- CBS "Survivor" has gone from 60-minute episodes to 90-minute episodes this season.
- We have more time to get to know players and watch their relationships change and develop.
The 45th season of CBS "Survivor" has 90-minute episodes instead of 60-minute ones, a first for the series.
The run time has been extended because the network lacks scripted programming this season, a result of the writers guild and screen actors guild strikes. But Jeff Probst, the show's host and showrunner, has actually been pushing for 90-minute episodes for years.
By adding 30 minutes to the run time of each episode this season, "Survivor" has brought back the magic that made the competition series such a hit 23 years ago.
Longer episodes allow us to see more tribal and personal dynamics
People from all walks of life playing the game together is the heart of the show.
"Survivor" got so popular in the first place because of the personal dynamics — how do you navigate living in a bare-bones survival situation among people you will ultimately have to vote out?
Bring in an extremely diverse cast of characters — in part thanks to CBS' recent guidelines, where at least 50% of the cast must be Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — and the possibilities are endless.
The season is only halfway through, and already we have relationships building between the contestants, from Emily and Kaleb going from slight enemies to dynamic allies to the seemingly one-sided feud between Bruce and Katurah.
Since episodes are about 50% longer, we have more time to watch the players form (or destroy) these bonds.
Viewers also get to see players strategize and talk about who to send home instead of watching these discussions through flashbacks, which the show utilized during previous seasons to explain why a contestant got voted out.
And despite the viewers having more information, the Tribal Councils are still as unexpected as ever with heated discussions and two quitters.
Plus, longer episodes mean more confessionals from every contestant. Through these, we get a better picture of what's happening in each tribe and the overall game.
Everyone has the chance for more screen time, and contestants can get their moment to shine instead of being left as background extras.
The show's still overdoing it with advantages — but the longer run time makes them more bearable
"Survivor" still has its problems, but a 90-minute run time also helps dilute excessive twists and special powers that have been an issue since season 41.
Ever since 2021, the start of the "New Era" of "Survivor," the game has been overrun with advantages and immunity idols.
So far, five of the six episodes of the season have prominently featured an advantage or idol. But because of the additional run time, none of this season's episodes have felt bogged down by advantage explainers or idol hunts.
And it seems the additional trinkets in the game are finally paying off — viewers already got to experience the thrill of watching a contestant melt a candle in the fire at Tribal to free an immunity idol. And a successful Shot In the Dark play created one of the new era's most exciting moments.
It's currently unclear if the next season of "Survivor" will also feature 90-minute episodes, but I hope CBS keeps it up for the fans' sake.