Survivor: David vs. Goliath cast assessment: It’s high noon for Elizabeth Olson

There’s no putting a filter on the energetic Elizabeth Olson, as she enters Survivor: David vs. Goliath after working hard from 11 to 31 years of age.

When I heard that Survivor: David vs. Goliath would be the theme for season 37, my faint optimism was that the show would cast characters like what Elizabeth Olson appears to be. The underdog story comes in many shapes, sizes and formats, but there’s nothing that kicks off a “started from the bottom” story like someone who started working since age 11 to earn money towards getting a horse.

That’s not the kind of story you’ll see much in reality competition tv, and don’t get it twisted; Elizabeth has layers to her. Look no further than her CBS bio to see this in action, as the “hardworking, unique, and crazy” kitchen staffer is a huge Survivor fan that may play smarter and more confined than she lets on.

In addition to sharing stories about giving birth three times while wearing her cowboy hat (her most prized possession, seemingly), she mentions key phrases and words that scream success in the game. She talks about relying on logic as opposed to feeling, as well as focusing on strategy in the long term and nurturing/providing early on.

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Though her poor verbal filter as mentioned in her intro video might get her in a bit of trouble if someone takes a comment the wrong way, it’s still refreshing to see the “country bumpkin” type of player show keen game awareness. Her comparisons to Big Tom from the game’s third season show she’s a superfan that goes way back into the vault to bring up a reference, too.

She knows that this is an immoral game and is willing to make the big movez necessary to advance herself and provide for her family. This is in counter to her moral, hardworking, “go get ’em” mentality she has off the island, which is the right kind of course correction in a game where 19 people are trying to take you out in their own quests for the money.

When it comes to the David tribe, she seems to be in one of the better positions for women early on. She seems to have the strength necessary to avoid being a target early on and the charm, understanding and personality to make friends and influence people. I would be shocked as all hell if she didn’t make it to the merge, at the very least.

Much like a John Hennigan of the Goliath tribe, it’s how people perceive the energetic, forward personality of Elizabeth Olson that will determine her fate in Survivor this season. Lauren Rimmer was still able to keep Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers interesting with her confessionals and fought back against opponents at Tribal Council with a jab here and there; I hope Elizabeth’s “tell it like it is” personality is saved for pull-quotes.

I’m excited to see where Elizabeth Olson finishes this season. If she gets in with a good group of people and the Goliaths don’t steamroll, I could see her make a finale night push to the end of Survivor: David vs. Goliath. She’s said the right things and has the right qualities to ride that horse off into the sunset.