‘Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X’ spotlight: Will Chris Hammons be a force to be reckoned with?
Chris Hammons, based on the “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X” material that we’ve seen so far, is an intimidating dude. He seems perfect for the Gen X label in that he’s hard-working, salt-of-the-earth, and had a demeanor that suggests that he could care less about however many Instagram followers he has.
In the latest edition of our castaway spotlight series below, we’re going to do our part to try and figure out precisely what makes this guy an interesting contender this season — but also why he could be his own worst enemy.
Tribe – Takali (Gen X)
Bio – He’s a 38-year old trial lawyer who lives in Moore, Oklahoma, and based on the story that he tells about his life, he hasn’t always had it particularly easy. his father went to prison when he was a teenager, and as he explained in the video, he had to learn to make “adult decisions” very early on. He worked to get through college and law school.
Positive attributes – The guy looks like someone you’d want on your side. He’s used to working for what he wants, he’s in good shape, and his southern accent in part may help mask how intelligent he truly is. (We also have an accent, so we understand the stereotyping that can come with that.) His profession makes him on paper great for some of the strategic parts of the game, given that he should know how to detect lies and navigate tricky personalities. (On the flip side, attorneys don’t often find themselves winning the season.)
Potential negatives – While Chris says that he can be a little more relaxed, we can also see him getting upset over something around camp and terrifying a good many people out there. He’s got a really intense vibe, and a big part of “Survivor” is knowing when to sit back, let other people take charge, and allow them to at least think that they are in control. We’re not entirely sure as of yet whether or not Chris has that speed.
“Survivor” comparisons – He compares himself to Boston Rob, and he’s one of those people it feels really wrong to even make a comparison to at this point. He’s just too good; plus, comparing yourself to Rob 1.0 just means that you’re gone right before the jury.
In some ways he physically reminds us of a cross between Chris from Vanuatu and Andrew Savage. Socially, he better be careful that he’s not a Hunter Ellis and people want to vote him out because he’s a little too much of an authority figure.
Early assessment – Chris is an admirable guy when you think about everything that he’s accomplished in his life. As a native Texan we’re also inclined sometimes to root for our pals north of the Red River. Yet, there’s something about Chris that makes us think his ceiling is around eighth place. He knows the game reasonably well, but we don’t think his personality lines up with the sort of players who do well. He’s not going to be able to go under the radar at any point, and he could be persuasive enough to be labeled as a social threat.
(Side note: Dear CBS, what’s with the green-screen this season?)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtTrMppgQ9c