Production has failed miserably at portraying Fiji in the new era

I’m rewatching season 35 and I’m blown away at how different the islands in Fiji come across. Same exact islands as in the new era, but the way they were portrayed before the new era was so much better. There is a lot more footage of marine life, animals, the jungle, contestants in the water, cool jungle-y music, and just general production design that makes you feel immersed in the island. Which is crazy because the episodes were shorter but they still put in attention to those details and world building elements.

I really strongly feel that those scenes help set the scene and remind the viewers of the raw environment the players are in. The new era has failed spectacularly at differentiating each season from the next, and I’m realizing that it isn’t even because they stay in Fiji, but because they don’t even try to portray the uniqueness of Fiji anymore. All they do is show a cool sunset or a close up of an insect. Part of the nostalgia of the old era is the lush scenery and that survivalist element, and it’s there in Fiji if they put thought into showing it, they just don’t. I hope that changes in 50.