Self-confessed triple threat Laurel Johnson plans on bringing a level of game knowledge that is unrivaled by her fellow castaways.
Every Survivor season has its superfans. The Ghost Island twist requires this season to have plenty of them. If a ranking scale were made for the 20 castaways from casual fan to the biggest superfan, Laurel Johnson would be at or very close to the top. You know someone is dedicated to the show when she even lists it as a hobby in her cast bio!
Laurel Johnson is 29 years old, lives in Minneapolis and works as a financial consultant. Her tribemates could see her occupation as a potential threat, but Laurel does not plan on lying about it. She knows that she will have to lie all of the time in the strategic part of the game, and adding another lie to her gameplay would not be worth it. It may seem easy to lie about your job, but going 39 days without one slip up is challenging in itself, especially when it could alter the majority of your adult life story.
The act of lying is not easy for everyone to do; Laurel has had to practice. Her interesting preparation included her lying to her boyfriend. This is a new way of looking at things! Her boyfriend didn’t notice any of her antics, giving Laurel confidence. If the person that knows everything about her best cannot tell if she is lying, people who know her for 39 days should not be able to tell.
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She said it herself; “I’ll be the smartest player there.” She wants to play a strategic game like Todd Herzog. While Laurel thinks she is the smartest, she says she is not going to be arrogant. Laurel emphasized the importance of other players not catching onto her strategic abilities and plans on playing like a snake. She is not going to be afraid to stick up for herself, but will certainly avoid major fights.
Laurel was an Ivy League athlete. She was an accomplished volleyball player, and her physique could make her a threat. Laurel plans to be a challenge beast in the early parts of the game. However, once merge time comes around, she plans on toning it down. Laurel knows her competitive nature will make it difficult to try to lose, but it may be necessary for her longevity in the game.
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It appears as if her wearing glasses alone will make her the Malolo tribe’s puzzle-solver for the first challenge. Her intelligence will make her a favorite to win the challenge, but this far from an ideal way to begin the game. You can usually fault the puzzle solver for a loss, and you do not want to start the game as a scapegoat. Although I am very confident in Laurel’s odds to win puzzles, she will need to prove her physical abilities. You have far less to lose if you are competing in the physical aspects of challenges.
Laurel is much more than just a Day One superfan. She listens to hours and hours of podcasts for each 42-minute episode. Fellow superfans, including myself, should be able to resonate with her. People like her who believe the show is the greatest game is why Survivor is still going strong after 36 seasons.
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I am going to root for Laurel. Her way of thinking, in addition to her Survivor addiction, resonated with me. She will not want to be forgotten and does not want to waste what could be her only chance. Laurel knows so much about the game, and as long as she keeps it concealed until late, she will be a major threat to take the million.