Before I start a new season of Survivor I remind myself, "don't hate the player, hate the game."
The people we see on this show are personified versions of themselves. Yes, while out there, they are authentic, for the most part, but their words and actions that hit our screen have been edited by extremely skilled storytellers to craft a narrative that keeps viewers invested and wanting more.
So before the season started, when we were introduced to our Survivor 48 castaways in their pre-show interviews and the big, brawny David Kinne entered my screen stating that his motto is, "it's not ego, it's history," I couldn't help but roll my eyes and groan at the character he was being set up as.
David fit a Survivor stereotype and played that role perfectly.
At the beginning of the season, with Civa continuously winning, we never really had to see much strategy come from the tribe, which allowed them all to shine socially, including David. He proved he did have a personality other than flirty muscle guy and showed us his silly side, including his love affair with milk that continued throughout the season, his imperfect side during Humble Traits. He even opened up about his reality back home.
He told his tribe mates about his job and living situation, and how both weren't really where he was hoping to be at, which is something most could relate to on a human level. To be honest, David was starting to grow on me, and I was no longer counting down the days for Civa to lose, hoping they'd vote him out.
He waxed poetic about the love of his life and how he's here for her, because he wants to start a family with her. But then he went on to explain that she essentially had broken up with him because of his financial situation, and before he left for Survivor, she told him that unless he came home with $1 million, she wouldn't be there when he got back.
Excuse me?
Finding out David's Survivor heart story is "my girlfriend will leave me if I don't win the money" immediately put him right back at the top of my elimination list. Not because I dislike him wanting to provide a better life for someone else, but because he deserves better than someone who gives him a money-based ultimatum.
Don't get me wrong, winning $1 million sounds great, but if you truly love someone, you'll work to be with that person no matter what number is in the bank. Right?
David and his girlfriend are no longer together
In a post-game interview with Parade, David confirmed that she did, in fact, "hit the road" when he didn't come home with the prize money. And despite the fact that my reasons for wanting him out continued to amass over the weeks, I'm very glad that he's so happy right now and reaching some amazing goals. Way to go, outside-game David!
But also good riddance in-game David was eliminated!
As the season progressed and the merge hit, his character arc unfortunately went from misunderstood muscle man to abrasive bully, and it wasn't a good look.
He started getting cocky and boastful, taking on the non-existent role of leader for the Strong 5 and making decisions without consulting the others, like bringing in Mary Zheng. Then in episode 8, he became hyper-fixated on blindsiding Kamilla Karthigesu, and suddenly, no one else's input mattered. His voice was the only one he wanted to hear.
While he ultimately agreed to vote out Chrissy Sarnowsky, he didn't back down in episode 9. Everyone started calling him paranoid, but from my perspective, it wasn't paranoia in the driver's seat. It was his refusal to be wrong, to let others speak, and to acknowledge others' feelings.
It never mattered that he was right about Kyle Fraser and Kamilla's secret alliance. As soon as he stopped listening to anyone else, his game was over whether he made it to the Final Three or not. Survivor may be an individual game, but it's a team sport. It doesn't matter how many points you score on your own, you need the respect of your teammates to be voted MVP at the end of the season.
And even though I'm not looking forward to whatever self-righteous question he's probably going to ask at Final Tribal, I did think his post-elimination speech was nice and I wish him all the best!
Don't hate the player. Hate the game.