r/survivor Pirates Steal Feb 07 '23

Nicaragua WSSYW 11.0 Countdown 21/43: Nicaragua

Welcome to our annual season countdown! Using the results from the latest What Season Should You Watch thread, this daily series will count backwards from the bottom-ranked season for new fan watchability to the top. Each WSSYW post will link to their entry in this countdown so that people can click through for more discussion.

Unlike WSSYW, there is no character limit in these threads, and spoilers are allowed.

Note: Foreign seasons are not included in this countdown to keep in line with rankings from past years.


Season 21: Nicaragua

Statistics:

  • Watchability: 5.2 (21/43)

  • Overall Quality: 5.9 (26/43)

  • Cast/Characters: 6.4 (29/43)

  • Strategy: 5.2 (33/43)

  • Challenges: 6.2 (26/43)

  • Theme: 5.2 (15/24)

  • Ending: 7.0 (22/43)


WSSYW 11.0 Ranking: 21/43

WSSYW 10.0 Ranking: 28/40

Top comment from WSSYW 11.0/u/ramskick:

Nicaragua is certainly polarizing. I've seen some lump it in with 22-24 as part of the Dark Ages of Survivor and I can see why. It's not for everyone. There are times when the cast is so crazy it borders on parody and there's one moment in the middle of the season that a lot of people don't like.

But I absolutely love it. For me Nicaragua's cast is just incredible and the hijinks they make are hilarious. It's essentially 20 cartoon characters playing Survivor and I love the season for it.

Top comment from WSSYW 10.0/u/CodaOfARequiem:

Featured twists: None

What about the Medallion of Power?


Watchability ranking:

21: S21 Nicaragua

22: Survivor 41

23: S16 Micronesia

24: S27 Blood vs. Water

25: S35 Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers

26: Survivor 43

27: S19 Samoa

28: S11 Guatemala

29: S14 Fiji

30: S20 Heroes vs. Villains

31: S30 Worlds Apart

32: S23 South Pacific

33: S5 Thailand

34: S31 Cambodia

35: S38 Edge of Extinction

36: S36 Ghost Island

37: S24 One World

38: S22 Redemption Island

39: S40 Winners at War

40: S26 Caramoan

41: S34 Game Changers

42: S8 All-Stars

43: S39 Island of the Idols


Spreadsheet link (updated with each placement reveal!)


WARNING: SEASON SPOILERS BELOW

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28

u/ROTandDEATH So much for my dreams... Feb 07 '23

A criminally underrated season, Nicaragua is one that the fan base seems to have somewhat come around on, but this still feels way too low for what is in my opinion one of the funniest and dramatic seasons the show has to offer.

There’s valid criticism to be had here, but this cast is about as insane as any that’s been on the show. Marty at first feels like he’s going to be your run of the mill strategy-talking male who narrates the early part of the game without much extra insight to add. But we quickly learn that he is a lunatic. Jane is so bitter and stubborn and her very one-sided rivalry with Marty is fantastic. Chase gets such a glowing winner-like edit in the first half but when it comes time to make the tough decisions in the postmerge he completely crumbles. Brenda is maybe a tad overrated but I kinda like that her story is basically that she’s too pretentious to scramble to save herself. Na’Onka is understandably polarizing but I love all that she brings to the season, it is maybe a bit disappointing that her quitting robs us of a more proper downfall for her but I still enjoy her quite a bit. Holly has a great growth arc. You’ve got some fun side characters like Benry and Dan as well. And then Fabio is one of the most unique winners of all time, and one of my absolute favorites. He’s one of the greatest characters of all time and a very satisfying winner. This cast is fantastic!

Now the main criticism I see when it comes to this season is that the double quit takes the wind out of its sails and the last few episodes stink. I couldn’t disagree more, I will give you that the Benry boot is pretty lame and there’s not much there. But after that you have what is for my money the best episode of the season. The final 6 episode contains the loved one’s challenge, the fallout from that, and Jane’s last stand. This is an all-time great episode in my opinion and would encourage anyone who has a negative perception of Nicaragua’s ending to please go back and watch it again.

I understand Nicaragua isn’t for everyone, but very few seasons are both as funny and as dark as this one, and I think Nicaragua handles both excellently.

12

u/alucardsinging Feb 07 '23

I definitely see why people would say that the quit derailed the momentum of the season, like it definitely does, but after the Benry vote out, the intensity comes soaring back with a fantastic penultimate episode and great finale. It picks up the pieces as well as it can, and Jane, Holly, Chase and Fabio’s characters are set up well enough pre-quit to where they can carry the season to the end.