As Survivor approaches its milestone 50th season, speculation has begun on which former castaways will be returning for another shot at a million dollars.
Survivor 50 is likely to be the first season since Survivor 40 (Survivor: Winners At War) to feature former players, and fans are excited for what would be a star-studded cast. In this article, we consider if any of the players who had their game cut short due to a medical evacuation in the new era deserve a second chance.
Bruce Perreault (Survivor 44 & 45)
Bruce Perreault has the distinction of being the earliest medical evacuation in the history of Survivor. On day 1 of Survivor 44, Bruce suffered a severe head injury after hitting an obstacle in the first reward challenge. While it seemed like he would soldier on, the symptoms got worse overnight. That prompted medical staff to pull him from the game.
On the premiere episode of the On Fire with Jeff Probst podcast that debuted during Survivor 44, Bruce was invited to return to Survivor 55. During that season, his strong personality often clashed with his tribemates and often placed him in the centre of attention with the tribe. He managed to stave off elimination with multiple immunity wins, but he went home with a hidden immunity idol after being convinced not to play it by tribemate Emily Flippen.
Should he be brought back: Bruce is one of the most memorable players from recent seasons. However, he already has his second chance and blew it by not playing his hidden immunity idol. He has the potential to create chaos and TV-worthy moments but if the decision is based on merit, he should not be brought back. NO
Jackson Fox (Survivor 42)
Jackson Fox had an extremely short but memorable stint on Survivor 42. On night 2, he had a heartwarming confession over the campfire where he shared his life journey of transition as a transgender person with his tribemates. However, he got really sick on Day 3, where it was revealed that prior to coming on the show, he was weaning himself off of lithium. He was therefore eliminated before the first immunity challenge.
Should he be brought back: Jackson has a great human interest story and the game has been crying for a strong transgender player since Zeke Smith. However, it is unlikely that the producers take too kindly to players withholding medical information. That is likely to be a dealbreaker. NO
Matthew Grinstead-Mayle (Survivor 44)
Matthew Grinstead-Mayle’s Survivor 44 journey ended in heartbreaking fashion after an injury sustained in the premiere episode. During a rock-climbing incident, Matthew dislocated his shoulder, and the pain only worsened as the days progressed.
By Episode 5, the injury had become unbearable, prompting Matthew to make the tough decision to self-medically evacuate to prioritize his health. Though his exit wasn’t shown on camera, Jeff Probst later informed the Tika tribe that Matthew had left the game, canceling their Tribal Council.
Should he be brought back: Matthew was likeable, and his role in the only tribal council he went to was exciting (tribe mate Maddy was sent home with only one vote). However, he did not make much of an impact in the immunity challenges and Survivor fans might not remember him as much. MAYBE
Randen Montalvo (Survivor 46)
Randen Montalvo’s departure from Survivor 46 was as tragic as it was frustrating. His tribe Nami was dominant in the first seven days of the game. He also had a beware advantage and a potentially interesting alliance with Venus Vafa. However, he was beset with extreme pain on night 6. He felt extreme numbness and was unable to grip anything. The on-site doctor was concerned it could be due to a dangerous bulging disc in the neck area pushing on the nerve, and could cause lasting damage. They decided to pull him from the game.
While serious, it was not as life-threatening as initially considered. He was put on anti-inflammatories and therapy sessions and managed to recover fully within a few weeks.
Should he be brought back: If there is room on Survivor 50 for a medically evacuated cast member who had his dream cut short, it was Randen. His departure showed how quickly tribe dynamics can fall apart. In his short stint, he seemed like a savvy player who would be more than capable of holding his own against the rest of the returning players from the new era. YES