Survivor Winners at War episode 9 power rankings: Challenging times

6. Denise Stapley

If there’s anything that Denise is doing early in Survivor: Winners at War, it’s to build her resume. She got a few people shocked at her legitimacy in the game, regaling others about how she single-handedly voted out Queen Sandra, sending home the two-time champion and ensuring that another would join her ranks. It raised her profile for both good and bad reasons.

Much like Jeremy rationalized, however, Denise is not the player to go after right now at the merge, even though she just won individual immunity. She sits in the middle of the big threats and the newest of new schools while establishing bonds on both sides. She is the kind of player that wins these all-star-type seasons, the kind that doesn’t piss off the majority while playing an underrated game.

It may seem flashy just because Sophie and others remarked about her resume, but you have to remember that presenting multiple storylines is what a rushed season of Survivor: Winners at War that includes the Edge of Extinction needs. The fact that she’s willing to cut ties with Adam while assuring him he’s not the vote this round illustrates her level of game awareness.