With Survivor 42 nearing the finale on May 25th, there have been more idols and advantages in play this season than any other before it. Nothing proves more to this than the fact that castaway, Drea Wheeler, at one point held four unique advantages. And at last week’s tribal council after she and tribe-mate, Maryanne Oketch, both played their hidden immunity idols, only two players remained eligible to be voted out.
With all these added twists, the game has proven to take more than just the standard outwit, outplay, outlast. It also takes a bit of luck. Many former castaways had what it took to be the sole survivor, but without luck on their side, they ultimately did not get as far as they deserved.
Devon Pinto - Heroes Vs. Healers Vs. Hustlers
Devon was the first victim of the final three fire-making challenges and one of the least deserving players to be eliminated in such a manner. Before his elimination, he had played an almost perfect game without receiving a single vote.
Fans speculate that the fire-making challenge was designed specifically for Driebergen after he narrowly escaped elimination a plethora of times before. Had it not been for this fire-making challenge, Devon would have gotten what he deserved and won the million-dollar prize. If there’s another second chance season in the future, Devon undoubtedly deserves to be part of the cast.
Marissa Peterson - Blood Vs. Water
Marissa is a castaway that didn't get a fair shot at the game and didn't get to show off what she could really do. The only reason she was voted out first, was because her tribe was taking a stand in face of the cockiness of her uncle, Gervase Peterson.
On Redemption Island, Marissa proved what she didn't have the chance to in the game, by winning two separate duals. Marissa at least deserved to play the game once without her uncle, but the odds of seeing her back on the island are fairly low.
Cirie Fields - Game Changers
It is common Survivor knowledge that Cirie is one of the greatest castaways of all time. But even so, she has never won. In past seasons she had been voted out after a tie-breaker, lost in a fire-making challenge, voted out right before final tribal. In her fourth season, Survivor: Game Changers, during the tribal council that sent this Survivor legend home, an immunity idol was played for everyone besides Cirie, making her the only vulnerable member of the tribe, and sending her to the jury due to the technicality.
This elimination saw praise from host Jeff Probst, tears from fellow castaways, and shock amongst fans. Cirie is still the only castaway to ever be voted out without a single vote being cast against her. Every season that she is a part of, it’s not her strategy that gets her sent home, but luck. Though unlikely that she’ll ever play again, Cirie deserved to win at least one of her seasons.
Aubry Bracco - Edge Of Extinction
After making it to the final three in her first season, and the final five in her second, Aubry had already proven herself as one of the most strategic castaways in the history of the show. But in her third season, after her tribe won the first two immunity challenges, she had no Tribal Council to give her any insight, and Aubry was iconically blindsided.
Her previous times playing made her an automatic threat and an easy first vote-out for her tribe full of newbies. Fans were shocked at this elimination considering Aubry is regarded as one of the best strategic players of all time. Maybe Aubry wouldn’t have won this season, but she definitely deserved to make it to merge, if not, at least past the first vote off of her tribe.
Sydney Segal - Survivor 41
Fans are calling the new advantage of the hourglass twist, that has been seen in seasons 41 and now 42, a creative failure. It is no question that Survivor 41's Sydney Segal would agree after she was basically punished for being on the winning side of a challenge. Before the hourglass was smashed, Sydney was perfectly aligned to go much further, proven by the fact that three of her former tribe-mates made it to the final four.
Though maybe not on the show long enough to become a fan favorite, after her elimination, Sydney made it known in interviews that she would have won the game had it not been for the most unfair twist in the history of the show. Both Sydney and the more recent hourglass twist victim, Lydia from season 42, deserve a second and fair chance at the game.
Neal Gottlieb - Kaôh Rōng
Though injury and illness have plagued many to leave the game early, none were on the same path to success as Neal. He orchestrated blindsides, did not have a single vote against him, and found a hidden immunity idol.
Especially since this particular injury was resolved quickly, it may be worth it for Survivor US to take a look at the medical evacuation policy in Survivor Australia where they allow players to return to the game after being taken care of at a hospital. Neal deserved to return to his camp rather than be a member of the jury, and he most definitely deserves to return to the game in another season.
Kellee Kim - Island Of The Idols
Survivor continues to be a microcosm of society, and this season proved no different as Kellee Kim was voted out by her tribe after speaking up for the women on her tribe following misconduct by a fellow tribe-mate, Dan Spilo. Kellee went into the merge with the majority and two idols in her pocket, but was unable to put her morals aside.
Not only Kellee’s elimination, but the whole season itself was shocking to fans. Island of the Idols was ruined by controversy, and fans can agree that many of those castaways deserve a second chance. Fans are all in agreement that Kellee deserves another shot at the million-dollar prize, but she has made it abundantly clear in interviews that she doesn’t see herself ever returning to the island.
Jessica Lewis - Millenials Vs Gen X
Jessica operated her gameplay in a silent but deadly manner. But even after orchestrating a blindside, surviving an early target, discovering a legacy advantage, and placing herself in the right alliances, nothing could save her from drawing the wrong colored rock after an unbroken tie. Fans are shocked every time there has to be a rock draw, and this time was no different.
Jessica deserved to be in the final three, in place of Ken, to plead her case to the jury. And though Adam’s win was definite, Jessica’s law background may have been able to sway the jury her way. In another second chance season, Jessica absolutely deserves to show off her strategic chops once again, and would most likely sneak her way into that final tribal - as long as there’s no rock draw along the way.
Michele Fitzgerald - Kaôh Rōng
Michele couldn't get much better in the game as she was the one who was named sole survivor and won the million-dollar prize. But after the game, this Survivor legend deserved much better as fans discredited Michele's win by saying she didn't deserve it.
The facts speak for themselves as her social game and competition wins proved her to be a threat and worthy of making the final three in the fortieth and most competitive season, Survivor: Winners at War. Though fans probably won’t see her play the game again anytime soon after she gained closure on Winners at War, she does deserve credit from fans as one of the best survivors to ever play the game.
Gavin Whitson - Edge Of Extinction
Gavin played a seemingly perfect game with 10 challenge wins, zero votes against, and the correct playing of an advantage. His social game also seemed to be unmatched. That was until he sat next to Chris Underwood at final tribal. Without the edge twist allowing Chris back into the game after missing so much of it, Gavin would have been the sure-fire winner.
The edge of extinction is controversial amongst fans, and so is Chris Underwood’s win. Gavin may have deserved to win this season, but he most definitely deserves a second chance.