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Surviving Istanbul (TNT)
Imagine being dropped into a foreign city with nothing but the clothes on your back - no cash, no phone, and no idea where you are. That's the reality for contestants on Surviving Istanbul. They've got to navigate the streets, scrounge up food, and complete crazy challenges all while trying to win a life-changing grand prize. It's a wild ride that's equal parts survival skills, teamwork, and strategy.
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Mixed Bag in Istanbul: Great Setting, But Lackluster Contestants
summarizeEditor's Summary
I'm a huge fan of survival shows, and I love watching how contestants navigate wild conditions and outwit each other to stay in a luxurious hotel. This season's format has changed, but the core remains the same: two teams - one with celebrities and the other with regular people - competing against each other. While the show's hosts, Laisan Utyasheva and Pavel Voly, do an excellent job, the contestants' lack of challenge and the VIP tent make it feel less authentic. I still enjoy watching it, but I wish they'd go back to the original format. The show airs on TNT once a week, which is great for consistency. The setting in Istanbul is beautiful, and it adds to the overall ambiance. I've been watching the show for a while now, and I appreciate how the hosts keep the energy high. The challenges are still interesting, but they're not as tough as they used to be. I wish the contestants would focus more on surviving than on winning.
settingsSpecifications
KararKötü
Format7/10
Konuklar4/10
Sunucular9/10
Keyif Alınan Anlar6/10
Konukların Performansı3/10
Hello everyone!
I'm a big fan of survival shows, and I love watching how people behave under pressure and how they get out of tricky situations.
But honestly, it seems like these shows are getting easier with each season. It's not just about surviving, it's about who you're surviving for.
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So, the format of the show has changed, but the core remains the same: two teams - one with celebrities and the other with regular people - competing against each other to stay in a luxurious hotel while filming. The losing team has to live in the wild. After each challenge, there's a vote, and two people compete against each other to be eliminated.
This season's wild conditions aren't so bad - they even built a VIP tent for the contestants. I mean, a shelter was already set up, so it's not like they're completely roughing it.
The show airs on TNT once a week, but I prefer watching it on Rutube. It's just easier for me to plan my viewing schedule.
The hosts, Laisan Utyasheva and Pavel Voly, are super consistent and doing a great job.
Pavel Voly
Laisan Utyasheva
The real excitement started even before the first challenge.
I've gotta say, each team had to free up another contestant by completing a specific set of challenges. Even in the very first test, it was clear why those people became 'stars' and the others never even ventured beyond their hometown. It was so obvious that there was a huge difference in their drive to win and their will to win – I'd be surprised if the public team ever managed to win anything.
I was tasked with saving two people – one was the popular journalist Alyona, and the other was a regular woman, Irina (to be honest, Irina looked eerily similar to Iriska-chiki-piki, and I couldn't stop associating the two throughout the show, although Irina was just a normal, everyday woman).
When the stars finally reached the last contestant, they all rushed to save Irina, completely ignoring Alyona.
And Alyona's attempts to get their attention, pleading with them and stretching out her arms, were completely ignored – it was clear that the stars thought it was hilarious to ignore Alyona and take Irina into their team instead.
Alyona blin. Lonely
I have to say, even the public team didn't seem too thrilled about Alyona joining them – they were all excitedly planning out their strategy for the next challenge, with Alyona as their star contestant. It was a pretty underwhelming prospect, but I guess Alyona's reputation precedes her.
Although, to be honest, I couldn't help but feel like I didn't really care about either team in the end – I just didn't like any of the contestants.
Trying to Survive in Istanbul I was a bit surprised by how Serio handled himself on the show. He came across as a total macho, saying he'd rather just vote for himself so he could go on the challenges, but in the end, he ended up voting with the majority. What was really funny was how he'd often say things like 'I'm a tough guy' and then proceed to do the opposite. Where's the new music, Serio?I have to admit, I found Serio's whole 'I'm a tough guy' act to be really annoying. He'd often say things like 'Do I really need to introduce myself?' or 'How will you surprise me, Pasha?'
But to be honest, the only thing that really surprised me about Serio was his 'black Beetle' – it's not like it's a rare car or anything!
Enjoy it while you canEkateryna Gordon is at it again, causing a huge scandal.
I think this woman is essentially designed to stir up controversy.I have to admit, she's very articulate and speaks with confidence, and for a while, I thought she was a real lawyer. It wasn't until recently that I found out she doesn't have any formal legal education and is actually just a representative or manager - not a lawyer at all!
What a scandalous figure, pretending to be a lawyer.
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I've never been a fan of Mia Boyka, and it's been that way since she was on the TV show "Challenge." I only managed to watch a couple of episodes, but I remember her constantly complaining about the guys she was paired with being weak and annoying. She always came across as this victim figure who loses but refuses to take responsibility for her losses.
Mia BoykaNow, she's teamed up with Katya and Irina, and they're basically a package deal, pushing their own agenda.
The three girls with Irina
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As for Maria Gorban, I have no idea who she is - this is my first time seeing her.
Honestly, I'm not a fan of her wig - it's way too processed, and those veneers are super white and look like they were put in yesterday. Maria Gorban and her super white veneers It's hard to get a read on her, though - she rarely speaks her mind directly, only on interviews. She's got a pretty sly approach, and she's not afraid to stir up drama behind the scenes. We'll see how it plays out.
I'm also not a fan of this other tall, handsome young actor who thinks he's a ostrich and sticks his head in the sand every chance he gets.
Who are you, really? At first, he's just like everyone else, but as soon as things get heated, he's like, 'Oh, I didn't come up with that, I disagreed with it, but nobody asked me.' I just didn't see any backbone in him, and his good looks and height didn't impress me as much as they used to. Sly move
As for Magomet, who used to be on a treasure hunt in China, he didn't really show a new side to me - he's just a sly little beetle who'll do whatever it takes to win the top prize.
If Goran's going for the win against Magomed The grand prize is a whopping 10,000,000 rubles, which I think is a pretty sweet deal for everyone involved. Newbie Irina, who was supposed to make it to the people's team but ended up in the star team instead, is acting pretty weird – she's always being polite, never argues with anyone, and doesn't really express her own opinions. It's like she's setting herself up for failure by feeling like an outsider all the time.
The star team I mean, in the people's team, there are definitely some unknown players, but they're not just unknown – they're also kind of... invisible.Surviving in Istanbul ReviewsI went with the volleyball player at first – he's a tall, pretty sturdy guy, so I thought, 'Okay, he's the one who's gonna lead them to victory.'
The villa's not badThen I hear him on an interview: 'I'm really proud of my achievements. When I first joined the team, I immediately took out the strongest player, and we ended up coming in second.'
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I'm still trying to wrap my head around why you got rid of the strongest player, and how the team managed to come in second – weren't they last place before?
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The bearded, tattooed coach is pretty much the most annoying guy – he's so boring, always figuring things out, and I'm just amazed that the strong girl who does arm wrestling hasn't given him a slap in the face yet (I'm exaggerating, but he's definitely earned it).
Surviving in Istanbul There's also this goofy, chatty guy who's always laughing at every joke, can sing and dance (and also has a bit of a gut), and is always smiling. I have no idea how he's gonna make it in this situation – the story doesn't mention that part.
MisfitsI couldn't even tell who the other contestants are – these three stand out somehow,
The People's Teamand Alena is just sort of wandering around, while the others are just invisible. Who are these people?xa0
My impression of the show is pretty mixed – first of all, it's way too long again, with each series lasting over three hours. That's just ridiculous.
Also, the hosts or organizers have somehow changed the rules, and now after the first competition, we're facing something new – I have no idea what, because the series ended in a cliffhanger, and I hate that. You spend three hours watching, and then you have to wait another week to see what happens next. Whoever came up with this idea is a terrible person.
A Bunch of Tricks Up Their Sleeve Putting These Characters Through the WringerAt This Point, I'm Honestly on the Fence, because for the first time in ages, I'm genuinely unsure if I'll even bother watching this show. I just don't feel invested in the characters – and that's because I actively dislike them. It's not just the 'everyman' types that are getting on my nerves; even the two-faced celebrities are starting to grate.
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On the plus side, the show is filmed in one of the most breathtaking and historic cities – Istanbul. I've got a soft spot for Istanbul, and if you're curious, you can read more about it in this in-depth review of Istanbul.
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Here's the lowdown on the old airport in Istanbul's Asian side
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And here's what's new with the massive airport in Istanbul's European side
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Lapota How beautifulA major drawback, in my opinion, is the lack of decent stars and strong community members.I think Alena Blin was probably regretting her decision to join – she wasn't even given any stars, and the community doesn't appreciate her. It's clear she's not feeling comfortable. It's like when you're a student: for the first couple of years, you're working for the grade, and then the grade starts working for you. Alena seems to have messed up with her grade somehow 🤷♀️
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I'd recommend the show to people with a lot of free time, because otherwise, watching one episode will take up several days (like it did for me). I want to tell the organizers: cut out the unnecessary parts, make the show more dynamic, and it'll be 100 times more interesting than the hours of boring content they've got now.
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I wish everyone peace and good vibes 🌺, and I hope they find some interesting shows too, but that's secondary.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
Is the show still worth watching if the contestants have it easy?
Yes, the show is still worth watching, but it's not as engaging as it used to be. The hosts and the setting are still great, but the lack of challenge makes it less exciting.
Can I watch the show on other platforms besides TNT?
Yes, you can watch the show on Rutube, which is where I prefer to watch it. It's just easier for me to plan my viewing schedule.
What's the format of the show like?
The format is still the same: two teams - one with celebrities and the other with regular people - competing against each other to stay in a luxurious hotel. The losing team has to live in the wild, and after each challenge, there's a vote, and two people compete against each other to be eliminated.
How often does the show air?
The show airs on TNT once a week, which is great for consistency.
What's the prize fund like?
The prize fund is impressive, and it's clear that the contestants are motivated to win.
Can I get more information about the show's setting?
The show is set in Istanbul, which is a beautiful city with a lot of character. The setting adds to the overall ambiance of the show.
How can I contact the show's hosts?
I'm not sure how to contact the hosts directly, but you can try reaching out to the show's producers or network.
Are there any other survival shows like this one?
Yes, there are several other survival shows that you might enjoy. Let me know if you're interested, and I can recommend some.
What's the deal with the VIP tent?
The VIP tent takes away from the challenge and makes it feel less real. I wish they'd get rid of it and make the contestants rough it more.
check_circlePros
- •The hosts, Laisan Utyasheva and Pavel Voly, are super consistent and doing a great job.
- •The show airs on TNT once a week, and I appreciate the consistency.
- •The prize fund is impressive, and it's clear that the contestants are motivated.
- •The show's setting in Istanbul is beautiful, and it adds to the overall ambiance.
- •I enjoy watching how contestants interact with each other and form alliances.
- •The show's format allows for some interesting challenges and obstacles.
- •The hosts keep the energy high, and it's infectious.
- •The show is still worth watching, even if it's not as exciting as it used to be.
cancelCons
- •The contestants seem to be having it too easy, especially with the VIP tent.
- •The challenges are not as tough as they used to be, making it less exciting to watch.
- •I wish they'd go back to the original format, where contestants had to rough it more.
- •The show's pacing can be slow at times, especially during the voting segments.
- •I feel like the contestants are more focused on winning than on surviving.
- •The show's lack of authenticity makes it harder for me to get invested in the contestants' stories.
- •The VIP tent takes away from the challenge and makes it feel less real.
- •The contestants' lack of challenge makes it less engaging to watch.
