Welcome to the first installment of the Survivor 50 Returnee Radar. In this series, we’re looking at the cast of every post-Game Changers season of Survivor, and the likelihood that 10 of its most memorable players have of returning for 50.

With the theme still unknown, anyone is up for consideration.

Disclaimer: This series is speculative, based completely around one super fan’s opinions and online research. No spoilers here.

This Season’s Story:

Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers is a great place to start. Boasting one of the wackiest themes of the 30s, its cast marks the first in a long string to have no opportunities for non-winners to return, the very first being Survivor 50 nearly a decade later.

Even with how colorful this cast ended up being, HHH’s age unfortunately means the parameters for an all-star are tight. As far as this list is concerned, only archetype-subverting castaways will stand a chance.

Any knock-off Tony Vlachos need not apply.

Ben Driebergen — A Finished Story

Ben Driebergen still, to this day, remains one of the most controversial winners in Survivor history. It’s great he was invited back for Winners at War, as a chance to save his legacy.

It’s arguable whether or not he proved himself as a winner during his time on season 40, but what’s clear is that Ben probably won’t be coming back any time soon.

There’s no secret that Ben has faced negativity from fans and cast members regarding his “twist-based” win in HHH, and now he seems to be at peace with his Survivor journey.

He’s been doing fine on The Challenge, anyway. Not physically, but —

Joe Mena — No Chance

Remember the knock-off Tony Vlachos I mentioned in the intro?

Joe Mena, everyone.

While its true Joe brought plenty of action to this season’s Tribal Councils, this half of the The Coconuts falls into a Survivor archetype that we’d seen before (Tony) and would definitely see after (Wardog, Danny Mesa).

Even if season 40 had included non-winner returning players, I’m not sure Joe would have made the cut, especially if another aggressive, bald New Englander in law enforcement had still returned.

Jessica Johnston — Unlikely

Unlike Joe, Jessica is a player who, given the chance soon enough, could have been a fantastic pick for a returnee season. In fact, Jeff had even hinted at Jessica’s second chance potential to The Hollywood Reporter back in 2017.

However, that was 2017. Nearly a decade later, the legacy of this upbeat showmance victim has fizzled out, her name rarely coming up in Survivor 50 speculation, or even community discussion as a whole — which makes a return in the New Era pretty unlikely.

This is unfortunate, given her charisma and early strategic domination even in the crossfires of her showmance with the chaotic Cole.

Ryan Ulrich — Unlikely

Ryan’s journey on Survivor was an interesting one. He appeared to be a frontrunner early on, but his social began to spiral out of control after he betrayed his ally during the swap, and he arrived to the finale with an edit that was dead in the water compared to Chrissy and Ben’s.

Since then, Ryan has admitted to a post-Survivor depression, but also stated in an EW interview that he’d “always pick up the phone” when it comes to Survivor. So… is there a chance?

Well, the deciding factor with Ryan comes in the popularity of his archetype. Over 10 seasons later, the “skinny, nerdy superfan” has been seen again and again, and Ryan doesn’t seem to be the one a majority of fans want to see return.

Desi Williams — Let Her Cook…

Desi is an interesting case, a member of an elite group of all-around threatening younger female players in the 30s who barely appeared in the edit.

Since her time on Survivor, Desi has gone on to do incredibly well on The Challenge, only highlighting the fact that the editors of HHH may have ignored something special.

Similarly to another female player in Survivor’s mid-30s, there’s been a fan clamoring to give Desi another shot, which is how she manages to stay on the radar.

Dr. Mike Zahalsky — Let Him Cook…

While his popularity hasn’t endured as much as some of the others from HHH, Dr. Mike was a unique player with sporadic gameplay that’s hard to forget.

Given his interest in returning, this member of the coconuts is a personal pick to return.

Ali Elliot — Second Chance Fan Favorite!

This season’s highly eligible winner pick turned pre-merge blindside, Ali is a player who many agree was swap screwed and deserves a second chance.

If production is looking for a good pre-merge r.obbed g.oddess for 50 — look no further than Ali. With a strong position on the original Hustlers, a killer social game, and clear strategic potential, it’s hard not to wonder where Ali’s Survivor legacy could have gone if she had made it further into HHH.

Right now, it doesn’t seem like Ali is on production’s radar, but there’s been crazier casting choices kept under wraps in the past. Look at Game Changers. As much of a fan favorite as Sierra Dawn Thomas was, Ali surely has greater fan support.

Lauren Rimmer — There’s a Chance

While some of the aforementioned players from HHH couldn’t surpass the mold of their archetypes, Lauren is someone who did, and with a sardonic smirk that many fans want to see on the island again.

Even back in 2017, it was difficult to describe Lauren’s casting archetype with an official title, but she was initially compared to the likes of China’s Denise, the late great Keith Nale — older, quieter blue-collar folks who would rely on a game of loyalty over strategy.

Boy, did Lauren subvert that expectation. Over the airing of HHH, fans were pleasantly surprised by Lauren’s strategic chops in pulling off blindsides and her biting sense of humor.

Lauren has remained a fan favorite from her season, and while she probably isn’t anyone’s first pick for 50, she remains a unique personality who could stand out amongst any all-star cast.

Devon Pinto — There’s a Good Chance

Yet another successful subversion of an archetype from this season, Devon could come into 50 with one of the greatest second chance stories of the bunch.

Initially perceived as just the happy-go-lucky surfer bro, Devon started with a tight knit alliance with Ryan, threw in a successful idol play, and entered the finale with the strategic chops to become a true threat to win.

Then, the surprise fire-making twist was introduced at the final four, infamously eliminating Devon and leading to one of Survivor’s most controversial wins.

With his likability and resume, many believe Devon could have even defeated Chrissy at Final Tribal Council, leaving fans to wonder if a Devon return with no surprise end-game twists could give him his well-deserved victory.

Chrissy Hofbeck — Close to a Lock

Sifting through the cast of Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, it’s absolutely no secret that Chrissy is the player from this season who stands the test of time.

Even well into the New Era, Chrissy remains as a consistent pick on Survivor 50 cast speculations everywhere — one of the few from pre-New Era.

If one wants to believe that seasons 35–39 each hold one player who is a realistic choice for 50, Chrissy easily fills this slot.

Chrissy smashed the “older mother” archetype — if that’s even where you’d put her — in a way that hadn’t been seen before. Some call her a villain, but it’s hard to argue the caliber of her calculated and scrappy gameplay, leaving many shocked over her loss to Ben.

This loss, however, gives Chrissy a built in narrative going into 50, and seeing her would be a service to many fans who have kept her on their radar.

Welcome to a season of Survivor’s biggest question marks.

Imagine: you spend over two weeks on an island battling the elements, grappling with your personal demons, and creating deep bonds with complete strangers.

Oh, and every single bit is filmed.

You return home and try to keep the events of the game under wraps from friends and family for 4–5 months.

Finally, the edited experience airs… and you appear twice, talking about winning coffee from a reward challenge. It’s like you were never there.

Below is a cast of 20 returning players with the quietest edits the show has ever seen, but taking a deeper look, have the makings of dynamic and entertaining Survivor players.

If you don’t understand the title of this hypothetical season, check this out first.

1. Roark Luskin (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers)

Having been the winner pick for several fans, myself included, Roark’s early exit from Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers and her lack of a presence until her boot episode came as especially disappointing.

In a short time on the show, Roark seemed to be in a good position on Soko, was a good narrator in confessionals, and was willing to show some scrappiness in the episode of her swap-screwing.

Given her feistiness against a contestant who remains popular to this day, Roark clearly has a willingness to play hard, and the strategic chops to back it up.

Jeff loves to say her name, and we’d love to hear it again.

And choose her as our winner pick… again.

2. Jeremiah Wood — Cagayan

While compiling the list for this cast, it became very clear that there are much more women purpled by the edit on Survivor than men. This is unfortunate, and lead to some admittedly strange picks for this list, but we’re working with it!

So, we have Jeremiah.

Sweet, sweet Jeremiah.

Like a lot of the Beauty Tribe from Survivor: Cagayan, Jeremiah was lost in a jungle of bigger personalities, but he had his own charm, being a fashion model and all — and revealing so to his tribe. Talk about a big move!

3. Lauren Harpe — Survivor 44

The first of only two New Era contestants to make this cast, (thank you New Era editing), Lauren’s edit stands out as a baffling one.

Well, it doesn’t stand out, which is the issue.

There could have been more! We were teased with glimpses of Lauren’s charisma and inspiring motivation for playing, along with a promising first episode, but somewhere along the way, the editors left Lauren completely in the dust.

Still not convinced? Lauren came ready to play and take any advantage given to her.

In the first episode of her season, Lauren purposefully takes a journey, wins the ability to “bank her vote,” and then, indeed, banks her vote. This plays towards one of the most chaotic first tribal councils the show has ever seen.

Then, she became a challenge threat and made it to the finale.

So, why was Lauren hidden by the edit so badly? Make it make sense.

You can’t, so bring her back.

4. Reed Kelly — San Juan del Sur

Reed’s “Wicked Stepmother Speech” delivered at San Juan del Sur’s Final Tribe Council is iconic, up there with another little speech about a rat and a snake…

But let’s face it, without his rivalry with Baylor and Missy, Reed would have been completely purpled by the editors, who focused much more on his strategically savvy boyfriend, Josh.

In fact, in the pre-merge, Reed was well-positioned, but only had 6 confessionals. Josh had 21 by this point.

This isn’t to say he isn’t deserving of a second chance. Without a loved one to steal the spotlight, Reed could take the stage as a dangerously entertaining villain.

Selfishly, I’d hope to see him on the jury again to clock another player as a fairy tale villain.

5. Angela Perkins — Ghost Island

The first Ghost Island castaway on this list, but you already know it won’t be the last.

I’ve heard Angela’s edit compared to the “recurring comic relief character on a sitcom.” It’s actually kind of true.

Angela will just pop up for episodes of Ghost Island, where she plays a moderately important role, then goes back into hiding until her character is needed again. It’s strange, and that’s saying a lot given the season’s already top-heavy edit.

There’s a mark against Angela for being one of the “Naviti Strong” preachers of the cast, but maybe she’s learned from this blind loyalty and would approach a second chance with a more flexible game plan?

Even if she doesn’t, it’d be fun to see her annihilate another food eating challenge. Plus, some older female representation is a must.

6. Will Wahl — Millennials vs. Gen X

My reasoning for wanting Will back on the beach is partly selfish. When Millennials vs. Gen X aired, I was 19, so watching the youngest castaway of all time play at only 18-years-old was pretty surreal.

Too bad he was barely there.

Will’s purple edit feels justifiable, given the cast of insanely good players around him, and the vibe that his confessionals were often just theme-related hyperboles, which I’m sure Jeff loved, but can only get you so far in the edit.

Between reward challenge soft drinks, Will teased us with plans of a big move, which he was eventually willing to make to build his resumé.

Almost a decade later, Will could return to Survivor with this passionate gameplay and the wisdom gained through his 20s to become a force to be reckoned with.

And, he’d finally be allowed to have a beer at the Sanctuary!

7. Kelly Shinn — Nicaragua

Is this the best casting decision? Probably not.

But it’s a must for a season themed after the Purple Edit. Kelly, more commonly known as “Purple Kelly,” is the Purple Edit itself.

The story goes that because Kelly quit the game on day 28, she was intentionally cut out of the season’s edit. They only gave her two confessionals, both of which didn’t do her any justice.

But wait, it gets juicer.

According to Survivor lore — and actual accounts — Kelly was a recruit, cast with very little knowledge of the show’s survival aspects, and was only given a bikini and a sundress to wear in the Nicaraguan wilderness to fit the “hot girl” archetype that production ate up during the 20s.

Say what you want, but that’s pretty cruel.

I see Purple Kelly’s inclusion in this season as similar to Kelly Wiglesworth presence in Cambodia, a season themed around second chances. Wiglesworth was really there to hold up the theme, not to play her own game changing season of Survivor.

While Purple Kelly probably wouldn’t deliver anything too far off from her original season, leaving her out of this cast would be criminal.

We’d give her more clothes though. Maybe that would help.

8. JP Hilsabeck — Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers

JUST HEAR ME OUT.

I know JP wasn’t bursting with charisma in the game. Even Probst called him out at tribal council for giving answers with zero substance.

He was just a chill, lovable guy, and you have to appreciate that. Plus, in the few instances where his game was against the wall, JP was willing to play.

Really, I’m thinking of JP stripped down in episode one to prove to Alan Ball that he didn’t have an immunity idol.

At the end of the day, casting JP could provide more of these moments!

That’s… all I’ve got.

9. Dwight Moore — Survivor 43

I wouldn’t truly call Dwight’s edit “purple,” but he does have one of the worst edits of male players — and the worst of males in the New Era, where edits have been much more balanced overall.

This is especially surprising given his unique personality and connection to Jesse Lopez, who oppositely had one of the biggest edits in Survivor 43.

Dwight’s narrative had some traction at the beginning, and being betrayed by his closest ally early into the season could have been more focal to the storyline. I’m guessing in a 90-minute episode season, Dwight’s game would have received more attention.

Unfortunately, we’re left with an edit that fizzles out early on, leading to his anti-climactic mergatory boot.

Dwight needs to file for divorce with Jesse and return to the game.

10. Alison Raybould — David vs. Goliath

Compared to many females on this list, I think the editors really tried with Alison, but on a season like David vs. Goliath, there’s only so much they could do.

Alison had by far the quietest edit of this stellar season, but still had some interesting storylines that surfaced every now and then.

Her friendship with Mike, challenge prowess, and constant late-game target gave her a pivotal role in the season, even if she was often overshadowed by the shining stars around her.

Let’s not forget her “rivalry” with Angelina, which became comically played up on Angelina’s end to the point where she tries tricking Alison into playing a fake idol at her last tribal council for absolutely no reason.

If Alison were to return one day, I think it would be best alongside Angelina. However, in a cast like this one, I would still consider her a Goliath.

11. Natalie White — Samoa

Natalie White is a player that would sell this season’s theme like a burger and fries at the Survivor Auction.

Picture it: the only winner in Survivor’s history to receive the Purple Edit.

While fans now know more of Natalie’s Samoa game through research and post-season press, it would be fascinating to watch her winning gameplay unfold without Russell Hantz there gobbling up all the screen time while Natalie eats a rat in the background.

Natalie comes into the season with a redemption narrative baked in, similar to Michele’s in Winners at War, I’d say.

Sure, she knows why she won Survivor, but this would be a chance to remind the viewers.

12. Leif Manson — One World

I’ve put a tremendous amount of consideration into creating the cast for this fake Survivor season.

So, why should Leif return? Well —

I’ve got nothing.

Go get a snack, stretch, take a breather. We’ll be right back.

13. Charlie Herschel — Gabon

The deepest cut on this cast, Charlie played back in 2008, in the endearing trainwreck known as Survivor: Gabon.

I see the reason behind Charlie’s quiet edit being his solid social and strategic gameplay — something pushed to the side the season.

(Don’t get it twisted, Gabon is a top tier season for me.)

Something I noticed about Charlie’s edit is that it revolved mostly around his crush on Marcus, which was fun for one confessional, but became disappointing when it was the only flavorful note of his edit. But that’s 2008 for you.

Bringing Charlie back could not only prove beneficial to his legacy, but throw a sound social threat into the mix.

14. Julia Carter — Edge of Extinction

A return from Julia is a must, for the sake of mending the show’s own morality.

Just shy of the New Era, Julia’s Survivor appearance fell in a span of seasons when the show was purpling capable female players left and right, and being choosy with when to address topics like racism and sexual assault when they arose on the beach.

If any edit is an example of this, it’s Julia’s. Almost nonexistent during Edge of Extinction, it’s since been revealed that she was creating social bonds the Kama tribe and actively playing the game, which we finally see a glimpse of in the season’s iconic “passengers” tribal council, made so interesting in big part to Julia herself.

More important than gameplay, though, it’s also been revealed by Julia herself in her moving essay, that her journey on Survivor as a Black woman wasn’t the easiest.

Julia faced racism on her own tribe’s beach, which sparked some conversations that could have made for essentially informative moments on the show.

None of it aired, though, in favor of keeping a spotless reputation for one of the show’s goldenest golden boys.

While this article is meant to be in good fun and Survivor’s strides to make the New Era inclusive and transparent are undeniable, I urge you to check out Julia’s essay if you haven’t.

15. Eric Hafemann — Edge of Extinction

Staying on the Edge of Extinction train, we have Eric as another solid player who was left behind by the edit.

Originally thought to be a recruit by many fans because of his questionable pre-game press, Eric turned out to actually know his stuff and had set himself up for success in Kama’s early days.

Like a lot of his tribe, though, Eric fell to the wayside in favor of Kama’s returning players, an arguably more dynamic opposing tribe, and the season’s titular twist.

Still, this cast needs more men, and Eric seems like a fine pick.

16. Desi Williams — Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers

Desi is our final HHH rep — I promise. Sorry, but the season had abhorrent editing.

Seriously, Desi is one of the strangest Purple Edits. With her insanely dominate runs on The Challenge USA, it’s baffling that she wasn’t utilized more in her Survivor appearance.

In particular, Desi’s visibility could have spiked during the tribe swap, where she and Joe found themselves in the minority. Instead, she played a quiet second fiddle to one of the era’s several discount Tony Vlachos.

17. Artis Silvester — Philippines

The main theme of Artis’s game in Philippines was loyalty.

While this isn’t the most revolutionary strategy, it was pretty enjoyable to see him hold Lisa Whelchel to this “holier-than-though” approach to the game — his words.

Had Artis not been in a majority alliance for most of the pre-merge, it’s possible we would have seen more of his personality and style of play. Really, this could be said about a chunk of this cast, many of whom didn’t go to tribal council for a majority — if not all — of the pre-merge.

Of any of these under edited players from Philippines, Artis is the one I’d be. most interested to see play again.

18. Brett Clouser — Samoa

We’ve reached another legend in the Purple Edit lore of Survivor. He’s commonly known as Brett, but somewhere deep in the fandom, they call him CGI Brett.

Like Natalie White — and most of Samoa’s cast — Brett is a character who is merely used as a prop in Russell Hantz’s storyline as a losing finalist.

Brett is a literal nonentity up until episode 12, when he becomes the final challenge beast for Russell to defeat before he can reach Final Tribal Council.

This nickname “CGI Brett” refers to fans joking that he was edited into the season using CGI because of his lack of interaction with anyone for a majority of the season.

This inclusion is another that mostly services the theme, and odds are, Brett doesn’t burst on screen any better in this hypothetical season, but without Russell around, anyone has a chance to shine.

19. Natalie Tenerelli — Redemption Island

We’ve seen that Redemption Island’s second-runner up already has a second chance story in her: the young, naive player who let Boston Rob drag her to the end only to be clowned for being a pawn in his masterful game.

Yeah… I’m not going to argue with that narrative. Her Cambodia campaign video hit the nail on the head.

While it’s unlikely enough people want to see a Natalie return based on the voting results, especially 14 years later, it can’t be denied that she’s one of the few Purple Edits who has actually been in the mix to return, and has the story to justify it.

20. Chelsea Townsend — Ghost Island

And just like that: We’ve reached the final castaway on Survivor: Purple Peninsula!

Surprise, surprise, it’s Chelsea Townsend.

The inspiration for this entire article, she’s become one of the most iconic purple players in Survivor’s history.

However, unlike Purple Kelly or CGI Brett, Chelsea’s post-game interviews have revealed there were a lot of moving parts to her game in Ghost Island, which riled up fans and really made us question some of the editing choices in the late 30s.

Chelsea won individual immunities, was active in strategy, searched for idols and even plotted with Domenick Abbate to take out one of their own by throwing a challenge.

She did what a good Survivor player should do, but had an edit that was overshadowed by big presences like Domenick, Wendell, Kellyn and Chris… and Laurel, for some reason?

Ironically, Chelsea’s popularity has skyrocketed due to her lack of screen time, and in my opinion, should be at the top of the list for returnees with purple edits.

Come on, there’s been worse returnee choices.

In 2023, I graduated from film school. Now, I’m producing my first indie film with a team of college alum.

Not everyone made it out alive, though.

In early 2020, my entire freshman class was assembled in one auditorium. There were at least 100 of us. Almost four years later, roughly 15 of those students — one being me — graduated from the B.A. program, and under 20 graduated from the more intensive B.F.A. program. That’s less than half of the students who sat together in 2020, excitedly awaiting four years of filmmaking.

Where did the other 60–70% of students go? Well, there are lots of reasons behind those departures, but one popular one I’ve since heard is: “Film school wasn’t what I thought it would be.”

In hopes of avoiding a blindside 30 credit hours into your college experience, here’s what I recommend before you go to film school…

Watch the Godfather

We’re starting with baby steps. It’s goofy, but I’m only slightly kidding.

The Godfather will come up an unsettling amount among your peers as a part of that filmmaker imposter syndrome — especially freshman year, before everyone realizes they aren’t the most cultured person in the room.

Just watch it. It’s a classic for a reason, and could make a surprising amount of conversations much easier.

Or, don’t watch The Godfather, and own it.

Watch so many movies, period.

Yes, this one sounds wildly obvious, but life can get busy, so… don’t forget it. Writers should read, musicians should listen, and filmmakers should watch. Take in as much film as you can, from any genre, even the ones you don’t like.

Aside from the obvious education and inspiration it will do for you as a filmmaker, it will also come in handy for networking and making friends with easy conversation starters. On college sets, a group of strangers can become pals after just a couple minutes of discussing the latest movie releases. It’s pretty magical.

Now, film school isn’t just about watching films, it’s about making them. Let’s talk production.

Pay attention to your community.

I don’t mean joining a bunch of extra-curriculars on campus. (Not that it’s a bad thing to do). We’re talking about everything outside of your college’s campus.

Unless you want to shoot all of your college films in your friend’s 700 square foot apartment, or a parking lot, you should be getting to know your town’s community as resources for down the road.

See a cool locally owned shop? Say hi to the owners! Does your roommate work at a chill, community-oriented bar? Go visit! Spend a couple bucks there, it can go a long way.

While it isn’t always the case, my peers and I found that the residents of our town were often willing, if not excited, to provide locations for our student films. You may still have to pay a space rental fee, but emphasizing the academic purpose of the location rental can lead to some generous discounts.

If you focus in producing, these community connections will especially come in handy. Speaking of which…

Leave your “director” bubble.

Of the 100+ students I began the program with, absolutely no one was an actual director. Yet, of any ATL or BTL position imaginable, the most common title film school freshman will give themselves is “director.”

I know how harsh this sounds, especially considering that directing was never an interest of my own. I wanted to focus in writing, but ended up branching into producing and production design as well, to round out my resume and skill set.

All of this to say…

You may want to direct, but very few filmmakers start as directors. Unfortunately, there’s a production hierarchy that will become all too familiar, and focusing on another set of skills, or multiple, will pay off in spades by post-graduation.

Ideally, there will be opportunities to direct, but a good film program will have you try out everything from the bottom rung of the ladder all the way to the top, and those positions like production assistant, grip and electric, and boom op, will be what help land you your first jobs in the industry.

Network your ass off and find your voice.

I’m going to say this knowing it’s a bold claim: film majors should be networking more than any other major.

That probably isn’t true, but for the purpose of your own success in film school, you should think that way! A good film program will have you networking naturally, and one thing I learned personally is that networking doesn’t always feel professional.

Finding your own voice and selling yourself as a creator will be one of the most important skills you sharpen in your education as a filmmaker. It’s essential. Creative industries value confidence and innovation over soulless, copy-and-paste professional lingo, so as you develop your identity as a filmmaker, be thinking of how to express that as a pitch of yourself.

Use every opportunity as a networking practice, as well. Film clubs, festivals, sets, and classrooms are great places to introduce yourself to likeminded creators. Not every interaction will be a success, but each one makes you a better communicator.

Look into Los Angeles and Atlanta.

As of now, those will be the cities to be in after you graduate.

There’s no map to success.

For some, this statement instills a deep terror. I find the concept exciting, but in the post-graduation ocean, the downsides have become more apparent than ever.

Like with many creative career paths — acting, writing, visual arts, you know the vibe — it’s been proven that there’s no “right” path to success. It’s comforting, but also scary. Film school teaches you this, too. Your professors, if they’re honest, will remind you this.

Some set days may be on weekends and start a 5 A.M. You may be asked to work with equipment you haven’t touched in over a year. Someone may push edits on a script that is deeply personal to you. Be prepared for anything — this is no typical college major.

And it’s so, so fun.

So, my final advice for film school is a simple one:

Soak it all in.

It’s really a culmination of everything said throughout this article. Whether you’re attending with a full-ride or paying an outlandish college tuition, go all in.

Many of my filmmaker friends, even our program’s highest achieving ones, are now exploring the film industry’s ocean as small, but hungry, fish, and are able to use the skills and connections made in film school to take steps towards success every day. Some days will still hold what feels like backwards steps, but there’s entire journey out of frame.

If you’ve made it to the end of this article and are excited and hopeful for your future in the film industry — whether it’s Hollywood, indie, or anything in between — congrats, you’d be in the 30–40% of my peers who survived four rewarding and creatively liberating years of film school.

Now, go fill out your FAFSA. Seriously, get on that.

Does coffee exist in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe? There’s never any mention of it, but…

It sure would have come in handy after all of those late nights being chased by the Fire Nation.

As a barista, I’m giving myself the authority to decide what every Avatar character would order from their local coffee shop.

Sokka — A Black Drip Coffee

“Give me a regular old, black coffee. No cream, no fancy flavors, nothing special. Just a black coffee.”

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a simple black coffee order, but there’s a certain customer every barista knows who orders this thinking they have changed the game. This customer is usually male, a straight shooter, and is probably hilarious in the right setting.

Oh — Did I just describe Sokka? Huh.

Sokka would most definitely order the most unexciting hot coffee on the menu, because he’s the kind of guy who puts efficiency over flair, and that’s totally okay. (Just don’t be an asshole about it.)

Katara — Chai Latte with Ginger

Katara is a chai girlie. That’s just who she is.

She doesn’t need all that caffeine found in coffee; She’s emotionally balanced as it is, thank you. But a nice sweet chai latte with a little ginger for some subtle spice? That’ll do just the thing.

Catch her curled up on an iceberg with a cup of hot chai, Momo on her lap, reading some waterbending scrolls. A book would be more ideal, but I can only remember her reading waterbending scrolls.

Aang — Cappuccino with Cinnamon

LISTEN, I understand that Aang is biologically 12-years-old. But God, if anyone in this show needed some caffeine, it’s the Avatar. This kid had too much on his plate, and we saw the toll it took on him.

Maybe a cappuccino sounds a little strange at first, but hear me out.

What’s a key component of creating a cappuccino? Air. Steamed milk for a cappuccino must be aerated to help create the foam that’s essential to the drink. Add some cinnamon for a fun sweetness, and there you go.

Maybe it’s a bit of a simple connection to Aang, but this is also considered a classic coffee beverage, and Aang is the poster child for the entire Avatar franchise, and is technically 112-years-old. (Ignore what I said a few paragraphs ago.)

You have to let this one steep for a minute, but it makes sense. Either way, someone get this boy some caffeine.

Azula — EXTRA HOT Pumpkin Spice Latte

I’ve found that there’s this weird shame surrounding pumpkin spice lattes. I think I know the origin — the internet — but they just hit so good during the fall months, so who cares?

I’ll tell you who doesn’t care: Azula. We already know that if this Fire Nation princess wants something, she’s going to order it, and it’s going to be as hot as possible.

In the season 3 episode “The Beach,” we’re reminded that Azula is in fact a teenager and likes to have fun — even if it’s in her own, sociopathic way. What’s more fun and sociopathic than ordering a scolding hot pumpkin spice latte?

Iroh — Jasmin Tea

I’m not even going to elaborate.

Like — just watch the show.

Toph — Matcha Latte with Almond Milk

Toph’s order was a tough one at first, but after some thought, I remembered a moment from the episode “Tales of Ba Sing Se,” when a dirt-covered Toph essentially tells Katara that she likes waking up with a “healthy coating of earth.” Add on the fact that Toph is always barefoot since her feet are her eyes, and you’ve got someone who really, really likes dirt.

What coffee shop beverage tastes more like dirt than matcha?

Don’t get me wrong, I love a matcha latte with some lavender or honey, but I do think Toph would order her’s unsweetened, with just a smidge of nuttiness from some almond milk. Toph would feel right at home.

Or I’m drawing uneducated conclusions about earthbenders. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Zuko — Cayenne Pepper Mocha / “Mexican Mocha”

This one took some research, because I’ve never served or prepared a Mexican Mocha myself, but it seems like the perfect fit for this firebender.

This drink is a mocha elevated with a combination of spices including nutmeg, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Apparently, it has a comforting spiciness and is great for keeping warm and caffeinated.

Honestly, Prince Zuko probably wouldn’t allow himself something so sweet in the early days of the show, but I believe Team Avatar Zuko would be all about this kind of drink.

Sorry it’s not tea, Iroh. Hey, at least he’s treating himself.

So… why has Jeff Probst recently announced the plan to stop casting them?

“In the hands of somebody else, there would be more ‘villains,’ more negativity, more yelling. It’s just not gonna happen when I’m part of the show. I’m just not interested in it. There’s too many other things we could do and still have fun.”

— Jeff Probst

The above quote and announcement to ditch the casting of villains on Survivor come from an interview on Rob Has a Podcast during the airing of Survivor 46, and boy has it caused an uproar.

If you’re a Survivor fan on the fence about the omission of villains from casting, allow this retrospective to give one superfan’s perspective on why this classic reality show archetype may be getting booted from the beach.

What Makes a Reality Show ‘Villain’

When Survivor first premiered in May of 2000, I was a toddler, so I wasn’t one of over 50 million viewers who watched the mischievous Richard Hatch get naked and scheme his way to becoming the first Sole Survivor.

Actually, my experience as a Survivor super fan starts 12 years after that, where I stumbled upon the 24th season, Survivor: One World, which has what is wildly considered one of the most unlikable, abysmal casts the show has ever seen. (Save for a few kickass women).

I’m not proud to admit this, but One World still hooked me thanks in large part to an infamous, acid-tongued castaway named Colton Cumbie. If you’re even somewhat familiar with Survivor, you’ve probably heard of this guy, and if not… search him up for a masterclass of how not to act on national television.

Yeah, I wasn’t rooting for Colton when he called his only Black tribemate “ghetto trash” or when he bullied his Asian-American castmate with racist stereotypes, or when he announced at Tribal Council that the closest Black person in his life was his housekeeper…

Okay, so dude’s racist, not a reality TV villain.

BUT, what fascinated my teenage-self watching One World was seeing someone so EVIL — for lack of a better word — unapologetically broadcasting themselves at their worst for over 10 million people. And keep in mind, this was a period of some of Survivor’s lowest viewership.

From this point, the show had solidified itself as a hyper-fixation, and before you could say “all the fixins,” I had dived into the archive of seasons that had aired from 2000–2011, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thirsty for more villains.

As it turned out, there were many villains across the show’s lore — leaving the racism and ickiness of One World buried as an unpleasant blip in the timeline.

Now, I had seen the makings of real Survivor villain, and why the show needed them. Hatch may have birthed the archetype back in Borneo, but many refined it, a lot of them hatable, but oh so fun to watch.

• Jon Dalton a.k.a “Jonny Fairplay” garnered sympathy from his cast mates in Pearl Islands by using his loved ones visit as a pre-meditated lie that his grandmother had died while he was out on the island.
• Courtney Yates stole the show in China through her confessionals alone, roasting pretty much everyone out there, and having a hilariously snippy New Yorker attitude to match her small, unthreatening physique.
• Russell Hantz, probably the show’s most famous villain to this day, he was known for torturing players by burning their clothing items and emptying water canteens, while still impressively masterminding his cast mates in Samoa, really dancing on the line between “villain” and “outright bad person” for fans.

These are just a few highlights, and I could obsess over more of the villains Survivor had collected since its birth — the self-obsessed Coach Wade, the quick-witted Tyson Apostol, and of course, the poster child of Survivor’s deadliest all-female alliance Parvati Shallow.

A Whole Tribe of Villains!

By 2010, Jeff Probst and production must have caught on to the collection of red hot reality show outlaws piling up in their back pocket, because villains were finally acknowledged as a part of Survivor lore in the milestone 20th season, Heroes vs. Villains, as a tribe of infamous troublemakers adorned in blood-red buffs with the word “Villains” literally printed across them.

Unlike Colton Cumbie, who I once thought had introduced me to the concept of a reality show bad guy, the criteria for what made a good villain was celebrated through the ten players assembled for the Villains tribe.

Well, maybe eight or nine of the them. Sorry, Danielle.

These villains weren’t known for racist remarks, claims of sexual harassment, or anything falling under the umbrella of real world villainy. For these real people, the “villainous” aspects of their personality were merely picked out and highlighted for the season’s edit — a narrative tool to give audiences someone to root against, relate to the flaws of, and in some cases, breath a sigh of relief for when the “heroes” took them out of the game.

The beauty of Survivor is that it’s a microcosm of life; it’s about human nature under severe circumstances.

— Jeff Probst

The idea that Survivor is a “microcosm of life” is one of the few ideologies of the show that has stayed consistent during its run, and I believe up to Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, villains played a pivotal role in keeping that fire going.

With all of the big players this season — Rupert, Sandra, Hantz, Cirie — Survivor was beginning to look at itself in the mirror and, with love, poke fun at the unintentional lore that had been created over the last 10 years.

Not only having a tribe dedicated to the villain archetype, but celebrating its members was a fantastic way to blend the show’s social experiment origin with the development that Survivor is, at the end of the day, just a game — a concept that has roots as far back as Borneo, but needed time to grow into itself.

“We start saying, ‘Okay, who would the audience want to see again?’ And then it kinda revealed itself that the one thing they all had in common was they were either really well-liked or despised.”

— Jeff Probst

The “New School” Villain

Perhaps it was the clear favor of the Villains over Heroes in the 20th season, but the desire from players to add to the shows catalog of villainy carried on as popular narrative in the show’s “New School” era, which for the intention of this story, we’ll count as everything between Heroes vs. Villains and Winners at War.

The massive success of the “good vs. evil” format led most of us fans to believe that this next era would see some sort of sequel to Heroes vs. Villains. This… never happened, but the show didn’t hold back on casting people that could build an iconic Villains Tribe 2.0, as well as some players who were just bad people — including not only the aforementioned Colton Cumbie, but others whom I won’t honor with a name drop.

Just as in Survivor’s original 19 seasons, seasons 21–39 introduced us to some wildly fun players who were able to lean into their flaws and social liabilities for the benefit of viewers.

• Kass McQuillen a.k.a. “Chaos Kass” could have been one of the smartest people on Survivor: Cagayan, but her ego and untrustworthiness made her one of the season’s major villains. Fresh off of reading How to Make Friends and Influence People, her personality won her a spot on Survivor: Cambodia, where she attempted to mend her social shortcomings — which she accomplished for, like, a couple episodes.
• Abi-Maria Gomez was one of the most confrontational and short-tempered villains in Survivor history, and whether being due to a Brazilian culture barrier or not, she brought plenty of drama and one-sided rivalries to both of her seasons.
• Angelina Keeley’s villainous presence in David vs. Goliath has since been chocked up to a negative-heavy edit, but fans enjoyed her abrasive personality, desperate pleas for jackets, negotiations for rice, and theatrics during Tribal Councils.

While these three massively popular villainesses were still portrayed with a fun negativity, the New School era of Survivor would see a new, deeper post-game world through podcasts, social media and in-person fan interactions.

On a positive note, these extra ways to experience the show off the island humanize every kind of castaway more than ever before. Unfortunately, the new, interactive post-game also reveals a darker corner of the Survivor fandom, where players are having a harder time escaping the heightened, simplified versions of themselves condensed into 45–65 minute episodes to be consumed by tens of millions.

At this point, the amount of stories passed around of alum from New Era Survivor receiving death threats is disturbing, especially those with villainous edits.

“Because of that edit, I and multiple others have received death threats, racial slurs, threats to even my grandma.”

— Missy Byrd (Survivor: Island of Idols)

“Two-thirds of people either love me or love to hate me as a Survivor villain. Then there are a third of people that are like the scum of the earth. They are very unfriendly. I’ve had quite a handful of death threats, which is just ridiculous.”

— Bradley Kleihege (Survivor: Ghost Island)

With the horror stories of Instagram DMs and public Tweets piling up, along came Survivor: Winners at War, another milestone anniversary season with the same hype, if not more, than Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains had a decade before.

While WaW was stocked with its fair share of villainous winners, the season was oozing with surreal celebration, and it really felt like even the less beloved winners like Ben Driebergen were bathed in a positive light — which turned out to be a blessing given the global pandemic that was just on the horizon.

Little did we know, WaW was foreshadowing the tone and gameplay of a “villain-less” New Era, like an Immunity Idol hidden in plain sight.

That New Era Monster in the Jungle

We all know Probst and production have vocally ushered Survivor into its “New Era” with questionable twists, a questionable amount of twists, and heavy focus on the players’ personal lives through sequences that fans have nicknamed as “flashbacks.”

Oh, and this constant talk of a monster in the jungle? Which I have yet to see, unless it’s Carolyn covered in mud in Survivor 44.

Whether you love it or hate it, Survivor seems to have a new, freshly beating heart in its 40s. I’m still torn on this New Era, but that’s besides the point. It’s undeniable that casting has majorly improved thanks to CBS’s diversity pledge, but Jeff Probst seems to have also entered his New Era, which sometimes can be best described as grandpa at family Thanksgiving who’s just happy everyone else is happy.

But I’ll reel it back a little, we’re here to talk about the villains, or lack thereof, I guess. For the record, the current New Era seasons, Survivor 41 to Survivor 47, undoubtedly feature villainous gameplay.

• The endearing Jesse Lopez has already risen to major popularity after his run in Survivor 43 for his dominantly subtle gameplay and willingness to cut off anyone, including his Day 1 alliance and closest island friend.
• Shan Smith had a chokehold on the pre-merge of Survivor 41, and even some of the post-merge, until her aggressive strategy caught up to her and she was taken out by an ally.
• Venus Vafa from Survivor 46 has been compared to a New Era Courtney Yates — tiny, mighty, brash and not afraid to give her input. She was outcasted the entirety of her season, but never gave up.

From the perspective of strategic and social gameplay, these three players along with plenty of others would easily fall under the category of villain. But here’s the twist… the edits tell a different story.

With each of Jesse’s cutthroat move, the audience was always reminded of his ultimate alliance with his family, and the promise to his son to “get that money, baby.” After he meets his demise in fire making, an upbeat, heroic score plays over Jesse’s exit.

Shan’s domineering personality in 41 was given context in the backstory she shared with the audience, sometimes behind tears. Hearing of the adversity of her upbringing and the impact it’s made on her as a woman, it was hard not to root for her when that mischievous “Shanthem” began to play.

And finally, if neither of these well-rounded, humanized villains prove my point, take a look at the recently eliminated Rome Cooney from Survivor 47.

In the game, this guy has classic Survivor villain written all over him. Cocky, distrustful, motivated, not afraid to spread false information — you name it.

And yet, he’s still a person.

Don’t be mistaken, the editors dunked on him, sometimes for entire camp life sequences. But, in this New Era, Probst and his crew seem to have made it a responsibility to do more with the players, and this is so important.

Throughout 47’s pre-merge, we check in with Rome strategically, we learn about his struggles with self-confidence, and his vote out, much like Jesse and Shan’s, feels celebratory — going so far as to let Rome sit in Jeff Probst’s seat at Tribal Council! Now that’s a Survivor bucket list item.

It’s as if the show is saying, “Thank you for putting yourself out there, we appreciate you,” before sending Rome back to a society that currently doesn’t feel so kind, especially behind a computer screen.

And this is why I think Jeff is “doing away with casting villains” on Survivor.

Do I really think we’re going to stop seeing interpersonal drama on Survivor? No, it’s reality television, and these people are starving. Do I think every future player is going to be a beacon of positivity? Of course not — that doesn’t represent real life.

What does represent real life — which is the goal of the game, at the end of the day — is portraying real, well-rounded people, flaws and all.

The “monster” of the New Era is The Game, and The Game has become the villain, so the players don’t have to be. In a perfect world, this will save future Survivor players from hate messages and death threats.

I’ll toast some on-location Final Tribal Council champagne to that.

Many of our beloved scripted stories — even those that don’t have a physical villain character — have forces of good and evil that are intended for audiences to root for and against. Survivor may not be scripted, but the narratives crafted by the edit still need to tell a compelling story.

While you tell a compelling story without a force to root against — it sure can make things interesting, especially in a game intending to mirror society and magnify its flaws.