Though he normally has a preference to Boston Rob and Cochran, here’s Jeff Probst’s take on who has had the best winning Survivor game so far.
There’s no denying that Survivor host and showrunner Jeff Probst has his favorites. There’s those like Boston Rob that he’ll bring onto the show as many times as possible, with a booking on Winners at War marking his sixth time out to the islands to play the game or serve as a mentor. He also points to John Cochran, winner of Caramoan, as an example that anybody can play and win the game.
With 20 castaways set to compete in episodes airing weekly starting February 12 (and a 40th season recap coming next Wednesday, February 5), now is the peak time of reflection for Survivor fans and Jeff Probst alike. As part of his ongoing Winners at War content at EW, Dalton Ross asked Jeff Probst who had the best winning game their season.
“I’m giving it to Parvati because just watching her play that season,” Probst answered after relenting to respond to a common question he often defers. “I felt like we were watching a surgeon go inside a body with a really delicate operation and just move things and tighten up, and they did their own stitches at the end, they closed up or whatever they did.”
It is a difficult question to answer without rustling some feathers, but it’s not even close to a bad answer. Parvati Shallow is near the top of our list of respective winners, and Probst offers many of the reasons why she was entertaining to watch as a member of the audience and as a person on the production side of things. The way she could charm others to do her will while knowing her threat level is insane.
Being able to make it to the Final Tribal Council in two-straight all-returning-player seasons is remarkable, making Parvati a great pick as an overall player. Will that higher profile be a hindrance for her, or will the number of threats present in Winners at War require the egos to come together and create alliances? Only time will tell.