So happy to see you, Veruca! Sure hope you are doing well these days and I sure hope to see you a bit more than we did last season...Just love to hear your 2 cents worth on any matter!

Yes, last season seemed like they featured Rob and made him the prototype on how to win Survivor. And, I must say as a Rob fan, I thoroughly enjoyed it! With the Rob win, however, I do think that these returnees will have a much more difficult time winning. But, perhaps they would be wise to make their case as an F3 goat.

I think you have summed up the new cast quite nicely. I do think that Ozzy looks to be in pretty good shape still. Albert is also known as a dating coach and prides himself on being an expert on body language. If this holds true, he could have some interesting confessionals and assessments. He, imo, appears to be the only real physical threat out there, other than Ozzy. He's a career baseball player and coach. I'm sure he's quite competetive. This could help him pre-merge, but could paint him as a target with the merge and beyond.

Brandon Hantz...doesn't want to reveal his sir-name and connection to RussHell to anyone. He's 19 with a family to support already, I question his ability to make wise choices...

Christine, by her own admission has a temper. In fact, she sent in a tape raging about the likes of NaOnka and Kelly Purple. In a pretty athletic tribe, she could be an earlier boot, imo.

Stacey is also one of the older members of the tribe. As a mortician and I think a single mother she is used to making all of the decisions herself. She noted in an interview that the one thing that she absolutely hates is negativity and if she runs into out there, she'll have to get rid of it. Also, one of the other cast members was speaking about her, how she looked angry....I'm on the fence with her. If she's an asset in challenges, and she could be, than she may make it a while. I'm not encouraged.

Sophie Clark does appear to be a character to me. At 22, she must just be starting Med School, in fact, I don't know if she's actually started. She strikes me as a typical female medical student, and I have been around many. Very full of herself and her intellectual endowments. I would love to see her survive, but I question if she'll keep her alpha personality under wraps enough. If she's not able to laugh at the situations and at herself she will be in trouble.

Edna: Plans to keep the Anesthesiology profession under wraps. She could be someone to watch. They are used to accommodating Surgeons, but holding their ground when they need to. Very good at handling stressful situations. If she's not too full of herself she could do well. As Veruca notes, she looks youthful, now let's see how she'll do in challenges.

Mikayla: Talk about weird professions...a lingerie football player...really? Ex Playboy Cover model....I don't know. If she is as athletic as they are protraying then she could last...I don't know what to think about her. Seems like a DAW to me...let's see her competitive nature shine through...

Rick Nelson: A real cowboy and rancher. Finally got on after applying 14 times. Oldest on the tribe, but looks like he's not afraid of hard work. If he can keep his rigid opinions to himself, then he could last a while, but I don't know if he'll get the social part of this game down.

Coach: Definitely agree that he had a softer edit in H v V, but he was somewhat of a floater. Jiffy doesn't think he's learned from the past, after viewing him in the first 5 minutes of the game. But he does love Coach. Coach will gravitate toward the warriors of his tribe...Albert and Rick, maybe even Brandon....but Brandon is a young kid, so I don't know.

Savaii, Red Tribe:

John Cochran: I really like the looks and sounds of him. He's a nerd and he knows it, but he seems to be able to laugh at himself. A real fan of the show and a bright mind, he could go far. I just hope he can contribute for the tribe in challenges...

Dawn: I really like the looks of her as well, a Brigham Young English Professior and Adoptive mom of 6. Wow, she's my idol. Seems adaptable, not too full of herself, and she seems like she's in great shape. Go Dawn!

Keith Tollefson: I really like the looks of him as well. A laid back surfer I expect will get along just fine with Ozzy. I think they have alot in common. As one of the younger more athletic males on the tribe, he is golden till the merge. I think he could go far with his disarming smile, and laid back approach.

Mark Anthony: A openly gay father and ex NYPD cop/nurse who wants to be the "daddy" to everyone. I think they will let him and appreciate him unless he weights them down in the challenges. He's got to prove himself.

Jim Rice: I agree that he seems like he is a bit insecure and very quick to point out everything he's accomplished. He doesn't look like he's in very good shape to me either. Could wind up in trouble if he is too bold.

Whitney: Agree that Whitney has alot of charm and personality. That could bode very well for her. I wonder how she'll get along with Elyse? Sure is a looker. I know at least one player on the Savaii tribe that better not be wooed by the girls on the team...chuckle! She does seem more athletic than some of the girls, so could last a while.

Elyse: A pagaent girl and now a Las Vegas Dance manager. Jiffy calls her "trouble". If she is athletic she could bring favor from her tribe.

Semhar: I agree with everyone, just seems way out there. I don't expect her to last long at all. Too artsy and not enough out in the elements. She's going to struggle, I think.

The biggest thing I noticed when the tribes were divided and introduced is that the RED tribe seems so much less physical than the BLUE tribe.
Let's compare:

Ozzy, Keith 26, Jim34, Mark Anthony47, Cochran23 vs. Coach 39, Albert25, Rick 51, and Brandon19

It appears that Ozzy and Keith are the most athletic vs. Coach, Albert, Rick, and Brandon who all appear to be strong, physical competitors...

Semhar24, Dawn40, Elyse26, and Whitney26 vs. Sophie22, Mikayla21, Chrisitine39, Stacey44, and Edna35

I think Dawn, Elyse, and Whitney should do pretty well, although I don't look at them as athletic standouts but they are vs. a strong Sophie, Mikayla, and Stacey...the verdict is not in on Christine or Edna yet.

I just think the blue tribe looks far more athletic than the red tribe. If this is the case, I don't see how they could afford to boot Ozzy or Keith early pre-merge. This might help them both. Coach is also in a pretty good position as they are short one man and may choose to keep him around for strength till merge time. We'll see.

Thanks so much for starting this wonderful thread, Veruca! I hope you enjoy the season!