The Age of Curiosity: Part 1!

Last time on Survivor...

We marched down to the Marquesas islands, where Veceipa Towery proved that underdogs weren't doomed to fail, and took a trip to Thailand, where Brian Heidik used the goat strategy like a boss, as we wrapped up the Strategic Camping Game Show era! This week, we not only will take an airplane to the Amazon and plunge into the crystal blue waters of the Pearl Islands, but start a new era: the Age of Curiosity!

Age of Curiosity

The Age of Curiosity is defined by its...well curiosity! The basic strategies of the game are now firmly in place, with alliances more or less accepted as part of the show. This era would take that further in a number of ways!

To start off, let's take a look at howThe Amazon started off the era! Amazon

Amazon is certainly a season of many first! Here are some of the ways in which it is!

* It is the first season set in South America. * It is the first season to start with gender divided tribes. * It is the first season to see alliance flipping as a prime strategy.

Why did I bold the last point? Easy. Prior to this season, it was considered to be in bad form to turn on alliances. But Rob Cesternino fittingly turned this on its head when week after week, he would jump from alliance to alliance.

However, it didn't work out for him, as he was defeated by Jenna Morasca, the youngest winner at the time at only 21!

Pearl Islands

Pearl Islands certainly had many firsts of its own as well! Here are some of its very first...firsts! * It is the first season set in North America.

* It is the first season to use a cultural theme that does not relate directly to the location: piracy. * It is the first season to feature contestants who were eliminated returning to the game.

Why did I bold the last point? Simple. Before this season, once a contestant was eliminated, they never returned to the game. That changed this season with the Outcast twist, which allowed two previously eliminated contestants back into the game. Burton Roberts and Lil Morris fought hard post-merge, but it was all for naught as they both went on to lose again! After a merge of returns, surprises and deceptions, Sandra Diaz-Twine became the Sole Survivor! Come back next week as we wrap up the Age of Curiosity with All Stars, Vanuatu and Palau!