Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans is set to feature a cast of returning players only, but there are two winners who will likely have their torch snuffed early due to their recent success. Kyle Fraser and Dee Valladares were officially announced as part of the cast last month, but few victories were as memorable as theirs, having been two of the most respected winners of the New Era. Although both players are undoubtedly talented and exhibit the qualities of a true sole survivor, they will likely be targeted by some of the competition’s best returning contestants.
Fraser, the winner of Survivor 48, quickly established himself as the master of silent strategy in the New Era. Usually, when voting out fellow tribemates or betraying an alliance, it’s difficult to avoid conflict with those that are sent to the jury, but Fraser managed to do so throughout the entirety of Season 48. Most notably, his secret alliance with Kamilla Karthigesu went undetected until the final Tribal Council, when he revealed the unknown partnership to a shocked jury. Fraser was also a physical threat, securing four individual challenge wins, and always seemed to rival some of the strongest castaways on the show.
However, the most important aspect of Fraser’s game was his social skills, having made friends with nearly every competitor and using his kindness to not only further his life on Survivor, but others’ as well. Although the 31-year-old has received high praise for his victory, his impeccable gameplay is also fresh in the minds of both fans and former players, who will be well aware of his skill set coming into Survivor 50. Fraser will possibly carry the reputation of the most recent winner in the landmark season, and although he’s bound to once again be beloved by his peers, his kindness will likely be used against him due to his pedigree.
Dee Valladares Will Struggle to Outwit Her Competition Again
Similarly to Fraser, Valladares was one of the best winners of the New Era, but also one of the most dominant. The 28-year-old played a near flawless game, having been the mastermind behind several votes without placing a target on her back. Additionally, she quietly played with a dishonest mindset, as she was willing to betray those closest to her in order to further her life in the competition, and did so without creating any major conflict. That said, arguably Valladares’ biggest asset was the ability to play mind games, with her allegiance to Austin Li Coon being her most notable work. Throughout Season 45, Valladares’ relationship with Coon continued to grow, with viewers noticing some romantic chemistry between both castaways. However, Valladares would use her romantic connection to Coon just to gain his trust, leading her to lie about most of her strategic moves and planned blindsides that ultimately won her the game. Furthermore, Valladares only received two votes over 26 days, having used her social ability to convince others that there were bigger threats in the game than herself.
Though Valladares will likely bring the same cut-throat attitude to Season 50, legends like Benjamin “Coach” Wade and Ozzy Lusth will know better than to keep somebody with her intelligence in the game for long. It’s possible that Valladares and Fraser would benefit from working together; forming a winners pact or creating a New Era alliance could help them survive in the competition against the older generation of players. That said, the contestants from the New Era returning should know better than to keep Valladares and Fraser around, especially with many castaways having been eliminated by either winner in the past.
There’s no doubt that Fraser and Valladares have the opportunity to become one of the greatest Survivor players in history by adding another win to their resume, but with the number of seasoned legends returning, and being instant threats due to their previous victories, it’s unlikely both champions will claim the million-dollar prize again. If the returning players are smart, they will eliminate Fraser and Valladares before the merge, as both winners are proven to thrive once Survivor becomes an individual game. Moreover, some of Fraser and Valladares’ fellow castaways, especially those who have never claimed the title of sole survivor, may feel that they don’t deserve to financially stay in the competition due to already becoming millionaires.
Survivor is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
