"Love. Exciting and new. Come aboard. We're expecting you!" I can only assume that was blaring over the Fiji Airways loudspeakers as approximately 3,849 Loved Ones boarded their overnight direct flight from LAX to Nadi to visit their dads, moms, husbands, wives, partners, sons, sisters, fiancés, and fiancées.

I understand that song is only supposed to be used on luxury cruise liners that feature yeoman pursers named after burrowing rodents and horny doctors who sleep with half the women on board, but love is everywhere, ladies and gentlemen — be it on sea, on land, or in the air. You can't stop love; you can only hope to contain it! And this episode of Survivor: Winners at War could barely even do that.

This episode of Survivor was about 44 minutes flat of actual runtime. Of those 44 minutes … I don't know … about maybe … 25? … were dedicated to the Loved Ones visit this week. Perhaps that annoyed you. If so, I get it. I probably would have been annoyed too before I got old and lame. I've written extensively in the past on my evolving relationship with the Loved Ones visit. I used to roll my eyes at all the blubbering messes on my TV screen while soaring piano music played beneath images of people awkwardly running on sand towards each other. I didn't get it. Is that because I am an emotionless cyborg incapable of mustering an ounce of empathy? I mean, yes, but I also came to better appreciate the emotional toll players go through out there when they are stripped down to the core due to lack of food, sleep, and shelter coupled with the mental strain of trying to make sure a bunch of people you barely know are not constantly lying to your face.

So I get it.. Now, that doesn't mean that I'm impatiently waiting all season for the Loved Ones to show up and have made it my life's mission to dis and dismiss the Kaoh Rong season for committing the ultimate reality show sin of eliminating the Loved Ones visit altogether. It just means I've become less cynical and, in general, slightly less of a jerk when considering the power of these sandy shore reunions.. I also am smart enough to recognize that every Loved Ones visit presents the opportunity for some nutjob of a relative, or an actual contestant to lose his proverbial mind at his own flesh and blood (DAMMIT, REED!).

But whether you are a longtime fan of the Loved Ones segment, a more recent convert, or a continued holdout, you had to at the very least be curious about this season's visit. Because it was unlike any we have ever seen before. Instead of a single spouse, parent, sibling, or wrestling buddy there to tell you your grandmother had died — "She died, dude" may be the three funniest words ever uttered on 40 seasons of this show — you had entire families flying out. Even babies! And little kids who looked like they had no idea where they were and why they were there! And teenagers in New England Patriots jerseys who may or may not have stolen a camera from the crew to film the other players without their consent for a competitive advantage! You had it all!

And it was pretty great. Yes, even when Kim's kids looked like they were having the bejeezus scared out of them. I loved it when Ben talked about the platform the show had given him to help others. I loved it when Sophie sobbed into her fiancée's neck. I loved it when the big burly bros were all reduced to quivering messes as they watched other people have their reunions, never mind their own. I loved it when Michele talked about her sister as her roommate, best friend, and soulmate and then told us how "She says that she's proud of me, and it makes me proud of me to see her say that" because we all know how Michele has struggled with fan reaction to her controversial win. I loved it when Jeff Probst said awkward things like "Let's get to some more love!" and then seamlessly worked in the Fiji Airways product placement. I loved it all.

Then, instead of having a challenge in which someone would invariably make the huge mistake of winning and then having to deny other players time with their children, Probst let everyone stay. On the one hand, yes, it's a cop-out. There are almost always huge dramatic dividends paid over the hurt feelings when certain players are not selected to have more time with their special someone. But there really was no alternative here. What are you going to do, tell some of those toddlers that are barely even able to walk that they're not allowed to spend any more time with mommy or daddy while cameras catch their temper tantrum for all of America to watch? #Nope. It was the right call to ditch the challenge. (They never would have had time to show it anyway.)

As was allowing the folks over at Edge of Extinction to also have a glimmer of hope in the form of a family visit as well. Interestingly enough, even with folks like Parvati, Danni, Yul, and (of course) Rob & Amber who all have young kids, the most moving moments for me were Adam once again allowing himself to be so vulnerable (as he has all season) as he sobbed and hugged his dad, and then Ethan telling his new wife that she was the most important thing in his life and did not want to be apart for a single day ever again.

"Everybody put their guns down for a minute," said Sarah as her kids played with other tots on the beach. "The war was called to a halt." I should hate that. I should be yelling "GET BACK TO THE GAME! ENOUGH WITH THE SAP AND CHEESE ALREADY! THERE IS A PUDDLE OF VELVEETA CONGEALING ON THE FLOOR UNDER MY TELEVISION SET RIGHT NOW!" But, honestly, the timing for this episode could not have been more perfect.

Whether you have been quarantining with your loved ones for the past month, or tragically separated from family members who may either be infected or in a facility that will not permit any visitors (I am personally dealing with both of these things right now) — the power and vital importance of family bonds has never been clearer. So to watch these legends of the game get a moment with their families that they will remember forever while we watch it unfold with our own families at home was pretty awesome.

I'm going to go ahead and say it: The super-sized Survivor all-family Loved Ones visit was the perfect medicine for the quarantine blues. The show leaned in hard to it, and I leaned right in with it, right down to that last scene. After Tyson had been voted out (again!), and after we already got our preview for next week, we were treated to a super-rare behind the scenes moment as the jurors not only thanked Jeff Probst for their visit, but full-on bum-rushed the host, and hugged him in appreciation.

Man, what an awesome scene. It probably wouldn't have made the cut in any other situation in any other season. But this is an anniversary season. And these are all winners who helped make this show what it is over 20 years. So for Probst (sorry, and Fiji Airways!!!) to show his appreciation by bringing out their families (even though they had been voted out), and for the players to show it right back to him with that group hug— how as a Survivor fan can you not love that? It reminds me of the champagne toast that kicked off the season. Moments like that make this installment feel special in a way that a season 39 or season 41 (if that ever happens at this point!) simply cannot, and it was very cool to see Jeff get his own little Loved Ones moment as well … even if it meant getting hugged by Adam Klein instead of his own wife and kids. CLOSE ENOUGH!