RescueMom

I have read no spoilers, and this is probably way off base. I was thinking about the advantage in the challenge that the EoE people can buy to get back into the game. It costs one token and you can buy a maximum of three, right? I wonder if the advantage is being able to penalize another player, like Keith did to Chris, rathe than help yourself. That would work with multiples - you could penalize three different people. There are probably a million holes in that theory, but it is interesting to think about what kind of advantage you can buy.

I've been quietly mourning because I know I'm one of the very few Tyson stans on here, but over the years he has become my favorite player and I'm super bummed he got voted out. But I have to give credit where credit is due - that was a smart move by Sandra. She is so good. She is such a dangerous player because she can orchestrate moves like this without seeming like she is running things. The minute she heard Tyson had thrown her name out, she said "he's got to go next" and she made it happen. This is the best season and the worst season at the same time. I love all of these players and don't want anyone voted out! I read a post on Twitter: "Jeff Probst tried to warn us, but we insisted." But I'm still glad we got a winners season. Now I want Natalie, Ethan, and Tyson all to come back from the Edge! I hate the Edge but I'm glad to keep seeing my faves at the same time. I equally look forward to Wednesdays and dread them this season. So many contradictory feelings!!!

I'll respectfully agree to disagree on part of this one 🙂 I think Rob gets a lot of derision for his win. I notice it because I like him and have always disagreed with the idea that the win was handed to him. I could easily be misinterpreting the conversation, though. Like you say, it would be an interesting thing to throw in there if Michele did win or if they end up working together.

I thought it was shown because Rob's win is also controversial to many - how many times have we heard "it took him four tries to win and he only won that time because his tribe was full of sheep." If I have heard/read it dozens of times, I would bet Rob has heard/read it thousands. Many people respect him as a player but not as a winner. So I thought that scene was him basically saying "fuck 'em if they can't take a joke, we both won and we both deserved to win."

Tony, if you save Tyson you will move WAY up on my favorites list!!!

That would change it dramatically. I only watch US Survivor so haven't seen this advantage used before. Thanks for the info! For some reason, I thought if someone used it they would leave right before the vote - so they wouldn't lose out on much information. But I have seen several references to losing out on TC info so I must be mistaken.

I can't remember where, but I saw a screen shot where The poster said it looked like there was a bit of tribe color on the split idols. I couldn't see the whole thing clearly so I'm not 100% confident, but I think they may each be unique. Unrelated: I have been thinking about the Safety without Power advantage. I think it will really only be useful In pretty specific situations. One would be when you really are desperate: if you are in a situation like Karishma last year when she knew she was in trouble and she had no allies she's be leaving in the lurch by using it, or if you knew everyone else in your minority alliance is safe as well through other immunities, or you flat-out know you are one of two/three that are going home and you don't have the numbers to make a move. Another would be at the final 5 vote if you are in a position where you aren't part of a majority trying to get out a specific person, so you only care about making it to the fire-making challenge.

Oh, I forgot - I got a big kick out of Rob calling it "Extinction Island" multiple times. I'm telling myself he was doing it as a little side-eye against a twist that most of us dislike.

WATER WELL

I don't know how to link the actual tweet, so here's a screenshot:

Welp, once again I'm just the super fan on here who loved every minute of the episode!! Never was a big Tony fan before but this season he is delightful! That ladder bit was hilarious!!! His lunatic ladder escapade was a great juxtaposition with Yul's rational and methodical method of accomplishing the same thing. I honestly think Rob botched that puzzle so badly because he was emotional about Amber being voted out. Even though he pretty much knew it had to be her when he got the fire token, it was confirmed right before the challenge. That is the first time that I can recall that he didn't just blast through any puzzle he was in. Adam is playing a smart game. I would have selected him pretty low in a draft for this season before it started, but I've been impressed so far. Also super impressed with Ethan, and I adore him now even more than I did in Africa. I wasn't expecting that. He seems to be involved in almost every conversation of >2 people, old school or new school.

I expect there will be a tribe swap soon (not spoiled, they just usually swap pretty early these days.) A swap could really mess with the split idols if the pair holding the halves gets split up. Also, if one of the holders gets voted out, that would make the other half worthless since neither half has any power by itself, yes? If they have to have a zillion idols in the game at all time, I am glad they have at least started diluting their powers in different ways.

Allison from DvG lost 27 pounds in 37 days. I expect she was pretty hungry for most of those days.

Having food items on the Fire Tokens menu intrigues me a bit. At first I thought nobody would waste their currency on food, and I still think it is likely nobody will. BUT - it is one thing to be starving when no food is available. I think it is a very different thing to be starving and know in the back of your mind you could get something to eat any time you want. I don't think anyone will do that, but I think it could make the hunger more difficult to deal with than it already is.

I agree with you 100% - I must have written my post poorly. I have always Just thought he got rid of and/or neutralized the threats before they could get him.

I just read something I agreed with that I think will be an unpopular opinion around here: the real winners last night were the cast of Redemption Island. Watching Boston Rob play Jedi mind tricks so effectively on other winners maybe gives some credence to the idea that the RI cast wasn't just a bunch of dummies and sheep.

Ah you guys, I unapologetically and unabashedly loved every minute of it!! Super disappointed I didn't get to watch at a premier party as planned (got a bad cold), but that is maybe for the best because I got a little teary at times. Boston Rob and Parvati? The alliance I didn't know I needed until it happened. Ethan, happy and healthy and looking like a kid in a candy store to be playing again! Yul calmly kicking ass and taking names. Ben acting like the star-struck fan when we all expected it would be Adam. Danni handling Ben's blabbing perfectly. And I love Tyson and was on the edge of my seat thinking we were going to lose him the first night. I for one am glad he made it through and hope he can find a way forward. So excited for next week!

Yes I am!! I will DM you.

I'll give a third vote for Philippines. It's one of my top 10 seasons for sure!

I love it except for the Richard Hatch / Sue Hawk incident. And after season 39, I suspect it will bother me even more on subsequent rewatches. Edited to add: I was immediately angry at myself for calling that an incident. Makes it sound like they were both at fault. Make that "Richard's extremely inappropriate behavior toward Sue" instead. And some of the reactions to it.

I believe Candace and John were a replacement couple on the first BvW season too - I am pretty sure I read it was supposed to be RC and her dad, but her dad had medical problems right before taping started. I had not heard about Natalie being asked to Game Changers and it makes me happy that she was. I am excited to see her play again this upcoming season!

I don't know. The only two seasons I still haven't seen are Fiji and China. Amazing that he won if he had never watched the show and had very little warning!! Natalie? Natalie? Natalie?

Fun fact about DvG - Davie was a last-minute addition to the cast when another contestant couldn't play for some reason. They basically called him and said "uh, can you get on a plane right now?" IIRC, it was maybe 40 hours before filming started.

"You really trust these girls?" "No."

Let's touch base closer to the premier - it would be nice to meet you if we both end up going!