Andy DehnartIn my mind, the most-recent, last truly great season of Survivor is Survivor: David vs. Goliath, season 37, which aired in 2018 and was altogether enjoyable from start to finish, despite is ridiculous-sounding theme.
It gave us great players and characters including The White Lotus creator Mike White, wrestler John Hennigan, Gabby Pascuzzi, Angelina Keeley, Natalie Cole, Christian Hubicki, Davie Rickebacker, and Nick Wilson, plus moments ranging from blindsides to an evacuation, betrayals to a jacket request.
That season is now on Netflix, along with the outstanding Survivor Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites.
I’ve collected together two lists: all of my recaps of the season, plus a list of behind-the-scenes stories. If you’re watching for the first time, start with the recaps, as the second list has some stories that reveal what happened.
Survivor David vs. Goliath recaps
Survivor David vs. Goliath recaps, including analysis of game play, Tribal Council votes, and everything else from Survivor season 37.
On Survivor, a cyclone brings supplies from Probst, and the first blindside
In Survivor David vs. Goliath episode 2, a cyclone left everyone miserable, and led to some curious choices in game play.
An uneven tribe swap on Survivor leads to an unexpected outcome, and a new advantage
Survivor David vs. Goliath episode four had the tribes swap into three Goliath-dominated tribes. And then something unexpected happened. Plus: a new twist.
Loyalty, and a shelter, fracture as Survivor's merge approaches
Survivor: David vs. Goliath episode six was the pre-merge episode, and as one player said, “Our decision tonight is not just going to impact our games here, but everybody playing the game on the field.”
Survivors support each other during a wild Tribal Council
A paranoid writer, a pizza metaphor, and other highlights from Survivor David vs. Goliath episode 8: “You Get What You Give."
Thanksgiving eve Survivor offers many more reasons to be thankful for this season
The facial expressions at Survivor: David vs. Goliath episode 9's Tribal Council were more entertaining than all of last season combined.
Survivor tribal lines definitely blurred in a wildly entertaining double episode
A historic negotiation, the godfather gets drunk on power and beer, and more incredible television from a two-hour, two-episode Survivor: David vs. Goliath episode 10.
A smart, bold move in an otherwise flat episode of Survivor David vs. Goliath
On a mostly flat episode 11 of Survivor: David vs. Goliath, Gabby reminded everyone that post-merge Survivor is an individual game.
Survivor ends an exceptional season with a strong finale
Survivor: David vs. Goliath ended with a strong winner and some additional surprises, including Survivor confronting some of its problems during the final Tribal Council and live reunion.
Survivor David vs. Goliath behind-the-scenes stories
While Survivor David vs. Goliath was broadcast, the cast and crew, including Jeff Probst, gave a lot of insight into what happened behind the scenes of Survivor season 37. Spoilers abound!
Jeff Probst had a revelation during production of season 37: Survivor is no longer made for its fans and viewers.
A question about Survivor’s tribe swap, and if those swaps are affected by external elements or not.
Survivor David vs. Goliath's winner gave an interview mid-season that revealed a lot about what happened during two pivotal votes.
There was more to Angelina’s negotiation for more rice on Survivor: David vs. Goliath than we saw on TV. She explained what actually happened.
A Survivor David vs. Goliath player and a Survivor winner both hosted very different versions of The Mole.