Going into Survivor 50, the stakes are already high. The first episode will set up a lot of expectations for fans, especially since that's when they'll start to find out whether or not the elements they voted for made it into the show.
But most importantly, with a cast of returning favorites, the first episode might be the hardest because you never want to see the person you've been rooting for—for possibly years—go home before the game's barely begun.
Yet someone's gotta get their torch snuffed during the premiere whether we like it or not. Here are a few of our predictions of who could be the first to go.
Cirie Fields
I feel like this one isn't a surprise. So many people were shocked to see her name on the cast list because she's just such a huge threat that it feels pointless to have her on, because everyone's afraid to play with her. We know her game—we love her game!—but I'll be shocked if she isn't an early elimination strictly because people don't want to risk playing with Cirie.
Benjamin "Coach" Wade
The social-focused new era of Survivor doesn't really fit with the "Dragon Slayer" mentality that Coach created and lived by over his three seasons. I have a feeling he's going to try to stir the pot early by assigning archetypes and roles and trying to put players in boxes that they don't want to be put in, a very old school move, which will turn people off. In return, they will send him home.
Q Burdette
In Survivor 46, Q was a part of a chaotic character arc, but multiple points of his anti-hero journey included him trying to quit. I have a feeling that the old school players for sure are going to find someone with that mindset an easy first target, even if he appears to be all-in this season. They have too much respect for the game to want to play with someone who seemingly doesn't.
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick
Stephenie is probably one of the toughest players returning for Survivor 50 who genuinely survived some of the worst conditions a castaway has ever been put in. The new era format is going to be a walk in the park for her. I imagine some new era players might be threatened by her lore and send her home early before she has a chance to show these kids what Survivor really looks like.
Kamilla Karthigesu
Survivor 50 is filming right on the heels of Survivor 48 airing, so everyone just witnessed the brilliance of Kamilla and Kyle Fraser's game. I have a feeling that players are actually going to want to keep our two new era winners around because they are less likely to be given the $1 million again if they make it to the end—out of spite, honestly—but a power couple is a dangerous thing in this game. Kamilla's prior relationship with Kyle is going to put a major target on her back.
Kyle Fraser
Okay, okay, I know what I just said, but I am not discounting Kamilla this season after I predicted she'd be one of the first people to go home in Survivor 48. She's smart, and she knows she's in danger as long as Kyle is around. Last season, only one of them could make it to the end, and it was Kyle. This season, Kamilla's not going to risk her spot in the game by keeping him around at all, if needed.
Survivor 50 premieres on CBS in February 2026! Stay tuned for more news about the upcoming season!
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