Before beginning, I'm making this list based on how the contestants came across as characters on a TV show, not based on who they are or what they did outside of the show. This means I'm going to try my hardest not to let the awful things many of the people who have been on this show have done outside of Survivor have any effect on this list. Additionally, for any repeat contestants, I'm trying not to allow my feelings about them elsewhere change the way I judge them on the season in question. I know it's difficult, but it's what I have to do in order to maintain the "integrity" of my already-difficult-to-make list.
Making a ranking list of Survivor contestants by season is inherently going to be difficult compared to the contestant rankings I do for Taskmaster, since a good deal of the people on this show will have significantly less screen time than the comedians on TM, as well as different sorts of appeal. While some may be more fun to watch, others will be more strategic, or conniving. Others are going to be useful around camp but worn out for challenges, while others will be lazier at camp and dominant in challenges. Some people will have made it further in the game by slipping under the radar but lack much personality, others have big personalities and almost instantly knocked out.
