On Dec. 20, CBS finished airing its 45th season of Survivor. For me, Season 45 of the hit reality show that first hit the airwaves in 2000 will always have a special place in my heart because it’s my first.

Survivor has been a staple in my household ever since I can remember. My brother and my late father loved watching the show together, but for some reason, the show never interested me. That is until I just started watching it one night at the end of Survivor 44.

They say your interests change as you get older, and your brain develops, and that couldn’t be more true. I went from having no interest in the series to looking forward to watching a full season for the first time this fall.

I came into Survivor 45 with an open mind. I had no idea what to expect. My brother gave me little tidbits on the basis of the show, but I really wanted to sit and take it all in and learn the show as I continued to watch the 13-episode season.

From episode one, I was hooked. I was fascinated by the backdrop of the island of Fiji. I was intrigued by the concept of doing these crazy physically and mentally draining challenges with people you don’t know for an opportunity to win a million dollars.

I was immediately connected with the cast, but I could tell the original LuLu tribe was doomed. They struggled in all three early challenges and forced a tribe switch.

Early on, I could not stand Emily, and I thought she, not Brandon, would be the first one eliminated from Survivor. She just came on too strong for me, and if it wasn’t for Hannah quitting the game, Emily would have more than likely gone home.

As time went on and LuLu continued to lose immunity challenges and headed to Tribal Council, Emily, and Kaleb grew on me. Emily was able to bounce back from her rough beginnings and Kaleb’s personality leaped off my screen. They were my two favorites throughout the season.

Unfortunately for both, they both had a major flaw that cost them the game. For Kaleb, it was his social game. Everybody knew how likable he was and that if he got to the end, he was going to win. He knew it, too, which is why his Shot in the Dark play at Tribal Council was such an epic moment. For Emily, she took credit for convincing Bruce – whom she called out at the initial start of the game for being an experienced player after Bruce suffered an injury during Survivor 44 – to not play his immunity idol at Tribal Council and taking him out. She wanted the credit because nobody liked Bruce, but it put a target on her back.

Emily’s character arc was the best part of the season for me. She went from being on the outs at the first Tribal Council to building a strong niche with Drew and Austin at the merge, to being a legitimate threat towards the later part of the game. The financial analyst knew how to articulate her thoughts so well. I completely emphasized with her, and she went from somebody who I wanted out of the game to the one I wanted to win it all.

Dee deserved to win. She was a strong player. She had her No. 1’s in Julie and her “boyfriend” Austin. She knew how to blindside people to save herself but also how to keep her relationships close. She played a smart game.

Watching Survivor for the first time was a thrill ride. From the immunity challenges to the relationship building to the strategy to the heartbreak, it’s fascinating to watch people/characters develop throughout the 26 days with limited fuel in their stomachs.

I can’t wait for Survivor 46 to start Feb. 28.