The hits just keep coming. We already had the Inside Survivor reveal that the Edge of Extinction will return for Season 40. Then yesterday, Martin Holmes broke more news, that Season 40’s winner will take home $2 million, as opposed to the standard $1 million. And Holmes just can’t help himself. In another article published today, fans learned of a new twist the all winner season will feature: Survivor “currency.”
From Holmes:
According to our sources, at the start of the game, each player is given a certain amount of Survivor “money.” This money can then be exchanged for rewards, comfort items, and advantages throughout the season. When a player is voted out, they must will their money and any purchased items to another player still in the game, much like the Legacy Advantage.
Not only that, but those on the Edge of Extinction won’t be left out of the fun.
The inhabitants of the Edge can send advantages to players still in the game, but to obtain the advantage, the recipient must pay for it. If a player chooses to purchase an advantage, the money is then transferred to the sender on the Edge, who can spend it on food or comfort.
Now, as I always say, you have to wait to reserve final judgement until you see how it plays out in the season. That being said, this idea seems…dumb? Stupid? Unnecessary? As with the decision to bring back the Edge of Extinction, we’ll have to wait until the season approaches before we get any sort of comments from Probst. However, it does feel like this is at least partially in response to fans and players wondering if we would ever see the auction again. And I’m all on board for bringing the auction back. Some tweaks would have to be made, but let’s see it again. Just not like this.
But let’s think this through on a larger scale. Players can now PURCHASE advantages, rewards, and comfort. Is anything going to be hidden or earned? Or is that part of the game completely gone? Does this change the Reward Challenge format? Are there limitations? Can players (i.e. alliances) pool their money? Can you purchase these items in secret, or is it publicly known? And does this include idols? Hopefully not, fingers crossed that production won’t completely screw up this season. But they’re seemingly already well on their way to doing just that.
And I’m not sure which is worse: the fact that this twist exists at all, or that the Edge inhabitants can also purchase food and comfort. The entire point of the Edge was to push contestants further than ever before. Even with how rough it might have been in Season 39, only two players voluntarily left the island. So it clearly wasn’t as tough as production likely envisioned. And now they want to potentially make it even easier?
That’s all I can say at this point. Anything else I tried to write turned into incoherent rambling. Suffice it to say that I am out on the Edge of Extinction, and I am out on this “currency” twist. I’m still somewhat excited, simply due to how many great players and personalities are coming back. But every time we learn something new, that excitement noticeably lessens. Let’s see what we find out tomorrow…
