The BEST episodes of Survivor season 4

Every episode of Survivor season 4, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Survivor season 4!

Sixteen or more castaways are split between two or more "Tribes", are taken to a remote isolated location and are forced to live off the land with meager supplies for roughly 39 days. Frequent physical challenges are used to pit the tribes against each other for Rewards, such as food or luxuries, or for "Immunity", forcing the other tribe to attend "Tribal Council", where they must vote off one of their players. Once about half the players are remaining, the tribes are merged into a single tribe, and competitions are on an individual basis; winning Immunity prevents that player from being voted out, while several that are voted out at this stage form the game's "Jury". Once down to two or three people, a Final Tribal Council is held where the remaining players plead their case to the jury members. The jury then votes for which player should be considered the "Sole Survivor" and win the $1 million prize. Survivor has introduced numerous modifications, or "twists", on the core rules in order to keep the players on their toes and to prevent players from relying on strategies that succeeded in prior seasons. These changes have included tribal switches, seasons starting with more than two tribes, the ability to exile a player from a tribe for a short time, Hidden Immunity Idols that players can use to save themselves at Tribal Council and a chance to return to regular gameplay after elimination through "Redemption Island".

Last Updated: 4/29/2024Network: CBSStatus: Continuing
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Two Peas in a Pod
star
7.79
84 votes

#1 - Two Peas in a Pod

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/25/2002

The eight players divide into four teams of two to compete for a Marquesan feast that includes a helicopter trip over the islands and a horseback ride to a beautiful locale where the lavish banquet is held. To win, the pairs must be the first duo to fill a 3-ft.-tall bamboo shoot with coconut juice. The Immunity Challenge is “High Stepping,” in which players attempt to knock each other off of stilts.

The Underdogs
star
7.74
93 votes

#2 - The Underdogs

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/4/2002

The tribes try to win a picnic in the “Jungle Relay” Reward Challenge, in which teams use a canoe to retrieve a flag in the water after racing through the jungle to find two hidden paddles. For Immunity, each tribe forms a human chain to collect numbered ladder rungs inside a maze. The first team to find all of their rungs and use them to climb a tower wins.

Jury's Out
star
7.60
87 votes

#3 - Jury's Out

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/18/2002

The players try to win a Reward that includes a giant chocolate bar and a scuba-diving trip to an exotic coral reef by constructing a kite and being the first one to fly it 300 feet in the air. For Immunity, the castaways must answer questions about the Marquesas Islands.

No Pain, No Gain
star
7.55
94 votes

#4 - No Pain, No Gain

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/13/2002

Each tribe builds a raft using bamboo and paddles it through a water course to pick up supplies. The first team to complete the course wins a choice of either rice or a collection of blankets, pillows and lanterns. For Immunity, the players maneuver a coconut through a maze that is built inside an oversized wooden box.

True Lies
star
7.54
90 votes

#5 - True Lies

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/11/2002

The two teams merge to form the Soliantu tribe. The castaways play for Individual Immunity for the first time in the “Sea Legs” Challenge, which requires players to stand on a floating platform in choppy water. The last person standing wins.

A Tale of Two Cities
star
7.54
84 votes

#6 - A Tale of Two Cities

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/16/2002

The five remaining castaways play for a car in the Reward Challenge, which consists of elements from past contests, such as constructing a tiki, filling a bamboo tube with coconut juice, walking 10 feet on stilts and using a slingshot to break tiles. For Immunity, the players answer questions about Marquesan folklore.

Marquesan Vacation
star
7.52
85 votes

#7 - Marquesan Vacation

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/9/2002

The six remaining players are each reunited with a loved one, who then tries to win a day on the island by outwitting the other friends and family members on a giant puzzle board. In the “Sands of Time” Immunity Challenge, the castaways use slingshots to break tiles.

The Princess
star
7.49
91 votes

#8 - The Princess

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/2/2002

The Reward Challenge is “Rock Bottom,” in which players jump off of a floating deck to retrieve shells from the ocean. The winner gets a day on a private cruise ship that includes a hot shower, clean clothes and a hot meal. For Immunity it is “Virtues of Fire,” a Challenge that requires the castaways to build a fire that will ignite a wooden tower.

The End of Innocence
star
7.48
92 votes

#9 - The End of Innocence

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/28/2002

One tribe wins the right to take the opposing camp's food and supplies after completing a Reward Challenge that requires the teams to collect segments of four deconstructed tikis and put them together. For Immunity, the tribes must create a distress signal that can be easily seen from a rescue boat. The best signal wins.

The Sole Survivor
star
7.42
85 votes

#10 - The Sole Survivor

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/19/2002

The Final Four castaways answer questions about the 12 previously ousted players to win Immunity. Following the contest, one person is voted out. Next, the three remaining players again vie for Immunity in an endurance Challenge that requires them to stand on two logs while leaning against an idol. The last person standing wins the Final Immunity and then votes out one person. The jury then votes for the $1 million first-place-prize winner.

Marquesas Reunion
star
7.34
53 votes

#11 - Marquesas Reunion

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/19/2002

The 16 contestants reunite in New York City's Central Park. Rosie O'Donnell hosts.

The Winds Twist
star
7.28
94 votes

#12 - The Winds Twist

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/20/2002

The players assemble for what they believe is a Reward Challenge and are shocked to learn that the tribes are being switched around. For Immunity, the newly formed tribes must unscramble a woven tapestry of interlaced pieces to reveal a design.

Nacho Momma
star
7.26
98 votes

#13 - Nacho Momma

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/7/2002

The castaways play for fishing gear in the “Do or Dive” Reward Challenge, in which members from each team must dive beneath the water and take heavy stones from a sunken boat. The first team to get their boat afloat and to land wins. For Immunity, each tribe member must eat a smelly Marquesan delicacy called fafaru that consists of raw fish, fish bones, crab legs and lobster legs marinated in sea water and left in the sun for three days.

Back to the Beach
star
7.25
122 votes

#14 - Back to the Beach

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/28/2002

Sixteen castaways are marooned on Nuku Hiva, a volcanic island in the South Pacific. The members of the two tribes, Maraamu and Rotu, paddle ashore in separate life rafts and set up camp. For Immunity, each team lights a series of torches in the ocean from a canoe. The losing team goes to Tribal Council and votes out the first person.

Look Closer: The First 24 Days
star
7.07
45 votes

#15 - Look Closer: The First 24 Days

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/24/2002

Highlights and never-before-seen footage recap the castaways' first 24 days on the island of Nuku Hiva.