Alright so 16 of 18 of the castaways vying for the $1 million prize have been revealed. On first glance it actually looks like a pretty diverse cast in regards to age and race. While I don't claim to have any psychic abilities I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of character and so based simply on their look, age and pre-game interviews I've given a quick assessment on how I think each of them will do this season.
If you're not in the US and can't view the pre-game interviews that CBS posts up on their website, check out this YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSonoerin#p/c/0A0408375DBBC427/2/aDppjhWRAIs. On here you'll see all the extra content CBS puts up on their website like interviews and Ponderosa videos and not worry about it being blocked due to your region.
Okay here we go!
Keith. 26. Water Treatment Tech.
Seems like he's the nice guy of the bunch. Past castaways like Ethan, JT and more recently Fabio proved that nice guys don't necessarily finish last so that could work in his favour. On the flip side he can't be a pushover or a fence sitter either. If he's not afraid to put a little aggression into his game when it's needed he could go far.
Mikayla. 22. Lingerie Football Player.
Another pretty face who claims she's not just a pretty face. We've seen plenty of girls tell us not to let looks be deceiving who end up riding on some body's coattails and either winning or simply getting voted out having contributed nothing except eye candy to the show. The fact that she's already thinking about strategy is a good thing though. Maybe she can break out of the mould those have set before her. A good alliance is key for her as well.
Semhar. 24. Spoken Word Artist.
Another season, another beauty pageant girl. While it looks like Semhar is thinking about the social game and bragging about how good she'll be at it, she also claims that you don't have to lie to get far in the game. Very rarely does one walk away with the million without having to tell a lie so we'll see how that goes for her. Another thing going for her is that unlike some other African American women on the show, she doesn't seem very "ghetto". That point probably sounds as ridiculous as it seemed in my head but it's true.
Dawn. 41. English Professor.
Being an older woman on Survivor can be both a positive or a negative and it all depends on your tribe mates. Some of the younger castaways could embrace her as a mother figure and keep her around while others could exclude her completely and kick her out first. It all depends on how they perceive her and how she acts around them. She admits she'll probably fly under the radar but either way, I don't see her going too far.
Elyse. 27. Dance Team Manager.
No doubt she's gorgeous but wow, 2 beauty pageant girls in one season. It must be our lucky day. She claims she's ready for the social game yet admits that she's outspoken and that people either love her or hate her. She'll get herself kicked out quickly if she lets her attitude get in the way. I can see her staying in the game for a long time though. She may be the next Parvati but if she does turn out to be one of those girls who contribute absolutely nothing to the game at all I'd gladly watch her sun bake for 39 days... as long as she doesn't win.
John. 24. Harvard Law Student.
Now here's an interesting contestant. He's obviously a BIG fan of the show which is something I love to see amongst all the recruits. He has a lot going for him in that he doesn't appear to be a physical threat, he's obviously intelligent and he knows how Survivor works and realises he had to adjust his game accordingly. He's also very realistic about his chances knowing a big part of the game relies on luck. If he slips under the radar long enough he has a very good chance because he also seems like a nice guy. His downfall could be his own insecurity about how he'll play the game. I think it'll be important to find the right people to align with as well.
Jim. 35. Medical Marijuana Dispenser.
Either this guy's been smoking the marijuana instead of dispensing it or he genuinely believes he's a Survivor total package. He's clearly a... ahem, confident guy who thinks quite highly of himself. If he lets any part of his real personality through, he'll be out in a heartbeat. However, if he manages to cover it up long enough he might prove to have enough strategy to figure out a way to put himself into a winning position... I doubt it but I'm more than happy to be proved wrong.
Edna. 35. Anesthesiologist.
Not only does Edna admit that she's a terrible liar. She also says she tends to take the lead which is often mistaken for bossiness. If she fails to amend these two things she won't be around for long. She seems like a nice person but if you want to get far in this game you need to learn how to bend the truth and if you give someone even the slightest hint that you're lying things can go wrong for you very quickly.
Christine. 39. Teacher.
Christine falls into the same category as Dawn. If the younger people on her tribe embrace her, she'll stick around. If not, she's out early. Apparently she knows she can win... alright then? She certainly seems determined which is never a bad thing. One thing she did point out is her intolerance for a) laziness and b) divas. Chances are she'll encounter both during her stay on Survivor and if she's the type to speak up and call people out then that will land her in hot water. I still don't think she'll make it very far.
Brandon. 19. Oil Tanker Crewman.
Fun fact: Brandon's last name is Hantz. Yep, he's Russell's nephew. This could be a casting stunt by the producers but I'll give him a chance. He claims to be different to Russell and says he's "a nice guy" so we'll have to wait and see for ourselves. It sounds like he knows his stuff. He realises he has to deceive down the line which is a realistic expectation when playing this game and the sooner you accept the fact the easier things will be for you. He does point out, however, that he has a temper. If he can't contain it he might land himself in trouble but other than that, I give Brandon a good chance at getting far in the game.
Whitney. 27. Country Singer.
Whitney admits that she's out of her comfort zone in this environment but also says she's a bit of a tomboy and that she's tougher than she looks (sound familiar?). I guess the only danger for her would be if somebody recognises her (even if she isn't a huge celebrity) and decides she doesn't deserve the million because she must be rich already. I get the feeling she would be the most likely contestant to quit if anyone was to give up this season. Other than that, I'm not quite sure how she'll fare.
Albert. 26. Baseball/Dating Coach.
Well, Albert will be the physical threat of the season. Not only does he have that but he's obviously a bit of a charmer. That combination alone could make him a big threat to win the million. He thinks he can present himself as the nice, likable guy while strategising on the sly. Sounds easier said than done. He may last until the merge but as soon as it gets down to individual immunity he's in trouble. If he can surround himself with people that he can trust wholeheartedly and remain protected, he could end up winning.
Mark-Anthony. 48. Retired NYPD Detective.
Here's someone who seems to be a genuine fan of the show. He seems like a nice enough guy but I think his age will be a factor when his tribe is forced with the decision to cut someone. Don't really know what else to say about the guy besides the fact that I think he'll be gone early.
Sophie. 22. Medical Student.
She claims to be a strong, smart woman that has the "je ne sais quoi that other people don't have". I get the feeling she's a bit of a feminist. I know that's putting it bluntly but that's how she comes across. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that but history shows us that you're a woman who wants to win Survivor you need to, at some point, be a little flirtatious, walk around in your skimpy bikini etc. Give off the impression that you're really just a girl who doesn't know what she's doing but as long as she looks good that's all that matters. If you're a headstrong young woman who doesn't fit in with the rest of the girls you'll be outcast and on the chopping block very early. I predict an early exit for Sophie.
Stacey. 44. Mortician.
This mother of 4 has ghetto written all over her and it could be to her detriment if she can't control it. In all seriousness, she looks like she's quite outspoken and can be confrontational so she needs to be careful of that. She also talks in third person... so that's a little odd. She seems to have a strategy figured out i.e. let someone else look like the bad guy and benefit from a bitter jury. She also believes that the returning players need to be the first ones to go. Smart game plan but that needs support from other people from the tribe who may become a little starstruck and want to keep them around. Despite all this, I don't think Stacey's chances of winning are very high.
Rick. 51. Rancher.
This guy has applied 14 times! Now that's persistence. Aside from his impressive facial hair he seems like a nice guy who's obviously determined to go far in this game. Like the others, his age works against him here but it all depends on the tribe. He knows he needs to steer clear from any sort of leadership role to avoid becoming a target which is the smart thing to do. He can't be flying under the radar either though. Someone like him can't pull that off so he needs to maintain some sort of presence at camp if he wants to stick around.
Well there you have it. All 16 contestants and my first impressions. It looks like a pretty good cast. An older one as well. The 2 returning players should be revealed soon and when they are I'll size them up too so look out for that. In the mean time, be sure to mark down September 14th in your diaries for the 90-minute Survivor: South Pacific premiere. Not long to go now!
Until next time.
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