When he returned three seasons later in the Redemption season, he once again demonstrated his knowledge and uniquely endearing everydayness.
Sam's infectious optimism and subsequent self-filmed adventures made his season 5 arc one of the most rewarding to follow.
No doubt one of the most impressive runs on the show, Fairchild demonstrated a keen sense of intuition and a thorough understanding of how to use the landscape to her advantage.
Larson looked as though he might tap out a handful of difficult stretches in the season, particularly once his food supplies ran dangerously low, but his determined perseverance carried him to the win.
His honest and sometimes-ugly reaction to strokes of bad luck made him one of the more relatable figures in a season chocked full of survival geniuses.
Oftentimes John can be found perched behind his laptop screen arguing about movies when he isn't watching them, that is.