Turtle

Well, I am dead now, killed by humorous perfection.

Lacking self-awareness and not particularly insightful are perfect descriptions of Kass. I've always felt that she thinks she is much smarter than she is, and thinks she is more capable of manipulating people than she is. And she thinks her whole "chaos" thing is somehow interesting or clever or effective. It's like she puts on this "I am a brilliant and cold, calculating person" act when she's actually a maybe-kinda-smart and emotional person who can't empathize with other people, but misstakes her lack of empathy for unemotional strategizing.

I have to give Show credit- they at least bothered to give some sort of explanation about Carly's ability to get DNA results quickly. She floats the doc hotel rooms for his mistress times and so he owes her, he does DNA analysis for the cops and so has access to the criminal database, he has "all the newest technology." Is it flawless? No, but it makes more sense than 90% of what has just "happened" on this show lately. Example: I'm supposed to believe Sonny knows how to text? I think DZ has been playing this well, as a man who is exhausted with his own lies and realizes there's no way out of the mess he's created, and now feels like he's walking through molasses toward what he knows is the unavoidable implosion of his life. But I agree that this whole cheating story is out of character for the Dante we've known for however many years and that the writing has been really clunky.

I think Ciera decided not to vote for Tasha because she realized that if Kass had an idol, Ciera could end up tied with Tasha, which Ciera definitely did not want. She probably didn't want to vote for Kass for the same reason. She's pissed at Savage for throwing her name out as the bluff vote last week, and so throwing a vote to him doesn't cost her much game-wise. No one will question why she voted Savage, not even Savage, and since she knew he wasn't going, even he might get over it if he realizes she was trying to protect herself. I never understood why people liked her, but if that's what she was up to, I respect it. If Kass is the first jury member, does that mean a final two instead of three? Thirteen people this episode, and so a final three would mean an even-numbered jury. Joe is so good at everything. First time he doesn't win immunity, he might be in big trouble.

Matt has always annoyed me, and this was way too much Matt (especially there at the end!). I can't pinpoint why he irritates me so much, though. So, this was not my favorite episode. The freaks at the camp didn't help - they didn't seem interesting, they just seemed like someone thought it'd be fun to put a bunch of weirdos there. I am still so confused about the whole oar/ Brian situation. There are so many loose threads out there for this show, I can't imagine how they're ever going to answer everything or even make most of it make sense. It'll be interesting to watch them try, though.​

I imagine Stephen has always put a lot of pressure on himself in life, and he probably feels even more pressure to do well because of his podcasting about Survivor. It's kind of a perfect storm for disaster game wise, especially for a person who might already be a bit tightly wound: physical stress, repeated failures at challenges, high expectations, feeling isolated, and a sense of impending doom. I expected more from him, but I can understand why he's unraveling. You speak the truth.

I agree - that has to be a lot of regret to carry around. I think he really doesn't want to make the same mistake he made last time, and Joe is the most like JT: attractive, friendly, well-liked, and seemingly good at just about everything. Stephen seemed to be surprised at just how much emotion was coming out during that confessional, and it's understandable. Being out there has got to be so stressful both emotionally and physically, and it's not surprising that tears might come even if whatever you're talking about isn't something you'd normally cry about. But he needs to listen to Jeremy and stop bugging out if he wants to stick around much longer. I've always thought that Kass dislikes Spencer so much because she knows that he is *actually* as smart as she likes to think she is (which is a lot smarter than she actually is). I've never been a fan of hers, and her talking heads tonight reminded me why. I twitch every time I hear "chaos Kass."

I think I mostly liked today. I enjoy Michael and Sabrina together; I think her vanilla-ness is a nice balance to the shitshow that has been Michael's entire life. I hate the WTD story, though, and my biggest fear is that she'll fess up soon and Michael will be all "I don't care about biology, I'll be a great dad - I'm just like Sonny!" Or possibly even worse, Michael reject her and the baby and we get scenes of Sonny "teaching" Michael that biology isn't everything. Intolerable. I thought the Dillon stuff could have been interesting, but it has all spiraled downhill very quickly.

I am not at all proud of this, but I've been enjoying the Lulu/ Dillon stuff. I always thought Dillon was a little shady (possibly because the actor seems shady to me) and I think it's not OOC for Lulu to throw a damn fit about Dillon having feelings for her, and then to fall for him (I have no spoiler info, but surely it's coming). I think it fits with her personal history, and fits with her family issues; even more so when she finds out about Dante and Valerie (again, no spoiler, but of course it's gong to happen).

You're right, of course - she probably does have more contacts and has probably done more to stay in touch with them. It just struck me as funny that Maxie was all "With MY contacts" as if we're going to see anyone at the Halloween fundraiser that Lulu doesn't also know.

Do you remember the "school for the gifted" Gary Larsen comic, where the kid is pushing on a door labeled Pull? Some days, I feel like that door might as well say "GH viewers". The hypocrisy was strong these last two days. Molly furious about Julian being a mobster, while last week she was so delighted at Sonny's wedding. Does she hate mobsters or not? Ditto with Olivia, although maybe a little less because she did keep baby Dante from Sonny. But she worships him now, so WTF? And why doesn't Sabrina have a problem with Michael's mob-by situation? If mobsters are going to cool on this show, I hate it, but it would be more tolerable if there was some damn consistency regarding whether they're awesome or terrible. I will never tire of defending Spencer, but weirdly, I will also never tire of you guys hating on him. I'm an enigma, what can I say? I like asshole doctor Patrick. Anytime someone tells Sonny he's not the man he used to be/ thinks he is, I'm a fan. I'm not mad at Ned. It's not unreasonable to realize that you've bitten off more than you can chew and change your mind. Might be hurtful, but I get it. Don't Maxie and Lulu probably have the same contacts?

Doesn't *every* city, nay, every *person*, need those things? This show is completely and totally insane and ridiculous, and I adore it. It's visually attractive, the stories are fun-crazy, there's a fair amount of plot development in just about every episode, and the actors do a great job bringing just the right amount of camp. Is it always perfectly logical with well-written dialogue? No. But it doesn't really matter to me - it's fun to watch. It's not even "so bad it's good" territory- I straight-up think its good. That said, Jim's romances have always been my least favorite parts of this show.

At the end of the challenge, Savage lifted up his bff and there was an actual blindfold underneath. It looked like it covered most of the eye area pretty well. But I also noticed Spencer lifting his head up, as if he was trying to see out the bottoms of the blindfold. I'm sure some of them were able to see a little. Short of jamming a stick in their eyes, it's probably impossible to make them completely blind. I had the same thought, that they didn't want to use the young guys in case whoever participate in reward couldn't participate in immunity. I don't know which tribe actually chose first, but the other two tribes could have based their decision on who the first triple picked. I am s concerned that Abi is going to be with us all season. I don't find her entertaining, I find her really hard to watch.

I readily admit that my perspective may not be based in reality. I never have any idea how old any of these people are at any given time. I think it's partly because of wonky SORASing and partly because I have a terrible memory about even my own life, even worse about this show.

Maybe she's scared that Nik would take out on a hit on her. Seems to be his new conflict management style. Today I realized that it's kind of weird that Michael doesn't already have a baby. He's been the young male focus of the show forever, and babies are a soap staple for most front and center characters. I know that he and Morgan (and others without babies) are still young, but my sense is that soap characters usually start having kids pretty soon after their teen summer scenes end, what with the screwiness of the ages of all these people generally. Or maybe I'm totally wrong and most soap characters don't start having kids until they're closer to thirty, because they keep having them until they're sixty. I loved Laura being the voice of the audience with Liz. There are so many ways that Liz's plan just doesn't make sense long-term. Starting with her wanting to finally marry "Jason," but Jake is not at all like Jason and doesn't seem to think like Jason or have Jason's feelings. So why not just tell him who he is- he loves Liz and wants to be with her, and hasn't given her any reason to think that he'd force himself to break up Sam & Patrick's relationship just out of some sense of duty to force himself back into a relationship with Sam that he doesn't remember being in. Nonsensical.

I didn't mean to sound like I was criticizing or calling you out, and I apologize if it came across that way. I was just using your question as a jumping off point to (attempt to) make a joke about my inexplicable inability to stop watching a show that makes me so insane so often. And the "constantly" was not a reference to you but to "everyone," and was a poor word choice. Just a terribly written post by me, all around!

I thought that they only found the sand because Fitz had breached the clean environment (maybe with a shotgun?) the monolith was in, and then it turned to liquid or whatever before reverted to a solid, leaving the sand behind. But I may have been confused about what was going on. I'm glad that they rescued Simmons already, especially since it was so very well done. An entire season of attempting to rescue her would have annoyed me much like an entire season of Tahiti musings did. I thought getting her back three episodes in built plenty of tension, and I definitely think the way they got her back was great to watch. I really had no idea what was going to happen, given this show's history. Might have actually cheered, just a little, when they both came back.

I don't even know who you are anymore.

In any other forum, it would annoy me to no end to have people constantly asking about what happened on the show they're commenting on without watching it. Here, in our little hate-nest, I have nothing but respect and admiration for those of you that don't watch. There but WITH the grace of god go I. Barge on, proud soldiers. I..but..it's..um..what?

Ever since I fell 2.5 weeks behind, and then a full week behind *again*, I finally don't hate this show as much! I'm now able to think of it like a show that I just starting watching, and don't know any history, and it's working for everyone except Sonny and Carly (because my Sonny hate is in my bones, and scarred into my soul). All these people are so much more enjoyable as new characters! Ulkis- I think I missed the story of your name change while I was gone. What's up with that?

I fell two weeks behind again, but am finally caught up. I did not enjoy it. I couldn't stand any of the Sonny's bedside crap, and Michael going to the five families meeting was absolutely ridiculous. How has he done a full 180 in like two minutes? Shouldn't Sonny getting shot be a reminder to Michael of why he does NOT want that life? I am not minding, and maybe even enjoying a little, the Dylan-related stuff. I'd like to see some more movement, especially having Dante ignore Sonny and deal with the mess he's made. Somehow Dante has been sidelined in a story about his own marriage! Other than that story, though, every single storyline and character is mob-related. It's so frustrating.

Who is Jace? ;-/ I think Jeff was a twist flop, and I'm guessing that on a live show it's just too hard to closed caption a furless bat.

I think Liz was even more of Vanessa's lapdog than Steve was. Steve at least formed an alliance that was far outside of his alliance with Vanessa. And booted her. Liz was aligned with Vanessa while Liz and Julia were sill one person (so weird to say), and while she was aligned with Julia and Austin, those alliances were a part of the larger alliance that Vanessa was a part of. Liz never even developed relationships, much less alliances, with anyone else in the house. Vanessa booted Austin and set up Julia in that veto, and Liz kept on believing and trusting Vanessa. I'm not arguing one strategy was better than the other, just saying that I think Steve was less of a lapdog than Liz was. I have a lot of issues with the ways reality shows are cast, and how overt or subconscious biases result in young-to-middle aged straight white men winning the majority of these games/ shows. I think it is reflective of systemic problems in society at large, and I hate it. In this case, however, I honestly don't think sexism had anything to do with the jurors' votes. As I mentioned above, Liz didn't form enough relationships with the folks on the jury, and most of them ever saw her strategize. She was pretty secure in her main alliance of Austin/ Julia, aided by her alliance with Vanessa and sort of with Steve, and I think she got too comfortable there and forgot to "work the jury." Or maybe she didn't internalize that she was supposed to build relationships with people who she thought would be jury - she didn't understand why veto was so important at F4, and so it's possible that she just wasn't aware of some of the aspects of the game. In this one specific instance, I don't think a woman losing to a man at F2 had anything to do with gender. In some other seasons? I do think the "she's a bitch, he's a master strategist" sexism played a part. I just don't think it was in play here. My biggest issue with sexism this season rhymes with Austin.

John's speech made it pretty clear that he knew he was leaving, and that he knew because Liz had been obvious in her delight at staying. I think that while feeds were down, John did what campaigning he could, but at some point realized that it was pointless and he was a goner. He knew that he and Vanessa were going to cut each other as soon as they could. Liz never had to campaign. I'd love to give her credit for getting herself in to that position, but until yesterday Liz didn't understand why only veto mattered at F4 and so I'm really reluctant to give her any credit at even knowing the game, much less being good at it.

I recently watched all of season three on YouTube, but I'm not sure where you could watch new episodes. If you find out, let us know! Austin is really The Worst. His false belief that he's some sort of intellectual, his completely misguided notions of love and hygiene, his constant spouting about he and Liz being some great showmance, everything about Judas - that was all bad enough. But now he's spouting all this bitterness that Vanessa betrayed him, as if he has actually fooled himself in to believing that he would have taken Vanessa to F2 over Liz, and can't believe Vanessa didn't take him. He and Vanessa are both so crazy delusional that it makes sense they got along so well. I think Vanessa is in a tough spot tonight. I think she thinks that beating John in the finals will be easier, but that beating Liz in the F3 HoH comps will be easier. It's a pickle.