‘Survivor’: Will The Merge Twist Return for Future Seasons?
For better or for worse, Survivor has really changed for season 41. One of those changes is a merge twist. Fans are probably wondering if this twist is here to stay. This is what Jeff Probst had to say about the show’s future and how he would handle the twist.
[Spoiler alert: Survivor Season 41 Episode 6 spoilers ahead.]
‘Survivor 41’ introduced the merge twist
“Ready to Play Like a Lion” started with the castaways celebrating that they had made the merge. But that wasn’t quite true.
They all had to pick a stone to find out their fate. Two people who got grey stones had to sit out. Everyone else joined one of two teams, then competed to make it to the merge and get a feast. The losing team went back to camp with no food and is at risk of going home.
Erika Capsupanan and Naseer Muttalif got the grey stones. The winning team chose Erika to go to exile.
Probst revealed Erika could keep the outcome of the challenge the same. Or she can break an hourglass and reverse the results. She’ll then be safe along with the losing team with the reversal.
Will the merge twist return for future seasons?
Season 41 is all about changing the game for a new era. But does that mean the twists, including the merge one, will stay for another season? Probst gives players a warning to Entertainment Weekly.
“For future players, I can’t scream this loudly enough… the game is a monster,” he said. “This isn’t just a catchy phrase, it’s a metaphor. You cannot waste time being frustrated because you don’t like a twist. It’s wasted and misplaced energy.”
Instead, players should adapt and assess, according to Probst. He then addressed the future of the show.
“Will we do this exact thing or something like it again? Let me say it again… the game is a monster and it’s only getting hungrier,” he said. That’s not a solid answer, but it does leave a lot of possibilities. If the merge is now considered too easy, then there might always be a twist around this time now.
What would Jeff Probst do?
What would Probst do if he had to make this decision? “My decision would be based on where I felt I stood in the game and my long-term plans for the people in my alliance,” he answered. “I’m not saying I wouldn’t make a big move and shatter the hourglass, but it would only be after considering things like alliances and potential jury votes.”
Fans will have to wait for the next episode to see what Erika will decide. She could make a big move to keep herself safe while putting some of the bigger threats in danger. Or she could keep everything the same.
