Exiled and Eliminated; Survivor: Early Boots

I have seen some people speaking of a Survivor season of first boots, but seeing as there would only be a pool of 41 people (Francesca was first boot twice) I think a season with people who were the first boots would just be a whole bunch of horrific gameplay. However, one of people who were in the first 3 boots would greatly expand the selection pool and could be sufficient to make an exciting season with a lot to play for. I will try to have people from all the eras from Survivor, but will also try to be realistic about who might actually want to return. I will select 10 women and 10 men, like in a normal season, and will only select 1 player per season to avoid previous alliances and rivalries. I will only be including players who never on any season placed higher than third-last (e.g. Russell Hantz, although he was an early boot on Redemption Island, is ineligible). Also, I have made sure to abide by CBS' diversity mandate so that in the unlikely event someone from CBS stumbled across this post they could take my advice and we wouldn't get more Gamechangers-style casting.

Men

Peter Harkley - Marquesas: Peter Harkley was the first person voted out on Survivor Marquesas, due to his odd personality and overly-strategic start. A win, while unlikely, wouldn't be impossible from a player like Peter and you can guarantee good TV at the minimum, which is why he is a very safe casting choice. 

Daniel Lue - The Amazon: Daniel Lue was an odd character on the Amazon, and his Survivor Wiki page confuses me even more. He seems on one hand a sexist and abrasive jock, and on the other a studious and humble nerd. He seemed on Survivor to lean more towards the first though, meaning that while his archetype was a common one when he played originally, it is extremely uncommon now and we could see a performance similar to that of Jonathan on Season 42.

Ryan Shoulders - Pearl Islands: Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and watching Ryan we see a player who auditioned a decade too soon. Ryan is the inspiration for this post, as watching his game around 6 months ago I saw a strategic and social player who was voted out based on a lack of physicality alone. I really think that his strong attributes and lack of fame would lead him to fare well and be my winner pick.

Jonathan Libby - Palau: An odd case, Jonathan was just never selected for a tribe in a schoolyard pick on his season, so he never got the chance to play. This was a controversial decision that has never been repeated, and eliminated two extremely entertaining personalities before we really got to see them. While his female counterpart, Wanda, is too elderly to really be considered, Jonathan is still a youthful player who would cause major conflict if given the chance.

Billy Garcia - Cook Islands: Famous for his confusion relating to Candace, Billy was an extremely entertaining player in his ignorance, and has been a part of the Survivor community ever since his appearance of this season. In interviews he has provided us with some weird theories and other things that would make us all want to watch his schemes.

Zane Knight - Philippines: The first boot who I have seen wanted back by the most fans, Zane became endeared for his backstory and seemed safe from the first vote, before pulling of some odd and unexplained maneuvers which led to him being voted out first. A player you can root for who'll never do the conventional thing, Zane is a good returnee pick.

Brice Johnson - Cagayan: Due to Survivor's diversity mandate, I would say Brice is one of the most likely players to be contacted for this season. He was sassy and strategic, and while he was socially strong he was not afraid to speak his mind. I could see him becoming an amazing player, especially if allowed to make the merge.

Darnell Hamilton - Kaoh Rong: I really dislike people getting voted out based on a singular challenge, especially when they are clearly very good at challenges, which was why Darnell's elimination annoyed me. He was clearly a strong dude, who could have become a huge challenge beast and hero to root for if given time.

Pat Cusack - David vs Goliath: Pat was Pat. Endearing, entertaining and hardworking. While he may have rubbed people the wrong way, he did seem like a genuinely nice guy who could have been a loyal ally and genuine winner threat if it was not for his medical evacuation right at the start of the game.

David Voce - Survivor 41: Voce was the proper villain we missed out on in this season, and is someone I'm sure would love to return. Someone who would have flourished in an old season with more naïve and manipulatable competitors, it would be interesting to see how he would fair in a season that would contain some.

Women:

Jessie Camacho - Survivor: Africa: Jessie is another player who can see their elimination as extremely unlucky, after succumbing to sickness early on and being labelled as a challenge liability because of it. She survived the first vote, but was voted out by the alliance of future winner Ethan.

Misty Giles - Survivor Panama: Exile Island: Misty was swap-screwed when the dominant tribe of younger women was split up and a men's alliance was formed and in the majority. She had not managed to find the idol on Exile Island and was subsequently voted out. Still only 41, she is a good bet to return from older seasons.

Sylvia Kwan: Survivor: Fiji: Sylvia Kwan is that classic "leader who annoys people and gets booted early" figure. In more recent seasons we have seen similar players like Rocksroy go far, and being one of the older players even on a fairly old cast she would be less expected to work and more accepted as a leader than she originally was.

Leslie Nease - Survivor: China: Famed for walking out of the Chinese welcoming ceremony due to her strong religious beliefs, post game interviews have revealed that she was actually a strong social player, but blabbed too much to the opposing tribe, then recounting her blabs to her own tribe. They lost the next immunity, and due to being considered a potential flipper Leslie was voted out.

Candace Smith - Survivor: Tocantins: Candace annoyed her tribe by being extremely outspoken, and clashed with Coach. While she made amends, she was discovered scheming against Coach and was promptly voted out. Clashing personalities have been greatly missed in recent Survivor seasons, and her addition would certainly create it if placed with the right people. I think she will either go out early again or go really far.

Francesca Hogi - Survivor: Redemption Island: Francesca is, in my eyes, the most underrated player in Survivor history. Don't get me wrong, she's no Boston Rob, but people considering her the worst player of all time doesn't sit right with me when I can name seasons were she was better than half the cast. Unless Phillip floats out of a molehill in a blaze of glory, she should fair well. Third time lucky?

Stacey Powell - Survivor: South Pacific: What's his name❓ What was his birth 👶 name❓It wasn't Coach ⚽️, it was Benjamin👨. And you know they're children 👦👧; 2️⃣6️⃣, 2️⃣2️⃣, they're over there listening 👂 to all of Benjamin's👨... 🎃Halloween Jokes🎃, uh, 🐭Chuckie The Cheese Jokes🐭, they- 👅 eu-h, they want it 🙏. He goin off of loyalty ⭐️ got them fee- "😰Oh, Benjamin👨, you so loyalty😓" ... Come on now 😑... Everyday📆 he got a story 📚. I wasn't ❌ buying 💰 it. [scoff] 😤 [giggle] ☺️... Eh😒... No. 🙅 So... They tr- like yesterday ↩️ the tribal 🔥 was all kahoots 👌 Benjamin👨,"Let's give a hug 👪." ✋️PFF.✋️ Keep that hug. Boop!🔫 For me. Cuz it wasn't real❌. The second women on this tribe who fell to the great and humble (no sarcasm intended) Coach Wade, Stacey is famed for the rant I have posted above. She was voted out in fourth, but due to losing her first Redemption Island duel to her only ally, Christine, she is eligible for this season.

So Kim - Survivor: Worlds Apart: So outplayed herself roughly 3 minutes in, when she fabricated a ridiculous lie after, along with ally Joaquin Souberbielle, choosing to take a small bag of beans and an idol clue over a larger bag of beans. After campaigning to eliminate Carolyn after the White Collar tribe lost immunity, she was blindsided.

Wendy Diaz - Survivor: Edge of Extinction: Wendy is remembered for her odd personality, stubbornness, and going to great lengths to protect the chickens, even plotting to release them and hiding her tribe's flint. While she eventually became part of a majority alliance and was eliminated after a tie in 6th-last, she is eligible due to her lifting the sail and quitting, along with Keith Sowell, who is also a fairly good pick to return for a season like this.

Marya Sherron - Survivor 42: I think Marya has learnt from her first elimination, which could be enough to see her go far. I have a feeling, for some reason, she would be swap-screwed on a return, but if she wasn't I could see her going far and finishing around 5th or 6th with strong social and strategic games and a perception of being a jury threat who would never win immunity. No, I have not overthought this at all.

Well, that's it from me. I hope you enjoyed, and please leave who you'd want back in the comments below, along with other returnee seasons for me to draft. I worked hard on this post, and would appreciate you sharing it and checking out previous posts. If you're a long-time viewer, you may have noticed that I took a break from posting, and this was because my blog hasn't really kicked off, so if you would like to see more regular content please do help me. With that, I thank you.