A Survivor Season 47 Cast Member Has a Polarizing Take on the Fire Challenge That I Totally Agree With

CBS reality competition series Survivor changed the world of TV forever and is considered one of the the best reality shows of all time. The 47th season (which airs with a Paramount+ subscription) just ended, and some fans are wondering How much money Survivor competitors doothers debate some of the modern game mechanics. Specific case: a Survivor Cast member 47 has a polarizing take on the final fire challenge that I totally agree with.

Fans are divided Survivor 47his challenge to make firewhich saw Teeny eliminated despite having a strong fire. While fire was usually reserved for a tie, it became a mandatory part of the New Era that takes place after the Final Immunity Challenge. Season 47 winner Rachel LaMont shared her feelings TV Insiderand I’m totally on her hot side. In her words:

I don’t love the fire because I think at this stage in Survivor, probably half the time we’d end up in a two-two (split vote) anyway (in the final four) and go to the fire (as a tiebreaker) . So I don’t understand why we just can’t have a normal vote

Points have been made. The game of Survivor it’s ultimately about the people’s vote, so it’s strange that this is being ignored in the last four tribal councils. Instead, the Immunity winner gets to choose one player to join them in the Tribal Finals while the other two compete in that fire-lighting challenge. And the new fire-starting format is never something I really liked.

Rachel won the Sole title Survivor One the almost unanimous vote of the jury. But I have to wonder if things would have panned out differently if the bottom four could vote normally. Later in the same comments, LaMont shared more about her hot approach that draws fire. In her words:

I’m thinking of leaving the favorite so that a Jesse (Lopez, a fan favorite to win at Survivor 43 who lost the fire challenge) has a chance when everyone overwhelmingly votes for them. Or if I had lost that immunity, they would have voted me out overwhelmingly. And being able to redeem myself in fire would be cool. But I think the game is about people voting, and this is a very crucial vote at the end of the game.

She is not wrong. This is coming from someone who finally won Survivor as a result of the current New Era rules. And as such, it has a unique POV and perhaps a greater reason to defend the challenge of making fire. But she’d still prefer to vote in the final four, and I’d have to agree. I’m a die-hard fan who had trouble adjusting to the New Era, including the shorter game and emphasis on starting fire and shooting in the dark.

Survivor they’re always changing and adapting, so we’ll see if Rachel’s wish ever comes true. Fans are eager to see returning players for Survivor 50so maybe this will be the time when the rules will be changed again. Only time will tell, but the smart money says fans have a strong reaction either way.

Survivor 48 will premiere on February 26. For now, check List of TV premieres in 2025 to plan your next binge watch.