Given the recent struggles Rocksroy faced in his social game during Season 42 of Survivor, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Survivor is a game of strategy and social bonds first, and the struggles of castaways trying to survive in the wilderness now come second.
With that change in mind, some players have been better able to adapt than others. While some, like Parvati and Tony, easily shifted to this new reality, some players made huge mistakes in trying to handle strategy in the game.
Colby Takes Tina To Final Tribal
While most players enter the game ready to put everything on the line, some moves in Survivor aren't gameplay decisions. Sometimes, they can be career moves. Sometimes, in-game decisions can be based on medical necessities. But sometimes, players decide based on sheer dislike.
While taking Tina to Final Tribal Council over Keith was a decision that absolutely lost Colby his crown in Survivor: Australian Outback, he didn't really care. It was a move that ensured both that the utterly disliked Keith wouldn't win, and it ensured that Colby could maintain his man-of-the-people persona in the public's eyes. In a way, it certainly worked, but it did damn his game.
Tyson Votes Himself Out
Some Survivor players can get a little ahead of themselves, and Tyson was one of them. While Tyson's quick wit makes him undoubtedly contestants, it can also get him in a lot of trouble. After being tricked by Russell into not following Boston Rob's plan, Tyson put his vote on Parvati, which led to an idol play that sent Tyson home.
Trusting the wrong person is the worst move a player can make in Survivor, and Tyson trusted in one of the worst people he could have. Given that he was firmly secure within Boston Rob's alliance, he should have held his ground and worried about getting rid of Russell and Parvati, instead of trying to make a move. Unfortunately, it was his downfall, though it made for an excellent scene.
Erik Gives Up Immunity
When staring down a brigade of black widows, most people would do everything within their power to maintain safety and avoid the bites - but Erik Reichenbach isn't most people.
Putting his faith in the four women who were part of an alliance that changed the game of Survivor forever, Erik gave up his immunity necklace and found himself on a one-way trip to Ponderosa. It was one of the worst mistakes in the history of the game, and one that ensured that no player is likely to ever risk it again. At least, unless their name is Hantz, that is.
Woo Takes Tony
The victory was at hand. With the million dollars only a step away, all Woo needed to do was take Chaos Kass with him to Final Tribal Council. Tony would take third, Kass would take second, and Woo would take the crown of Sole Survivor and return home a million dollars richer.
For a player who hadn't contributed much socially, strategically, or at all, Woo could have had it all. Instead, he set aside a sure victory and took Tony to the end, after Tony convinced him to play a loyal game. Though the Jury didn't exactly like Tony, they absolutely despised the decision from Woo and gave Tony all the votes he needed to take the first step towards crowning himself King of Survivor.
Zane Tells His Tribe To Vote Him Out
One of the best first boots in Survivor, Zane Knight was also one of the strangest. Given that he had good social positioning and a good grasp of strategy, it was puzzling to see Zane tell his fellow castaways to vote him out in the first Tribal Council of the season. His fellow tribemates were similarly puzzled.
While Zane revealed that he expected the castaways to respect his attempt to take the blame and beg him to stay, all they saw was a player asking to be voted out. That's what happens in Survivor. If a player is trying to leave, the other players aren't going to stop them. Zane's mistake ended his game and was a lesson for all future players.
JT Sends Russell A Letter
One of the biggest challenge beasts in Survivor history, JT was a legend in Tocantins and made a name for himself as a brilliant player with an incredible social game. Unfortunately, his brilliance didn't exactly hold up in his future appearance in Heroes vs. Villains.
After deciding that the Villains tribe was voting out their men, JT decided to send a letter to Russell with an immunity idol attached. Despite having never spoken to Russell - and having never seen his season - JT put his trust in the man, and it bit him back the second Russell turned on him come the merge. Whoops.
Manono Tribe Gives Up Immunity
In Survivor, immunity is everything. It's a castaway's ticket to another day in the game, and it's an essential part of surviving to see the Final Tribal Council. That's why it was so surprising when the Manono tribe won immunity for their tribe and still elected to go to Tribal Council with a unanimous vote.
While throwing a challenge is often a mistake, it usually doesn't involve the player that is going to be voted out specifically agreeing to attend Tribal Council. While the original plan was to vote out Leif, poor Bill quickly suffered the ax and found himself with a ticket to Ponderosa, after having agreed to attend Tribal for no reason at all.
Pagong Won't Make Alliances
In the Survivor community, there's a term for absolute domination after the Merge. When one alliance manages to pick its opposition off one by one, it's referred to as a "pagonging", after the first tribe in Survivor history that was ever unceremoniously wiped off the map.
While strategy in Survivor has come a long way, it wasn't exactly surprising that the Pagong tribe was so utterly devastated. After refusing to make an alliance, they left themselves completely vulnerable to the Tagi Four in the first season, despite entering the Merge at an even playing field. It damned every member of the Pagong tribe and changed Survivor forever.
Chanelle Risks Her Vote
If ever there was a phenomenon to describe the 42nd season of Survivor, The Butterfly Effect would be the one. After visiting the Shipweel Island on the night she would attend Tribal Council, Chanelle chose to risk her vote at the same time as Omar did. This decision led to the boots of Jenny, Daniel, and then Chanelle, after Daniel and Chanelle alienated their entire tribes.
After that one decision turned the entire tribe into one of the most cursed tribes in Survivor, it seems likely that the entire course of the season will be affected by that one poor decision. While it may have been inconsequential at the time, it's likely that, once Final Tribal Council ends, fans will look back at that trip to Shipwheel Island and trace back the entire path of the season.
Jeff Varner Outs Zeke
A decision that was more than just a game-ending mistake, Jeff Varner outing Zeke was by far the worst choice ever made on Survivor. Far from an action that would only affect players within the narrow scope of the game, Varner elected to out Zeke as transgender on national television.
Not only did it officially put an end to Varner's time on Survivor, but it meant that Zeke's identity was made completely public - something Zeke certainly didn't agree to do. It was an appalling choice that will likely affect Zeke for the rest of his life and is far beyond acceptable behavior from any player.