Plus, exclusive videos, photos, and more surprises!

Survivor 50 Mystery Box: Will there be a Loved Ones visit this season?

Plus, exclusive videos, photos, and more surprises!

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

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April 21, 2026 9:15 a.m. ET

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Ben Driebergen, Sophie Clarke, Denise Stapley, Michele Fitzgerald, Nick Wilson, Tony Vlachos, Sarah Lacina, Jeremy Collins, Tyson Apostol and Kim Spradlin-Wolfe with loved ones on 'Survivor: Winners at War'. Credit:

Robert Voets/CBS Entertainment

- We examine all the evidence as to whether there will be a Loved Ones visit on *Survivor 50*. Clearly, this is a very important investigation.

- We've got exclusive photos and video shot on the beach during the game.

- *Survivor* fan favorite Zeke Smith offers tribute to the Dragonslayer… through song!

As we approach the *Survivor 50* endgame, there is one question that remains unanswered: Will there be a Loved Ones visit?

On one hand, there have been no Loved Ones visits in the new era of the show. They did not even return after the Covid quarantine lockdown of seasons 41 through 44 that made them impossible. So in that sense, there was no reason to expect they would return for 50.

On the other hand… IT’S SEASON 50!!! How could they not bring Loved Ones out for the anniversary season? The last time Loved Ones *were* brought to Fiji was another anniversary installment — season 40s *Winners at War.* And it was not just one family member per player then — it was entire families. Babies! Babies were there!

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Adding to the assumption that the Loved Ones would be brought back was the fact that the show struck up a hugely publicized partnership with Fiji Airways. If Fiji Airways was agreeing to fly out fans this season, how could they not also fly out the Loved Ones? It seemed like a done deal. Except…

When I spoke to the *Survivor 50* cast before the game, I got very mixed signals when it came to the Loved Ones visit. Colby Donaldson told me all about his plan to have fellow *Survivor* alum Burton Roberts — who survived a big cancer scare — out as his Loved One. “I asked Burton before I left, ‘If there's any chance they do a visit, do you think your doctors will let you go?’” Colby told me. “He's like, ‘Man, I'll be there for you.’ And he's my best friend. So if I were to get a visit, it would be from Burton.” (How bummed are we right now that Colby did not make it far enough for a potential Loved Ones visit?)

Jeff Probst and 'Survivor 50' cast members.

Robert Voets/CBS/Alice Morgan

However, several players insisted to me before filming began that they had not even been *asked* by CBS and production whom they would like as their Loved One. As far as they were concerned, it wasn’t happening.

Does this mean that with so many contestants to get rid of in so few days, the Loved Ones visit ultimately got pushed off the schedule? Or are producers in the midst of one of their greatest ruses yet, and actually conspired with players’ Loved Ones to deceive the very people they claim to love? If that ends up being the case, and the remaining cast members truly believe their relatives are staying stateside only for them to surprise them with hugs and kisses, that could potentially lead to one of the most emotional reunions in franchise history. Or, you know, they just read some letters and call it day.

Okay, while we let that mystery marinate for a bit longer, let’s see what else is in this week’s *Survivor 50* Mystery Box, including some extended unaired footage from a challenge, a hot take from a former all-star, and another Emily Flippen screenshot gem! Oh, but first, cast your vote in our *Survivor* Loved Ones poll below!

Logging some work

THIS JUST IN! *Survivor* challenges are hard. A lot harder than they look on television. And they take a lot longer as well. Allow me to present exhibit A to support that statement in the form of this video I shot of Savannah working to get herself under this log in the *Survivor 50* marooning challenge. Keep in mind this video starts after Stephenie has already gotten out under her log so this is already well into the stage. And it is also before Kamilla was able to get herself through.

Savannah is a strong athlete with a small frame — the perfect body type to get under that log — and it *still* was a marathon effort. Check out the work she is putting in here below.

Jonathan’s back… literally!

I mean, I’m not telling you anything you don’t know when I say how mammoth Jonathan is, but it really is intimidating when you see it up close. Which is why I found myself on day 2 on the Kalo beach taking this picture of Jonathan’s back like some kind of weirdo. What can I say? I was hypnotized.

Jonathan Young on 'Survivor 50'.

Zeke Smith is an unabashed fan of the Dragnonslayer, so we had to do a wellness check on the fan favorite from *Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X* and *Game Changers* to make sure he was okay after Coach's shocking elimination. And it turned into one of our most memorable Mystery Box videos yet. Enjoy all the insanity below as Zeke reacts to episode 8 of *Survivor 50* and names his winner and loser of the week.

The last word(s)

*An outtake that did not make it into my **pre-game interview with Chrissy**, on how she has changed as a person since the last time she played:*

“When I made the decision to have my surgery, I just immediately went with my gut and it was the right call for me. And what I learned from there is that I am going to trust my gut and it is going to be the right thing for me out here. And I'm not going to play with fear and I'm not going to second guess myself. I'm going to think about what I want to do, and, of course, adapt and all these things, but I think that I'm going in… confidence is not the right word. It's not that. I just trust myself more.”

Chrissy Hofbeck of 'Survivor 50'.

Robert Voets/CBS

'Survivor 50' star Chrissy Hofbeck reveals Mike White complained she talked too much

Coach reveals why one 'Survivor 50' player had to go vote twice at Tribal Council

*An outtake that did not make it into my **pre-game interview with Coach**, on his biggest weakness heading into the game as Coach 4.0:*

“My biggest weakness is going to be that I am like that old blanket. Getting into those old habits, we are really stripped away of everything out here. And so our true selves, in my opinion, are revealed. Let's see if I truly am a different man now, or if I'm going to go back and say, ‘Tally ho! I'm leading the charge!’ That's one weakness.”

Benjamin 'Coach' Wade of 'Survivor 50'.

Robert Voets/CBS

Screenshot of the week

God bless you, Emily Flippen for providing the best facial expressions on a weekly basis. This time it was reacting to Rick Devens’ fake idol retrieval. Hang it in the Louvre. (Also, Rizo's tie!)

Emily Flippen and Rizo Velovic on 'Survivor 50'.

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