Survivor 16: Fans vs Favorites

[Shellhead]

I missed the first episode last week, which is probably a mixed blessing, as Johnny Fairplay was voted out.

Johnny Fairplay?

That's right, this is another all-star season, sort of. Actually the format is "fan against favorites", meaning one team consists of previous contestants while the other team is new players.

The "Favorites":

Amanda: She was the tall, pretty brunette from Survivor: China who made it to the final three.

Ami: I'm not 100% certain, but I think Ami is the lesbian leader from that second boys against girls season where that blue collar dude Chris won despite facing overwhelming odds when he got stuck on the women's team.

Cirie: I feel pretty bad saying this, but I can't remember which season Cirie is from. She looks like one of several dumpy middle-aged black women who coasted to the endgame of a Survivor season by flying under the radar.

Eliza: She was the annoying big-eyed moppet sidekick to Ami in that girls against boys season.

James: Hell, yeah! That super-strong gravedigger from Survivor: China is back.

Jonathan Penner: the not-so-famous actor from that racist season of Survivor is back, scheming and smiling.

Johnny Fairplay: that low-down white trash dude from the notorious Panama season came back, but now his fifteen minutes of fame are completely used up.

Ozzy: one of the most athletic Suvivors ever, Ozzy came very, very close to beating ultimate mastermind Yul in that racist season of Survivor. Ozzy was just about impossible to beat in any challenge involving swimming, climbing, or balance.

Parvati: that semi-attractive brunette from the racist season is back, working her flirtation game again. Which is kind of a shame, because she turned out to be a reasonably athletic competitor when the game got tough.

Yau-Man: Oh man, the fan team is screwed. When Ozzy and James aren't flat out crushing them in physical challenges, Yau-Man will be unleashing his devastating skill with ranged attacks, puzzle-solving and social manipulation.

The Fans:

I tend to hate new Survivors until I watch a couple of episodes of each new season. But this seems like the worst team ever, because they are so divided that they are currently living in two separate shelters, the old and the not-old. I haven't formed an impression of most of them yet, but here are a few that stand out.

Chet: weak older guy who totally botched a swimming challenge last night and should have been voted out.

Mikey B: middle-aged man-child who seems to have smuggled a secret supply of caffeine or speed on to the island. He talks to fast, over-analyzes things like crazy, and came up with an absurdly complex plan for picking off one of the three oldsters. Got totally blind-sided when his show-mance Mary got bumped instead.

Erik: looks like one of the youngest Survivors ever, and also sort of like '70s C-list celeb Leif Garrett. Seems very impressionable. He wants to break into comics, as both an artist and writer.

Joel: this firefighter looks like a budget version of Kevin Sorbo. He should be wearing leather and whacking people with a battle axe. He looks and acts like a very blunt and direct kind of guy, and yet he was the one who masterminded the blindside last night. He is the only guy on this team who looks like a match for James, Ozzy or Yau-man.

everybody else: they just haven't made an impression on me yet. Bland white people, every one of them, and Mary was the only sort of hot one.

[Shellhead]

So what has happened so far? I missed last week, but the Favorites ousted Fairplay, which met with approval with the Fan team this week. The Favorites have already built a very comfortable campsite and are eating regularly.

By contrast, as of day 4, the Fans still didn't have a shelter, but they did have a major rift in their tribe, with three old people against seven middle-aged or younger players. Despite winning flint on the first episode, it took them a full day to start their first fire, due to inept manipulation of tinder and sparks, I guess. To those of you contemplating going on Survivor, this is probably a skill worth mastering before showing up for the competition.

Parvati and James have coupled up, as have Amanda and Ozzy. Logically, all the singles on the Favorites are worried about this, and have formed their own alliance, except Cirie is thinking about becoming the fifth wheel to the two couples. She is delusional if she thinks that they will ever rank her above fifth place in that alliance.

Cirie and one of the older women got sent to Exile Island. They both got to see the first clue to the special immunity idol, and they went after it hard, working as a team. This lead to a merry runaround invovling them swimming to several other islands in their area, as each clue took to them to another clue. The fourth clue took them back to Exile Island and a fifth clue, which they were too exhausted to figure out. Cirie looked like she was going to drop dead near the end.

[titanfan]

Fairplay basically quit in Week 1, citing his fiance's pregnancy as a reason to go home. He actually would have been in no danger of being voted out otherwise as the Parvati and Eliza's alliances schemed against each other.

Cirie: I feel pretty bad saying this, but I can't remember which season Cirie is from. She looks like one of several dumpy middle-aged black women who coasted to the endgame of a Survivor season by flying under the radar.

Cirie was the gal who was afraid of leaves in Episode 1 of her season, but by the end, she had become the social mastermind--carefully bringing her alliance of Aras and Danielle to the Final 4. Only Terry's immunity run did her in. Imho, one of the best social players of Survivor ever.

The fans seem way out of their league in terms of athletic competition. If these challenges are physical, they are toast.

I think Joel's move, was a little too big for the *first week*. He risks putting a target on himself now and setting the tribe up for a clash in alpha males. (For a tribe already lacking athletically they can't lose either one)

[J. Robb]

I think Joel's move, was a little too big for the *first week*. He risks putting a target on himself now and setting the tribe up for a clash in alpha males. (For a tribe already lacking athletically they can't lose either one)
Joel is obviously a huge control freak, there was no reason for a big power play so early. What's funny is he didn't even vote for Mary himself.

[Croaker]

I think Joel was an idiot for moving so fast against Mary and the other guy, but it will be fun to see what happens. If he thought someone scheming and taking control in the first vote put a target on them, I can't wait to see how they react to him just taking control. Obviously, he is strong physically, but I don't think that will save him.

Finally, I dislike the fans. Too much ineptitude, too much whining, not enough pulling together.

[Shellhead]

Which couple do you think will last longer? James and Parvati, or Amanda and Ozzie? Last longer competing on the show, and last longer in the real world?

[DonC]

Which couple do you think will last longer? James and Parvati, or Amanda and Ozzie? Last longer competing on the show, and last longer in the real world?

I think James and Parvati will last longer.

But, why, oh why, didn't the fans vote out Chet? And, Grunge, dude, way too soon to be bossing people around like that.

By the way, am I the only one who thought Mary looked on the verge of tears when the votes were read?

[titanfan]

I think James and Parvati last longer, if only because I think Parvati is better positioned as leader of her alliance than Amanda is. Amanda will be seen as the iritating slut and booted.


By the way, am I the only one who thought Mary looked on the verge of tears when the votes were read?


I always feel for the victim of the totally random blindsides in which case the booted player usually did nothing wrong. If it's any consolation, Mary befriended JFP at loser lodge. JFP introducd her to RyanO from Pearl Islands and now the two are MARRIED.

http://peoplefalltv.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/cupid-jonny-fairplay-masterminds-survivor-romance/

[J. Robb]

I always feel for the victim of the totally random blindsides in which case the booted player usually did nothing wrong. If it's any consolation, Mary befriended JFP at loser lodge. JFP introducd her to RyanO from Pearl Islands and now the two are MARRIED.

http://peoplefalltv.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/cupid-jonny-fairplay-masterminds-survivor-romance/
That's cool, I remember I liked Ryan, he seemed fairly "normal". Now he's got a hot wife!

[marshal99]

I think they made a mistake in voting out Mary. Chet should have been voted out , he was totally useless and he just gave up totally , even walking back , he doesn't even run , just idlely walked back.

I think Chet & Kathy are going to be huge liabilities since neither seemed to be good in the challenges or contribute much to their own tribes.

Joel looks like a cro-magnon caveman , and i feel this powerplay early on will just backfire on him and alienate him later on within his own tribe. For now , his tribe probably needs his strength.
It will be interesting to see whether Joel can actually backup his words in the first episode about competing with James as next episode looks like it will be a physical battle between the 2 tribes.

[titanfan]

I think they made a mistake in voting out Mary. Chet should have been voted out , he was totally useless and he just gave up totally , even walking back , he doesn't even run , just idlely walked back.

I really believe that Chet was just exhausted--not that he gave up. He made a classic pool swimmer's mistake--you can't swim as far in the ocean as you can in a pool. If you ever go on Survivor and don't practice swimming in the ocean--assume your swimming ability is going to be half as good.


I think Chet & Kathy are going to be huge liabilities since neither seemed to be good in the challenges or contribute much to their own tribes.

Kathy kind of seemed in shape when she and Cirie went to look for the clue. She didn't really seem tired at all. (Although you notice Cirie made sure that she would jump ahead to grab the clue first at each opportunity)

[DonC]

Kathy kind of seemed in shape when she and Cirie went to look for the clue. She didn't really seem tired at all. (Although you notice Cirie made sure that she would jump ahead to grab the clue first at each opportunity)


Kathy made the mistake of turning into a fangirl with Cirie. You can't take that attitude when you're playing against someone.

Chet, it doesn't matter why he became a liablity, just that he became one. But thinking about it, he should have never been a swimmer in that challenge anyway. Joel, the keymaster, should have been doing the more physical part.

[marshal99]

I really believe that Chet was just exhausted--not that he gave up. He made a classic pool swimmer's mistake--you can't swim as far in the ocean as you can in a pool. If you ever go on Survivor and don't practice swimming in the ocean--assume your swimming ability is going to be half as good.

Not an excuse , if he can't swim , he should have spoken up. Get the caveman or someone else to do it , all the women had no problems navigating the course and if it wasn't for the caveman growling at him , he would still be floating out in the sea , looking clueless and not making much of an attempt to look for the key , exhausted or not. It's quite pathetic when Amanda easily beat him , but worse when then later parvati was bypassing him while Chet was casually strolling up the beach.


Kathy kind of seemed in shape when she and Cirie went to look for the clue. She didn't really seem tired at all. (Although you notice Cirie made sure that she would jump ahead to grab the clue first at each opportunity)

Let's be honest , we all know that Cirie is out of shape and pampered from her last survivor so she was hardly the best person to compare with.

[Shellhead]

I still can't remember which season Cirie was on. I'm starting to think it was the same season as Yau-man. And I can't quite decide if she is being stupidly stubborn or just looking all the way to the endgame, which is still a mistake during tribe versus tribe. See, it seems blatantly obvious that she will never be better than the fifth wheel at the James-Parvati-Ozzy-Amanda double date. That's just obvious. And already Ozzy and James are thinking she's stupid for taking out an asset to the whole team after losing another immunity challenge to the fan team. I mean, let's be real here (a favorite phrase on tonight's episode), Cirie won't be helping the favorites win challenges like Yau-man could. And she is already pissing James off by giving her four alliance members their marching orders.

However, I can see a plausible scenario where some fifth person (maybe Cirie) could go to the final three. Let's say that the Favorites overcome the Fans before/during/after merge. And then let's say that the Double Date alliance and their fifth wheel get to the Final Five. It could happen. Anyway, now they're going to tribal council again, and let's just guess that Cirie didn't win immunity, because she is completely out of shape compared to her tribemates.

Suddenly, Parvati and James realize that they don't want to go to the Final Four deadlocked with Amanda and Ozzy. And Amanda and Ozzy realize the same thing. So both couples will try to recruit Cirie to take out one of the guys, either James or Ozzy. And then to avoid a different deadlock on the next week, the winning couple promises Cirie that they will take her to the Final Three if she helps them oust the suddenly single fourth player. Cirie might as well, because that's a much better deal than a big gamble on a deadlocked vote.

However, even thought that plan could take Cirie to the Final Three, I don't think that she is that clever. What she didn't understand tonight was that the lack of romance in the Jonathan-Amy-Eliza-Yauman alliance would make her more of an equal partner, just one of the five and not somebody's significant other.

The real problem with Cirie's plan is that she just weakened her tribe for the next several challenges. Yau-man is a smart guy for the puzzle challenges, and a very coordinated guy for challenges involving manual dexterity, balance and throwing things, and if memory serves, he was also a good fisherman.

Cirie is none of those things, and she is coming across very unpleasant right now. Her own alliance members may give her the boot ahead of schedule just so they can stop putting up with her. Parvati looked exhausted with her a tribal council, Ozzy thinks that her strategy is poor, and James resents her bossiness.

Not much of a look at the Fans tonight. That was one helluva a physical reward challenge, and they almost won. I couldn't help noticing that skinny Erik kid is much stronger than he looks. At one point, while carrying one of those bulky bags and fending off Amanda, he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder with one hand, then dropped her on her head.

[Zero Hunter]

I think Cirie has sealed her doom with forcing the Yau vote tonight. Not only did she piss off the other three , but now the two couples realize they don't need her around anymore since they will have the numbers once they get rid of her. I see her getting blindsided next tribal they go to. Lets face it she has to be one of the weakest competaters on that team now, and I don't think any of the others would be sad to see her go. That and the fact that the couples know she is not above screwing over people that she is in alliances with since she just did it tonight. They are defiently going to want her gone before they merge to eliminate any chance of her striking up a deal with people from the fan team.

[xnef1025]

Cirie was on Panama. That was the one that Aras won. She went home fourth. I was really thinking the two foursomes would just get tired of her crap tonight and vote her out as a liability. Cirie's play tonight really surprised me because she was such a strong social player on her season and she really seemed to be going out of her way to ruffle feathers.

[J. Robb]

I really think Cirie's only reason for getting rid of Yau-Man was jealousy. He's one of the show's most popular "characters", and she was afraid he was hogging the spotlight. More specifically, her spotlight.

[titanfan]

I basically attribute Cirie's decision over not wanting to listen to Jonathan. Jonathan, while a fun character for the viewers, doesn't exactly inpsire trust.

They are defiently going to want her gone before they merge to eliminate any chance of her striking up a deal with people from the fan team.

If they watched her season, they know she'll lie/backstab people if she has to, so you have to think they'll want to get rid of her sooner than later.

[Hi-Fi]

I think Cerie just decided to go with the couples because Jonathan pissed her off. He didn't know how to talk to her.

That was a fun reward challenge. That Alexis girl will go far.

[Shellhead]

Great episode. Joel keeps making the wrong moves, and I totally see the caveman resemblance that is freaking people out, but I like his quiet confidence and decisive action. It makes for good tv, much better than that yappy spaz Mikey. Btw, what kind of middle-aged man answers to a childish name like "Mikey?"

I see how Joel was seduced by the idea of 3 loyal voters, and it's funny how the kid is working like his sidekick, even verbally backing him up in tribal council. But Joel will have some regrets next week, as it appears that he is literally dragging Chet through some kind of obstacle course. It's one thing to metaphorically carry a weak tribe member in return for loyalty, it's another thing to physically do it in a challenge.

That tribal council was loaded with amusing moments. Erik's weird analogy about running into a wall. Mikey B's glance over at an obviously guilty Joel after the fourth time his name was read. Joe Dirt, or Jason or whatever, blurting out his desperate last second appeal to vote out Chet. The paranoid glares from that old blonde. And Chet's unwillingness to admit just how weak and useless he has been. Joel looks like he will be a powerful individual player, but with his first two power plays, he crippled this tribe. Good thing there will be some kind of random realignment of the tribes next week.

I don't actually think that Jonathan is unusually devious for a Survivor player. In fact, I actually find him to be an unusually open, honest and direct player, at least by Survivor standards. He doesn't blindside people with malice, he is perfectly comfortable with calmly stabbing them in the chest while reminding them that it's a game and this is the play he needed to make.

Cirie on the other hand seems within the normal range of Survivor treachery. What she did last week was unremarkable, and Jonathan and his alliance members are taking it way too personally. It's disappointing, in that I expected a little more maturity from the experienced players.

At this point, I think that the smart vote for the Favorites would be to oust Eliza next, then dump Cirie, to finish clearing out all the weak players. But that's not going to happen, judging by the previews.

I can see how they needed to break up the tribes. The fans are pathetic at some basic survival skills, and they are starting to lose badly in challenges. When James starts winning puzzle challenges and Ozzie finds the immunity idol so quickly that he has time to craft a fake on the spot, you know that they need to face some greater challenges, like a mixup in the social game. Besides, their double date alliance already controlled their own tribe

[DonC]

Grunge totally blew it in not voting Chet out. Again. They should have gotten rid of Chet first and Kathy second. Hell, Kathy seems to think Exile Island is a vacation spot where she gets to fawn over the Favorite she's there with.

And where the hell did this Jason dude come from? Has he been there all along? I swear he's new.

[Shellhead]

Grunge totally blew it in not voting Chet out. Again. They should have gotten rid of Chet first and Kathy second. Hell, Kathy seems to think Exile Island is a vacation spot where she gets to fawn over the Favorite she's there with.

And where the hell did this Jason dude come from? Has he been there all along? I swear he's new.

It's kind of disgusting the way Kathy fawns over the Favorites. I'm surprised that she hasn't asked for an autograph yet. It was even more surprising that Ozzie managed to stay away from her long enough to find the idol and carve a fake, though she did nearly catch him at it.

I didn't notice Jason until last week. Joel, Erik, and Jason all have that late '80s hair band thing going, so you have to pick up on other features to recognize which one is Jason. And I vaguely remember him as the guy who staked out that little cave as his own private shelter.

[DonC]

Is it just me or do the Fans look like they go to Hair & Make-Up before Tribal Council?

[Shellhead]

Is it just me or do the Fans look like they go to Hair & Make-Up before Tribal Council?

I hadn't noticed that, but Chet does seem to have discovered a natural hair gel on the island.

[Shellhead]

From the previews for next week, we know there is going to be a random swap of tribemates, one of those grab a random buff deals. Not knowing the actual new teams, who stands to gain or lose the most from this kind of change?

The Fans have nothing to lose from a change-up. Their pathetic survival skills have been hurting them lately, due to lack of sleep and excessive exposure to the rain. And Joel won't have to face the consequences for voting out two normal people in favor of two older and weaker players.

Jonathan, Ami and Eliza have nothing to lose, because they were all lined up for a trip to Cirie's chopping block.

Ozzy and James are probably going to be just fine, because whichever team they land on, they will be considered valuable assets.

So I'm thinking that the three players with the most to lose in the swap will be Amanda, Parvati and Cirie. Especially Cirie. All three of them were playing a social game, though at least Amanda has some athleticism to fall back on, and Parvati won a solo challenge or two during her previous Survivor experience. Cirie is worthless. The conventional wisdom is that she is a strong social player, but I'm not seeing that this season. She made a big power play last week, but she did it in a way that left the majority of her tribe, including at least two of her new allies, very unhappy. And she is a dud in challenges.

There are only a couple of reasons why Cirie might not be going home next. First, she might end up on the team that wins immunity next week. Or second, she might end up on the team with Chet, who is even more deserving of the next ticket out of the game.

Btw, I took a peek at the Television Without Pity recaps of this game so far, and the title for last week was a hilarious reference to Cirie's power play: "I Should Be Carried on the Chariot-Type Thing."

http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/Survivor/Stories/I-Should-Be-Carried-On-The-Chariot-Type-Thing

[J. Robb]

I couldn't believe how easily Tracy played Joel, it was like calling Marty McFly "chicken". You have to give her credit for keeping her little three-person alliance safe.

I'm looking forward to next week's tribe mix-up, should make things interesting.

[Zero Hunter]

Joel has got to be one of the most guttless big guys I have seen on this show. He is about as thick as cement. To keep letting himself get talked into keeping the dead weight because he is scared of waht might happen down the road is jsut assine. I hate to tell him but if they merge he is going to be one of the first guys to go since he is such a bigguy, and pissing off half of your tribe to align with the 3 weakest palyers in the game is not going to save his ass. I just hope he gets called out by the other members he screwed over last week.

[marshal99]

He's indeed a caveman , he really doesn't have much up there but luckily for them , there's a swap next week if not , they would have surely lost again and again.
Guess the producers of survivor doesn't want to see that happen.

[Hi-Fi]

LOL. I loved how Tracy played Joel.

[marshal99]

At least next week , we'll see how the caveman react to dragging the worthless carcass of Chet around in the challenge. :D Instant karma.

[La Fea]

LOL. I loved how Tracy played Joel.

Me, too! I hope she makes it far.

This season is weird for me. The tribal councils are more exciting, but I really am distracted by having the favorites around as I really don't care about the fans at all (except Tracy and to an extent Kathy's gawkyness).

I wish they would've included Michelle Yi (from Fiji). She got jipped and she was freaking adorable.

[Zero Hunter]

I seriously am starting to wonder if anyone on this damn show has a flipping clue. Lets keep around the halfdead guy since he is weak and we can beat him. As much as I thought Joel was a gutless tool I think Ozzy just passed him on the dumbass scale. I honeslty can see no reason at all why he would get rid of the strongest guy on his team this fast and keep the weakest person on the show. I hope this comes back to bite him in the ass the same way it did Joel, and I hope to see gutless Ozzy take the walk of shame next week just for being that stupid.

[J. Robb]

This reminds me of the All-Star season (not surprisingly, since it's half All-Stars), everyone is thinking endgame right from the beginning and its terrible strategy. Survivor at its best is like watching a good chess match, it's no fun watching dumb people just make random moves.

That said, it was fun seeing Joel's own "strategy" get used against him. His final words were hilarious- "How could they keep a guy like Chet instead of me?" For the same reason you kept him, you idiot!

Looks like Penner might have to leave next week. I hope he doesn't, but I probably would- living in the jungle is a bad place to have an infected wound.

[La Fea]

I think keeping Chet this week made a lot more sense than Joel's weird strategy last week.

Obviously, Tracey and Chet don't want Chet to leave. The All-Stars don't want to face Joel later on and they want to keep their numbers high (even if they lose they still have 3 more "Fans" to vote off).

[Shellhead]

This reminds me of the All-Star season (not surprisingly, since it's half All-Stars), everyone is thinking endgame right from the beginning and its terrible strategy. Survivor at its best is like watching a good chess match, it's no fun watching dumb people just make random moves.

That said, it was fun seeing Joel's own "strategy" get used against him. His final words were hilarious- "How could they keep a guy like Chet instead of me?" For the same reason you kept him, you idiot!

Looks like Penner might have to leave next week. I hope he doesn't, but I probably would- living in the jungle is a bad place to have an infected wound.

I agree that this hasn't been a good season, in terms of strategy. But there is still entertainment value to be found. After the reward challenge, while they were still bound together, there was a brief hilarious exchange between Joel and Chet:

Chet: I think that I hurt my head.
Joel: I don't care.
Chet: I know.

I hope that this doesn't turn into one of those horrid seasons like Pearl Islands, where only weak, stupid and annoying people make it to the final four. But it's starting to shape up that way. I know that some viewers disliked Joel, but he was more interesting than most of the rest of the Fans put together. Chet is indeed a limp dishrag, and it will give me no pleasure watching him flop around on the ground in lieu of actually competing to win something, anything in this game. How the hell did he even make it through casting? How did Chet "survive" casting?

Did anybody notice that Pavrati was one of the last people chosen by either tribe? She started to get this panicky look on her face.

It will be a shame if "Penner" leaves for medical reasons next week. Once he escaped the death trap of his original tribe, he had a decent chance of forging a new alliance that could carry him far in this game.

I'm very disappointed in Ozzy, but it's worth remembering that Yul did all the scheming for them back on his original season. At least it looks like his fake idol will pay off, as the preview indicates that Jason was just clever enough to find it, and just stupid enough to believe that Ozzy's quick knock-off is the real deal.

Is it just me, or are Eliza and Ami not exactly pals this season? Sure, Eliza betrayed her in their original series together, but once you get near the final four, that stuff happens. I know that they are in different tribes right now, but I expect them both to survive to the merger. Of course, I missed the first episode of this season, so maybe I missed their joyful reunion.

Both of the couples seemed to be keeping things low-key after the shuffling of tribes. Was this just the way the episode was edited? Or are they thinking of being discrete for now until they can re-emerge as a dominant voting bloc later in the game?

Unlike others posting in this thread, I don't like Tracy. It was funny how easily she manipulated Joel, but when he demanded to hear her reasoning last week, she lapsed briefly into some bizarre nonsense about being intuitive, very intuitive. Her intuition should have tipped her off that Chet is not only one of the weakest contestants in the history of the game, but that he is also a lazy wanker who does almost zero work around camp. At least he's taking care of the chickens, and at least he has the self-awareness to identify with the chickens. Chet doesn't have any delusions that he will win this game, he knows that he's a loser and chicken, and that chickens ultimately end up on the chopping block.

Cirie didn't have much to say this week, which sadly leaves me to believe that she will be around for many episodes to come. Still, I could barely stand to see her smug face as Joel got voted out. I hope she suffers a twinge of anguish every time her team loses a reward challenge, as she basically forfeited those rewards in favor of a losing strategy. Notice when Ozzy told his real allies that he found the idol, he didn't tell Cirie. And Amanda was glad that he didn't tell Cirie. So much for Cirie running their little alliance, she was never really a member, just a vote. Maybe she should prepared for this season by watching some old episodes of The Fifth Wheel.

I still can't get into the Fans much. Sure the only difference between them and the Favorites should be one season of Survivor or less, but they just seem so pathetic. I thought that Kathy's hat would blast right off her head when she found that she would actually get on a team with some of the Favorites... her joy was disturbing. Their campsite was laughably bad, especially when the evening tide extinguished their cooking fire. And that was a real Warner Brothers moment when Jeff ran face first into that tree during the reward challenge.

[Shade]

But there is still entertainment value to be found. After the reward challenge, while they were still bound together, there was a brief hilarious exchange between Joel and Chet:

Chet: I think that I hurt my head.
Joel: I don't care.
Chet: I know.


I have to say I haven't been watching but sporadically this season so I don't know all the personalities, but after watching the challenge, and the way Joel viciously dragged Chet around and showed not one single ounce of care for what damage he may have done to the man, and then the above exchange afterwards....well after that the only "entertainment value" was seeing Neanderthal douche bag voted off. It just made me sick watching him. I'm all for being competitive....but he didn't even take a chance to work WITH Chet...just bull in a china shop drag the man around. Asshat deserved to go.

[DonC]

I How the hell did he even make it through casting? How did Chet "survive" casting?

I was wondering about both him and Kathy.

It will be a shame if "Penner" leaves for medical reasons next week. Once he escaped the death trap of his original tribe, he had a decent chance of forging a new alliance that could carry him far in this game.

I hope he stays, too. He looks like he's actually having fun out there. That thing with his leg was gross, though. Showing the actual hole being cleaned out and stiched up was a little much.

Both of the couples seemed to be keeping things low-key after the shuffling of tribes. Was this just the way the episode was edited? Or are they thinking of being discrete for now until they can re-emerge as a dominant voting bloc later in the game?

I'm thinking they realized making such alliances known was a bad idea.

[marshal99]

Karma came back and bite Joel in the ass big time , haha ! Love it , the caveman got what he deserved.

Oz knows that Chet is a worthless bag of bones but he also knows that Joel is playing the game very hard (as shown by his power play so early on and voting off Mikey instead of worthless Chet) and is far too unreliable hence why Joel went first.
At this point , Oz he needs to reach out and form new alliances because he's on a bit of shakey ground.

I really hope that this season will not be a season where the worthless , weak survivors are the ones who survived because the oz tribe , they are the dominant ones now - Tracey the leader , useless chet , Cirie & most likely Ami.

[Zero Hunter]

I have to say I haven't been watching but sporadically this season so I don't know all the personalities, but after watching the challenge, and the way Joel viciously dragged Chet around and showed not one single ounce of care for what damage he may have done to the man, and then the above exchange afterwards....well after that the only "entertainment value" was seeing Neanderthal douche bag voted off. It just made me sick watching him. I'm all for being competitive....but he didn't even take a chance to work WITH Chet...just bull in a china shop drag the man around. Asshat deserved to go.

Yeah but if you had watched the whole season you would have sene what a total waste Chet is. I can almost guarante that if he would have been partnered with anyone else on that team it would have been pretty much the same result only with less dragging. Chet is the laziest most non physical player to ever paly this game.

[Shellhead]

Chet seems to live life by Henry VIII's guidelines.

1. Never stand when you can sit.

2. Never sit when you can lie down.

3. Go to the bathroom as often as possible.

Seriously, back at camp, everybody else helps out to varying degrees. Meanwhile, Chet sleeps, Chet lies around on the ground, Chet sits in the shallow water, Chet complains mildly about his unpopularity, Chet tells the camera that he expects that he's getting voted out next. Imagine every previous lazy Survivor competitor moving in a blur compared to the inert worthlessness that is Chet.

[Shellhead]

I was wondering about both him and Kathy.

Kathy is kind of lame, but compared to Chet, she is playing this game pretty hard. Remember that episode where she and Cirie swam around to all those islands and almost found the idol? And when Yau-man pointed out that temporary individual immunity idol, Kathy picked it up, while Chet might have just stared longingly at it, hoping that a wave would somehow lift it up into his hand.

[Shade]

Yeah but if you had watched the whole season you would have sene what a total waste Chet is. I can almost guarante that if he would have been partnered with anyone else on that team it would have been pretty much the same result only with less dragging. Chet is the laziest most non physical player to ever paly this game.

That doesn't bother me...it's his choice. Being dragged around and physically tossed around like a ragdoll by some overly competitive moron was not. He wasn't even given a chance to get his footing. Which heat of the moment maybe....but afterwards when the guy says he hit his head and he says "I don't care" I couldn't wait to not have to see that hole on my tv again.

I'll take lazy over cruel.

[titanfan]

Yes, Joel was interesting and his being voted off was one of the most hilariously satisfying moments in Survivor history. Don't worry about Chet going to far, I still think there's a long way to go before the merge and he's totally disposable. But the fact that everyone keeps using him as a disposable pawn is hilarious. To me, he easily overtakes Mama Kim and Katie as most worthless Survivors ever. He's so lucky he has Tracy.

Cirie made the right decision--for her. How dense was Jason for basically going up to Cirie and telling her "it was time to get rid of the weak?"

I hope that this doesn't turn into one of those horrid seasons like Pearl Islands, where only weak, stupid and annoying people make it to the final four.

*gasp* Pearl Islands was the best season of Survivor for me. Everyone was playing the game really hard and seeing everyone jostle for positioning and their willingness to backstab everyone else was awesome.

Is it just me, or are Eliza and Ami not exactly pals this season? Sure, Eliza betrayed her in their original series together, but once you get near the final four, that stuff happens. I know that they are in different tribes right now, but I expect them both to survive to the merger. Of course, I missed the first episode of this season, so maybe I missed their joyful reunion.

Has Ami been on this season? Hard to tell. Bring back the man-hating bitch that we all grew to love (to hate). I think she and Eliza were close earlier, but as Eliza started to get in trouble she started hanging out with the "in crowd". From the previews, it looks like Ami is thinking about defecting next week--it makes sense and she's on the outs with her current group of favoritse.

I really hope that this season will not be a season where the worthless , weak survivors are the ones who survived because the oz tribe , they are the dominant ones now - Tracey the leader , useless chet , Cirie & most likely Ami.

Did you see Ami on her season? She was a beast. Hardly useless. And Physical Weakness doesn't imply a worthless player. Tracey is awesome and Cirie is proving that she has game. (Although she might realize how tenuous her position is) And there's also lovable Yau Man.

[Shellhead]

*gasp* Pearl Islands was the best season of Survivor for me. Everyone was playing the game really hard and seeing everyone jostle for positioning and their willingness to backstab everyone else was awesome.


Scoutmaster Lil made me ill with her incessant whining and her sheer failure as a human being. By contrast, that sneaky latina woman who was always glaring at people was a real charmer, the one who survived every vote and then won by saying "as long as it isn't me." And then there was that clown Osten from Boston, the second most physically fit dude ever on Survivor (after James the Gravedigger), who spent an afternoon tossing a frisbee around on the beach with a tribemate, then told Jeff Probst that he was giving up the game because his body was breaking down.

Rupert the pirate was cool, the very civilized Savage was cool, and even the devious and skeevy Johnny Fairplay was good for some laughs. But none of them lasted as long as Scoutmaster Lil, who was deservedly voted out first and then unjustly brought back in.

[J. Robb]

I'm very disappointed in Ozzy, but it's worth remembering that Yul did all the scheming for them back on his original season.
And that Ozzy pretty much screwed over his original tribe last time by getting them to throw the second immunity challenge. He's good at physical challenges, but I've never thought he's a good player.

[titanfan]

Yeah, I definitely agree that Lil was the worst part about Pearl Islands.

And that Ozzy pretty much screwed over his original tribe last time by getting them to throw the second immunity challenge. He's good at physical challenges, but I've never thought he's a good player.

When Jason said: "This was like a negotiation of Superpowers" when Joel and Ozzy were negotiating was meant to make us roll our eyes, I think.

[Shellhead]

When Jason said: "This was like a negotiation of Superpowers" when Joel and Ozzy were negotiating was meant to make us roll our eyes, I think.

That was Erik who said that. Jason was the guy who ran face first into the tree during the reward challenge, while tied to James. It's easier to tell them apart now that they are on separate tribes. Erik looks like '70s celebrity Leif Garrett, while Jason looks more like Joe Dirt. Similar length hair, but different styling.

[marshal99]

Did you see Ami on her season? She was a beast. Hardly useless. And Physical Weakness doesn't imply a worthless player. Tracey is awesome and Cirie is proving that she has game. (Although she might realize how tenuous her position is) And there's also lovable Yau Man.

Ami hasn't really stood out this season and her alliance were on the losing end after losing yau man.
Tracey is manipulative but she's hardly that strong in the challenges and Cirie is just weak. Because she doesn't pose a threat , she tends to coast by unseen.
Chet on the other hand have specfically cost his tribe 2 challenges , doesn't contribute anything to the tribe and is a general waste of space.
Yau Man has actually proven his worth in challenges AND within the tribe so he's actually a strong player in the game.

If this season has a final 4 of Tracey , Cirie , Ami & Chet , i'll cry.

[Conn Seanery]

I hate to see Chet stay, but having Joel leave was totally worth it (as a viewer). Nothing's more satisfying than seeing someone who thinks they're in control of things get their arse handed to them. Chuckling during his first two votes (he must've expected Chet & Tracy to go after him), and when that third vote for Joel got read and his face just dropped...priceless.

[La Fea]

Did you see Ami on her season? She was a beast. Hardly useless. And Physical Weakness doesn't imply a worthless player. Tracey is awesome and Cirie is proving that she has game. (Although she might realize how tenuous her position is) And there's also lovable Yau Man.

I agree except I don't think Yau Man is physically weak.

That guy's a powerhouse! ;)

I hate to see Chet stay, but having Joel leave was totally worth it (as a viewer). Nothing's more satisfying than seeing someone who thinks they're in control of things get their arse handed to them. Chuckling during his first two votes (he must've expected Chet & Tracy to go after him), and when that third vote for Joel got read and his face just dropped...priceless.

Exactly.

Jeff said to expect many blindsides this season and that certainly seems to be the case.

I don't think Joel was interesting anyway. He made Tracey fun, but he was a pawn himself and his mean, monotone self just had to go once he was no longer needed.

[Shellhead]

I would absolutely enjoy the next couple of episodes if they can arrange an award challenge where Tracy is roped to Chet in an obstacle course, and then Cirie is roped to Chet during a swimming challenge.

[Hi-Fi]

Tracy is being super smart. By keeping Chet, she keeps a shield. Once he's gone, she knows she's next, so she's playing the game very well. Ozzy and Amanda were stupid to fall for Cerie's proposition. Now the two of them are alone.

Judging by editing and lack of screentime, I'd say James, Ami, Amanda, Alexis and Natalie might go far. They still don't have big storylines going on.

Chet, Tracy, Ozzy, Cerie, Jonathan and Kathy were featured proeminently until this week, so I expect them to be eliminated soon.

Eric is so naive, the poor dude. It's funny how Ozzy is his hero.

[marshal99]

If Joel the caveman hasn't made his power move so early in the game , likely Chet & Kathy would have been gone and i have no doubt , the big guy would still be around in the game.

[DoctorDoom]

Poor, poor Joel. You just weren't smart enough were you? THey just don't make fans like they used to... :p

[marshal99]

Well , at least Joel is taking his survivor infamy to TNA wrestling. See how long he can last there. ;)

[DonC]

Tv Guide has some spoilers about upcoming episodes.

Penner is removed from the show due to his leg injury. Is the only cast-specific item.

Also, someone quits. Someone one finds the fake Immunity Idol and thinks it's real. And someone does "the stupidest thing in Survivor history."

As for the romances, Ozzy and Amanda are for real and allegedly still dating. James and Parvoti, well, she was playing him. But he isn't complaining.

[Shellhead]

Tv Guide has some spoilers about upcoming episodes.

Also, someone quits. Someone one finds the fake Immunity Idol and thinks it's real. And someone does "the stupidest thing in Survivor history."

As for the romances, Ozzy and Amanda are for real and allegedly still dating. James and Parvoti, well, she was playing him. But he isn't complaining.

I don't look at spoilers for Survivor, but I like to speculate about what's coming up. So here are my predictions:

1. Chet quits.
2. Jason finds the fake immunity idol and thinks it's real, cause we saw a preview at the end of the last episode that showed that was apparently happening.
3. But that last one is tough... stupidest thing in Survivor history? James really messed up in China when he got voted out while holding two immunity idols, but I would like to think that he learned from his mistake. Besides, he generally seems pretty suspicious and level-headed. Since Ozzy is currently in possession of an immunity idol, I'm going to guess that he's the one who messes up. How? I dunno, maybe he gives it away at tribal council to protect Amanda and then gets voted out.

[DoctorDoom]

Tv Guide has some spoilers about upcoming episodes.

Penner is removed from the show due to his leg injury. Is the only cast-specific item.

Also, someone quits. Someone one finds the fake Immunity Idol and thinks it's real. And someone does "the stupidest thing in Survivor history."

As for the romances, Ozzy and Amanda are for real and allegedly still dating. James and Parvoti, well, she was playing him. But he isn't complaining.
Well, things are about to start popping.

[J. Robb]

And someone does "the stupidest thing in Survivor history."
Stupider than James last season? I can't imagine what you'd have to do to top that...

[DoctorDoom]

Stupider than James last season? I can't imagine what you'd have to do to top that...
I'd be hard-pressed to find a stupider example.

[Shellhead]

I'd be hard-pressed to find a stupider example.

You have to admit that the whole fan tribe is looking pretty dumb so far. Mikey B thought he was running this game, and even after he found out that he was wrong, he was still shocked that Joel betrayed him the exact same way again. Then there's that whole rift leading to the first tribe in Survivor history so divided that they were living in two separate shelters. And both of those shelters were trash, unable to keep out rain and not elevated from the ground to minimize the insect bites. And even James knew better than to build the campfire on the beach, where the tide comes in every day. I could see the fans making that mistake the first time they built a fire. But here it is more than two weeks into the game, and they are apparently okay with having the tide wipe out their fire every day.

[Shellhead]

A funny quote from Television Without Pity about last week's episode:

"The "Fans" return to camp, where Jason sulks around the fire and tells us he thought his tribe would make the "right" decision, but they didn't. I think they did. Mikey was annoying. Then again, I'm not starving and I don't need Mikey's physical strength to help me win food reward challenges. Also, I brush my hair. So Jason and I are very different."

[DonC]

Finally!

And Penner being removed was the spoiler I posted earlier.

[titanfan]

Chet, You Moron! Thanks To You And Your Quitter Attitude, You Robbed Us Of What Would Have Been The Best Tribal Council Ever!!!!!

[DonC]

Chet, You Moron! Thanks To You And Your Quitter Attitude, You Robbed Us Of What Would Have Been The Best Tribal Council Ever!!!!!


I think the best Tribal Council ever will be if Jason tries to play his fake immunity idol.

[J. Robb]

So... what happened there? Tracy and Chet voted for Erik? Was that just an attempt by Tracy to get in good with the others?

Tracy has been a pretty good player in this game so far, but the mistake she made was going after Ozzy. I think Ami would have went along with the plan to oust Cirie, but she's not dumb enough to cripple their tribe by voting out Ozzy. But in the end, it was still better to vote out Chet. Even if he stayed and helped blindside someone, he was going to quit soon anyways. Better to be down one player than two.

And what a comparison between Chet and Jonathan. Penner had to pretty much be forced out of the game, he wanted to stay so bad. I felt sorry for him, he was fighting hard even on the gimpy leg. Meanwhile, Chet seems mildly injured and he gives up. Sheesh.

Anyways, I liked the "blocked passage" challenge. It's nice how they keep coming up with new stuff in Survivor, instead of just relying on the same challenges over and over. The immunity challenge wasn't new, of course, but it was fun anyways, especially since James and his women did it a "new" way.

[marshal99]

The difference between Jonathan and Chet is quite clear , Jonathan came to win the game , Chet is here for a holiday , a break from whatever work he does outside.

From day 1 , Chet has been lounging around like he's in a holiday camp. I don't know how the producers picked him out as a hardcore "fan" but i'm pretty sure there are thousands of fans who would work , try and play harder than Chet will ever do.

[DoctorDoom]

I thought Penner was awesome, even on one leg.

[Shellhead]

If I was Tracy, I would have dragged Chet back to the obstacle course and bashed his head against a tree a few times. The contrast between a quitter like Chet and and a serious player like Jonathan was drawn sharply last night. The only reason Jonathan left the game was because a medic told him that he could lose his entire leg if he didn't. Chet left because he had a booboo on his foot and because he was too lazy to keep playing. Too bad Tracy wasn't smart enough to dump Chet weeks ago and pick a stronger ally.

And it was very disappointing to see Jonathan leave, because I wanted to see his alliance with Eliza move into action... it looked like they were going to recruit some fans, dump James and Parvati, and then try to run the table after merger. It would have been entertaining if Ami executed the same plan in her tribe, but of course Chet let them down, because that is apparently the only thing that Chet does well: let people down.

This is sizing up to be a season of stupidity. Everybody is playing too far ahead, which means that good players keep getting blindsided, leaving us with increasingly lame teams. At the rate things are going, Ozzie and James could be gone before the merger, and I might be gone from the viewing audience. I'm not waiting around to watch a final jury that features Cirie and the two boring Fan women who never talk to the camera.

[xnef1025]

Johnathan got robbed by bad challenge design. I kinda want them to give him another shot to come back if he wants to. Like they did for Steph and Bobby John.

[titanfan]

This is sizing up to be a season of stupidity. Everybody is playing too far ahead, which means that good players keep getting blindsided, leaving us with increasingly lame teams. At the rate things are going, Ozzie and James could be gone before the merger, and I might be gone from the viewing audience. I'm not waiting around to watch a final jury that features Cirie and the two boring Fan women who never talk to the camera.

On seasons where there is a lack of balance in the cast, you tend to have seasons like these where it's a battle of the mediocres. Too many strategists were cast and not enough people who used their physical abilities. Once one side starts getting weak, it becomes more ok for the other side to ditch their strong physical competitors as well. Normally even thinking about a move like dumping Ozzy would be ridiculous--but when your competition is James and a bunch of women, it's not really that dumb. (Ozzy doesn't have the brute strength and James can't swim anyway)

[La Fea]

Here's an interesting interview with Chet:

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/exclusive-chet-welch-dishes-on-survivor-micronesia-injury-ouster-6732.php

[Hi-Fi]

Ugh! Chet ruined Tracy's game! She's screwed now. She's out next time they lose for sure.

[J. Robb]

Speaking of Tracy... Is there such a thing as nipple implants?

[La Fea]

Ugh! Chet ruined Tracy's game! She's screwed now. She's out next time they lose for sure.

Seriously! At least Tracy contributed (working) strategy (from what we've seen) and he couldn't even try to help her out when it required minimal effort (there are the same number of letters in Erik as Ozzy).

[Hi-Fi]

Seriously! At least Tracy contributed (working) strategy (from what we've seen) and he couldn't even try to help her out when it required minimal effort (there are the same number of letters in Erik as Ozzy).
Tracy has been saving his ass since day one. He thanks by pratically eliminating her. LOL.

I want Jason to use the fake idol soooo much! And get eliminated. James should be the only man on that tribe, since it annoys him so much. heh.

Alexis and Natalie continue to be invisible. This means to me that they go far.

[La Fea]

Tracy has been saving his ass since day one. He thanks by pratically eliminating her. LOL.

I want Jason to use the fake idol soooo much! And get eliminated. James should be the only man on that tribe, since it annoys him so much. heh.

Alexis and Natalie continue to be invisible. This means to me that they go far.

I want to see him use it, too!!! He's so damn smug as it is I'll relish it more than when Jamie did it last season. :o

Alexis and Natalie I see going far, too. They're both appear strong yet no one's talking about them and they've not given anyone any reason to talk about them. That's a perfect position to be in.

As dumb as the Fans are, I can only see likewise low-key players like Ami or Amanda making it far from the Favorites.

I hope we get an all-strong, all bold final three this year. All the really nice guys seem to be winning, and while it was interesting to see Yul and his underdog tribe take it to the top, China's finale was just full of bore.

[marshal99]

I hope all the "fans" go before any of the favorites because none of them are really good enough. Hope they get rid of Tracey & Kathy next because i don't like either of them.
It's one thing to be old but if you look at the likes of Yau Man and Jonathan , they actually contributed to their tribe and in the challenges. Neither Kathy or Tracey has actually done much , All Tracey has done so far is trying to save her own ass by saving Chet, she might be able to convince the alpha male caveman to vote off Mary & Mikey but i sincerely hope Ami & Cirie is not sway by her.

At least Jonathan wasn't bitter about the way he went out in the day after video on the CBS official website.

[DonC]

Here's an interesting interview with Chet:

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/exclusive-chet-welch-dishes-on-survivor-micronesia-injury-ouster-6732.php


So he wasn't panty waist hes was made out to be. His foot was injured and had become infected (at least that's his story). Interesting how the producers can creatively edit these things.

[J. Robb]

So he wasn't panty waist hes was made out to be. His foot was injured and had become infected (at least that's his story). Interesting how the producers can creatively edit these things.
Possibly- but also remember Chet's version may be a little "creative" as well.

[Shellhead]

Chet's a liar. If his injury was so bad, why wasn't there any sign of treatment by the medics? We saw them treat Jonathan. Amie had her knee wrapped after banging it in that same challenge that Jonathan was injured in. But Chet's little ouch looked like a simple blister, and there was no bandages or anything. He's trying to make himself look better, but the reality is that he is a worthless piece of crap, and it's sad that he was cast for this season as some kind of superfan, over all the other potential contestants.

[marshal99]

Chet is just trying to make himself looked good. He's useless , a waste of space on the show , taking up a spot that thousands would have love to be in.

[titanfan]

Alexis and Natalie continue to be invisible. This means to me that they go far.

I honestly can't tell the difference between Alexis and Natalie at this point. Hopefully they do something instead of being UTR the whole season like a Vecepia or Katie.

[J. Robb]

I honestly can't tell the difference between Alexis and Natalie at this point. Hopefully they do something instead of being UTR the whole season like a Vecepia or Katie.
I think the "under the radar" strategy is a perfectly valid way to play the game, the only problem is it makes for bad TV.

[La Fea]

Chet's a liar. If his injury was so bad, why wasn't there any sign of treatment by the medics? We saw them treat Jonathan. Amie had her knee wrapped after banging it in that same challenge that Jonathan was injured in. But Chet's little ouch looked like a simple blister, and there was no bandages or anything. He's trying to make himself look better, but the reality is that he is a worthless piece of crap, and it's sad that he was cast for this season as some kind of superfan, over all the other potential contestants.

It could be because it didn't fit with his "character". It might've been better to see him go off in a rather lousy way like he did.

I'm not saying Chet isn't a liar, but reality tv producers basically "script" non-scripted television.

[J. Robb]

Just a head's up, in case you didn't know: Survivor is on Wednesday this week.

[La Fea]

Just a head's up, in case you didn't know: Survivor is on Wednesday this week.

That's...weird.

Thanks for the heads up! Hopefully AI will be at 8 or else one of my three reality shows @7 is going to get the boot.

[KittyPryde]

That's...weird.
Actually, it's tradition....CBS shows the NCAA basketball tourney every year in March....and those first crazy weeks have jam-packed non-stop hoops on Thursdays and Fridays....so Survivor always gets bumped to Wednesday that first week. Second week is either bumped as well or else just postponed (which seems to be the case this year where there currently appears to be no Survivor scheduled for 3/26 or 3/27...but that's usually when they do the recap show anyway).

[DoctorDoom]

You should really check out the Armchair Survior podcast after the show. The hosts are usually hilarious, and 'm just getting into their new live chat feature (which happens as the podcast is being recorded).

Anyway, I love James, but I really don't think he'll last too much longer. A shame. Such a waste of a beautiful body....

My girl-senses are tingling. Maybe I'll have to look at Ozzy from now on.

[J. Robb]

I knew Paul Stanley would quit. Why suffer for 39 days when s/he has all that KISS money in the bank??

[titanfan]

Normally, I feel nothing but contempt for the quitters. However, it was clear that pretty back early in the season that this contestant was off-kilter from the start. How did they ever past the psych exam for going on the show?

[Shellhead]

I was faked out. The camera spent so much time on Cirie that I thought she was going home tonight, or at least would be one of the usual two being voted on.

And yeah, I feel sorry for Kathy, too. She seemed like a nice person, but a few clowns short of the full circus.

Still, it was all right seeing Tracy go. She was a surprisingly strong player of the social game, but I just couldn't stand looking at her permanent bitchface anymore. And what was up with those nipples? Do they make implants for nipples now?

[J. Robb]

I have to give Eliza some credit- she's been doing great at all the puzzles in this game. She was an early target in this game for being weak, but now I would consider her a potential individual threat- I'm sure there will be at least a few puzzles in the individual immunity challenges.

[Hi-Fi]

Sad to see Tracy go. I liked the conflict she brought to Ozzy and the game. She was a great player.

Also sad for Kathy. I felt really bad for her. Now that the older trio is out, the fight is on.

OK, time for my weekly analysis of the episode's editing.

Ozzy, Cirie, Ami, Erik - BIG storyline for those guys, so I say one of them is out next. Ozzy is basically the star of this season, though. Ami and Cirie are in big danger. Ozzy is not voting Erik out, if they lose the immunity challenge again. So they better come up with a plan.

James, Jason, Eliza, Amanda - not much going on with them, but they had a lot of screentime this week. Might or might not be in danger. If James' tribe loses immunity, it's going to be between those three (Amanda being a member of the other tribe).

Parvati, Natale, Alexis - barely on camera, I'd say they're pretty safe for the time being.

[La Fea]

Sad to see Tracy go. I liked the conflict she brought to Ozzy and the game. She was a great player.

Also sad for Kathy. I felt really bad for her. Now that the older trio is out, the fight is on.

OK, time for my weekly analysis of the episode's editing.

Ozzy, Cirie, Ami, Erik - BIG storyline for those guys, so I say one of them is out next. Ozzy is basically the star of this season, though. Ami and Cirie are in big danger. Ozzy is not voting Erik out, if they lose the immunity challenge again. So they better come up with a plan.

James, Jason, Eliza, Amanda - not much going on with them, but they had a lot of screentime this week. Might or might not be in danger. If James' tribe loses immunity, it's going to be between those three (Amanda being a member of the other tribe).

Parvati, Natale, Alexis - barely on camera, I'd say they're pretty safe for the time being.

Yeah, I was sad to see Tracy go, too. She brought more of the mental gameplay than the physical and that's always fun to see.

I sorta feel bad for Kathy, sorta don't. I always hate seeing people quit on reality shows because its really a missed opportunity for someone else who would've loved to be on the show/was already eliminated. Then again, kudos for her for finally making a decision for herself. Its too bad I hear she'll be forcibly sequestered for the remainder of the season anyway.

Something gives me a weird feeling a lot of the favorites (mainly the Couples Alliance because theirs is the only seasons I've seen LOL) based on the way they're playing. I hope jury starts soon, I really want to see a lot of these guys at the final tribal council.

[marshal99]

I don't know who made the casting choices but they ought to have their eyes and judgement checked , seriously the casting for the so-called "fans" are downright terrible , they have two worthless quitters (both mentally and physically) on the tribe from day 1 , Kathy & Chet took a spot from thousands of people who would loved to have been in their spot. Tracey might be the only one from the fans tribe that is playing the game the hardest (unlike Joel who played it the dumbest) but then that's because she's always saving chet's ass in order to save her own , i hate seeing her b*tchface when she doesn't get her way. Glad she's gone.

Should be closed to the merge now , maybe one or two more immunity challenges before the merge. Should be interesting to see whether the couples alliance will stick together after the merge .

[xnef1025]

The merge should happen after the next episode. We're down to 11 now, so assuming we're still doing final 3, there is one more non-jury boot. The merge generally happens right before or on the episode where the first jury boot happens. The promo for next ep looked like they were still in teams, although that could just be the reward challenge.

[Hi-Fi]

Should be closed to the merge now , maybe one or two more immunity challenges before the merge. Should be interesting to see whether the couples alliance will stick together after the merge .
The preview for next episode shows Parvati creating a new alliance with Natalie and Alexis and protecting Amanda as well. Guess they don't need the men anymore. :)

[Shellhead]

The preview for next episode shows Parvati creating a new alliance with Natalie and Alexis and protecting Amanda as well. Guess they don't need the men anymore. :)

That will be a new experience for Parvati. Will she start flirting with Ami?

[Shellhead]

If this turns into an all-female game, there better be a mud-wrestling tournament coming up.

[DonC]

That will be a new experience for Parvati. Will she start flirting with Ami?

If this turns into an all-female game, there better be a mud-wrestling tournament coming up.


Ami's probably thinking the same thing.

[Zero Hunter]

I can understand why the women would want to make a big move very soon. All of them have to know that if they let Ozzy and James survive until the merge it is going to be major trouble to get them out once they start going for individual imunitys. I can see Cirie making a move on getting Ozzy gone next week since she really doesn't need him anymore to keep the numbers.

[marshal99]

That will be a new experience for Parvati. Will she start flirting with Ami?


Haha , that'll be great for the viewers. We need some HLA on survivor. ;)

This season would have rank as one of the worse survivor ever if it wasn't for the "favorites". They have made this season watchable.

[Shellhead]

Haha , that'll be great for the viewers. We need some HLA on survivor. ;)

This season would have rank as one of the worse survivor ever if it wasn't for the "favorites". They have made this season watchable.

That's a scary thought. Imagine if there had been two "fan" teams of the same general quality as this fan team, and no team of "favorites." Four would have quit, more would have been injured, both shelters would suck, and at least four people would be hiding from the cameras. Are they running out of worthy contestants, or did casting just screw up this time around?

[J. Robb]

Maybe the lesson is simply: being a huge fan of the show doesn't guarantee you'll be good on it.

[titanfan]

That's a scary thought. Imagine if there had been two "fan" teams of the same general quality as this fan team, and no team of "favorites." Four would have quit, more would have been injured, both shelters would suck, and at least four people would be hiding from the cameras. Are they running out of worthy contestants, or did casting just screw up this time around?

I read an article about how people applying for reality shows have been way down lately. Don't quote me on these numbers, but it was something like Survivor was getting 500,000 applications the first few seasons, now they are getting about 50k per season. (but they haven't done much open casting lately)
I think the Cowboy was the only contestant who actually applied last season, all of the rest were scouted. (Which is a problem because when you scout someone, they might not want to be there as much as someone who applied)

[Shellhead]

I read an article about how people applying for reality shows have been way down lately. Don't quote me on these numbers, but it was something like Survivor was getting 500,000 applications the first few seasons, now they are getting about 50k per season. (but they haven't done much open casting lately)
I think the Cowboy was the only contestant who actually applied last season, all of the rest were scouted. (Which is a problem because when you scout someone, they might not want to be there as much as someone who applied)

That's interesting. I suppose people have realized that they might acquire a bad reputation if they do something stupid or horrible on network television. Still, you would think that if you have 50,000 applicants for 16-20 openings, you should still be able to get some really good contestants.

[Shellhead]

In a case of unfortunate timing, the first episode of Survivor in two weeks happens to be one that rewards recollection of the last few episodes. Specifically, I was struggling to remember what Ami said to who before the last few tribal councils.

Anyway, it was an interesting episode. Both Eric and Jason really stepped up their respective games this time, and I almost even liked Jason for a minute there. It was a little painful watching both Eric and Ami play the social game against each other for the win, because I have liked both of them this season. (As opposed to last time Ami was on Survivor, when she seemed like a harsh combination of Tea Leoni and Sharon Stone.) I think they ultimately made the right judgment call, because Ami had the social skills to be a real threat near the end, while Eric is generally pretty obvious about whatever he is doing.

Looks like the merge is next week, which would be bad news if this was a typical tribe versus tribe merge. Instead, it looks like the Double Date Alliance will be starting out strong, bolstered by Cirie, Eric and those two invisible girls Natalie and Alexis or whatever. But Eliza left a real trail of bodies of people who thought they could beat her in her previous season of Survivor, so I expect her to try to forge an alliance of Fans.

The previews for next time did include one hilarious scene... Eliza explaining to Jason that he doesn't have the real immunity idol. "How do you know?" "Because it's just a stick!" Comedy gold. I wouldn't be surprised if Eliza had an IQ that was exactly twice Jason's.

[La Fea]

Eliza explaining to Jason that he doesn't have the real immunity idol. "How do you know?"

O...MG. I cannot wait for that!

Ozzy will be in trouble.

I loved tonight's episode! This season really gives me a feeling of suspense at tribal councel, which really didn't happen last season nor does it happen on shows like Big Brother (but boy...I'll keep my mouth shut lol).

I really thought things turned around for Ami even though the episode basically screamed she was going to go. I just really felt Cirie and Amanda breaking, but I was rooting for Erik so I'm happy.

[Shellhead]

I could tell that Amanda was going to vote for Ami to go, because Amanda had such dead expression at tribal council. I can't really verbalize it better than that, but the lively response she had to Ami's words earlier in the day before that group hug... gone.

Cirie seemed like she was planning to vote against Eric, and it just didn't make sense to me. She understood that she couldn't trust Ami, who had previously voted against Cirie, and had been plotting to undermine the Favorites alliance practically since the moment it formed on episode two or three. But then she says she can't trust Eric either, because he, uh, um, I dunno. Because he never did anything against Cirie and worships the ground that Ozzie walks on? I'm just not impressed with Cirie's ability to form coherent thoughts. However, she may have joined the right alliance at the right time, and that could take her to the final tribal council, especially since she can probably drive a wedge between James and Parvati.

[J. Robb]

It was really obvious how that tribe just lets Ozzy walk all over them. I'm quite sure it was Ozzy's idea to send himself to Exile Island (who else would say "Hey! Let's sit out our strongest competitor!"?), he's never been a team player. And then when he gets back, it takes very little for Erik to convince him that Ami was gunning for him, so it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks- Ozzy wants Ami gone, Ami is going.

Next week's merge should shake things up nicely, and the scene with Jason and Eliza does look hilarious.

[KittyPryde]

It was really obvious how that tribe just lets Ozzy walk all over them. I'm quite sure it was Ozzy's idea to send himself to Exile Island (who else would say "Hey! Let's sit out our strongest competitor!"?),
But for this past week, the OTHER team picked who was sitting out....so it was James' tribe who circled Ozzy to send him to Exile Island and sit out...Ozzy wouldn't have been able to influence the decision since the two tribes didn't get together during the "nomination" process.

[marshal99]

At the beginning of the episode , i'm entranced by Natalie's chest , couldn't look past anything but her chest since this episode is probably her most exposure and boy , her chest really stood out especially in that flimsy wet t-shirt of hers early on. :D

[J. Robb]

But for this past week, the OTHER team picked who was sitting out....so it was James' tribe who circled Ozzy to send him to Exile Island and sit out...Ozzy wouldn't have been able to influence the decision since the two tribes didn't get together during the "nomination" process.
Ah, I could have sworn I saw the names of their own tribe on the list, but I guess not. I thought that was kind of weird.

[Shellhead]

What would have been really weird is if Ozzie's tribe had thought harder about the balance clue, and picked Jason the gymnast to go to Exile Island. They might have won.

More importantly, we the viewers would have had the hilarious spectacle of Jason and Ozzie together on Exile Island. Ozzie would be trying to find out if Jason took the decoy, while Jason would be wondering if Ozzie had the real thing, and both would be trying to act very casual about the whole thing. I guess they would both need to act like they hadn't found the immunity idol yet, and then logically go looking for it and of course not finding it. It would have been awkward and funny.

[Hi-Fi]

Aw, that was a sad tribal council. I was bummed to see Amy go. She was a sweetheart at the end. And also hot.

OK, so we have the merge now. Eliza and Jason are in big trouble, now that Erik, Alexis and Natalie are in the favorites alliances. I see no other possibility besides one of them going home. Unless they win the challenge, of course.

OK, this week's episode editing analysis:

Ozzie, Amanda, Cirie, Erik, Jason, Eliza: they were featured big time this week. One of them is going away next episode, I'd guess. Ozzie is a big threath, but he has a well-though alliance to save him. Amanda does as well. Erik, Cerie, Jason and Eliza NEED to win the Immunity Idol. The last two, especially.

James, Parvati: some screentime, Parvati more so than James. I think they're pretty safe right now, and in a very powerful position in the game. Especially Parvati, who now has two strong alliances.

Natalie, Alexis: our invisible girls. Natalie at least spoke a little this week, but barely. It LOOKS like they're finally getting some storyline as off the merge. Amanda wants Alexis out, because she's jealous. But I really can't see that happening yet, because we know nothing about Alexis.

[DonC]

MEOW! Amanda vs. Alexis in a steel cage match.

And I don't remember Eliza being all that two-faced, but damn did people want her out. I almost wish that stick was the real hidden immunity idol. That would have been the best tribal council ever.

[La Fea]

This episode wasn't as fun(ny) as the previews made me hope!

Still, it was funny seeing Eliza's angry stares from the distance.

[J. Robb]

What's up with Natalie? All episode she looked like a cartoon character after a bomb explodes in their face.

[Shellhead]

What's up with Natalie? All episode she looked like a cartoon character after a bomb explodes in their face.

Still not as bad as that curious brown ring around Parvati's mouth last week. What was that?

[Shellhead]

This episode wasn't as fun(ny) as the previews made me hope!

Still, it was funny seeing Eliza's angry stares from the distance.

The whole conversation between Jason and Eliza about the Hidden Immunity Idol was comedy gold. "It's a f***ing stick!"

And that was an intense challenge. Cirie finally lost that smug look but was tough enough to outlast three people. Ozzie nearly drowned himself trying to win, but Jason won by a nose. Literally. If he wasn't such a jackass all the time, I might have admired him for that win.

I liked Alexis better before she started talking.

And Ozzie is starting to look like a macho version of Prince.

[marshal99]

What's up with Natalie? All episode she looked like a cartoon character after a bomb explodes in their face.

What cares about her face . All i can see is her rack. Oh boy ! :biggrin:

Too bad that it wasn't Jason that played that fake immunity idol , it would have been too hilarious to see his smug face if he had played it like the real one.

I think Parvati might be overplaying her hand too much by having so many alliances , might come back to bite her in the end.

[Shellhead]

What cares about her face . All i can see is her rack. Oh boy ! :biggrin:

Too bad that it wasn't Jason that played that fake immunity idol , it would have been too hilarious to see his smug face if he had played it like the real one.

I think Parvati might be overplaying her hand too much by having so many alliances , might come back to bite her in the end.

Yep, Parvati is going to be that kind of Survivor who makes it to the final tribal council after stabbing too many backs, only to discover there is no way to win votes from that angry jury.

[Hi-Fi]

Weekly editing analysis of the contestants:

Jason, Alexis, Ozzie, Parvati (in danger): Wow, Alexis is suddenly a big star. Lots of lines and screentime this episode, plus a brand new storyline with Ozzie and Amanda. This was probabley Jason's episode, though. He was big in this. And if he doesn't win the next immunity chalenge, he's out. Simple as that. If he wins, Amanda will have Alexis eliminated. That may be a very strong possibility, since Alexis was shoved down our throats this week. Ozzie and Parvati were featured a lot as well, but I think they're still in a good position to be eliminated next episode.

Amanda, Cirie, James, Erik: they were there and had some subplots going on: Cirie's fear of water, Amanda being jealous, etc... I think they're all safe next week.

Natalie: I'm gonna say right now this girl makes top 5.

[KittyPryde]

Really fun episode!

Erik's selling everyone on his goofy made up "Micronesian for 'good' " tribe name was good stuff.

The Eliza/Jason's "it's a ******* stick" scene was HILARIOUS.

And I had to replay the part 4 times, where Ozzy complains to Jeff about throwing the fake idol stick in the fire after it took him "hours to make it", just to rewatch James busting up laughing so hard.

That was a thoroughly enjoyable show! (with no tears shed for seeing Eliza go....)

[Zero Hunter]

I was actully kinda sad to see Eliza go, but it did make sence for the rest. She was one fo the strongest females in the game. At least she outed Ozzy as having the real idol before she left. I really just can't stand him this time around.

[COMIC GEEK]

the best part was the fake idol, i said to my wife I hope she plays it and seeing the expression on jeff's face he unwrapped it was priceless

[marshal99]

the best part was the fake idol, i said to my wife I hope she plays it and seeing the expression on jeff's face he unwrapped it was priceless

There wasn't any unusual expression on Jeff's face ?!?! :confused:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1E0nDmDKJw

[DonC]

There wasn't any unusual expression on Jeff's face ?!?! :confused:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1E0nDmDKJw


I didn't see one either. In fact, I thought he handled the fake idol with surprising seriousness. I was expecting him to say, "What the hell is this?"

[Tuan]

Wow, Ozzy never saw that one comin'. lol.

Looks like James is next!

[La Fea]

Ozzy!

One one hand, I'm glad to see his smug a** go, but on the other I just love seeing him compete and play the game (because IMO, despite this blunder of a move, he's pretty good at it on multiple levels).

Personally, I hope Amanda can pull it off and get rid of Pavarti. Amanda's been a dull bird this season so hopefully she can do something worthwhile.

[xnef1025]

Ozzy!

One one hand, I'm glad to see his smug a** go, but on the other I just love seeing him compete and play the game (because IMO, despite this blunder of a move, he's pretty good at it on multiple levels).

Personally, I hope Amanda can pull it off and get rid of Pavarti. Amanda's been a dull bird this season so hopefully she can do something worthwhile.
Ozzy is really good individually in the challenges, but that's it. He's still not so good that his tribe was able to win any important immunity challenges. If it hadn't been for Jonathan's injury and Kathy's nervous breakdown, Ozzy's tribe would be getting a postmerge pagonging.

TC was great. No matter what the outcome, James was no longer going to be the dumbest Survivor ever. Good job by the producers on the order they had Jeff read the votes. The blindside was all the more satisfying with that come from behind tally. Ozzy's postboot comments showed how much of a douchebag he is this year. "You guy's suck! I hate you guys!" STFU, Ozzy. Should have known Cirie was going to orchestrate a big shocker when she was nominated for player of the game in the commercials after the IC.

[titanfan]

Cirie has definitely silenced her critics this season. She's definitely making big moves, putting herself at risk and showing she's not just a wallflower.

Personally, I hope Amanda can pull it off and get rid of Pavarti. Amanda's been a dull bird this season so hopefully she can do something worthwhile.

Amanda was kind of dull in her season too. I actually think that Amanda's best strategy (for now) is to pretend she is with the girls.

I think you guys called it on Parvati stabbing too many backs.

Poor Ozzy. He was looking for another Yul/Sundra/Becky, but his alliancemates weren't as capable or as loyal. I still think James's mistake was way bigger. James's mistake was simple math, Ozzy just trusted the wrong people.

This was one of my favorite blindsides ever. Eliza's facial expressions were gold! (And probably mimicked my reaction on the couch watching)

[marshal99]

James did warned Ozzy about Parvati girl power alliance so he did knew about the dangers and Parvati was in Ozzy's original alliance of 4.

Basically now , James , Amanda & Eric are probably on the outs with Parvati's girl alliance.

Oh brother , looks like this season is going to be a season where it's going to have unworthy winners.

[Zero Hunter]

The looks one everyones faces when Ozzy's name kept getting said was the best tribal I have ever seen. You could just see the utter shock and fear on Ozzy, James, and Eric as his name kept coming up one after the other. Brillant move on the girls part. Eliza was just loving it.

[dazzler_slave]

Fantastic episode! I was thrilled to see Ozzy booted! I think he was growing too complacent and I love it when things get switched up in the game! I'm not a fan of Jason, but I am fine with the girl power alliance using him as a tool until they no longer need him. Cirie and Parvati are making some serious power plays this time around and I love it!

[dazzler_slave]

Oh brother , looks like this season is going to be a season where it's going to have unworthy winners.
Why do you say that? What makes Ozzy more worthy than he girls? Because he's athletic? Maybe he is, but he still didn't win an immunity challenge and he didn't really help his tribe win anything before the merge either. Because he found the immunity idol? If he was dumb enough to not play it then that's his problem. Parvati, Cirie and Natalie have all done some quick thinking this season and Parvati has been pretty athletic so they all would deserve the win.

Plus, I have never understood the concept of "deserve" when it comes to Survivor. Anyone who has won has deserved it. They may not have always been my favourite player, but the very fact that they are there at the end proves they deserve it. The motto is Outwit, Outplay Outlast. Whether they do this by dominating the challenges, lying and backstabbing or allying with a larger target and coasting in the background, they have all outwitted, outplayed and outlasted the rest.

[J. Robb]

I agree that anyone who can make it to the end and get the votes is a deserving winner. There's no one way to play the game, though some ways make for better TV than others.

I hope those were really good donuts, Ozzy! Ha!

I think the lesson for survivor players is: once everyone knows you have the hidden idol, use it! Yeah, you might not have needed to, but it's better to make a mistake and still be in the game than make a mistake and get voted out.

[DonC]

Well, Propst has said Ozzy and Amanda were still a couple after the show stopped taping, but I think we see where James realized Parvati was only using him.

I just loved that Tribal Council. Seeing the worry on Cirie's and Jason's faces while Propst was asking if anyone wanted to play the hidden immunity idol was great. Then the trying-to-hide-it smiles came out.

And Ozzy's look when Propst started calling out his name was priceless.

[J. Robb]

Man, the look of pure anger and hate on Ozzy's face when James named Parvati as the one who turned on him was hilarious. I think he muttered some words that can't be said on network television...

And only three days after Ozzy's blindside, Jason failed to learn the lesson and was hit by the same truck. Everyone keeps getting greedy and think too far ahead. Just use the idol, live on for another three days, and worry about the next council then.

Natalie was just bizarre this episode. Concocting a big evil scheme to deal with Jason should he have the idol, when she could have avoided the entire situation by just not sending him to Exile Island in the first place. She went from never being seen to doing so much talking I think we're meant to hate her now. I just thought she was kind of dumb.

Also dumb: Parvati. When someone ask you who you're taking to the final three (like James asked her), say "I'm taking you!". Never tell someone you're not taking them, that's just asking for them to try and vote you out as quick as possible (and sure enough, James voted for Parvati. Unfortunately no one else did.)

The guys should have really been scrambling and trying to work together since they're all targets, but Erik is too much of a follower and James seems content to do nothing, even after Amanda told him he was the "plan b" at the vote.

Right now I'd say Cirie is the clear favourite to win, she seemed to have come out of the Ozzy blindside scot free, Parvati has taken the fall. She's going to side-step her way to the win.

[xnef1025]

Even Previously Probst didn't say anything about Cirie being the real mastermind behind Ozzy's boot. She's got everybody fooled. Of course, the editors gave the implication during the episode with that shot of Cirie coming up behind Parvati when she was talking to Amanda. She looked like the little devil on Parv's shoulder that whispered evil plans into her ear.

If James were a better strategist, he would have pulled together Eric, Jason and Amanda to vote for Parvati and have Jason play his idol. Tell Eric that the girls are going to get rid of him the first time it's not his birthday. Tell Jason that Nat is playing him like a fiddle. Tell Amanda with her they would have numbers(because Amanda is all about the numbers) and there's no way Parvati would take her to F3 since Amanda would have the votes of Ozzy, James himself, and probably Eliza and she could easily win over a majority with one more person. Bam. Parvati is blindsided, the idol is gone, and the women's alliance loses it's figure head. We'd have to put up with Jason's retarded ass for a while longer, but it would have been worth it.

[La Fea]

Cirie really is the Survivor of this game.

She's blindsided each of her alliances, all of which were in the majority, and still looks clean.

That's what I like about this season though. No one is safe and I can easily see Cirie turning on Parvati sooner than later.

[Shellhead]

Cirie really is the Survivor of this game.

She's blindsided each of her alliances, all of which were in the majority, and still looks clean.

That's what I like about this season though. No one is safe and I can easily see Cirie turning on Parvati sooner than later.

Cirie is on shaky ground now. She traded a strategic role in her original alliance for a new alliance that is controlled by Parvati. Cirie barely knows Alexis or Natalie, but Parvati has had weeks to get to know them. Cirie is probably still worried about losing immunity challenges to James or Erik, but she should be more worried about being voted out of the Final Four. It's not like Cirie is likely to beat any of the remaining contestants in immunity challenges anyway, and Parvati is the dominant threat right now.

However, Parvati has one distinct disadvantage: she will be facing several hostile jurors.

Btw, I liked the invisible girls better when they were still invisible. Natalie is smarmy and pretentious, and Alexis is just annoying.

[marshal99]

Funny how Natalie is now front and center , becoming a real conniving witch with some of her cartoony expressions and such just because she's in a strong position.
I really hope for James's sake that he and Amanda can come up with something to switch it around because it's not looking too good for him.

[titanfan]

Man, the look of pure anger and hate on Ozzy's face when James named Parvati as the one who turned on him was hilarious. I think he muttered some words that can't be said on network television...

That was gold. It looked like he flipped the jury off when he first arrived too.

Natalie has a personality! And she's a bitch! I love that we're finally getting to know her--chances are she gets her comeuppance.

I actually think Parvati is in the best position right now. She's the focal point of the alliance--the one who brought them all together. Come final 5, she can go with Natalie and Alexis or she can go with Amanda and Cirie. I'm not sure she can beat either of them, but she's in a great place for F3.

[Shellhead]

I actually think Parvati is in the best position right now. She's the focal point of the alliance--the one who brought them all together. Come final 5, she can go with Natalie and Alexis or she can go with Amanda and Cirie. I'm not sure she can beat either of them, but she's in a great place for F3.

I believe that Parvati is definitely going to make it to the Final Three. And then she will lose, because too many jurors will feel that she was most responsible for the blindside/backstab/ouster. Maybe she will spin that with an "I Played the Game the Best" speech, but that won't get her votes from Ozzie, or James or Amanda if they are on the jury.

[La Fea]

This was, hands down, the most gratifying episode in my reality tv experience.

L...

O...

L...

[titanfan]

Holy cow! That was awesome! Great job by both the editing and by Amanda's acting. I was totally fooled. If she gets to the F3 now, she might have just won the game by this week's performance.

[J. Robb]

Amanda did a really good acting job, I was actually starting to wonder if she had the idol or not. I'd like to see the video of how she managed to dig that hole and cover it up without anyone noticing.

[DonC]

The "Aww, shit" look on Alexis' face was classic. But why, oh, why did they vote for her? She's wounded, man. She can't do any physical challenges. Keep her around knowing you can beat her easy as pie later on and dump Natalie.

[Shellhead]

Truly awesome gameplay this time around by Amanda. Not only did she have the smarts to volunteer for Exile Island, but she made up for last week's digging fiasco with a great deal of successful digging, both on Exile Island and at camp. Emptying her bag to prove that she didn't find the Hidden Idol was brilliant. More importantly, Amanda did a great job of feeling out the other Survivors, though she took a big chance on her old pal Parvati by telling her about the Idol. And the acting that they both did at tribal council really closed the deal.

However, it should be evident to all the other Survivors that Amanda probably has at least four votes on that jury if she makes it to the end. So she needs to get immunity two more times or they will vote her out.

I think that the Mean Girls alliance died early this episode during this season's variant on the coconut challenge. Erik looks like he might be a pivotal vote if the Mean Girls split in half. And I think that they might. Parvati and Cirie both need Amanda out of there, but then they are looking at each other as the big competition in front of the jury. Honestly, I think Parvati is at a disadvantage because she personally ousted the first five jurors.

The dream dates to the final jury are probably Erik and Nastalie, unless Erik gains prestige by winning the last two immunity challenges. This last one will probably involve either balance or endurance or both, so I don't expect that Erik will have any advantage. So the logical progression, not counting idols, is to for everybody to oust Amanda, and then Cirie and Parvati both try to win over Erik and Nastalie.

And Nastalie doesn't have any possible way to win this game, so she might as well entertain herself by settling grudges. She will want to get rid of Amanda as payback for blindsiding her pal Alexis. And Nastalie seems to have issues with men and their penises, so she will probably try to vote out Erik, too. Should make for a wild final four.

[xnef1025]

That was very satisfying. I liked Amanda last season so it was nice to see her pull a fakeout on the majority like that. I still want to know how they determine which tie votes get rocks and which get fire challenges. It seemed like Cirie had asked someone specifically about it. Is there a producer/referee on hand that the contestants can go to for rulings in order to help them plan strategy?

A shame James had to go because of his finger. It was pretty funny watching him carry his IV rack into tribal council with him though. This season sure has been cut short. I blame casting for giving us quitters like Chet and Kathy, and the challenge monkeys for the Obstacle Course of Death and Sharp Objects. This would have been a longer and more enjoyable season with less pathetic "fans" and an uninjured Penner.

Bye, Alexis. From what little of your personality we got to see, you seemed like a nice person to hang with in real life. Too bad you were apparently too boring for TV.

The only way Eric is going to make it to F3 is by winning the next 2 ICs in a row. Barring that, at this point it seems like a tossup between Amanda or Cirie winning it. Although, the jury could surprise me and buy into the myth of Parvati masterminding the game and rewarding her for it in a Parv/Cirie/Nat F3. No way Nat would win. The only thing she did in the game was clean up her own mess of giving Jason another shot at the HII and show everybody what a bitca she is.

[J. Robb]

I still want to know how they determine which tie votes get rocks and which get fire challenges. It seemed like Cirie had asked someone specifically about it. Is there a producer/referee on hand that the contestants can go to for rulings in order to help them plan strategy?
I found that weird too, but I can only assume someone told them they're using the rocks again because there's no way Cirie would forget the fire challenge (she was in one!)

Maybe they're afraid of another embarassing show like the tiebreaker in "Cook Islands".

[La Fea]

The "Aww, shit" look on Alexis' face was classic. But why, oh, why did they vote for her? She's wounded, man. She can't do any physical challenges. Keep her around knowing you can beat her easy as pie later on and dump Natalie.

LOL even better was seeing Natalie choke on that jugular she was flossing with.

But yeah, I was thinking the same thing but now I think its a good idea. Natalie will dig her own grave; Alexis will fly under the radar and ultimately already has a higher chance of winning the whole thing.

I found that weird too, but I can only assume someone told them they're using the rocks again because there's no way Cirie would forget the fire challenge (she was in one!)

Maybe they're afraid of another embarassing show like the tiebreaker in "Cook Islands".


Hmmm...maybe she made it up because she really wanted to vote out Amanda.

BTW I am still excited by this episode. Now I know what sports fans feel like.

I'm also glad for Amanda because I loved her last season and until now she's fell flat as an All-Star.

[Zero Hunter]

This whole season has had the best tribal councils in the shows long run. Just back to back to back blindsides. I friken love it. Amanda deserves to win for her performance tonight. The look on Alexis and Nats faces was almost as good as Ozzies when he got the boot.

[dazzler_slave]

What an amazing episode!!! Seriously one of the best Tribal Councils EVER!! It is up there with Ozzy's boot this season, and the Edgardo boot in Fiji! Amanda is awesome! I am so glad she found the HII! I would love to see her, Cirie and Parv make the final 3, as they are my favourites, but I also have money on Erik (we had to pick after the first episode for our Survivor Pool) so I'm kinda hoping he keeps winning immunity to the end. All in all, an A+ episode!
LOL even better was seeing Natalie choke on that jugular she was flossing with.

But yeah, I was thinking the same thing but now I think its a good idea. Natalie will dig her own grave; Alexis will fly under the radar and ultimately already has a higher chance of winning the whole thing.I agree. Alexis was better liked so she was a danger in the end. I mean, no one is going to vote for Natalie if she makes it to the final 3.

BTW I am still excited by this episode. Now I know what sports fans feel like.I KNOW!!!! ME TOO!!!! I am stilled all pumped up by it! I feel so butch!!

I'm also glad for Amanda because I loved her last season and until now she's fell flat as an All-Star.My thoughts exactly. I loved her in China and it's nice to see that brain working again. Hopefully if she makes it to the final 3, she won't choke again like she did in China.

This whole season has had the best tribal councils in the shows long run. Just back to back to back blindsides. I friken love it. Amanda deserves to win for her performance tonight. The look on Alexis and Nats faces was almost as good as Ozzies when he got the boot.
I know! Every week the Tribal Councils are so exciting! I love seasons like this when anything can happen. Micronesia is shaping up to be one of my top faves!

[marshal99]

At this point , i would like Amanda to win. She choked badly in Survivor : China during the finals, i hope she learns from that experience. However , she does have stronger allies in the jury this time round.
If it's not Amanda , then i hope Parvati wins. I guess during that 6 days after Ozzy got ousted out , she mended fences with Amanda and gained back her trust and confidence since Amanda was hissing mad after Ozzy got voted out. By defending and standing by Amanda and putting herself at odds with her own alliances , rather than be the cut throat bitch that she could have been , she redeemed herself somewhat.

The rest are not worthy. Erik is a stooge , yeah , he will