Survivor season 35 cast: Simone Nguyen’s ready to ‘poison the water’ of the game

Simone Nguyen seems like she could end up being one of the most dangerous players on this season of Survivor, but will it result in a winning game?

Unlike my Surviving Tribal colleague, I’m not ready to make my winner pick just yet for Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, but Simone Nguyen could conceivably make onto a shortlist for this writer.

In her video, where she has the chance to talk directly to the fans and the camera about what her plans are going into the game, it’s apparent that she is not just out here to have fun. It almost appears as if she’s embracing a willingness to get cutthroat should she think that her game demands it, especially when she actively says she’s fine with trying to “poison the water”. While that’s not the worst attribute to have in a game of Survivor, it’s also one that could make her defense to a jury difficult.

Ditto with her “constructive confrontation” skills. Not that getting into an argument with another player dooms your game — but if she’s seen often initiating them or stirring the pot too often in too obvious ways, people will likely notice. Her greatest asset and her greatest challenge is going to be the social game, and she seems like she’s cognizant of that challenge.

She does, however, come into the game with a strategy for playing the middle if she needs to. Even if the game will probably require her to change on the fly, having a basic idea might still help more than it hurts.

Meanwhile, her cast bio is more of a mixed bag. Her inspirations among former players come as a slightly odd choice, as she chose Michaela and Tai. The former made for great TV, but often let her emotions get in the way of her game. However, she also lists “complaining” as one of her hobbies (which I can get behind, and a little bonding-by-complaining won’t go amiss among certain players of any game of Survivor).

It’s the second half of the sentence, though, that’s perhaps the most telling: “I’m unafraid to make consequential decisions that affect everyone’s game.”

Dare we say that Simone comes into the game ready for big moves? Because that certainly sounds like someone who is ready for big moves.

Next: Watch the first six minutes of the season 35 premiere

This writer’s view on her is trending positive, and we’ll know a lot more when Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers premieres tomorrow.