I’ve been speaking a ton about Survivor 50 these days for apparent causes. I’m positive I’ll have a couple of extra posts over the following week or two about rumors or some wild fantasies about what I wish to see, however I needed to take a break from all that to weigh in on one other argument happening. Fans are speaking about who the very best current winner is, and within the least stunning improvement ever, most usually are not even contemplating Kenzie Petty. I get it, but in addition, I’m sick of it and must say a couple of issues concerning the social a part of Survivor.
There’s nothing higher than a enjoyable transfer. That’s been a factor because the first season when Richard Hatch and firm took benefit of Sean’s silly alphabet technique to wrestle away management of the sport and grow to be the bulk. After all all of us love gamers who can manipulate the numbers to eradicate threats and pull off memorable blindsides, however that’s solely part of the sport. There’s additionally the entire not getting voted out your self factor, and the social part is a manner larger a part of that than followers give it credit score for.
One of many downsides to Survivor casting an increasing number of superfans is castaways and viewers have grow to be much more obsessive about constructing a resume. They wish to see castaways concoct and execute one thing actually splashy as a result of apparently that’s the one technique to show you’re a worthy winner. I simply don’t see it that manner although. One other utterly viable path to profitable, in my view, is to cruise to the tip as a result of everybody likes you and likes enjoying with you. Kenzie received a grand whole of 1 vote solid towards her the whole season, which Ben has repeatedly said in exit interviews was a complete accident.
You possibly can play Survivor like Boston Rob or Tony and win in grand and dominating style by overtly being in management and imposing your will on everybody else, however there’s additionally an extended historical past of individuals profitable Survivor by enjoying a sport nearer to Kenzie’s too. Why did Sandra win Survivor twice? As a result of she made it to the tip, and her fellow gamers preferred her greater than the opposite selections. You might make a case that others like Michele, Fabio and numerous extra received the identical manner.
However for some cause enjoying an important social sport is seen as lower than by a majority of followers. Just have a look at the responses to this post asking people to rank Kyle, Rachel, Kenzie and Dee. There are a whole bunch of replies and not using a consensus greatest winner decide, however in the event you have a look at sufficient of them, you’ll discover a recurring theme that Kenzie is put final a complete lot extra typically than the others. I assume that’s nonsense.
There are three elements to enjoying Survivor. There’s the technique half. There’s the social half. There’s the bodily half. Most followers would rank the three so as or significance as technique, social and bodily. I disagree. Survivor is crammed with good strategic minds who both couldn’t get to Last Tribal or received to Last Tribal and didn’t get votes as a result of individuals didn’t like them. Fans will say the jury was bitter, however on the finish of the day, individuals like giving cash to individuals they like, not individuals they don’t. On the finish of the day, Kenzie received as a result of her greatest ally advocated for her at Tribal and Charlie’s greatest ally voted towards him. That is not an accident. That is a part of the social sport.
I’m not saying Kenzie is the best participant within the historical past of Survivor. As a substitute, what I am saying is that in the event you put her on 100 seasons, she’d go actually far on most of them as a result of individuals like her. That’s a ability each bit as useful as strategizing difficult strikes, whether or not the fanbase is keen to confess it or not.
