Survivor Game Changers Cast Assessment: Ozzy Lusth

Ozzy Lusth enters Survivor: Game Changers as a fourth-time player, but he’s looking to adopt a different approach. Will it be effective?

Survivor has seen a plethora of dominant players when it comes to challenges. The argument could be made, however, that Ozzy Lusth stands above the rest. Riding his prowess in Immunity Challenges all the way to the first-ever Final 3 in the Cook Islands (Season 13), Lusth has remained a threat in the other two seasons he’s appeared on as well (Micronesia/Fans vs Favorites, South Pacific). But now he looks to win something more important in Survivor: Game Changers—the title of Sole Survivor.

Ozzy finished second during the Cook Islands season and has never been able to make it back to Final Tribal Council. He finished in ninth in Fans vs Favorites and just missed another trip in front of the jury in the South Pacific. However, the journey that started when he was a mere 24 years old and a waiter now takes him to the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji as a 35-year-old restaurant manager.

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Perhaps the biggest Achilles heel that has developed since Jonathan Penner pointed it out in the Cook Islands Final Tribal Council is his own ego and arrogance. Because of his dominance in challenge, ability as a provider and/or fisherman, and simply being a young, attractive male, Ozzy has developed a bit of an ego as a Survivor player.

The argument could be made that his cockiness is what cost him in Fans vs Favorites. Sure, he fell victim to Parvati Shallow and the famed Women’s Alliance. However, it was hubris that helped him make the decision to leave the idol that could’ve saved him back at camp when he was voted out by a turning Parvati. It was hubris that made him unlikable—though un-killable because of his ability in challenges—in South Pacific.

However, Ozzy is looking to approach Survivor: Game Changers with a whole new approach. At least that’s the case if his Meet the Castaway video is to be believed:

Perhaps the most poignant statement Ozzy makes there is in regards to the game’s adage, “There are no friends in Survivor.” Outside of Parvati (who, once again, blindsided him), Ozzy hasn’t been the strongest of social players. He relied on his physical prowess largely in the Cook Islands, had the Parv blindside in Fans vs Favorites, and then was viewed as a threat and on Exile Island the majority of South Pacific.

Thus, him stating his plans to try and play a stronger social game and to try and turn the adage on its head is highly intriguing. The first question, which is also impossible to answer, is whether or not Ozzy is even capable of that. Perhaps age has toned down his ego, but we saw in South Pacific that even then he wasn’t exactly a social butterfly.

More pressingly for Survivor: Game Changers, though, one has to wonder who he could possibly align with. Looking back at connections from past seasons, Ozzy isn’t at an advantage in that regard in the slightest. The only Game Changer that he has played with before is Cirie. While they share the Fans vs Favorites connection in addition to both being fourth-time players, Cirie was also part of the Women’s Alliance that voted him out. That’s not exactly a strong basis of trust to build a relationship from. At least it’s a connection, though.

Trying to play armchair psychologist while looking at the Nuku tribe, though, both J.T. Thomas and Tai Trang stand out as potential allies for Ozzy. The former has been known to befriend other strong players—in addition to being known for one of the dumbest Survivor moves in history. Meanwhile, Tai and Ozzy seem to possess similar outdoorsmen qualities and a similar easy-going approach to life. That could either mean a connection or a rivalry, which remains to be seen.

Next: Survivor Game Changers Cast Assessment: Malcolm Freberg

Regardless of speculation, though, a change in approach could be just what Ozzy Lusth needs to finally win the $1 million. He’s going to still be a force in challenges, even at 35 years old. That’s always going to be his strong-suit. But if he seriously plans to have a stronger social game, then he’s far more of a complete player. At the very least, that makes Ozzy Lusth a bigger threat than ever before when it comes to potential winners of Survivor: Game Changers.