Welcome to Inside Survivor’s 50 For 50, a semi-regular feature highlighting 50 former castaways who we think should be considered for a spot on Survivor 50. In a snake draft, the Inside Survivor team selected ten players each, with the only rule being they couldn’t have played more than twice.
PROFILE
Name: Lex van den Berghe
Age: 61
Season: Africa, 2002; All Stars, 2004
Finish: 3rd place; 9th place
HIGHLIGHTS
Lex came into Survivor: Africa like a bull in a China shop, as even though it was only the show’s third season, Lex showed signs of at least a mid-era game style. Lex quickly allied with fellow Boran tribe members Ethan Zohn and Tom Buchanan; he got into a leadership role where he guided his tribe to several reward/immunity wins. And he became part of Survivor history when he was part of the first Tribe Swap and gained control of the Samburu tribe until the merge.
He managed to win three individual immunity wins before being voted out at the final three due to Kim Johnson choosing to go to the final two with Ethan instead. Lex also had his issues in the game for being considered too authoritative at times and for his feud with Kelly Goldsmith for thinking she voted against him when instead it had been Theresa ‘T-Bird’ Cooper all along.
Lex’s return in Survivor: All-Stars was marked by a significant betrayal, showcasing the emotional depth of the game. In his cutthroat era, he betrayed close allies, Ethan and Colby Donaldson. Despite having control of his original Mogo Mogo tribe, Lex made a crucial error when he trusted Boston Rob Mariano and voted out Jerri Manthey instead of Amber Brkich. This decision proved fatal as Boston Rob betrayed Lex and sent him to the jury.
Rob’s decision to betray Lex permanently severed their relationship, even outside of the game, and this move is considered the epitome of how cruel the game can be when it comes to someone’s desire to become the sole Survivor.
WHY HE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
Lex’s resilience, demonstrated as far back as Africa, is a quality that should not be overlooked. His ability to navigate the game with charisma and cunning, deciding who stays and who leaves, is a testament to his strategic prowess. Lex has also repeatedly shown how capable he was of being a loyal soldier for his friends and allies while still being capable of voting out his competition, even if it meant he had to blindside his allies along the way.
Though it remains to be seen if Lex would even consider returning, especially as the last time he played was over twenty years ago, he seems like the type of player who could become adept to the New Era playing while still maintaining his old-school style. A potential return for Lex would undoubtedly show how much he has learned from his two previous Survivor journeys, and alongside many years of life experiences, Lex could be a lethal player in the game.
His confessionals could also be icing on the cake, as his no-nonsense and unfiltered commentary would undoubtedly provide a missed old-school outlook on the game. Regardless of whether he ever comes back, it can’t be denied that Lex will always be remembered for being one of the strategic pioneers of Survivor. Hopefully, a third time for Lex would mean exploiting his full potential and finally taking the win.
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