Survivor: Game Changers- Who was Snubbed?

The last post and this current post were originally meant to be one long post together. But I decided to split them up as I wanted to make sure that a post was published at the time that I wanted it to be. This will be the last Wednesday post until holy week happens. You should see my post on the season premiere tomorrow. The posts will be on Thursdays until sometime in April. Now, let’s get to the actual post at hand.

Now that I’ve gone through the cast, I might as well mention who I feel was snubbed from it. I’ll start with the first season and then work my way down to the most recent season. I know that not every game changer can come back or would come back. But I will mention pretty much all of them that I can think of.

From Borneo, Greg was a quirky player who had a more laid back way of playing the game. It is understandable how he isn’t back as he never cared that much about the game. Susan inspired future jury members to express whatever they wanted to about the finalists. I don’t think that she’ll ever play again considering how it ended the second time. Rudy is the oldest player, but he won’t ever play again because of that. Kelly proved to be the first strong player and also had the longest gap between playing seasons. There is also the most notable snub from this upcoming season. HOW COULD YOU NOT INCLUDE RICHARD HATCH? He invented the game! Maybe they got tired of trying to bring him back a third time that they didn’t try to bring him back this time. Or maybe he still can’t leave the country.

From Australia, Michael faced more of a game changing event than changed the game himself. Regardless, he’s in jail now. Where did his life go wrong? Back to the point: Colby proved to be one of one of the strongest players at the time, but I think that he’s done with Survivor. Tina proved that good natured people can win the game.

From Africa, Lindsey might have changed the game, but it was a pretty minor thing, if she did that at all. Teresa stirred up a whole lot of trouble in the game that was uncommon at the time. I wonder if she was even considered for this. Lex really shook up the game with his game play that strangely didn’t get him voted out. I hope that he was considered, but maybe not. Ethan might have even proved to be the nicest hero to have won. Was he considered to return?

From Marquesas, I can’t remember exactly who started the outsiders alliance, but maybe all of them could be considered for the twist. Boston Rob also changed the game a lot with his game play, but I doubt that he would return. Vecepia also changed how people could win.

Did anyone in Thailand change the game? If they did in a notable way, I can’t think of them. From Amazon, Christy is one of the most notable game changers and she has never even been considered to return to play the game again, based on what information I know. How dare they! Whether you loved or hated Jenna, you’d have to admit that she changed the game a lot.

From Pearl Islands, Rupert probably changed the game a whole lot, but it is completely understandable that he’s not here playing again. Burton and Lillian both changed the game, but one wonders if they count since no one else could have gotten voted back into the game. Johnny Fairplay really did change the game, but I doubt that he’ll ever come back.

If anyone changed the game in Vanuatu, it was Chris, the winner of it. One might have thought that the postmerge of that season would have only women as soon as they got rid of all the men. But they never got rid of Chris and he was able to get rid of anyone who could beat him and win the game. Sadly, they haven’t wanted him or any men from his season back.

In Palau, Bobby Jon and Stephenie were both game changers. I can’t believe that they didn’t bring back Stephenie. I think that Coby was a game changer. Ian did a lot to change the game, but Tom was the biggest game changer this season.

Some might wonder if there were game changers in Guatemala. I’m getting more and more annoyed that they haven’t brought back one of the original players from that season yet. There are good ones that fit the theme of game changer. Gary certainly changed the game and Rafe probably did. Even if Judd didn’t, he’s still a good enough pick from this season, even if he is irritating. Danni was rumored to be on this season so even if she wasn’t someone that I liked that much, she would at least finally bring someone back from that season. I hope that someone originally from Guatemala comes back at some point.

I’m not sure if Terry was a game changer from Panama or not. He might have been, but I don’t think that he was enough since I’m not sure what he really did to change it. I still have mixed feelings about him. Shane might be considered a game changer.

From Cook Islands, they clearly ignored a developing pattern. Who played the 13^th, 20^th, and 27^th seasons? The next season in the pattern was this one and the contestant actually fits the theme of this season. Candice, who mutinied on her old tribe is someone that they probably didn’t bring back due to her lack of popularity among fans. Jonathan could have also fit this bill. Anh-Tuan created the well known and often used splitting the vote strategy, but he isn’t coming back. And Yul was one of the most strategic winners in the history of the game.

From Fiji, Slyvia didn’t do too much due to her short time in the game, but she can still be considered a game changer in a way. There are two clear game changers: Yau-Man, who did so much for recent seasons with his fake idol, intelligence, and overall good game play, and Earl, who got every jury vote, something no one else had done before. He is one of the contestant who was rumored to be in this season, but that rumor wasn’t ultimately true.

From China, Amanda is a huge game changer and she isn’t in the cast. She made it to the final tribal council twice, something that no one else had done before her. She was the first contestant to play 100 days. She lasted the longest contestant of any contestant before she was first voted out.

From Micronesia, Natalie is the most notable snub from the cast. I did have a source saying that she might be in this season, but she isn’t. The source might have mentioned people who were considered so I have to wonder if she was considered, but didn’t end up making the cast.

From Gabon, Marcus is the only real game changer that I can think of from that season. He was a dominate force premerge and could have made it farther were it not for weird twists happening all at once. Few other people could have done what he did even if they did make it far.

From Tocantins, I’m not sure if anyone not in the cast was snubbed from it. They did pick the most notable game changer from that season after all. Some people might make the case for Stephen being a game changer, but I’d have to see it to know for sure.

From Samoa, Russell Hantz brought a lot of ruthless game play to the game. It is understandable why he is not in the cast and I hope that we never see him on Survivor or any other TV show again. He overshadowed any other possible game changers that season.

From Nicaragua, a contestant who was apparently considered for this season was Marty. I’m not really sure how he changed the game up that much. I do think that they should have included Jane as she did a whole lot for this game.

While you probably hate him, Phillip changed the game in serious ways. Matt and Mike also changed the game that season. While the cast of Redemption Island gets a lot of hate, it is much better than a lot of people give it credit for.

I’m not sure if there were any game changers from South Pacific. Sophie was considered for the cast, but I can’t really think of anything she contributed to the game. Contestants considered from One World are Monica and Chelsea. While they would both make good returnees, I’m not sure if game changers is the right name for them. Well, I guess that Monica burnt idol clues and no one had done that before. Colton changed the game, but he’s unlikely to be back.

From Philippines, Dana and RC could be considered game changers even if they didn’t do that much in the end. Denise is clearly a game changer from this season as she did something that no one else has done or, possibly, could have, even if it was largely due to misfortunes premerge.

From Caramoan, the only fan that I can think of who was close to being a game changer was Reynold. I’m not sure why there is a lot of hatred for him. But he did things that would have been brand new things to these players who would not have been able to see the last season.

They were good picking people from Blood versus Water to play the upcoming season. Apparently, John had been considered to play this season, but didn’t make the final cast. The only person from this season that I feel would have worked in the cast was Hayden.

From Cagayan, Alexis and L J had apparently been considered for this season. I’m not sure if either of them would have worked as a game changer. I do feel that Kass and Spencer from this season fit the theme of game changer a lot, even though Spencer probably doesn’t want to play again.

From San Juan del Sur, Jon Misch was apparently considered for this season. Natalie was also a last minute cut from this season. Missy sort of changed the game by creating grey area with evacuations that fans got really upset about.

From Worlds Apart, Dan sort of changed the game, but I doubt that he will ever be back a second time. Carolyn and Mike were apparently considered for this season and they seem to fit the theme. I can’t remember anyone else off hand.

From Kaoh Rong, Peter was possibly considered for this season, but I’m not sure how he changed the game. They seemed to do well by casting the people from this season as it has the most players in this upcoming season. I’m not sure who notable snubs are, but Neal and Michele could be considered that. I can’t think of any others.

Now we wind up with the most recent season before this one. Adam changed the game, but it is understandable why he isn’t on this season. Will is also someone who could be considered as changing this game, but I understand why he isn’t on this season. David could be considered a game changer as well. I’m not sure who else was snubbed from the cast.

Well, that’s all for this blog post. I should be back tomorrow with my post on the season premiere of the show. Remember that posts will be on Thursdays until holy week happens. Hopefully no family visits mess up my plans for blog posts, but if I’m warned enough in advance, then it shouldn’t really affect this blog too much. I just hope that I don’t ever wind up with a post a week late or something crazy like what happened with the last season before Thanksgiving. Hopefully all will go well. If not, then I'll do my best to post about every episode at some point. For now, this is Adam Decker, signing off.