Ep 1. Appearances Are Deceiving

As the thirty-seventh season of Survivor kicks off, viewers are introduced to a new batch of contestants who will be battling it out on the island of Fiji. The first episode, titled "Appearances Are Deceiving," begins with the players arriving on a beautiful beach with no idea what challenges and twists await them.

Right off the bat, it becomes clear that this cast is full of intriguing characters. There's Mike, a hulking construction worker with a heart of gold who's ready to fight hard to provide for his family. There's biotech researcher Natalia, who feels confident in her intellect but worries about her physical abilities. And there's Angelina, a self-proclaimed negotiator who immediately sets her sights on forming alliances.

The contestants are divided into two tribes: the David tribe and the Goliath tribe. The former is made up of people who have overcome obstacles in their lives to achieve success, while the latter is composed of those who have experienced success from a young age. It's quickly apparent that the Goliath tribe members have already formed strong bonds and alliances, while the Davids are struggling to connect with each other.

The first challenge involves a race to gather logs and use them to build a ladder leading up to a platform. The tribe that successfully climbs to the top of the platform and retrieves a bag of rice wins immunity and fire-making supplies. It's a neck-and-neck race, but it's the Goliaths who come out on top thanks to John, a professional wrestler who uses his strength to help his teammates climb the ladder.

Back at camp, things are tense for the Davids. They know they're at a disadvantage going into the first Tribal Council, and they're struggling to figure out who to vote off. In particular, Christian, a robotics scientist, is worried that his analytical mind will make him a target. However, he manages to form a connection with a few other players, including Nick, a public defender, and they begin to hatch a plan to take out someone from the Goliath tribe.

When the Goliaths visit the Davids' camp to get to know each other, things get heated. Dan, a Goliath who works in Hollywood, starts bragging about his success and insisting that the others should "bow down" to him. Nick senses an opportunity to turn the tribes against each other, and he begins to plant seeds of doubt in the Goliaths' minds about Dan's loyalty.

At Tribal Council, tensions are high as the Davids contemplate who to vote off. The Goliaths are confident that they're safe, but their calm demeanor starts to crack when they realize that Dan might not be as loyal as they thought. In the end, it's a nail-biting vote, and one player is sent home.

Overall, "Appearances Are Deceiving" is a solid start to the season. The contestants are instantly captivating and it's clear that alliances will be forming quickly. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats as they wait to see who will emerge as a front-runner in this game of survival.