LadyChatts

That’s why I say, they could be fake blindsides or actual blindsides. Now someone like David maybe thinks Wardog is going (based on the preview), or Wendy thinks she’s going to slide by again, and they get bounced. Maybe they are blindsided, but as a viewer I wouldn’t call them blindsides. Eric? Wardog? Yeah, that would be a blindside. I also won’t be terribly shocked if Joe leaves this week, either, or is in danger after his chat with Ron last week. I don’t think they showed that for nothing. It could be Kama finally loses, and they paint it as Ron/Julia vs Joe/Aurora with Julie as the swing vote. I’m thinking there will be a boring boot and an actual blindside.

Oh, I totally agree with all the above (that’s why I said I think this is getting overblown). I do think the podcast made some good points, but it’s not strictly related to this season only. Being on a winning tribe and in a majority alliance that has a boring predictable plan of booting the returnees isn’t exactly a winning combination for airtime either. Aubry mentioned in one of her interviews I posted that she tried to get a feel for Julia but Julia wanted nothing to do with her. And then there’s Victoria, who isn’t exactly getting an intelligent edit despite saying she’s done the opposite of her edit. Or Wardog, whose already feuding with Johnny FairPlay and getting into fights with other former Survivors. So yeah, it could be a lot worse 🙂 This week is a two hour episode, so if Julia gets little to no airtime or any strategic confessionals, she’s either that boring or did something to piss of production.

http://ontheislandpodcast.com/castaway-davie-rickenbacker-saves-the-show-week-4-survivor-edge-of-extinction/ Here's a podcast Davie did where they touch on the controversy over no Julia confessionals (starts around the 20 minute mark). While I kind of think this is getting overblown, I do think some good points were made (mainly that Julia was totally ignored in her role over searching Joe's back pack, and Aubry/Julia being ignored in favor of Ron over the reaction to Chris being voted off). Davie said he doesn't like that people are using this to say Survivor is racist (which he doesn't believe), but says he'd be stinking up Twitter a lot more if he were in Julia's shoes.

I was annoyed by that, too. Yes, it's the game. I get that. But what little I've seen of Ron (both on the show and in secret scenes/bonus clips) makes me believe he's one of those that thinks he's better at the game than he really is. I especially hated that he simply lured Joe away so Julia could go through his stuff. Damn I wish he had the idol, and we saw those two gloating about voting him out and how he has no safety net-and then he whips the idol out during TC. But I've always hated how people are allowed to go through others possessions. I do remember a funny story from S30, when Dan claimed he lost his undies in the ocean, and then Tyler went rifling through his bag I think to see if he found an idol or advantage in there-only to find a dirty pair of undies that had supposedly washed away. You think finding Dan's underpants would scare anyone in future seasons not to go looking through each other's bags.

I'm thinking this week we will have a predictable boot (in this case, Wendy) and an actual blindside (Eric, Victoria, Wardog, Joe or Ron). Next week the episode title said something about a twist so I'm assuming that's the merge/EOE reveal. ETA: Here's the episode title/description for this week:

Your probably right about Lauren. My guess is her crying and having a rough time may lead to the scene we saw of Wardog approaching Kelley in voting her off. After reading what @SVNBob wrote about the reddit posts, I thought about a conversation Chris/Wardog had in episode 2 when discussing who to vote off. Chris wanted Wentworth gone because he believed she’d only use them until she didn’t need them anymore (Wardog vetoed the idea). Then cut to episode 3 when Wardog said he trusted Wentworth more than Chris. Perhaps foreshadowing to a Wardog boot? Especially because I think Kelley is a lot closer to Lauren than Wardog. I’m hoping Victoria manages to pull off an Eric blindside, even though he’ll no doubt go to EOE. Out of all the Kama members, I feel she’s gotten more airtime than the others (besides Aubry). But that ‘people shouldn’t trust me’ is typically said by someone overconfident in their position and doesn’t realize their perfect plan is falling apart.

Preview for this week. Lauren is crying (and takes a little fall during one of the challenges), Victoria says people shouldn't trust her, there's a box on EOE that is about the exiles fate in the game, and "double the blindsides." Possible boot theories: Victoria could get blindsided for targeting Eric/idoled out by Aubry who didn't fall for her trying to sway her on an Eric vote (or someone else could go because of Aubry's idol). I wouldn't call Wendy a blindside so she's likely safe. Over at Lesu, I wouldn't say David is a blindside, either, so maybe Wardog does go? Or Wentworth decides Lauren is just going to be weak fodder to keep around so they get rid of her (especially if they lose again). Kama's more of a toss up; based on this past week, I'd say Ron or Joe. This, of course, assuming these are actual blindsides and not them making it seem like David or Wendy are in on the vote but then get bounced. I'd even say Joe getting blindsided is a bit of a stretch, since all they've done over at Kama is talk about getting rid of him and Aubry. Even after his talk with Ron, I'd be shocked if he thought Ron was with him 100%.

Supposedly David’s IG account had some activity while filming was going on. People figured by the filming schedule he was pre merge and might have just come home. There was also a rumor that he was medevaced but I haven’t seen anything else to support that.

It's possible Rick could still come back from EOE at a later point (or Chris). The fact that Chris had a photo of him in a red buff was either him trolling the fans, or being super excited that he makes it back after being blindsided as a third boot. It seems that the only end game spoilers so far are not true, with the possible exception of the winner being controversial due to the twist. However, it's possible a newbie wins out over a returning player just so the newbies can give a symbolic FU to the producers for creating the twist (which clearly was meant to benefit the vets) and having returning players in the game. I love Joe and Aubry and want them to stick around, but I'm kind of glad that some newbies are rebelling against returning players for once. Even with edits I'm confused whose long term, and the story lines are interesting, considering what's been left out and showing up in the secret scenes. I know having returning players takes a lot away from the newbies and re-directs story lines to center around them. Right now, I think Joe, Victoria, David, maybe Wardog, Aubry, and Wendy are vulnerable.

I'm wondering what the scrambling looks like on EOE. I originally thought maybe it was an early merge this season, since two people have a shot at coming back from EOE, but that doesn't seem to be it. A two hour episode focusing on the return of EOE castoff would make more sense, but your probably right that it's going to be a predictable boot(s), or they're just trying to move the season along to get to the twist. Since the previews are probably lying to me because this season hates me, my guess is Wardog going after Lauren is going to be misdirect and it's a predictable David boot (though I won't 100% rule out a Wardog blindside). At NuMana, Wendy might go but might also survive if they want to get out Aubry, or Victoria is serious about targeting Eric and it gets back to him. NuOldKama I feel is a little harder to predict since we haven't seen much of the dynamics going on there, but I guess Joe could be done for. Maybe Aurora. Winning challenges aside, I think that tribe is just boring and not much is going on there besides a majority targeting a minority and the majority won't budge.

I kind of understand the bitterness, since Reem felt blindsided and stacked by how her tribe felt about her. I do find it funny that they’ve continued losing, and Reem herself didn’t seem that weak. I say I would have hogged the fish, but I keep forgetting these guys have no idea what this twist is or what they are doing on this island. So from that perspective, I guess I’d have to share. I can’t remember if it was Reem or Chris who said they didn’t know if they were re entering the game as a tribe at some point. Which I’d love all the Manu castoffs to re enter as a 4th tribe and beat Old Manu/New Lesu, have them go to TC again, and have Jeff rub it in that all the people they’ve voted off came back and beat them, so do they have any regrets. Yeah, that’d be a better twist than EOE for me at this point lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_id2r2txwU For anyone that does care, here is a collection of secret scenes/bonus clips someone put together of Julia since she isn't getting confessionals (and kind of meshed it together as though it's in an actual episode). I'm going with she's not giving them much to work with, on top of competing with popular returning players, more interesting personalities that know how to milk the camera, a twist that's taking up airtime, and being on a winning tribe. I don't remember anything of Aurora aside from the first episode, or Julie for that matter. I sometimes think that fans of the show have the hardest time getting airtime (unless, again, they are a Sandra or Russell or Wendy type like we have this time). I just think that they are very focused on the game and winning and doing well, and just taking in the experience, that they are playing and acting...well, like a normal person that isn't auditioning to come back 5 times. I always thought it'd be cool for Survivor to put out more bonus footage (and this also goes for Ponderosa). I know we can't get live feeds like Big Brother, but they could put together more from the episode and what happened during those 3 days, and post it online. And what I find humorous about Reem and Keith being bitter at Chris, is he just went along with the majority. I know Reem seemed blindsided by how people felt about her, and I get how being the first boot of a show you're a fan of sucks. But I can't believe she was that surprised. Same with Keith. Chris didn't have to vote them out, but it wasn't going to stop them from being booted.

I wasn't too bothered by that, since all but 1 of NuMana were all old Kama; and in the case of Aurora and Joe, it was good for Aubry to win since she's outnumbered. I fully expected Lauren to play her idol. That was quite the surprise. I also thought David was getting voted off, based on his comments at TC. It sounded like a good bye speech.

I don't think Lauren would get voted off. Her and Wentworth are close, and David looked pretty mad tonight when Rick got voted off. I truly believe he thought Wardog was with them. So it might be easy to convince him to vote Wardog, especailly since he'd be the alternative choice. In addition, they have 4 members, so either tie it and risk a rock draw, or go along and vote someone off whose proven he isn't very trustworthy. We did see Victoria and Aubry strategizing on the beach, so it's possible Manu attends TC. I'm assuming there will be 2 vote offs since it's a 2 hour ep. And though we didn't see anything of Kama, tonight makes me think the scene with Ron/Joe will go somewhere (either Joe getting voted off or Ron getting blindsided). Since Julia isn't getting confessionals or much screen time, she's taken to her twitter to explain what's going down on her end. She said when she searched Joe's bag, there were items that made her think he might be making a fake idol. Why Ron and Julie are so convinced he doesn't have it I don't know; we saw Lauren bury her's, and since going through personal possessions is nothing new, Joe could have it hidden somewhere. But maybe that's foreshadowing to a Kama TC and Joe trying to play a fake idol. Hopefully he does better than last time if that's the case.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/survivor-edge-extinction-aubry-bracco-interview-1194156 Interview with Aubry about the first nine days in the game. Nothing too earth shattering: she agrees that Manu is a train wreck but liked the fact that they were willing to work with returning players; says she asked Tai for every detail he could think of in finding an idol (she also says Ron was out there looking at the same time she ended up finding her idol, but he got nervous about being away from camp too long and went back). No surprise that it it probably would have been her or Aurora to go from Kama if they lost before the swap.

Next week is a two hour episode (I thought my guide said it was two episodes, but now it says it's one). Looked like some excitement at EOE, but I can't believe they are bringing someone back already. At first I thought it was medics running on a tribe's beach. Also, I am hoping and praying to the Survivor Gods that the shot of Wardog telling Wentworth he wants Lauren gone is a post IC strategy session and it backfires on him spectacularly. And we saw Victoria telling Aubry she might want to vote Eric out, but Victoria seems kind of wishy washy. I'd die if Wendy managed to escape elimination yet again. But I feel like Victoria is kind of wishy washy so who knows. Interesting that we didn't get anything for Kama in the preview.

If I had been Chris I would have hogged the fish for myself.

Totally agree. I think they should (for something different) make the new tribe like the Haves camp from S14. Or, at the very least, do what you suggested. Or let them pluck creature comforts from their old camps, or something. As to the second part of your comment, I think it's been like that for a few seasons now. My biggest pet peeve is that most seasons seem to be idol hunting, challenges, strategizing, and classifying every vote off as being a blindside. Last season the editing was so much better, and I don't know why they changed it for this season. And if we're going to go to EOE for a considerable period of time now that more people are getting voted off, they should have done two tribes. Now I feel like we're watching four. Curious what's going to become of NuOldKama. I do think Joe is at risk at being voted off, but I'm hoping Ron's comments come back to bite him. I really don't like him, and not because he's targeting my favorite man bun. But there is something about a bad vibe he gives off.

Was Keith really blindsided? And I’m guessing Reem still hasn’t figured out Keith threw her under the bus for the first vote. It was way too much with 3 tribes and the EOE tribe of castoffs. And Chris will have no reason to be bitter at Rick; he and David tried to warn him not to trust Wardog. With how the tribes came out, this is the first time in many years I’ve believed a tribe swap to be random. Big Wendy lives! I’m glad she threw her former tribe under the bus. I don’t care that she’s a chicken prison breaker hypocrite or a little quirky, I love her! So Old Manu/New Lesu voted out two weak links and a strong player and are still losing. And god, now Wentworth is on a last name basis with Rick? Disappointed, but not surprised, with the vote. I don’t think Wardog was as much of a swing vote as they tried to make it seem. I’m just glad those 3 are at least still losing. But I want David to stick around, so hopefully he finds Lesu’s idol or they win. Wardog is definitely making enemies. After that article about Julia and her lack of confessionals/airtime this season, I have to laugh that the most screen time she got so far was tonight and only involved going through Joe’s bag (a huge pet peeve of mine). And still no individual confessionals. And it was on Ron’s orders to go through the bag.

Wentworth’s Cleveland Browns dig came a week too late.

I don't know if I'd say bad edit, but just some comments make me think people might not be happy with their edits this season because of how they are looking so far. Victoria also posted on her twitter that she did look extensively for the idol, just like everyone else, and wasn't just sitting back talking about how stupid idol hunts were. Then there's Wendy, who posted the clip of the secret scene of Wentworth, Wardog, and Lauren making fun of her injury to justify her behavior at her camp (although someone on another site pointed out in a pre-show interview she gave that she wanted to release the chickens if her tribe won them...so yeah, totally going for the Sia mention). But she said that was an ongoing occurrence with her tribemates. I agree with you on Julia. And, as I mentioned in her thread, watching bonus clips of her, she doesn't sound very exciting to listen to. Of course, there's a long way to go, so we'll see what happens.

I just never remember them doing it this early except, as @azshadowwalker mentioned, it was for another conflict like the basketball games. I'm wondering if it's the merge episode (it'd be episode 5 & 6 according to my DVR). With EOE they might want the extra time because they'd have to have the challenge for that person to return, on top of everything else happening. And I'm sure a lot of time will just be spent on people's reaction to the twist and whoever comes back into the game. Either that or the second half of the season is more exciting than the first half has been, so they're trying to speed it along. The tribe swap might be boringly predictable with boots. Who knows, Manu might keep up their losing streak.

I had wondered about Ron, and thought maybe he saw Joe but let Victoria blab for strategic reasons. That way, in case the tide turned, he could say Victoria was the one plotting against them. I have a feeling a lot of people are not going to like their edits by the time this season is over. Wardog/Warthog may be trying to play the villain, but I think he's doing a lousy job and just looks like a Wentworth worshipper for now (as does Lauren). Julia's complaining about being ignored in the edit, Victoria took grief for not noticing Joe behind her, and Kama in general has only gotten the edit of being after Joe/Aubry. And from what I understand, because of EOE, no one can give interviews until the end of the season? Or just if they leave EOE? Either way they can't defend themselves or their edit until much later on.

I wonder if Chris could possibly win the game and that’s where the controversial ending comes from. Wins his way back in, gets voted out right away, goes to EOE where he wins his way back in at the final 6, immunity wins his way to the final 4, makes final 3 and wins. He’s a likable enough guy where I can see people bonding with him on EOE and then voting for him-especially if he’s up against a returning player.

So the tribe swaps are still up in the air, but it's sounding like it isn't going to be much of a swap. The posters at Sucks think it is Kama staying all Kama (possibly Ron, Julie, Julia, Gavin, and Joe), Manu staying all Manu (right now believed to be Wendy, David, Kelley, Wardog, and Lauren), and the new tribe being 4 Kama with 1 Manu (believed to be Rick, along with Eric, Victoria, Aubry and Aurora). If this proves to be true, either someone royally messed up the buff draw, they want to protect certain contestants, or they were over this season at this point and didn't care. Joe, David, and Wendy are screwed with this line up if this is true. Rick could be in an interesting position, if Eric/Victoria want to get out Aubry, and Aubry/Aurora stick together. I wonder if Wendy frees the chickens after the tribe swap, since she knows she's screwed. ETA: So this week is a 1 hour episode, but the following week (the 20th) is a 2 hour episode. Have we ever had a 2 hour episode this early that wasn't the premiere?