There has very rarely been a season of Survivor that viewers would consider boring, but there have been many that stood out more than others due to their incredible casts. The casting process on Survivor is tough, with producers and casting directors trying to find the most likable, annoying, interesting, and strategic people to compete on the reality series.
Survivor often doesn't need to rely on twists and idols to make a season interesting, but instead needs to focus on finding the best group of people to compete against one another. Opposing personalities, interesting backstories, and players from different places can make a season worth watching and even have it go down as one of the best.
Borneo (Season 1)
One of the reasons that Survivor was so successful when it first aired was because of the group of 16 castaways they chose to compete on the pilot season.
Each player brought something to the game and set a precedent. From winner Richard Hatch's confidence to runner-up Kelly Wiglesworth's challenge dominance, there was no shortage of entertainment in the first season. The first-ever alliance of the Tagi Four helped define the game, and will never be forgotten as long as Survivor is on the air.
Blood Vs Water (Season 27)
It took Survivor almost 30 seasons before they introduced one of the most interesting twists on the show, Blood Vs Water. The first edition of it featured one tribe of returning players and another of their loved ones, resulting in chaos and heartbreak in the cutthroat game.
The cast of Blood Vs Water had fun returnees like Tyson Apostol, Tina Wesson, and Gervase Peterson, but also loved ones that proved to be just as iconic as the returnees once were. Ciera Eastin voted out her own mother, Laura Morett, and Hayden Moss outlasted his girlfriend Kat Edorsson and became a fan-favorite.
China (Season 15)
Survivor: China's final three alone speaks for itself; flight attendant and satisfying winner Todd Herzog, queen of snark and one of the funniest to ever play Courtney Yates, and beauty queen turned outstanding strategist Amanda Kimmel.
China could have been a boring season due to the Fei Long tribe's total domination over Zhan Hu, but instead, it was one of the more entertaining seasons at the time. It was the first to feature a player voted out with not one, but two idols in their pocket, and had a final three so likable, it was truly anybody's game to win.
Pearl Islands (Season 7)
The first two-time winner of Survivor, Sandra Diaz-Twine competed on Survivor for the first time and make viewers laugh and root for her as she defeated Lillian Morris in the final two.
It wasn't an easy road for Sandra, though. She had to navigate the infamous Outcasts twist, and go head to head with the lovable (yet infuriating to her) Rupert Boneham and a notorious villain who was willing to do anything for a reward, Johnny Fairplay. Sandra's win was impressive, just like the hilarious and entertaining cast of the season.
Micronesia (Season 16)
Survivor: Fan Vs Favorites had Survivor all-stars competing against self-proclaimed super fans of the show, and the theme did not disappoint. The favorites dominated over the fans, proving that they were invited back to the show for a reason.
But the season wasn't only made great because of cast like Parvati Shallow and Cirie Fields, but also because of newcomers like Erik Reichenbach and Natalie Bolton. Erik iconically gave up immunity at the final five to his former tribe-mate Natalie, resulting in his blindside and going down in history as making the dumbest move ever.
Cagayan (Season 28)
When the theme of Brains Vs Brawn Vs Beauty was announced, fans were nervous that the entire season was going to play off stereotypes and silly gimmicks. However, the cast of Cagayan proved that they were all much more than the stereotypes they were sorted into, and became one of the most iconic casts in Survivor history.
The final four alone was legendary, composed of spy-shack creator Tony Vlachos, endearing and sweet surfer Woo Hwang, lawyer and "zero chance of winning the game" Kass McQuillen, and the always analytical Spencer Bledsoe.
The Australian Outback (Season 2)
Season 2 of Survivor introduced some of the most famous faces to ever play. The iconic rivalry between Colby Donaldson and Jerri Manthey began when they were both placed on the Ogakor tribe, and Amber Brkich quietly competed and placed sixth before meeting her eventual husband Boston Rob on Survivor: All-Stars.
Many of the cast returned for All-Stars because they were so interesting and fun to watch, with the final two being made up of two of the most likable contestants ever in Colby Donaldson and Tina Wesson.
Heroes Vs Villains (Season 20)
Heroes Vs Villains is the best all-star season of Survivor for a number of reasons, but the biggest one is that the cast is full of so many legendary players that television will likely never see play together again.
Season 20 took some of the greatest players to compete in the first ten years of the show and placed them on an island together, causing chaos and unpredictability with each new episode. Boston Rob and Russell Hantz going head to head was a battle worth watching, as was the returning Jerri/Colby rivalry, and the crowning of the first two-time winner.
Tocantins (Season 18)
Survivor: Tocantins didn't have any twists or gimmicks that made it worth watching, just a cast of clashing personalities that led to endless entertainment.
Season 18 was the first time fans saw Coach Wade, Tyson Apostol, and JT Thomas compete, three players who would go to become Survivor legends. It isn't often Survivor finds a contestant who gives themselves the nickname "The Dragon Slayer", but when it does, it's bound to be a top-tier season.
David Vs Goliath (Season 37)
The cast of David Vs Goliath was the best batch of new players that the show had seen in nearly ten seasons. Iconic cast included robotics professor Christian Hubicki, eventual winner Nick Wilson and his BFF Davie Rickenbacker, screenwriter Mike White, and the most hilarious villain in years, Angelina Keeley.
It wasn't the goofy theme or the idol nullifier that made the season worth watching, it was the fascinating group of characters that drew viewers in. Couple that with likable alliances, a good winner, and a handful of players likely to return and it's one of the best casts the show has ever had.