I’ve been speaking a ton about Survivor 50 currently 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 occurring. Followers are speaking about who one of the best latest winner is, and within the least stunning growth ever, most should not even contemplating Kenzie Petty. I get it, but in addition, I’m sick of it and have to say a couple of issues in regards to the social a part of Survivor.
There’s nothing higher than a enjoyable transfer. That’s been a factor for the reason that first season when Richard Hatch and firm took benefit of Sean’s silly alphabet technique to wrestle away management of the sport and turn out to be the bulk. In fact all of us love gamers who can manipulate the numbers to get rid of 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 element is a means greater a part of that than followers give it credit score for.
One of many downsides to Survivor casting increasingly superfans is castaways and viewers have turn out 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 solution to show you’re a worthy winner. I simply don’t see it that means although. One other fully viable path to successful, for my part, is to cruise to the top as a result of everybody likes you and likes taking part in with you. Kenzie obtained a grand whole of 1 vote forged towards her all the season, which Ben has repeatedly stated in exit interviews was an entire accident.
You’ll be able to 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 successful Survivor by taking part in a recreation nearer to Kenzie’s too. Why did Sandra win Survivor twice? As a result of she made it to the top, and her fellow gamers preferred her greater than the opposite selections. You can make a case that others like Michele, Fabio and numerous extra received the identical means.
However for some motive taking part in an amazing social recreation is seen as lower than by a majority of followers. Simply have a look at the responses to this submit asking individuals to rank Kyle, Rachel, Kenzie and Dee. There are a whole bunch of replies and not using a consensus finest 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 an entire lot extra usually than the others. I feel that’s nonsense.
There are three elements to taking part in 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 obtained to Last Tribal and didn’t get votes as a result of individuals didn’t like them. Followers 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 recreation.
I’m not saying Kenzie is the best participant within the historical past of Survivor. As a substitute, what I’m 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.