Thalia

Next week, on Deal or No Deal Island! Joe: Those who retrieve the top six cases in value will be granted immunity, as long as your first name has three letters. Oh, and isn't Pam. Go!

Like so much on this show, the way this competition was played made no sense. It doesn't seem the task was timed, yet they all seemed to trying to beat each other to the cases and then to the beach. If there was more than one key, I can maybe see why a team would want it first. (was there a second key in the final crate?) Nick and Rob could have taken a leisurely paddle around the Banker's Island and I can't see that they would have been penalized in any way. Did Stephanie agree or was she noncommittal when Alyssa told her the plan? I remember it as the latter, but I could be wrong. And Alyssa was correct when she said Stephanie never spoke up against the Kim plan when she had a chance. One reason I quit watching the Chase was it was too irritating when the players left with nothing at the end. That was only for 1 episode. I imagine I'll be livid after the finale if Rob (or Austin or Jordan) leave with a prize of $20

How is Jordan still on this show? I guess he's just lucky that he has strong chefs on his team that save him through team immunity. Although he did do well with the lamb's tongue or whatever that was last week.

Maybe the time the teams had to eat cheese with maggots? Blech even if it was a local "delicacy." That was the year Penn and Kim Holderness won.

When Blaise had to break the tie, it was immediately clear that Gordon's chef would go home to even things up. I even wondered if Nyesha was told to vote differently to Gordon so that the final decision would be left to the one judge who knew who to vote for. Both Richard and Nyesha were looking down and struggled giving their vote. Above and beyond the struggle you'd normally have knowing you have to kill someone else's dream. Once Gordon's chef (I don't know their names) got biscuit dough, he should have switched plans and made some kind of brunch dish. If he had eggs, pork, salmon, cheddar, or Mexican ingredients he could have made a killer breakfast pizza. I know he said choosing the biscuit dough was an accident and can't remember what other ingredients he'd grabbed. Whatever they were, they didn't work with the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

God/Bhanu: 1 Randen: And who knows! Next week, a prayer inspired tidal wave could knock out everyone but Probst and Bhanu, leaving him the Sole Survivor by Default/Divine Intervention!

I can see that he's cocky, and that might turn off some people. But cocky is good with me if a) you're a good player and can back it up; b) if it combined with humor. "I've still got it" for example. He said it with humor and the recognition that he IS good at these kind of games. He certainly takes up a lot of camera time, but it looks like even Joe M. is kind of star struck around him. Speaking of camera time: there was a woman during the suitcase portion who had long reddish hair. I would swear she hadn't been on my tv screen before that moment. I have no idea who she is.

This was a fun episode. I've been so impressed with Boston Rob's machinations that I am going to seek out his Survivor episodes. Aaron lucked out the day he rode in with Boston Rob. And although Aaron is the opposite of a comp beast (a comp milquetoast?), if he drags him to the end, Rob has almost a 100% chance of winning. And, actually I'm happy for Aaron. He's so sweet and I was worried that he would be voted out in the first episode.

John: it was a game. A game. A GAME! I want that to be my new ringtone. I will probably finish this tomorrow. I got tired of the poor loser behavior during the first 15 minutes. I can only assume it will get worse.

Kate's banishment around the firepit was pretty much a sure thing. THAT SAID -- even if I'd been 99% sure she was a faithful, I would have voted to banish when she tried end the voting because she thought "they'd caught all the traitors." As MJ pointed out correctly -- then who in the heck banished Sheree? There had to be at least one more traitor and if Kate had really been a faithful, then she was a faithful who decided it would be cool to give away $200K. I LOVED Alan's blue plaid outfit. It looked so classy and was tailored to perfection for him. The writing on the wall became more and more legible by mid-season and Dan's departure and his attack on Phaedra: It was going to be a win for the faithfuls. If Sandra or CT had been the last traitor, they might have had a chance. Kate made a mistake being too loyal to Phaedra before the vote and then getting pissed at Phaedra during the vote. I don't guess it matters much to Phaedra that Kate was a bad traitor; money wasn't going to Phaedra in any event.

And when Brantzen jumped into the mud, Boston Rob immediately whispered to some of the others: "wow, look at him. He wants to steal your money. I'm not saying he should be eliminated, but, you know, maybe you should." or something close to that. 😀

I've been thinking about how this season will affect Traitors in future seasons. The main path to victory as shown in season 1 was simple: Be Cirie Fields. Frankly, it is probably the lesson from season 2 as well. Cirie was friendly, approachable, willing to dish, knew when to keep quiet and when to speak up. She was the mother everyone wanted. This year, I'm not sure. I think the gamers, like Dan and Parvati were always going to be suspect, and they should have acted like Faithfuls from the beginning. Joining in on the dish, tossing out names quietly before they got to the roundtable, and not calling any attention to themselves by taking the lead at the roundtable. Phaedra got far just being part of the Bravo alliance, but once Dan targeted her, she was doomed. Because yeah, once you're on several someone's radar it is difficult to defend yourself in this game. I need to watch a UK season. It is fun to watch the reality stars we know, but when they also know each other and their reps, I suspect it is harder for the players.

I've never seen Sandra's Survivor seasons but its my understanding that her MO is to stay under the radar and watch everyone else fight. But she is always there at the end. There was a chance that Kate might have been suspicious about Sandra's questioning, but then MJ jumped in -- will Kate think that this means Sandra was satisfied with the joint answer? If she does, then there is no reason for Kate to murder Sandra tonight. And, in fact, she should keep her since her effort to protect Phaedra involved throwing shade at Sandra. I agree with @AntFTW that Kate went too far with the "selfish" accusation. I'm guessing she was pissed at Phaedra and couldn't keep from letting her know. Does Sandra know that Kate was tossing her name around? I'm not sure the remaining Bravos have a reason to tell Sandra. Unless she begins to tell people about her Kate suspicions, and they share. On one hand, Kate is kind of fun and it would be interesting to have her win. But on the other, I don't really like it when a single player is protected for weeks at the start of a game like this. And what greater protection could there be than to not be subject to being voted out for the first three or four votes. I wouldn't mind if Kate had shared a pot as a faithful, but it isn't necessarily fair for her to swoop in late and win it all as the last Traitor standing.

A place to discuss the show that melds Deal or No Deal and Survivor: Luxury Island. Hey look! There's Joe Manganiello. Moderators, please delete if this thread belongs elsewhere. *********************************** The premiere was good, not great. The biggest problem I had with it was it dragged. I'm hoping that future episodes will be 60 minutes and not 90. If they continue the format from tonight, the first half will place the contestants in a Survivor like challenge. The second half adds to the Deal or No Deal format by placing additional pressure on the contestant in the briefcase challenge, in the form of peer pressure from the other contestants. I immediately liked Aron tonight, so I'm happy he stayed. He and Boston Rob are the only two I can name. The two other memorable contestants were the older woman and the former briefcase model (not, btw, the Duchess of Sussex). Felt bad for the guy who went home, but he violated a cardinal rule of competitive reality shows and did something early on to make himself standout in a negative way. It probably would be more fun if they added a few more Boston Robs, ala the first season of The Traitors. At least IMHO.

That may have been the least funny monologue I've ever seen. I don't even know what to say about the part dealing with his mom. Except to say it isn't flattering. The skits haven't been funny either, but the problem was the writing more than his participation.