Survivor Retrospective: Vanuatu

Rating: 4.5/10

It's funny to look back on Vanuatu in the context of the new school strategic warfare of Winners at War, 41 and 42. Whereas those entertaining, unpredictable seasons were filled with diverse, likable and mentally competitive characters, Vanuatu was stocked with sluggish rednecks. Whether it was lazy casting or a misguided allegiance to Average Joe, Vanuatu begged the question more than other season: Why cast dumb and boring folks when you could choose smart and interesting players? Generally dismissed as one of Survivor's weakest seasons, Vanuatu and its winner have been misremembered as doltish. The ninth season's endgame was actually quite cunning and its champion may be the most underrated in franchise history.

Vanuatu's theme was a repeat of the gendered tribal division pioneered in The Amazon. The men appeared fairly unified, but voting revealed a split between a stronger, younger faction and a crew of old rednecks. Drill sergeant Lea "Sarge" was the edit's swing vote, and he went with the 'necks. The men voted off some of their strongest players, including hunky FBI agent Brady. With shots of blazing volcanoes, an actual earthquake and a number of bodacious babes, prehistoric Vanuatu hankered for HD.

Little else of note took place until a tribal swap, flinging confessional favorite Rory behind enemy lines. Rory wriggled out of an all-female jam, but relations with female Queen Ami soured and she targeted him first after the merge. Road worker Twila and future Jeff Probst girlfriend Julie, who'd made inroads with the men in their swap, shocked them by rejoining the women to oust Rory in a straight gender line vote. Ami won that battle as well as the right to be Vanuatu's only returning player; Rory and the eventual champion are still waiting for casting's call.

Sarge then busted, with savvy Ohio road builder Chris joining the women and covering his tracks with a lie Sarge asked him to vote him out. Respected amputee Chad went next, leaving Chris as the last man standing along with six women. But Chris wasn't the target; it was gabby law student Eliza. Twila and her ally Scout pulled off a stunning flip when they joined Chris and Eliza to oust LeAnn. Season star Ami was toppled next, leaving an uninspiring but shrewd final five. 

Left for dead just two votes before, Chris rebounded to power as the swing vote between Twila/Scout and Eliza/Julie. He opted to go with the older rural ladies, betraying his friend Julie but later regaining her vote with a doleful apology at Final Tribal. Chris, who'd pathetically lost the first challenge for the men, won the last two individual immunities and chose caustic Twila as his opponent. The Final Tribal combatants had a lot in common: both were highway construction workers from the Midwest, keen, cagey and hellbent on the million bucks. Chris pulled off his betrayals with more tact and compassion and orated more profoundly at Final Tribal, though Twila's plaintive performance was also compelling. It was a scintillating Final Tribal, followed by Jeff Probst's most ludicrous journey to the studio. Chris won 5-2.

Chris has wrongly been remembered as an undeserving champion - or perhaps just the least feeble castaway of an underwhelming season. In fact, Chris craftily navigated a handful of dynamic social situations that would have slain weaker or prouder players. His confessionals displayed unwavering Hatch-like acumen and purpose from day one. His gameplay was airtight. He grew physically and mentally stronger as the game progressed. He forged relationships, capitalized on and betrayed them when necessary and regained their votes at Final Tribal. While the stratagems of Vanuatu don't hold a candle to the modern game, Chris's camouflaged cunning would keep him in contention for any Survivor season.