Why [SPOILER] Deserved To Win Survivor 42, According To Reddit

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Survivor 42.

Survivor history was made last Wednesday when Maryanne Oketch was crowned the Sole Survivor and only the second Black woman to win the reality show in 20 years. The 24-year-old student was almost rewarded unanimously by the jury and was beloved and celebrated by the entire cast for her win.

While some Survivor fans had Maryanne as their winner pick for season 42, others didn’t see her as a big threat to win the game. Ultimately, Maryanne played a solid, enthusiastic game that made her a million dollars richer, with Redditors citing her bubbly personality and masterful strategy as the keys to her success.

She Grew So Much

When Maryanne started the game, she was a young kid with a crush on fellow castaway Zach Wurtenberger. Maryanne was a ball of energy and a little too happy-go-lucky for her tribemate’s sakes but slowly grew into herself and her gameplay.

Reddit user ytctc praised Maryanne and the way she grew during her time on the show, “She might have my favorite winner edit. Not because she was shown to be a flawless mastermind, but because we saw a complex character arc.”

She’s A Relatable, Honest Contestant

Maryanne was loved by many of her fellow contestants, but she was also a wrench in their plans and labeled as “annoying” on one or more occasions. This made her an even more likable and relatable Survivor contestant to viewers at home, who saw themselves in all of her strengths and weaknesses.

Redditor luke6080 wrote, “I think she’ll end up being one of my favorites for a lot of the reasons Adam is. Her flaws were shown, she owned them, put herself in a decent position to win, and had an excellent FTC performance that sealed the deal.” Adam Klein won season 33, and fans have grown to appreciate his game and personality years after his win.

She Took Omar Out

One of the biggest threats to win season 42 was Omar, who was the mastermind behind many of the moves such as Drea’s blindside. Maryanne took the game into her own hands at the final six tribal council by strategically playing her extra vote to write Omar’s name down not once but twice, leading to his vote-off.

Reddit user BobcatHaunting3984 applauded her strategy, specifically the decision to get rid of her biggest competitor, “She played a solid game with one hell of a move at the final 6.” Omar later rewarded Maryanne for the move by voting to give her a million dollars.

She Was Original

There has been no contestant on Survivor over the course of 42 seasons that has been just like Maryanne. While many players compare themselves to Survivor greats, Maryanne simply stood out on her own. There’s no doubt future contestants will refer to themselves as being just like her, as she’s one of the most authentic to ever compete.

Reddit user oliviafairy spoke highly of Maryanne’s ability to stand out from the crowd, “I think she is her own archer type [sic] which is a good thing. I think she played smart and played big at the right time and maintained good social relationships which enabled her make strategic plays.”

She Was The Threat No One Saw Coming

While there were many threats to win Survivor 42, nobody quite had Maryanne on their radar. Jonathan was looked at as a challenge beast, Omar as a strategic mastermind, and Drea as the owner of all advantages. Maryanne, on the other hand, came in with the sneak attack late in the game, revealing herself to be the one to beat.

Redditor dizzyeyedalton praised Maryanne’s under-the-radar gameplay and contrasted it with Xander’s from season 41, “Her reveal of her unused idol was executed perfectly to portray herself as a strategic threat rather than a wishy-washy player that failed to make moves (sorry Xander).”

She Played A Well-Rounded Game

The goal of Survivor is to outwit, outplay, and outlast. Maryanne did all of those things and then some. She was able to make friends and strong allies, cut them loose when the time called for it, and defend her actions to a jury of her peers.

Reddit user aquaticlemon explained why Maryanne had everything it took to be the Sole Survivor, “You have to have a balance of many things, social (everyone liked Maryanne, but no so much as to see her as a threat to be taken out) Maryanne made just enough strategic moves to be able to state her case.”

She Was Self-Aware

Maryanne never tried to be anything she wasn’t. She wore her heart on her sleeve and was honest about the moves she was making, even if they might’ve cost her. When Omar asked if she was the one to vote him out, she admitted it on the spot, knowing his reaction could go either way.

Redditor spookyactn wrote of Maryanne’s expertise in being self-aware, and how that ultimately helped her in the end, “She’s an entertaining character and played a super self aware game. I think that is what gave her the win in the end.”

Her Timing Was Impeccable

A lot of players wait for the right time to make a big move, often missing their chances or shooting themselves in the foot by making game-ending decisions. Maryanne, on the other hand, knew exactly when to strike.

Reddit user Fatboy097 commented their thoughts on why Maryanne was a deserving winner, “She’s a good player who knew when to turn her game up a notch when it mattered.” Maryanne could’ve saved Lindsay at the final five and didn’t, because she knew it was her only shot to eliminate her biggest competitor and best friend.

She Was So Much Fun To Watch & To Root For

There are plenty of likable players that are fun to watch on Survivor, but no one has ever been quite as charismatic and entertaining as Maryanne. Her laughter was infectious and she was always shown to be having a great time living out her dream.

Redditor grandmaesterampharos wrote what they loved about watching Maryanne play the game, “Love her and her confessionals. Awesome insights. A lot of raw honesty. Super charming. Super fun. Love what she brings to the hall of fame in general.”

Her Final Tribal Council Performance Was Outstanding

Final Tribal Council performances on Survivor can make or break a player’s game. Some FTC’s are really good, while others are so bad that the frontrunner for the season can tank their shot at winning by just answering a couple of questions wrong. Lucky for Maryanne, she made a case for herself when it counted, and blew her competitors out of the water.

Reddit user TheVillageOxymoron said, “She was really impressive at final tribal. I was expecting Mike to be the one who was good at explaining his moves in a calm manner, but Maryanne’s ability to explain everything she did without getting flustered or overly excited ultimately made her seem like the better player.”