Hello!

Welcome to Survivor: Edge of Extinction recaps here on the #BookSquadGoals blog! To kick things off for season 38 of Survivor, here is a quick rundown of who we will meet this season.

This season the survivors start off in two separate tribes, Manu and Kama. Let’s see who we think will be the last one standing in Fiji (or a Burbank studio with island-themed decorations)!

First, let’s look at the Manu tribe, who have blue buffs:

Dan “The Wardog” Silva

Todd: Dan, Dan, Dan. If you come in hot with your own nickname...you might do well? Cochran, Jonny Fairplay, even the Mayor of Slamtown all had their own nicknames, but I do not predict you will get far in this game.

Mary: Um...SEX APPEAL?! That’s why you’ll SURVIVE?! That makes little to no sense. I mean, I get it. It’s not unheard of to use hotness as a strategy, but as a Bachelor first impressions veteran, I can tell you, Dan, you ain’t got it.

Reem Daly

Mary: I’m a sucker for the older ladies. I stan Shambo, after all, from season 19. That being said, I think it’s also good that Reem is coming in knowing when to chill. Not having chill gets you kicked off REAL FAST. Also, yeah girl. Trust NO ONE.

Todd: I like that Reem seems willing to be cutthroat. That will be necessary, especially to get past the first few weeks when being older can be seen as a liability. If she can get to the merge, she could be a power player.

Rick Devens

Todd: Rick has “I’m going to get voted out immediately” energy streaming off of this photograph. He seems friendly, but maybe too friendly, and like he will not be able to read the energy of the tribe when he makes one too many jokes about the weather.

Mary: Without even reading what his interview says, I know he’s going to get the nerd edit. I think he seems sweet, and it’s cool he’s an Eagle Scout. But being sweet doesn’t help you outplay, outwit, or outlast. Hopefully, he’ll get in good with Manu by working hard around camp.

Wendy Diaz

Mary: Wendy’s wetsuit is a LEWK and I am here for it. It also just seems way more practical than the bikini most women bring to the game. I’m wondering if her “small business” is a boutique, but maybe that’s my Bachelor history coming out. I don’t think being outdoorsy hurts in this sort of competition (I’d be dead quick), but it doesn’t hurt! I like her hair.

Todd: Wendy seems like she doesn’t know exactly what she’s walking into, which could work out fine, or could end up with her being eliminated early. Here’s hoping there is more to Wendy than cool hair!

Lauren O’Connell

Todd: This answer feels overwritten, like she is already trying to win over the jury. She may try to be a manipulative mastermind from the shadows, but the problem with playing in the shadows, especially in Survivor, is that no one can see you. Show up and show out, Lauren, or you’ll get the boot.

Mary: Lauren, I hate to break it to you, but everyone on this show is competitive. Everyone. That’s not really going to be a bonus here, girl. She seems cocky enough that I predict she goes early. Even though I haven’t seen many of the recent seasons, it seems like EVERYONE brings a strong game, so predicting you’re going to be good at it doesn’t mean much.

Keith Sowell

Mary: When I see the first descriptor of Keith is “religious,” I immediately flash back to Survivor: China, where a woman refused to go into a Buddhist temple for rEaSoNs. I hope Keith brings some racial awareness to the show (he definitely brings it up in his bio), because LORD DO THEY NEED IT. I like Keith and I hope he’s not a pushover.

Todd: Keith strikes me as the kind of player that could be swayed by one of the returning Survivors and become a lackey, or the kind of player who really wants to play hard and might end up burning themselves for playing too quickly, too soon. I’m rooting for Keith, but I hope his young age (he’s only 19!) does not keep him from seeing through the other players.

Chris Underwood

Todd: Chris is going to try to organize an all-male alliance on day 1 and get voted out on day 3. Mark my words. He seems like the kind of player that might have done well 20 seasons ago. He works hard! He’s strong! He’s good in challenges. But that is not going to cut it in season 38.

Mary: Buckle up, everyone. He’s from Dirty Myrtle. I agree with Todd that he seems like he’s looking for a group of dudes to just dude around with, completely ignoring the women on the team (NEVER IGNORE THE WOMEN!).

Kelley Wentworth

Mary: I haven’t seen Kelley’s season of Survivor, but Todd says she’s a returning player. She doesn’t give us a lot to go on, and I don’t know anything about her. I can tell you one thing: I do not like this bikini and it’s not practical at all.

Todd: Real talk, I loved Kelley her first season and was so glad when she came back for Second Chances. She is strategic and good with people, and here’s hoping that she can make it to the end this season.

David Wright

Todd: To be perfectly honest, I love all of the returning players this season, but David has a special place in my heart by harnessing that nerdy/strategic Rob Cesternino/John Cochran/Christian Hubicki energy. (Also, Survivor, obviously you are going to do this, but bring Christian back as soon as possible!) I want good things for David. You go, David!

Mary: Who was directing this photo shoot? Why is he standing this way? These are some questions I have for David. Also, strong agree with his three words to describe himself. I too think I am nervous and paranoid, and would be even more so on an island with a bunch of strangers. He seems fun, and I’m looking forward to actually learning about him.

And now let’s look at the Kama tribe, in yellow.

Joe Anglim

Mary: I HAVE seen one episode with Joe, and he seemed fine then. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t trust long, princess-like hair on dudes. I just don’t! He’s been on the show twice and hasn’t won yet, sooooo I’m going to predict he doesn’t win this time around either. I wonder if newcomers will be more suspicious of the returning players?

Todd: Someone must have taught these survivors about alliteration. You go, Survivor! I like Joe, and I would like to see him go far, but I suspect he will be an early merge boot. He’s likable, athletic, and makes a man bun seem like a reasonable fashion choice! He’s a true triple threat.

Aubry Bracco

Todd: Yay Aubry! I liked Aubry in her other seasons, and I suspect I will like her in Edge of Extinction. The question, as always with returning players, is whether the new players will immediately vote them out or use their experience to help their games.

Mary: I’ve never seen Aubrey’s seasons, but I like her bathing suit and glasses! Just looking at her, I predict I’ll like her.

Victoria Baamonde

Mary: You’re a HUSTLER, Victoria? That’s the word you use to describe yourself? She says she’s not afraid to backstab anyone, but I think someone will backstab her before she gets a chance. Survivor is often very cruel to its women, and people in general are often suspicious of redheads, or force them into dumb stereotypes they don’t deserve. I think one of two things will happen: the dudes will be very into her and try to protect her, or she’ll get voted out immediately.

Todd: Here’s a hot take: Victoria might go far? She might also get voted out after the first tribal council, but once again, it’s a matter of being able to make it past those early votes that will determine her fate. If she is truly a hustler, she just might have what it takes.

Ron Clark

Todd: Ron Clark has Big Dad Energy. He’s going to tell everyone to do their chores and then promptly be voted out because he annoys everyone. Also, a 46-year-old man describing himself as a “mean girl” simply cannot stand. Please, other Kama tribe members, vote Ron out as soon as you can.

Mary: What is Ron Clark Academy and why does it sound like a scam? He DOES have Big Dad Energy, as Todd says. He seems like a guy who constantly talks about how he’s passionate and how he’s really into LIFE. Older guys can go far in the game because (for whatever reason) people don’t think they’re as much of a liability as women.

Julia Carter

Mary: You’re a team player and good communicator, which means YOU MAY JUST BE THE FIRST TO GO, JULIA!

Todd: Julia seems...nice? Which honestly can be a liability in Survivor. You cannot get through the entire game on niceness. Sometimes, you just have to be mean. But not like Ron Clark. Never like that.

Eric Haffeman

Todd: Eric is a firefighter, which I suspect will lead to many tortured analogies in his confessionals. If he wants to get far in this game, he has to pass through the fire of seeming like a dull bag of muscles.

Mary: As with every first impressions post, I’m starting to wonder at this point if it even means anything to say you have a strong work ethic. Everyone on this show is going to come in trying to prove their worth to the team. What sets Eric apart? I’m not sure yet.

Aurora McCreary

Mary: One irrelevant thing: I hate this swimsuit. It’s just really bad and that top is going to fly off the SECOND you get in the water. I’m wondering if she’ll be upfront about her job, just because being a lawyer comes with stereotypes of being sneaky and manipulative.

Todd: Aurora is a divorce lawyer, which I predict she will hide from people because it seems like the kind of job you don’t want people you are stranded on an island with to know about. Still, if last season’s winner proves anything, it’s that being a lawyer can be very useful, especially when trying to convince people that they can trust you.

Julie Rosenberg

Todd: “No other outcome is even an option.” I’m sorry, Julie, but so many other outcomes are options that it almost does not bear talking about. Also, self-describing yourself as neurotic leads me to believe there may be some dramatic breakdowns in Julie’s future.

Mary: GIRL LOOKS GOOD FOR 46. When I see that she’s a toymaker, I immediately wonder what kind of toys. That’s a fun job! I hope that Julie sticks around for a while, because I want to know more about her. I don’t think she’ll win, though. Like Todd said, there are definitely other outcomes. Like getting voted off.

Gavin Whitson

Mary: Running a summer camp is NOT like competing in a crazy outdoors game show. I think Gavin might be a little more naive than he thinks he is.

Todd: Gavin is from Tennessee, so I can say this with all sincerity, as a fellow Tennessean: I am not sure Gavin is going to get far. His tattoo looks good though!

Inspired by Emily and Susan’s Bachelor recaps, we’ve both picked a team of players to follow for the season. Todd’ll be repping team Kama and Mary is taking on Manu.

Tune in every Thursday for our Survivor recaps, where we’ll have all the news on who is outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting this season. Don’t get blindsided, follow us!