Survivor Game Changers Speculation: Let’s Talk Alliances

Survivor is a notoriously difficult game to predict, but some castaways on Game Changers have some connections that they can leverage. Let’s break it down.

All-returnee seasons are a strange beast on Survivor. On the one hand, they often have more interesting gameplay than seasons made up entirely of new players, because of the experience going in. However, that’s by no means absolute. On the other hand, it means that certain players can go in with an advantage in the form of playing with someone from their season. However, that can be a disadvantage, too — a visible couple can be very dangerous to individual games on Survivor. Just ask Figgy and Taylor from Millennials vs. Gen X. So, what sorts of alliances may spring up on Game Changers? Let’s do a little speculation.

First, of the confirmed cast, we have two sets of connections. First, Caleb and Tai of Kaoh Rong will return. The two had a close bond, something we’ve already discussed in our assessment of Caleb’s Game Changers chances. Second, Cirie and Ozzy from Micronesia are both also on the list. Though they started out on the same tribe, Ozzy was a victim of the Black Widow Brigade in the post-merge. Cirie was a key member of that alliance. At the same time, though, that was season 16, we’re on season 34, and Cirie, in particular, wants all the help she can get to avoid an early exit like her time on Heroes vs. Villains.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, we get to the real spoilers. As we’ve just talked about Micronesia and HvV, here’s a moment from the latter season.

It actually proves to be quite topical, since the spoiled cast includes J.T. of Tocantins, who also handed over a Hidden Immunity Idol in HvV — and helped ouster Cirie earlier in that same season after first forming a friendship with her. It’s an older season, but those sorts of offenses might make Cirie wary of playing with him again.

J.T. and Cirie have another HvV alumna in Sandra, who has been confirmed to be playing. Now, Sandra and J.T. have a connection as two winners, but they opposed each other on their shared season despite Sandra’s efforts to rope the Heroes into knocking out Russell. However, J.T. eventually voted for her to win HvV, so it might be safer than you think. The two, according to spoilers, will start the game on opposite tribes, though.

Speaking of connected players, Debbie from Kaoh Rong will also make a return. She’ll know Tai more than Caleb, as the two both made it to the merge. However, her unpredictability may mean she’s an easy early target, and Tai might turn on her since they’re on the same tribe to start per spoilers. Aubry will also return, but she might be able to go farther, based on her performance from Kaoh Rong, where she became one of the runners up. She’ll likely avoid Tai, but the two reportedly won’t start out on the same tribe — instead, she’ll play with Caleb at the start.

In fact, there’s only one returnee who has no connections at all, provided that the spoiled cast is correct: Troyzan of One World. It’s only his second time playing, though he, like fellow spoiled returnee Brad Culpepper, made a pitch to get back for Second Chance. Potential spoilers also state that the two will go far, though, along with Sarah Lacina. Sarah shares Cagayan with Tony, but we suspect she won’t want to work with him after Cops-R-Us went absolutely nowhere last time.

Although Millennials vs. Gen X saw the emergence of the term “trust cluster,” we think alliances still have their place, especially with returnees.

Next: Survivor Game Changers Assessment: Tony Vlachos

Survivor: Game Changers premieres Mar. 8.