Survivor edgic season 35 episode 1: Setting up a story
Instead of letting the viewers get to know everyone on a more level field, the Survivor season 35 edgic for episode 1 seems to set up a few peoples’ futures.
Welcome, everyone, to Surviving Tribal’s first crack at Survivor edgic! For those who are unaware, edgic combines the observations of an episode’s edit with logical assertions made about players’ representation throughout a season. For Survivor season 35, Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, I will be doing a deeper dive into how each episode turns out, who’s getting pushed into the spotlight and who’s not showing up at all.
I will segment coverage by the players most rewarded by Survivor edgic each episode, starting out with Complex Personality players, followed by Middle of the Road, then Over the Top, then Under the Radar then, and hopefully this doesn’t happen too often, whoever becomes Invisible. That way, you can see a clear division in what makes a good edit as I dive deeper into exactly what’s being highlighted.
With that, let’s check out the Survivor season 35 episode 1 edgic chart:
Complex Personalities
Ryan Ulrich (CP4): Ryan’s done an excellent job in this premiere episode. He received the most confessionals out of any castaway so far (six), he’s cracking jokes in them, he found a Secret Advantage, he gained trust with someone on his tribe (Devon Pinto) by letting him know and he gave the Super Idol to the right player that could cause some chaos with it on the Heroes tribe.
One has to be wary of whether he’s getting too obvious a push at the start. He could be the early season distraction many players get with an exaggerated spotlight early a la Brad Culpepper, David Wright, Cydney Gillon, etc. His Super Idol pass may work out later, but right now he serves the narratives of others as well as his.
Ashley Nolan (CP3): Right now, the spotlight is on Ashley. She brings insight into the tribe dynamics, is highlighted in strategic talks and found a great gameplay partner in JP. She does have a target on her back due to Alan’s antics, but right now her insight is sought after to provide context for what’s going on a Levu. People are coming to her to make voting blocs.
JP Hilsabeck (CP2): He may not offer a lot more to say about “things like that,” but JP is one of the prominent members of the Hustlers tribe. With just one confessional, his confrontation with Alan and the way he handled that situation showcases his willingness to shut down dissent. The man stripped down to prove he wasn’t hiding an idol and offered up valuable insight at Tribal Council.
It’s clear that he doesn’t have a big mouth, though, meaning I’m not so sure he’ll be driving the conversation going forward.
Chrissy Hofbeck (CPM4): It’s hard out here for a mom in Survivor season 35. I ultimately decided to get Chrissy a mixed tone for her rating due to the fact she was portrayed equal parts negatively and positively.
She off with the first confessional of the season, indicating her importance to the story. While not part of the strategic conversations at camp (the majority considered voting against her), she presented a feeble moment for the world to see when she vomited at the Immunity Challenge. However, once she received the Super Idol, she showcased her strategic prowess and, once she didn’t play it, demonstrated how cutthroat she could be.
With the preview indicating she’ll pull Ben in for the next episode (not counting that for today’s Survivor edgic), it’s clear that Chrissy has some tricks up her sleeve. She’s sympathetic, but viewed as a weak link by her tribe, hence her CPM rating.
Must Read: Survivor Winners: Ranking All 33 Sole Survivors By Season
Mike Zahalsky (CPM3): In pre-season interviews, Jeff Probst labeled “Dr. Mike” as a sole reason to watch this season. There’s plenty of good reasons why already; he’s a family man who names them as the reason to play this game, he’s making sex jokes based on his Urology profession, and he’s been instrumental to the team winning their first Immunity Challenge. By having a family-oriented motivation to play, he’s got an early shine for a winner contender.
Why I gave him a mixed tone is due to his confrontation with Joe. He’s been bad-talking Mike’s search for the Hidden Immunity Idol, as Joe reminds him that “everyone” is aware of how shady he looks. It’s a bit of a bluff, but Joe is planting the seeds of doubt against Mike early. However, by calling Joe a bully, Mike’s helping to gain back sympathy from the audience.
Middle of the Road
Ali Elliott (MOR3): In addition to telling the story of what it is to be a hustler, Ali’s hustling by herself early. She picks Patrick as an alliance partner right out the gate due to how well he gels with the tribe. We get direct strategic insight into her gameplay, while Patrick talks about how he can trust her up in his lone confessional. It’s clear she has a bigger story to tell, but we’re not getting that just yet.
Ben Driebergen (MOR3): Here’s an interesting case of a true middle-of-the-road player. He agrees with one side while also “secretly” agreeing to possible four-person alliances on the other side. Ben’s right in the middle; sought after for conversation but isn’t driving it himself. With Ben appearing to align with Chrissy in the next episode, he could emerge to take an active leadership role. For now, he’s happy to be in a safe spot.
Roark Luskin (MOR3): Despite getting just one confessional and little strategy talk, Roark was inserted into every big Healers tribe moment in the Survivor season 35 premiere. She had a funny line as she grabbed fire with her tribe, she had a positive music swell as she established the good nature of the Healers and she was highlighted with close-up shots as she offered challenge strategy and well blessings.
There has to be a reason why the editors are highlighting her so early, although without having a game impact herself, it’s too early to tell.
Patrick Bolton (MOR2): There’s a good argument to be made about keeping Patrick under the radar per Survivor edgic, but a few things caught my eye. His approachability and being well-liked made Ali gravitate to him; Jeff Probst highlighted his marooning efforts; he’s offered mild strategy talk with Ali. He also called attention to some sort of Secret Advantage being on the marooning, showing his worth to the early narrative.
More from Heroes Vs Healers Vs Hustlers
- Most memorable moments from Survivor: Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers
- Survivor Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers DVD set now on Amazon
- Big Brother 21’s cast pre-show ties harken back to Survivor season 35
- Survivor season 35’s Simone Nguyen is now married
- Survivor’s Ashley Nolan is now teaching kids to surf
Devon Pinto (MOR2): The prolific, snarky player Courtney Yates referred to Devon as if he was “a golden retriever put into the body of a human.” He’s clearly sought after in the camp, as Ryan brings him into the fold as a possible alliance partner. Devon also provided play-by-play when completing the puzzle section of the first Immunity Challenge, with the cameras focused on him during the tribe celebrations. He could develop into something more down the road.
Joe Mena (MORN2): While it’s clear Joe could be an outward villain in this season, he’s not been exposed as a backstabbing mastermind. He pulls Mike aside and confronts him; he plants seeds of doubt against Mike subtly at camp; he’s telling the audience he’s a good guy at home, but all bets are off in Survivor. He’s been referred to as a bully by Mike, helping establish his importance in one of the game’s few early sub-stories.
Over the Top
Alan Ball (OTTN5): In all honest, Alan Ball helped prevent the Survivor season 35 edgic from being dull and predictable. He’s “strategically” adopting a “call it how I see it” approach to the game by “exposing” JP and Ashley’s tightness early in the game. By doing so, he looks like a goddamn lunatic, demanding people without idols to whip them out and telling people to join him for a swim.
Related Story: Survivor Athletes: Ranking The Best To Play The Game
At Tribal Council, in confessionals and conversations at camp, Alan is bug-eyed and looking downright manic. Paranoia has set in, and by doing so, he has created one of the strongest storylines of the early season.
Under the Radar
Cole Medders (UTRP1): It’s insanely difficult to not get a confessional yet still be given a positive tone. Cole introduces himself by explaining his noble job of taking disadvantaged teens out into the wild, with the editors building up the music with subtle keys that evoke happy sounds. Joe mentions how ripped he is, while Jessica spends her lone confession dictating how awesome he is. There’s little strategic merit, but it’s clear that he’s safe and beloved for now.
Lauren Rimmer (UTR2): Considering she’s the oldest player on her tribe of mid-20s players, her being shown directing the tribe in building the shelter and having her fellow tribemates listen to her shows that she’s not a dead woman walking just yet. She follows it up with a confessional explaining the can’t-die attitude of the Hustlers, making her fairly prominent in a tribe where she was chosen to pull a heavy box up an incline in an important Immunity Challenge.
Related Story: Let’s Rank the Survivor Seasons by Their Locations
Jessica Johnston (UTR1): I know that Jessica has fallen in love with Cole, and the next episode’s preview showcases a bit of their possible showmance. That does not bode well for her importance in the Survivor season 35 edgic, but it does show a possible short-term alliance with someone well-liked in her tribe. Things could be worse!
Desi Williams (UTR1): She served as an important puzzle performer in the Immunity Challenge, but other than a ho-hum re-iteration of Roark’s commentary about the awesome Healers tribe, she doesn’t have much to say yet. She’s proven her worth in the test of dexterity, so she has that going for her.
Katrina Radke (UTR1): RIP “Mom Squad,” Sept 27 8:11 p.m. – 8:56 p.m. You want a definitive reason why it’s not a good idea to truncate a single-boot premiere to a 60-minute runtime, you look to the barely-noticed, overlooked, glossed over elimination of a former Olympian based on her age. I would have, at least, liked to get to know her a little bit more than absolutely nothing at all. Remember to watch SEAL Team Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET after Survivor to make this all worth it!
Invisible
Simone Nguyen: Think about this; there hasn’t been an invisible edit for a character in a premiere of a Survivor season, according to edgic charts, since Carter in Survivor Philippines. It’s been five years since it’s been this bad for Simone, a player who even in challenges has been physically blocked from group shots by other players. Beyond flashes of close-ups by cameras, I have no idea who this person is.
Storylines To Watch
- Alan versus Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: He’s a man on a mission right now, and that mission is to take down JP and Ashley with his own game.
- Mike versus
Probation Officer TonyJoe: Mike’s certainly liked at the Healers tribe, and he has noble motivations, but he’s got someone with his eye on him. - Ryan versus Cochran comparisons: Watch for Ryan to get a push as a playful narrator.
- Chrissy’s redemption: After pouring her heart (and stomach contents) out in an Immunity Challenge, let’s see how she uses her real-looking, now-fake idol to her advantage.
Next: Survivor: Ranking The Best Seasons
Survivor season 35 episode 2, “I’m a Wild Banshee,” airs on Wednesday, October 4 at 8 p.m. ET.