Synopsis: Sixteen contestants battle it out in the opening
season. The two original tribes – called the Tagi and Pagong tribes – both lose
three players and go into the merge with five players from each tribe. Led by
Hatch, four of the Tagis create the game’s first alliance and systematically
vote out the other six players. Corporate trainer Hatch wins a 4-3 vote over
river-guide Kelly Wigglesworth to secure the $1 million.
Season 2: The Australian Outback
Winner: Tina Wesson
Synopsis: Again even at the merge, the Kucha and Ogakor
tribes arrive at the merge with five players – Kucha, however had earlier lost
a player through no fault of its own, when Michael Skupin fell into a campfire
as noted above. With both tribes coming into the merge allied, "Survivor"
experienced its first alliance breakdown as both tribes united to vote off
Ogakor’s Jerri Manthey, who had taken Hatch’s title as most unofficial most
hated player. The game came down to Colby Donaldson, who had dominated the
challenges and female viewers’ attentions and the likable Tina Wesson (who
Donaldson had picked to go against him in the final, as opposed to the less
likable Keith Famie). Wesson made Donaldson pay – yet seem even that much
cooler – by winning a 4-3 vote.
Season 3: Africa
Winner: Ethan Zohn
Synopsis: With the tribes Samburu and Boran split evenly,
the producers show their love of the unexpected, switching three players from
each side to create new tribes. The former-Borans have an advantage at the
merge, but unprecedented distrust and bickering dominate the final days. In the
end, Kim does the unexpected and wins the final two immunity challenges,
allowing her to pick whom she will go into the final against. Again, the choice
is wrong (at least, in the financial sense) as Kim Johnson takes the cool and
likable Ethan Zohn with her as opposed to the tattooed and devious Lex Van der
Berghe. Ethan takes a 5-2 decision for the million.
Season 4: Marquesas
Winner: Vecepia Towery
Synopsis: Like in Africa, the original two tribes are
swapped, though the Rotu tribe dominates the Maraamu’s, with a
seven-player-to-three advantage at the merge. An ill-advised power-grab by four
former-Rotu members, however, backfires leading to a finish that saw one member
be sent off by random choice (picking stones) after a 2-2 tie at Tribal
Council. The final pits two females as Vecepia Towery beats
Neleh Dennis, 4-3 to become the first African-American winner.