Every Survivor Season's Best Player (Part 1)
Season 1: Richard Hatch
There were a few examples of players who could have challenged for this spot, such as Susan and Kelly, but there is really no option close to Survivor's first ever winner, Richard Hatch. He was the pioneer of the idea of an alliance, and a really intelligent and important player. Richard Hatch will be a name embedded into Survivor history books forever.
Season 2: Colby Donaldson
While there was competition from others such as Jerri and Tina, challenges are a huge part of Survivor and Colby was the original challenge beast, winning a record 5 straight challenges, which has been tied but never beaten. So the original challenge beast takes the spot.
Season 3: Ethan Zohn
While Ethan had a bit more competition, I thought his inclusion necessary. It was in this season that the idea of a majority alliance was formed, and Ethan was part of this. He was also the first master of the social game, and showed that you didn't have to play the hardest to win. Special mention must go to Lex, someone I would love to see returning to Survivor, but Ethan just takes it.
Season 4: Vecepia Towery
I have never actually watched season 4, so I do not really know what happened. Obviously Boston Rob is by far the best player from the season, but in season 4 he was naïve and careless, only just making the merge. So I guess I choose the winner.
Season 5: Brian Heidik
While there have been questions asked about Brian as a person, as a Survivor player he played a brilliant and treacherous game, which ultimately led to his victory. Season 5 was not the best season, but Brian was (again as a player) pretty good.
Season 6: Rob Cesternino
Arguably the most influential Survivor player ever, Rob Cesternino was the first ever master strategist. He completely controlled the game, and I think if he had played the exact same season now, he would have won because nowadays you have three finalists and brilliance and the quality of your season is considered more important than whether or not the jury actually likes you.
Season 7: Jonny Fairplay
One of the first Survivor villains, and one of the most iconic, Johnny Fairplay just beats Sandra to become season 7's representative. He is famous for his "Dead Grandma" lie, but was in truth a treacherous player throughout the entire season. Special mention for Rupert, who is another player I really like and a sort of polar-opposite to Jonny Fairplay.
Season 8: Boston Rob
Rob Mariano was a controversial returnee due to his mediocre performance in his first season, but he completely blew the competition right out of the water along with Amber, who he would eventually marry after the show, and he is now one of the most iconic players in Survivor history, competing in a record 5 seasons (as well as returning as an idol for season 39) and winning a record 9 individual immunity challenges, as well as completely controlling two seasons (8 and 22), the first of which he ended as runner-up to his wife Amber and the second of which he won.
Season 9: Ami Cusack
Another season I haven't gotten round to watching, I'll go with female alliance leader Ami Cusack as the best player from this season. I have read a few reviews of this season and hope I can get around to watching it soon.
Season 10: Tom Westman
One of Survivor's most iconic winners, this season was not the best in my opinion, with all but one of the immunity challenge wins going to one tribe, which resulted in undeserving players staying in for long and some much better players falling to the wayside early on.
Season 11: Stephenie LaGrossa
After also being the final surviving member of her tribe in season 10, I decided to choose Stephanie LaGrossa as slightly better than Danni Boatwright. It was a close call, but Stephenie just wins it.
Season 12: Cirie Fields
It could really have gone to any of the final four, Cirie, Terry, Danielle and Aras. I decided to go for Cirie, who is up there with Russel Hantz as one of the best players who has never actually won. I really hope we do get to see Cirie again, as she is probably the most unlucky player ever, with a third place finish, a fourth place finish, and perhaps worst of all, a sixth place elimination where she became the first and only person in Survivor history to be voted out despite not receiving a single vote.
Season 13: Yul Kwon
Cook Islands is one of my personal favorite seasons, largely because of an amazing cast featuring legends such as Parvati Shallow, Ozzy Lusth and, of course, Yul. While some would argue that Ozzy's and particularly Parvati's achievements may or may not have since eclipsed Yul's, it is fairly obvious that Yul was the best player at that point in time, and he becomes the 6th winner to join this list.
Season 14: Earl Cole
Season 14 is a much-despised season famed for its villainous cast and terrible premise. With this in mind, however, the cast was not all bad, and I picked Earl as the season's best player over Yau-Man. It was pretty easy, as Earl was probably the third player after the two Robs to control a season pretty much single-handedly.
Season 15: Todd Herzog
It was between Todd and Amanda, and I went for Todd because he was slightly more at the reigns and also managed to make the finale while still favored by a large proportion of the jury. I think Todd would be remembered as one of Survivor's best ever winners if he hadn't faced alcohol issues after the show and I still think he is in the top 20 best ever Survivor players.
Season 16: Parvati Shallow
She was obviously competing with Amanda and Cirie for this spot, and Cirie is unlucky not to become the first double-inclusion. But it was always going to Parvati, who is an infamous villain who, during this season, created one of Survivor's most iconic alliances; the Black Widow Brigade.
Season 17: Ken Hoang
While his move against Bob was a horrific failure, I think Ken was ultimately the best player there. You could make cases for Matty, Crystal, Bob, Sugar, Randy and potentially even Charlie, and I think this is the season with the most reasonable candidates. But yeah, I think Kenny was actually this season's best player.
Season 18: J.T.
This is probably my second favorite season after David vs Goliath, and I think Stephen, Erinn, Coach and even Tyson all did exceptionally well. Ultimately though, I think J.T. was the best and if I were to go on Survivor myself, I think he is the player whose game I would be influenced most by. I also think that his mistake to trust Russel in season 20 should not tarnish his image, because it is one mistake amidst a thousand victories.
Season 19: Russel Hantz
Samoa is the second-most-recent season I have not watched, because I really don't like Russel Hantz and most people agree that the season was focused too much around him. There weren't really any competitors, because while we all hate Russel, you cannot rightly say he was a bad player.
Season 20: Sandra Diaz-Twine
Credit where there's credit due, and Sandra really deserves this. While I do not really enjoy watching Sandra, her game is undoubtedly brilliant. While fellow finalists Russel and Parvati have already come out as my pick for other seasons, I gave Season 7 to Jonny Fairplay. Sandra winning again proves that number one was not, as many people made it out, a fluke.
So there we have it. I'll obviously be coming out with a part 2 soon, and I hope you all enjoyed part 1. Please follow, subscribe and/or follow me on social media if you want to keep up to date with when I post (although I honestly don't really understand how the subscriptions and followings work) and I will see you guys when next I post, which will probably be my predictions for the Euros finals. Noah (ᴗ ͜ʖ ᴗ)
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