Plot: What’s it about?
The ninth season of “Survivor” had a lot to live up to, after “Survivor: All-Stars” was somewhat of a ratings powerhouse. But, as shows enter their ninth season (or in this case, nearing the five year mark) things tend to get a bit routine. However, leave it to Executive Producer Mark Burnett to keep the game fresh and new. This latest installment saw 18 new castaways carted off to the South Pacific “Islands of Fire” in Vanuatu – part of Oceania. The rugged landscape was just one of the many surprises that was in store for these new contestants. First, the tribes were divided by sex and, as evidenced by the opening episode, in Vanuatu men and women certainly equal. Was it a sign of things to come? Perhaps. However a gender gap proved to be a hurdle that the women overcame as they quickly had an advantage on their male counterparts. The cast this time around had a different flavor and feel to it and the Producers were obviously trying to give us more of what we saw the previous season. Players like Chris and Twila represented more of the “working class”, but the season wasn’t without its share of pretty faces, too. There’s Dolly, a sheep farmer who’s the spitting image of Britney Spears, LeAnn, former lead singer of a band and John Kenney, a mechanical bull operator. Perhaps the most interesting contestant (on paper, anyway) was Chad, an amputee who lost the lower half of his leg to cancer.
As any avid fan of “Survivor” knows, it’s the cast that really makes the season. Sure, the locales are neat and as the game progresses, we get a peek inside some of the culture of the area but ultimately people tune in to see conflict and be entertained. I have to admit that when this season first aired, I wasn’t really too impressed. I liked the following season, “Survivor: Palau” much better as I felt like I identified with the cast a lot more. Nevertheless, this season isn’t without its twists and turns. Things get “all shook up” as one of the active volcanoes on the island erupts and if you pay attention to who the celebrities are dating – look a bit closer as cast member Julie Berry is currently dating host Jeff Probst. Let’s face it, if you’re a fan of reality television, then you simply must be a fan of “Survivor” and have no doubt seen this season. I’m not sure why Paramount is releasing some of these newer seasons over the far more popular older ones (Africa, Marquesas, Thailand and Amazon are still absent on DVD) but subsequent seasons being released is a good sign. “Survivor: Vanuatu” isn’t on many people’s short list as far as seasons of the show is concerned, but to any true fan (and I’m one) this will find a spot in your DVD collection.
Video: How does it look?
“Survivor: Vanuatu” is shown in the full-frame ratio that it was shot and aired in and it looks pretty darn good. Though the locale isn’t quite as lavish as that of Palau or the current Cook Islands, the scenery is great and it looks even better on DVD. I noticed no signs of artifacting or edge enhancement in the very least. These look just as good or even better than when they aired back in the Fall of 2004. It’s quite a step up from the recorded episodes that I watch when I need my fix for “Survivor”. On par with previous seasons of the show, “Survivor: Vanuatu” doesn’t disappoint.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Surround mix is all that we have here and it’s more than enough to get the job done. Again, this is how it’s presented on television. For the most part, it’s a dialogue-driven show with confessionals and strategizing being the meat of the spoken word. During the challenges and rewards, Russ Landau’s fantastic score can be heard and it sounds great, booming from all of your speakers. There’s not a whole lot else that can be said, like the video it’s just as it was presented on TV and sounds just as good – if not better.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The “Survivor” sets on DVD haven’t ever been to laden with supplements, but this season has a few extras that are worth pointing out. We’re greeted with commentary tracks on five of the 14 episodes from various cast members and Jeff Probst even joins in with a commentary of the reunion show. Now that is a first. The cast commentary is informative and true fans will hunger for more, but the episodes themselves are more than enough for the average viewer. There are four featuretes included as well: “Fire, Fire Everywhere” which is a brief look at the season in general, the members of the cast and a focus on “Vanuatu: The Islands of Fire”. Next up is “On Shaky Ground” which focuses on the volcano that erupted at Mt. Yasur. Some footage made it onto the actual show and its good stuff. “Solitary Man” is a look at Chris Daughtery as he’s literally the last man standing surrounded by six other women. How does he do it? Lastly we get “A Taste of Home” as the castaways get a visit from their loved ones and we get the inside scoop. “Survivor: Vanuatu” won’t rank up there with my favorite seasons, but it’s still “Survivor” and any true fan will pick this one up.
