Both the U.S. and Australian Survivor has had some amazing success and fan appreciation from both sides of the continent. Each competition provides something interesting for fans to watch and enjoy about every season. From the big game twists to the contestants themselves, neither version of the show fails to satisfy its viewers.
The American version of the show has been on the air for more than 20+ years, leading in the number of best survivor seasons and contestants each show has seen. Although U.S. Survivor leads on this front, there are some things that fans love more about Australia’s Survivor version that makes it better than its U.S. counterpart.
More Episodes Each Week
Unlike its U.S. counterpart, fans can watch more Survivor with the Australian version of the show. With an average of 26 episodes a season, that’s about 11 episodes more than the U.S. version.
In the growing industry of streaming and binging, this is ultimately the best for fans that have grown accustomed to not having to wait long for the once-a-week episodes that come on mainstream media. Because Australian Survivor brings on an average of 3-4 episodes a week, compared to U.S. Survivors 1 episode a week, fans get more bang for their buck, without having to pay.
Longer Run-Time For Episodes
With a run-time of 60-70 mins., Australia Survivor has given fans more time to watch and enjoy the entertaining competition. The hour-long run time provides an opportunity for viewers to get an in-depth look into the competition, without scenes being edited down or scrapped as a whole.
Because of the long run times, the viewers can see the contestants strategize and understand their mindsets going forward throughout the game. There is more time spent on Tribal Council and the thought process of the losing team in choosing who they're thinking of sending home, and after Tribal Council with the team discussing why they chose the person that they chose.
Diverse Casting
When a show continues with the same approach and method of casting, things get old real fast. There have been some popular contestants on the show, with these contestants gaining thousands of followers on Instagram. However, there seems to be a running theme in the U.S. Survivor casting and recruiting models and those that would “look” good on the show. This isn't the case for Australia Survivor, and fans have been granted the opportunity to compete on the show.
With this being the case, the show's diversity ranges in age, race, and occupation allowing viewers to see competitors like firefighters, criminal attorneys, brand executives, athletes, and many more compete in the game.
Creative And Challenging Challenges
The challenges presented in Australia Survivor are some of the toughest looking challenges some fans have ever seen. These challenges offer different strategies and looks that aren't showcased in the U.S. Survivor. Fans are given more 1v1 reward competitions that push the competition plots, especially during themed competitions.
These challenges have given way to some iconic rivalries that just aren’t present in the U.S. Survivor. These challenges are not only strategically important but are superphysical and draining at times. In one of the challenges, two teams were challenged with pulling a box full of puzzle pieces through the mud, making this probably the most difficult yet entertaining challenge to watch.
In-Depth Look At Contestants
Survivor has seen some of the smartest players come into the game on both versions of the show, and it's fun when fans can get to know the contestants coming into the competition. Being able to get an in-depth understanding of the competitors allows viewers to easily relate to and form a familiarity with some characters in some way or another.
The AUS version of Survivor does an amazing job of this through the contestant's confessionals and the extensive following of the contestants throughout the 50 days of the competition. Fans can truly get to know and understand the players in the game, and that's a great bonus to watch the show.
Better Game Twists
Both Survivor versions have produced some iconic game twists throughout the seasons, however, Australia Survivor takes the triumph on this front. There have been two tribes yet one tribal council, two tribes with swap twists that allowed for players from one team to go over to the other team. When these types of twists happened, fans were treated to entertaining television.
These big twists have led to some backstabbing and some smart alliances, that have spanned between both teams. Australia Survivor does an amazing job of not going too overboard with the twists, however, when they do incorporate them, they're the best.
Amazing Cinematography
Although there have been some seasons to face Survivor, there have also been some beauty hidden beneath the competition. With a show like Survivor, it’s easy to get lost in the drama and gameplay of it all and overlook the beautiful nature being shown.
This is something the AUS version of Survivor does well, with the viewers being shown stunning shots of the hidden nature surrounding the contestants. A concept that's a little lost in the U.S. version, Australia Survivor gives viewers the chance to take in the beauty of the location through scenic shots, and some dramatic angles and aerial shots. There is no one central focus, and this makes it almost like watching a cinematic production.