Survivor: GENERAL THREAD

Schoolyard pick is better later in the merge. At this stage, most people don't know anyone and I wouldn't expect anyone would take it too personally. I have to say after actually watching it, I take it back - I bet Sue took it real personal being picked second last, and of course Andy was great for the lolz

Pundits are calling this the Season of the White Woman

Just watched the schoolyard pick. Absolutely died laughing when Andy and Sue were the last 2 remaining picks, Andy then went on this long emotional speech about it, and then the draft resumed just for Sierra to cold-bloodedly pick Sue. Love it

Anybody else think that was an unusually savage/cruel edit towards Rome? I'm sure I'm forgetting when theyve done this before, but when is the last time they spent an entire episode dunking on the person getting voted out like that? They showed like 5 different voting confessionals **** talking Rome alone.

I didn't have a problem with it but it felt sort of aggressive

I feel like that's the risk you take when you sit in all your confessionals gloating about your own brilliance. That pitch is rag armed right down the middle.

It didn't go unnoticed by me how well Rome took getting got, and how he genuinely appreciated getting to sit in Jeff's chair, and was cordial to everyone as he left.

Yeah, have to say if I was Sol it would have been hard not to say something like "Byeeeeee" as he walked past.

Let's be real - the guy was clueless about how to really play the game socially. He thought he knew, and didn't realize that running around like he was is sometimes okay with a small numbered tribe (plus with an immunity necklace) but in a big group, people are going to talk and the numbers definitely aren't in your favor. Sol had the right approach, which was here's what Rome is doing, and then he let others take the lead. EZ vote.

One interesting thing so far is that going into merge, there really aren't any solid alliances at all. Just pairs and a LOT of solo people. No tribe has all loyal members to have 4-5 people in a voting block consistently. I can see a Sam/Sierra/Andy trio combining with a Genvieve/Sol pair and Sue/Caroline and running the game for a bit. If I was one of the guys like Sam or Sol, that would be my play moving forward. The all women's thing would work as well obviously. If that happens, I think Genevieve will take over.

I dont think they even had footage to proffer a decoy boot. Rome is a unique player and got a unique boot episode. I was surprised to see he’s 30. E-sports commentary must keep you young

My power rankings going into the merge (to be mocked at season end).

For the avoidance of doubt this is who I think is most likely to win based on the edit I've been shown

Contenders
1) Teeny
2) Sue
3) Caroline

Crazy dark horse (probably just a 0 vote finalist though)
4) Andy

Very long shots at this point
5) Sierra
6) Sam

Don't see it
7) Kyle
8) Rachel
9) Gennieveve
10) Tiyana
11) Gabe
12) Sol

I think the winner comes from Sam, Kyle, Tiyana, or Sue.

What about Teeny's edit makes you think she has a shot? All I've seen her do so far is:

1) wrong side of a blindside or her #1 ally
2) lose her vote
3) go along with the herd one time
4) average to mediocre at challenges

I think she gives a good confessional but isn't all that good at the game.

Curious what you're seeing about Genevieve's game that has her at the bottom? She orchestrated the boot for Kishan and has Sol and Teeny as clear allies.

My current contenders are her, Sierra, or Sue with Kyle as my dark horse.

Oh I definitely agree, I also haven't been impressed by her game at all so far.

The reason I have her top of my power rankings is I feel the edit has gone out of the way to 'protect her' as much as they can for the above negatives you have listed. If anything I think they might have gone too far in trying to make her look good, which is making me feel she might end up being the 'decoy winner' similar to Charlie last season.

In case anyone is interested what the splits are for the two groups of six this week they've been 'leaked'. Will put in spoilers

Is there a an episode preview? Are both groups going to tribal?

Unsure.

I know an 8 person jury has been confirmed though so most likely it will be the typical both tribes go to tribal and tribe that goes first's boot is the one who doesn't make the jury

Great ep.

If Sol saves a Tuku, resulting in Rachel going home, it may have set the stage for the other tribes to pick off Tuku one by one like they were worried about.

Of course it probably doesn't unfold that way.

Interested to see the reactions next week to "who gave Rachel that advantage". Could make sense for multiple people to claim it. Hopefully tricky Andy tries to play it off like he did.

updated

I wonder if Jeff spends time ruminating on how his show that reflects society is showing one thing that has caught my eye the last four weeks: Every man who gets voted out walking off accepting their loss in good spirit, while the women who get voted off have complete breakdowns and can't believe this has happened to them. Kishan and Rome had to be at least as shocked as Anika and Tiyana, but the reaction was incredibly different.

Not to go full incel but I do think there's an indication of the changing societal norms for women - "set your expectations high, you deserve the best, settle for nothing else and if you don't get it, it's not your fault" vs men "you've had it all, and if you lose, you better just learn to like it because you've had it so good for so long you don't have the right to complain".

This concept was overblown ridiculously. Maybe the first vote out is a Tuku (which they were going to prevent by...voting out a Tuku anyways?). After that, Tuku has no majority, cracks are aplenty, everyone is trying to flip someone or flip themselves and "make a big move". The fabled new era never just sees one tribe getting picked off one after another.

All about being completely wrong but sucking out and backing into the right answer.

If only I hadn't gone with Jon Lovet in week 1 of the picks game.

#TheSeasonOfTheWhiteWoman

What are the thoughts about the type of advantage Sol found and passed on to Rachel?

Is this addition of more randomness good or bad for Survivor?

Am I the only one who thought that was an awesome episode from start to finish?

you were not!

I was entertained, but the randomness tilts me sometimes.

The 6 v 6 rando tribes, Sol's advantage, the top finisher of the losing tribe getting individual immunity, etc. Outwit, outplay, outlast, and hope you don't run real bad with a production gimmick.