Survivor: Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers

[PUSH]

Also, Ryan totally was a goat, but he did not do himself justice. He was argumentative and defensive. You CAN'T be defensive to a jury. That never works. Own your game. I think he was trying to, but he wasn't telling the truth. And it showed. He even said before he got to final TC that he was going to lie. The truth comes out at Ponderosa. Be humble and own it.

 

[RMichael21]

I started watching back during the first Blood vs Water season, so here’s where I’d place this season with the other eight since then. (This only includes the seasons that I’ve seen as they’ve aired, I’ve viewed multiple past seasons online).

Cagayan (28)
Cambodia - Second Chance (31)
Koah Rong (32)
Millennials vs Gen X (33)
Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers (35)
Blood vs Water (27)
Game Changers (34)
Worlds Apart (30)
San Juan Del Sur (29)

 

[PUSH]

I've avoided spoilers of next season... but the clue Jeff gave is interesting. Returnee season for people who made dumb moves? I can't think of anything else. I'll find out in about 10 minutes, though.

 

[krause]

Ok I was not watching live but I’m all caught up now so here I go

This finale is making me realize I want Devon to win.

YES YES YES

It’s funny how you know who you actually want to win when they start getting voted out..

These Jeff interviews with fans are so much less meaningful (not that they've ever been a fan favorite) when you know they seek out specific fans to be at the reunion show. For example, they were specifically looking for Chrissy fans to be moms over the age of 40. Devon fans they preferred to be younger. I know they are still a TV production, so I'd rather them be fake with the audience rather than what they actually do on the island during the game.

Blech. I could do with none of this Jeff filler stuff. I fast forwarded most of it.

I hate this twist. The game is about voting people out. Not this.

Also, if Ben wins the fire making challenges and wins the game, he is the luckiest winner ever. He didn't win any immunities. He found idols and was saved by a twist (if he wins the fire challenge... this comment was posted before it happened). At least Mike Holloway won challenges to keep him in the game. Ben didn't even do that. But I have a feeling he's going to win and then win the game. Although I think that would create a thought in the jury that Ben wasn't even supposed to be in the final 3 in the first place. He earned it by being in the right place at the right time.

Yep I think not having any challenge wins is huge. Sooo much luck. I think it would be a nice twist with different players, but in this season it just makes it look like production wants Ben in the finale.

I think Devon would have won the game over Chrissy and Ryan. He got screwed because of a twist that totally alters the entire point of the game.

Yep. I think he had a good shot.

And Jeff just said that twist is becoming part of the show. I wonder if they are losing viewership and needing to make some drastic changes. It's interesting for the casual fan, but I think a lot of die hards and traditionalists won't like it.

I still wish they would go back to final 2.

I also don't remember a finale with so many commercials. And they aren't leaving much time for the final TC... only 8 minutes if it were to start right now. Usually they allow 20 or 30 minutes. Weird finale.

That’s why I PVR. Usually caught up by the reveal of the winner.

Will the final TC actually be live?? Fan influence?? Is that the flaw Russell talked about?

That would be awful.

Great finale tho!!! It's been a good ride!!

Yes!!

Ben wins. I felt like his stock was greater up until he got saved by a twist. The twist really took a lot out of this season for me. It was a good season, but the twist completely altered the end of the game. Some might say Ben earned it with the fire, but to me he was saved by the fire.

Also, the final immunity challenge was great. At first I thought, really? This is what they're doing for a final challenge? But it turned out to be one of the best battles ever.

Overall I'd say Ben is an above average winner. Not a legend like Mike said, but still good. The season overall is middle of the pack. Not my favorite, but not the worst.

Yep middle of the pack. Lots of solid players though. Lauren, Devon, Chrissy, Ali, even Ryan. All showed up to play.

Also, Ryan totally was a goat, but he did not do himself justice. He was argumentative and defensive. You CAN'T be defensive to a jury. That never works. Own your game. I think he was trying to, but he wasn't telling the truth. And it showed. He even said before he got to final TC that he was going to lie. The truth comes out at Ponderosa. Be humble and own it.

Yep. They all talk enough at Ponderosa that by the time of the final tribal they all know everything.

I thought the open final tribal discussion worked better this season than last one although it still seemed like not everyone got equal talking time, it wasn’t as dominated by certain people as last time.

 

[PUSH]

I started watching back during the first Blood vs Water season, so here’s where I’d place this season with the other eight since then. (This only includes the seasons that I’ve seen as they’ve aired, I’ve viewed multiple past seasons online).

Cagayan (28)
Cambodia - Second Chance (31)
Koah Rong (32)
Millennials vs Gen X (33)
Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers (35)
Blood vs Water (27)
Game Changers (34)
Worlds Apart (30)
San Juan Del Sur (29)

Of those, I'd say:

1. Cambodia
2. Cagayan
3. Blood vs Water (I didn't appreciate this as much until I rewatched it... the was only the 2nd season I'd seen at the time)
4. Millennials vs Gen X
5. Game Changers
6. Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers
7. Koah Rong
8. San Juan del Sur
9. Worlds Apart

The first season I started watching live was Caramoan, but I've since watched season 1-25, also. I've also done a rewatch of Caramoan, Blood vs Water, and Micronesia.

 

[krause]

I've avoided spoilers of next season... but the clue Jeff gave is interesting. Returnee season for people who made dumb moves? I can't think of anything else. I'll find out in about 10 minutes, though.

I hope no 4-timers though.

 

[krause]

Wow. Was totally expecting a returnee season. That’s a weird concept. It would have to be all super fans to really “get it”

 

[PUSH]

This new theme is iffy. Better than HvHvH (all-time worst theme, aside from possibly Redemption Island), but I don't know how it will be put into practice... sounds like they're just reusing twists and idols, but using the actual ones from previous seasons? I guess the theme never really makes the season, the players do.

 

[PUSH]

I hope no 4-timers though.

Some players deserve a 4th time. Andrea and Parvati. Cirie deserves a 5th. I don't have a problem with the amount of times people play, but some players are definitely over done.

 

[krause]

Of those, I'd say:

1. Cambodia
2. Cagayan
3. Blood vs Water (I didn't appreciate this as much until I rewatched it... the was only the 2nd season I'd seen at the time)
4. Millennials vs Gen X
5. Game Changers
6. Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers
7. Koah Rong
8. San Juan del Sur
9. Worlds Apart

The first season I started watching live was Caramoan, but I've since watched season 1-25, also. I've also done a rewatch of Caramoan, Blood vs Water, and Micronesia.

Wow. I pegged you for a lifer. I’ve watched every season live since I was in grade 6 I’ve rewatched Micronesia, Heroes vs Villains, Palau.

 

[krause]

Some players deserve a 4th time. Andrea and Parvati. Cirie deserves a 5th. I don't have a problem with the amount of times people play, but some players are definitely over done.

I could watch Sandra every season

 

[PUSH]

Players I wouldn't mind see returning from this season:

- Lauren
- Ali
- Roark
- Joe
- Chrissy
- Devon

Ben and Mike maybe, but I feel like they're characters have been played out. I was not a fan of Ryan at all. I thought he was a total goat who is popular because he got the nerd edit. The nerd edit is growing old for me. We don't need anymore Cochrans.

 

[PUSH]

Wow. I pegged you for a lifer. I’ve watched every season live since I was in grade 6 I’ve rewatched Micronesia, Heroes vs Villains, Palau.

I've had a severe obsession since Caramoan. The WDWMagic thread actually got me into Survivor.

 

[PUSH]

I could watch Sandra every season

I was never a Sandra fan in her first two seasons. I had her pegged as one of the most overrated players, because she didn't do much in either of her first two seasons. Her third season is the one that actually hooked me on how great she is. I think she played her best game there, but just couldn't overcome her own name.

 

[GenerationX]

The first 2/3 of this season was pretty standard Survivor fare, but the last 1/3 was great. Very entertaining.

I've seen every show since season 1, episode 1, and I couldn't dream of sequencing them. There are entire seasons I could re-watch and not remember any of the boots or even who won.

January 3rd in the Survivor time slot is the premier of The Amazing Race. My entire family loves that show.

 

[krause]

This new theme is iffy. Better than HvHvH (all-time worst theme, aside from possibly Redemption Island), but I don't know how it will be put into practice... sounds like they're just reusing twists and idols, but using the actual ones from previous seasons? I guess the theme never really makes the season, the players do.

Yes I agree that this was the worst theme. Like they just made stuff up to make the people fit their “category”. I was joking that the final challenge should be remembering who was in what category.

I've had a severe obsession since Caramoan. The WDWMagic thread actually got me into Survivor.

Huh. The WDWMagic forum got me into booking moderate resorts and expensive ADRs

I was never a Sandra fan in her first two seasons. I had her pegged as one of the most overrated players, because she didn't do much in either of her first two seasons. Her third season is the one that actually hooked me on how great she is. I think she played her best game there, but just couldn't overcome her own name.

She killed it her third season. So entertaining to watch. That was one of the best runs of 3 or so episodes that I can remember.

 

[krause]

The first 2/3 of this season was pretty standard Survivor fare, but the last 1/3 was great. Very entertaining.

I've seen every show since season 1, episode 1, and I couldn't dream of sequencing them. There are entire seasons I could re-watch and not remember any of the boots or even who won.

January 3rd in the Survivor time slot is the premier of The Amazing Race. My entire family loves that show.

I could definitely remember the winner of each season if I saw the cast but for sure not the order of eliminations or alliances or anything.

Yes I also love Amazing Race. It’s just a solid show that they don’t seem to “mess with” as much as they have been with Survivor. Also excited to see Cody and Jessica from Big Brother on there.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I feel like Survivor just jumped the shark.

Jeff said this season started slow, and "then the gameplay started".

No, then the twists started. Gameplay was thwarted at every turn by the idols, which do feel very random despite a certain amount of skill being used by Ben to find them.

The ending was so telegraphed too. With all focus on Ben and how devastated he was, I knew the twist would change things for him somehow. As soon as the twist was revealed, his win was a foregone conclusion in my mind.

Chrissy played a good game and dominated in challenges. Ben's win might just be the least satisfying one in the history of this show.

 

[RMichael21]

New thread for Survivor: Ghost Island here.

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/survivor-ghost-island.936695/

 

[SAV]

I wanted Ben to win for quite a few episodes now, but didn't really care for the last "twist" in the game. I think it was done to get Ben a shot at the final 3 and for the "feel good" of it all because they knew he was going to be voted out if they went a standard vote.

In essence, he did earn the spot by beating Devin, but it just felt manufactured to get him there. Totally undid all of the work done to that point to build the group to go to the end.

I fully respect the idol finding that he did. He didn't sleep and searched. They were too dumb to assign someone to him every second of the day, just like Desi said. I wouldn't hold that against him. He played all of that masterfully.

I was really hoping the "twist" was going to be Final 2. Where you have the remaining 3 do a challenge to get the last spot. That final challenge could be a combination of physical and puzzle. The "twist" part would be that Chrissy could tell 1 person who could go and practice the puzzle part of the final challenge for a set amount of time. I remember doing the practice deal in one of the prior seasons.