Lots of people are calling for Probst's head
https://www.vulture.com/article/surv...ff-probst.html
I can't say I disagree. All of these changes have not worked out for the better. I still don't see how having three tribes and making each season 26 days is considered an "improvement". These smaller tribes have not worked out, as usually one tribe gets decimated. It's not enjoyable watching one tribe have 2-3 players while the others have 5-6.
Gone are the themed seasons, villains of the past, and real strategic gameplay. Yet those still exist in Survivor Australia. So it can't be that us North Americans are incapable of playing that way. These all seem like changes made by Probst and the producers which has severely hindered the show.
It's unfortunate JLP (the host of Austalia) is 54 himself, as he would be ideal to takeover the American version. Yet we all seem to agree that this New Era doesn't hold a candle to the older version. Ever since Winners at War the show has gone downhill in a hurry. Sure there are "memorable" players, but for all the wrong reasons. When Caroline becomes the mould of players they're looking for (which was mentioned multiple times) you know there's something wrong with the casting process.
Long gone are the days of Borneo. Now it's become a TLC version of Survivor.
As for recommendations of where to start on Australian Survivor you could start off with the latest season, but there are often returnees or spoilers from previous seasons. The peak seasons began in 2016, but the general consensus is that the best seasons are 2017, Titans vs Rebels (2024), Champions vs Contenders (2018), Heroes vs Villains (2023), Brains vs Brawn (2021), Champions vs Contenders 2 (2019). I believe csnarpy has them all posted up, but many are available on Youtube.
I honestly can't believe some loyalists still believe the American version is better. I stood on that ground BEFORE I actually watched the Australian version... but once you get off the ground you immediately realize our version doesn't hold a candle to the Aussies. Look at how physically (and mentally) tough the final challenge is compared to the US version. It's a total farce.