The Survivor Game Changers preseason is officially underway. Every week day until the season premiere on March 8, Parade’s Josh Wigler will present a new story from the beaches of Fiji, as told in the Survivor contestants’ own words. Click here to start from the beginning, and click here for our table of contents and castaway photo gallery.
As a reminder, the Game Changers cast includes four people from the same previous season: Caleb Reynolds, Tai Trang, Aubry Bracco, and Debbie Wanner — the Kaoh Rong Four, as they’re known throughout press day. Several castaways have their eyes on this potential bloc, including two-time winner Sandra Diaz-Twine, who sums up her feelings thusly:
Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pearl Islands, Heroes vs Villains): Starting from All-Stars, when there were five players from Australia, Amber won. Then in Micronesia there were three from Cook Islands and Parvati won. Then in Caramoan, there were three from South Pacific and Cochran won and Dawn was with him at the Final Three. As recent as Cambodia, they had four Cagayan members and Spencer and Tasha made it to the Final Three. If history repeats itself, which it usually does on Survivor, you would see two Kaoh Rong in the finale. That only leaves one spot for one more person. So I don’t care if they say until they’re blue in the face that they’re not tight. And they don’t have to be! But they only know each other, they don’t know anybody else. Therefore we have to get somebody out. If the tribes switch up after the second Tribal Council, we cannot afford to have these four people still in the game, no matter what.
With the threat level established (or at least the perceived threat level), let’s take some time to dig deeper into the Kaoh Rong Four, starting with someone who knows a thing or two about digging deep: Caleb, a man who is lucky to be alive, let alone back on Survivor.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): I’m excited. This is a blessing, after what happened last time with me, to get the opportunity to play again, and not even that long after. It feels great to have another chance at the title of Sole Survivor.
Caleb is best known to some as the Beast Mode Cowboy of Big Brother 16, and better known to Survivor fans as the guy who almost died fighting for salt and pepper during Season 32. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true: Caleb’s place in Survivor history boils down to a boiling hot day and a brutal challenge, with three tribes competing for reward, and three separate players beaten down by the heat, Amy O’Hara style: Brawny badass Cydney Gillon, Brainy multi-hyphenate Debbie Wanner, and Caleb, who was in such rough condition that he was medically evacuated from the game. In a previous interview, Caleb outlined his recovery process in great detail. A few months later, during our interview in Fiji, Caleb says his body is only just now fully recovered from what he endured in Kaoh Rong.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): It was tough, man. Once your body is completely drained of pretty much everything you have, and your muscles are basically soaked dry of water and protein, it’s tough to put back on. I’m just now a year later about at my average weight. It’s taken about a year to put everything back on naturally, just by eating, lifting heavily, staying focused. But I was drained from everything.
Clearly, the experience didn’t deter Caleb from coming back out to Survivor, little more than a year after his time out in Cambodia.
Josh Wigler (Survivor press, Parade): When did you start having the conversations about returning to Survivor?
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): It was fairly quick. Maybe three, four or five months later. It wasn’t that long. I got a call and they asked if I would be interested in playing again, and I said yeah. I couldn’t let that keep me down forever. I told them whenever they were ready.
Josh Wigler (Survivor press, Parade): There were no doubts in your mind, even after what happened to you?
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): I try to explain it like this. I think today I would never ride horses if I had never gotten back on one. As a kid riding horses, you always fall off, whether it’s because you didn’t hang on or it’s because you got knocked off. If I never got back on, I probably wouldn’t be riding them today. That’s the mentality of playing this game. I left the first game in a helicopter, but I can’t stop that from allowing me to play again. As soon as the offer came across the table, I put everything behind me. I’m coming in this time stronger and faster. I’m ready to go.
As he gets back on the proverbial horse, Caleb hopes to pick up exactly where he left off last time.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): I started the game in a very good position. I had high spirits with everyone on my tribe. I knew I was a huge asset to the tribe. As far as the beginning challenges in this game, you need strength. Without that, you’re going to lose. I brought that to the table, plus more. I became an asset to the tribe and I got close to people. I was touching the hearts and minds of the people I was with. It was a good time. Yeah, you’re hungry throughout the day, but I got close to everyone. I built nice friendships.
And then came the med-evac.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): It was 120 degrees outside. When you’re digging in the sand for over an hour, it gets even hotter. I just pushed myself over my limits, which I’ve never done in my entire life, even in a [military] deployment. I never pushed myself there. For this game, I did. The med-evac is always talked about because it was the craziest and scariest med-evac in Survivor history, and I’m glad I’m alive today to talk about it.
He’s also glad he has the chance to talk about some new Survivor stories.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): That’s one of the big reasons why I came back. I have unfinished business in this game. Last time, it ended short, and not on my terms. My body gave out on me. Given the chance to play again, I want to make it further in this game. I will make it further in the game.
Josh Wigler (Survivor press, Parade): At least long enough to see Tribal Council, I hope!
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): Yeah, I don’t even know what Tribal Council looks like. I heard it’s nice!
It sounds wild at first, but it’s true: Caleb is the only Game Changer who has never once visited Tribal Council. He logged quite a few days during his time on Big Brother, but as far as Survivor, Caleb has yet to show who he is when it comes time to put pen to parchment.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): I haven’t gotten to show all of me yet. People only know the ace I laid down, but I still have cards I haven’t played yet. I’m ready for my fans to see me go further. I’m ready for everyone in the Survivor world to find out that I’m more than just a physical threat. I went down early and I didn’t get to open up the can that I wanted to open. This time, I’m blessed to be here again to rewrite that Survivor experience.
Asked to reveal the other cards in his deck, Caleb opens up a bit about how he views the strategic element of the game.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): I’m not the big time strategic stab-you-in-the-back kind of guy. That’s not in my personality. I think the people who are good at that live like that every single day. I don’t think they change who they are. I think this game proves who you really are. It’s not an edit. It’s not fake. What you get on an island with nothing is really what you get on an island with nothing, and I think you show your true colors while you’re here. I haven’t gotten to show the strategic side of my gameplay and who I’ll align with. I haven’t gotten to tell my story to the cameras and play it out. On Big Brother, I made it very far. Was I the mastermind? No, but I told my story throughout the game. This time, I will get to tell my story.
In terms of his current story and place on the season, Caleb already has some big words to say:
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): People are expecting me to be the biggest physical threat in this game. Of course you have Ozzy and yeah you have Malcolm, but I believe I’m on a different level than they are. People are going to see me coming in as the biggest threat in the game physically.
It’s a serious statement, considering the amount of established and perceived physical threats out here on the Game Changers beach. Caleb offers more on the subject:
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): I’ll put it this way. They’re physical and I think they’re going to bring it. I think they’re the ones who are going to give it 100%. Or maybe not. Maybe they’ll think there are too many physical people and so they should let the other physical people burn off everything. I think that’s good. Honestly, that’s better for me, because they’ve played two and three times, Ozzy four times. Everyone knows his strength and that’s it. That’s all they know about Ozzy: he will win immunity challenges. So when it comes down to that, I’m not the first person they’re looking at sending home. I think of all the strong people, I’m the least amount of threat, or so they think.
As for what else the others think about Caleb, he has a few thoughts:
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): They’re expecting a nice genuine southern guy. Respectful. I respect my wife and my family and my Christianity and my walk with Christ. Nobody’s expecting me to be a badmouth, cussing people. People are expecting me to go out with my head high. If I do go out, my chin will be up and I’ll be happy either way. I know people are expecting me to make these moves. You make a huge move, but it’s about when you do it. If you make a huge move on Day 1, then no one is going to remember it on Day 39. So I think I want to wait and save my moves for later. I’m coming into this game as the only pre-jury here, probably. In a way, that’s a good thing, because I haven’t stabbed anyone in the back. I haven’t made bad moves. Everyone else playing here has. Either they won the game and they didn’t get there by being nice and friendly — they have blood on their hands from somewhere along the line. And that’s what’s cool about where I’m at. I feel like I have an advantage in that I haven’t done that yet. They may think I’m not up for shoving a knife in someone’s back. But they’re mistaken. It’s only because they haven’t seen it yet. I do have it in my bag.
But does he have it in his bag to backstab Tai Trang, the San Francisco gardener who stole a kiss or three from BMC during their short time together in Kaoh Rong? Since then, the two have become friends outside the game, with Tai attending Caleb’s wedding a few weeks before they both came out to Fiji for Game Changers. For the players with their sights set on the Kaoh Rong Four, their fears are justified at least as far as Caleb’s willingness to work again with Tai, even if it’s not going to happen easily.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): I think it’ll be hard, because people already assume and expect. If we end up on the same tribe, people are going to expect we’re together. He was at my wedding. We talk on occasions. He tweets me. I tweet him. With that, there’s a target on us already. I don’t want us to be separated in that way.
With that said…
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): At the end of the day, if I have to cut his throat open? I’m alive and he’s not. It’s about advancing in the game. I wouldn’t want to, because that would obviously bother me if he did it to me, so I can imagine what it would feel like if I did it to him. But if I do start hearing that people are talking about us, then one of us is going home — and when it comes time for people to write down names, I want it to be his. I don’t want it to be mine.
As for a greater Kaoh Rong Four alliance, Caleb won’t rule it out, even if he doesn’t have much of a relationship with Aubry and Debbie.
Caleb Reynolds (Kaoh Rong): I haven’t really spoke to either one of them. There was no pre-gaming with us. I believe it’s a personality difference. You get along with people you’re alike. They’re two completely different people from me. But maybe going in people might think Kaoh Rong needs to stick together because there are more of us than anyone else. But again, that’s easily picked up upon. I don’t want to jump into something that’s picked up easily. Same thing with Tai. I don’t even want Tai to stand next to me. I don’t want that threat level. You never know. They may think we’re all going to work together, and to be honest with you? It’s possible. Because the game is always changing. If that opportunity arises…
Read on for what the others think about Caleb.
Jeff Probst (Executive Producer and Host): Caleb is untested, even to me. As I’ve said many times, I didn’t want Caleb on [Kaoh Rong]. I didn’t think he was going to bring anything. But he proved himself to me by being willing to go all out.
Ozzy Lusth (Cook Islands 1, Micronesia, South Pacific): Caleb has this innocent fresh look that he’s looking for a connection, who’s going to be his solid person and his homey to the end. He also went out in a very sh–y way, so I think he’s looking to make his mark.
Tony Vlachos (Cagayan): He’s another challenge beast. There are lots of challenge beasts out here. They’re going to be more focused on the challenges in front of them instead of the challenges around them. That’s going to bode well for me.
Hali Ford (Worlds Apart): He’s the real muscular guy, like Mister America? I would like to feel him out a little bit more. I could see myself working with him. He’s kind of like the token southern guy. I don’t know. I like southern guys, so I think I could work with him.
JT Thomas (Tocantins, Heroes vs Villains): I like Caleb. He’s going to be a physical competitor and a threat. I think I’m going to crush him in the social game. Just like Ozzy and Malcolm. I don’t know Caleb’s gameplay as much. We didn’t get to see him as much. But I feel like we’re going to be kindred spirits. I hated to see him go out that way, because he seems like a great guy.
Malcolm Freberg (Philippines, Caramoan): If the situation arose where I could tuck him under my wing a bit? Depending on how he reacts to me… if he reacts well, I might be able to tuck him under my arm here. I know he has a reputation for loyalty from Big Brother.
Ciera Eastin (Blood vs Water, Cambodia): I played with a Big Brother guy. Hayden was way cooler than Caleb. But I think I can relate to him. I don’t think he’s as tough as he thinks he is. Strategically, he never got a chance to see how intense the game gets. He could fold under that pressure.
Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pearl Islands, Heroes vs Villains): I do watch Big Brother, and he was a douchier Caleb. Now that he’s out here, I want to say he knows what people said about him, and maybe changed his tune. I like that Caleb is prior military. I did my five years in the army and my husband is still active duty. I believe he has honesty and integrity, things that I look for.
Sarah Lacina (Kaoh Rong): I love Big Brother. I’m a reality TV junkie. Caleb lasted something like 90 days. That’s a long time to watch somebody. On Survivor, you get three days in 40 minutes. Big Brother, you can watch live feeds, which I don’t. But I watch Big Brother After Dark and I watch the show which is three days a week, so you get to see a lot of people. You can’t really mask who you are. What I saw from Caleb is an extremely loyal person. He’s honorable. Even in his season, we didn’t see a ton of it, but what I did get to see is that he’s loyal. I think he’s a good one to pair with.
Jeff Varner (Australian Outback, Cambodia): Caleb is a down home honest good kid. You can just tell. I like him. He’s going to win if you let him get down there, so he’s gotta go.
Andrea Boehlke (Redemption Island, Caramoan): I think I could bond with him. We both know Frankie Grande. We have a lot of mutual friends. When people feel they know you in real life, they feel a little bad about trying to backstab you.
Sierra Dawn Thomas (Worlds Apart): We have a lot of mutual friends, but I don’t know. I don’t think he’s a cowboy, so when they say Beast Mode Cowboy? I kind of want to pull out my eyelashes. I might steal the hashtag #BeastModeCowgirl. He seems like a cool guy, but I don’t know if I’m going to work with him.
Ozzy Lusth (Cook Islands 1, Micronesia, South Pacific): I think that Caleb could be a very strong person that I know I can beat in a lot of immunities, but also somebody who thinks in his mind that he could beat me, and could also be a loyal person. I need to set up a relationship with him where it doesn’t look like we’re going to be the strongest alliance.
Sandra Diaz Twine (Pearl Islands, Heroes vs Villains): I do feel that he’s untested on Survivor.
Malcolm Freberg (Philippines, Caramoan): The guy’s never even been to a Tribal Council.
Troyzan Robertson (One World): He walks around like the proudest peacock on the planet, like he deserves to be here more than… I don’t know. For me it’s like… you have to be accepted into Survivor. You’re from Big Brother.
Josh Wigler (Survivor press, Parade): Did you watch his season?
Troyzan Robertson (One World): A little bit. He seemed like a bit of a kook on his season. He was all in love with this girl. It was bizarre. Big Brother is Big Brother. Survivor is Survivor. Leave the two alone. You can’t come from Big Brother thinking you can play Survivor. It’s like the guys who race in the Tour de France. “We’re our own special group, and you as a mountain biker can’t come in here thinking you can beat us. We’ll kick your ass.” He played for nine days, and he’s a Game Changer? You tell me. Tell me how he changed the game.
Josh Wigler (Survivor press, Parade): Well, he did almost die.
Troyzan Robertson (One World): But that doesn’t change the game. It just means production has to be on full alert all the time. So that’s the way he changed the game? First guy with an IV in his arm.
Jeff Probst (Executive Producer and Host): He changed the game literally by nearly dying. The big question on his return visit is, what do you have socially? Do you have any social game at all? If Caleb gets deep, he’ll really impress me. Going in, I think the game might be too sophisticated for him.
Debbie Wanner (Kaoh Rong): I have the biggest spot in my heart for Caleb. What I’m concerned about with Caleb is he didn’t learn the first time, and he’s going to go gung ho. The guy is ex-military. He’s very proud of his country. He doesn’t know how to give 90%. Out here, you get hurt, you’re done. I hope he makes the merge because he so deserves to. I’m concerned that he can hurt himself again. If he doesn’t do it physically, he’s going to do it strategically, because he has a somewhat awkward personality. He’s so wrapped up in his head. Buddy, you gotta make those alliances. If he makes the merge and doesn’t have a good strong alliance, he’s out.
Tai Trang (Kaoh Rong): People want to assume we’re together automatically, me and Caleb. We did talk about let’s work together, but how are we going to do it? Openly or not openly? Secretly? People are going to assume we are, so we’ll have to tread that line very careful.
TOMORROW: Tai Trang Is Up For Another Game of Chicken
PREVIOUSLY: Sarah Lacina Swears to Play More “Viciously” Than Last Time
Check back every week day for another story from the Survivor Game Changers preseason.
Josh Wigler is a writer, editor and podcaster who has been published by MTV News, New York Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Comic Book Resources and more. He is the co-author of The Evolution of Strategy: 30 Seasons of Survivor, an audiobook chronicling the reality TV show’s transformation, and one of the hosts of Post Show Recaps, a podcast about film and television. Follow Josh on Twitter @roundhoward.
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