But then, for the first time ever, two players were sent home before the start of the game, which led to the alternates becoming actual contestants just hours before filming began. What caused the early dismissal of one male and one female contestant the day before the marooning?

Survivor always brings two alternates out to Fiji just in case. Every now and again, one of them winds up making the actual cast, usually because a player got sick or experienced some kind of unexpected issue prior to filming.

It’s common practice for shows like Survivor to cast alternates who are prepared to take someone’s spot if someone backs out between casting and the beginning of filming. For Survivor 49, two alternates joined the fray and host Jeff Probst explained why with a pointed warning at future players.