Season 34 is just around the corner and it is going to be Survivor: Game Changers--Mamanuca Islands! The theme and partial cast were revealed during the Millennials vs Gen X reunion. Martin Holmes, Redmond as he is usually referred as in the Survivor community has spoiled the entire cast. I am extremely excited for the fourth-ever all returnee season especially after the huge success of Cambodia. The theme, Game Changers, is a bit vague and probably was coined just because production didn't want a boring title like Survivor: All Stars 2 which would probably be a little more accurate. A few of these people aren't really "Game Changers" but whatever, the name of the season is just that, a name.
Now for the important part, let's look at the cast:
Andrea Boehlke from Survivor: Redemption Island and Survivor: Caramoan
Seeing Andrea back definitely excites me. She was a good player and brought some exciting life to the game. A third appearance does not seem like they are "over highlighting" her and especially towards the end of Caramoan she revved up her game and her story seems unfinished. She also shouldn't be a huge target and I could see her doing quite well.
Brad Culpepper from Survivor: Blood vs Water
Production loves the Culpeppers and I am not surprised Brad is back. Even though he only lasted a relatively short time in BvW he was certainly memorable. I am not a huge Culpepper fan and Monica was my favorite half of the duo but Brad will certainly be a unique person in this cast and may add a good villain to cheer against. I definitely doubt Brad's ability to play a good enough social game to win or even go much further than he did last time.
Aubry Bracco from Survivor: Kaoh Rong
Super excited to see Aubry back so soon. She played a fantastic game in Kaoh Rong and was a fan (and my own) favorite. I definitely think she could go deep again as she has good strategy, is good enough in challenges to not be a sure-fire pre-merge target but not so good that she will "have to go out" at the merge. I do doubt her ability to win if she couldn't in Kaoh Rong, but never say never.
Caleb Reynolds from Surivor: Kaoh Rong
I am soooo glad the production went ahead with bringing Caleb back so soon. He was really playing VERY well up until his heroic (and scary) medevac and his story is certainly unfinished. We don't know enough about him to make any assumptions as to whether or not he could win, but he is a very likable castaway. Of course, he literally put his life on the line to play Survivor so he could be seen as a target. I hope he won't be.
Tai Trang from Survivor: Kaoh Rong
Caleb's bro Tai is back as well and I am also happy about that! The 51 year old gay gardener fan-favorite beat all odds and made it to the FTC in Kaoh Rong where he, unfortunately, was the No-Vote Getter of the season. He had a bit of a bumpy social game and was probably seen as a flipper, but he at least came to "play" the game. Like Aubry, I doubt his ability to win if he couldn't in Kaoh Rong, but I am super glad to see him back to play again.
Michaela Bradshaw from Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X
No offense Adam and David, Michaela was the STAR of MvGX! The MvGX pre-merge was a bit of a snooze fest and the only thing that saved it was this woman right here. She is hilarious, a challenge BEAST, and awfully good at strategy too. Yes, a triple threat. And I hope, hope, hope and pray that that's not what she will be seen as because Game Changers will be so much better if Michaela goes deep.
Zeke Smith from Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X
Zeke was probably the best post-merge player in MvGX. My nickname for that cast was "The Dumb Game Changers" because the majority of them came to play, but made as many dumb moves as they did smart moves. That was not the case for Zeke who played strategically, was almost always in the majority of a vote and even convinced former enemies to go to rocks for him. He's also funny and entertaining however he is not one of my very favorites of this cast. Could he win? Yes, if he's not a target, which in this cast I don't think he will be.
Ciera Eastin from Survivor: Blood vs Water and Survivor: Cambodia
OK, I don't need to tell you how EXCITED I am to see Ciera back again. Ciera Eastin is my all time favorite Survivor player and that is because she is a PLAYER. Her first two big moves on her Survivor resume were voting out her mom and causing the second rock draw in Survivor history. Her second go round was just as impressive, controlling every vote post-merge until she was ousted by an idol. This woman deserves a Survivor victory on her resume! I am CROSSING my fingers for Ciera Eastin, winner of Survivor: Game Changers. Could it happen? Heck yes, but only if she's not a target (see a pattern here?)
Cirie Fields from Survivor: Panama, Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Heroes vs Villains
OK, here is another player that DESERVES a win. Hands down, far and away, in my opinion, Cirie Fields is the best player to never win Survivor and I am so happy she is getting a fourth shot and joining the elite league of soon-to-be-four four-time players. Can she win, finally? I do have my doubts. She is not physically strong and is a huge strategic mastermind so could be an early target. Gosh, I hope I'm wrong.
Ozzy Lusth from Survivor: Cook Islands, Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: South Pacific
Ozzy joins Cirie as one of the new fourth-time players. I have never been the hugest Ozzy fan but as probably the best physical competitor in Survivor history, I can't say I'm disappointed to see him return and he definitely deserves his fourth shot. As a challenge beast, his strategy was severely lacking in the Cooks and Micronesia but it picked up in South Pacific including the brilliant move, and risk (and you know I love Survivor risk-takers!) to send himself to Redemption Island. Can he win? I definitely have my doubts. He should be a late pre-merge target due to his challenge prowess, but never say never with this guy!
Sandra Diaz-Twine from Survivor: Pearl Islands and Survivor: Heroes vs Villains
Post-Pearl Islands Sandra was seen as a typical old-school Survivor winner with a unique strategy but overall unmemorable. Fast forward 13 seasons and she wins the game again in Heroes vs Villains proving that you can win Survivor twice. There is a legit case to be argued that she has the best record ever and is therefore the best player ever, though I think luck has been a big part of her wins and that there are better players. Regardless, even though I am not the biggest Sandra fan, I am thrilled to see her back for a third time and see how she can do. Like Cirie, I expect she will be an early target but it would be interesting if I'm wrong.
Tony Vlachos from Survivor: Cagayan
In Cagayan Tony changed the way Survivor is played by being the first person to ever win with ultra-aggressive game play. He was a blast to watch in action building spy shacks, talking llama and finding idols left right and center! The string of post-merge blindsides were all orchestrated by Tony and once it was all said and done including his nearly unanimous 8-1 victory I named him the second best winner in Survivor history. I am thrilled that he is returning to play again but unfortunately he is another that I fear could be an early target.
J.T. Thomas from Survivor: Tocantins and Survivor: Heroes vs Villains
Our third and final winner of this cast, J.T. played a brilliant social game in Tocantins but was a bit of a "one trick pony" as his ally Fishbach did most of the strategizing and he also never won many challenges. When J.T. returned in Heroes vs Villains he made a huge play by giving Russell the idol which made him look like a dumb player but if it had worked out he would have been considered brilliant. I've never been the biggest J.T., Tocantins or Heroes tribe fan so really didn't need to see him back but given that he is not as good of a player as Sandra or Tony I see him going the farthest of all the winners. Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if he won again. God I hope not because if so we'll have two two time winners that I'm not a fan of.
Hali Ford from Survivor: Worlds Apart
Hali is an interesting choice for this season and not one I can say I'm against. Hali was never the biggest "player" in Worlds Apart but she was a great "no collar" spirit and added a whole lot of positive energy to a season seemingly filled with negative characters. Now that she is a couple years older with more life experience, I think she could be a decent player. Also, the young female "why is she here?" character has done extremely well in returnee seasons in the past (Amber in All Stars, Parvati in Micronesia, Kelley Wentworth in Cambodia) and Hali certainly fits this demographic. Yes, you heard it here first, Hali Ford is a legitimate threat to win this season.
Sierra Dawn Thomas from Survivor: Worlds Apart
I am a bit perplexed as to why production chose to bring back two versions of the same person for this season. I know you know what I'm talking about. Sierra is very similar to Hali in that she was an under-the-radar but likable player in Worlds Apart. Sierra also fits the young female "why is she here?" that always does well demographic and is also a leading threat to go deep or win. I think she even has a bit more potential than Hali in that she was a bit more game savvy her first time and is better in challenges.
Sarah Lacina from Survivor: Cagayan
Sarah is also a bit of a surprising choice for this season but she definitely showed a lot of game potential up until she got WAY too wishy-washy at the merge. I think the reason production is bringing her back is the potential for fireworks with her and Tony back together. Sarah does not fit the typical mold for the Hali/Sierra type player though will be WAY under the radar given this cast loaded with big names. Could easily go deep.
Troyzan Robertson from Survivor: One World
I am thrilled to finally see Troyzan back to play the game again after being ROBBED of a spot on Cambodia! Troyzan was quite a character in the female-dominated One World and I HOPE to God we get to hear "This is MY ISLAND!" again on Game Changers. I'm not sure where to put Troyzan on this cast in terms of how well I think he'll do. This is a cast FULL of gamers and potential gamers; Troyzan is more of a character. Somewhere around the merge is my prediction.
Jeff Varner from Survivor: The Australian Outback and Survivor: Cambodia
I was thrilled to see Varner back on Cambodia and am thrilled to see him back again for Game Changers! I could actually see him and Troyzan aligning as Varner is definitely a "character" type but he showed us in his short time in Cambodia that he is most certainly also a gamer. I absolutely adore Varner and hope he can finally make the merge, at least. I think the odds are decent with this cast of big names.
Debbie Wanner from Surivor: Kaoh Rong
Speaking of characters Debbie is a CHARACTER! I think that she'll add a little bit of "fun" into this season which I'm looking forward to. She also played surprisingly well during the pre-merge of Kaoh Rong and it wouldn't shock me to see her become a bit of a gamer. I think her goofiness will get the best of her again and I don't see her going much beyond where she went last time. Let's hope she lasts that long though, just for the entertainment value!
Malcolm Freberg from Survivor: Philippines and Survivor: Caramoan
I've never been the hugest Malcolm fan and am a bit like "whatever" about his returning. Ever sense the massive success of Ozzy production has been trying to "recreate" Ozzy almost every season with Malcolm (now 3 time player), Joe (2 time player) and Jay (1 time player but most recent season). Of those three I actually think I like Jay the most but am not a big fan of any of them. They seem to have a great track record of getting to the Final 4-8 so that's what I'm going to predict for Malcolm in Game Changers.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Well, we got one heck of a great cast. The fact that more than half (17 of 33) of all the seasons are represented is just phenomenal. The mix of people is also great. I honestly could not applaud production more for pulling off this season with this cast (OK, maybe it would be better without J.T. and Malcolm). As I'm sure you can tell I am all around EXCITED for this season! It premieres on March 8th. Counting down the days...
Winner Pick: Of course it is so hard to pick a winner pre-season but I will take a stab in the dark and go with the sterotypical returnee season demographic favorite. Sierra Dawn Thomas. You heard it here first!
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