Survivor 33 Millennials vs Gen X Premiere Recap and Live Blog

Survivor: Millennials vs. Generation X premieres tonight on CBS! Read a live recap and join the discussion here.

Survivor is back! Twenty new castaways will embark on the adventure of a lifetime as they try to outwit, outplay, and outlast each other to win the $1 million and the title of Sole Survivor. This season’s casting twist is that the castaways will be divided by age. However, it is not simply young vs. old. The theme for this season is Millennials vs. Generation X. How will these different approaches to life affect how they play the game? And will they reinforce or contradict the stereotypes associated with both age groups? I guess we’ll have to see. So without further ado, let’s get this season started!

The episode begins with a Jeff Probst voice-over introducing us to Fiji, the battleground where this season’s culture war will take place. We see the twenty castaways on two boats as they make their way to shore, currently unaware that they will be divided by age. We first meet some Millennials, and their age range is between 18 – 31. The first confessional of the season goes to Taylor, and he tells us about the different types of jobs he’s had. He’s been a beekeeper and brewed beer, but snowboard instructor is his chyron. He also asserts that he’ll never grow up. We next meet Mari, and she plays video games for a living. Any fans of Smosh will recognize Mari. She says she wants to make her entire life about playing, and she says she is going to win. We next meet Zeke. After discussing some stereotypes of how young people are attached to their phones, he says he resents technology. He hates Twitter yet he is on Twitter himself. Now it’s time to meet some Generation X people, ranging in age from 33 to 52. Chris is an attorney, and he says that people in his generation know how to work hard and listen. Sunday says she is surprised at the 25-year-olds who still live at home playing video games, as well as their nonchalance about when they’ll finish college since their parents are paying for it. David is a TV writer and he says it took 14 years for him to achieve his dream. He thinks Millennials aren’t as dedicated and would likely just try to find a new dream.

The castaways are now on shore and are welcomed by Jeff Probst. He passes around a basket and tells them to grab a wrapped package with his or her name on it and stand on the colored mat matching their buff. The buffs are purple and orange, and they divide themselves into their assigned tribes (Millennials are orange; Gen X are purple). They put on their new buffs as they hug and greet each other. Jeff then tells them the theme of the season: Millennials vs. Generation X. We hear a confessional from Will, a high school student. He says “may the best generation win.” Jeff says the show wants to test the different philosophies of Millennials and Gen X-ers and see which philosophy works better for the game of Survivor. Jeff talks to Paul, and Paul says his generation is the best since they didn’t get a trophy for everything. CeCe agrees, and she says everything has been handed to the Millennials. Jeff asks Adam (a Millennial) his thoughts. Adam says he disagrees, and says it will prove who really needs to work when they win the first immunity challenge.

It’s time for their first task in the game. The tribes must grab items and bring it back to their mats to take back to their camp. They will only have two minutes to grab items. The task starts as they scramble for items. During the madness, Jessica (a Gen X-er) stumbles upon an envelope and puts it in her pocket. Jeff makes some observations, and he says the Millennials were thinking short-term while Gen X were thinking long-term since the Millennials took chickens and Gen X took fishing gear. Afterwards, Jeff warns them all that it is cyclone season and to be mindful of that when they reach camp.

The Millennials arrive at camp and get to know each other. Adam says he wants to disprove misconceptions about Millennials. Mari says that they have a fresh perspective on life. Meanwhile, Taylor bonds with Jay since he can relate to how he’s a free spirit, and he likes Figgy and Michelle since they’re attractive. He says he has a connection with these people. Zeke, on the other hand, is unhappy about being labeled a Millennial. He’s 28, but he calls everyone else on his tribe a kid who has never worked a day in his or her life.

The Gen X-ers arrive at their camp. Paul says people from his era worked hard and are sound decision makers. Paul gives a speech about how the game has changed, and Ken says that they should not underestimate the Millennials. Ken says in his confessional that he wants to guide his team so they know he has their backs. As the tribe gets to work building shelter, Jessica goes somewhere alone to open her envelope. She reads that she has the Legacy Advantage. If she is still in the game on Day 36, she will receive an advantage. However, if she is voted out before then, she must will her advantage to someone else.

Back at the Millennials’ camp, we hear more from Figgy. She says she knows she’s a pretty girl and will use her looks to her advantage. Figgy solidifies an alliance with Taylor and Jay, especially since she knows how close Taylor and Jay already are. The three of them also talk about bringing in Michelle into their alliance too. It seems like there will be a solid four-person alliance between Taylor, Jay, Figgy, and Michelle. Meanwhile, Hannah notes how there are a lot of attractive people on the tribe and she worries being the odd person out. She tries to bond with Michelle. We next hear from Michelle, and she discusses her faith and how she feels she comes across as a trustworthy person.

Back at the Generation X camp, Paul and Rachel are working on building shelter. However, Rachel is really talkative, and this seems to be annoying her tribemates. Sunday thinks she’s a bit too much. Meanwhile, David is very out of his element being in the wilderness and building shelter, but he’s on Survivor since he loves the game. He tries to learn, but Bret mocks David in his confessional. Bret says that David is too timid and that some girls have more testosterone than he does. David also gets overly paranoid while talking to Chris and Bret. He is certain Ken and Paul have already found a hidden immunity idol, and Chris and Bret are already feeling uneasy about him.

We return to the Millennials’ camp. Adam says that their shelter is far from being completed, but everyone on the tribe is sure everything will turn out okay. Instead of finishing the shelter, the tribe decides to go swimming in the ocean and have some fun. By the time they finish swimming, it’s already dark out and their shelter doesn’t even have a roof yet. The bamboo even collapses under them as they all try to sit on it. It starts raining as they all gather into their incomplete shelter. They are all essentially sitting in the rain, as a storm heads their way.

The Generation X tribe wakes up the next day, and CeCe laments the fact that it never stopped raining. They open tree mail, and they learn they have been given a tarp due to how bad the weather is. They must give back the tarp once the storm passes. In his confessional, Chris predicts the weather will be so bad this season and how none of them were prepared for this. Back at the Millennials’ camp, they get the same gift. They get to work on putting up their tarp, but Zeke is still unimpressed with their shelter. Zeke doesn’t think it can get much worse, but then they see Jeff Probst arriving at their camp. Jeff informs them that a cyclone is heading their way, and for the first time in Survivor history the castaways will all be evacuated. They must grab their personal items, get on a boat, and be taken to a safe zone. Jeff goes to the Generation X camp and gives them the same news. They all gather their belongings and leave the camp.

We next see footage of the storm before the castaways return to their respective camps on Day 3. The Gen X shelter is completely destroyed as a tree fell on top of it. However, the Gen X-ers are glad they’re safe and get back to work to building shelter. David says he is terrible at building shelter, and now they have to do it twice. David feels he is on the chopping block since he doesn’t feel valuable to the tribe. He tells some tribemates how he is a neurotic guy and how he has a fear of dying. He then goes on a hunt for the hidden immunity idol as everyone else is working on the shelter. Unfortunately for him, everyone noticed that he was looking for the idol. They seem certain that David will be the first one voted out if they lose the immunity challenge.

Back at the Millennials’ camp, Zeke takes on a leadership role and helps them get fire without flint. Zeke says in his confessional how he feel like he’s become a new man and is growing as a person. Meanwhile, Hannah notices the tribe has been divided between the “cool kids” and the “misfits.” Mari and Hannah talk strategy, and agree to target the “cool kids” alliance of Taylor, Jay, Figgy, and Michelle.

It’s now Day 4 and it’s time for the first immunity challenge. Both tribes brought their tarps that they had to return. Jeff tells them about the challenge. They must grab a war club and race through a series of obstacles that include tunnels and net crawls and then carry a crate to the end where they must do a puzzle. Along the way, they can choose to take shortcuts. The catch is that every time they take a shortcut, ten pieces will be added to the puzzle they must put together at the end. The challenge begins with Generation X taking all the shortcuts, and they take a big lead. The Millennials decide to take a shortcut too as Gen X begins their 70 piece puzzle. Millennials begin their puzzle too, but they only have 60 pieces. David and Rachel are working on the puzzle for Gen X, but they switch out with Sunday and Jessica as they struggle with it. However, it’s too late as Michelle and Figgy finish the puzzle. Millennials win immunity! As they head back to camp, we hear a confessional from Chris. He says David and Rachel are the two on the chopping block since they couldn’t deliver in the challenge.

Gen X returns to camp. Bret really wanted to beat the Millennials, and he says he’s shocked that they didn’t. He brings up the fact that Rachel claimed she was excellent at challenges, but she didn’t succeed. Bret and Jessica agree that Rachel should be the target, but Jessica is worried about the hidden immunity idol. In his confessional, David says he really wants to stay yet he believes he’s leaving. Jessica confronts David about the idol, but he tells them that he doesn’t have the idol. He promises them loyalty if they keep him. However, Bret still believes that David has the idol. Bret wants to split the votes in case David has the hidden immunity idol. Meanwhile, Rachel is worried that no one is talking to her. She brings this up to CeCe, and CeCe promises Rachel she has her back.

It’s time for tribal council. They each grab a torch and light it as Jeff tells them this is the ritual of tribal council. When their fire is gone, so are they. Jeff starts off with discussion about the storm. Jessica also brings up that sand got in her eye and both of her eyes are now infected. Jeff calls David, and he cried “Oh crap!” The tribe chuckles as they say he is afraid of everything. David asserts he wants to stay in the game, but he believes he could be going home tonight. Rachel also worries that she could be going home since she knows she can be too upfront. Jeff turns the discussion to hidden immunity idols. The talk goes back to David, and he says he just hopes the people in his trube trusts him.

It’s time for the vote. The first vote is for…

David

Rachel

Sunday

CeCe

Rachel

CeCe

Rachel

CeCe

Rachel

Rachel

Rachel is the first person voted out of Survivor: Millennials vs. Generation X. 

And that wraps up tonight’s episode of Survivor! Thanks for reading, post your thoughts in the comments section below, and come back next week for another live recap.

About Steven Curtis 539 Articles
Steven is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a bachelor's degree in communication arts. He enjoys watching reality competition shows, such as American Idol, Survivor, Big Brother, and The Amazing Race.