Survivor 41: How ‘Do Or Die’ Proves Major Twists Aren’t Necessary
Survivor 41 introduced the “Do Or Die” twist, which proved to be the least compelling part of an otherwise fascinating episode of the show.
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The latest episode of Survivor 41, “Do or Die,” featured the introduction of a new twist that counterintuitively proves major twists aren’t needed to make a compelling season. The Do or Die twist, the latest in a barrage of complex and controversial changes in Survivor 41, gave the competitors the choice to participate in an immunity challenge. If they did opt to compete, the first person eliminated would be forced to participate in a game of chance. If that person won, they would be safe from the vote, but if they lost, they would be eliminated from the game.
Deshawn Radden became the Do or Die guinea pig when he dropped from the challenge first. However, the twist was a blessing in disguise for Deshawn, who was the biggest target in the game. Do or Die gave him another chance to save himself, and by pure luck, he emerged victorious in a “Monty Hall problem” presented at Tribal. Safe from elimination, Deshawn remained in the game and his alliance-mate, Liana Wallace, was voted out instead.
Though it engineered some tension at Tribal Council, Do or Die ultimately proved the opposite of its intended effect. The twist was one of the least interesting elements of the episode, which featured several fascinating moments of gameplay and character segments from the cast. Before the immunity challenge, former NFL player Danny McCray discussed his complicated emotions surrounding the 25-year anniversary of his father’s death. Rather than presenting Danny’s grief as a simple sob story, the show allowed him to open up about his feelings with complexity and vulnerability, highlighting his personal growth through the release of the anger and guilt he felt toward both his father and himself. The context of the anniversary made Danny’s win at the immunity challenge one of the more poignant moments in the show’s history.
Tribal Council then featured the series’ most in-depth and moving discussion of race in its 21-year history, beginning when Deshawn, overflowing with emotion, talked through his warring feelings about voting Shantel Smith out at the preceding Tribal. Deshawn explained how difficult it was to vote another Black player out of the game for his individual benefit. He, Danny, and Liana discussed the struggle of being members of a community and being individuals playing a game for a million dollars, as Shan watched from the jury. This led Liana to give a powerful speech about her Blackness, and the way that race impacts her life and the lives of other Black contestants, on and off the island. That the episode, after such a meaningful moment, then took an abrupt Survivor turn to get to Deshawn participating in a literal game show scenario was proof of the twist’s dramatic dispensability.
What the episode showed was that the cast itself is more than capable of providing memorable moments without the presence of twists. Do or Die provided some momentary thrills, but it paled in comparison to the organic, interpersonal elements inherent to the Survivor game. Of course, without twists, the show might have some lulls in drama. However, with good casting, these lulls are few and far between, and also make the high points shine even brighter. With constant twists and shake-ups, the drama is cheaper and can overshadow Survivor’s most compelling elements through a lack of contrast. By casting interesting people to play the game, and then letting them play it, the show can reach transcendent heights.
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