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Francesca

Francesca was the first person voted out of the Redemption Island season, and the one whose name Phillip could never quite get straight. Normally I’d think this was utter bollocks, but Francesca is the only first-out I can think of who was voted out for having a mind of her own – and not in a loopy talking-to-the-trees kind of way. Francesca is also my favorite personal favorite returnee because she agrees that it’s utterly ridiculous that she has been asked back. Her goal on Day 1 is just to blend in. Blend in with Phillip and Brandon? Good luck.

Francesca says that her big mistake last time is that she relied too much on logical argument and believing that everyone would act in their own self-interest. Of course, there won’t be as much Rob-is-awesome blindness this time, but if anything there are even more idiots that she’ll find it difficult to suffer. Anyway, Francesca jokes that in the unlikely event of her winning, she wants a certificate or plaque for “Most Improved Survivor." I think she should ask for one if she makes the jury.

Assessment: This is the hardest assessment for me as Francesca is less-proven in Survivor than some of the “fans”. If there’s an alliance of the normals on her tribe, she could do OK, but I think she plays too straight to win.

Corinne

Corrine is the lone castaway from the Gabon season, where she became notorious for her attitude of “I’m so sick of Sugar blubbing because her father died.” If anything, she has embraced this, saying that while the public thinks she is bitchy, but for her she thinks of Hillary Clinton and Madonna as being bitchy, and bitchy is really just another word for power. Yes – being bitchy is about power – it’s about using your power to be mean to other people you don’t care about. It’s nothing to be proud of. This whole column is bitchy. Do I sound proud to be writing it?

Anyway, Corinne claims that she wears bitchy as a badge of honor, and she’s not going to change how she played. “Love me or hate me, you know you want to see me play again, and I’m going to give you exactly what you want.” I’m not sold on either of her conclusions. Corinne also threatens the viewers with the possibility of a show-mance. Looking at the men on her tribe, there’s no real risk of that.

Assessment:I think Corinne could make it a long way, because she is both savvy and unlikeable. She’s the exact type of player that her allies will be able to take to the end without making it obvious that they’re taking someone they can beat.

So there are our ten returning “favorites”, or the Bikal tribe as I won’t be calling them. It will be interesting to see how the group dynamic is going to work. Will their combined experience will help them to pull together when it counts? Or will the sheer number of poo-flinging crazy people cause them to collapse in a heap?

We’ll get our first indication in tonight's 90 minute premiere. Ninety minutes of Brandon Hantz? Shoot me now.

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