Jail Break (also known as The Great Escape, Pirate Prison Break, Prison Rescue, Breakout, and Back in the Saddle) is a challenge that originated in Survivor: Thailand as a tribal challenge. It has also been used as a Redemption Island duel and a re-entry challenge on seasons with Edge of Extinction.
Rules[]
When used as a tribal challenge, players are locked in a makeshift jail cell and shackled. To escape, players must use the resources provided to create a long pole to retrieve three keys. These keys are to be used to unlock their shackles and they must then dig out of the cell. The first tribe to get all of their members out of the cell would win.
In the individual Redemption Island version of the challenge, players are no longer shackled. Because of this, the keys are now used to unlock the cell door. In Edge of Extinction and Winners at War, the castaways first had to climb a net and retrieve bags of sticks before working on the cell door portion of the challenge. After getting through the cell door, they then had to navigate a ball to the top of a vertical snake maze.
History[]
United States[]
This challenge debuted in Survivor: Thailand. Shackled by locks, each tribe would be placed in a jail cell. Using the resources on the ground, they had to escape the cell by reaching for the keys that hung on posts outside of the cell. They would then unlock their shackles and dig out of the jail. The Chuay Gahn tribe beat Sook Jai for immunity.
In Survivor: The Amazon, in order to escape of the cage, the tribe members had to untie a series of ropes in order to release a machete. Then the tribes had to use their machete to cut through a rope, undo another series of knots in order to release a plank, which will in turn release a pole. They then used the pole to retrieve a set of keys on the outside of the cage. Once the keys were collected, they unlocked their chains and released their escape hatch. Tambaqui made a fatal error when they didn't fully cut through the rope attaching the plank of wood, and they never got past it allowing Jaburu to win their second Immunity Challenge, sending Tambaqui to Tribal Council.
In Survivor: Pearl Islands, the challenge was used as the Immunity Challenge of the Outcasts twist. If The Outcasts beat one tribe, they would vote one member back into the game and the losing tribe would vote somebody out, but if they beat both tribes, they would vote two members back into the game and both tribes would vote somebody out. The Outcasts infamously won this challenge, sending both Drake and Morgan to Tribal Council.
In Survivor: Redemption Island, the challenge was used as the first ever Redemption Island duel. The castaways had to build a long pole out of sticks and rope. They would then use the pole to retrieve three keys hanging outside their cells. Once all the keys were retrieved, they had to unlock three padlocks on their cell doors, open the door, and walk through. Matt Elrod defeated Francesca Hogi in this challenge, eliminating her for good.
In Survivor: South Pacific the concept of the challenge was the same as in the season before it. This time it was used as the final pre-merge Redemption Island duel. Ozzy Lusth defeated Redemption Island champion, Christine Shields Markoski, re-entering the game and eliminating Christine.
In Survivor: Blood vs. Water, the challenge was be used as the duel between Katie Collins, Laura Morett, and Katie's mother, Tina Wesson. Tina gave advice to Katie in hopes of having her and Katie advance together. Unfortunately for the mother and daughter, Laura M. was able to continue her Redemption Island dominance and come in first. Katie initially had the lead, but when she dropped the second key in the sand, she was unable to get it out. This enabled Tina to catch and beat her daughter. Before opening the door and walking through, Tina asked Katie if she was alright with her doing it. Katie said she was alright with her mother advancing, which meant Katie was eliminated for good. Victory was bittersweet for Tina as Katie was permanently out of the game while she stayed on Redemption Island.
In Survivor: Cambodia, the challenge was incorporated as the final part of the Quest for Fire challenge, where contestants would have to retrieve a key to open the cell door and light their tribe's flame. Bayon defeated Ta Keo to win immunity, sending Ta Keo to Tribal Council with no time to strategize.
In Survivor: Edge of Extinction, the castaways from Edge of Extinction were first to climb atop a net crawl to retrieve a bag before going to their respective gates, where they would use sticking and string to build a pole to retrieve keys to unlock their cell door. After getting through the door, castaways would have to navigate a ball to the top a vertical snake maze, while standing on balance beam, from A Bridge You Must Cross. Rick Devens would ultimately win the challenge, and a spot back into the game.
Reappearing in Winners at War, the challenge was identical to the Edge of Extinction counterpart, once again being merged with A Bridge You Must Cross. Everyone except Amber Mariano, Parvati Shallow, and Yul Kwon purchased an advantage that allowed them to skip digging up their strings. Rob Mariano was the first to make it through the gate, although Tyson Apostol overtook him on the maze section, with Tyson just barely edging out the competition to sink his ball first, earning himself a spot back in the game.
Australia[]
In the Network Ten incarnation of Australian Survivor, the Jail Break challenge is usually combined with Fast Fire to form a single challenge named Breakout. This variant debuted in Australian Survivor (2016) as the season's sixth tribal Immunity Challenge. Saanapu and Aganoa won the challenge, sending Vavau to their second Tribal Council.
In Champions v Contenders (2018), the challenge appeared as the second part of the final five Reward Challenge, where the members of Koro Savu competed for a brand new 2018 Holden Commodore Tourer. After solving a word puzzle, the final five had to fashion a pole to retrieve a keyring from the other side of the gate. Brian Lake won the challenge.
The challenge appeared in All Stars as the first of two re-entry duels for the inhabitants of Exile Beach. Each of the six players raced to retrieve a piece of flint outside their cell, after which they would race to start building a fire. Cheered on from the sidelines by her Mokuta Alliance, Moana Hope was the first to retrieve her flint and burn through her rope, winning the challenge before anyone else had retrieved their flint. The challenge then came down to Brooke Jowett and Zach Kozyrski, who were evenly matched heading into the fire-making challenge. Ultimately, it was Brooke that won out, earning her way back into the game.
The challenge appeared in Heroes v Villains. After losing the Immunity Challenge on Day 15, the Villains were sent to Tribal Council, where it was revealed that individual immunity was up for grabs. Simon Mee was the only person to complete the Jail Break portion of the challenge. Facing little competition, he managed to build his fire first to win the Immunity Necklace and save himself from certain elimination at the hands of the Spice Girls, thereby setting into motion a series of events that would lead to one of the most chaotic Tribal Councils in franchise history.
France[]
New Zealand[]
Quebec[]
The challenge appeared as the inaugural Redemption Island duel on Survivor Québec (2023). Sylvain Béland and Nicolas Brunette defeated Sango Bien-Aimé to stay in the game.
Russia (Unofficial)[]
In Serdtse Afriki, the challenge was used for immunity. During the challenge, River fails to catch the keys with grappling hooks. The Sand tribe claims immunity once again, sending the River tribe to Tribal Council for the third time in a row.
South Africa[]
The Breakout variant of the challenge from Australian Survivor was modified for use as the first tribal Immunity Challenge in Philippines. Tribe members first raced out into the water to retrieve sticks, which two tribe members would use to build a pole to retrieve a key from inside a bamboo cage. Once the cage was opened, the tribe would use the flint to build a fire. Luzon led the challenge, but Tom Swartz's failure at the fire-making station allowed Mindanao to take the win.
Winners[]
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
---|---|---|---|
Thailand "Assumptions" |
Tribal Immunity | Chuay Gahn | |
The Amazon "Girl Power" |
Tribal Immunity | Jaburu | |
Pearl Islands "What the...? (Part 1)" |
Tribal Immunity | The Outcasts | |
Redemption Island "Keep Hope Alive" |
Duel | Matt Elrod | |
South Pacific "Double Agent" |
Duel | Ozzy Lusth | |
Blood vs. Water "Out on a Limb" |
Duel | Laura Morett |
Tina Wesson |
Cambodia "Second Chance" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Bayon | |
Edge of Extinction "There's Always a Twist" |
Re-entry | Rick Devens | |
Winners at War "This Is Where the Battle Begins" |
Re-entry | Tyson Apostol |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
---|---|---|---|
Celebrity Survivor Australia Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity | Kakula | |
Australian Survivor (2016) Episode 6 |
Tribal Immunity | Saanapu | |
Aganoa | |||
Champions v Contenders (2018) Episode 22 |
Individual Reward | Brian Lake | |
All Stars Episode 18 |
Exile Beach Duel | Moana Hope |
Brooke Jowett |
Heroes v Villains Episode 7 |
Individual Immunity | Simon Mee |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
---|---|---|---|
Palau Episode 11 |
Individual Immunity | Patrick Merle | |
La Revanche des Héros Episode 7 |
Individual Reward | Teheiura Teahui | |
Malaisie Episode 11 |
Individual Immunity | Philippe Bizet | |
L'Île des Héros Episode 8 |
Individual Reward | Teheiura Teahui | |
La Légende Episode 9 |
Individual Immunity (Sudden-Death Challenge) |
Ugo Latriche | |
Le Totem Maudit Episode 8 |
Tribal Reward | Cadlao | |
Le Feu Sacré Episode 6 |
Tribal Reward | Paniman |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Nicaragua Episode 1 |
Duel | Hannah Gough |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
---|---|---|---|
Survivor Québec (2023) Episode 39 |
Duel | Nicolas Brunette |
Sylvain Béland |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Serdtse Afriki Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity | Sand |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Philippines Episode 1 |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Mindanao |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This challenge was used in all seasons to feature the Redemption Island twist: Redemption Island, South Pacific, and Blood vs. Water.
- It is one of three challenges to have this achievement. The other two are Snag, Drag and Bag and House of Cards.
- It and Snag, Drag and Bag are the only ones to appear as a duel in all three seasons.
- In Pearl Islands, The Outcasts did not sit anyone out despite having an extra member. Despite having to rescue one extra person, they still won the challenge.
- The majority of the times this challenge has been used, it was fought by players trying to return into the game.
- It has been used as a Redemption Island duel in three of its uses, twice for the Edge of Extinction re-entry duel, and once as an Immunity Challenge featuring The Outcasts.
- Brooke Jowett and Shonee Bowtell have each competed in this challenge twice.
References[]