Survivor: Winners at War is pulling off the impossible by making the Edge of Extinction good

The Ringer

"That twist, first introduced two seasons ago, changes the game by putting eliminated players on a desolate island where they await a chance to win a challenge and return," says Riley McAtee. "In Season 38, the Edge allowed Chris Underwood, who was voted out third on his season, to return for the finale and win the entire game. It was immensely unsatisfying to watch a player who had the chance to pal around with the jury on the Edge win despite playing just 13 of Survivor’s 39 days. The end result was a messy, awkward season. But Wednesday’s episode of Winners at War showed how the Edge can actually enhance a season’s story." ALSO: Why Sandra sitting out back-to-back Survivor challenges is allowed.