(Above) My first boot pick for Survivor 48 is Kamilla Karthigesu, who, like Maryanne Oketch, may struggle early if she doesn’t form strong bonds. Cedrek McFadden is my second boot pick, as his subtle social game, inspired by Earl Cole and Cirie Fields, could be an easy target in a superfan-heavy era. My choice for sixteenth place is Bianca Roses, who may fall victim to the “Parvati 2.0” curse, with players fearing another all-women’s alliance, making her an early target if she is unable to get a foothold in her tribe early.
Survivor is a reality competition show in which contestants are stranded in a remote location, compete in challenges, form alliances, and vote each other out until one wins the title of Sole Survivor and a cash prize. At the time of writing this article, Season 48 is only two days away, coming out on February 26, 2025! With Season 50 on the horizon, and seeing as it’s the first all returnee season since Season 40, “Winners at War,” fans are counting down the seasons. Additionally, with a returnee season so close, entertainment value and placement has never been more important. It’s time to share my predictions of the currently revealed cast and how they are going to perform on the show, starting with my pick for first boot, the person who gets voted out first, until I get to my winner pick.
(Above) For the fourth boot, I predict Mitch Guerra, as I feel he’ll approach the game with an old-school Survivor mindset that won’t mesh well with this cast. The fifth boot, and the last elimination before the merge, is Thomas Krottinger, who aims to downplay his threat level but may instead come across as a weak ally, leading to his downfall. Finally, my pick for the season’s “Earn the Merge” victim is Justin Pioppi. His laid-back nature might make him an easy, drama-free vote if he’s vulnerable at that crucial first merge Tribal Council. (Survivor) (Above) The seventh boot and first true merge elimination is David Kinne, who will likely be a challenge asset early on but a clear physical threat post-merge, making him an easy target. The eighth boot, Shauhin Davari, will fall victim to his own ambitious gameplay, his plans being a little too cute by half. For the ninth boot, marking the season’s halfway point, I predict Saiounia “Sai” Hughley. While her social game will be stellar, it may be too strong, and once players compare notes, she could become too big a threat to keep around. (Survivor) (Above) The tenth boot, Star Toomey, will be a pivotal elimination that shifts the season’s trajectory, whether he’s a majority player getting sniped or an underdog whose exit sparks others into action. The eleventh boot, Stephanie Berger, earns my “Most Likely to Get Idoled Out” award. I think she’ll play a strong, under-the-radar game but fall victim to a well-timed idol play. The twelfth boot, Joe Hunter, will be the first elimination from the newly formed power structure, after not being able to adapt to this new structure. (Survivor)(Above) The thirteenth boot, Charity Nelms, could mas- termind a game changing idol play, but her threat level could make her a late-game target. Fifth place, Kevin Leung, will be playing an impressive game with strong connections, but his threat level will lead to his elimination just before the final Tribal Council. The fifteenth bootand “Final Four Fire-Making” loser is Eva Erickson, while she’ll have a solid game with a chance to win, she won’t secure immunity or a guaranteed spot in the finals, ultimately losing the fire-making challenge. (Survivor)(Above) In third place and our zero or one vote finalist is Chrissy Sarnowsky, a well-liked player whose social game will be strong, but it won’t be enough to build a winning resume. Second place goes to Kyle Fraser, a lovable underdog who makes big moves but ends up on the wrong side of the vote too often to secure the win. That leaves Mary Zheng as the season’s winner, who I think will play a masterful social and strategic game, navigating power structures flawlessly, while keeping her threat level in check until it’s too late for anyone to stop her. (Survivor)
Jay Fredel is a new member of the Twice-Told Tale team and a Senior at Lake Highland Preparatory School. Jay has a passion for writing both creatively and critically. He often writes intricate backstories for characters in role-playing games and enjoys writing critical pieces on current events. In his free time, he loves playing video games, board games, and participating in Online Reality Games, with his favorite format being Survivor. In school, he participates in David Copperfield’s Project Magic and Musical Theatre. His favorite subject is statistics, and he hopes to employ all he has learned in his writing.
