Survivor Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers power rankings: Episode 9

#8. Mike Zahalsky

One of the most frustrating parts about Dr. Mike Zahalsky’s Survivor season 35 play is that he has enough self-awareness to know how to play a good social game, but his strategic decisions about how to play the game take him out of contention.

Take the latest Tribal Council; Mike wanted to draw attention to himself as a means of shaking things up with the majority. Instead of making a play to take a big threat out, he used his Hidden Immunity Idol that nobody knew for sure that he had, he had his most trusted players in the opposing alliance shake their heads at him and further solidified the idea that Mike can’t be entirely trusted.

While it’s possible for Mike to weasel his way out of the double-elimination Survivor episode this week, he’s done so much damage to his credibility that the only way he escapes an immediate departure is through chaos. Even then, it wouldn’t be a long-term safety for him, as he’s brought too much attention to himself.