Survivor Season 49 Premieres September 24th (4 Viewers)

[Yambag]

As a lifelong fan, this cast sucks. They had a year to pull together what was supposed to be a celebration of 50 seasons and we get 5 players from 48/49 and the usual suspects in Cirie, Ozzy, etc. What stings more is they actually cut people who wanted to play and that fans wanted to see such as Rob C, Jerri, Neleh, Malcom, Penner and so on. Ridiculous. As many have already said, it was too long in between returning seasons, but one solution would have been New Era All-Stars for 49 and Legends for 50.

Looks like Rob C is getting the "consolation prize" of Traitors Season 4.

Saw this yesterday as well. Very happy for him, shorter commitment, better pay day and I bet they have no gripe about him podcasting about it when the season airs. Suck it Probst.

 

[FarFromHome]

Rumors are 50 might be Jeff's last run. Hopefully it's rumors. As a long time Survivor fan who rewatchs past seasons, I don't know how I'd feel with a new host. Dudes been a rock and a staple of the show. Outside the 5 minute rant on why they are getting rid of "bring it in guys" he has been awesome.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Rumors are 50 might be Jeff's last run. Hopefully it's rumors. As a long time Survivor fan who rewatchs past seasons, I don't know how I'd feel with a new host. Dudes been a rock and a staple of the show. Outside the 5 minute rant on why they are getting rid of "bring it in guys" he has been awesome.

I love what he has brought to the show since almost day 1. Fantastic host.

For the "bring it in guys" issue, I had no problems with having the discussion with the group, it fit the theme of the season. But once the entire group decided it was not an issue, it should have been dropped and used as an example of making sure every one is heard and respecting decisions.

I can't get past the fact that it felt VERY much like one of the producers forced one of the contestants to change their mind the next day so that they could continue their theme. If Jeff was involved in that (if it even happened), that would have been one of his lowest moments for me.

 

[Yambag]

Rumors are 50 might be Jeff's last run. Hopefully it's rumors. As a long time Survivor fan who rewatchs past seasons, I don't know how I'd feel with a new host. Dudes been a rock and a staple of the show. Outside the 5 minute rant on why they are getting rid of "bring it in guys" he has been awesome.

Jeff is Survivor, however, imo, the show has dipped in many areas since he became executive producer. I loved when different locations were used and incorporated into the show, now it's rinse and repeat in Fiji due to financial incentives and ease of use. I appreciate the change in casting regarding diversity, but on the other side, rarely do we get anyone over 45-50 and player backgrounds are not as diverse as in the past. It's also been rinse and repeat with challenges which, to me are so boring now. Go check out AU Survivor for some creative and fun challenges. Lastly, he seems to just ignore the fans and continues to add in not well thought out gimmicks, twists and changes that are not really necessary. It has strayed so far from what it was in the beginning and I feel that is due to Probst. I'm a huge fan and watch it with my kids, but have been struggling with the last few seasons and feel it needs new leadership to refocus or else it will just continue to be the same old same old.

 

[Runkle]

Probst sucks.

He refuses to listen to ideas that would make the show better and he's too set in forcing his own personality into the casting. He only casts his friends. He's the one making the show too soft to really be "Survivor".

I'll be glad if he goes and some new blood comes in.

I've always thought the host of Australian Survivor, Jonathan LaPaglia, would be good on the US version. CBS even has a connection to him as his brother was on the network for years on Without A Trace so he seems like a "familiar face".

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Probst is a great host and a middling executive producer/showrunner. It's obvious he surrounds himself with yes-men and -women and doesn't take ideas from elsewhere unless it's one of his celebrity friends. (We have Mike White to thank for killing Redemption Island and fire tokens.)

I do think the philosophy of always adding elements to the game to keep things new for the viewers and unexpected for the players is a good one. It's just poorly implemented too often. I would not be interested in watching a rehash of seasons 1-10 where there were no idols or advantages.

I don't blame him for the permanent location in Fiji or the permanent move to 26 days -- those are cost-cutting decisions mandated by CBS.

I do blame him for believing -- and he has said this on his podcast repeatedly -- that more than anything else Survivor is "an adventure show for kids." This is why I think The Traitors is a better show right now -- adults who like social strategy games, and some messy personalities sometimes, like me, are the target audience.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Probst sucks.

He refuses to listen to ideas that would make the show better and he's too set in forcing his own personality into the casting. He only casts his friends. He's the one making the show too soft to really be "Survivor".

I'll be glad if he goes and some new blood comes in.

I've always thought the host of Australian Survivor, Jonathan LaPaglia, would be good on the US version. CBS even has a connection to him as his brother was on the network for years on Without A Trace so he seems like a "familiar face".

Jonathan himself did a guest spot on NCIS back in the day.

 

[Yambag]

Probst is a great host and a middling executive producer/showrunner. It's obvious he surrounds himself with yes-men and -women and doesn't take ideas from elsewhere unless it's one of his celebrity friends. (We have Mike White to thank for killing Redemption Island and fire tokens.)

I do think the philosophy of always adding elements to the game to keep things new for the viewers and unexpected for the players is a good one. It's just poorly implemented too often. I would not be interested in watching a rehash of seasons 1-10 where there were no idols or advantages.

I don't blame him for the permanent location in Fiji or the permanent move to 26 days -- those are cost-cutting decisions mandated by CBS.

I do blame him for believing -- and he has said this on his podcast repeatedly -- that more than anything else Survivor is "an adventure show for kids." This is why I think The Traitors is a better show right now -- adults who like social strategy games, and some messy personalities sometimes, like me, are the target audience.

Agree wholeheartedly. I believe if Traitors continues to be strong and maybe even goes to 2 seasons a year, it will overtake Survivor as the top reality series on TV. I am already looking forward to the next season more than the next season of newbies on Survivor.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Probst is a great host and a middling executive producer/showrunner. It's obvious he surrounds himself with yes-men and -women and doesn't take ideas from elsewhere unless it's one of his celebrity friends. (We have Mike White to thank for killing Redemption Island and fire tokens.)

I do think the philosophy of always adding elements to the game to keep things new for the viewers and unexpected for the players is a good one. It's just poorly implemented too often. I would not be interested in watching a rehash of seasons 1-10 where there were no idols or advantages.

I don't blame him for the permanent location in Fiji or the permanent move to 26 days -- those are cost-cutting decisions mandated by CBS.

I do blame him for believing -- and he has said this on his podcast repeatedly -- that more than anything else Survivor is "an adventure show for kids." This is why I think The Traitors is a better show right now -- adults who like social strategy games, and some messy personalities sometimes, like me, are the target audience.

Agree wholeheartedly. I believe if Traitors continues to be strong and maybe even goes to 2 seasons a year, it will overtake Survivor as the top reality series on TV. I am already looking forward to the next season more than the next season of newbies on Survivor.

Traitors UK has gone to two seasons a year, one normies and one celebrities. It would be logical for Traitors US to do the same, but Alan Cumming presumably has more scheduling conflicts than Claudia Winkelman does.

 

[Corporation]

2.5 weeks from the premiere. Here's the cast. I think everyone is just waiting on 50.

Link

 

[Runkle]

Probably going to let them pile up and then binge the week before the finale. US Survivor isn't really tolerable on a weekly cadence. But it's almost watchable as a binge.

 

[Jmiller21kg]

Probst is a great host and a middling executive producer/showrunner. It's obvious he surrounds himself with yes-men and -women and doesn't take ideas from elsewhere unless it's one of his celebrity friends. (We have Mike White to thank for killing Redemption Island and fire tokens.)

I do think the philosophy of always adding elements to the game to keep things new for the viewers and unexpected for the players is a good one. It's just poorly implemented too often. I would not be interested in watching a rehash of seasons 1-10 where there were no idols or advantages.

I don't blame him for the permanent location in Fiji or the permanent move to 26 days -- those are cost-cutting decisions mandated by CBS.

I do blame him for believing -- and he has said this on his podcast repeatedly -- that more than anything else Survivor is "an adventure show for kids." This is why I think The Traitors is a better show right now -- adults who like social strategy games, and some messy personalities sometimes, like me, are the target audience.

Looks like I may have to give Traitors a try, I’ve been leaning towards it. I have another slot open for my reality tv watching as Big Brother has gone down the drain.

I agree you can tell Jeff is still passionate about survivor and I don’t think the show would have lasted near this long without him, even if some of the decisions he makes are questionable. The game had to change and adapt over time, especially after those dark days (or so they say) of early 20s seasons. I do really miss the different locations from old school survivor though, but I guess we will always have the old seasons lol.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Probst is a great host and a middling executive producer/showrunner. It's obvious he surrounds himself with yes-men and -women and doesn't take ideas from elsewhere unless it's one of his celebrity friends. (We have Mike White to thank for killing Redemption Island and fire tokens.)

I do think the philosophy of always adding elements to the game to keep things new for the viewers and unexpected for the players is a good one. It's just poorly implemented too often. I would not be interested in watching a rehash of seasons 1-10 where there were no idols or advantages.

I don't blame him for the permanent location in Fiji or the permanent move to 26 days -- those are cost-cutting decisions mandated by CBS.

I do blame him for believing -- and he has said this on his podcast repeatedly -- that more than anything else Survivor is "an adventure show for kids." This is why I think The Traitors is a better show right now -- adults who like social strategy games, and some messy personalities sometimes, like me, are the target audience.

Looks like I may have to give Traitors a try, I’ve been leaning towards it. I have another slot open for my reality tv watching as Big Brother has gone down the drain.

I agree you can tell Jeff is still passionate about survivor and I don’t think the show would have lasted near this long without him, even if some of the decisions he makes are questionable. The game had to change and adapt over time, especially after those dark days (or so they say) of early 20s seasons. I do really miss the different locations from old school survivor though, but I guess we will always have the old seasons lol.

Yeah, they don't have the budget to travel from place to place anymore. Such is the state of network TV now.

Peacock has the US, UK and Australian seasons of The Traitors, along with the first New Zealand season. Other English-speaking seasons aren't too difficult to find.

From Survivor, Traitors US 1 had Cirie Fields and Stephenie LaGrossa-Kendrick, Traitors US 2 had Sandra Diaz-Twine and Parvati Shallow and Traitors US 3 had Boston Rob Mariano, Tony Vlachos, Jeremy Collins and Carolyn Wiger. Traitors US 4 will have Natalie Anderson, Yam Yam Arocho and Rob Cesternino.

 

[Dezbelief]

Tonight

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Casting for this show needs a total overhaul

 

[bcat01]

Casting for this show needs a total overhaul

I looked at the cast when it was released and decided not to watch. Looked similar to last couple seasons that have not been great.

 

[TLEF316]

Yeah, they just keep adding more and more weirdos and non physical factors and the whole thing just becomes revenge of the nerds against the 1 or 2 normies that they cast each year.

This is the worst its ever been. I just dont get it. You can have "representation" without going totally off the rails. We dont need 85% of the cast crying day 1, falling into bushes and taking 25 minutes to solve a 20 piece puzzle and dig up something buried 2 feet down in soft sand. That's not good TV. Its just dumb.

Watching this show is a family tradition for us, but its getting harder and harder.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Reading between the lines of Probst's pregame comments, the premerge is going to suck but the postmerge is going to be good. Hoping my interpretation is correct.

Hopefully we will get some entertaining flameouts to pass the time. Sage and Annie seem like candidates for that. Stephen could be as well, though he might be getting the David Wright/Andy Ruehl growth arc.

Nicole just couldn't hack it physically and never should have been cast. I'm not sure how she passed medical.

 

[Corporation]

Hey, I've been out the last few days, so I'll try to watch soon and update the thread title. Staying out to avoid spoilers.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Rough cast……again.

 

[Yambag]

Been watching religiously since Season 1 and have been pretty vocal about not liking the direction of post 40 seasons. However, there have been some standout players that have kept me coming back. 48 was a bit of a slog, but for the first time that I can remember, I struggled to get through the premier of 49. Echoing others, the casting really needs to change. It seems as if they are casting for quirky, nerdy theatre kids who are all looking for platforms for their hijinks or trauma. At times, the premier almost seemed like a parody or knockoff of Survivor. This also goes to show that even with no idols or advantages, the cast is key. I believe that the casting director was changed starting with 40 and it is really starting to show. It's no coincidence that my favorites so far were the older, wiser, players like Matt and Nate. I also liked Savannah as she seemed to really want to play the game and take things seriously. It used to be 1 or 2 quirky castaways and is now permeated with that, relegating the show to a caricature of itself. I'll hang in and definitely watch 50 for the returning players, but if things don't change, it might be time for me to sign off.

 

[Quint]

the single bright spot from Wednesday's episode:

"How do I get the mud out of my eyes?"

::spitswaterinhiseyes::

i lol'd

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Been watching religiously since Season 1 and have been pretty vocal about not liking the direction of post 40 seasons. However, there have been some standout players that have kept me coming back. 48 was a bit of a slog, but for the first time that I can remember, I struggled to get through the premier of 49. Echoing others, the casting really needs to change. It seems as if they are casting for quirky, nerdy theatre kids who are all looking for platforms for their hijinks or trauma. At times, the premier almost seemed like a parody or knockoff of Survivor. This also goes to show that even with no idols or advantages, the cast is key. I believe that the casting director was changed starting with 40 and it is really starting to show. It's no coincidence that my favorites so far were the older, wiser, players like Matt and Nate. I also liked Savannah as she seemed to really want to play the game and take things seriously. It used to be 1 or 2 quirky castaways and is now permeated with that, relegating the show to a caricature of itself. I'll hang in and definitely watch 50 for the returning players, but if things don't change, it might be time for me to sign off.

The new casting director started with 39, but Dan Spilo, who ruined that season, was a holdover from the previous casting director. Probst has more say over casting than he used to, so he should get some of the blame from people who don’t like the new era casts.

Probst wants Survivor to be an adventure show for kids and Jesse (the casting director) has said that he prefers to cast people he thinks he’d be friends with IRL, so there’s the issue in a nutshell.

 

[identikit]

I identified 9 of them that I was rooting against once I met them

Seems like a normal season

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I identified 9 of them that I was rooting against once I met them

Seems like a normal season

We need to know: Love or hate the pee/poop/burp girl?

 

[northern exposure]

I identified 9 of them that I was rooting against once I met them

Seems like a normal season

We need to know: Love or hate the pee/poop/burp girl?

Some of them are genuinely quirky (ex. Rizo who's competing for all of Albania), but others seem to be playing up their "quirkiness" for screen time. Sage falls in this category for me.

Jake being the shoe bandit is the ultimate form of this though. Your father has glaucoma and will be blind by the end of the year AND your wife will give birth to your son while you're on the island. Compelling enough story to get screen time? Nah, "I'm the Shoe Bandit !". He's from my city, but it makes it tough to root for him.

 

[Quint]

I identified 9 of them that I was rooting against once I met them

Seems like a normal season

We need to know: Love or hate the pee/poop/burp girl?

Some of them are genuinely quirky (ex. Rizo who's competing for all of Albania), but others seem to be playing up their "quirkiness" for screen time. Sage falls in this category for me.

Jake being the shoe bandit is the ultimate form of this though. Your father has glaucoma and will be blind by the end of the year AND your wife will give birth to your son while you're on the island. Compelling enough story to get screen time? Nah, "I'm the Shoe Bandit !". He's from my city, but it makes it tough to root for him.

if he was hiding shoes in a Spy Shack, that would make the season 100x better

 

[northern exposure]

I identified 9 of them that I was rooting against once I met them

Seems like a normal season

We need to know: Love or hate the pee/poop/burp girl?

Some of them are genuinely quirky (ex. Rizo who's competing for all of Albania), but others seem to be playing up their "quirkiness" for screen time. Sage falls in this category for me.

Jake being the shoe bandit is the ultimate form of this though. Your father has glaucoma and will be blind by the end of the year AND your wife will give birth to your son while you're on the island. Compelling enough story to get screen time? Nah, "I'm the Shoe Bandit !". He's from my city, but it makes it tough to root for him.

if he was hiding shoes in a Spy Shack, that would make the season 100x better

Tony's Spy Shack had a purpose. The Shoe Bandit bit screams "Look at Me!".

 

[Riffraff]

I identified 9 of them that I was rooting against once I met them

Seems like a normal season

We need to know: Love or hate the pee/poop/burp girl?

Some of them are genuinely quirky (ex. Rizo who's competing for all of Albania), but others seem to be playing up their "quirkiness" for screen time. Sage falls in this category for me.

Jake being the shoe bandit is the ultimate form of this though. Your father has glaucoma and will be blind by the end of the year AND your wife will give birth to your son while you're on the island. Compelling enough story to get screen time? Nah, "I'm the Shoe Bandit !". He's from my city, but it makes it tough to root for him.

if he was hiding shoes in a Spy Shack, that would make the season 100x better

Tony's Spy Shack had a purpose. The Shoe Bandit bit screams "Look at Me!".

The Shoe Bandit bit screams "Look at Me!" copy a previous player's shtick.

 

[Riffraff]

Interesting reveal via the podcast that 2 players are replacements.
2 players would not stop talking to each other and got removed. Pre-game meet up at Ponderosa rule is No Talking.

Imagine taking who knows how many years to get on the show via submissions, interviews, psych/physical evals, and then making the trip only to get yourself booted. No 15 minutes of fame for an income post-show and definitely no $1mil.

 

[identikit]

Interesting reveal via the podcast that 2 players are replacements.
2 players would not stop talking to each other and got removed. Pre-game meet up at Ponderosa rule is No Talking.

Imagine taking who knows how many years to get on the show via submissions, interviews, psych/physical evals, and then making the trip only to get yourself booted. No 15 minutes of fame for an income post-show and definitely no $1mil.

Dumb dummies

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Interesting reveal via the podcast that 2 players are replacements.
2 players would not stop talking to each other and got removed. Pre-game meet up at Ponderosa rule is No Talking.

Imagine taking who knows how many years to get on the show via submissions, interviews, psych/physical evals, and then making the trip only to get yourself booted. No 15 minutes of fame for an income post-show and definitely no $1mil.

What's wild is that they were warned about it repeatedly and still kept doing it. You think they'd STFU the first time they were told to cease. They were either stupid, arrogant or both.

 

[Riffraff]

First episode was an easy decision - boot the one that can't do anything right and completely out of shape, but somehow didn't get the hint at tribal.

Savannah is the only 1 that stood out as a player in the episode. Might be a little too aggressive though. 'Easiest million she's ever made'? How many millions has she already earned? - I wondered.

Nice cheating by the Rizo goofball that probably won't last long enough to dry his tears.

Glaucoma sob story? Go see an Ophthalmologist!

Interested to see how the hard of hearing guy does competition-wise - hard to hear with water or mud in your ear!

 

[themeanmachine]

When they increased the episode length to 90min, I thought it was a big improvement. But this episode showed why 2 hours is just too long, even with it being a 1st episode with the extra challenges at the beginning and getting to know the cast. I just got bored after a while and was ready to get onto the immunity challenge so it could end. And we know Probst loves to hear himself talk, but his rambling monologue at the beginning was unnecessary, would have been an easy cut in a 90min episode, but ended up feeling like filler. And his obnoxious comments during the immunity challenge felt extra grating. I’m sure I’ll watch the rest of the season, and definitely 50, but after that it may be time to be done. Agree with all the comments above about the casting mess.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Nice cheating by the Rizo goofball

If it was cheating, the producers would have put a stop to it.

 

[Dezbelief]

Nice cheating by the Rizo goofball

If it was cheating, the producers would have put a stop to it.

My wife and I were wondering why the other player didn't clear the puzzle after solving it, especially after he was leaning over it for a few seconds.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Nice cheating by the Rizo goofball

If it was cheating, the producers would have put a stop to it.

My wife and I were wondering why the other player didn't clear the puzzle after solving it, especially after he was leaning over it for a few seconds.

Since the puzzle had the location of the wheel on it, he might have wanted to be able to go back and consult it?

 

[Riffraff]

Nice cheating by the Rizo goofball

If it was cheating, the producers would have put a stop to it.

My wife and I were wondering why the other player didn't clear the puzzle after solving it, especially after he was leaning over it for a few seconds.

Since the puzzle had the location of the wheel on it, he might have wanted to be able to go back and consult it?

And each player's X treasure mark was a different dig location.

 

[northern exposure]

First episode was an easy decision - boot the one that can't do anything right and completely out of shape, but somehow didn't get the hint at tribal.

Savannah is the only 1 that stood out as a player in the episode. Might be a little too aggressive though. 'Easiest million she's ever made'? How many millions has she already earned? - I wondered.

Nice cheating by the Rizo goofball that probably won't last long enough to dry his tears.

Glaucoma sob story? Go see an Ophthalmologist!

Interested to see how the hard of hearing guy does competition-wise - hard to hear with water or mud in your ear!

I think I would’ve got rid of Annie. She was deadweight in the competitions and already started talking with Sophi about aligning vs the guys.

 

[stbugs]

First episode was an easy decision - boot the one that can't do anything right and completely out of shape, but somehow didn't get the hint at tribal.

Savannah is the only 1 that stood out as a player in the episode. Might be a little too aggressive though. 'Easiest million she's ever made'? How many millions has she already earned? - I wondered.

Nice cheating by the Rizo goofball that probably won't last long enough to dry his tears.

Glaucoma sob story? Go see an Ophthalmologist!

Interested to see how the hard of hearing guy does competition-wise - hard to hear with water or mud in your ear!

I think I would’ve got rid of Annie. She was deadweight in the competitions and already started talking with Sophi about aligning vs the guys.

The decision making the past several seasons hasn’t been good. This is where the show’s been losing me. If it weren’t a show that my wife and youngest son watched with me, I probably wouldn’t watch anymore. The people get quirkier and worse at game play.

I’ll be honest that I found Rizo’s “win” so sad to watch, especially when framed as if he did a great job. That type of stuff is so annoying.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Another episode, another member of the blue tribe who doesn't realize they're on the bottom and doesn't play their Shot in the Dark.

This journey was an improvement on most we have seen in the new era. It involved an actual skill and didn't involve the rampant losing of votes. Probst claims he doesn't pay attention to online chatter, but I wonder if fan complaints about the constant lost votes, which reached a peak last season, had an effect on the design of this season.

Jawan's decision to handicap the yellow tribe was the wrong one tactically. It's akin to a U-turn decision in The Amazing Race, and the best play is to handicap a weak team/tribe because they are less likely to overcome the handicap and more likely to finish behind you.

However, it may have been the right decision from a long-term strategic perspective. Everyone can see that blue is the disaster tribe who won't have many people that make the merge. These stragglers can become valuable allies to the mostly intact tribes, and the stragglers from blue are now more likely to align with red than with yellow. The question is whether Jawan will be around to see that happen. He has pissed off Savannah, which is a bad spot to be in.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I'm starting to think losing the flint, or not getting it until you win, is too harsh. It seems the lowly tribe just being decimated is a new normal.

 

[Pipes]

I'm starting to think losing the flint, or not getting it until you win, is too harsh. It seems the lowly tribe just being decimated is a new normal.

Agreed. It seems lately there is always one tribe that loses every challenge at the start of the season. I didn't even think of this factor but it may have something to do with it.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

I'm starting to think losing the flint, or not getting it until you win, is too harsh. It seems the lowly tribe just being decimated is a new normal.

They walk home with fire after every tribal

 

[Juxtatarot]

Another episode, another member of the blue tribe who doesn't realize they're on the bottom and doesn't play their Shot in the Dark.

This journey was an improvement on most we have seen in the new era. It involved an actual skill and didn't involve the rampant losing of votes. Probst claims he doesn't pay attention to online chatter, but I wonder if fan complaints about the constant lost votes, which reached a peak last season, had an effect on the design of this season.

Jawan's decision to handicap the yellow tribe was the wrong one tactically. It's akin to a U-turn decision in The Amazing Race, and the best play is to handicap a weak team/tribe because they are less likely to overcome the handicap and more likely to finish behind you.

However, it may have been the right decision from a long-term strategic perspective. Everyone can see that blue is the disaster tribe who won't have many people that make the merge. These stragglers can become valuable allies to the mostly intact tribes, and the stragglers from blue are now more likely to align with red than with yellow. The question is whether Jawan will be around to see that happen. He has pissed off Savannah, which is a bad spot to be in.

I forgot. What was the advantage? A steal-a-vote? I don't know how well that would work for him. He'd have to tell everyone the truth, which could be dangerous for him, or lie to them which also could be dangerous.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Another episode, another member of the blue tribe who doesn't realize they're on the bottom and doesn't play their Shot in the Dark.

This journey was an improvement on most we have seen in the new era. It involved an actual skill and didn't involve the rampant losing of votes. Probst claims he doesn't pay attention to online chatter, but I wonder if fan complaints about the constant lost votes, which reached a peak last season, had an effect on the design of this season.

Jawan's decision to handicap the yellow tribe was the wrong one tactically. It's akin to a U-turn decision in The Amazing Race, and the best play is to handicap a weak team/tribe because they are less likely to overcome the handicap and more likely to finish behind you.

However, it may have been the right decision from a long-term strategic perspective. Everyone can see that blue is the disaster tribe who won't have many people that make the merge. These stragglers can become valuable allies to the mostly intact tribes, and the stragglers from blue are now more likely to align with red than with yellow. The question is whether Jawan will be around to see that happen. He has pissed off Savannah, which is a bad spot to be in.

I forgot. What was the advantage? A steal-a-vote? I don't know how well that would work for him. He'd have to tell everyone the truth, which could be dangerous for him, or lie to them which also could be dangerous.

He could either steal a vote from Matt or Jake, or give another tribe a disadvantage in the next immunity challenge. He chose the latter and it turned out to be that each of them had to perform the challenge with 20 pounds of coconuts tied to them and had to pick from 10 keys to open a box instead of getting a single key.

 

[Riffraff]

Another episode, another member of the blue tribe who doesn't realize they're on the bottom and doesn't play their Shot in the Dark.

This journey was an improvement on most we have seen in the new era. It involved an actual skill and didn't involve the rampant losing of votes. Probst claims he doesn't pay attention to online chatter, but I wonder if fan complaints about the constant lost votes, which reached a peak last season, had an effect on the design of this season.

Jawan's decision to handicap the yellow tribe was the wrong one tactically. It's akin to a U-turn decision in The Amazing Race, and the best play is to handicap a weak team/tribe because they are less likely to overcome the handicap and more likely to finish behind you.

However, it may have been the right decision from a long-term strategic perspective. Everyone can see that blue is the disaster tribe who won't have many people that make the merge. These stragglers can become valuable allies to the mostly intact tribes, and the stragglers from blue are now more likely to align with red than with yellow. The question is whether Jawan will be around to see that happen. He has pissed off Savannah, which is a bad spot to be in.

I forgot. What was the advantage? A steal-a-vote? I don't know how well that would work for him. He'd have to tell everyone the truth, which could be dangerous for him, or lie to them which also could be dangerous.

He could either steal a vote from Matt or Jake, or give another tribe a disadvantage in the next immunity challenge. He chose the latter and it turned out to be that each of them had to perform the challenge with 20 pounds of coconuts tied to them and had to pick from 10 keys to open a box instead of getting a single key.

I feel it was his only choice to help the entire tribe. I don't mind him using it to handicap both of the other tribes though it didn't work out.
Stealing a vote from either of the other guys doesn't help unless they make it to a combined tribe and he's currently on the bottom of his won.

Needs a lot of luck for the buff selection to fall his way a week out. Whilst the good will buys him time right now.

---
Another easy vote for the oblivious dictator - or at least that's how she got edited.

 

[Quint]

Another episode, another member of the blue tribe who doesn't realize they're on the bottom and doesn't play their Shot in the Dark.

This journey was an improvement on most we have seen in the new era. It involved an actual skill and didn't involve the rampant losing of votes. Probst claims he doesn't pay attention to online chatter, but I wonder if fan complaints about the constant lost votes, which reached a peak last season, had an effect on the design of this season.

Jawan's decision to handicap the yellow tribe was the wrong one tactically. It's akin to a U-turn decision in The Amazing Race, and the best play is to handicap a weak team/tribe because they are less likely to overcome the handicap and more likely to finish behind you.

However, it may have been the right decision from a long-term strategic perspective. Everyone can see that blue is the disaster tribe who won't have many people that make the merge. These stragglers can become valuable allies to the mostly intact tribes, and the stragglers from blue are now more likely to align with red than with yellow. The question is whether Jawan will be around to see that happen. He has pissed off Savannah, which is a bad spot to be in.

I forgot. What was the advantage? A steal-a-vote? I don't know how well that would work for him. He'd have to tell everyone the truth, which could be dangerous for him, or lie to them which also could be dangerous.

He could either steal a vote from Matt or Jake, or give another tribe a disadvantage in the next immunity challenge. He chose the latter and it turned out to be that each of them had to perform the challenge with 20 pounds of coconuts tied to them and had to pick from 10 keys to open a box instead of getting a single key.

maybe it wouldn't have mattered in the end, but it looked like the yellow team didn't have to have the 20lbs of coconuts on their backs when they ascended the ramp to get to the puzzle. a real disadvantage would have been to complete the entire challenge, puzzle included, with the additional encumbrance.

 

[stbugs]

Another episode, another member of the blue tribe who doesn't realize they're on the bottom and doesn't play their Shot in the Dark.

This journey was an improvement on most we have seen in the new era. It involved an actual skill and didn't involve the rampant losing of votes. Probst claims he doesn't pay attention to online chatter, but I wonder if fan complaints about the constant lost votes, which reached a peak last season, had an effect on the design of this season.

Jawan's decision to handicap the yellow tribe was the wrong one tactically. It's akin to a U-turn decision in The Amazing Race, and the best play is to handicap a weak team/tribe because they are less likely to overcome the handicap and more likely to finish behind you.

However, it may have been the right decision from a long-term strategic perspective. Everyone can see that blue is the disaster tribe who won't have many people that make the merge. These stragglers can become valuable allies to the mostly intact tribes, and the stragglers from blue are now more likely to align with red than with yellow. The question is whether Jawan will be around to see that happen. He has pissed off Savannah, which is a bad spot to be in.

I forgot. What was the advantage? A steal-a-vote? I don't know how well that would work for him. He'd have to tell everyone the truth, which could be dangerous for him, or lie to them which also could be dangerous.

He could either steal a vote from Matt or Jake, or give another tribe a disadvantage in the next immunity challenge. He chose the latter and it turned out to be that each of them had to perform the challenge with 20 pounds of coconuts tied to them and had to pick from 10 keys to open a box instead of getting a single key.

maybe it wouldn't have mattered in the end, but it looked like the yellow team didn't have to have the 20lbs of coconuts on their backs when they ascended the ramp to get to the puzzle. a real disadvantage would have been to complete the entire challenge, puzzle included, with the additional encumbrance.

Good point and maybe when they got to the keys (2nd one), the coconuts were done. I’d think it might have been a bit dangerous going up with the coconuts, so they probably didn’t include the climb. Someone falling back down on top of the coconuts could have been a bad injury.

 

[bryhamm]

I'm starting to think losing the flint, or not getting it until you win, is too harsh. It seems the lowly tribe just being decimated is a new normal.

They walk home with fire after every tribal

nope