Survivor: Cook Islands

Survivor: Cook Islands is the 13th season of Survivor. The season generated a lot of controversy due to the decision to split tribes by ethnicity.

Production
The tribal camps, Exile Island, and many challenges of Survivor: Cook Islands were filmed on small "motu" (Polynesian word for "islet") in the Aituaki lagoon. The Rarotonga (later Aitutonga) tribe's camp was on Moturakau. The Aitutaki tribe lived on Motukitiu. The short-lived tribes of Manihiki and Puka Puka lived on Rapota and Muritapua, respectively. Most challenges were filmed on Tekopua and Tapuaetai (One Foot Island). Exile Island, a small sand cay south of Tapuaetai, is called "Nude Island" by locals in reference to its lack of vegetation. Akaiami hosted challenges and also Ponderosa, where eliminated contestants were sequestered until the end of the game. Tribal Council, the production camp, and a few challenges were located on the main island of Aitutaki. There were three reward trips to the neighboring islands of Atiu, Mitiaro, and Rarotonga.

Twists/Changes

 * Ethnicity: Following the previous season's four tribes format, this season featured twenty contestants that were divided into four tribes of five divided by race, despite controversy.
 * Exile Island: Returning from the previous season, after a Reward Challenge, players may banish a player from the rival tribe to Exile Island. This island (entirely separate from the existing camps) will force the banished player to fend for him/herself until the upcoming Immunity Challenge (unless stated otherwise). The player would not be left in despair, for he/she will be given clues to a Hidden Immunity Idol that is hidden somewhere on the island.
 * Tribe Shuffle: On Day 7, the four tribes became two. Puka Puka and Manihiki were dissolved, with the 18 remaining contestants spread into the new Rarotonga and Aitutaki tribes with 9 members each.
 * Double Tribal Council: On Day 15, both Aitutaki and Rarotonga tribes were forced to visit Tribal Council to eliminate one of their own.
 * Mutiny: On Day 19, the tribes were offered to switch tribe affiliations.
 * Message in a Bottle: After losing the Day 24 Immunity Challenge, the Rarotonga tribe received a sealed bottle with a note that can only be read after the Tribal Council elimination. The tribe assumed it was a note about instructions about the upcoming merge. But much to their shock, the note instructed them to vote another member off the tribe.
 * Delayed merge: Because of the sealed message in a bottle twist, the tribes were merged with nine members.
 * Three-way finals and expanded Jury: Unlike the first twelve seasons where the usual final two facing a seven-player Jury is featured, this season featured a Final Tribal Council with three remaining finalists facing a nine-person Jury.

Trivia

 * Thus far, this is the only season to have one tribe accidently stumble upon the opposing tribe's camp (Aitutaki members Jessica Smith, Ozzy Lusth, and Cao Boi Bui had accidently ended up on the rival Rarotonga's beach while exploring the bay).
 * This season ties with Survivor: Panama for the most starting tribes with four.
 * It is the first and only season to have the tribes divided by ethnicity.
 * Survivor: Fiji featured the same ratio of ethnicities, but only featured two tribes due to a contestant leaving.
 * This was the first season to feature a Final Three at the Final Tribal Council rather than a Final Two as in previous seasons. Since and including Cook Islands, twelve out of fourteen seasons have had a Final Three at the Final Tribal Council.
 * It is the only season where the Mutiny offer was accepted.
 * The Jury (except for the last member) consists of all former Post-Mutiny Rarotonga members, while the Final 4 (and one member of the Jury) consists of all former Post-Mutiny Aitutaki members.
 * This was the first season since Survivor: Thailand to have the Jury phase start before the merge.
 * It is the first season since Survivor: Palau to have only two different players (Adam Gentry and Ozzy Lusth) win every Individual Immunity post-merge.
 * This was the first season to have a nine-person merge since Survivor: All-Stars. Survivor: Gabon would later feature a nine-person merge.
 * This season had the most representatives in Survivor: Micronesia with three.
 * This is the only season that 3 time player Parvati Shallow did not make the Final Tribal Council in the seasons she has played in.
 * This season has had players return for the greatest number of later seasons, with 4 (Micronesia, Heroes vs. Villains, South Pacific, and Philippines)
 * This is the first season that had 20 castaways but not a schoolyard pick.
 * This is the first season in which a finalist (Becky) received 0 jury votes, which has since become very common in seasons with final threes.
 * This is the only season where the first two people voted off were both men.
 * This season ties with for the most African-American contestants with five.
 * This season features 13 contestants from the state of California.