Top 5 Most Unlikely Survivor Finalists

[@andrewreinwand4942]

I will never get over Coach’s “loved one” was the assistant coach for whatever high school or middle school sport he coached. So funny and also so deeply, deeply sad that that’s either the only person he could ask or the only person that would agree to go out there.

[@jaimelannister1797]

He coached college

[@ActiveAdvocate1]

#1? She needs to play again. I LOVED her in both of her seasons. Like, come on, let her win one already: she deserves it.

[@SurvReacts]

Please do a fan cast for survivor 50. Jeff probst said he’s not limiting it to post 40 players so ik that vid will be a banger!!

[@coltonyounger9724]

That would be cool but he kinda already did that, he did a legends cast for 50 and then did a second chance season already (which was only pre-new era players but it would be redundant to say those players from that video again plus new era players)

[@kayleighlehrman9566]

I think they should have either 48 or 49 as a 'new era' all stars season, exclusively players from the 40s, before going back to the full series for 50.

[@dinohall2595]

The thing with the commitment to a returnee cast being announced four seasons in advance is people are going to game the books by talking more on the Internet, including here on KZbin, about players from 46-49 they want to return as their games play out in real time. I suspect there will be some recency bias on 50.

[@icypurpl5053]

We need the return of Christian Hubicki, the man who talked his way to immunity

[@hommefataltaemin]

@@icypurpl5053I was just thinking of this! Honestly a lot of people from that season would be amazing to have back! 😊

[@ohnoitslos]

Noura from 39. Like how the hell did she get all the way to the end 😭

[@raymanmann8132]

goat

[@freddytang2128]

She’s like Philip, everyone knows she’ll get no votes

[@NYChica23]

She's in the Phillip Sheppard/Lil Morris category of being that much of an easy beat, so it's not really shocking to see her make it there

[@bingo36able]

I think Mike White may have taken his foot off the gas at Final Tribal for DvG because he may have felt it made for better TV for Nick, the lone David, to slay two Goliaths. I think Mike was confident, secure enough in the game he played and certainly well enough off that he could give up the prize for the sake of contributing to a better story and changing someone's life.

[@baileylynn5562]

I don’t think he cared about what made good TV, I think he felt bad taking the money from someone who he thought probably needed it more than he did

[@crichards037]

Either way, whether he did it for the content or for more altruistic reasons, I still love me some Ned Schneebly. 😂

[@esinger23]

I love Mike White! He was so funny; especially when he was helping Angelina find the idol clue without letting go of his wine glass 😂

[@andrewthomas8687]

Courtney is still one of my fave players ever.

[@SirChristopher365]

Players, or characters?

[@Noid1220]

@@SirChristopher365she played survivor therefore she was a player

[@chancesmith40]

I would LOVE a video about the celebrities who’ve been on survivor. I didn’t realize that many have been on the show

[@tokyotourist]

Courtney Yates is still the best unlikely runner up of all time. She didn’t want to be there at all and would’ve won had Todd not had a perfect FTC performance

[@SpanishFly120]

I do always appreciate Courtney. It's always interesting how even after his Final Tribal performance, Todd still thought that Courtney beat him 4-3-0. As for Ken, I absolutely understand the whole "not trusting someone right away" bit in theory, but...I really don't think that was the way to go about it in practice.

[@deltagolavista1]

I think Nelah is a groundbreaking game changer. She just couldn’t explain her game on how she was game changer. Survivor now is all about controlling your threat level and that is what she did for the first part of the game when she knew she wasn’t in trouble of being voted out. Once she and the others realized the ‘threats to win’ pecking order, she flipped on them. She did it again at the final challenge, eliminating the biggest threat and giving her a slight chance to win. Modern survivor would recognize those as a resume plays and not one that needs to be explained. Her and Paschal were just the first to pull it off. The rest of the cast didn’t know how to adapt and that is what carried her to the end. After her, alliance flippers made it to the final all the time, but their game play was more frowned upon, such as Twila, until later seasons when moves like these were started to be rewarded.

[@geekynerd7346]

Nelah did not win because she did not answer a job interview question correctly. That shows her inexperience, not her lack of strategic play.

[@NYChica23]

I'd actually say it was more Kathy/Vecepia that got the ball rolling on the taking shots at the majority alliance, because if you look at Vecepia's game, she knew how to lay low and keep her mouth shut when needed, which allowed her to not be the immediate target for the Rotu majority, and then following the Rob vote, she joined up with Kathy, who had already made clear her intentions of going after the Rotu 4 by throwing a stray vote on Zoe the first merge tribal, and then Kathy was able to convince Neleh and Paschal to jump on board

[@antoineharris2176]

Susie (Gabon) should be on this list. She wasn't dragged to the end as a goat. In fact if she doesn't win that final immunity challenge she's could've been voted out. She lasted because the other big players (Marcus, Charlie, Corinne, Ken, and Crystal) all played themselves out of the game and she was left at the end. Her only correct move was in voting out Marcus, while she made a bunch of blunders including telling Corinne she was going to vote for her.

[@SirChristopher365]

Agreed.

[@jaybeevs8612]

I actually think her game is a bit better than people give it credit for (though that isn't saying too much)

[@kenwang500]

YES i thought susie would be on the list

[@AuntieC4]

I love the confessional of Christy calling Matt creepy 😂

[@TheChamp33]

Felt like it’s been forever since I been this early on Peridiam video 😭

[@adamgaspar2842]

Love the videos Peridiam, thanks for so much great content!!!

[@Peridiam]

Glad you like them!

[@roguemerc]

I know a lot of theoretical winners if they had a different FTC fall apart because it would change who the person fundamentally is, but a video on losers who coulda won with a toastmaster-superfan would be fun. might need to figure out a better title than that though. Like, Matt in the Amazon said at the reunion the machete thing was to lower his threat level, that woulda been good ammo at FTC; and every question, his intro, and closing statement, he completely bombed on every level. Or if Phillip came out and said "I was playing the part as a crazy person so Rob would protect me to the end" maybe he could get something going, idk. Or even Hantz, which I can't argue that it would work, but in HVV he coulda came from the angle of "This was my only path to this point, i'm sorry that I played like this, but my only other option was to go home early.

[@NYChica23]

Add Amanda to that group, because very similar to Coach, she could've won if she'd owned up to her game more, especially in China, where she did do a lot of the strategizing right next to Todd, and is the first one to mention taking that shot at James

[@Quetzal00358]

Have you thought about making a video about Friends turned Enemies or vice versa? Like Abi-Maria and RC

[@br4dyv]

Ben and Chrissy

[@Shan_Dalamani]

I can't imagine anyone wanting to be friends with Crabby Maria. RC really shut her down in the Ponderosa video (back when they used to post Ponderosa videos on YT).

[@uglyaniimals]

great idea !!!

[@uglyaniimals]

especially after this most recent season, you could put venus and almost all of nami on the list

[@NYChica23]

@@Shan_Dalamani Abi is actually well liked in the Survivor community...for that matter, most of the villains on the show are said to be super nice when they're out in the real world

[@NDeezy]

I was shocked Lil didn’t make the top 5.

[@Peridiam]

Yeah, she definitely threads a fine line.

[@SirChristopher365]

Somewhere, Lil is saying, "Well.... well... well why wasn't I in the final 5?" .:makes the Lil face:.

[@NYChica23]

@@Peridiam I can see why she's not, because at that point in Survivor history, I don't see people awarding the win to someone who already was voted out once, so pretty much anyone would beat Lill just for that reason

[@aMxx-]

i hope 50 only has 1-timers because I feel any more would be too big threats. And that they make it even between the new generations.

[@funkycrawler619]

Well considering post 40 players will be 1 timers, i would feel if they do a new era vs old era, 1 timers would be the most balanced imo. I personally would rather another fan vote for each side.

[@NYChica23]

I'd say make it only the players from 35 onwards, and no winners, because that way, we're guaranteed only one timers as returnees...there's plenty of people from 35-39 that I wouldn't mind seeing getting a second shot to come back

[@twannifufu]

Inspired by this list, I would love to see the "Top 5 Most Unlikely Survivor Winners" and "Top Players Everyone Thought Would Win Survivor But Didn't." I have my ideas for each list.

[@NYChica23]

Fabio, Bob, Natalie White, Chris Daugherty, and Danni are my picks for the 5 most unlikely winners list

[@djcork2012]

Unlikely winners? Bob. The answer is Bob.

[@Shan_Dalamani]

If memory serves, Bob was the first player to try the fake immunity idol strategy. And it worked.

[@jitkafanfulova6760]

@@Shan_Dalamani First shown, I think some player in Fiji made one too but they havent shown? I remember this information in some video mentioned.

[@mindovermatterbecomingyour1561]

​@@jitkafanfulova6760yauman made a fake idol but it was never found

[@Shan_Dalamani]

@@jitkafanfulova6760 I think there are about 3 seasons I haven't seen, so I concede that I could be wrong. Bob is the first one I remember doing it.

[@loganwamer2976]

​@@Shan_Dalamani Ozzy had a fake idol played a season earlier in micronesia... "it's a fuc***g stick."

[@oyCZAR]

I love Courtney Yates as your thumbnail.

[@chuck2469]

the three players to be famous and also make it to the end ? Mike white Brad Culpepper Lisa (Philippines) i think

[@NYChica23]

I think so too, because other than them, the only celebrity I can think of to at least make it to finale week was Taj in Tocantins, and she got 4th

[@BradsPitts.]

Q for sure about to be added to the list 😂

[@Jumbleds]

Just watching the most recent aus survivor season, and theres a contestant named Kelli whose vote out was the funniest thing ever, you should so try to find a place for it in an upcoming video.

[@crustymosquitolove7624]

IMAGINE COURTNEY WON TWICE! god I LOVE her

[@nolanbrown4015]

I was shocked Parv from HvV wants to here. She played a great game, but after just winning Micro and the threat level she had, it was super shocking she made the end

[@snobey]

And since the merge Neleh actually was my ftc pick, maybe even a winner pick

[@jasonhurle4401]

Ah yes, another entry in the “Peridiam makes a top 5 video that only includes 5 entries challenge”. Not that I’m complaining 😊

[@nstemania]

I wonder if Courtney wins either if she was in a f2 against Amanda or if Peih Gee gets Todd out at 7, frankly she was more game changing than the winner of the game changers season

[@JSDSandiego]

I was trying to sus out who would be on this list and I can make an argument for most finalists for sure. Some Key ones: Lil, Chris U, and Natalie(40) were unlikely for the fact that they got voted out, and then became finalists. Susie in Gabon would likely be a pre-juror for being older and not as helpful in challenges. Sugar could be on this list. Philip Sheppard and Missy(29) are an unlikely finalist because people had to deal with them for 39 days. Chrissy from HvHvH was almost med-evac'd and eliminated first, then managed to almost win. Michelle in S40 played from the bottom each week, had good instincts and was able to break apart the strong alliance.

[@NYChica23]

I wouldn't call Phillip an unlikely finalist when Rob took him to the end precisely because he and everyone else knew that there was no chance Phillip of all people was winning a jury vote

[@kallieshoh]

i see courtney in the thumbnail.. i click instantly

[@Melonpatch1445]

courtney said on a podcast that she just went for a free vacation assuming she'd get voted out first and when she didn't she tried to quit but production said "just get voted out" lol

[@forrestberg591]

ngl I'd bet Courtney thinks many people dislike her from her time on Survivor..... maybe.. but I think the vast majority identify with or appreciate her significantly

[@K1llj0yc137]

I don't even remember his game but 3rd place in 45 was hilarious like everything he did was a disaster

[@Mindblowingtrickshotz]

You're talking about Jake I believe

[@K1llj0yc137]

That's right I called him Jake from State farm all season

[@nathanboyer7739]

Billy Garcia, Debb, Souna, Jessie and Flica Flame are my picks for unlikely finalists.

[@dinohall2595]

None of those people were finalists.

[@nathanboyer7739]

@@dinohall2595 Well, they can be. We all can be finalists. Even you!

[@uglyaniimals]

@@nathanboyer7739you're so inspirational :,)

[@NYChica23]

Souna would be hard to see as a future finalist, considering she's, you know, dead

[@nathanboyer7739]

@@NYChica23 the tribe has spoken

[@divdesmitpieci6767]

Suzie from Gabon could have easily been a first boot on a different season.

[@PsychedASMR]

Can’t believe you didn’t wait for Liz and/or Venus to make the f3 of 46 before making this 😮‍💨

[@uglyaniimals]

and / or q !

[@Lintu107]

My top 5 honorable mentions: Clay, Brad Culpepper, Cochran, Maryanne and Susie.

[@NYChica23]

Clay isn't who I'd call an unlikely finalist, because Brian may be a shitty person, but he had very solid strategic awareness to the point where he quickly picked up on how unlikely Clay was to win any popularity contests with the people in the game, and quickly aligned with him because of that

[@connor83843]

This is Kim Johnson erasure

[@billie-b]

Big mistake! Peridiam. Mike White definitely won his season. Yeah I just checked the notes, Mike White is the winner of David's v Goliath season.

[@dallasoleary187]

Unlikely winners seems fairly straightforward (Chris from Edge of Extinction, Michelle from BBB, Dani from Guatemala). Would be better to do it as a "how many bullets did the eventual winner dodge on their path to victory." Erika from 41 - her tribe tried to throw a challenge to vote her out and had to keep untying and retying knots to give a terrible tribe time to catch up then couldn't keep Naseer from powering though. They had to give up on throwing it. They tried to isolate her by not picking her at the merge tribe pick & then the stupid Cher twist gave her the most power in the game.

[@XanderMatthews-nv9zf]

Deshawn said in exit interviews the plan was actually to throw the challenge to vote out Sydney. The editors mainly showed it as an Erika in trouble moment to better show off the stupid lamb to lion storyline

[@NYChica23]

I wouldn't say Michele was an unlikely winner, because she may not have been making the big flashy moves, but she knew how to position herself well enough socially that even when people like Tai and Jason were wanting to take shots at her, those shots never landed, and let's be real, by the time final 5 came around, anyone not named Cydney was losing to her in an F3 scenario

[@alexandreokumoto528]

I love Courtney!!

[@nvm9040]

I wouldn’t have been mad if Courtney won China bc Courtney definitely isn’t a strategic mastermind like Todd or a all round threat like Amanda but she definitely has a good social game plus she won a freaking immunity challenge

[@petermcgill3405]

I've got to know the CORE of a person.

[@danielclevett6360]

Perdiam, I have watched all your videos and agree with most of them. However, you have never been so wrong on a number #1 ranking. Suzy from Gabon is by far the most unlikely survivor.

[@seanhawkins6565]

Who are the other celebs to make it to the end?

[@NYChica23]

Lisa and Brad Culpepper

[@olivermensinger]

Courtney Yates is my favorite player of all time.

[@calebos04]

What's his name❓ What was his birth 👶 name❓It wasn't Coach⚽, it was Benjamin👨. And you know they're children 👦👧; 2⃣6⃣, 2⃣2⃣, they're over there listening 👂 to all of Benjamin’s👨... 🎃Halloween Jokes🎃, uh, 🐭Chuckie The Cheese Jokes🐭, they- 👅 eu-h, they want it 🙏. He goin off of loyalty ⭐ got them fee- "😰Oh, Benjamin👨, you so loyalty😓" ... Come on now 😑... Everyday📆 he got a story 📚. I wasn't ❌ buying 💰 it. [scoff] 😤 [giggle] ☺... Eh😒... No. 🙅 So... They tr- like yesterday ↩ the tribal 🔥 was all kahoots 👌 Benjamin👨,"Let's give a hug 👪." ✋PFF.✋ Keep that hug. Boop!🔫 For me. Cuz it wasn't real❌

[@HeelBJC]

Lil needs to be on part 2. I can't even put into words how unlikely she was to me lol.

[@NYChica23]

Same with Susie...I'm shocked she didn't make this list

[@Lizzzard22]

The most unlikely winner was Chip Overflame, only winner to get voted out on his winning season.

[@jonathanhookano5668]

How is Romeo not a unlikely finalist

[@stereohype1]

Courtney is still beloved by the Survivor community. We cant help but love our funny Queen of Snark!

[@akudia23378]

Courtney is the best,never bored watching her again,again and again.Agree,if She went far on HVSV,She will go to the end and likely will win

[@ralphjaysonmendoza924]

if i was a jury in china, i would also vote for courtney haha

[@hunterwolfe669]

“Unfortunately for her, she lasted 39 days and almost won the game” courtney is a legend 😂😂

[@AlexH274]

Hold on, Mike White WON Survivor tho, right?

[@bruja2591]

Queen Courtney

[@SnackMuay]

If CBS gave me any budget for a returnee season I’d give 95% of it to Courtney Yates.

[@jburnaquatic]

I always thought that Mike White should have won David vs Goliath. I like Nick a lot though even with all the political stuff. I wish Survivor would cast more diverse politically thanking people in general but I digress. Mike should have won though because I feel like he played the best game socially and strategically and had he not been rich I think he would have. People say dominic is the best to never win but I think it was Mike white. They also got kind of screwed with the theme because being a Goliath the odds were stacked against them in terms of who were supposed to be the heroes. Oh well. Happy for nick.

[@rawberry9781]

it's kind of crazy neleh was 1 vote away from winning like if you told me that without watching the season i would think it's fake lol

[@Julian-lz5pd]

You ever just think about the fact that Courtney Yates is a Survivor winner if the 3 women get together and vote Todd out at F4

[@thejuryspeaks]

Natalie and Erika have to be two of the most unlikely winners

[@freddytang2128]

I dont get it, did Ryan become a republican politician? Just google him and didnt find any search results

[@freddytang2128]

Now I won't claim everyone on this list is a mastermind that hid under the radar on purpose. But couldnt this also be part of a decent strategy to be "ali-gabler" and not fly too close to the sun, all the time? Its very hard to be out in front the entire season, pretty soon people will see you as the biggest threat and blindside you. I think for SOME (probably minority) of these people, it might have been intentional threat management

[@BradsPitts.]

I’m sorry but how is Noura not on this list

[@thetrashcan5558]

I literally hate Coach (while on Survivor) so much but he is such good TV

[@PitorroCCS]

Courtney Yates needs to be on Survivor 50 if it's meant to be "Legends". Come on!

[@ASG-nm4cz]

I know you said no winners but I'm still picking Bob.

[@chrisjacobsen5558]

Courtney 🫶🏽🙌🏽

[@brazilianorange]

Soon to be added: Venus

[@Christina-jh3qp]

You shound rewatch Stepford wives

[@berouja]

Kween Courtney ❤

[@demonbadger86]

"I mean, I won an immunity... did you win an immunity? 🤭"

[@randizimo1]

shout out mike fkin white

[@maxperdu4612]

I mean… Bob is by far the most unlikely winner, right?

[@penndawt]

Imagine if FTC with Courtney, Venus, and Angelina.

[@NYChica23]

Courtney's winning that one

[@CooperPurcell]

Bhanu for season 50

[@teamsteed1]

I don't think he was mentally fit to play "Survivor."

[@totaldramatyler4484]

Absolutely not. 4 Episodes of him was more than enough.

[@MrWanton16]

@@totaldramatyler4484 But what if he manages to win one billion hearts this time?

[@Quetzal00358]

No

[@antoineharris2176]

@@MrWanton16 Still...NO.

[@Rias-sl6fq]

We all know that Natalie white was the most unlikely winner

[@NYChica23]

I think Fabio was even more unlikely than she was, because Natalie always knew where the votes were going and was never outside of the majority, plus she was the first one to chip away at the Galu majority by using her naturally likable personality to convince the women plus Brett to take that shot at Erik, and the reason Russell knew to play his idol correctly at the Kelly vote was because Natalie had established enough trust with the Galus that they told her who the vote was...meanwhile Fabio was out of the loop on half the votes, was seen as easy to manipulate with how clueless he was, and really only got to the end because of a late game win streak