I think 1 thing that helped with recent seasons is that you have a lot more casts full of super fans where even the hot girl/guy in the cast has been watching for years. Even 'just' 5yrs/10 seasons ago you had hit or miss casts where a chunk wasn't really familiar with the show/game. Hantz really accelerated some of the stuff with idols. Probst/production have been good with changes that kept it fresh and evolving.

Heroes vs Villians is really old school stick yo your alliance that Russell helped change the game.

But rewatching the whole thing, I change my mind about him winning. There is no way he could how he bullied.

Were in the final. What do you recommend next?

Season 28 is great!

I watched season 1 and 2 during their original runs and then nothing after that. My wife started watching on Ghost Island but I was still not interested. She finally roped me in at the end of the first edge of extinction season and I have since watched all of S39 and 40.

Several months ago I realized OG survivor season 1 was free on Amazon. Got my wife to watch it with me (I just wanted the nostalgia trip) then next thing we know we are on season 19 (Hantz's first season)... Can't wait to watch HvV.

Daughter was pissed Parvati didn't win.

Watching season 26 Fans V Favs 2.

Palau is pretty great. I remembered a lot of it from back in the day but it still had some unique stuff going for it.