Debbie Wanner’s Take on a Possible Kaoh Rong Alliance in Survivor: Game Changers
It seems like Debbie Wanner has a pretty good read on where she wants to go in Survivor: Game Changers — but does it involve fellow Kaoh Rong alums?
Survivor doesn’t always favor one season over another for returnee seasons. Sure, Second Chance had four Cagayan returnees, but that at least was partially the result of a fan vote. For Survivor: Game Changers, Kaoh Rong‘s the most-represented season, with 20% of the cast originally appearing there. (We know, we did the math.) Debbie Wanner’s one of those four.
However, she had some choice words to Entertainment Weekly for those who suspect that the Kaoh Rong connection could lead to a power quartet. Here’s what she had to say:
"“So as a group I don’t know that the four of us are going to be perceived as a cohesive unit because we’re really not going to be, and definitely not in the long haul because I’m going to take Aubry out the first chance I get.”"
Interestingly enough, Debbie won’t have a chance to gun for Aubry, at least not at first. Per the cast list, Aubry will start on Mana (with Caleb Reynolds, for those keeping track of the Kaoh Rong four). Debbie will be on Nuku with Tai Trang, and if what she’s saying here is true, she won’t be looking to him as an alliance partner anyway.
Honestly, she has a point: it’s too easy and too obvious. This isn’t to say that they might not join the same alliance. It’s certainly possible, because anything can happen in Survivor. However, Debbie likely hasn’t forgotten about Tai’s Kaoh Rong game either and may be wary of what she may see as his shifting loyalties. She could also use that to move a target onto him as soon as she can.
So if Kaoh Rong players are out, who does Debbie want to play with? Here’s her answer to EW:
"“It’s actually Brad and Tony — two people that I thought I would not like at all. Throw in Ozzy and J.T…”"
The cast list tells us that Debbie will have a shot to work with Ozzy Lusth and J.T. Thomas from the word go. They’re all on Nuku together. Indeed, J.T. has mentioned he’d like to work with Ozzy as well, and if Debbie can work her way in, she has not one, but two physical threats that could easily go out ahead of her if she absolutely has to burn them. We even identified Ozzy as a potential playing partner in our own cast assessment of Debbie. Brad Culpepper and Tony Vlachos may be a tougher sell, as they’re both on Mana to start the game.
Debbie also name-checked Michaela Bradshaw, admitting to EW that though she doesn’t know much about her, she “seems lovely. Fit, too. Very strong.” Alas, Michaela is on Mana as well, and Zeke Smith, who is on Nuku to start with Debbie, wants to play with none other than Aubry.
Next: Cast Assessment: Aubry Bracco
There’s not much chance of a connection there, then, so it sounds like Debbie should stay with her plan, if the game works out that way, that is.