Survivoris the prototypical reality show, the first taste that audiences got of the action, drama, and heartbreak that was possible merely by putting ordinary people in an extraordinary situation and turning the cameras on. The rules of the game have changed a great deal over the years, but its winners have remained as compelling as ever.
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Though it all comes down to votes at the final council, there are many ways to winSurvivor.Whether through dazzling charm, icy manipulation, grand strategies, choice alliances, or athletic domination, survivors can win however they see fit if they have what it takes. Here are the best the show has to offer.
8Boston Rob (Redemption Island)
Fan-favorite Boston Rob may be as memorable for his red baseball cap as he was for his actual gameplay, but that’s not to say that his gameplay wasn’t top tier. It took him four tries to winSurvivor,which is the only reason he doesn’t climb higher in the rankings.
His performances inHeroes vs. VillainsandAll Starsremain some of the best the show has seen, and despite the target painted on his back, he was able to win Redemption Island throughan expert combination of social skills, manipulation, and victory in immunity challenges.His choice of whom to align himself with and who to make his pawn was top-notch,even when the drama got intense.
7Tony Vlachos (Cagayan)
One element ofSurvivorthat captivates many viewers is the ability of certain players to bring their real-life skills into the game, and many enjoy making predictions about the success of new survivors based upon nothing more than their profession. In the case of Tony Vlachos, that attitude is rewarded.
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A police officer in real life, Tony used everything he knew about observing others, searching for idols, lying, andthinking through every possible scenario to succeed.A basic willingness to lie without hesitation, blindside when necessary, and cultivate alliances and friendships only to betray them at the perfect moment goes a long way inSurvivor.Tony Vlachos knew how to make the most of all of those abilities, which helped him become only the second person to winSurvivortwice.
6Parvati Shallow (Micronesia)
Many dismissed Parvati’s social game inCook Islandsas boiling down to little more than flirtation and superficial charm, but she proved to be a player of true substance and depth when she played inHeroes vs. VillainsandMicronesia.Charm was undoubtedly one of Parvati’s greatest strengths, and anyone who dismissedthe ability to win favors, cut deals, diffuse animosity, and otherwise further one’s gamewas likely to find themselves on the chopping block against Parvati.
She was an instrumental force in forming the women’s alliance thatwent on to shape the game,and despite losing the final Immunity Challenge, Parvati went on to winSurvivorwith a split vote.
5Kim Spradlin (One World)
There’s plenty that viewers can learn about aSurvivorby their first moves in the game. Some players are boisterous and bold, always looking to take the lead and center stage, whether that’s in building camp, determining strategy, or heading the charge during physical challenges. Others play a quieter game, and at first, it can be hard to tell who is meek and who is simply biding their time.
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Kim Spradlin fromOne Worldproved to be the latter.Despite winning four individual Immunity Challenges, much of Kim’s gameplay was more subtle, focused on developing relationships and orchestrating things in her favor behind the scenes. Cultivating multiple alliances is always risky, but Kim managed to work her way to the winner’s seat through exactly that strategy.
4John Cochran (Caramoan)
John Cochran’sSurvivorlegacy didn’t start well. Despite being a self-described superfan, John misplayed the big betrayal of his team at a crucial moment inSouth Pacific,leading to his swift elimination. By the time he returned forCaramoan,John had adapted his strategy and was ready for just about anything. He won two individual Immunity Challenges, but far more impressive was his strategic gameplay.
John did his best tomake others bigger targets than he was,letting them take the fall while he quietly improved his own position in the shadows.It worked, and by the time the game ended, there was no debate about who deserved the win.
3Sarah Lacina (Game Changers)
After losing to Tony Vlachos inCagayan,Sarah Lacina made a triumphant comeback inGame Changers.Adopting a far more aggressive and cutthroat playstyle than she had during her first game, Sarah was able to navigate the minefield of returning players and ultimately triumph over them.
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Several factors were key to her success, including her ability toacquire and successfully use the Vote Steal and Legacy advantages,which were instrumental inhelping her game. More importantly, she played the Power Six and Tavua Alliance against one another, helping to orchestrate multiple blindsides and thereby eek her way little by little towards the title of Sole Survivor.
2Richard Hatch (Borneo)
Richard Hatch competed in and won the original season ofSurvivor,which makes him a unique contestant. With every passing season, new players have more and more knowledge to draw from, seeing what strategies work best and how to optimize one’s chances for victory. Richard Hatch had no such intel, being forced to rely on his wits and social game in a way that no other survivor has since.
Indeed,Richard effectively invented the concept of alliancesin competition reality shows,making himself an extremely controversial figure in his own season but the reigning king of reality show strategy forever after.
1Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pearl Islands & Heroes Vs. Villains)
Sandra Diaz-Twine is the bestSurvivorwinner by virtue of being the first player to win the game twice. Her victories inPearl IslandsandHeroes vs. Villainswere hard-won, happening thanks toher ability to consistently and clearly read the intentions of othersand her willingness to act upon that fact. Sandra’s victory inPearl Islandswas impressive, but even more so was her follow-up victory inHeroes vs. Villains.
As a past winner and member of the Villains tribe, Sandra was a player with a huge target on her back, but she was able to turn the social game to her favor and capitalize on the strategic weaknesses of others, eventually delivering her a second win.
