Survivor 45 Premiere "We Can Do Hard Things" Gameplay Analysis

 "Sounds like a Leo, great."

-Kendra McQuarrie

I'm so excited to have Survivor back and it hit the ground running with an awesome premiere and what looks to be a disaster tribe.  It's been a minute since we've had one of these.  I'm hoping for Luzon or Matsing levels of disfunction.  In the meantime, we have to figure out who played well and who sucked, so let's take a closer look.

Who Played Well:

Let's start on the Belo tribe.  I really like that Katurah, Kellie, and Kendra all got into an alliance together.  Anything can be a basis to form an alliance, even just sharing the same birthday month.  They latched onto that and ran with it.  I also love that Katurah isn't telling people that she's a lawyer and that she was even asking Jake what it was like to be a lawyer.

Let's move over to the Lulu tribe.  I don't love that Kaleb and Sabiyah volunteered to go do Savvy or Sweat, but at least it bonded them together.  It seems like they have an alliance and are in a good position on the Lulu tribe.  If they end up pulling a Matsing, I'd bet they would be the last two standing.  Plus I think they and Sean did the right thing in agreeing to vote out Hannah instead of risking her quitting and going down to 4 tribe members.

Who Sucked:

Let's head back over to Belo.  Bruce was giving me some major Russell Swan vibes in saying he didn't want to be the leader, but continuing to act like the leader.  If I were him, I would have said that I didn't remember much from my previous season due to getting a concussion.  It might make it easier for him to blend with the other newbies.

Brando and Jake also volunteered to do Savvy or Sweat, which I think is a terrible decision for anyone to do at this point in Survivor.  And we didn't get anything positive they did to make up for it, unlike Kaleb and Sabiyah.

Moving back to Lulu, Brandon was really bad in both challenges.  I also don't love that he tried to talk Hannah into staying.  If you feel you're at the bottom and someone wants to get voted out, let them go!  That said, it seems like he has a decent social game.

Then we have Emily, who played way too aggressive out the gate.  Calling out Bruce in the opening was a bad idea, draws attention to yourself, and alienates a potential ally for later in the game.  Then at camp, her negative attitude rubbed her tribe the wrong way.  I also think it was a questionable decision to target Kaleb.  Splitting him and Sabiyah up is an okay pitch, but she even admits Kaleb is their strongest guy.  Why target him?  It's a plan I don't think anyone would go along with.

Let's go over to Reba.  I don't think anyone should take the Beware Advantage unless they are in a desperate situation.  Austin made an impulsive and bad move in taking it.  Now he doesn't have a vote and a tough task in front of him if he wants to get it back.

Finally, Sifu is playing way too much like Tony in Game Changers.  It's fun, but it's too chaotic and aggressive.  I'd say he was in serious trouble, but I can't see the Reba tribe losing anytime soon.

As for Dee, Drew, J. Maya, and Julie, we really didn't get enough from them for me to say either way.

And Hannah, maybe kick your nicotine addiction when you start applying to be on Survivor, not when you land on the island.

Verdict:

Best Player of the Episode goes to Katurah Topps for forming an alliance with Kellie and Kendra and for hiding her occupation from her tribe.

Worst Player of the Episode goes to Emily Flippen for being too aggressive and negative.  She's very lucky Hannah asked to be voted out.  Otherwise I think she'd be legendarily bad first boot.

I'm excited to see what the Lulu tribe does next.  I kinda hope Emily sticks around.  She has great villain potential, but I'd bet money she's the next one out.  Either way, it'll be fun.