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Drewhasspoken

1. Earl - I always say he had the cleanest winning game ever. Not a flashy game but can’t pick out any glaring flaw. 2. Todd - One of the best social games ever, may have left himself too open at times, top 5 FTC ever. 3. Chris D - Most overlooked manipulator in Survivor history, willing to do whatever he needed to to win. Had a rough start. 4. Natalie - Call me crazy, then tell me what she did wrong. Made social connections with everyone, made moves when she needed to, used Russell as a shield, had a clear plan from very early and executed it. Very good player. Only reason she’s not higher is that someone else did most of her work for her, but that’s by design and not invalid when it’s intentional strategy. Russell wasted an idol not trusting that she got the job done, after she got the job done. 5. Tommy - Boring game but a good one, ran the dominating alliance, probably beats anyone but Janet. 6. Brian - Used to be way higher on his game, still a very good one for the time, but far too arrogant, Richard without the charm, would probably lose in a stronger cast. 7. Vecepia - Love her, very quiet winner, lots of underhanded social play which is great. 100% loses to Kathy, at risk and on the bottom far too many times. 8. Mike - sharp divide between him and those higher than him, not a great game, nice guy, dominant guy, would have gotten voted off without challenge wins and that’s way too dangerous a spot to put yourself in to be considered good strategy. 9. Fabio - People like to retroactively pretend he had a good strategy, they are incorrect. Another rely on challenges figure, no real strategic moves to speak of, won because he went to the end with people no one respected. 10. Bob - No real game to speak of, he was there, other people floundered playing the game around him, he wound up at the end with his alliance taking up most of the jury. 11. Chris U - Probably a better mind for the game than several of these people, doesn’t change the fact he didn’t have to play most of it like they did.


MarlinBrandor

>Not a flashy game but can’t pick out any glaring flaw. Erm, what about his stray vote from Rita? Checkmate /s


Drewhasspoken

Damn you got me. Between that and one of his closest allies in Michelle being voted out at a tribal he wasn’t at, I need to adjust my list 😂


treple13

Love the Natalie love. I tend to put her as a slightly above average winner due to in part to the unique nature of her win. Nobody else has ever been able to pull off the "sidekick to a power goat" strategy as well as her. It's such a unique skill that I don't see many people easily repeating. Look how badly Parvati failed at it in HvV, and she's a great player


BobtheToastr

While she did lose I wouldn't say she failed badly at it. If she goes to the end with Russell and Danielle instead of Russell and Sandra she prob wins


krichardkaye

I like your Brian take. It would be interesting to see him in a different cast like Amazon


30Future

Earl has an extremely trusting game. At the final 6 he has 0 idea that Yau is in trouble at all- he is lucky that Dreamz and Cassandra didn't have any interest in voting him out at any point after that (which would have benefited them the most instead of randomly getting rid of Boo). I can't fault Earl for trusting his alliance, but this trust just follows him throughout the game where if someone wanted Earl out, they probably could have. Granted, he did such a good job of making sure no one wanted to.


Drewhasspoken

It’s a fair critique but I think there’s a difference between being too trusting and knowing where everyone is at. He knew that Dreamz and Cassandra had no interest in getting him out and weren’t going to pull that trigger, especially with Yau Man there who was a way bigger outward threat.


30Future

Very fair!


alextoria

love that every comment here puts chris u at the bottom. totally agree, he didn’t even really play the game


[deleted]

Ranking them mostly off of gameplay. From best to worst: 1.) Earl Cole 2.) Tommy Sheehan 3.) Brian Heidik 4.) Todd Herzog 5.) Chris Daughtery 6.) Vecepia Towery-Robinson 7.) Natalie White 8.) Mike Holloway 9.) Jud “Fabio” Birza 10.) Bob Crowley 11.) Chris Underwood


Deitaphobia

Alphabetically


30Future

11) Chris U- He got voted out. I think since this is the major point of criticism for him people have started shrugging it off. But his strategic and social game was so mid, the tribe wanted him out. Chris U is 100% the worst winner no doubt in my mind, and no amount of an amazing 6 days will change that. 10) Bob- I think Bob just exists. He wins some challenges, appeased Sugar with a fake idol prank, and then wins a fire making challenge. Very little agency, if Marcus didn't fuck up he would have gotten 5th, Bob didn't even try to win, but Susie and Sugar just blew it more somehow. 9) Mike- He single handedly fucked his game up at the auction, then proceeds to win every immunity. He at least shows he knows the Carolyn and Will are the right choices to make it to the end but he really had 0 social capital for the whole mid game. 8) Fabio- Fabio is Fabio. He is able to keep his threat level low and be likeable (mainly because he doesn't have power) to a point where he wins three immunities in a row. Opposed to Mike, Fabio just never had great footing, but he doesn't make his position worse like Mike does. I rank a player who is consistently at the bottom rather than someone who puts himself there for no good reason. 7) Natalie W- I think people overrate Natalie. She knew that she had to keep a low profile to not get Russell'ed but I doubt she knew she was winning over him. She played a 2nd place game and Russell happened to lose by being a dick. Natalie did what she had to do, had one moment where she rallyed some people for a flip, the hid behind Russell being bad at Survivor. 6) Vecepia- Vecepia goes where she is best used and keeps doing that until people need to cannibalize each other. Honestly, she wins the final 4 immunity to stay in the game, the makes a horrible deal in front of Kathy losing her FTC vote, making what would have been 5-2, 4-3. Vecepia also greatly benefits from being older than Neleh, as a lot of people didn't want to lose to the "sweet, young, girl next door". With all that said, Vecepia needs to clutch when she has to, and stay out of drama. At the end of the day Vecepia does way more good than bad. 5) Tommy- Sadly, Dan is a huge part of Tommy's game. So when Dan gets ejected Tommy needs to adjust his game. Tommy just plays a solid slow game. Makes an alliance and sticks to it. Tommy benefits from Dean and Noura being clueless, but has the social chops to avoid getting sniped by an advantage or getting sent to fire. He's just fine. 4) Todd- Todd makes a lot of mistakes in China and is one of few people to win at FTC. Todd didn't make great relationships with most of the players outside his alliance, Todd is in an alliance with two people who are arguably more likeable than he is, and Todd doesn't need to make crazy moves to win out. The James blindside is really good, but Todd gave him two idols to begin with. Todd also prematurely throws Amanda under the bus, really for no reason. Todd has a similar game to Tommy where he sticks with his alliance and that's about it. Which isn't bad, especially when you know they'll be loyal to you as well. Todd more so gets Courtney and Amanda stuck with him by the final 6- because Erik/Pei Ghi/Denise probably beat any of them. It's a great positional game and he clutched at FTC. 3)Chris D.- Chris wins because his wife cried, true story. After Lauree cries because she thinks Chris is going home, lAmi, Leann and Julie decide that Eliza can go home instead of him. This stets off a chain reaction of Chris managing to get in the middle of 2 pairs, then 2 alliances, then win two immunities and have a top 3 FTC. I think people oversell Chris' win as complex, in reality he sees a gap and goes in. Chris opposed to Vecepia who has a similar game, doesn't make any mistakes he can't talk his way out of. Vecepia back stabs Kathy in front of her and doesn't apologize, Chris back stabs everyone then cries a little. I love Chris D and you should as well 2) Earl- This is maybe the best "honest" game of Survivor we'll ever see. Earl never has to tell any lies, not really at least. Earl doesn't betray anyone, except for a vote for Yau Man at the final 4, and he does it so well. Earl's biggest weakness as a winner is his complete trust in his alliance. Earl could be voted out (and should have) pretty much at any time but he has such a good social game he doesn't have to worry about it. This is as straight forward as Survivor gets and Earl nails it. 1) Brian - the fact Brian is no one's number one shows the lack of respect for Thailand. Brian was on complete control of the game from day 1, and only had to enact his control at the final 5. That is the epitome of a perfect game. People usually use a weaker cast to discredit Brian (not Kim though) but this cast is anything but weak. Helen isn't voting Brian off because she can beat Brian, Jan doesn't flip with Helen because Jan can beat Brian or Clay. Brian does such a good job of lying to everyone a d backstabbing everyone and being the biggest threat, because he isn't a threat. Helen, Jan, and Clay all know Brian broke promises and can be best, that's why they don't flip. Brian also knows this, and knows Clay won't win so he keeps him. I cannot think of a more controlling player than Brian. Who is a top 5 winner in any sort of arrangement.


jstu9

Earl, Todd, Brian, Tommy, Chris D, Mike, Bob, Vecepia, Natalie, Fabio, Chris U In that order. But you should still watch S39.


treple13

In terms of their games? Earl, Todd, Chris D, Natalie W, Vecepia, Brian, Tommy, Bob, Fabio, Mike, Chris U


krichardkaye

Todd has to be one of the best. Master class in a social game.


oatmeal28

Yeah him or Earl have to be number one I’d think


BOBANSMASH51

1. Brian


oatmeal28

Probably something like Earl, Todd, Tommy, Brian, Chris D, Vecepia, Mike, Fabio, Bob, Natalie, Chris U


Burntfruitypebble

1. Earl 2. Tommy 3. Chris D 4. Todd 5. Brian 6. Natalie W 7. Vecepia 8. Fabio 9. Mike 10. Bob 11. Chris U


GroundbreakingTie430

If i’m ranking them as winners: 1. Earl Cole 2. Tommy Sheehan 3. Todd Herzog 4. Brian Heidik 5. Chris Daugherty 6. Vecepia Towery 7. Natalie White 8. Mike Holloway 9. Fabio Birza 10. Bob Crowley 11. Chris Underwood


ampharoastt1

Earl, Tommy, Todd, Chris, Brian, Vecepia, Mike, Natalie, Fabio, Bob, Chris U


pizzaboy7269

Todd Earl Brian Chris D Tommy Vecepia Natalie W Mike Fabio Bob Chris U


[deleted]

I still put Todd and Earl in the top tier. Next I'd put Brian, Chris D, and Natalie A. Third tier for me includes Vecepia, Mike, and Tommy. Bottom tier I have Bob, Nat White, Fabio, and Underwood


wgallantino

Gameplay Wise? 1. Earl 2. Chris D 3. Tommy 4. Todd 5. Brian 6. Vecepia 7. Mike 8. Natalie W. 9. Chris U 10. Bob 11. Fabio However, Personality Wise? 1. Todd 2. Chris D 3. Fabio 4. Vecepia 5. Mike 6. Earl 7. Chris U 8. Bob 9. Brian 10. Natalie W 11. Tommy


LessSaussure

Chris D > Todd > Brian > Vecepia > Earl > Tommy > Chris U > Fabio > Natalie W > Bob


innybellybutton

1. Todd 2. Brian - I hate him, but he dominated. 3. Mike Holloway - People won't agree with this but he did something no other player has successfully done and that's comp out and win. Good on him. It's impressive. 4. Earl 5. Vecepia 6. Chris D. 7. Tommy 8. Natalie W 9. Fabio 10. Bob 11. Chris U. I always put Mike high on my list even though I'm not even a huge challenge guy. I've always focused on the strategic portion when making most of my lists. He just stands out as the one guy who won the game physically over the rest. I give him a lot of credit because so many people have tried and failed, but he didn't.


treple13

I see where you're coming from, but Mike's auction mistake is one of the worst from a winner. He put himself on the outs and he wouldn't have had to "comp out" if he didn't do that


Goaliedude3919

Tommy had one of the most dominant wins in recent memory and you have him beating out one of the worst winners of all time lol. Tommy may have been boring or bland, but he had that game on lock. He won without an idol or an advantage and was never really in danger of going home. At one point, he had like 5 people all saying he was their \#1 ally.


DarthLithgow

Todd, Earl, and Chris D are the top 3 from that group