Expedition recap: we start off complicated

Keep your flint ready, Expedition Robinson has started again. In this anniversary year, the participants landed with one certainty: this season everything will be different. And although we are used to some surprises after all those expeditions, this start was even a good wake-up call for the seasoned viewers. There are two camps, but four teams; they partly work together, but not entirely. Well, enough to talk about.

The trial begins immediately

It is and remains Robinson, so there is no time for a slow start. The candidates must immediately prove themselves in an exhausting trial: stay standing on/hanging from a pole for as long as possible. Sounds simple, but try doing it with a feel temperature of fifty degrees. It gives us a nice opportunity to get to know the participants a bit. We always complain about how ‘familiar’ everyone is, but this year is quite a selection. Especially for those who spend some time on social media regularly. The funniest is the title ‘pickle prince’ for Camiel Kesbeke, real royalty on the island. The competition is fierce right away. No one wants to be the first to give up. Showing weakness now could be decisive for the rest of the game. But as soon as Linda steps down, the rest fall like dominoes. Until only four candidates remain.

Who is competing against whom?

A bit about that team division, because it is a bit more complicated than we are used to. Twan, Tobias, Florentien, and Lies win the first trial and are thus dubbed as tribe leaders. They then choose which fellow candidates may join them. The four tribes are then divided into red and green teams that will compete for the basic north island or the beautiful south; or as Koen calls it, the bounty island. We know those two camps against each other, but the fact that there are actually four teams will surely mean something more.

One Robinson surprises us all

Now that the teams are formed, it’s time for the first mega trial. And honestly: I always wonder if the participants remember that long explanation all at once. Clear or not, the candidates are going for it anyway. Team red quickly gains a nice lead; but during the annual bickering about making fire, things go wrong. Just one step away from victory for team green, it’s up to Koen to climb a huge slope all by himself. Nordin absolutely doesn’t see it happening, but Koen surprises us all. He flies up and thus also to the coveted Camp South. This is a Robinson to keep an eye on.

The Robinson game is on

The candidates sail to their islands. That immediately makes one thing clear: yes, there are two camps, but actually, it’s every tribe for themselves. And that message has been received loud and clear. Building materials are shared, albeit with slight reluctance. Cooking can also be done together, but the supplies remain separate. Camp North immediately gets an extra surprise: one participant must be designated per tribe for a duel, the loser does not return. The starting signal for tactical discussions and the first secrets. We can prepare for quite a few secret meetings at sea or deep in the bushes. Robinson 2025 has begun, bring it on!