I’ve been thinking about this over the last couple of days. If I were on the jury, who would I have voted?
I think I’ve come to the conclusion that it might have very well been Mark.
It’s a funny thing when there is no audience vote and it all happens within the show. As viewers, we obviously miss out on a whole heap of action and conversations, on the other side of the coin in some ways we know more than any ONE jury person knows as we see conversations and see how things happen in ways that they can’t see unless they are directly involved.
As a viewer, Shay seemed most palatable as the winner, however other than an incredible challenge win tally, did she really have anything else on her survivor resume? It may have been due to no one willing to work with her, a valid consideration, but we will never know how good her strategy was.
Challenge wins is only one dimension that makes a good survivor winner.
Chrissy was entertaining to watch, moreso early game. But having a good social game, and I would argue that it actually isn’t a good ‘survivor social game’ that Chrissy had is also pretty one dimensional. Being likeable and making friends and sailing your way to the end is not impressive in survivor.
Mark had strength, strategy and social. He kinda hit the jackpot with the theme and the players rendering a lack of gameplay by almost anyone else, but in terms of a survivor resume his was certainly the most filled out. Controlling his wife looked yuck on screen, but no other players were privy to those private conversations between Mark and Sam. No one other than Jesse and Sam really fully grasped what happened with the idol steal also. Based on his character we think he sacrificed his wife, as opposed to them making that decision. But how can jury members see that as anything other than good strategy. Sacrificing one and ending up with two idols puts you in a powerful position. I think he successfully and truthfully argued how he pushed Josh to the front as a shield while he led from behind. Again, a great survivor strategy.
He may very well have been unlikable to watch, but I think if I were the jury I’m not sure I could have rewarded Shay or Chrissy with a vote based on their game.