Survivor 44 Discussion Thread

[Jedijax719]

AU had a great set up for a more interesting story. You had the evil king (George) with his loyal pawns, a young dashing prince (Matt), and a long-time older serving guard (Gerry). You also had the evil step sisters (Shonee and Liz). The evil king is bent on getting rid of those who oppose him (the heroes). Becoming paranoid, he gets rid of both the queen (Hayley) and even one of his evil step daughters (Shonee). He has convinced the other stepdaughter (Liz) to stick close to him or suffer the same fate. She does so and develops a kind of Stockholm Syndrome effect. However, she ends up going from evil step sister to good-hearted princess and finally takes out the evil king to rein the kingdom. The king's loyal guards are banished from the kingdom.

In other words, they needed to play up Liz's conflict between taking out George or being scared of suffering the same fate at Shonee.

Actually makes for a good Disney story. Let's not forget the comical but likeable evil jester turned rebel, Simon.

 

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This may sound weird because the episode ended with no Tribal Council, and a player leaving due to medical reasons. But this was by far my favorite episode of the season so far. We had countless character moments and interpersonal relationships. The only advantage talks were about Josh's fake idol, but it was more focused on how he made a fake and got caught. Therefore it's more of a social story about trust. It felt like old school, classic Survivor. I loved it. Also, having no Tribal Council gave us more time for tribe dynamics. The summit had nothing to do with advantages, and it gave us the best Shipwheel Island we've ever had. Like I said... it felt like classic Survivor. I felt nostalgic again. I haven't felt that feeling with the show in a long time.

I am really sad to see Matthew go. He was my winner pick, and I think he could have been a really good player. He seemed to have a top-notch social game, and he had a strategic mind. I hope he gets to play again.

I've said it before, but Carolyn is a masterclass in casting. She's so fun. She's so fascinating. A huge personality, but also aware of everything around her. She is also so brutally honest. She spilled the beans about everything at the summit, and she told Josh at the end of the episode that she wanted to vote him out. But for some reason, because it's her, it doesn't seem crazy!

Speaking of the summit... it was amazing. Danny and Brandon were so oblivious and dense. And Carolyn called them out multiple times, and they continued to bro out and leave her out completely! It was such a fun scene, and as I said, I think it was the best Shipwheel Island we've ever had.

Josh showing Yam Yam and Carolyn his fake idol was hilarious. Yam Yam immediately called him out for having the beads from tree mail. Carolyn knew he had the old note. It was so much fun. And then cut to Yam Yam's confessional where he can't stop laughing about it. I was laughing so hard.

There's not much strategy to discuss, but I think Carolyn and Yam Yam would have gotten back together to vote out Josh. I would have liked to see that.

Next week is the merge. I don't care that they don't call it the merge... the tribes have literally merged. The only thing that's changed is you don't get a buff, so you're not symbolically merged. But... YOU'RE STILL MERGED!!! I wish we could have seen more of Ratu and Soka in the pre-merge. I really don't know where loyalties lie in either tribe. So I have a feeling it will be a messy merge to keep track of.

One last note... it was a little disappointing to see Matthew's departure as a cliffhanger. We didn't get to see him make the call. We saw none of his tribe's reaction. It felt like a disservice to him. That's my one qualm with this episode. It's good that he got parting words, but let's see more.

 

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Also, this is the first time in Survivor history that a man has not been voted out pre-merge. Seems like a problem.

 

[Jedijax719]

Also, this is the first time in Survivor history that a man has not been voted out pre-merge. Seems like a problem.

Still one more TC before the merge, right?

 

[Jedijax719]

Finally watched it (had hernia surgery yesterday). I actually like Yam and Carolyn. Hot messes both of them, but fun hot messes. Reminds of a dysfunctional Ricard/Shan combo. I also like Jamie. Carson is okay. The rest-meh. I used to like Danny until he broed out with Brandon. And Frannie/Matt B-cringe fest! I liked Matt G but I suppose we will see him again on another season (and rest assured he won't be climbing any rocks lol).

 

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Still one more TC before the merge, right?

By their definition of merge, yes. But by the dictionary's definition of merge, no.

 

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Finally watched it (had hernia surgery yesterday). I actually like Yam and Carolyn. Hot messes both of them, but fun hot messes. Reminds of a dysfunctional Ricard/Shan combo. I also like Jamie. Carson is okay. The rest-meh. I used to like Danny until he broed out with Brandon. And Frannie/Matt B-cringe fest! I liked Matt G but I suppose we will see him again on another season (and rest assured he won't be climbing any rocks lol).

I feel like we haven't seen enough of most players to have a true opinion on them. Since Ratu and Soka have only gone to TC once, I have no idea who anyone is. People joke that Josh is purple, but does anybody remember Lauren? She's so purple that people don't realize she's purple.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Fun fact: The Outpost is something that appeared in Survivor New Zealand and South Africa. Kinda funny, as there has been talk lately about how the international shows look to the USA for ideas but the USA does not. Although, on a RHAP podcast last week the SA producer did note he has some communication with people who work on the USA version.

It is funny and/or clever that by adding so many twists and advantages to the treks, giving players NO advantage is a twist in that players have to somehow convince their fellow players they only got a meal. It's actually more harmful because they get all of the suspicion and none of the benefit.

 

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Since my winner picks have been left (Matthew, Helen), my updated winner pick is Carson.

 

[Jedijax719]

Interesting episode. Interesting season because pretty much nobody is playing a very good game. They're all a mess. Carson was playing a good game until he blabbed to Kane about his name being thrown around.

 

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This was another good episode. My biggest issue is one I've said before... STOP TRYING TO MESS WITH THE MERGE. WHEN EVERYONE LIVES ON THE SAME BEACH, THEY ARE MERGED!!!!

It's okay to do the challenge and have half be immune. I have no issues with that. Have them earn the jury. Whatever. But they are not earning the merge. Even the show didn't mention "earn the merge" this season. Even they don't know how to brand it.

Outside of that, I enjoyed the strategy. Yam Yam has really fallen over the past few episodes. Josh was oblivious. Kane played this really well. He got the backup votes onto Yam Yam when he found out he was the decoy. Carson's decision to tell Kane is still up in the air as to whether it's good or not. I can definitely see it backfiring. But ultimately too early to tell. If he is able to keep a strong ally and team up with others, then it's a good move.

I have to say I think Carolyn is playing the best game so far. She's controlled votes, but nobody is looking at her as strategic. They're discounting her, similar to how Maryanne was discounted. But even still, she played this vote very quietly, which is exactly what you need to do early in the merge.

Since we've officially reached the "merge", I will start ranking the players in tiers again. I will list based on winner potential at this point in time. Granted, these could change weekly. I had both Maryanne, Gabler, and Erika in the "no chance" category at least once in their seasons.

Highest Winner Potential
Carson
Danny
Carolyn

Possible Winner
Heidi
Jamie
Kane
Frannie
Matt
Yam Yam

Unlikely Winner
Lauren
Brandon

 

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I also have to point out my two favorite Carolyn moments from tonight. Burst out laughing both times. Especially the second one below.

 

[Jedijax719]

This is clearly the Carolyn, Yam Yam, and Carson show with a supporting side story of Frannie/Matt.

It at least beats the attention being on just one person.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

As far as twists go, this one isn't too egregious. Having 6 people immune isn't consistent with the core rules, but at the end of the day probably doesn't change the overall dynamics significantly.

Carson telling Kane doesn't strike me as terrible, as he wants to help an ally stay safe. Omar as I recall handled it better doing the wheeling and dealing without giving away information.

Did no one notice, or not care, that Carson revealed his challenge knowledge?

 

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As far as twists go, this one isn't too egregious. Having 6 people immune isn't consistent with the core rules, but at the end of the day probably doesn't change the overall dynamics significantly.

Carson telling Kane doesn't strike me as terrible, as he wants to help an ally stay safe. Omar as I recall handled it better doing the wheeling and dealing without giving away information.

Did no one notice, or not care, that Carson revealed his challenge knowledge?

I thought he revealed it during a confessional, and not to the rest of the tribe. That's what he did earlier in the season, and that's the way to handle it.

I will again say that they need to create fresh puzzles and challenges. It's not fun watching someone breeze through a challenge because they memorized it. I have the exact same tree puzzle sitting on a bookshelf across the room right now. They're not hard to order from Etsy.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I thought he revealed it during a confessional, and not to the rest of the tribe. That's what he did earlier in the season, and that's the way to handle it.

I will again say that they need to create fresh puzzles and challenges. It's not fun watching someone breeze through a challenge because they memorized it. I have the exact same tree puzzle sitting on a bookshelf across the room right now. They're not hard to order from Etsy.

I meant that surely they would have noticed how quickly he solved the puzzle.

I agree, when the challenge outcomes are pre-determined based on who practiced, they're not interesting. Jeff seems to love it though.

 

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I meant that surely they would have noticed how quickly he solved the puzzle.

I agree, when the challenge outcomes are pre-determined based on who practiced, they're not interesting. Jeff seems to love it though.

It's possible that they spliced it to make it look quicker than it actually was. But I think even so, most players probably just play it up to him being a nerd.

 

[Jedijax719]

I always fast forward through the challenges if I watch after the air date.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Listening to Shannon and Harry recap on RHAP and they make some good points about the puzzle.

The show producers have footage of Carson memorizing the puzzle. They knew about it and still included it as a challenge. It's not necessarily explicit production interference because in theory everyone could memorize those puzzles.

However, it isn't interesting TV really, and it takes away the puzzle as the challenge equalizer.

The show has removed things when players "broke" them, like the auction and chop challenge. Yet, when players come into the game with a puzzle answer key, it's celebrated. It just doesn't make sense.

Players should prepare for Survivor by exercising, building strength, swimming, and doing puzzles. When they solve a puzzle they've done a hundred times it's not that they developed some skills, they have the answer ahead of time.

The balanced approach would be to create variations of the tree puzzle, so that people can practice and have some skill in doing that type of puzzle, just as they might have skill digging in sand if they practice, but wouldn't be in a position where the challenge outcome is decided before the players even walk up to it.

 

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Listening to Shannon and Harry recap on RHAP and they make some good points about the puzzle.

The show producers have footage of Carson memorizing the puzzle. They knew about it and still included it as a challenge. It's not necessarily explicit production interference because in theory everyone could memorize those puzzles.

In a recent RHAP recap podcast, one of the guests said production will ask you for videos after the season has filmed. So it's more likely that upon editing the show, production asked Carson for a video of him solving the puzzle. I wish I could remember which former contestant was on the podcast.

It still doesn't make it entertaining, but it's just something to keep in mind when thinking about interference.