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.

Jeff Probst reveals why the Survivor 49 cast included alternates and issues a stern warning to future players about the show's rules