Survivor 50 is a massive milestone season, one meant to celebrate the show's history and pay tribute to the fans who have made it all happen. Whether they have accomplished that so far is certainly a point of debate, given how fan votes were worded, and how the cast was ultimately formed without any input from fans, and without even understanding what fans may want to see.
Fans have been discussing the season 50 cast list ever since CBS made the official announcement (minus the specifics on the two players from Survivor 49, though leaks seem to have confirmed their identity). There are many players getting the spotlight, and many more are being discussed as egregious snubs. However, a few players are flying under the radar, neither catching strays as players who did not need to be cast, nor heralded as great casting choices. They just exist.
Perhaps, though, these five players should be talked about more than they are. Put some respect on their name, as they very well could come out there and dominate a good portion of the game. For context, think about Sarah Lacina in Survivor: Game Changers. These players could slide a bit under the radar, at least to fans, and end up surprising everyone.
1. Jenna Lewis-Dougherty
Jenna has not been part of a Survivor cast in the last 40 seasons, with her last appearance being her Final Three finish in All-Stars. Jenna may best be known for her heartbreaking moment in Borneo, where her family did not get a loved one video to CBS in time, and she ended up the only player without love from home.
Minimizing Jenna to this raw and human moment is unfair, though. Jenn is a powerful and memorable personality, and a strong female role-model for so many women and girls out there. She speaks her mind, and she plays the game in a classic, old-school style. Will that work on Survivor 50? Hopefully. But I certainly would not count her out, having made the jury both times and having a strong blend of social and physical abilities.
2. Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick
For a player who is returning for a fourth shot at the title, one who has been a presence on multiple different reality television shows, Stephenie, as a player on season 50, has been stunningly void of mention across a lot of the fanbase. Perhaps this is due to her success, or lack thereof, on most shows she has appeared on. Stephenie is best remembered for her stint in Palau, where she watched her entire tribe get decimated, leaving her as the last person standing, inspiring the exile island twist just a couple of seasons later.
Stephenie has had success on reality television in the sense of typically making it decently far into the game (with the exception of Heroes vs. Villains). She even nearly won Survivor: Guatemala. However, it is rare she is memorable for her gameplay or her personality, which is likely why she is so under the radar now. That could play to her advantage here, though, as a player who has been on both old-school reality shows and modern shows. She may have the adaptability to play the middle well.
3. Christian Hubicki
Christian Hubicki was a bit of the modern-day Cochran or Fishbach, or at least fit the archetype. He was an endearing player, one whose brilliance and nerdy talk and style were not off-putting, but rather joyful and lovable. The reason he is flying under the radar despite being a more popular castaway is because of the other players from his season who got selected. Angelina Keeley is one of the most entertaining and memeable players in Survivor history, and Mike White has made waves as the writer, director, and creator of The White Lotus, along with many other shows and movies.
Much like Cochran before him, Christian could very well pull off a win in Survivor 50. He has charisma and likability, which should help him build tight alliances. He has the strategic ability to maneuver and merge in a new era when fluidity and voting "blocks" have become the norm. Where his intelligence would typically make him a threat in the game, the star power of the cast overall will help him be more shielded and isolated. Let's see how he learned from his first season and applies it now.
4. Rick Devens
It seems shocking to me that such a strong and memorable personality, one that dominated much of the storyline on his season, is flying largely under the radar. Yet that is exactly where Rick Devens sits. His performance to start the season was not great, as he was voted out of premerge. However, thanks to one of the most controversial twists in Survivor history, Edge of Extinction, he won his way back into the game and promptly idoled and immunitied himself deep into the game.
Devens will likely be very interesting on Survivor 50. I can see players viewing him as a major threat early, thanks to his penchant for survival through both immunity challenges and finding advantages. It also appeared that, despite a fun and engaging personality for many fans, his social game struggled some. If he can make it past his initial threat level, though, and establish a stronger alliance, that very penchant for survival could make him one to watch late game.
5. Tiffany Ervin
Much of the narrative around Tiffany Ervin was her alliance, and then rivalry, with fellow Survivor 50 player Q Burdette. In fact, much of the reason the two were cast on Survivor 50 may be because of their heated and diametrically opposed viewpoints. I mean, producers do love drama. As such, much of the talk has gone to the stronger, and more controversial, player of the duo, Q. Tying Tiffany to Q is such an incredible disservice to her as a player, though.
Out of all the non-winner new-era players cast for Survivor 50, Tiffany is among the most well-rounded. She has the ability to win challenges and find immunity idols and advantages (though perhaps needs to improve on her instinct of when to play them). She is strong strategically, as the player who really held her dysfunctional tribe and alliance together for as long as she did, and showed chops at the merge, too. She has a solid social game as well, as someone who is very well-liked. Her skills and lack of attention could lead her to an eventual win.
Survivor 50 premieres early next year on CBS and Paramount+!
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