Top 5 Survivor Contestants

In honor of the recently-ended 16th season of Survivor, I thought I’d rank my favorite players. And while we’ here, I can’t believe how this season played out. For second season in a row, Amanda totally botched the final few Tribal Councils by getting all weepy and trying to be everyone’s best friend. She is a fantastic player, but just falls apart at the end…the Chris Webber of Survivor.

5. Earl (Fiji)

I had a tough time with this 5th spot. Earl probably ended up here because his season was so recent. But he seemed like a nice guy and played a great game.

4. Stephenie (Palau and Guatemala)

A fearsome competitor. So good at swimming, so bad at puzzles. I think she and her tribes hold the all-time record for “most challenges blown at the end despite having a big lead”.

3. Yul (Cook Islands)

The leader of the most likable alliance in the show’s history: Yul, Ozzy, Beckie, and Sundra. They were outnumbered 8-4 and somehow managed to wipe out the other 8 consecutively. He was also able to use the hidden immunity idol to flip the whole game rather than save himself for one week. Fantastic.

2. Michelle (Fiji)

Outrageously screwed over by a tribal switch in which it was in both tribes’ best interests to lose the Immunity Challenge. She seemed to be having a great time and even provided a hilarious fall in the background of the action during a challenge.

1. Boston Rob (Marquesas and All-Stars)

Probably not the most likable, but delivered an immensely entertaining performance in the All-Stars season. Dominated challenges, dominated strategy, even dominated another tribe’s vote. Contrary to Amanda’s comment in the last episode, he (and others, like Tom Westman) is a better all-around player than Ozzy, who got voted out without playing his Immunity Idol and was basically just good (VERY GOOD) at challenges.