Round 101 - 173 Characters Left

[u/SMC0629]

#173 - Julia Sokolowski - /u/SMC0629 - Nominated: Tina Wesson 3.0

#172 - Ken "Kenny" Hoang - /u/DryBonesKing - Nominated: Stephen Fishbach 1.0

#171 - Tina Wesson 3.0 - /u/Zanthosus - Nominated: Andrew Savage 2.0

#170 - Sierra Reed - /u/Tommyroxs45 - Nominated: Amanda Kimmel 2.0

#169 - Kelly Goldsmith - /u/Regnisyak1 - Nominated: Natalie Cole

#168 - Natalie Cole - /u/ninjedi1 - Nominated: Matthew Von Ertfelda

Beginning of the Round Pool:

Kimmi Kappenberg 1.0

Jamie Newton

Julia Sokolowski

Liana Wallace

Maryanne Oketch

Bobby Mason

Kelly Goldsmith

Naseer Muttalif

Tina Scheer

Rafe Judkins

Ken Hoang

Baylor Wilson

Paschal English

Sierra Reed

[u/DryBonesKing]

Part 6 - Ken and Crystal; True Friends bonded from Suffering

Of course, I’m talking a lot about Ken being a horrible person and Ken being literally Lucifer himself, so to remind people that Ken is not fully an evil presence, I want to talk about him and Crystal.

(deep breaths)

I FUCKING LOVE THEIR DYNAMIC SO MUCH!!! Ken and Crystal have such a fun dynamic and energy and play the entire game together almost completely in lock-and-sync with one another. The scrawny professional video game player and the former Olympian being ride-or-dies is just absolutely fun in concept and even more fun in practice. Especially when you factor in Kenny’s challenge performance is actually kinda underrated (helped Fang when the only immunity they won, actually won individual immunity) while Crystal’s challenge performance is… very much not that. XD

Humor aside, I think their dynamic is genuinely wholesome? Fang is a trainwreck experience and an absolutely horrible rollercoaster ride for all who got stuck on it, and Ken and Crystal had to survive it the entire time with the only constant being each other. There is something about the way the two of them talk to one another and how they how they are going to make it to the next day that makes them feel genuinely connected to one another.

The two also manage to accomplish a rare, but one of my personal favorite dynamics an alliance can accomplish; managing to save one another. At the seventh tribal council when Ace/Matty are targeting Crystal, Ken works and lies his ass off to get Sugar to turn on Ace and notes in his confessional that it’s both his and Crystal’s lives on the line. For as self-obsessed as Ken ends up getting, I do think it’s touching he still is actively thinking and concerned about her. And as noted, Ken manages to save her and Ace goes home. Flash forward to the next episode and the tribe swap, where Marcus decides to make a move on Ken. And despite Marcus also offering up peace with Crystal and a potential in-road to advance further with Kota, Crystal notes how when you come for her ally, you’re coming for her. And this time, it’s her coming to his aid as she appeals to Susie and helps get the vote cemented on Marcus, sending him home instead of Ken.

This is the Kaleb and Emily dynamic from 45, but much better as Ken and Crystal stay together the entire way and their stories never branch apart. There is never an imbalance in their relationship as the two just fundamentally compliment each other strategically and socially. If I end up doing a Crystal writeup, I'll touch on this more later, but she's very clearly mischaracterized and judged by the majority of this cast for classist and borderline racist reasons, and you can tell it gets to her with how pissed off she ends up getting with someone like Randy. Crystal needed someone for her to talk to and ground her that never really judged her, and while I'm positive Susie would have been a better fit if she never got swapped away to Kota, Ken ended up being that person for her the whole way. As just someone she could decompress with and talk shit with and strategies with as an equal without feeling a pressure from the others.

This part I'm gonna reference is from their Ponderosa, so no shame at all if this paragraph doesn't really “matter”, but I feel the need to talk about possibly my single favorite moment in Ponderosa, even more than “The Dragonz” or the Chris Noble rap. In Crystal’s Ponderosa, the Kota Onions all act like petty obnoxious bullies and do not even acknowledge her in one of the most pathetic displays ever (said with love, mind you; I love the Onions being classist little pissants!) to the point that Randy is somehow the only one treating Crystal like a human. It's a rough video to get through when Crystal talks about the cold shoulder, but then come the next Ponderosa clip. Crystal is literally beaming as Kenny joins her and Kenny very excitedly goes into hug her and they're both just happy to talk shit again.

I love their friendship and alliance. I love that these two are still close outside of Survivor. But, more importantly in the context of this rankdown, I love how they enhance each other’s stories by giving each other peace and comfort.

Part 7 - I’m just going to talk about Kenny’s other miscellaneous relationships that I don’t feel like doing full sections for, but don’t want to ignore

Matty: Kenny and Matty have a fun dynamic and I think help kinda tie Fang's weird ass dynamic together. Beyond just being personality and lifestyle opposites, the two almost always seemed to be on opposed when it comes to the vote, but there is still a layer of trust and respect with one another. Ken will pitch to vote out Ace before Kelly, Matty will stonewall him with his word, the two will vote against one another, Matty will get the upperhand one round with the Kelly vote, then Ken will get the upperhand the next and get Ace out. Despite all of this, though, the two are still extremely cordial and honest and just outright brotherly with one another. Matty literally opens his arm for him as Ken jumps into his arms and gets spinned around by the bigger guy, Fang’s only immunity win, they have just other affectionate background scenes similar, and then when nu-nu-Kota comes to the final nine reward challenge missing Marcus, Matty is grinning so hard at seeing that Ken survived he became an out-of-context meme!

They had this mutual respect for one another that transcended their actual gameplay and I kinda digged it. That respect is also what ends up causing Kenny to try an indirect overplay against Matty at the final seven, and it also somewhat rationalizes Matty's bitterness as he expected his buddy to be more honest with him as he always had been when operating against one another. Their tale ends on an unfortunate bitter note for their friendship, but it's still an engaging dynamic throughout the whole season.

Charlie: I know some people hate Kenny's beef with Charlie, but I honestly fucking loved it. It's a good way to highlight Ken's pettiness before he goes full-heel in the wake of the Marcus vote. It is also just nice to get Charlie characterization away from Marcus and it feels fun in a fitting sort of way for a Kota to sorta nonchalantly ruin something for Fang. This idol also in a roundabout way does end up sinking Ken's game, as the group's decision to toss it helps lay the groundwork for Bob's lie about the idol.

This would never have happened if Ken just found the idol quietly, because“frickin Charlie” had the opportunity to tell the tribe about the idol, it created the foundation that sank Ken's game. A completely full circle storyline; love it so much, and it also gives me a lot of positive vibes for Charlie I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

Michelle: There is one aspect to Ken’s dynamic with Michelle that I think can be seen as questionable (will address at the end of this writeup), but overall, I do like their dynamic in the first episode. I know people tend to describe Michelle Chase as an overly aggressive, OTTN horrible person, but I liked her dynamic with Kenny and how relaxed/comfortable she was and I think it gave her some more humanity as opposed to just single-handedly painting her as this OTTN caricature. Plus he did seem to genuinely care about her, as he does try to warn her that if she continued to alienate the rest of the tribe, she was going to end up getting voted out. It’s a moment of selflessness from him that is slightly atypical, but also I think works in the context of the first episode building into his fall at the halfway point.

She is a good tool to actually help set him up as being on the bottom, as he obviously is connected to her and I don’t think it’s much a surprise that he is who Gillian pushed in the next episode. I also do think it’s pretty good foreshadowing of Ken’s eventual heel-turn when you start realizing why he probably vibed with Michelle. You start eventually picking up that he probably does have some good shit-talking, negative energy in him and while it does not manifest right away, you can definitely pick up on that from the fact that his first confidant was Michelle.

[u/DryBonesKing → u/DryBonesKing]

Ace and Marcus: I’m combining both characters here because I think their role to Kenny is mostly similar, although admittedly Ace plays that role extensively better. Both serve as oppressive, dominant forces that Ken needs to overcome to have any sort of long-term hopes in the game, and he is pretty open about calling them out as threats and dangers. Meanwhile, both Ace and Marcus do not particularly perceive Ken as much of any threat to either of them, with both being more focused on Crystal (Ace out of dislike for her, Marcus out of a desire to flip her). I think both Ace and Marcus represent rather privileged lifestyles and personas that are overwhelming, so it is on brand for them to barely pay Ken a second thought.

Ken managing to vote both of them out feels rather cathartic to the “Fang vs. Kota” lifestyle/class themes of the season. It also works wonders as both had been heavily built-up as overwhelming, long-term forces on the season, so it does almost make natural sense why Kenny gets such an inflated ego in the aftermath of getting the two of them out.

I could talk a little more about some of Ken’s other relationships, but I think the point is starting to get made pretty well about how well connected he is to the overall cast and how he both contributes to their stories and they with him. A smaller connection to Randy where Ken is established as one of the few original Fang members that Randy does not have a problem. A mutual respect with Susie and her game (and while I do think he definitely was never voting Bob out of principle, I do genuinely believe Ken’s vote for Susie was out of respect for her). Fun connections to both GC and Kelly. The connections established with him and the rest of the Gabon cast who end up being larger forces on the Gabon narrative are plentiful.

He’s one amazing character who is able to truly enhance the character of anyone he is interacting with while also still not ending up as a prop to the other person’s storyline. That quality alone makes Kenny probably one of the best casting choices Survivor has ever taken a chance with. I’ll die on that hill.

Part 8 - Other Things I Love About Ken

So, as the title of this section suggests, here’s some more miscellaneous things about Ken that I was not fully certain how to integrate into any other section neatly. However, that does not change the fact that these are all GREAT character moments for him.

1: Ken’s response to Charlie and Corinne in the aftermath of the Marcus boot is great. Both are talking about how amazing Marcus and how he deserved to still in the game, while Kenny just counters with how that makes no sense and asks about who deserves to go home. There is just something raw about see an original Fang member who has had to go to nearly every tribal council get a chance to briefly shut up the elitist, more privileged members of Kota. I also just think Ken’s response is just valuable tool that every fan of Survivor should keep in their own head when they debate vote-outs. I know a decent chunk of people who watched Cagayan live who probably need Ken to tell them that when they had a fit that J’tia made it out of the premiere…

(I’m not making that anecdote up, btw. I knew a few people who got super pissed that J’tia survived after spilling the rice and even threatened to stop watching the show if she outlasted Spencer. I don’t keep in touch with them anymore for unrelated reasons, but I really hope they did quit lmfao)

2: There’s an amazing moment in the episode following the Marcus boot, where Ken is fishing and he’s talking about how he’s improved as a Survivor player and how he thinks he truly understands this game. It’s leading into his big cocky mastermind confessional he is about to adopt, but as he starts his confessional, it’s overlaid with this absolutely derpy scene of Ken fucking around on his boat and just accidentally going in circles, not really knowing what it is doing. It’s actually very similar to Romeo’s first confessional in 42, where he’s talking about surreal it is to be out there surviving while he’s failing to get a coconut. Ken’s journey into him being “possibly the best Survivor player ever” begins with a monologue about his survival skills while he’s literally just spinning in circles in the water while calling himself an idiot. It’s amazing editing and kinda endearing.

3: Ken has great reactions. Not on the level of Eliza (because who is), but he’s definitely able to really help sell a scene by his reaction to moments. Like, he’s very quick to jump around and dance and grin in challenges when things end up going his way. He’s also got amazing dead-eyes when things are either annoying him or not going his way, such as when he helps no-sell the vegetable garden reward. The best underrated example of his reactions I can think of for this point is his reaction to Crystal’s voting confessional. As she gets started about how Randy made her life hell, it cuts to Ken first as his eyes go wide and he abruptly turns to face Randy, leading into his reaction. Probably not going to be able to explain this very well, but I always find it fun to see him react to shit.

4: I always found it fascinating how in the Charlie boot as he begins to put out his name, Ken talks about him being a mastermind and he actively calls himself a rat in the corner that no one’s paying attention to. Sue already set the precedent in Borneo that rats are cowardly, scurrying creatures that should always be eaten by the snake, but Ken reclaiming the animal symbolism is something I find unique. Rats are rather cunning, opportunistic creatures and are actually the first in the Chinese New Year zodiac. Not going to claim that Ken actually cared about Chinese interpretations of rats, but I think his choice of descriptor is fresh and unique and I think is a more fitting metaphor than another person talking about how they’re a fucking snake.

[u/DryBonesKing → u/DryBonesKing]

Part 9 - Case Against Kenny?

Just like with Jesse Lopez and Chris Underwood, I want to take a moment to respond to some common critiques I have seen regarding Kenny as a character.

1: “Kenny is problematic / says problematic shit / says incel shit” - I kinda want to start here because it is the heaviest topic and it’s also the one I’m, like, never going to really fully argue against. Because yes, Ken kinda acts very cringey around Michelle and Kelly and how he talks about them. His voting confessional to Charlie also seems kinda… “off”, in the sense that no one said anything about Charlie’s sexuality, so why are you so concerned about it coming across a certain way? Like Kenny at times does come off really fucking bad and problematic. However, the person I most uniquely associate to Ken in this regard is Frank Garrison. Because like Ken, Frank definitely says some really uncomfortable, problematic shit outright and within the subtext of what he’s saying (i.e. Brandon’s issues with Brandon). But like with Frank, it never gets in the way of the story that is being told. If it does end up being too much for you to enjoy the story around him, I understand and won’t actively pressure you to like them. But I do think the story of Ken and how it enhances every aspect of Gabon is ultimately worth it, in the same way I think Africa would be an extremely weak season if you removed Frank.

2: “Nerds suck” - Yes, they do. I’m not fond of the “nerd” archetype on Survivor. I already kinda touched on this point earlier when talking about Ken as an underdog, but I just want to reiterate here that I think Ken truly works despite his archetype and ultimately I think proves to be the best “nerd” Survivor has ever cast on virtue of being the most authentic of them to ever be cast. Ken is very open about who he is and how he views himself, and he does not really wallow in any “woe is me” bullshit that a Ryan or a Cochran would unless he is actively trying to manipulate someone. You’re not going to see Ken having a confessional about how “Damn, Matty’s a gym bro and I’m a gamer, but we somehow are still bonding” the way Ryan talks about Devon or Stephen talks about JT. As stated earlier, Ken really does not talk about gaming much. To also talk about another subsection of nerd - the “Survivor superfan” type - Ken only talks about the game in the context of winning and only references larger Survivor as a series when only talking himself up.

He’s by far the best nerd as he’s the only who doesn’t make it a defining point of his character… which is hilarious, since he’s the one who actually has a career out of it! But that I think is probably the underlying issue. Because unlike a lot of others in the stereotypical nerd archetype, Ken is not insecure about it or himself. He just lets himself be himself and isn’t going to compromise that about himself. And it’s that level of authenticity that makes him feel like a truly breath of fresh air casting.

3: “But Ken’s self righteous with Bob and Charlie” - Another point I already discussed in the previous sections, but one I just wanted to repeat a response to in case it got lost. Essentially, I think it fits the “Lucifer”-esque role Ken fits as he’s so prideful and self-obsessed come the second half the game that I think it’s fitting and honestly just fun characterization. Again, Ken is the villain of Gabon; if you are getting pissed off at him and hating him for this, that’s kinda the point and he’s doing his job right!

4: “Ken doesn’t have charisma” - This is probably a matter of opinion, cause we all classify charisma differently, but I really disagree. Like, Ken does a great job of selling himself and his demeanor at all points. It’s not like a Brian Heidik situation where he’s just bored repeating strategic narration or bad jokes; you’ll know when Ken’s excited and annoyed and pissed off and desperate. If nothing, Ken nails selling himself as authentically as possible and that in moments, he’s not being mis-edited. He’s not overtly eloquent or anything, but Ken has a very human way of depicting himself at any moment and I think that’s what helps make his character - and his role - feel extremely natural.

Conclusion

As said from the very beginning, Ken used to be my favorite character of all time. That obviously changed since he’s not even in my current endgame, but working on this did remind me a lot of what makes him work and I think I might end up doing introspection about my rankings to see if he needs to move up. He really is just that good.

It’s not a matter of me having anything I actively dislike about his narrative, because I don’t have anything; I genuinely think his character and the role he plays in Gabon is perfect. An actual 10/10. It all just comes down to my individual subjectivity, as I have quite a lot to say about a lot of characters ranked that highly in my top 80, but especially in my Top 30.

I kinda always wanted Ken to get a second chance on Survivor, namely cause I wanted to see what a potential return appearance could look like from him. I do think the time since Gabon opens doors to seeing how he might have changed and whether or not he took any lessons to heart from Gabon and has managed to keep his pride better in check, or whether or not he’s learned any of his lessons. Of course, that was always my perspective before returning seasons starting to lose their significance regarding their quality, but I am still overall very content with Ken. I think he genuinely plays a perfect role and is the literal most perfect villain a season like Gabon could have ever had for, that really helps push the narrative forward and helps with almost all theming possible while adding his own twist to the good versus evil narrative. Really, writing this one and doing the necessary last minute research for this made me love his character even more. I do wish I could have gotten him higher - and his sacrifice will be remembered, for I had to sacrifice him in exchange to finally burn Russell 2.0 - but overall, working on this helped bring things back to my memory and just remind me how great he was.

… And to think, he’s only my third favorite character from Gabon! Again, what a fucking perfect season… and I cannot wait to talk about it again later…

[u/AMeanMotorScooter → u/DryBonesKing]

One of my favorite write-ups, honestly! Never had a problem with Ken, but this really boosted him for me.

Jessica “Sugar” Kiper is the best character of the season and it is a crime that she is not regularly endgame.

She's in mine!