Survivor 41 is coming to an end with only one, three-hour episode and 5 castaways left to duke it out for the $1 million. So, after a whirlwind 26 days (rather than the usual 39) who is going to win the title of Sole Survivor, why, and what must the do over the next handful of days to secure the cash?
Currently 31 year old Ricard Foye, a hard-of-hearing flight attendant from Washington state seems to be the favorite. He has earned himself the winner’s edit being a challenge beast with three individual immunity wins and managing to play a social game.
Survivor 41: Who can win and how?
Before coming into the game, Ricard stated that he was modelling his game play after Aubry Bracco from Kaôh Rōng, Game Changers and Edge of Extinction… but with one big difference- winning. Ricard just may pull that off, seeing he also has the best resume that could convince the jury he is worthy of the $1 million prize.
It was Ricard’s stone cold turning on closest ally, Shan–with Shan’s approval–that saw the game turn in its head. Though Ricard didn’t exactly spearhead the move, he certainly was the driving force to make the blindside happen. The only thing Ricard needs to do to win season 41 is hold on tight and make it through to the end. It will be crucial he win the next immunity challenge to be safe from what must be the united vote to get him out of the game.
26 year old med student from Miami, DeShawn Radden is getting a lot of airtime, confusing fans who live and die by “the winner’s edit” foreshadow. But DeShawn’s airtime isn’t all flattering. He is pulling a lot of bonehead moves, like last week’s “truth kamikaze” where he was so sure of his demise that he threw a potential ally under the bus before the vote.
Going into the season. DeShawn likened his game play style to that of Cirie Fields of Panama, Micronesia, Heroes vs. Villains and Game Changers fame, but best known for orchestrating the Black Widow Brigade alliance’s devouring of Erik Reichenbach and his delicious immunity necklace.
We’re not sure Cirie would be flattered by the comparison.
To actually win this thing, DeShawn needs to…not do much at all. While he is at least attempting to play the game, he’s not exactly doing it well. Yet, he’s in the final five so he’s either doing something right, or the rest of the castaways are all doing something terribly wrong.
It’s likely DeShawn has the vote of the jury members of color after his impassioned speech at tribal council (well, maybe not Sri Lankan Naseer’s vote, who, along with Filipino Erika were left out of the people of color speech by both DeShawn and Liana). Even “Team Ricard” Shan may want to ensure DeShawn becomes only the fifth black Survivor winner ooy of 41 seasons.
Xander Hastings, the 20 year old app developer from Chicago (who was born AFTER Richard Hatch took home the title of the first ever sole Survivor…I’ll allow you a moment to let THAT sink in) seems Teflon coated.
Pre-game he likened his approach to game play as that of Jay Starett from Millennials vs. Gen X, Devon Pinto from Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers or Joe Anglim of Worlds Apart, Cambodia, and Edge of Extinction– interesting choices since none of the guys ever made it to the final tribal council. The all did have flowing, curly locks, though.
At the bottom for most of the 20-something days spent as a castaway so far, Xander is yet to have his idol flushed or used. However, while being in the bottom and surviving is impressive, Xander certainly needs something to add to his resume if he wants to sway the jury into handing him a cool million bucks, especially if Danny’s analysis of Xander’s situation is accurate.
In his exit interview, Danny explained that no one has bothered to flush Xander’s idol or even thought of voting him off because they all see him as a goat- just like Heather.
While audiences at home are scratching their head over this, seeing Xander as one of the hardest players in the game, Danny further explained that the rest of the tribe saw any of Xander’s sacrifices, like sitting out of the challenge so Erika could play, as grandstanding and disingenuous. We at home saw Xander try, but fail, to collect another idol as he sat out, i.e., playing the game. The tribe did not.
While Xander does have out-foxing Liana with her Knowledge is Power advantage, and a pretty much guaranteed spot in the final four with his idol on his resume, the one big move that could solidify Xander’s win would be beating Ricard at immunity and orchestrating his removal from the game.
Erika Casupanan, a 32 year old communications manager from Toronto, Canada has a chance to win the game if she does just one thing–speak up. Erika was actually a big part in orchestrating the Great Shan Blindside of 2021, but– just like she was left out of the people of color conversation– no one, not even Erika seems to be giving/demanding the recognition for her big move.
Of course, Erika “made history by changing history”, turning back time and slightly changing the course of the game. However, having a 50/50 decision presented to you isn’t that much to brag about- unless you are up against players with very thin resumes themselves.
Another thing Erika needs recognition for is choosing the merged tribe’s name- Via Kana, Fijian for hungry. While this is more hilarious than a winning move, Erika could toss that into what needs to be one heck of a pitch to the jury at the final tribal council .
It may just be that she will do this as she said her game play approach was modelled after Todd Herzog, Sole Survivor of China (finally someone who decided to play like an actual winner!) Like Todd, Erika said she is prepared to pull out the big guns when they are needed, final tribal . That speech will need to be spectacular and convincing, Erika, a communications manager just maybe the one to do it.
52 year old stay at home mom from Charleston, Heather Aldret, who believed she’d be the next Rick Devens from Edge of Extinction can’t win. She won’t win. She’s a goat. Everyone knows it. Let’s not even go there.
All of this potentially winning game play, however, may be for naught as host Jeff Probst dropped another bomb during the penultimate episode. To make it to the final tribal council, the competitors will face a four-way fire making challenge. You can bet your bottom dollar there was a collective sigh of relief that Naseer is sitting safely in the jury for that latest twist.
What do you think of this analysis of the final five? Who do you think will walk away as the victor of season 41? Leave your thoughts below and watch the Survivor 41 three hour season finale this Wednesday on CBS at 8pm ET.
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