The Biggest Twist is No Twist

The Biggest Twist is No Twist is the first episode of Survivor: Gilbert Islands.

Challenges
Reward & Immunity Challenge: Quest for Fire Tribes will have a raft fitted with a fire cauldron and two torches. The tribes will use the torches to light a series of torches or woks both on land and in the water. All members must have their hands on the raft at all times. The first tribe to reach the finish wins fire in the form of flint as well as immunity. Winner: TBD

Day 1
''The scene opens to an overhead view of the Gilbert Islands, a small archipelago of coral islands and the location for yet another season of Survivor. The camera pans across the Marakei atoll before sinking underneath the surface, where an unbelievably beautiful garden of coral is growing on the ocean floor. Various colorful tropical fish are seen swimming between the coral before the camera resurfaces to show two boats, each containing eight castaways, are seen speeding towards a third boat where Probst stands.''

Probst: I am standing on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, about 100 meters away from the Marakei atoll, one of sixteen coral islands that consist of the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati. Here, sixteen Americans from all walks of life will be separated from the outside world and human civilization to begin the journey of a lifetime. They will be given minimal food and only a few resources to help them survive.

The camera pans to several of the castaways on the red tribe as they size each other up, eventually stopping to focus on an African-American woman wearing a brown hat."abaiang"

- Playing Survivor has been one of my biggest dreams since I was a little girl. I watched the show every week with my immediate family and rarely missed an episode. I know this show inside and out, and I'm ready for whatever Mr. Probst has to throw at me. Plus, I'm a journalist and a damn good one at that. I know how to get the truth out of people and I always take mental notes of everything people tell me. If any poor fool tries to lie to me, they won't forget it. The camera then focuses on a shorter, middle-aged woman wearing glasses."abaiang"

- I'm fully expecting my tribe to underestimate me at first. Yeah, I'm small and I've seen better, younger days, that's just the truth. However, I like to think that I'm in pretty good shape for my age. I might be at a disadvantage here because of my build, but you can't judge a book by its cover. I'm so excited to meet them, though! It's so exciting to be competing on a show like this. I've applied time after time after time and to finally get on... I cannot waste this great opportunity! Probst: The castaways are not allowed to speak to each other yet. This hasn't stopped them from forming first impressions of each other, though.

''The camera shows a strong, blonde man who is glancing at his fellow competitors. When he glances at Jordan, she glares at him briefly before looking away.''"abaiang"

- I can already tell that I'm not going to get along at all with the makeup-caked bitch with the green hat and the brown hair. She's already been looking at me funny and clearly knows nothing about surviving here in the wilderness. Her entire aura screams negativity, complaining, and laziness. I cannot wait to vote her out at the earliest possible opportunity; I can't have anybody trying to question my leadership without even speaking to me once. The woman Harrison is referring to, Jordan, is then focused on by the camera."abaiang"

- It's been, what? 5 minutes? And I already had some guy look at me funny. I've lived my entire life with men telling me what I can do and what I can't do and I'm sick and f**king tired of it. This blonde douche isn't going to control me and I'm not going to let him roll his eyes at me before I've even said anything. I don't even know his name yet, but I already want that guy gone now. The camera then switches over to the green tribe, focusing specifically on an older Asian woman wearing an extravagant necklace."makin"

- I've lived 63 long years of life, and living for so long can leave you a little bored. To me, Survivor represents the excitement, thrill, and spontaneity of my younger years. Whether I make it all the way or I'm the first one gone, I'm thankful to have finally mustered the courage to try this out. Hopefully this old fart does some damage! (chuckes) Next, the camera shows a tall man with brown hair looking at the nature around him with awe."makin"

- I can't believe how beautiful it is out here, man. I couldn't picture a place like this in my wildest dreams. It's so... untouched, so fresh, so ready to be explored! I've always had a fascination for the wilderness and the world's natural beauty, and it's safe to say there's that in spades here in the Gilbert Islands. It's almost a bit overwhelming, like... did I really sign up to be stranded in the middle of the ocean with a bunch of strangers? Man, what did I get myself into... As Chad and some of the other castaways on the green tribe marvel in their surroundings, a younger red-haired man on the boat can't help but roll his eyes."makin"

- Ugh. I haven't even talked to these people yet, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that they're all cheery and fake just like everyone else in this world. I mean, have you SEEN that brunette girl? I hate to be rude... (chuckles) Ha, who am I kidding? I love to be rude! Anyways, this girl has the crazy eyes. She has clearly been taken right out of the nearest insane asylum because she looks like she's ready to murder everyone here just based off her damn creepy face... that makes two of us, girl. Erica, the woman who Vincent is referring to, continues smiling widely as can be."makin"

- OH. MY. GOD!!! I cannot believe it. I'm, like, actually here on Survivor! (squeals) This is really a dream come true. I can't wait to meet everyone on my tribe and start strategizing. Ooh! I wonder what kind of twist Jeff might throw at us? Either way, I'm ready to cash in my million dollar check! (winks playfully at the camera) Probst: It is the ultimate test - 16 strangers working together to battle the elements and each other. They must learn to adapt or they will be voted out. In the end, only one will be left standing to take the million-dollar check and the title of Sole Survivor. 39 days, 16 people, one Survivor!

''The intro plays. Once it is finished, the camera shows the two boats, which have reached Probst's boat and have stopped moving. Jeff Probst then stands to address the 16 castaways.''

Probst: Welcome to Survivor: Gilbert Islands.

''The castaways all cheer, with the exception of Vincent. An older woman on the red tribe in particular looks very excited for the game to begin.''"abaiang"

- I'm still in shock right now. I'm really standing here in front of Jeff, ready to embark on my unexpected Survivor journey. There are thousands of people who dream of standing where I'm standing, and I'll be sure that those people are thrilled with my success. I'm going to be the last man standing. (pauses) Last woman standing? Oh, no matter, as long as I get that million-dollar check! Probst: Man in the hoodie.

Troy: Troy.

Probst (Surprised): First of all, what on Earth are you wearing?

Troy (Smiling): Never know, man. Might get cold.

Some of the castaways chuckle, while others look confused."abaiang"

- It's pretty obvious that Troy isn't the smartest tool in the shed. I mean, really? A hoodie? It's about 100 degrees out right now! Either he has some crazy heat resistance I'm unaware of or this guy is a new level of dumb. Either way, I already don't trust him one bit. He seems shifty at best and braindead at worst. Troy, meanwhile, continues to smile confidently."abaiang"

- This hoodie that I'm wearing? It's my lucky hoodie. I was wearing this thing the day I found out I got into college. Nobody in my family's been to college before me, it was really a miracle that I got in, too. My grades weren't the best in high school, I just didn't have the time. All I know is that this hoodie's never failed me. I've got to wear it on the first day out here. Probst: Fair enough. Do you notice anything different right off the bat?

Troy (Looking Around): Hm... well, there are only sixteen of us. Usually there's more.

Probst: That's correct. Woman wearing green.

Terri (Sternly): Name's Terri.

Probst: Terri, what do you make of this? It's been a long time since we had a cast so small. Do you think anything of it?

Terri (Looking Around): Not really, Jeff. Just by taking a quick look around, seems to me like you couldn't find very many people tough enough to hold their own out here!

A few of the castaways laugh, but most of them are intimidated by Terri."makin"

- I was a bit worried at first, seeing two older women on our tribe, that we wouldn't be doing so well in challenges. But as soon as Terri opened her mouth, I could tell that she will be a big asset for us physically. Just the way she presents herself and talks, she's so... intimidating and almost threatening in a way. It makes me very glad that she's been put on my tribe, I'll tell you that much, as I would not want to go against her any time soon.

Probst (Amused): Hm, well, that's certainly bold of you to say. But no, that's not why. Man with the glasses in blue.

Kent (Humbly): I'm Kent.

Probst: Kent, are you a fan of the show?

Kent (Choosing his words carefully): I'm familiar, yeah.

Probst: Do you remember how many castaways there were on the very first season of Survivor?

Kent: Sixteen.

Probst: That's right. Well, to make a long story short, we're going back to square one.

Some of the castaways look nervous and unsure of what Jeff is implying.

Probst: All of the twists that fans of the show have grown to love - or hate - including tribe switches, hidden immunity idols, Redemption Island, Exile Island, secret advantages, you name it. All of them will not be included on this season.

Audible gasps are heard from the more avid fans of the show, including an African-American man in glasses."makin"

- When Jeff told us we were going back to basics... I was speechless. I'd seen every single season before heading out here, I was prepared for any kind of twist that Jeff might throw at us. Turns out that the biggest twist is no twist at all. It definitely makes things a bit more predictable in terms of switches and tribe designations, but no idols to save myself if I'm in a rut? I'm not sure if I like the sound of that. Probst: Just like the very first season of Survivor, you have all been randomly divided into 2 tribes of eight members each. You guys will stay on your tribe until the tribes merge.

The castaways all nod.

Probst: Red tribe, you are Abaiang. Here are your buffs and a map to your camp.

Probst tosses the bag full of buffs to the excited members of the Abaiang tribe; the bag is caught by an eager Harrison.

Probst: Green tribe, you are Makin. Here are your buffs and a map to your camp.

Probst tosses another bag of buffs to the other tribe, where Terri effortlessly catches and distributes the buffs to her tribe members.

Probst: All right. With that, the game has officially begun. Abaiang, Makin, follow your maps to your camps and get to work. You guys can head out.

''Both tribes rush out, eager to get the game started. As the Makin tribe begins walking to their campsite, the camera focuses on Terri, who is leading the pack.''"makin"

- I know we haven't gotten to camp yet, but I'm already designating myself as the leader of this tribe. I mean, have you seen this sorry bunch of losers I'm stuck with? They're going to need all the help they can get to survive out here. They wouldn't last one day without me, I guarantee it.