Four-time Survivor player Benjamin Wade, also known as Coach/Dragon Slayer/TideWalker and 50+ other nicknames, has become one of Survivor’s best-known players across its 50 seasons. From his unforgettable Exile Island moment back in Survivor: Tocantins to voicing haikus on the Fijian islands during Survivor 50, no one can deny that Coach, for better or for worse, will forever be linked to the worldwide Survivor world and lore.
As soon as Survivor 50 began, Wade demonstrated who his true allies would be: the old-school players, as well as those from the new era who played in a similar style. Alongside most of his allies, Wade reached the merge and then the final 13, ensuring himself a spot, at least, on the season’s jury.
However, a new twist in the Survivor US franchise cost Wade the game when the remaining players were forced to pair up and bind their fates together for the upcoming voting round. Each pair could either gain immunity together, secure joint safety via an idol, survive the vote, or ultimately be eliminated altogether.
Wade’s fate was the latest scenario after he was targeted alongside his pair, Chrissy Hofbeck, by the opposing alliance and by those riding the middle. After Rick Devens bluffed that he had an immunity idol to protect himself and his partner, Aubry Bracco, everyone but Jonathan Young voted for Hofbeck and Wade, making them the second and third jury members, respectively.
Firstly, during his exit press interview with Mike Bloom for Parade, Wade was asked what ultimately led to his fate when he was voted out. Wade said Devens' fake idol move was the tip of the iceberg, and Bloom added that the duo's twist definitely played a role, as well. When asked what made him be paired up with Hofbeck, Wade revealed that everyone considered drawing names at first to decide the pairs, which could have potentially helped him instead.
"I think it could have gone either way. And I think that Rick Devens jumping up and getting the idol — and I assumed that it was fake. And I told everybody as such; I did stand up and start talking to people in that live Tribal. But good for him. It was a great play, it was a great moment. And it was the tipping point, I think, that sealed our fate."
Wade then disclosed he had a special bond with Hofbeck, as they both had begun on the Kalo tribe together, and had he known their fates would be metaphorically tied together for the next vote, he would’ve chosen someone from the opposing alliance in the first place.
Wade also joked that Hofbeck had pleaded with him to stop saying they were close to avoid being targeted.
Bloom then asked Wade the question of the hour by questioning Wade about the latter’s remarks that whoever ended up winning the season, it wouldn’t be someone who hadn’t played with honor and integrity. Wade is well known for always wanting to play with honor/integrity, which could be considered an oxymoron, as Survivor is a deceitful game by its very nature. While all strategies are valid, in my opinion, it is hypocritical to consider lying in the game to be an invalid choice.
Wade immediately responded that the scene Bloom was referring to had been cut and said it had been taken out of context, as he was on a rant at the time. Wade added that he had come up with the phrase “26 ain’t going to win 50,” as a way to emphasize the point that 26 days aren’t the same as 39 gameplay days, as day 20 is when the physical toll on Survivor is much more distinguishable. As to the “honour and integrity” part, Wade expressed, “Vote for who you want to, you know. It is what it is.”
Wade also accepted that he made several mistakes throughout the game, including his falling out with Dee Valladares and forgetting that Colby Donaldson didn't have a vote, and admits he wasn’t honest “this time around.”
In addition, Wade expresses that he was glad he was taken out at that point since he probably would’ve tarnished his legacy and reputation had he stayed in the game, as Wade would’ve been forced to ‘throw his morals out of the window’ by needing to backstab his friends in the back to advance further.
Lastly, Bloom asks Wade where he stands with Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth to this day, as their Survivor relationship has been notoriously tense and contentious throughout the years. Wade described their bond as fraternal and brotherly, which means they sometimes love or hate each other.
"We’re a great spot now. We have this fraternal bond. Sometimes we love each other, sometimes we hate each other. I will say that I’m impressed at Ozzy’s game this time around, because he is playing a strategic game. I did not realize that he was duping me as much as he was duping me. And so hats off to him."
While Wade admits to having felt disconcerted when finding out Lusth was bad-mouthing him about their first challenge against each other, as he felt “bygones were going to be bygones”, he doesn’t take it personally now, since that’s how they get along. To his credit, Wade also gives Lusth his flowers regarding his strategic gameplay this time around, as Wade didn’t realise the extent he was being manipulated by Lusth until it was too late.
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