Survivor 50 Cast Assessment

 

     Survivor, one of TV's original and longest running reality competition shows, has finally reached its milestone FIFTIETH season! To celebrate, the show is having it's largest season ever, with a record-setting 24 castaways, ranging from Survivor's first ever season in Borneo to Survivor's most reason season 49. Every Survivor winner has to earn it, but winning this season in particular will be even more impressive of a win, given the notably larger cast and the fact that it's all former legends and heavy hitters.

     With such a large all-star cast, one that spans 25-plus years of television now, it's worth revisiting each participant of this iconic season. We have former winners, runners-up, old-school legends, new era players hoping to become legends, many who have played multiple times already, and much more. Many of these players impacted or changed the game in some sort of special way, so it's also worth thinking about why these players specifically were chosen from such a large and competitive pool of castaways who wanted to return.

     So in this cast assessment, we'll take a look at each member of season 50. We will go chronologically in order of first appearance on the show, and we'll include each player's placement on their previous season(s) and some general notes on them, both as a player and as an individual. 

      Survivors ready? Go!

  

Jenna Lewis-Dougherty
Age: 47
Hometown: Woodland, CA
Former Seasons: Season 1 (Borneo) - 8th place; Season 8 (All-Stars) - 3rd place
Why they're on 50: Wanted someone from the original season

     Season 50 would be incomplete without a representative from survivor's original season. With only 16 options from a season that aired 25 years ago, options were limited for a plethora of reasons (people who don't want to play again, people who production wouldn't want again, people who have deceased), but Jeff Probst claimed Jenna was his first call.

     It's been 23 years since Jenna last played Survivor, and the game has changed so much in that time. Back then there were no hidden immunity idols, no advantages, no shot in the darks, no fire-making final 4s, and final tribal was only 2 people. It will be equally interesting to see how age and life experience changes the way Jenna approaches the game. Jenna was 26 when she last played and 22 on her original season, now she's 48. It goes without saying life changes a lot from your low-20s to pushing 50. And in a cast with so many younger, "new era" players will someone Jenna's age be able to assimilate and connect with the newbies?

     To me Jenna has one of the biggest variances of any player in the cast, in large part because it's been so long since we've seen her play that I don't fully know what to expect. She could go very far, she could be an early boot, or somewhere in between. But regardless Jenna's presence on the cast gives 50 a much needed OG who was a part of the show's inception 49 seasons ago.  

Colby Donaldson
Age: 51
Hometown: Austin, TX
Former Seasons: Season 2 (Australian Outback) - 2nd place; Season 8 (All-Stars) - 12th; Season 20 (Heroes vs Villains) - 5th place
Why they're on 50: Iconic, fan-favorite OG

     You could argue that Colby was Survivor's most popular player from its earliest days. Way back in season 2, Colby was this all-American mid-20s challenge beast from Texas. Many felt he should have won that season, but Tina Wesson defeated him at final tribal by 1 vote. Still, Colby became a popular figure and "Colby" was one of the most popular baby names in 2021 as a result of his popularity.

     Colby has played twice more since his original season. He struggled and was booted early in All-Stars, but then scratched and clawed his way close to the end in Heroes vs Villains. All 3 times, he played alongside Jerri Manthey, and despite being irritated by her in season 2, the two became an iconic pairing, and admittedly it's weird as a fan to see a season with Colby without Jerri.

     It was evident in Heroes v Villains that Colby's physical game had declined with age. He was no longer the challenge beast he was in Australia. But he still found a way to go deep in the game. Much like Jenna, it's been a long time since Colby has played, and the game has changed quite a bit since then. But there will be 1 more shot from the fan-favorite country boy Texan.

Stephenie LaGrossa-Kendrick
Age: 45
Hometown: Dunedin, FL
Former Seasons: Season 10 (Guatemala) - 7th; Season 11 (Palau) - 2nd; Season 20 (Heroes vs Villains) - 19th
Why they're on 50: Was the last surviving member of the first ever disaster tribe, former runner up

     The "lone warrior", "tribe of one" arc of season 10 is what helped Stephenie become a Survivor legend. In her original season, she was on a tribe that lost every single challenge and had each member voted out one by one, which at the time was a Survivor first. She became the last surviving member of the tribe when she defeated the second-to-last surviving member in a fire-making challenge (since you can't have a traditional tribal council with only 2 people), and then was instructed the next day to join the other tribe which served as the "merge" that season.

     Despite continually losing challenges and attending tribals and never having safety, Stephenie showed grit and tenacity and kept going, which resonated with the viewers and helped her gain popularity and respect. She was asked to return the following season, and this time played a wiser, more strategic game that ultimately got her to the final 2. Her last outing in Heroes vs Villains didn't go as well as the first 2, dislocating a shoulder in the initial challenge and finishing second-to-last.

     Stephenie's last appearance would have been as long ago as Colby's. While the game has changed, if she can tap into her younger relentless, never-quit mentality, that will serve her well.

Cirie Fields
Age: 54
Hometown: Jersey City, NJ
Former Seasons: Season 12 (Panama) - 4th; Season 14 (Fans vs Favorites) - 3rd; Season 20 (Heroes vs Villains) - 16th; Season 34 (Game Changers) - 6th
Why they're on 50: Went from couch potato to elite strategist, the embodiment of "anyone can do it"

     Cirie might be the best Survivor player to never actually end up winning, and has been a part of multiple of the shows most iconic tribal councils and moments. She has 3 top 6 finishes, and also finished 4th in Australian Survivor's Australia vs The World season. Oh by the way, she won season 1 of the Traitors and finished 5th on Big Brother. The resume speaks for itself, Cirie is one of the GOATs of cultivating relationships and building connections.

     What made people originally drawn to Cirie was her relatability and growth. She was a self-proclaimed couch potato, one who spent very little time outdoors and was afraid of just about everything, who got out of her comfort zone and ultimately became this elite strategist and persausive player. This made her the embodiment of what the showrunners were looking for, and someone the viewers admired.

     She's been a part of some WILD tribal councils. In Micronesia, she was a key member of an all-woman alliance known as the Black Widow Bridage, and she used her powers of persuasion to convice Erik to give up his immunity necklace at tribal council, a Survivor first, and then the girls proceeded to vote him out that same night. In the Final 6 of Game-Changers, she made history by becoming the only player ever to be eliminated by default, when every other member of tribal was immune due to either winning the immunity challenge or having (and playing) a hidden idol/advantage. In her initial season, she was the loser of a firemaking challenge at Final 4, which marks the second time she was eliminated without being technically voted out. She also placed 3rd in Micronesia back when final tribal was only 2 people and Amanda Kimmel decided to take Parvati to the end over her.

     Cirie is the survivor definition of "close but no cigar". These players would be crazy to not get rid of her early and quickly, but she's one of the best relationship builders and social players this game has seen and even other legends will fall into her charm and charisma. Is it finally her time to get over the hump? Or will it be yet another deep run only to lose at the very end?

     

Ozzy Lusth
Age: 43
Hometown: Guanajuanto, Mexico
Former Seasons: Season 13 (Cook Islands) - 2nd; Season 14 (Fans vs Favorites) - 9th; Season 23 (Redemption Island) - 4th; Season 34 (Game Changers) - 12th
Why they're on 50: Challenge beast/ultimate provider/Redemption Island narrative/Most times voted out

     Ozzy is the most experienced Survivor player in the cast and has played the 3rd most days of any Survivor ever, behind only Boston Rob (who played 5 times) and Parvati, meaning Ozzy has played the most days of any non-winner. He has made the merge in every season he has played. He is also the only player to have been voted out 5 times (he was voted out three times in S23 alone, one of which was voluntary and will be mentioned later.). Much like Cirie, many would consider Ozzy the "best to never win".

     While Cirie's stengths were social and mental, Ozzy's were physical. Young Ozzy was the "jungle boy" the show craved, climbing tall trees, spear fishing, swimming like a "dolphin boy" and his athletic prowess. He was a challenge beast, specifically in anything that involved endurance, swimming, balance, and agility. He also is one of the best providers the show has seen, especially in the older days when rice was not initially provided, as he is one of the best fishermen the show has seen and his tribes were consistently well fed and high on protein due to the large amounts of fish he caught, which made him essential to his tribes and made people never want to vote him off.

     In his initial season, he won 5 individual immunity challenges, but lost by a single vote to elite strategist Yul Kwon in the final. Season 23 was even more of a ride. This season featured a twist known as "Redemption Island", where voted out contestants would remain in the game and compete in head to head challenges for survival and a chance to ultimately re-enter the game. At the final 11, Ozzy's tribe went to tribal council in what they anticipated was the final tribal before both the merge and the return of the Redemption Island victor into the game. After this vote, there would be 5 members from each tribe remaining, with the Redemption Island victor breaking the tie. In an extremely bold and unprecedented move, Ozzy requested that his tribe vote him out, so that he could go to Redemption Island to defeat Christine, a member of the other tribe who was on a lengthy winning streak on the island. The calculated risk worked, as Ozzy defeated 5-time redemption island victor Christine and re-entered the game. Ozzy was again voted out 2 episodes later after a member of his original tribe flipped and was sent back to Redemption Island. He won 5 straight Redemption Island challenges to re-enter the game at Final 5, and immediately won immunity to guarantee himself Final 4. In the final 4, he was finally defeated in an immunity challenge (it involved a puzzle) and the other 3 people banded together to vote him out for the 3rd and final time.

     Like Cirie, it would be hard to truly tell the story of Survivor without mentioning Ozzy, probably multiple times. He's a true legend that absolutely deserves to be here on S50.

Coach Wade
Age: 53
Hometown: Susanville, CA
Former Seasons: Season 18 (Tocantins) - 5th; Season 20 (Heroes vs Villains) - 12th; Season 23 (South Pacific) - 2nd
Why they're on 50: Larger than life character, unmatched story-teller, "dragon slayer" persona

     Coach is the most interesting character to ever play Survivor, and probably one of the 10 most interesting to walk the earth, largely due to his wild and eccentric nature. Giving himself the title of the "Dragon Slayer" and often comparing himself to a great warrior, Coach has a larger-than-life persona, often telling his tribemates these grandiose stories and tales of his adventures and travels. To this day many viewers, myself included, question the truth behind many of these. But I 100% believe, that he 100% believes, that they are true. One of the most famous ones came after a tribal council when Coach tells his tribemates a tale of kayaking in the Amazon and being captured by cannibals, who tied him up and beat him with sticks before he escaped. Other stories of his past included fighting off a shark with his oar, kayaking through a hurricane, a near death encounter with a crocodile, and sheltering underneath his kayak for 2 hours while howling winds violently whipped sand everywhere. He is arguably Survivor's most unique character, largely due to his sincere and almost delusional belief in his own myths and tall tales.

     He speaks in this poetic way which has provided the show with some of its most memorable quotes. And when it isn't his own original material, he often quotes other great ancient philosiphers and historical figures ranging from Confucius, Magellan, Shakespeare, MLK, Mark Twain, material from the Bible, Norse mythology, and Japanese Samurai parables. He frequently did tai-chi and meditation on the island, including some forms that he claims are undocumented and can only be learned from attending a remote monastery. Coach also claims to be called "Coach" due to being a professional women's soccer coach as well as symphony conductor who flies between his two jobs.

     The wildest season came in Season 23 (yes, the same season as the aforementioned Ozzy Redemption Island dominance), where Coach used religion as a weapon (inadvertently, I think...) to manipulate members of his alliance. He would lead daily prayer sessions to create unity and trust and would often invoke God and scripture to prevent allies from flipping on him, which created this cult-like atmosphere to control his alliance members.

     Love him or hate him, he is one of the game's most iconic and captivating characters, one that's truly unique and un-replicated. And believe me Survivor tried , but ultimately came to terms that there was only one Coach. Even as viewers, we're drawn in to this aura and mythical spirituality of his, as many of his tribemates end up being as well. And he was must-see TV because he was the one player that when he opened his mouth you had no earthly idea what was going to come out.

Aubry Bracco
Age: 39
Hometown: Hampton Falls, NH
Former Seasons: Season 32 (Brains vs Brawn vs Beauty) - 2nd; Season 34 (Game Changers) - 5th; Season 38 (Edge of Extinction) - 16th;
Why they're on 50: She was robbed in S32, nerd persona, strategist

     Aubry is a proven player and one that is relatable and well-liked by the fans. What makes her strong is she possesses a rare combination of being an analytical strategist and while also being a great socially aware, "people-first" type player. She is one of the more controversial runner-ups, with many fans feeling she should have won season 32 for controlling the game's strategic narrative, however Michele ended up beating her due strong social game and constantly being on the right side of the votes, in conjunction with some key late-game immunity wins. Still, Aubry became a fan favorite that season, largely due to the growth she showed over the course of it, going from a neurotic, nerdy, unsure of herself type of player, to a confident dominant strategist who was cooking up big blindsides when no one was watching or suspecting. Making the Final 5 in Game Changers despite being perceived as one of the season's bigger threats further fortifies her status as a big time player.

     Aubry is often utilized as the "narrator" of the season, as she gives confessionals that are intelligent, insightful, and well-articulated. Giving good confessionals has become something of an art over the years of Survivor, and she is widely recognized as one of the best at it. It will not surprise me if she is used once again as one of the main story-tellers of Survivor 50.

     

Chrissy Hofbeck
Age: 54
Hometown: The Villages, FL
Former Seasons: Season 35 (Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers) - 2nd;
Why they're on 50: Victim of introducing the Final 4 Fire making twist

     Chrissy would have been the winner of Season 35 if not for the newly introduced Final 4 fire-making twist. To provide context, much of the storyline of the season centered around Ben, a well-liked player (ex-military family man who loves his country and suffered from PTSD) who was constantly on the outs but continually evaded elimination by finding idols and advantages and using them at the most opportune times. It seemed like at Final 4 Chrissy (and the majority alliance) were finally going to get him, after Chrissy won the immunity challenge and her, Devon, and Ryan all intended to vote for Ben, but the new format was later announced that Final 4 tribal was no longer a vote, but rather the immunity winner could choose 1 player to join them at final 3 and the other 2 would duke it out in fire-making. And Ben was able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, winning the fire-making, and then winning the game.

     Had this new twist not been introduced, Chrissy almost assuredly wins. She was the strategic mastermind of her alliance, one who controlled most of the post-merge game, and was also physically dominant having won 4 individual immunities. As a 46 year old mother of 3 at the time, Chrissy defied her archetype. Normally older women/maternal types were perceived as weak and were voted out early, but Chrissy was both a physical and strategic force. Like Aubry, many feel Chrissy was "robbed" due to the untimely introduction of a twist that allowed her rival to escape being voted out and ultimately win the game.

Christian Hubicki
Age: 39
Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Former Seasons: Season 37 (David v Goliath) - 7th
Why they're on 50: Endearing unapologetic nerd, strategist, puzzle beast 

     Christian is one of the most popular and beloved players of the middle era (seasons 21-39) due to his quirkiness and nerdy charm. A robotics professor at FSU's College of Engineering, Christian has a brain that works like no other player I've seen on Survivor. He's able to process information super quickly and solve puzzles in record-setting times.

     Despite being this super brainiac archetype, one of the best parts of watching Christian was his ability to form bonds with a wide-range of personalities in his season. It was easy for him to connect with fellow nerds like Gabby and Davey, but one of the underrated moments of the season is watching him "bro-down" and connect with players like shredded pro-wrestler "Mayor of Slamtown" John, swat-team ladies man Dan, and surfer bro Alec. I think another thing that drew viewers to Christian was his self-deprecating humor and ability to acknowledge and openly discuss his insecurities.

     Christian was a perfect casting for the theme of his respective season, David vs Goliath. On the surface he doesn't look like a formidable competitor, but he was oh so close to getting to the end, where he likely would have won.

Angelina Keely
Age: 35
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Former Seasons: Season 37 (David v Goliath) - 3rd;
Why they're on 50: Introduced the rice negotiation (and never shut up about it)

     I wouldn't call Angelina a "fan-favorite", or even a favorite of her tribe mates, but she will always be remembered for orchestrating the first ever rice negotiation. The problem was she relentlessly went out of her way to bring up this "sacrifice", only to self-promote and attempt to gain social leverage. Still, this was an iconic moment in the show's history, as the future seasons then featured an offer of rice in exchange for players giving up their shot at immunity that week. Less iconic but still memorable was her trying to get Natalie's jacket after voting her out only for Natalie to walk right past her and pretend not to hear her.

     Her gameplay was a bit messy, and at times over the top, but it wasn't for lack of trying. She definitely attempted to be strategic and make bold and aggressive moves, but in David vs Goliath these moves just did not land well with the jury, which resulted in her being a 0-vote finalist.

     I am honestly surprised she was invited back for S50, and for her to do well I think she'll need to work hard to change the other players' perception of her from her first time playing. But I could also see her going far as people may feel like they can beat her in the end.

Mike White
Age: 54
Hometown: Hanalei, HI
Former Seasons: Season 37 (David v Goliath) - 2nd;
Why they're on 50: White Lotus, Former runner-up

     If we're being honest, the massive popularity of HBO's The White Lotus, which White directs, probably played a hand in his invitation to play in S50. But it's far from the sole reason for his inclusion. White made it to the end and got 2nd place on David vs Goliath in a way that was strategic but simultaneously low-key and under the radar. He also gave some great confessionals, some of which can probably be attributed to the strong writing skills and experience in the entertainment industry. And he was hilarious at times. One of my favorite moments from his initial season was at Final 6 where he casually searched for an idol while holding (and drinking) a glass of red wine while Angelina and Nick searched far harder and more soberly for it. (This scene is made even better when tipsy Mike is able to better interpret the clue than sober Angelina. Also when he runs into a tree branch and calls it a bitch).

     Outside of the former winners, I think White is the person the cast would be least likely to award the money to, given that he's already rich and famous. And I think to some extent he understands this as well, and is moreso here for the experience. But if White did reach the end and somehow did play the best game, this cast respects the game too much to not vote him the winner.

Rick Devens
Age: 41
Hometown: Macon, GA
Former Seasons: Season 38 (Edge of Extinction) - 4th
Why they're on 50: Edge of Ex underdog comeback, hidden idols, charismatic/well spoken/hilarious

     Similar to Christian, Devens was one of the most enjoyable and fun personalities to watch of the middle era. As a former newscaster, now turned podcast host (he co-hosts the Survivor podcast "On Fire" with Jeff Probst), Devens was no stranger to being on TV and the entertainment industry. He was able to use his charisma and public speaking skills to deliver well-articulated, memorable, and often comedic confessionals and speeches at tribal council.

     He was one of the beneficiaries of his season's twist, the Edge of Extinction. Similar to Redemption Island, this allowed voted out contestants to remain in the game and eventually compete for a chance to re-enter. Devens was initially voted out on Day 11, but battled his way back into the game and then made it all the way to the Final 4. His return to the game was a win in general for the viewers, but with the new lease on life Devens played a much more fearless, go big or go home type game. He won 4 immunity challenges and also found and successfully played multiple idols and advantages. He was ultimately eliminated at Final 4 fire making, and if he wins that he almost assuredly wins the game.

     If Devens brings the same high-energy and adaptability to S50 as he did in S38, it will serve him well, and many of us are excited to see him on our screens again. 

Jonathan Young
Age: 32
Hometown: Gulf Shores, AL
Former Seasons: Season 42 - 4th
Why they're on 50: Challenge beast/physical specimen

     A survivor season would not be complete without a player who fit the muscular, alpha-male, human-tricep archetype, and no one embodied that moreso in the new era than Jonathan, who also happens to be our first player of the new-era (Season 41 and beyond) on this list. His brute strength allowed him to dominate a handful of challenges in his season and unlike older challenge beasts like Ozzy and Colby, Jonathan is still in his prime physically.

     The question is whether or not Jonathan can master the strategic and social aspects of the game. The physical prowess is always a double-edged sword, as people want to keep you around during the tribal portion of the game, but then you become a target during the individual portion. Jonathan's best course of action would be to convince others to keep him around as a meat shield and then try to rely on his loyalty to his allies and easygoing demeanor.

    In a season full of gamers and bigger targets, there's certainly room for Jonathan to go far. He seems like almost a shoe-in for the merge at minimum.

Dee Valladares
Age: 28
Hometown: Miami, FL
Former Seasons: Season 45 - 1st
Why they're on 50: Former winner

     Dee is the first of 3 winners to appear on this list, all of whom are from the new era. She was the dominating force of season 45 and one that was a triple-threat: physically strong, socially strong, strategically strong. She had a showmance with runner-up Austin, but was able to successfully use him for information which she then used to protect her own personal interests and drive the game. Of the 9 new era winners, she was arguably the best at controlling the game.

     But this season will be much more of an uphill battle. Any time a returnee season features a winner, that player is instantly a massive target, and their probability of winning tends to be incredibly low, largely because a bunch of non-winners aren't exactly enthusiastic about the idea of awarding someone whose already a millionaire another million dollars. Also this isn't like the first time. All these people have seen Dee play now, very recently, and they know what she's capable of.

     She is going to have her work cut out for her, and much stronger competition than her first time, but never say never.

Emily Flippen
Age: 30
Hometown: Laurel, MD
Former Seasons: Season 45 - 7th
Why they're on 50: Immense growth over the show

     Few players have shown the personal growth, especially when it comes to self-awareness, than Emily did in S45. When the season began, she had a communication style that was intense, abrasive, and confrontational, and it was clearly rubbing her tribemates the wrong way. She was close to being the first boot, narrowly surviving the first vote, but then with the help of her tribemate Kaleb's help, a drastic turnaround occurred. Emily had the self-awareness to realize her aggressive, "brute force" strategy wasn't working, and pivoted to a more observant, social, more quietly calculated player, and ended up becoming a real threat in the game and making it all the way to 7th place.

     If Emily can apply the lessons learned during her metamorphosis, there's a world where she can go pretty far.  

Q Burdette
Age: 31
Hometown: Germantown, TN
Former Seasons: Season 46 - 6th
Why they're on 50: Agent of chaos/great for TV

     Of all new-era players, no one caused more pure chaos than Q. The former Ole Miss football player was as unpredictable and volatile as they come, and chaos itself was the strategy, especially at times when he was socially on the outs. He was more the willing to shut down a plan last minute at tribal council, or blow up a blind side, and do whatever he could to derail the strategies of others and create confusion.

     The episode where he forces all of them to play a (seemingly innocent) game of hide and seek just so he could attempt to determine if they are trustworthy based on their hiding spots is pure entertainment. The "Q-skirt", his "business idea" which is basically just a hoodie tied around the waist at the front, became a running joke of the season, as did his signature catch phrase "Cancel Christmas", which was used any time he decided to turn on an ally or shut down a plan.

     In a game where several people will be attempting to fly under the radar early, Q is someone who isn't afraid to play very hard very fast. I think it would better serve him to play differently this time around, but his engine only knows one speed. He likely had a hit-list ready before the season began and will come out guns-a-blazing. 

Tiffany Ervin
Age: 34
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Former Seasons: Season 46 - 8th
Why they're on 50: not sure...

     This to me was the most surprising casting of S50, simply because I don't feel like Tiffany was that memorable of a player. She was perfectly fine, certainly nothing "wrong" with her, but I don't really feel that she's done anything to differentiate herself from the crowd unlike all the other players on this list. Her original season was the same as Q's, and both were members of the disaster tribe along with eventual winner Kenzie. Tiffany placed 8th, and her fatal mistake was not turning on Kenzie before vice versa. She was voted out with an idol in her pocket, but then again so was everyone else that season.

     Because she's a low threat level in an ocean of great white sharks, I think there's a good chance Tiffany goes very far. She'll be often overlooked in favor of bigger targets, bigger moves, and resume building. That being said, it would also surprise me to see her win the game, as I think this cast will want someone bigger than Tiffany to be the representative of the 50th season.

Charlie Davis
Age: 27
Hometown: Boston, MA
Former Seasons: Season 46 - 2nd
Why they're on 50: Was robbed/spurned by Maria in S46

     The third and final member of season 46 to be re-appearing on S50 is Charlie, who was the runner-up of the season and one that many viewers felt should have won. This places him in the "robbed" category along with players like Aubry and Chrissy. Kenzie defeated Charlie by a vote of 5-3, but the shocker was that Maria, a long-time ally of Charlie's, spurned him by voting for Kenzie due to the bitterness she felt being undercut by Charlie at final 5. If Maria votes Charlie, as everyone expected, this creates a 4-4 tie, in which case the deciding vote would have been cast by 3rd place Ben who likely would have voted for Charlie. Charlie has gone on record saying he will likely "never get over" his shocking loss.

     Charlie is a Harvard graduate and die-hard Swifty, and his game was all about relationship management and maintaining a low threat level while scheming behind the scenes to undercut people at the right moments, and he was responsible for orchestrating multiple blindsides of people who had idols but felt comfortable enough to not use them. His game was seen as a new-era masterclass by many, despite ultimately not winning.

     I believe Charlie will be seen as one of the major strategic threats of the season, especially with his season having aired only a year prior to filming S50. I just hope for his sake he either wins or goes home relatively early, because I think it would be incredibly crushing for him to get to the end and come up short again.

Genevieve Mushaluk
Age: 34
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)
Former Seasons: Season 47 - 5th
Why they're on 50: Elite Strategist, key role in "Operation Italy"

     Genevieve was a top 2 player in S47 and essentially the came down to her rivalry with Rachel and which one could eliminate the other first. Rachel ended up getting the last laugh, in large part due to a final 5 immunity challenge where Rachel won and Genevieve finished second. Despite not winning, Genevieve played a great game. She was logical, observant, charming, and had good instincts. She was able to use other players as shields to keep herself hidden as she orchestrated big moves behind the scenes, and at times she was even a mediator and peacemaker within her own alliances such as her management of Rome and Sol. She even cited trying to view the game from a detached, logical, perspective as an attempt to not let emotion affect her decision making, but was still able to build genuine connections despite this.

     The move of the season, and one of the best the game has ever seen in my opinion, was a plan titled "Operation Italy" This was conceived on a reward by Genevieve, Andy, and Sam and was a multi-faceted blindside devised to break up the majority alliance by fabricating a story that Genevieve had an idol, forcing a split vote, and then flipping the numbers to eliminate a key target. The initial target was Rachel, unbeknownst to her, but she ended up winning immunity that week causing Caroline to become the new target. The rest of the plan however worked to perfection, as seeds were planted that Genevieve possessed an idol, causing the other 4 to split votes 2-2 between Genevieve and Sam, while Andy flipped on his alliance and joined Genevieve and Sam in blindsiding Caroline by a 3-2-2 vote. This was a high-stakes blindside that felt like a heist.

     Like Charlie, I think Genevieve is seen as one of the best non-winners of the new era and I expect her to have a reasonably high threat level entering S50 after everyone recently watched her season.      

Kamilla Karthigesu
Age: 31
Hometown: Foster City, CA
Former Seasons: Season 48 - 4th
Why they're on 50: Elite Strategist

     Although Kyle ultimately won S48, Kyle's game was very much a joint effort between him and Kamilla. The pair worked in secret and maintained this secret alliance til the end, feeding one another information from their respective circles as they protected one another and orchestrated moves together across other alliance lines. The dominant duo ran the game from the shadows, all the way to the Final 4. From there a mutual agreement was made that if one of them ended up winning immunity, the other would automatically be sent to fire-making, as the pair realized it would be hard to differentiate themselves from one another to the jury at final tribal. Kyle did then end up winning immunity and sent Kamilla to fire-making, where she lost. She did not even receive a vote prior to Final 4.

 

     Even though Kyle ultimately gets the credit for the win, this feels like an unofficial win for Kamilla as it represents her game as well and she was 50% of the winning duo. With Kyle also returning for S50, this creates an interesting wrinkle as they will likely be targeted as a close pair that needs to be broken up in order to avoid a repeat of S48. Luckily for her, Kyle will probably have the bigger target having been the former winner. But if one gets voted out early, it will be interesting to watch the other search for a new ride or die to run the game with.

Kyle Fraser
Age: 31
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Former Seasons: Season 48 - 1st
Why they're on 50: Former winner

     I feel like 95% of what needs to be said here was already said in Kamilla's assessment. The two played a joint game, masterfully, but ultimately only one could win and it happened to be Kyle. The cost of winning is that Kyle now enters S50 with a larger target than Kamilla, as Kyle is one of three people who has previously held the title of Sole Survivor.

     Kyle's story is also one I believe viewers were drawn to. He was incarcerated in his youth on charges of underage alcohol possession, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct, but managed to turn his life around to graduate law school and become an attorney.

     He's one of the better modern era winners, along with Dee and the soon to be discussed S49 victor, hence his inclusion in S50.

Joe Hunter
Age: 45
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Former Seasons: Season 48 - 3rd
Why they're on 50: America's Dad, Eva's Survivor Dad, S48 Finalist

     Joe was maybe the most beloved player on the new era. Viewers were immediately drawn to Joe for being a devoted father and family figure as well as a firefighter. His relationship with Eva is one of the most wholesome of the entire series, as he serves as a protector and father figure to her, even across tribal lines. The touching scene of him helping to calm her down amidst a panic attack in the aftermath of an intense immunity challenge is one of the most emotional and heartfelt moments of the series and one that perfectly highlights Joe's genuine compassion and care for others.

     Another thing that makes Joe unique is his old school approach to a new era game. It was still important to him to play with honor and integrity and be loyal to his allies as opposed to the usual cutthroat tactics of modern players. In the end, this is probably a big factor in him not winning, as his game was pretty straightforward and lacked big moves and blindsides, but I applaud him for being true to himself and reaching the end while sticking to his core values.

     For Joe to win in S50, I do think he'll have to make changes. Most notably, he needs to accept and be ok with the inability to keep every promise and stay true to every player. But I do question his ability to detach his real self from the game. I think he's just one of those genuine, salt of the earth, inherently good people, and I hope he does well. 

Savannah Louie
Age: 31
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Former Seasons: Season 49 - 1st
Why they're on 50: Former Winner

     Survivor's most recent winner, and the last of the 3 participating in S50, is Savannah. Much like Dee, Savannah is a triple-threat with her physical dominance in challenges, sound strategic play, and strong social game. Her "tres leches" alliance with Rizo and Soph was ultimately able to turn the tide, being in the minority at the merge but ultimately flipping the odds in their favor through her dominance in challenges and Rizo's use of the immunity idol. Her background as a reporter served her well as she was able to utilize her investigation skills and ask direct and insightful questions to gain key information. Her game was loud and bold but she always managed to back it up. When her and Rizo were pitted against one another in fire making, it seemed all but certain the winner of that was going to win the whole thing, and Savannah pulled through.

     Savannah and Rizo should be interesting to watch, as they're the only castaways whose original season hadn't aired at the time of filing season 50, and there was only a 10 day gap between the completion of S49 and the beginning of S50. Hopefully they can use being unknowns to their advantage, although I'm not sure how much production is able to tell the other contestants about S49 and their placements.

Rizo Velovic
Age: 25
Hometown: Yonkers, NY
Former Seasons: Season 49 - 4th
Why they're on 50: Amazing idol management, Gen-Z poster-child

     R-I-Z-G-O-D the man the myth the legend returns and he is the final person we have to talk about in this cast assessment. While he came off as an annoying Gen-Z poser-child in the earlier episodes, the way he utilized his idol (and the fact that everyone knew about it) ended up being the biggest storyline in S49 and definitely played a factor in the results. Week after week, Rizo took a calculated risk to lead others to believe he was playing the idol, only to hold and continue to use it as the ultimate leverage. His competitors never successfully flushed it and forced him to use it, and he is probably the player who most effectively used an idol without actually using an idol. It would have been his preference for his idol to not become public knowledge, however he was able to adapt and turn the situation into a positive one, continually using the idol to manipulate others into voting for someone else as he continued to skate by.

     Even though Savannah won, Rizo was seen by many as the player of the season, given how well he improvised and used his public idol to control the game. If Rizo beats Savannah in fire making, I do believe he goes on to win S49. 

    As aforementioned, Rizo has the unique advantage of his season not having aired prior to 50. If he does happen to find an idol again, I think there will be some serious thought about whether to keep it private, or whether to make it public knowledge after how effective that proved to be in S49. Regardless, we know he'll bring the energy and a desire and willingness to make big moves that are "absolute cinema".