Survivor Caramoan: Fans vs Favorites

[SAV]

The finale is on Sunday, May 12th. It's a two hour episode followed by a one hour reunion show.

Crap...That's Mother's Day. Not cool at all. I guess I'll have to DVR it all and watch it once everyone goes to bed.

 

[Darth Tater]

The castaways need to wise-up and see Brenda for the threat that she is. She is on everyone's good side, does very well in the challenges, and stays out of drama. I'm surprised so few listened to Andrea's warning in tonight's episode. If people are dumb enough to let Brenda slip into the final 3, they might as well sign the check over to her. Still time for them to wake up before it's too late. Not much time, but still time. I'm surprised Andrea was the first, and so far the only person to realize this.

Another player they should keep an eye on is Sherri. True, she is only a coat-tail rider who does absolutely nothing. But if anyone remembers Sandra from past Survivor seasons (Heroes vs Villains), doing nothing but riding on the success of others can get you to the million dollars.

What was Erik thinking by passing away the found immunity idol so quickly? He didn't even stop to think about it, just went: "Hey, here's the idol...here ya go Andrea." What the????
Not that it *spoiler alert* did anything to help her. But it certainly could have helped him. After winning tonight's challenge, having the idol would have at least guaranteed him a spot in the top 5 if he played it next week (which is the last time it can be played). I don't get him sometimes. As Cochran said: Has he learned nothing?

 

[SAV]

First, Reynold. Easy way out on that one. They could have used him better to whack out a Favorite, but passed. Now Eddie becomes a powerful swing vote since he doesn't have his Andrea loyalty. Reynold hung tough, but that was a challenge built for the little girls.

Andrea...Damn...Great move from the strategic standpoint, bad move from the hottie standpoint. Hate to see her go. She said it in the Ponderosa footage that she was so focused on Brenda that she wasn't thinking straight. Oops!!!

At this point, I would love to see Cochrane win it all. He's just so goofy that it is endearing. Dude has been playing a fabulous game as well. All of his little comments to Jeff and his awkwardness are a riot.

Sherri is worthless. Provides nothing of value. Hope it doesn't turn into a Natalie situation like the first Russell Hantz go round.

Erik is playing solid too, but he doesn't seem smart enough with all of these little mistakes he keeps making. Dummy...Keep the idol you just found!!!!

Brenda is dangerous. You know the last challenge will be endurance and she showed she is very capable in those. Nobody, except maybe Andrea, is upset with her.

Dawn, See Sherri.

Eddie, Needs to go on a Colby immunity run.

Ponderosa Footage:
http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/v...rvivor-caramoan-reynold-arrives-at-ponderosa/
http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/v...-caramoan-reynold-joins-the-fun-at-ponderosa/
http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/v...urvivor-caramoan-andrea-arrives-at-ponderosa/

 

[Lucky]

I agree Brenda is a big threat. I find Cochrane irritating and hope he goes soon. Andrea should have known that allying with Eddie would be risky, and used the immunity idol. I really hate to see her leave. She was my favorite part of the, uh, scenery.

 

[PUSH]

Reynold was voted out because everyone thought he could win challenges and could ride that success to the end. Wasn't surprised with that vote.

Andrea was sneaky and couldn't be trusted, IMO. She seems like one who would backstab easily.

Brenda is the best all-around player left, IMO. She has the smarts, endurance, and attitude to win. Of course, everyone sees this and could want her out. Andrea was right about her.

Dawn and Sherri are just sway votes at this point. Haven't done anything major.

Eddie is like Dawn and Sherri, only he's a threat in challenges. He is the strongest one left, especially without Reynold. Should he end up in the top two, he could win. He has votes from Malcolm, Reynold, potentially Andrea, and others based on who's up there with him.

Erik is a threat, but doesn't have the smarts to pull it off. He let's his moral standards get in the way without thinking, but yet he has the mindset to blindside people. I can't quite put my finger on him yet.

Cochran is the best strategic player left. He has a plan, and he want to execute that plan. He's a friendly guy, but could be seen as another potential target, like Brenda.

I have no idea who will win and who will be voted out, but I personally would like to see Brenda win.

 

[Darth Tater]

Dawn and Sherri are just sway votes at this point. Haven't done anything! major.

Fixed.

I totally agree about Cochran. He & Brenda are my two favorites from this point. Brenda's chances may be slimmer than his due to Andrea planting that seed of uncertainty about her in people's heads. More players may heed her warning about Brenda, seeing her as the likable, strong player & biggest threat if she makes it to the end.

Cochran seems to be doing everything right this season, and seems to have learned from his past mistakes. He's more straight-forward, doesn't make enemies (so far), and is great in the challenges. The same can be said about Erik, but like @SAV mentioned earlier, he just doesn't have the common sense to make strategic choices when it matters the most.

 

[PUSH]

Fixed.

I totally agree about Cochran. He & Brenda are my two favorites from this point. Brenda's chances may be slimmer than his due to Andrea planting that seed of uncertainty about her in people's heads. More players may heed her warning about Brenda, seeing her as the likable, strong player & biggest threat if she makes it to the end.

Cochran seems to be doing everything right this season, and seems to have learned from his past mistakes. He's more straight-forward, doesn't make enemies (so far), and is great in the challenges. The same can be said about Erik, but like @SAV mentioned earlier, he just doesn't have the common sense to make strategic choices when it matters the most.

The only thing I'm not certain about Cochran is whether he can execute when he needs to. As of now, he hasn't started anything major. He hasn't orchestrated any blindsides, etc. I'm wondering if he'll get cold feet when it comes time. My opinion is that he will, but I've had certain doubts. His intelligence on the game is far superior to anyone there. I'm surprised how far Reynold and Eddie have lasted with their extremely low common sense.

 

[Darth Tater]

He hasn't orchestrated any blindsides

True, but the jury will remember this when it comes time to vote for who deserves the million dollar prize. Keeping a low profile as far as backstabbing & blindsiding goes is a smart route to take, and usually is very rewarding if you make it to the final 3. So far, he seems to be sitting on the right combination to make it to the end: Strong in the challenges, but not so incredibly strong that he gets targeted early. Low profile as far as blindsides go; keeping in cahoots with many who will decide his fate if he makes the final. Works & actually does stuff around camp, but doesn't overkill & hog the spotlight (*cough* Phillip *cough*). He's also not a coat-tail rider such as Dawn & Sherri who are pointblank worthless as they come. The jury will deliberate all these factors come time to make the final vote. If he keeps his game going like he's done all along this season, I wouldn't be surprised to see him win it all (and be forever forgiven for his flip-flop in his last season's appearance).

Of course, all the qualities I stated above can also easily be said for Brenda & Erik. But Brenda's awesomeness is too out in the open now, and Erik is...well, Erik.

 

[PUSH]

True, but the jury will remember this when it comes time to vote for who deserves the million dollar prize. Keeping a low profile as far as backstabbing & blindsiding goes is a smart route to take, and usually is very rewarding if you make it to the final 3. So far, he seems to be sitting on the right combination to make it to the end: Strong in the challenges, but not so incredibly strong that he gets targeted early. Low profile as far as blindsides go; keeping in cahoots with many who will decide his fate if he makes the final. Works & actually does stuff around camp, but doesn't overkill & hog the spotlight (*cough* Phillip *cough*). He's also not a coat-tail rider such as Dawn & Sherri who are pointblank worthless as they come. The jury will deliberate all these factors come time to make the final vote. If he keeps his game going like he's done all along this season, I wouldn't be surprised to see him win it all (and be forever forgiven for his flip-flop in his last season's appearance).

Of course, all the qualities I stated above can also easily be said for Brenda & Erik. But Brenda's awesomeness is too out in the open now, and Erik is...well, Erik.

I just don't want Cochran to get blindsided himself. It sounds like it could be a possibility based on the previews at the end of last night's episode.

I wonder how Shamar is doing. Or Francesca. Those are two people who have been forgotten about already.

 

[Darth Tater]

I just don't want Cochran to get blindsided himself. It sounds like it could be a possibility based on the previews at the end of last night's episode.

I wonder how Shamar is doing. Or Francesca. Those are two people who have been forgotten about already.

Poor Francesca. Twice now eliminated first by the hand of Phillip.

I also wonder if Brandon will have any "kind" words for Phillip when they meet at the reunion show on May 12th.

 

[flynnibus]

cochrane has been playing the best... mainly from having his block of votes aligned right. Brenda has been strong in challenges, but I don't see her doing anything else significant. She's just aligned with numbers in a group who isn't willing to break ranks.

It becomes boring when the majority block play so conservative that no one has the balls to make the move to shake up and take over. That's what happened this season... the majority just rode out the numbers voting off the two people that showed signs of trying to break off. Both Andrea and the other girl both played their hands too early to the larger group and when no one was willing to make a move with them.. that left them hung out to dry.

Now the game is going to boil down to 'who is going to take me to the final three' and what promises people make each other. Brenda and Coch are the only two that even deserve to be there.. but people are going to turn on Cochrane because they don't want to be sitting against a guy who is going to say 'I played strategy' and didn't make enemies.

Erik and Sherri are both favorites to take deep because they were just so pathetic.

I'm always curious why the people stop looking for the idols.. at least as shown on the show. These guys are so desperate.. why did malcolm stop or not tell his buds the clue before tribal?

 

[PUSH]

Poor Francesca. Twice now eliminated first by the hand of Phillip.

I also wonder if Brandon will have any "kind" words for Phillip when they meet at the reunion show on May 12th.

My guess is Brandon and Phillip will be a big storyline.

And is there still an episode on the 8th? And then there's the finale on the 12th?

 

[Darth Tater]

And is there still an episode on the 8th? And then there's the finale on the 12th?

Yep. One more Wednesday night episode next week (5/08), and then the finale & reunion show --2 hours+ -- on Sunday (5/12).

 

[Darth Tater]

^Okay, as exciting as that may sound about the finale approaching, I just realized how utterly sad this is that we're down to only two Survivor nights left.

How long until September?

 

[PUSH]

^Okay, as exciting as that may sound about the finale approaching, I just realized how utterly sad this is that we're down to only two Survivor nights left.

How long until September?

At least there are two seasons a year. It will be my first full seasons of Survivor soon. I'm proud. I finally ditched American Idol after I've been disappointed and hoping it would change for the past season or two.

 

[Darth Tater]

At least there are two seasons a year. It will be my first full seasons of Survivor soon. I'm proud. I finally ditched American Idol after I've been disappointed and hoping it would change for the past season or two.

That's why Survivor has always been my favorite. Even though they recycle a lot of the challenges & other factors from season to season, they always change something around to make it new & add surprises. Some seasons they had Exile Island, other seasons they had Redemption Island, where you have a chance to come back into the game after being voted off. Some seasons start off with the castaways split into two tribes. Other times they are split into four. Sometimes there's only one immunity idol, other times there are two, three++. You never know when they're gonna switch tribes, merge, etc. Some challenges favor players with less weight, others favor those with upper body strength, yet others favor those with in-depth problem solving skills. It's hard to predict anything in this game as far as who goes early and who makes it to the end. More strategy rather than just a specific talent, and that's why I've loved the show all these many years.

 

[bsiev1977]

I think they're due to try a different kind of location. China was about the only location that was fairly unique. It's either been a tropical island location, or Australia, which is fairly similar are far as the look of the location goes.

 

[Darth Tater]

I think they're due to try a different kind of location. China was about the only location that was fairly unique. It's either been a tropical island location, or Australia, which is fairly similar are far as the look of the location goes.

There was a rumor floating that this Fall's season of Survivor would be filmed in Tasmania. Then those rumors were quickly extinguished. Other rumors indicated a return to Australia or Cook Islands, but those were only fan speculation. We'll know for certain at the end of next Sunday's reunion show when the location & season name are revealed.

As far as players go, the strongest rumor holding ground right now is a Favorites vs Families season, where returning castaways play with & against members of their own family. Players rumored to return are Aras (Panama) and Brenda currently in Caramoan. Nothing concrete behind these rumors, so take them worth a grain of salt. If they do a Favorites vs Families season, it would be unwise not to include Russell & Brandon Hantz. Brandon even mentioned this in his post-elimination interview this season...saying how he'd love to play against his Uncle Russell. This would certainly make for an interesting season if it were to be true.

Another rumored theme for the coming seasons/years is a Battle Of The Champions, where only winners from previous seasons play against one another for an ultimate showdown. Since Aras (mentioned above) from Panama was that season's winner, this makes me wonder if his name is in circulation due to returning for the Champions season rather than Favorites vs Families.

There are also planned seasons with strictly new castaways only. In my opinion, they should save the Battle of The Champions theme for the 30th season.

Time will tell.

 

[SAV]

Personally, I'd love to see a season of redemption. All players who were voted out first come back and play a season. None would have an advantage since they all only had a couple of days out there their first time. A couple would be vaguely familiar, but it would be just like a cast of noobs out there.

 

[SAV]

Andrea and Reynold Interview:

http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv...interview-andrea-boehlke-and-reynold-toepfer/