LadyChatts

I'd be disappointed, but right now Tyler is in my 'want him to win because he's better than...' camp. I guess we will see if suddenly his edit explodes like Natalie did last year, and he does pull some big move that screws someone over. Maybe he'll be responsible for getting Carolyn ousted (on purpose or by accident) and that will be his signature move for them to justify a win.

At the end of the day this episode gave producers exactly what they wanted. Max even had something on his twitter about it not mattering if the season and cast were likable or not, the ratings speak for themselves. Survivor is the #1 show in its hour with ratings and the demo, beating out pretty handily American Idol, a show that has had half the seasons but that has only been on 1 year less than Survivor. The contestants themselves ultimately are the ones who will come out smelling like roses and forever a fan favorite, or thrown into the dark pit of despair with the likes of Colton, Na'Onka, and Brandon Hantz. I don't know that it will matter what Will or Dan say when it's all over, they've made their bed. Part of my issue early on this season was everyone seemed way too nice too each other and afraid of making moves or causing a stir. Of course, I didn't want it to take the turn it did, I just wanted the right balance of crazy and chaos. I've only ever completely tuned out of 2 Survivor seasons, and I would have stuck with RI if not for the Boston Rob factor. Usually by the time I decide to tune out, the season is almost done so I say to heck with it and keep watching. Normally the merge is when things really get going and start getting interesting, but it seemed like this season the opposite happened. When I was looking through the list of seasons last night, I have to say that WA right now is in my bottom 10 when I actually go through the trouble of ranking them (as a season and a cast). I'm rooting for Shirin at this point, but the only others I want to see win are by default (Mike, Rodney, and Tyler). And I've long been a champion of Shirin, but part of me wants her to win is just to spite all her haters out there. I'm glad she get the last word and a lot of love at the reunion, if it eats at the likes of Will and Dan. I do have to begrudgingly give credit to Rodney for recognizing it is a game and never stopping to play, always looking for alternatives and plan bs if his first plan got foiled. This season has been boring and predictable since the merge, and I can totally see what Jenn was saying about everyone being miserable and fighting at camp. Even the Merica camp looks gray and gloomy all the time. I'll probably keep watching, even though I vow I won't, but I definitely want to tune into the finale. I guess on the plus side, if the cast is going to make it miserable TV viewing, then at least that black part of my heart can take comfort in the fact that they not only will have to deal with the aftermath outside of the game, but that they also have to wait to do so. Now that part would be frustrating.

I wouldn't count Tyler out of winning, lack of airtime or not. There's still time left before the finale, and while he is still pretty MIA he's emerging more of a game player. Right now his strategy seems to be about tattling, which probably takes the heat off of him and Carolyn by getting others in trouble. I believe he's playing much more sneaky than we're seeing, and is thinking ahead. He might be the one to upend everyone else's game by making the right move at the right time.

I had heard that they were potentially going to include the S30 winner, to throw people off and so they could get the voting going. So it's possible that Shirin does win, or Mike. Whether they are allowed to compete on S31 or end up getting bumped because they won, I don't know. I'm disappointed about no Natalie, although I'm sure a lot of names on the list are false or who were possibilities and wind up getting cut. I do hope the old school Survivors make it on. Just to shake it up. In regards to Woo-I actually liked him but as a player I thought he was crap. Taking Tony to the end was the equivalent of Colby taking Tina or Ian giving up immunity to Tom and asking to get voted off in favor of Katie. I can see the possibility that he thought he could beat Tony. Quite honestly I thought there was a small chance, but Tony was like a Richard Hatch type. He did a lot of scheming, lying, backstabbing, and made enemies, but it was all in the name of the game and never became overly personal. Kass was just plain unlikable. I can see him getting voted back on, as he was on a more recent season and was a likable guy.

Ah Dan you never let me down. I wonder if Mike, Tyler, and Sierra will be visiting him in Maine again anytime soon or if they'll wash their hands of him. Regardless of what Shirin did or didn't do, and is doing in light of this, comments like this are only going to make her more sympathetic to the masses and make Dan look like an even bigger ass. Which every time I think that's not possible...and I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of the attacks on Shirin during the show. I see a lot of tears coming from Will at the reunion, claiming he's a good person, but I wonder if Jeff will let him, Dan, or anyone else get away with making excuses for their behavior. Simply put, say you're sorry whether you mean it or not and let it go. Mike posted a tweet earlier to his mother, commenting on what a strong women she was for getting them out of a DV situation when he was a kid. It actually puts Mike into a different light for me, and I can totally see why he's so close to the Survivors that he's close to. I wonder if the fact that Shirin was disliked by a certain group out there, and now she's becoming a bigger fan favorite while they're getting buried by hate is burning them just a little inside. In terms of the 'iconic' status of the winner: considering I disagree with Jeff's definitions on best ever, can't miss, exciting, explosive, jump the shark, and shocking, it makes me very scared who he could be referring to.

It won't be the last time I say it, since we still have the finale/reunion show to get through, but I love Jenn. Freaking love her. And yet, we're stuck with Sierra, Carolyn, Rodney, Dan, and Will. So much potential this season had. I loved her honesty. Still do. You know, Sierra would have had much better options by flipping. She could have sided with the NC, then flipped back to get better than 'just final 4'. She would have done something productive, and played with people she liked. That was Shii-Ann's intention in Thailand, before Jeff did the 'it's not a merge!'. And it would have spared us the misogynistic crew that we're stuck with. I'm really curious what her interviews will be like. Actually, I'm curious what everyone left has to say.

Me neither. The only thing that might turn it around for her is if she keeps getting bullied and it gets back to the jurors. They may not want to reward anyone else in the final 3 for their antics. I'm still assuming someone is going to get blindsided out of Rodney's group, and since it gets close to the end, they may harbor ill feelings. So that could be another vote for Shirin, out of spite. It seemed like a lot of people were annoyed with Shirin out there, because all she did was talk Survivor. Since she was the only ally for the NC tribe after the merge, I can see them giving her votes. I guess it depends what their criteria for voting is. Do they vote for someone who played the game, even if they didn't like them. Which is why I believe Sierra may stand no shot of winning. She's nice, but she's done nothing. I still think Mike or Tyler are the front runners to win.

But,as Jeff said, there's a reason why America doesn't vote. They don't see the whole picture, just what the editors want them to see. They have a TV show to create, they have to create characters, and some people go overboard playing a character so they can get screen time and be remembered. Russell forgot it is also a social game, that is why he lost. And he lost me with his antics at both reunion shows over losing. That was where I thought he forgot the show was over and he didn't need to put on the tough, gruff exterior that he might have had a few missteps. I would have had him winning Samoa, but not HvsV. I was in the Parvati camp with that season anyway. Voting for a player award and someone to win the actual million/sole Survivor title-I don't know if Russell would win. I didn't always vote for the Sprint award, but I would definitely do it for the million dollar award. And, of course, there's stuffing the ballot boxes yourself if you're a contestant to get the win. After the screw up that was the very first season of Big Brother, I am glad America doesn't have a say in voting on these shows anymore.

https://www.facebook.com/monifa.sims This is from Will's wife's Facebook page. That would go along with what Tyler tweeted about answering the questions at the finale, and the two sides to the story. However, has a contestant ever successfully defended a bad edit argument and gotten away with it in front of Jeff? I can already hear him saying 'but you said that, we didn't edit it in' and asking Shirin who exactly came to her defense. TPTB must not want to waste the moment if the contestants are allowed to talk ahead of time. Somehow, I have a feeling Shirin will get a chance to really let them have it, and they won't be able to bite back if they want to come out looking good. Judging from the backlash everyone is getting on twitter, I see a decent chunk dedicated to this at the reunion show. I think we all know what will be said and happen. From what I've read on other sites, it seems as though Will and his wife are getting death threats. From what his twitter said before the episode, he seems about as self aware as Dan for his behavior. Dan didn't apologize to Shirin until he got called out on twitter-and it took 2 days for that. Judging from Shirin's twitter, she's getting a ton of positive feedback, though there are some comments I noticed in there of people saying she's blowing this out of proportion for her own gain. I'm surprised for a "Youtube sensation" that Will and his wife have so few followers on twitter. Even Dan passed the 1,000 mark.

Maybe that explains why everyone is so mum over the situation. With the amount of tweeting a lot of them have done, it's all relatively silent now. As for Tyler, he's actually in my top 3 of people I want to win. And by win, I mean you're not as horrible as the next person. Tyler appeared to want to flip on the blues, at least that was an impression I got from one of Hali's interviews. But he didn't because of Carolyn. I'll go ahead and say he's probably playing a more exciting game than Carolyn and Sierra, but he's not getting the screen time for it like Mike and Rodney.

Well that might explain why Mike is schmoozing so many past Survivors on twitter and reaching out to them. He's probably trying to form pre-show alliances. Mike seems a little too desperate to fit into the Survivor Cool Kids Crowd, so it would actually nauseate me a little to see him back out there among his idols. And, I don't want him to screw Joe over again (who I fully expect to be on the list and voted through). Equally nauseating might be how the Survivors go about getting people to vote for them. I wonder if there will be accusations of stuffing the ballot box. That doesn't leave a heck of a lot of time for voting. Most Survivor fans I know are casual fans, and wouldn't know or pay attention to this until it was announced on a bigger stage, like the finale. I guess they're going to potentially follow SJDS filming schedule and start filming in June? Since this season was such a flop, casting wise, I wonder if the producers intent is if this cast or season is horrible, they can blame it on the fans this time lol Somewhat satisfying that Shirin would be on the list. I am excited to see who makes it! I hope this AS season is more in line with HvsV and less like the original AS. I need something good after Worlds Apart.

Well, I was continuing to watch because of Joey Amazing and his fantabulous hair. And Jenn was really fun and cool, and I could just picture the underdogs prevailing like Cook Islands or Marquesas. This season started off so good, so strong, so exciting. Even with the predictable Nina boot I figured 'hey, even the best seasons have boring episodes every so often.' Cagayan, my last favorite season, had some that bored me to sit the full hour through. Why am I still watching? I don't know if I will be. I'll watch the finale. I mainly want to see how those that are left justify why they deserve to win. Dan and Will, I don't know what they could possibly say other than they were the most out of shape guys there and on the chopping block early on. Sierra and Carolyn have done absolutely nothing but float. Carolyn had a few good moves early on, but seems to be a minion of Tyler's. Mike and Rodney appear to be the only one playing the game and getting the game, but I can't say I'm rooting for either of them. They would probably have a better argument, but Rodney's temper might cost him. That could have been foreshadowing when Jeff lambasted the blue boys about it being a social game. I agree that this is the season of goats. No one seems to be making moves. Originally I thought the cast was just too nice and forgiving. But we don't have any exciting personalities left. I've said before, what this season is lacking is any good strategy and game play. We're missing the fun and snarky personalities and the villains you love to hate. In a time where society is trying to combat bullying and violence against women, this show is taking huge steps back. As long as people keep watching and talking, we'll probably keep getting casts and moments like this. I really can't believe Probst hyped this season the way he did, or even the cast has talked about it being 'shit your pants' worthy. Obviously there are different ways to interpret that, but in this case, it's all bad. In regards to Russell, the only Russell season I bailed on was RI, though that was more due to the producers desperate attempt to give Boston Rob a million. I enjoyed Samoa and loved HvsV. HvsV was where my love affair with Russell officially stopped. There's a guy that didn't get the aspect of this also being a social game. I'm hoping after Brandon's controversial exit in Caramoan that's the last we see of any Hantz's on this show.

Outside of the show, the closest seem to be Jenn, Joe, Hali, Mike, Shirin, Sierra, and Tyler. I don't know if Tyler is as tight as the others, but he's been to visit them in their hometowns and all of them (except Hali and Shirin) went to visit Joe recently. Joe, Mike, Hali, and Jenn all went to Hawaii together. It seems like Mike jet sets all over visiting his fellow Survivors. Mike seems close to almost everyone, although not sure if that'll be the case now after seeing the show. I won't be surprised if Shirin goes next. Mike has the idol, so if he doesn't win immunity, he's got that. He'll no doubt be targeted, but the others might split the vote and get Shirin out. After that, it could be Mike. And Sierra no doubt will be deemed too nice and likable so she could follow suit. That's why I think she might be sorry for not flipping or just assuming she'd coast to the final 3 and win because of who she was sitting next to. Which leaves us potentially with a final 5 of Rodney, Will, Tyler, Dan, and Carolyn. Yikes. However, more times than not, someone is the thorn in everyone's side by winning immunity's or bringing an idol into play, so if Mike hangs in there, the others will have to turn on each other. That's where a Sierra blindside could come from.

The fact that no one wanted to work with the NC because they were deemed too likable makes me just how insufferable everyone really is out there. I think we're seeing just a small portion. You want someone unlikable at the end, you have more than 1 person to choose from. So who wins this season: one of the worst of the worst, or someone completely forgettable that will get little airtime at the reunion because they did nothing. From that same interview you posted LanceM: The whole collar concept is one of the worst ever. Not only do I think it screwed a lot of contestants, but she's right, they played it up way too much. Here's another quote where she mentioned Dan's lack of strategy: http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/exclusive-survivor-worlds-apart-castoff-jenn-brown-17817.php?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook#8CtPYPx4qHbRtibz.99 I like that Jenn doesn't sugar coat anything. Everyone else seemed to be claiming this is the best season full of gamers, and you never knew where people stood it changed day by day, but reading Jenn's interviews I think that was a load of crap. And if this was really the "closest cast ever!" I kind of doubt that's the case now. I feel like that was a bunch believing in their own hype to begin with to go along with Probst's "best cast ever!", but as the season goes on, it seems castoffs were seeing what was going on out there and seem to be distancing themselves from others.

I love Survivor, but I think it's why I prefer Big Brother from an editing stand point. TPTB and the contestants can't hide behind a bad edit or good edit argument. This season, editing is all over the place. You get a better idea what's going on from the extra vids and interviews. I can see why Jenn wanted out. Frankly, though I'd prefer her, Joe, and Hali in the game, they dodged a bullet not having to be associated with this garbage anymore. I don't know what the case is with Will vs Shirin, but even though I feel Will is more to blame, I can agree to disagree and accept that the truth is probably in the middle. Some people were thinking that was what Tyler was alluding to on twitter, then he got attacked since that appeared he was defending Will. Who knows. It'll get addressed at the reunion, and I'm sure it'll be even murkier. I agree about the casting. I appreciate fandom, but this season is a good example why casting so-called die hard fans isn't always a good idea. Jenn mentioned the lack of strategic play going on. You've got those trying to play characters. The "flippers never win" argument. And I wonder if that's why some are lying low and not making any moves or ruffling feathers. I know Survivor is like a cult, but even off the show, some of the castaways seem a little too star struck and obsessed with being part of the "in crowd" now.

I wish Jeff wouldn't even touch on this or Dan's antics at the reunion. Not that Shirin doesn't have the right to have her voice heard, but I don't want to give Will or Dan or anyone standing by the chance to defend themselves and tell their side, and give some one sided apology just because. I was defending Will last night, sort of, but having time to process it, reading Jenn's interviews, and watching the extra vids, Shirin didn't deserve that. Will was just being an ass.

The only people who are getting any shred of a decent edit are Shirin and Mike. One could argue Tyler, Carolyn, and Sierra, if they bothered to focus on them. Tyler's starting to emerge as more of a game player, and all 3 current Ponderosa members mentioned him being a threat to win it. From post boot interviews, it sounded like Carolyn is fitting the theme of the season of doing nothing but riding coattails and being a by stander. However, I don't know how Tyler would be considered "iconic" unless he does something drastic coming up. Since I disagree with Jeff's definition on pretty much everything, I'm a little terrified. At first I was thinking Mike could fit the iconic mold every way they want to spin it. I'm still calling him as the winner, and at this point I guess he could be an underdog. Sierra wouldn't be iconic, I don't think Carolyn would, and I don't believe Dan or Will have any chance in hell of winning. If the Survivor Gods decide to frown on us, it'll probably be the first time in Survivor history a winner is booed. Shirin could probably get votes from Jenn, Hali, and Joe. No one else seemed to like her, so unless Will's blow up garnered sympathy for her, or she's sitting next to Will and Dan (poor thing), I don't see how she could win, either.

First Colton spoke up and called Dan despicable. Now Rocky is saying that Will crossed a line with his rant. Seriously, if Fairplay is the next to speak up and say these people are doing things even he wouldn't stoop to, you know it's a bad season. Colton is still the king of the most rotten people to ever grace the Survivor show, but Will has bumped Dan from second place in line. I've seen Sierra, and especially Tyler and Carolyn are under attack on twitter over that. Good. They deserve it. There's not wanting to draw attention to yourself in the game, and doing what's right. Judging by the conversation in this thread and on other forums, I am sure that Jeff and those at CBS are grinning from ear to ear over how much controversy the worst cast in history is causing. Maybe that's what Jeff really meant; the best-worst cast ever. People are either misogynistic, bullies, or those that stand by and do nothing. If Shirin makes the jury, I hope she does lay into any of Sierra, Tyler, Carolyn, Dan, and Will for either belitting and berating her so horribly, or for just standing there and doing nothing. I do notice that aside from Shirin, Carolyn, and Tyler, everyone else is pretty silent on twitter today. In fact it seems to be pretty quiet surrounding the issue. And I guess Will and Jeff share the same definition of "best" because I would hardly call that the best TC ever last night. How is Will still here? Why was he cast in the first place? They really couldn't find anyone else on this planet or at a beach somewhere that would have fit the no collar vibe?

Sierra is probably very lovely outside of the game. But after last night, this season just has me sour on all of them left. Sierra is just so boring. She has more action in the extra videos than she does on the actual show. I can understand her logic, and it probably was smart strategy. But she would be one of the worst people to win this game. Even winning over just about anyone left I'd still rank her as near the bottom. She's done absolutely nothing to deserve it. She could have shaken this game up long ago. And what was with her suddenly flipping? She really thinks she's better off with Rodney's camp? Which again, what are we missing in editing that she thinks she could beat Carolyn or Tyler in the final 3. Even Rodney at this point I would say stood a better chance over her.

Here's the episode description plus Jeff's take for next week's episode. I got very scared at the "crazy tribal council becomes confrontational" after this weeks fiasco. Maybe I'll do what I said I would when Joe got voted off: just FF to the end, mute the TV, and focus on him in the jury. I have a feeling it'll be a Mike vs Rodney scene, or maybe even Mike vs everyone. The IC twist, I wonder if that is where people can drop out for food and everyone but Shirin and Mike do that. Those are the only 2 right now that I see needing security and immunity more than anyone else. That could also be where the blow up at TC comes from. Jeff didn't really go into much detail so I'm guessing a whole lot of nothing happens next week.

It seems like last night's episode didn't earn a lot of love for Will from former Survivors. In fact, I'm not sure this season is earning a lot of love from formers. Anyway, Spencer Bledsoe is a favorite of mine and one Survivor whose tweets I love following. This made me love him even more:

According to Redmond, voting will begin the first week of May. I thought they'd wait until the finale to announce it. I wonder how long voting will last and when filming begins for next season. Can't wait to see whose a part of it! With Jenn voted off I wonder if she'll be one of the WA females.

It's why I think a season without twists is almost a twist in itself anymore. But Jeff has said that won't ever happen, they won't be doing away with idols, the double vote will probably be here to stay for awhile, and who knows what else they'll add. I still expect a complete coup d'etat reward down the road ala Big Brother. I'd feel better about the twists if I thought they were being on the up and up introducing them. But if they're introducing them solely to spare someone (which is what I always thought the very first tribal swap in Africa was meant to do) or because the season is too dull on its own so they need a twist, then I don't like it. It takes away the game play almost. Maybe people would be more likely to flip flop around without idols and advantages coming their way to save them. I don't really mind the idols, though. They've led to good moments. But I wish they'd find a different tactic of hiding them or making the clues more exclusive to the finder. How the heck did that clue in the soda bottle stay dry? I'm almost scared to ask. In reality, some of my least favorite seasons became favorites years after the fact. And even those that seemed horrible at the time aren't so bad now. But when you have other really bad seasons to compare it to, that will happen. Fiji and Thailand used to be bottom tier of my list, but they've moved up a few notches. Still not anywhere close to good seasons, but they were more boring than bad and nasty. Well, I guess Thailand could be considered nasty. I somewhat enjoyed Fiji, I just wish they didn't do the haves/have nots twist and had so many contestants. I'm still a fan of the forgotten Guatemala season, even though many aren't. Worlds Apart started really strong, and I was thinking there were good things ahead. But now that it's boring, predictable, and nasty, there's no going back for me right now. All the fun people are at Ponderosa. A final 3 of Dan/Rodney/Will or even Carolyn/Sierra/Mike is nauseating to think about. I'm rooting for Shirin or Tyler by default. Seems like the cast is getting called out on twitter, too.

The only people online that I have seen enjoying the show are those that were completely anti-NC/anyone in the under 40 crowd, and pro-BC. Other than that, the reaction has been mixed at best. Overall, I would say this season would likely go down into the middle compared to others, but for me it is currently ranking at the bottom. In regards to the attack on Shirin, Carolyn at least seems to be getting a lot of flack for not sticking up for her. Carolyn says everyone needs to go back and watch and that she'd never stand by and watch someone get bullied.

Episode 11 is titled "Survivor Russian Roulette" and episode 12 is "Holding on for dear life". So my guess is that it's a predictable boot next week, and either Mike or Shirin goes. The following week, the quote comes from whoever is the last standing of that duo. Mike has the idol, so I'm going with a Shirin boot. I liked Russell well enough in his first outing, but he really was a sore loser. I loved during HvsV how he tried picking a fight with Jeff over how the voting needed to change and let America have a say. You still wouldn't win Russell. Whether it was theatrics or not it still took him down for me. RI was a joke that I only half paid attention to, and then completely tuned out when Matt was voted out the second time.