Survivor: Borneo | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

Where to Watch

Survivor — Borneo

Watch Survivor — Borneo with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Prime Video.

Audience Reviews

Joshua S The start of an amazing franchise, for a reality show in 2000, it surprisingly has a lot of thought provoking strategies and complex social dynamics that make the game fun to watch Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/24/23 Full Review Robert H "Survivor: Borneo" , won by Richard Hatch, set the standard for what all Survivor Games in the future would be.Surviving the wilderness wouldn't be enough. You'd need to survive each other, as the infamous "Alliance" was started, and became quickly adapted as a sure fire route to the million dollar prize. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/24/23 Full Review Fast S Borneo started the show off good and still has one of the greatest casts of all time. The game wasn't fully developed so it's not the same but it still was an amazing season at its time. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/25/22 Full Review Robbie M "Survivor: Borneo" is a weird start to the show for sure, but its iconic cast, winner, and ability to take risks help it overcome production problems. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/04/22 Full Review Audience Member Great season. I am a big fan of this season because I believe that because this is the first season it is a new game and these people do not know what they are supposed to do. Except Richard Hatch and Kelly. They are both have a lot of athletic skills and a lot of strategy. This was a awesome season. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member This first season of Survivor was not the very first foray into reality television (MTV had already experiment with filming people on "Real World"). However, this indeed was the first time that the concept was applied to a mass audience and packaged in a way that made it seem exciting and dramatic.Basically, Survivor sees a group of 16 people stranded on an island in Borneo. With only a few basic survival items and their wits, the contestants are separated into two tribes and must compete with each other until a sole winner is crowned with the prize of one million dollars. Each week, a different contestant would be voted off the island by their fellow mates.Besides the challenges for rewards and immunity, the show really became intriguing because of its mix of characters and situations. For example...-The oft-nude hom*osexual Richard forging an unlikely bond with the grumpy, 70-something former Navy Seal Rudy.-The "serious tribe" (Tagi) versus the "fun" tribe (Pagong).-The alliances that would constantly shift or become re-defined with seemingly every episode.-The humor infused into the show that comes from that many people living together and tolerating each other.Basically, though conceptually a "gameshow" in name as a prize is competed for, it quickly became clear that the entire experience was really more of a social experiment than anything. Viewers could easily identify with (or vilify) a certain character, thus making it feel as if living vicariously through them on the island.Overall, "Survivor" was a completely new idea that (for a time) revolutionized the way TV dramas could be made. Though now reality shows so dominate the market that the ideas are running on empty, this set is an ode to a time when the concept was fresh, real, and exciting all at once. Watch it for the first time to see what all the buzz is about, or watch it again to relive your memories of the phenomena. Either way, you'll enjoy the ride. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

Cast & Crew

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 31, 2000 The Marooning Sixteen people marooned on a remote tropical island are divided into two tribes, the Pagong and the Tagi, before they begin their adventure. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 7, 2000 The Generation Gap The Tagi and Pagong tribes compete in an immunity challenge as differences in work ethic and attitude give rise to age-related tension. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 14, 2000 Quest for Food Hunger drives the remaining castaways to try some unconventional nourishment; a tribal meeting concludes with one more member forced to make a quick exit. Details Episode 4 Aired Jun 21, 2000 Too Little Too Late? The castaways run for shelter from a massive South Pacific storm, but find that their primitive dwellings provide little protection; another castaway gets the boot. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 28, 2000 Pulling Your Own Weight Hunger pangs give rise to conflict between those who hunt and those who choose not to; a deadly snake rears its head. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 5, 2000 Udder Revenge A verbal blunder triggers a standoff between the sexes in one of the tribes; a sixth castaway is voted off. Details Episode 7 Aired Jul 12, 2000 The Merger Two tribes become one, causing new conflicts and more individualistic immunity challenges as the number of castaways continues to diminish on Pulau Tiga; the seventh council vote. Details Episode 8 Aired Jul 19, 2000 Thy Name Is Duplicity The members of the newly formed Rattana tribe adjust to one another, the continued scarcity of food and a pleasant surprise from home; another castaway gets voted off. Details Episode 9 Aired Jul 26, 2000 Old and New Bonds An alliance member feels guilty about the voting process; a large catch of fish goes to waste; a castaway celebrates a birthday; a ninth castaway is ousted. Details Episode 10 Aired Aug 2, 2000 Crack in the Alliance An alliance member is pulled in many directions and must make a choice between conscience and betrayal. Details Episode 11 Aired Aug 9, 2000 Long Hard Days The competition takes its toll on the castaways. Host: Jeff Probst. Details Episode 12 Aired Aug 16, 2000 Death of an Alliance Kelly finds herself between a rock and hard place, battling with both Susan and the Tagi alliance for her island survival; one lucky castaway wins a night out at a bar. Details Episode 13 Aired Aug 23, 2000 Finale After 39 days of withstanding a meager diet, natural threats, social conflicts and numerous tribal council votes, the final survivor stands tall to claim the $1 million prize. Details Episode 14 Aired Aug 23, 2000 The Reunion The 16 original castaways reunite for the first time since their adventure, explaining what life was really like on Pulau Tiga and their reactions to the final episode. Details

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Critics Reviews

Noel Murray AV Club Remarkably illustrative of humankind's capacity for self-justification. Mar 14, 2019 Full Review Joe Reid The Atlantic [Richard Hatch] was playing against a cast full of people who didn't know how to play the game properly yet. But it's not like Hatch came in with a playbook to read either. Instead, he wrote the playbook. Mar 14, 2019 Full Review Steve Butts IGN Movies Their social dynamics are as exciting as they are unpredictable and you'll find that politics does indeed make for some strange bedfellows. Rated: 8/10 Mar 18, 2019 Full Review Andrea Reiher Zap2it.com It still holds up. It's not just a good season because it was so inventive at the time. The final four alone is worth it, but we also loved Colleen, Jenna, Gervase, etc. etc. An all-around winner of a season. Mar 14, 2019 Full Review Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Survivor is at its voyeuristic best when focusing on its contestants and at its worst when attempting to drum up suspense during the competition, which was just dull and confusing. Oct 5, 2018 Full Review Sean Fennessey The Ringer Set the template for a new kind of dramatic TV, where ruthless gameplay trumped narrative. Oct 5, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Season Info