‘Survivor: Cagayan’ castaway spotlight: Is LJ McKanas too strong for his own good?
Did you ever watch “Weakest Link,” and you knew that there was one person who was clearly better than most of the others? You knew that the team was going to use them to get a ton of money in the bank, and then throw them aside late in the game, since nobody would have a chance to defeat them in the final round. That person is LJ McKanas on “Survivor: Cagayan.”
There have been a few select players in this game (think last season) that have managed to be a threat from day one and win, but that is a very difficult road to travel down. You can be too perfect for this game already, and be taken out because of it sooner rather than later. There’s no doubt in our mind that LJ is a guy who is going to be a huge asset early, and eventually get close to the merge. It’s after that point that everything could start to unravel a little bit for him.
Name – LJ McKanas
Age – 34
Tribe – Solana (a.k.a. Beauty Tribe)
Location – Boston, Massachusetts (does it make him Boston LJ, since we love putting Boston apparently before people’s names who are from there?)
Occupation – Horse trainer, which has to be one of the more random jobs that we have heard on the show.
What he brings to the game – What doesn’t LJ bring to the game? He’s in good shape, loves to be outdoors, loves puzzles, loves competing, is a good leader, and has a great head on his shoulders. You just listen to him talk, and you buy what he is selling. Maybe looking a little like Jeff Probst has led to some of that charisma transmitting over to him. This is one of the few people on this season who really could’ve been on any one of the tribes, since he doesn’t seem lacking in strength, and he also does not seem lacking in intelligence at all.
What could get him in trouble – He’s going to stick out like a sore thumb in this tribe. He almost feels like he is going to become everyone’s dad almost right away, and while he claims that he will be under the radar when it comes to how much he steps into a leadership position, that is much easier said than done. He will be a target the whole time he is on this tribe, and that will be even more apparent if and when he gets far enough for the game to shift to be about individuals.
Past “Survivor” comparison – There are a few that comes to mind. On the good side for LJ, you have Tom Westman; on the flip side, you have Hunter Ellis, or Brendan Synnott, or Mick Trimming. Just because you have everything on paper doesn’t mean that you are good enough to win.
Prediction – LJ gets taken out two or three tribal councils into the merge. He’s too big of a threat! There is no way we see people letting him get to the end, since he seems like the sort of guy who could make a strategic move, and then convince you that it wasn’t personal and he would still be friends with you after the show. He would probably be able to hide better if there were only two tribes of ten, but with the format being what it is, he will be exposed early.
What is your take on LJ, and how well do you think he’s going to fare in this game? Share below! Also, watch his casting video below, or click here to see some of the other “Survivor: Cagayan” spotlights we have assembled.
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Photo: CBS