The real game changers

When season 34 was announced as Game Changers, a lot of fans took that label very seriously. More seriously than the producers, apparently. Don't get me wrong - Cirie, Tony, Sandra and Ozzy absolutely are game changers...maybe even Ciera, at a stretch. But Caleb? I decided to take a look at who actually changed the game. Please note: I'm not saying all of these people should've been on this season, and I know that at the end of the day, it's really just a title. But for my own amusement, I came up with...

Richard Hatch: I feel like this needs no explanation. Richard introduced strategic gameplay to Borneo, and was the first to prove that this show was about more than just mere survival. Without his win, the show could've been very different.

Colby Donaldson: Colby set a record for immunity wins with a very dominant peformance in Australia, establising himself as one of the show's top competitors. Whilst Colby ultimately did not win the game, he did win the hearts of many by becoming the original Survivor good guy.

Rob Mariano: Ask any casual fan who the best player of all time is, and a lot will say Boston Rob. He had a huge impact on 4 seasons with his mafia boss-style game, controlling votes and executing brutal blindsides.

Rob Cesternino: Rob was a pioneer in the strategy of flipping from different sides, teaching players that you don't have to accept your fate if you feel you're bottom of an alliance.

Jon Dalton: Another flipper, Jonny Fairplay pushed the boundaries for what we expect of the Survivor villain. Once he lied about his grandma dying, nothing was off-limits anymore.

Rupert Boneham: Rupert, meanwhile, was the exact opposite. With his survival skills and friendly nature, the gentle pirate gave the franchise a new type of hero, and was one of the first megastars (aka screentime hogs).

Stephenie LaGrossa: Still one of the most inspirational and revered female contestants to have been on the show, Stephenie showed a lot of strength and heart out in Palau under extraordinary, unprecedented circumstances.

Terry Deitz: Another dominant challenge performer, with a record-breaking streak of five immunities in a row. It's rumoured that his loss in Exile Island was partially what inspired the switch to the final 3.

Parvati Shallow: Pretty much every young girl who goes on the show now tries to emulate Parvati. Her legacy is often reduced to just flirting, but she was a very well-rounded player that made it deep into the game 3 times for a reason.

Cao Boi Bui: Although he has since become a pretty obscure footnote in Survivor lore, he was the originator of one important factor of the game: split votes, with his hilarious plan voodoo idea.

Yau-Man Chan: Whether it was making fake idols or engineering car deals, Yau-Man is someone who saw the game a completely different way and was always thinking outside the box.

Russell Hantz: Love him or hate him, there's no denying Russell left his mark on the show like nobody else with his aggressive strategic game. A larger than life presence that dominated two back-to-back seasons, he ushered in a new era of constant idol-searching, as well as other less-used strategies such as camp sabotage. His mistakes were just as eye-opening, igniting a fierce debate about how juries are "supposed" to vote and how to handle them.