Survivor 49 Discussion Thread

[PUSH]

We finally got an interesting episode! Unfortunately, it was at the expense of a med evac.

Before getting into the meat of the episode, I'll talk about the vote. The three person dynamic was very interesting when they didn't want to vote anybody out. Throw in Alex's idol, and it's even more intriguing. Again, this isn't because of choices production made, but rather an unfortunate med evac. Alex had to decide what to do, and I think he made the right choice to save himself. Sophi and Jeremiah both seemed to want to keep each other and take out Alex, but Sophi made the self-preservation move to vote Jeremiah. However, what if Alex had voted Sophi? We could have had a 1-1-1, with Alex being safe. Then Alex would have had the deciding vote. I've run through lots of scenarios, and ultimately because of the idol, Alex essentially had the final say in every situation. Unless he didn't play it and received two votes, but I don't think Sophi was ever going to risk that.

Now onto the big event of the night. As soon as I saw the snake, I knew it was venomous. I've watched enough Survivor and listened to enough podcasts to know that the black and white striped sea snake is deadly. I didn't realize most of the time it's a dry bite, though. I'm not sure why they pulled him, though. They cited his emotional state and lack of nutrition. Is that in the event that there actually was venom injected? Because they also said, the effects would be evident pretty quickly. I know the real reason was liability, but the logic on screen didn't seem to make too much sense.

Seeing the Survival guide and behind the scenes of the medical station was very interesting. I'm surprised they showed all of it. I wonder if they would have in a 60 minute episode. My guess is not.

Revealing all of this at a challenge was crazy. Imagine having to perform after that if you're the blue tribe.

This episode once again shows why you need diversity in challenges. Every challenge this season has been a physical obstacle course, followed by a puzzle. Every time we've had the same outcome. Blue tribe does well. Blue tribe can't do a puzzle. Mix it up. Remember the challenges like in Samoa when they had coconuts held up by a bunch of ropes? Then the tribes took turns pulling a rope? Do more stuff like that. It doesn't have to be physical or a puzzle. It'll make it more even. Not all the time, but sometimes.

Even though med evacs are awful, and I never want them, Jake's seemed to add some intrigue to the season. I doubt we'd be having a tribe swap without it. I'm so excited for what seems to be a full tribe swap next week! We've only had one once in the new era. Season 45, which is my favorite of the new era. Coincidence? Maybe. But it didn't hurt!

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

A final three vote is indeed interesting. So is a final four vote.

I feel like there's a lesson to be learned here...

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Cast people who are going to have conflict.

Rob C recently said on a podcast that Lynne Spillman used to cast for Humor, Conflict, or Sex. This led to lots of mactors that were duds, but I think they need to bring some of that ideology back. Especially the conflict piece. Look at Venus. She was great. Carolyn was Humor and Conflict. We loved her. I don't love seeing everybody get along all the time.

I think Rob also theorized that Survivor aka Jeff want to be a more positive show now, and not doing conflict for conflict's sake.

Some of the conflict in the past came from flat out bigotry. I don't want to think that was intentional, but regardless that's not a route to take given the more diverse casting. It's hard to predict what conflicts might occur otherwise. How do you know Venus will bring conflict during casting? I think it's luck of the draw to a degree.

It's interesting to think how different Survivor might have been if they really embraced conflict like many shows did at the time. The Real World launched with the promise of showing what happens when people don't get along as an example.

Survivor did seem to possibly be doing that with Richard and Rudy. Pairing those two seemed designed for conflict.

I'd argue we got lucky in that Rudy was open minded and Richard was patient and able to build an unlikely friendship. I think it set the tone for people from different walks getting along more than not.

 

[dmw]

no more shoe bandit

How long will the producers/Jeff continue with this three tribe format before they realize it is a bad idea?

Finally! Someone played their idol in an early tribal to ensure they would be safe.

Next week, we go to two tribes of seven. So, the alliances made by the two tribes that never went to tribal may be for naught. As we have seen in the past, those early alliances in teams of three change to former team color alliances. So, if one of the new tribes is heavy with former yellow team, guess who is going to be voted off first? Boring... no strategy, just a former team alliance. Another reason to get rid of the three team start.

Beware advantage... this has gotten old. Time for something new - or just bring back a regular idol.

Why are there so many puzzles in the challenges? Puzzling choice by the producers. The challenges need to have variety, to try to pull out different strengths across the tribes.

Maybe it's just me, but this season is getting boring. Hopefully the merge will result in something interesting.

 

[artvandelay]

no more shoe bandit

How long will the producers/Jeff continue with this three tribe format before they realize it is a bad idea?

Finally! Someone played their idol in an early tribal to ensure they would be safe.

Next week, we go to two tribes of seven. So, the alliances made by the two tribes that never went to tribal may be for naught. As we have seen in the past, those early alliances in teams of three change to former team color alliances. So, if one of the new tribes is heavy with former yellow team, guess who is going to be voted off first? Boring... no strategy, just a former team alliance. Another reason to get rid of the three team start.

Beware advantage... this has gotten old. Time for something new - or just bring back a regular idol.

Why are there so many puzzles in the challenges? Puzzling choice by the producers. The challenges need to have variety, to try to pull out different strengths across the tribes.

Maybe it's just me, but this season is getting boring. Hopefully the merge will result in something interesting.

I did notice a lot of puzzles, especially after watching Survivor: Australia vs the World which had only one puzzle the entire season

The three tribe format is horrible for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

They like the puzzles because they're often the equalizer. You have to bring multiple skills to win any given challenge.

For the most part that works okay, but when one tribe has no brain power left because of the forced scarcity, it has the opposite effect.

The consistent puzzles is baffling either way. Give them one the navigate a ball to a hole challenges, which I think would have given the disaster tribe a bit of a fighting chance.

 

[PUSH]

Next week, we go to two tribes of seven. So, the alliances made by the two tribes that never went to tribal may be for naught. As we have seen in the past, those early alliances in teams of three change to former team color alliances. So, if one of the new tribes is heavy with former yellow team, guess who is going to be voted off first? Boring... no strategy, just a former team alliance. Another reason to get rid of the three team start.

Another reason two tribes of 9 or 10 is better to start a season... there are enough people that sub alliances start forming, even within a majority. Then when they swap, there are so many different allegiances that it's not a cut and dry decision.

 

[PUSH]

I just heard another negative to the three tribe format that I've never thought of. It's the reason challenges are repetitive and boring now. When you think about it, they can't do a lot of the classic challenges because they require two tribes going against each other. With three tribes you can only really do obstacle courses. You can't do Sumo at Sea. You can't do the one where they chase each other in a circle in shallow water while carrying heavy bags. The variety is killed when you have to make three tribes compete.

 

[PUSH]

Even though this was another very straightforward vote, it was so refreshing to not only see a tribe swap, but to see only two tribes! It's the first time we've had two tribes play against each other in a challenge since March of 2020.

It was fun to see the dynamics between different players. I think seeing Kele go to Tribal would have been more interesting because there were more cracks between players.

Overall, Matt was on the minority, but he didn't do anything to help himself. Although, Jason didn't either. Matt just buried himself deeper. Mat actively targeted the majority, whereas Jason passively targeted them by essentially saying he's going to remain Hina strong. Neither gave a good reason for keeping them. Also, keeping Jason gives them his puzzle abilities in challenges.

I'm really liking Savannah, Nate, and Sophi this season. Most of the other people are just there so far, but we haven't gotten to see much of many of them.

Also, it was refreshing to see the stacking challenge again. It's something other than a puzzle or throwing sand bags on a platform.

 

[dmw]

I think this latest episode was too predictable. No real strategy, even though the editing made it seem there may be. The majority tribe pre-merge just played it safe. And, that is what you get with three tribes - it's the simplest and safest way to make it to the final merge.

Don't even get me started on the team beware advantage... what a flop!

The only upside was the challenge. That was a fun one to watch. And, the curse of the blue tribe was broken.

I would say I am looking forward to the final merge to get some real strategy play, but then I remember that we still have the final four with a fire challenge. Oh, how I miss getting to the final three without the fire challenge.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

This could have been so interesting if there wasn't a production created disaster tribe.

It would have been far more likely to see something like a tribe with a 3-2-2 split which would have resulted in some actual suspense in terms of which way people would go.

I kind of hate to say it, but if some people had lost their votes or had a steal-a-vote, that would have shaken things up too instead of having the unsurmountable 4-3 majorities.

 

[artvandelay]

I would have preferred they kept the yellow and red tribes together and had Alex and Sophie pick red or yellow. By doing the “drop your buffs” swap it lead to easy targets if either tribe won. Rob and a Stephen had a good discussion about this on RHAP Know it Alls.

 

[PUSH]

I would have preferred they kept the yellow and red tribes together and had Alex and Sophie pick red or yellow. By doing the “drop your buffs” swap it lead to easy targets if either tribe won. Rob and a Stephen had a good discussion about this on RHAP Know it Alls.

I'm glad they mixed it up, but I see the logic behind what you're saying. I just like having multiple opportunities to meet new people. I think it'll help come the merge.

However, ideally we would have had all three tribes go to Tribal Council, so they could have drawn lines before a swap. And even more ideally, they would have started with two tribes to increase the number of social relationships between players and make it much more likely that everyone would have gone to Tribal at least once prior to the swap.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I would have preferred they kept the yellow and red tribes together and had Alex and Sophie pick red or yellow. By doing the “drop your buffs” swap it lead to easy targets if either tribe won. Rob and a Stephen had a good discussion about this on RHAP Know it Alls.

Yeah, it's just not good for the show I think when tribes are going into the merge without having had a single chance to vote and solidify their alliances.

I was going to say my issue with this idea is that it would be too much of production choosing what happens, but since they already do that with the forced disaster tribe I guess it wouldn't even matter that much.

One thing I felt about Rob & Stephen this week was that they gave Sophie too much credit in terms of newly found win equity.

She integrated well but she's not a threat to an alliance of six. She wasn't voted out because the other tribe of six is the actual threat. Sophie and Alex could have some power if they become a swing vote, but right now I see them being strung along and then leaving before the final five at the latest.