‘Survivor: Millennials Vs Gen-X’ Preview

With Survivor Koah-Rong in the can (congrats Michelle “malarkey” Fitzgerald) and the celebration for my first Win with the Survivor Draft (Nailed It!) dying down. Its time to look forward to the Fall, when Survivor returns to Fiji for the first time since 2007 with their 33rd season Survivor: Millennials Vs Gen-x.

In a season that nobody asked for and nobody wanted, CBS has returned to Old Vs Young format that has graced – let’s be honest – some of the least popular seasons like Survivor Exile Island and Nicaragua. But while Panama gave us a 4-way split of Old Men Vs Young Men Vs Old Women Vs Young Women. Season 33 has made use of that buzzword that will plague my generation for years to come … The Millennials.

Yes, unlike the hard-working and perseverance observed by the Generation-X’ers. Survivors take on The Millennials looks to demonize the younger Tribe with Selfie-Obsessed misnomer and stereotypes lobbied at the ‘inevitable’ laziness that the young up-starts are sure to display.

They might as well subtitled the season Heroes Vs Villains 2 and have done with it.

But while Koah-Rong has amassed a league of Aubrey Bracco–loving de-tractors since that Michelle win. The 32nd season gave us a plethora of characters such as the multi-job-titled Debbie to the “love every creature” Tai Trang, which judging by the preview-video is set to continue.

First the stereotypes. In the Gen-X corner we have Chris who – with the help of Inside Survivor – we learn is a Trial Attorney at a firm he founded in 2009, epitomises the work ethic and hard work which the Gen-X’ers are famed for. A factor which Chris references to the game, saying that Survivor “is hard work” and won’t be easy as “how fast you can type it into Google to find the answer.“

With Technology at the forefront of The Millennials identity, it doesn’t take this years compulsory long-haired-lothario Taylor to get the first Twitter trend in with “#SoleSurvivor“.

Let me back that up with “#FacePalm”.

Mari on the other hand doesn’t help matters either. As a Pro-Gammer, she is prime cannon fodder for parents around the world to lament the wasted time a career such as hers can be. Not that Mari cares, rather calling-out the fact that as a Millennial, she is able to make a profession out of what she loves to do.

But Survivor wouldn’t be the show we have loved for so long without some Outcasts thrown into the mix. No, not that terrible twist from Pearl Island. I’m talking about David and Zeke, Tribal opponents in the game with an affinity one another’s ideologies.

I mean, they ain’t no Tai but Zeke’s Hipster-Tache is a marvel. #10thWonderoftheWorld if you will (Damn You Taylor!)

David however is already as endearing as the aforementioned Mr. Trang. His confession that he could have done with “a dozen” participation awards back in his day, gives him a Charlie Brown underdog quality that rivals Spencer Bledsoe himself. Hyperbolic maybe, but like the Second Chancer runner-up, David too has a Chess background that would have him on the Brains Tribe in a heartbeat.

Zeke though, maybe not so much. In what could be a completely inaccurate read, his assertion that he can “hack it” living in the great out-doors, seems at-odds with his high maintenance or ‘well-groomed’ appearance. That tache … Mucho wax needed me thinks.

And like Cydney found out, no branch-chain-amino-acids out there me’lad.

As Survivor fans we have had to grin and bear these gimmicks that Mark Burnett and the team seem to be doubling down on of late.  But to be honest – when paired with a stellar cast – they truly knock it out of the park. I mean after all, both seasons of Brawn Vs Brains Vs Beauty offered up a cacophony of Alpha-players that are sure to return in future seasons and could work in-spite of any gimmick their season is given.

So while the idea of Millennials Hash-tagging every damn ‘Big-Move’ they make (and the Gen-X’ers condemning every minute of it). After the first swap, we will have to learn the Tribe’s actual names anyway and the big characters will get their chance to shine, regardless of the stereotype thrust upon them in the first half of the game.

And after all is said and done, it isn’t the format that makes the show but the Players themselves. And I for one can’t wait to meet all 20 Castaways when Survivor: Millennials Vs Gen-X returns to CBS this Fall.

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