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Blood vs. Water, also known as the couples format, is a twist where the castaways compete against a loved one such as a relative, a significant other or a friend.

Overview[]

In a Blood vs. Water format, the cast is comprised of pairs of castaways, but instead of competing alongside each other, the pairs are separated and assigned to different tribes. Despite the format, the players remain competing as individuals and may vote out their partner if they so choose.

History[]

International Origins[]

Main article: Blood vs. Water (twist)/International

In 2011, before the conception of the "Blood vs. Water" moniker, Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown. (the fourth season of the Survivor Philippines franchise) introduced the couples format where pairs of celebrities, each with a pre-existing relationship. However, unlike the U.S. adaptation of the format, the Philippine version had pairs of local celebrities and the tribes had 5 pairs each.

United States[]

In its titular first season, Survivor: Blood vs. Water, 10 former players entered the game with a loved one, with the veteran players on Galang and their loved ones Tadhana. As an added layer to the game, Redemption Island was in play, with the loved one still in the game may switch places with their loved one to compete in the duel.

In its second iteration, Survivor: San Juan del Sur, all pairs were comprised of new contestants. Originally, the season was going to be played by 10 pairs similar to its predecessor, but one of the pairs, So and Doo Kim, had to back out due to the latter's sudden health problem, hence the season beginning with only 9 pairs with 10 men and only 8 women. Also similar to its predecessor, the pairs were still separated on different tribes. Although was originally planned to have Redemption Island in play again, this was scrapped in favor of Hero Duel Reward Challenges prior to the merge.[1][2] A pair of loved ones would compete against each other, with the loser being sent to Exile Island; the winner would then choose which member of their tribe would be exiled along with their loved one.

Pairs[]

Blood vs. Water[]

Survivor: Blood vs. Water Loved-One Pairs
Aras-Vytas-Baskauskas Candice-John-Cody Colton-Cumbie-Caleb-Bankston Gervase-Marissa-Peterson Kat-Edorsson-Hayden-Moss
Vytas and Aras Baskauskas
Brothers
Candice and John Cody
Married Doctors
Colton Cumbie and Caleb Bankston
Engaged
Gervase and Marissa Peterson
Uncle-Niece
Kat Edorsson and Hayden Moss
Dating
Laura-Morett-Ciera-Eastin Monica-Culpepper-Brad-Culpepper Rupert-Laura-Boneham Tina-Wesson-Katie-Collins Tyson-Apolstol-Rachel-Foulger
Laura Morett and Ciera Eastin
Mother-Daughter
Monica and Brad Culpepper
Married
Laura and Rupert Boneham
Married
Katie Collins and Tina Wesson
Mother-Daughter
Tyson Apostol and Rachel Foulger
Dating

San Juan del Sur[]

Survivor: San Juan del Sur Loved-One Pairs
Baylor Wilson Missy Payne Dale Wentworth Kelley Wentworth Drew Christy Alec Christy
Baylor Wilson and Missy Payne
Mother-Daughter
Dale and Kelley Wentworth
Father-Daughter
Drew and Alec Christy
Brothers
Jaclyn Schultz Jon Misch John Rocker Julie McGee Josh Canfield Reed Kelly
Jaclyn Schultz and Jon Misch
Dating
John Rocker and Julie McGee
Dating
Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly
Dating
Nadiya Anderson Natalie Anderson Val Collins Jeremy Collins Wes Nale Keith Nale
Nadiya and Natalie Anderson
Twins
Val and Jeremy Collins
Married
Wes and Keith Nale
Father-Son

Longevity Together[]

The following pairs have played on the same tribe/Redemption Island with each other. This list excludes Day Zero.

Longevity Together
S29 missy t S29 baylor t 27 Days
S29 jon t S29 jaclyn t 25 Days
S27 tina t S27 katie t 12 Days
S29 josh t S29 reed t 11 Days
S29 keith t S29 wes t 11 Days
S27 lauram t S27 ciera t 8 Days
S27 aras t S27 vytas t 7 Days
S27 candice t S27 john t 3 Days
S29 dale t S29 kelley t 3 Days

Trivia[]

  • Survivor: Winners at War is the first season to have castaways in a familial relationship compete against each other without Blood vs. Water being an official theme of the season. Married couple Amber and Rob competed on the season, starting on Dakal and Sele respectoively. They never played on the same tribe together, due to Amber being voted out before the Tribe Switch and Rob before the merge, but spent 22 days on the Edge of Extinction together. This is the third-longest time played together of any pair of loved ones, not counting their 36 days spent together on Survivor: All-Stars before their marriage.

Both Seasons[]

Survivor: Blood vs. Water[]

  • According to RC Saint-Amour and Colton Cumbie, the twist was originally going to pit blood relatives (blood) against couples of significant others (water), but the last minute substitution of Candice and John Cody for RC and her father threw off the balance, forcing the loved ones to compete against each other on opposing tribes. However, this has not been confirmed by production.
  • Rupert Boneham is the only castaway to accept the offer to switch with their loved one.
  • Of the ten pairs, only three had both castaways reach the merge: Aras/Vytas, Tina/Katie, and Laura M./Ciera.
    • Five of the ten pairs had only one castaway reach the merge: Tyson, Gervase, Monica, Hayden, and Caleb. All of them reached the merge without Rachel, Marissa, Brad, Kat, and Colton respectively.
    • Two of the ten pairs were both eliminated before the merge: Rupert/Laura B. and Candice/John.
  • Coincidentally, both the first person and the last person eliminated pre-merge was a Boneham.
  • Laura M. and Ciera have the most combined votes received out of any pair, with 33.
    • Colton and Caleb have the fewest combined votes received out of any pair, with 4.
  • Ciera is the only person to ever cast a vote against her loved one, in this case, her mother Laura M. She cast her vote against her mother at the last Tribal Council where at least one full pair were present and in the game.
  • Tina and Katie have spent the most days together in the game, playing on the same tribe from Day 14 - Day 24 when Tina is voted out, and playing together on Day 32, when Katie is eliminated.

Survivor: San Juan del Sur[]

  • Jeremy and Val Collins are the only pair in the season to have a unique relationship.
    • Interestingly, they were both the second person to be voted off a tribe. In this case, Huyopa for Jeremy (not counting Julie McGee's quit) and Coyopa for Val.
  • Of the nine pairs, only four had both castaways reach the merge: Reed & Josh, Missy & Baylor, Jon & Jaclyn, and Keith & Wes.
    • Jon & Jaclyn are the first, and so far only, male/female pair to make the merge in a Blood vs. Water season.
    • Jon & Jaclyn and Reed & Josh would be the first "water" pairs to play together.
  • Dale & Kelley Wentworth are the only pair eliminated pre-merge.
    • They are the only parent-child pair to not make the merge in a Blood vs. Water season.
  • Twin sisters Nadiya and Natalie were ironically first voted out and Sole Survivor respectively.
  • Baylor and Jon were the first jury members in a Blood vs. Water season to cast a vote for their loved ones at the Final Tribal Council.

References[]

Survivor Gameplay
Challenges Challenge Advantage · Do-It-Yourself Challenge · Duel · Family Visit · Immunity Challenge (Final Immunity Challenge) · Immunity Idol · Immunity Necklace · Medallion of Power · Reward Challenge · Survivor Auction
Elimination Edge of Extinction · Ejection · Evacuation · Final Tribal Council · Jury · Null Vote · Quit · Redemption Island · Snuffer · Sole Survivor (Perfect Game) · Tiebreaker · Torch · Tribal Council · Urn
Strategy Alliance · Goat Strategy · Pagonging · Split Vote
Social Dynamics Final Two · Final Three · Merge · Tribe
Twists Casting Battle of the Sexes · Blood vs. Water · Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty · Old vs. Young · Returning Players · Schoolyard Pick · Tribes Divided by Ethnicity
Tribal Council Advantage Amulet · Do or Die · Double Elimination · Double Tribal Council · Extra Vote · Hidden Immunity Idol (History) · Idol Nullifier · Joint Tribal Council · Juror Removal · Legacy Advantage · Knowledge is Power · Safety Without Power · Shot in the Dark · Vote Blocker · Vote Steal
Game Mechanics Advantage Menu · Buried Treasure · Day Zero · Exile Island · Fake Merge · Fire Token · First Impressions · Ghost Island · Haves vs. Have Nots · Hourglass · Island of the Idols · Kidnapping · Looting · Mutiny · One World · Reward Steal · Summit · The Outcasts · Tribe Leader · Tribe Switch
Post-Game Fan Favorite Award · Lawsuits and Legal Action · Ponderosa · Reunion Show
Miscellaneous Buff · Camp · Confessional · Luxury Item · Rites of Passage · Survivor Rulebook · Ulonging
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