Season: Millennials Vs Gen X
Game-changing moment: Taking her top off to win a challenge.
Verdict: I'm pumped to see Michaela back, she went out far too early last season. She's the full package: smart, strong and likeable. Now that she knows what not to do, I could see her winning the whole thing.
Season: Cagayan
Game-Changing moment: Creating a spy shack.
Verdict: Tony is back with brand new tricks in the hopes of becoming the "King of Survivor", and I'm here for it. He's so hard to trust that there's no way he's not a huge target, but based on Cagayan, Tony relishes having his back against the wall.
Seasons: Pearl Islands, Heroes Vs Villains
Game-changing moment: Flipping between sides in true "anyone but me" style.
Verdict: The two-time champ is already spitting the sass! She doesn't plan to change her game (and why would she?), but it'll take a miracle for her to get far again. I think she'll see the value in sticking with Tony for now, but it'll be interesting to see how long that lasts.
Seasons: Blood Vs Water, Cambodia
Game-changing moment: Drawing a rock.
Verdict: Ciera is known for her love of big moves, so she must be relishing being on a season called Game Changers. Her strategy this time is to have options and position herself in the middle. Can she pull it off? I dunno, she seems to have people already wary of her, and a weak challenge competitor is always vulnerable pre-merge.
Season: Cagayan
Game-changing moment: Using her intuition to expose Tony as a cop.
Verdict: Does Sarah actually have winner potential, or will she flame out again? Either is fine by me. She showed herself to be fairly strategic-minded on her season, but her achilles heel was Tony. With unfinished business between them, it could be interesting if they meet at the merge.
Seasons: Australia, Cambodia
Game-changing moment: Positioning himself as the Ta Keo power player.
Verdict: Varner had to wait 13 years for his second appearance, and now he's back again just a year later. That's a testament to how big of a splash he made during his brief time in Cambodia. Sounds like we're not going to see crazy Varner this time though, and he's learning to chill out. All I know is if he fails to make the jury again, that would REALLY suck.
Seasons: Philippines, Caramoan
Game-changing moment: Using TWO immunity idols to send Phillip out of the game.
Verdict: I've always been a big Malcolm fan and maintained that he's a strong, well-rounded player. But his video shows the cocky side of him that's probably not going to be a good look. He's also looking to team up with Debbie - c'mon, don't let your Oedipus complex be your downfall again.
Season: Kaoh Rong
Game-changing moment: Convincing Tai to turn on Scot and Jason.
Verdict: I don't know if her season being fresh in the mind will be quite as devastating as it might seem. She was a strong player but a likeable one that people could want to work with. And wasn't part of the reason she lost because people didn't know she was playing as hard as she was?
Seasons: Exile Island, Micronesia, Heroes Vs Villains
Game-changing moment: Getting Erik to give up the immunity necklace and then voting him out.
Verdict: Cirie wants to show a new side of herself this time...hard to do when you're a 4-time legend! She's in the best shape she's ever been, but no-one will want to let her get far with her reputation, and she'll have to face both J.T. and Ozzy.
Season: Kaoh Rong
Game-changing moment: Pulling off a blindside on Liz.
Verdict: Debbie kinda gets lost in the shuffle in this cast (something I never thought possible), but that's why I'm expecting her to make the merge if she can keep her head down. She's one of the few people who wants to work with Tony and Brad...man, that is a trio of crazy.
Seasons: Redemption Island, Caramoan
Game-changing moment: Correctly sniffing out a plan to vote for her and getting the vote switched to Michael to dodge an idol.
Verdict: This older, wiser Andrea might finally reach her potential if she can find the happy medium between playing too hard and not hard enough. I feel like she's coming into this in a good spot and is definitely a contender.
Season: Kaoh Rong
Game-changing moment: Choosing good over evil when he didn't give his idol to Scot.
Verdict: Tai says he wants to have better jury management and own his game this time, but I think his real problem will be curbing his image as erratic and clueless. Neither him or Debbie seem keen to work with Aubry again - so much for this strong Kaoh Rong four!
Season: Worlds Apart
Game-changing moment: Playing a solid social game that got her into the Nagarote majority.
Verdict: Hali is very likeable, but I didn't have that much faith in her gameplay until I watched her video. She's perfectly aware of her own abilities and what the perception of her will be. The determination to prove herself could be what she needs to evolve into a kick-ass player.
Season: Millennials Vs Gen X
Game-changing moment: Going into a 5-5 deadlock against David's side and coming out victorious.
Verdict: Zeke played hard the first time and it sounds like that won't change. He says his strategy is to work with the girls, and I think that could be smart. Being an unknown quantity is a double-edged sword, so it'll be interesting to see what he makes of it.
Season: Blood Vs Water
Game-changing moment: Voting out John to help his wife's game, even though it hurt his own.
Verdict: Brad seems to be making a conscious effort to go in directions you wouldn't expect, like not being a leader or aligning with unlikely people. That should serve him well if he can pull it off. His bio says he's more self-aware now, and I kinda believe it.
Season: One World
Game-changing moment: Winning immunity with the whole tribe against him.
Verdict: Having been in the mix several times and denied, I was starting to think we'd never get a Troyzan return. Maybe the long wait will lessen his target, but he'll still need to improve his social game and tone down the ego to have any chance.
17. Sierra ThomasGame-changing moment: Choosing to stick with her alliance of goats over personal vengeance.
Verdict: Sierra has major Amber upside coming into this season. She came a lot closer to winning the first time than she gets credit for, and now she's looking to make moves. I'd be shocked if this barrel-racin' beauty didn't make a deep run.
Season: Kaoh Rong
Game-changing moment: Literally almost giving his life for his tribe in challenges.
Verdict: I'm certainly not surprised Caleb is back after the way he went out last time, but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it. He could be a very valuable ally if people take advantage of his loyalty and challenge strength, but he doesn't have the game-savvy to get anywhere close to winning.
Seasons: Tocantins, Heroes Vs Villains
Game-changing moment: Playing the first-ever perfect game, with no votes cast against him and a jury vote sweep.
Verdict: Not to be mean, but J.T. doesn't look to be in as good shape this time. Could we be heading for a Colby situation? Predictably, he's going to team up with the alpha males, which will probably keep him well-shielded.
Seasons: Cook Islands, Micronesia, South Pacific
Game-changing moment: Offering to be voted out so he could kick Christine off Redemption Island and come back.
Verdict: Ugh, I thought we were done with this guy. Look, we all know how the Ozzy story is gonna go. He's gonna win challenges and act as a provider for the pre-merge, then after the merge get kicked off for being a threat the first time he loses. He's a one-trick pony we've seen 3 times already.
