Stranded with Rivals marks the 12th season of Stranded, and the third to feature exclusively all-star players from the previous seasons. It was hyped as the final season that Mypoody would host before his hiatus from gaming and as such would feature the biggest and best personalities from all 11 seasons of Stranded. This was a deviation from the previous All-stars format of featuring contestants from only the previous three seasons. Before the season began, players were told that they would be participating in Stranded with Superstars, unaware that the season would actually be dubbed Rivals. The accompanying twist would be much more sinister. The season featured the twelve biggest rivalries across the series’ three-year history. They would be paired together from the beginning of the game. They would vote as individuals, but would be voted out as a pair. They were forced to work together or be voted out. Upon hearing this twist, many players threatened to quit, some drove each other insane, but for the most part, they all found a way to overcome their differences. A majority of the players from the newer seasons fell early leaving only the oldest and most legendary rivalries left to battle it out. What ensued can only be described as truly epic. With such amazing characters like Rory, Heidi, Amanda, Teresa, Carl, Katie, Rudy, Misty, Evel Dave, Tracy, and Melinda, there was bound to be a crazy merge. It delivered. 

Blindside after blindside took place with Teresa powering her way through the merge in what can only be described as a “Russell Hantz”-like bulldozing. Evel Dave using his social prowess and connections to bludgeon his way to the final 7 before getting cut in a coup. Katie bouncing her way between alliances in a trainwreck fashion and being voted out for forgetting to vote instead of forcing a tie. Heidi being universally hated for turning on her alliance with Carl/Misty/Rudy in favor of Evel Dave and company. Carl becoming the underdog for his successful idol play and his social awkwardness becoming adorkable to the rest of the crew. In the end, it came down to Melinda, who had previously been in the final three twice (in both All-stars and Aruba), Teresa, who powered her way through the merge and was responsible for the ousting of a majority of the jurors, and Jenna, who went along with Teresa through much of the merge. In a close vote, Melinda ended up winning with her impressive résumé and likable personality to all contestants.