We’ve officially reached the merge on Survivor 50. In the Wednesday, April 1 episode, the castaways will drop their buffs and leave their tribes behind, advancing to the individual portion of the game. There are currently 17 players remaining, which is an unusually high number to reach the merge. The large volume of players could be beneficial. It will make it easier to blend into the background, buying some castaways more time on the island. However, it also means more players will be competing in the Individual Immunity challenges, making it more difficult to secure safety, especially for those going against competition beasts like Jonathan Young and Ozzy Lusth.
In honor of the merge, let’s take a look at where the players currently stand and discuss who is in the best spot. Here are the frontrunners.
The Survivor 50 merge has some castaways in a good spot
Survivor is a constantly evolving game. A player’s life in the game is always in flux, meaning you can be on top one week and out the door the next. The fast-paced nature of the game makes it difficult to predict who will emerge victorious. However, there are a few players who are currently in a solid position going into the merge.
Jonathan Young
Jonathan Young’s social strategy could still use some work, but he has one huge advantage in the game — he’s a beast in challenges. He isn’t on this list because he’s a masterful strategist with powerful alliances made of players who vowed to protect him. His power comes from his physical strength and his ability to “outlast” the competition. If Jonathan loses an Immunity challenge, he will surely be a target around camp. However, there is a chance he will win a string of Immunity Challenges, therefore protecting him from the threat of elimination.
Genevieve Mushaluk
Genevieve Mushaluk was a dangerous player on Survivor 47. She was savvy, strategic, and ruthless when she needed to be. Her game earned her an invite to Survivor 50, but it also earned her a dastardly reputation. Genevieve is on people’s radar, no doubt, but I still think she’s in a pretty good position. She made an adversary (Aubry Bracco), but she’s also made allies. She’s well-positioned within a few groups, giving her some flexibility on the island. There are also two Billie Eilish Idols floating around camp that may be returned to her at some point. Genevieve gifted the Idols to Ozzy and Rizo Velovic, two players who could be headed out the door soon.
Emily Flippen
Emily Flippen was almost eliminated two episodes ago, but her position has improved since she survived Mike White’s attempt to take her down. She heads into the merge with strong social relationships and a big, shiny shield to block her from elimination. That shield is Christian Hubicki, her number one ally on the island. Christian was once a frontrunner, but recently, he’s made some bold moves that spooked his tribemates. Once the merge hits, he will likely become a target. His increased threat level may actually work in Emily’s favor.
The castaways will likely want to separate Christian and Emily at some point. But when they take that shot, Christian will be the target. His elimination will change her social game, but it won’t ruin it. He is her most visible connection, but she has other strong relationships behind the scenes. She’s been working closely with Ozzy and Rick Devens, who have a vested interest in keeping her safe.
Cirie Fields
Cirie Fields is solidifying her “Survivor Legend” status on Season 50. She has an ability to garner loyalty and trust in a way that few players can. Her affable personality has earned her entry into multiple alliances. She also has two ride-or-dies (Ozzy and Rizo) going into the merge, making her position in the game quite desirable. Cirie’s social game is a huge advantage as long as she is able to manage her threat level. It could become a problem if her connections are exposed.
Survivor is available to stream on Paramount+.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR PICKS? WHO DO YOU THINK IS IN THE BEST POSITION GOING INTO THE MERGE ON SURVIVOR 50? AND WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT TO FALL?
