Survifern: Foes vs Favorites

Survifern’s main weekend ran from August 29th through August 31st, but for me it really started the Thursday before and didn’t end until Monday. The entire week leading up to it was a blur of planning, final checks, supply runs, and making sure every build, prop, and challenge station was ready to go. I was in charge of scheduling this year: coordinating production teams, making sure each group had enough hands, and keeping everyone aligned on where they needed to be and when. By Friday at 6 p.m., contestants began to arrive, and the energy shifted instantly. The teams were already set, and a full week of strategy, alliances, and whispered conversations had been brewing behind the scenes. That night we held our first convention, and two players were sent home, leaving eighteen to sleep over and wake up ready to compete on Saturday.

The next two days were nonstop. Players won and lost challenges, formed bonds, broke them, and voted each other out one by one until only the final three remained on Sunday night. This was our most emotional season yet, not just for the players but for production as well. There were moments of triumph, frustration, heartbreak, and genuine vulnerability. Every elimination hit harder than expected, and every challenge seemed to carry more weight. When the final convention arrived, all previously voted‑out players returned to form the jury, ready to cast their votes and crown the winner of Season 4: Foes vs. Favorites. Watching the entire summer come full circle, seeing the players step into their roles with so much heart, made the challenges of planning, pivoting, and problem‑solving feel worth it.

After the winner was announced and the celebration began, the constant state of preparedness finally loosened its grip. For the first time in months, we were able to breathe. Monday became a recovery day. We all knew that the following year would be a rest year, giving us time to catch up on editing footage, organizing archives, and documenting the legacy we’ve been building piece by piece. And for me personally, stepping away from Survifern planning for a while means returning to my comics with a clearer head and a little more space. This season took everything out of us, but it also gave us something lasting, something we’ll be unpacking for a long time.