The latest season of "Koh Lanta," titled "La revanche des 4 Terres," premiered on February 25, 2025, on TF1, bringing back host Denis Brogniart to lead the competition amid the lush landscapes of the Philippines. This installment features 24 contestants divided among four teams—North, South, East, and West—each representing different regions of France. The show kicked off with high energy as the contestants dove straight from introductions to their first challenge, showcasing both their competitive spirit and regional pride.
Upon arrival, viewers were introduced to the four teams: the Nord Pilaga tribe represented by purple, the Sud Timog tribe with blue, the Ouest Kanluran tribe marked by orange, and the Est Silanga tribe donned in green. The challenge of the evening was the classic elastic game, where teams, tethered together, raced to secure six wooden tokens from the resort's swampy terrain. Winners would get the choice between three matches for fire or 500 grams of rice, leading to strategic decision-making right from the get-go.
Victorious was the Sud team, which selected the fire-making matches. Despite their initial success, the evening turned sour for the Ouest tribe, as they ended up last and were sent to the inhospitable island of exile, notorious for its ruggedness and lack of provisions. The mission on this island supports heightened tension throughout the competition as the contestants grappled with their deprivations and anxieties about upcoming challenges.
During the first camp night, Adrien from the Sud team eagerly attempted to ignite the fire using their precious matches. Unfortunately, his first two efforts failed, and he accidentally burned through the third match. His failure generated murmurs among the contestants, with Naïs openly expressing concern over his leadership abilities. With the stakes raised, successful fire-making would be imperative; once the group rallied, Adrien finally succeeded, marking a small victory amid rising tensions.
Meanwhile, notable personalities emerged among contestants, particularly Maxime from the Est tribe. He displayed boastful bravado about his adventurous spirit, even consuming insects he discovered during foraging. This extravagant display opened humorous commentary among his teammates, dividing opinions about survival tactics and food choices.
The episode's following immunity challenge called for accuracy and resilience, where tribes had to dismantle targets using projectiles obtained from the sea. This challenge proved pivotal, establishing team rankings once more as the Sud proudly retained their immunity, followed by Nord and Est, leaving the Ouest team troubled as they faced the council with the impending decision of elimination looming over them.
At council, the mood soured as alliances began forming, and strategy came to the forefront. Cynthiana, fearing the vote, openly targeted Noémie, calling her manipulative. Her emotional outburst and desire to remain caused conflict, and after votes were cast, she was eliminated with anguish, emphasizing how the early days of "Koh Lanta" are often tumultuous.
The episode wrapped with over 3.56 million viewers tuning in, upholding TF1's dominance on the airwaves and contributing to the franchise’s storied legacy. Although lower than previous season starts, this premiere showcases lifelong fans' loyalty as they anticipate additional episodes filled with drama, competition, and unexpected events.
The season promises to delv e deep not only through challenges but also through strategical maneuvers, alliances, and perhaps, betrayals among contestants fighting for survival and the coveted title of "Koh Lanta" champion.