"Survivor US" Season 28 is going strong, with a few tricks up its sleeve to surprise hardcore fans of the series. This season turns the tables on castaways with beauty, brains, and brawn to boast.

"Survivor" is one of few reality shows consistent in appeal and in ratings. The success is mainly credited to its unpredictability. 18 (on average) castaways are sent to a remote location to fend for themselves, foraging for food and supplies and participating in mentally, physically demanding challenges. Participants are voted out on a regular basis by competing castaways, adding an element of treachery and manipulation in an already exhausting game.

The social game thickens the plot, and camera crews capture castaways as they scheme alliances and blindsides. "Survivor US" Season 28 has three tribes competing for rewards, as well as for a free pass to tribal council eliminations. Tribes are currently merged, and castaways play for individual immunity from elimination. NBA superstar Cliff Robinson headlines the roster, though eliminated prior to the merge.

"Survivor US" Season 28 is about to wrap up. Sarah, Morgan, LJ, Jeremiah, and Jefra were eliminated over the weeks; they're now members of the jury, the people in charge of choosing the winner at the end of the game. Jeff Probst always caps out each elimination round with an analysis of the vote, emphasizing the social aspect of the game as crucial to making it to the end of the game, earning jury votes for the million-dollar prize.

Previous seasons of "Survivor US" highlighted personalities with different strategies, some honorable while others downright cutthroat. Tribes were previously grouped to pair veterans of the game with newbies, young castaways with older participants, even pitted family members against each other. There are no signs of slowing down for "Survivor US" Season 28, as twists like hidden immunity idols with "special powers" (check out this related article) spice up the gameplay.