We put together a remote roundtable of all-stars to get their thoughts on the season.
favorites to get their take on the biggest season yet of the franchise.
Who has played the best so far?
Robert Voets/CBS via Getty Images; Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images (3); Timothy Kuratek/CBS (2); Robert Voets/CBS (3); Monty Brinton/CBS (2)
Who is most and least likely to win?
We asked our panel all that and more.
Read on for their hot takes heading into Wednesday’s finale!
Christian Hubicki for EW
Whats been your favorite moment of the season so far?
CIRIE FIELDS(Survivor: Panama Exile Island, Survivor: Micronesia Fans vs.
Favorites, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.
Robert Voets/CBS
So here’s my top two.
1: Adam going balls to the wall and trying to play the fleur-de-lis at tribal.
How epic would that have been if he was right?
2: Denise slaying the Queen (no shade).
It was an instant lesson… never underestimate any opponent.
JONATHAN PENNER(Survivor: Cook Islands,Survivor: Micronesia Fans vs.
The ladder scene had me laughing out loud.
There was so much spirit.
I love how Tony got the entire tribe involved.
The scene was a beautiful peek at the best parts of life in aSurvivorcamp.
The Denise move was just awesome.
and I did not see it coming.
Denise made such a huge statement.
She was fearless and she sent the Queen home.
I rank it as the biggest move in the game so far.
JESSICA LEWIS(Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X):When Denise slayed the Queen.
Give me back my million, Adam!
I think my favorite montage was Boston Rob’s play pen.
Seeing those initial alliances Yul teaming up with Sophie!
Parv and Rob back together!
felt like such an iconic moment in the history of the series.
My favorite gameplay moment came when Tony blindsided Sophie.
He did it all minutes before Tribal Council, so nobody could counter him.
ELIZA ORLINS:(Survivor: Vanuatu, Survivor: Micronesia Fans vs.
Favorites):Adam trying to play the podium at Tribal Council was by far my favorite moment.
It’s possible I have never laughed that hard atSurvivorbefore.
Specifically, when Sarah and Tony are coordinating their surveillance together and Tony is talking to Sarahfromthe spy nest.
It’s both logistically impressive and visually hilarious.
In truth, it rehabilitates the legacy of the Spy trilogy series much like Iron Man movie trilogy.
However, if I was aSurvivorFairy Godmother, I would wave my wand and POOF!
Parv and Jeremy would be back in.
I’m rooting for them both.
), so I want her to get back in and mess stuff up!
RICK DEVENS:I’m so torn.
I want everyone to perform well.
Wendell is a friend and I always root for him to succeed.
Natalie has been so incredibly impressive on the Edge.
I have nothing but respect for how focused she’s remained on the game.
Tyson is an all-time great character.
My mom has become a huge fan of Tyson this season because he’s showed his softer side.
I’d love to see him battle his way back for a second time.
JESSICA LEWIS:Boston Rob.
Its really all about Jeff.
DAVID WRIGHT:Ethan!
I love that she just sucked it up, powered through and kept her head in the game.
I think if Natalie can get back into the game, she has a very good chance of winning.
STEPHEN FISHBACH:Im rooting for Jeremy, Tyson, and Sophie.
First of all, because theyre my closest friends out there.
They also all have had amazing journeys this season.
Jeremy was the target of almost every vote after the merge.
Seeing him dodge and weave week to week was the most exciting story arc of the season for me.
Sophie was playing a really smart, subtle under the radar game before Tony sniped her.
And Tyson just keeps coming back for more strategy, hilarity, and peanut butter.
ELIZA ORLINS:SOPHIE.
Also, she’s a dear friend, so I’m totally biased.
He also has the most to adversity overcome in this challenge.
Unlike the 13(!)
other players on the edge, he’s had no opportunity to win any fire tokens to buy advantages.
I would love to see Nick battle back successfully if only to succeed despite the odds.
JONATHAN PENNER:Natalie could certainly win, if she comes back.
she’s been playing WITH the jury not playing TO the jury.
ANDREA BOEHLKE:I absolutely think somebody from the Edge could win.
RICK DEVENS:I absolutely think the player returning from the Edge can get votes and win.
We’ve already seen players who were against the Edge preseason embrace what the Edge offers.
Why stay out there if you don’t believe you have a chance to win?
There’s also the fact that many players currently on the Edge have not burned anyone on the jury.
But seriously, I think its extremely unlikely.
STEPHEN FISHBACH:I think its unlikely.
Also, almost every one of them said they were against the Edge twist in their pregame press.
That said, nobody thought someone could win coming back from the Edge in 38 either!
Having a month to build bonds and heal wounds with the jury certainly cant hurt.
ELIZA ORLINS:Absolutely.
CHRISTIAN HUBICKI:Yes, and here are a few of my reasons why.
I don’t have really great reasons to expect that winners would necessarily behave differently.
So what does matter to jurors in a season with the Edge of Extinction?
So how do I think this applies to theWinners at Warfinale?
It tells me that time on the Edge is unusually bonding for these players.
However, don’t sleep on Officer Sarah.
I think she is playing just as good as old Tony boy.
Sarah is just using a silent-but-deadly approach.
JONATHAN PENNER:Tony!
Means his social game is tremendous too.
ANDREA BOEHLKE:Tony has killed it this season.
I’m on the Tony train, choo choo!
RICK DEVENS:Tony.
It’s been amazing to watch.
People know he has an advantage.
He pulls rabbits out of his hat time and time again when it comes to securing votes.
Tony always ends up on the right side of the vote.
All of this, and still nobody has written his name down.
I believe Rob Cesternino nicknamed him “The Unicorn” ofSurvivorbecause of how special he is.
I could not agree more.
JESSICA LEWIS:Tony.
One: He has controlled the votes.
Four: spy nest.
DAVID WRIGHT:Tony!
Did he compose the Its Coming For Yousong featured this season?
I dont know, probably!
Her handling of Ben in the last episode was brilliant.
Her name hasn’t come up and she has been in a great position all game.
I want to also give Michele and Tony a shout out, of course.
Tony has been the puppet-master since the merge, and I love a feisty underdog.
Michele has been fighting from the bottom for so long.
I definitely relate to her!
That move voting out Sophie cinched it.
Sarah would earn the top spot if she could vote Tony out.
Tony is my choice.
Given all the twists and turns, many of which he caused, thats extremely impressive.
It shows a level of control thats just off-the-charts.
And yet he was vulnerable for the last two votes and somehow escaped unscathed!
CIRIE FIELDS:Judging strictly on game play, I’d have to say Tony is the frontrunner.
Just the fact he still in it goes to show what a master manipulator he is.
I mean that as a complement!
I think Ben has the least chance of winning at this point.
I like Ben, but he has been a solider in Tony and Sarahs army thus far.
I like Michele, but she can’t win.
Any of the other four can, if they’re not sitting next to Tony.
RICK DEVENS:I think that Tony has the best chance of winning.
He’s a great player, but I think Ben has the least chance of winning.
Ben has what it takes to get to final Tribal.
Once he gets there, it seems like he may have trouble securing votes to win.
We’ve seen that Ben has had issues interacting with some others on the cast.
JESSICA LEWIS:Best chance of winning: Tony.
His game has been spot-on all season.
Hes the only one that I feel can beat them all.
His game has been put on display for the jury, which will empower him in a final three.
They have seen him control the game (and people) at Tribal.
Unfortunately for Sarah, I think Tony will be credited for the moves they both made.
declining the use of an idol on her behalf).
Worst chance of winning: Ben.
He was left to blindly follow Tony and Sarah without seeming to be aware of it.
I respect Ben, but his attempt to play a social game has not given him what he desired.
He has a core group with whom he votes.
but he has no particular moves that he can claim for himself.
DAVID WRIGHT:Tony, for the reasons above.
The struggle for him will be to get past Final 4 (been there!).
For the least chance, I worry about Sarah.
She said she wants to go up against the best.
Woo said the same thing and as a result wasnt eligible to play in a season titledWinners at War.
I think Tony will likely win unless Sarah turns on him and votes him out.
STEPHEN FISHBACH:It sure seems like Tony has the jury on his side.
Tony built bonds with players in every alliance, and weve seen him own his moves at Tribal Council.
I think well see a jury that awards good gameplay, rather than a bitter jury.
We also know Sarah has some incredible bonds with people like Kim and Sophie.
So much of the conversation of this season has focused on kids and families.
Still, theres always a chance people will vote for her underdog game!
I also think Bens a long shot.
I think the least likely winner is probably Ben.
My thinking is that there must be some reason that shes not targeting Tony.
Perhaps she sees him as a sacrifice to save herself for a vote near the finale.
The wrinkle would be Bens idol, though, which seems to be more in Tonys corner.
I would gauge Ben as least likely to win.
That is probably not a good indicator of your jury standing.
For tons ofSurvivorfinale scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter@DaltonRoss.
