8. Tony Vlachos
Tony’s ladder-climbing skills were built for his Immunity Challenge performance, outdoing a fireman on the other tribe. He also managed to grab a baby shark and play into the court jester role, usurping Tyson’s spot, and even aiding and abetting a BNE at the Sele camp. Tony has made Survivor: Winners at War a fun romp, not a game bot’s reading of 1s and 0s.
7. Sophie Clarke
Sophie is perhaps one of my favorite straight man narrator characters in all of Survivor history, yet she wasn’t leading the conversation or commenting on the direction of Tyson versus Sandra. Yul is her closest ally in the game, so her being removed from him poking the hornet’s nest could be a bit of editing protection.
6. Sarah Lacina
Effectively peer pressured into making a risky play for a Steal a Vote advantage due to the fact that in an all-winners season, you go big or you go home, Sarah thrived under extreme pressure. The Ash Wednesday Heist™ over at Sele went off without a hitch, and although she’s down a fire token, she’s now part of a dynamic trio, a Cops-R-Us duo and with a power that can flip the script.
5. Sandra Diaz-Twine
Now that Sandra knows she is being targeted by Tyson and Yul came to her with that information, her radar has been alerted. She knows how to play the “anybody but me” game, but with a Hidden Immunity Idol good for her next two Tribal Council visits and the notion that her name is out there, she seems well prepared to take on a Tribal Council.
It’s what happens after that Tribal Council to her standing in the game that likely goes the wrong direction just because of her overall threat level.