Here is my thought. When every fire challengehappens there is always more wind on the far side. If you're lucky enough to get in the middle of the one side and Jeff, your chances are much better. Have a fire challenge that is fair.
1
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C
Nobody deserves the tidal but Rachel. But with all the drama in the game, I like the final votes to come down to three with a 250,000 up for grabs to a strong second place person by votes. If you decide to get rid of fire, However a week player that gets dragged to the end doesn't deserve anything they should only be considered if they won challenges or made moves in the game not because they like them. Although Sue was a loyal and likable person Sam played a little better game.
1
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C
I think the contestants should not go through others personal stuff. I think that’s a bit under handed. Possibly illegal.
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P
You have to factor in the wind and set-up your fire in the best spot. If Teeny did that, she would have made final three.
She also could have got up, walked around the other side, grabbed a few sticks and pushed her fire over to where it needed to be.
1
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O
I think after 50 I'm done with survivor. Too many idols, too many advantages, too much whining. Bring back no idols or advantages (and don't tell contestants!) go back to 39 days, limit food and food rewards, more physical challenges and fewer puzzles.
1
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G
That may be a great idea... then maybe Rachel wouldn't be complaining that "it's not a game about surviving the elements." They are spending so much LESS time out there than the players from back in the day. And YES, if there weren't so MANY puzzles, Rachel wouldn't have won 4 immunity challenges. I could be mistaken, but in the challenges she won, wasn't she behind at least one other person before reaching the puzzle at the end??? I'm thinking that was a set-up by the challenge makers to get her to the finale as even Sam with his headway on the final challenge couldn't beat her on that puzzle.
13 3
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G
I definitely think Teeny was cheated by the wind in her fire challenge. So, therefore, I think the final three should come to a vote at 4 players left .. I am a huge fan and have not missed a season since it began ..I love this show above all else...
2 1
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J
Keep the fire making challenge, at least it gives those two a chance to be the third member of the final three. I think the voting doesn't give that third member of the final four a chance because they want to vote he or she out so they don't have to be intimidated by a good or better player in front of the jury.
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R
I believe they use a fan to blow the fire off of the person that survivor wants to loose and seat them according
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B
Yes they should be voting and not let a fire making thing come down to someone having a shot at a million dollars. Like it's JUST NOT FAIR... the wind and nervous of the situation, if just not Right..Vote them out... if should be as it was always done. Love ya Jeff, Still look bloody Hot. GOD BLESS YOU. Yes I'm old school Survivor watcher. Like the show still BUT LOVE THE OLD WAY. They were the best, Come back Rob for season 50 It will up the Ratings. Ha-ha. Can't wait for that one.. 50 seasons WOW Has time gone fast.xx
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O
I'd like to see it come down to just two players at the end. The third person never seems to get votes anyway, and it wasted valuable viewing time.
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C
Keep the fire challenge! Love the anticipation of who wins it!
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O
The best players rarely win anymore because they're deemed threats and voted out. Rachel lucked into her win with Sol's gift and numerous puzzle challenges. Sam played a far better game being at the bottom and having to constantly crawl and scratch his way to the next vote. The very definition of a survivor. Rachel playing her idol at her "funeral" was epic, but that's all she did.
As for the fire challenge, I agree that 3 is too many at the end. How many times has the 3rd person gotten zero votes? Lots. And how many times has there been 3 potential winners? Zero?
And had Teeny won fire there would have been 2 goats out of the 3 finalists. Neither Teeny nor Sue did anything all season. Teeny admitted she had no clue what was happening all season, yet she's almost in the finals?!?!? How does that make sense???
A true finals should have been Rachel, Sam and Genevieve. Then ANY one of them could have won. Andy deserved to win more than Rachel. He had some brilliant game play.
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O
I think it's not fair. Teeny should have won the fire making. Apparently Sam was in a better location and his fire was shielded better from the wind. That's all it was. He was at an advantage, shielded from the wind.
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O
She could have moved to use her body to block the wind.
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B
I quit watching before the 10-12 issue, when it started being social politics. It got very boring.
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O
It’s an interesting idea to eliminate the fire-making challenge! I also think revisiting some of the early Survivor concepts could be a refreshing change, like returning to a final 2 instead of a final 3, where the finalists must fully argue their case to be crowned the ultimate survivor. Additionally, limiting immediate access to food would better showcase the hard work it takes to survive around camp.
It could also be fun to shake things up with the timing of the merge and jury formation—maybe reduce the jury to just 5 members? Or introduce a hidden idol with the unique power to block a jury member’s vote! Regardless, I absolutely LOVE Survivor and enjoy seeing new twists keep it exciting!
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R
Leave it as is. Rachael is just ticked because she didn’t want Sam in the finale
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O
Teeny was clearly a better fire maker but lost to the wind. Keep the fire making but put them in a closed area out of the wind.
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B
Continue the fire challenge
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J
Let the jury vote out the 4th player instead of a fire challenge.
AND LET'S SEE SOME TRUE UNDERDOGS! I'm tired of the same cast members. The models, doctors, lawyers and people who already have money! I want to see goat farmers, alligator hunters, a waitress, people who REALLY NEED THE MONEY 💰 GIVE US FANS SOME PEOPLE TO TRULY ROOT FOR!
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O
I dont like it, because if the wind turn to a different direction you can't control and therfore they lose
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C
I think all of them should have to make fire n first 3 to get it should then pitch their reasons to the jury... for God sakes ur on survivor. N a big part of surviving n real life when stranded on an island is fire... so they should know how to make fire. Hate seeing people when who can't even do that. Pretty much I honestly think survivor is getting progressively worse.. every season since season 40 just sucks..
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O
I agree, he didn't win she did..Either put them in a wind free shelter or go back to voiting. Im very disappointed with this years outcome. Love to watch but this may be my last show.
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B
Keep the fire
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O
I think it shouldn't be any fire,n as I am on here I think the 39days should come back it should be like it use to be I don't like the way it is now to me we r being cheated I stopped watching it alot of us did we use to have surviver parties 🎉 🎉 now it's boringi have watch all season up to the ones over 40 I think alot of people will stop watching.
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O
Sorry watched all except the ones that ended at 40
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G
Sucks that Teeny lost because of the wind blowing at the wrong time. Made the whole thing look fixed.
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P
I think it has gotten a little boring. Too many complaints. Fewer days. And REAL players who know what to expect and want to play. Boy I really miss Ozzy. 2 times I wanted him to win but no he didn’t stand a chance because they were all afraid of him. Instead of being afraid why don’t you try playing your own game & prove yourself? Ozzy was 1 of the best male players ever.
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B
So Rachel wanted to win unanimously rather than lose a vote to Sam. Firemaking is fun for the viewer, keep it.
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O
It should just be 2 in the final. 3 is just a waste.
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P
Final two I liked better. Been watching since the first episode and didn’t like it when they switched to 3 finalists
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O
Stop final 3 and make it final 2. One person never gets votes.
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R
I think they should keep it but the final 3 without immunity should have to do it. Not just 2 of the players. Its called Survivor and part of fire making is an important part of the game - not just the social aspect. THEN have either the last 2 or last 3 go to final vote. If you don't have immunity you should have to earn your way to the final vote.
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G
I dont agree with Rachel at all. Wind or not the outcome is what it is!! There are many challenges the players face throughout the entire game where wind sets in and even Jeff acknowleges this at the time. It can be a game changer at any point. Survivor is challenging. Wind can cause a player to be out of the game at any point.
I personally love fire alimination!!! So exciting.
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R
It simple, have the fire challenge where the wind can't blow your fire away from going straight up. Otherwise Teeney would have definitely beat Sam who couldn't even get his fire going in the beginning BLOCK THE WIND if you want the challenge to be fair!!
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O
I think you should do away with it. I wasn't a fan of teeny but I saw it is unfair she had it burning way before sam it kept hitting her rope but the wind took her out not her ability so I saw it as very unfair to her.
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P
Stick with the fire making challenge. Rachel just wanted Sam gone thats why she chose voting as her other option.
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O
Keep the fire challenge.
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R
Ya make it even easier for the weak people to win. That will make the show better.
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C
Vote. / not fire
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R
Vote - no fire- it wasn't fair for Teeny
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O
I think they should go back to the vote I mean Teeny had it till that gust of wind came in maybe have then sitting where the wind can't hinder them I think they should have started over I don't believe it was fair just my opinion
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B
Keep the fire challenge. Have less beefing and time in camp and more challenges.
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K
I agree that the fire challenge should go. Recently it didn't come down to skill, but chance and luck. Unless they can set it up that the weather doesn't play a factor, find something to replace it
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O
WTF does she care??? She got her money and 15 minutes, now move on. She was kind of boring anyway, just like this post.
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G
I think it should be a vote not a making a fire challenge.
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G
I dont think they should be allowed to choose who they want to bring to the end. Rachael chose Sue because she knew she could beat her. She helped Teeny with fire because she knew she could beat her. She didnt know she could beat Sam. I was good with Rachael or Sam winning. Would have been another wasted year if sue or teeny won honestly. The firemaking challenge serves its purpose but realistically it should be brought down to 2 at the end again not 3. The third never gets votes its embarrassing. Go back to 2 finalists. But everyone should be required to know how to make fire to be on Survivor. Its embarrassing to watch them flail at that also 😐
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P
Return to voting>
Fire building is not a fair factor …dealing with whimsy of …wind is like flipping a coin!
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B
Who was standing off camera with the fan blowing on Teeny?
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O
I think that teenys body blocked the wind allowing Sam’s fire to over take her blaze. In addition Sam was loading handfuls of kindling while Teeney was loading piece by piece. Making A big mistake.
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O
I think the finale should ditch the fire making challenge, and bring it down to two players before the jury, like in the early days. They should also have an odd number of jurors so that a tie is not possible in voting for a winner.
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P
Love the fire challenge. Brings the X factor into play.
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G
They used to provide rice and they should go back to that. It seems unhealthy to make people starve like that and have issues down the road. I get it . It's survivor. Go back to how it was in the beginning
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G
I think they should either have a final challenge or a final vote. I don't think your fate should be determined by making fire.
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C
Season 47 fire making was an obvious unfair event as Teenys flame multiple times was significantly blown away by wind gust and Sam's was not right at the crucial moment, but by that point it was clearly Rachel's win anyway, I think though unfair advantage should be reevaluated.
1 1
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C
It was very clear that the wind was blowing coming from the right side.
She actually blocked the wind from Sam.
But she was told to pick a seat
Sould have picked the other seat.
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O
Fire making challenge
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G
Keep the fire event. Would Rachel say this if Sam had not been in final 4? She wanted Sue and Teeny in final vote to guarantee her win. Sam was the only possible threat.
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O
Just think, if Rachel didn’t have immunity she wouldn’t have said any of this.
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G
I’m ok with fire or voting but I feel like Teeny had a disadvantage due to the wind.
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G
Bring it to 2
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C
So where trying to take out what can happen wind ok now let's not compete in big waves
It's all part of the game leave it alone
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C
She won, but is complaining 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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B
Fire building is exciting to watch but should be on a level playing field with no wind - Teeny would have won
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O
I think they should keep the fire challenge, because fire is life of the game, BUT they should draw rocks as to where they sit in which spot. They do it for all the challenges. This way it's fair and if the wind blows your way, it was your bad luck!
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G
The three who do not obtain immunity should make fire in the Final Four. First two in make the final
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O
No fire making challenge. Why should Sam win when he never made fire the whole time he was on the island. Pretty inconsiderate of his fellow players, and to win because of a wind gust is just not right.
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B
Bring back final 2 one person always gets zero votes anyway and replace fire with immunity challenge
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O
Id say leave it alone, everybody know fire challenge is coming so practice, and no it dont count if it dont break the line. Cmon now you can't always bend the rules when Your favorite person doesn't win
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O
The game has "survived" for me to reach 79yrs of being a "faithful viewer". If it's not broken don't fix it.
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G
Leave it as it is.
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P
Keep the challenge teeny lost and that’s that. Sore loser never will be happy
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G
Teeny isn't a sore loser. I dare you to lose and not shed a few tears.
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O
Take it back to two, with two people battling it out with fire for the final spot next to the final immunity winner
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O
The fire finale was a joke can’t believe survivor even allowed what happened if Teeny was sitting where Sam was she would’ve won
1
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R
This makes me like her even less. Maybe if she came out and said she was a terrible winner and has no respect for her own game, it’d redeem herself in my eyes a little bit.
She won the exact same way Mike Halloway and Ben did, but she doesn’t respect their wins. Amd then she has the nerve to say that it’s a social game and should only come down to votes. Well, I wonder how early she would have been voted out if she didn’t have immunity 5 votes in a row. Gimme a break.
1 2
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C
Fire making was so unfair with the wind blowingTeenys fire so far to the right and Sams fire which was not high until the wind made his fire high enough to win the challenge. He couldn't even get fire for 5 minutes. So unfair. This was not setup properly or should have been stopped and Located at a different location. That is my observation.
12 15
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C
Someone made a good point that she should just stand up to block the wind.
She also flattened her wood pile by dropping peices on it. A fire that big (before she broke it) was going to burn the rope but it actually never did even after her flame died out.
4
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G
It isn't about what's fair. Survivor is largely a game of chance.
14 1
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P
Agreed. Life is not fair. We have to live in real life. Time to quit trying to make things “fair” for everyone.
3
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C
The same wind was blowing Sam's fire.
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