‘Survivor 40: Winners at War’ Fans Fear that Natalie Anderson Wins the $2 Million Prize — Ruining the Anniversary Season
Over the past 13 episodes, it became evident to fans why the castaways were smart to vote out Natalie Anderson first on Survivor: Winners at War. The decision might come back to bite them if she returns from the Edge of Extinction. The 34-year-old dominates every challenge she is given and is already the millionaire of fire tokens. Fans are fearing that she wins the $2 million prize and turns the epic anniversary season of Survivor into a laughing stock.
[Spoiler alert: Survivor 40: Winners at War spoilers ahead.]
How could Natalie Anderson win the $2 million prize on ‘Survivor: Winners at War’?
In most seasons of Survivor, when a castaway leaves first, they have no chance of returning to the game. However, for the 40th anniversary season, the producers added in the Edge of Extinction twist. The players are sent to a barren island with fewer amenities to await a challenge to get back in the game.
While on the Edge of Extinction, castaways have a chance to find, earn, or swap advantages for fire tokens. This new Survivor currency may then be used to purchase leads in the return competition, hidden immunity idols, food, and comfort items.
Natalie was the first player sent to this desolate island. She dominated every challenge for fire tokens — finishing both the wood retrieval and coconut gathering competition first. The fierce track star got to know every inch of the Edge, often finding clues to advantages before anyone else. She most recently sold an advantage to Nick Wilson for eight fire tokens, bringing her total up to 14.
She is now in a position to win the competition to get back in the game. Natalie has three advantages to the challenge and a hidden immunity idol in her pocket.
Fans fear Natalie Anderson wins the $2 million despite being first voted out of ‘Survivor: Winners at War’
“I’ve been fearing a Natalie win since a few episodes into the season when it became obvious she’s going to completely run the edge and gain all the advantages,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “Being the first boot suddenly became the best strategy to win Survivor.”
Fans are worried that Natalie was given an unfair advantage to win the game.
“You’re maximizing the advantage stages to gain, and forming deep bonds with every jury member when they’re most vulnerable,” the Redditor continued. “It’s going to turn what should be the pinnacle season of Survivor into a farce.”
Since she spent so much time on the island, fans argue, Natalie had a significant advantage over players who were voted out later in the game. Those players had less time to earn or find fire tokens.
Other fans want to know how the producers let the Edge of Extinction happen
“I just don’t understand how production didn’t realize this would be the most likely outcome,” wondered another fan. “Ozzy verbalized it on Redemption Island and would have won in a landslide had he won that final immunity challenge. Edge is redemption on really crappy steroids.”
Ozzy Lusth played in Survivor: South Pacific — the Redemption Island twist led him to return to the game three times. If he had beat Sophie Clarke in the final immunity challenge, he would likely have won the $1 million prize.
“He laid bare the strategy that in a season where voted out players go and hang out together outside of the game with a chance to reenter near the end, it’s better to go early,” another fan added.
Fans will find out if Natalie wins the $2 million prize during the three-hour finale of Survivor: Winners at War on May 13, 2020, at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
Read more: ‘Survivor: Winners at War’: How Did Natalie Anderson Acquire 14 Fire Tokens?
