For the first time in years, Todd Herzog from Survivor China opens up about his time playing in Survivor China, the recent years and competing with winners.
It’s been great to see Survivor China winner Todd Herzog show up and support charity events like Hearts of Reality. He’s been a long-time supporter in the past, and it’s great to see him doing better after his bout of alcoholism. He answered questions about that, his time in China and more in a Reddit AMA last night.
One question that kind of stuck out for me upon reflection was about Todd Herzog’s authenticity in being shocked that he won. It did seem like he had no idea he was going to win (an unusual event for Survivor winners due to jurors’ loose lips), and he reveals he thought Courtney had won. More shockingly, Amanda was convinced she won both China and Micronesia.
That means she’s the first player to compete in back-to-back seasons, make it to the end and delude themselves into thinking they won, something that Russell Hantz can’t even attest to. Todd even argues that Courtney would win if Peih-Gee were in the Final Three instead of him, showing that Amanda’s strong game really fell through with the Final Tribal Council.
There are the basics that come with every Survivor winner that are asked in this Reddit AMA. Of course, Todd would compete in an all-winners season, James probably got the most misleading edit, he said Second Chances was his favorite post-20 season, he offered an update on his health, he opened up about a weird parasite he could see crawling in his skin; you know, basic questions.
I also think Todd Herzog speaks for most Survivor fans when he talks about the lack of culture included in modern seasons, as well as the “lame names/gimmicks/twists.” It’s a bit unfair for most, considering China is one of the best locations the game has seen, but when staring down the barrel of eight straight seasons in Fiji, it’s only going to get more stagnant as time goes on.