The new competition show Deal or No Deal Island has been a thrilling, tension-filled ride. The show, hosted by actor Joe Manganiello, is a mixture of the original Deal or No Deal and Survivor. It sounds like it could be a disaster, but it is just the opposite.
According to NBC Insider, the premise is that the Banker has invited 13 contestants to his tropical island paradise so that he can find his ultimate opponent. Briefcases with huge sums of money are hidden all over the island. Sounds just like my backyard.
The guests are put through grueling physical challenges that also test their resilience. The outcome of the excursions, and the amount of cash in a player’s case, determines who may face the Banker, and who will have immunity.
At The Temple, one contestant will play against the Banker. If they win, they will select a player to eliminate from the game. If their case value is higher than the Banker’s offer, which is a bad deal, then they are cut from the competition.
The final player will face the Banker and potentially win the cash total that has been growing all season. Right now, the total stands at over $10 million. Another facet of the game is alliances with other contestants. Plus, luck plays a huge factor in this game, adding an element of the unknown.
Now just four players remain in the game: Stephanie Mitchell, Survivor star Boston Rob Mariano, Jordan Fowler, and Amy McCoy. So, let’s break down who will win Deal or No Deal Island and potentially walk away with millions.
Stephanie Mitchell
Stephanie has earned the distinction of being Alabama’s first Black midwife. This mom of four is tough and competitive. During the season, she was involved in several feuds. She had a rough start with Boston Rob from the jump.
And when the cast agreed to target Kim Mattina so that she would be in the bottom two, Stephanie went against the plan at the last second. That made her an instant enemy of Alyssa Klinzing. And Alyssa was in an alliance with Boston Rob and Aron Barbell.
Meanwhile, Stephanie was part of the Night Owl alliance. The other Night Owls were Amy, and two eliminated players, Dawson Addis and Nick Grasso.
When Stephanie played the Banker, she argued with Alyssa at The Temple. In the end, Stephanie won and sent Alyssa home. She continued to gloat after Alyssa left, which greatly upset Aron. Poor Aron left because he had a panic attack.
And Stephanie wasn’t afraid to lie to her competitors. She convinced Nick that Rob put his name out there, cementing Nick’s plan to send Rob home if he won. Then she told Aron that Rob planned to get rid of him, hoping that Aron would target Rob.
Stephanie was fine with manipulating people to get closer to the cash, and that is a necessity in this game. And while she was part of the Night Owls, her alliance members knew that she was playing for herself. And that put a target on her back.
Amy McCoy
This mom of three calls Oklahoma home. Amy kept her co-stars laughing, even if some of her remarks could be considered mean-spirited. She once referred to Rob and Aron’s alliance name as “Dumb and Dumber.”
According to NBC, one of Amy’s strengths was her success with gambling. Not a bad skill set for this adventure. Amy already played against the Banker, but there was no elimination that night.
She did well in the physical challenges and also has a cut-throat personality. Her goal was to send Rob home. Oh, and walk away with the final case, too.
Jordan Fowler
Jordan had been successful in playing her game under the radar. She never made herself a target and socialized with everyone at camp. She is the only guest who never faced the Banker. And she hasn’t even logged much screen time!
After Nick’s elimination, she became a Night Owl. But she didn’t love the catty behavior of the members. Finally, she told Rob that Stephanie lied to Nick. Jordan decided to keep her options open about working with Rob.
She also excelled in the physical challenges. Since she doesn’t have a target on her back, she could easily be the last player standing.
Boston Rob Mariano
Boston Rob is a reality TV legend. He has played Survivor a whopping six times and competed in The Amazing Race twice with his wife, Amber Mariano. He struck up an unlikely alliance with Aron in their jeep as the game began. The duo was a successful partnership, escaping a few close calls. And Rob won immunity four times. Plus he is driven and determined during the challenges.
He is also lucky, a fact that wasn’t lost on his fellow contestants. “I believe in that 100 percent because Rob is one of the luckiest guys I’ve ever met. Maybe he makes it himself, but God bless him because I wish I had that kind of luck,” Nick stated. After all, Rob grabbed a case at random during a challenge and it was one of the highest-value cases.
His reality TV resume was outed by Kim immediately, so everyone knew that he was a danger in the game. But he got his revenge when he sent her home after he successfully faced the Banker.
“I have a reputation, and it precedes me,” Rob told TV Insider. “So, I’m going to have a huge target on myself.” A big, blinking red target.
But losing his only real ally, Aron, was a blow to his game. He is left to compete against the three members of the Night Owls.
Who will win Deal or No Deal Island?
I have to go with Rob. The other guests, against their better judgment, kept him in the game this long. And there is no doubt that he can win at challenges. His ability to manipulate others is masterful. Rob also has a knack for being able to see the options in the entire game, not just at that moment. Most of all, he has experience in games like this one.
I think that he is the one to beat. Stay tuned!
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