NutMeg

After the first season, which had its flaws but ultimately worked, I found this second season quite subpar. I agree with the posters who say we need to ditch Jack. Only with ditching the past can there characters convincingly move forward. As that's not likely to happen, I hope at least that the next flashbacks will only serve to shed lights on some aspects, but without the kind of regression of characters we had this season. Keeping on with the unpopular opinions, not only am I tired of Jack, I'm also tired of Randall and Deja. I wish we'd seen more of Randall's kids and Beth instead of Deja. I only like Toby is (the) small(est) dose, but I'd like for his parents to be included more in the story. And the flash forwards into the deep? no, just no. Very cheap trick, makes me think the show runners knew this season was a lemon.

It's amazing how powerful what we hear about our body as children/preteen is. It's also amazing how we react to it, whether it's to reinforce the message or to invalidate it. I've known both, as a child I was all legs and arms, muscular thanks to ballet but also super slim. My mother, who came of age in the 50s/60s, convinced me that my apparent clavicles, and that little bone protruding on my shoulder (genetic from my father's side) had to be kept hidden. It's only in my 30s that I realized my arms looked great in tank tops, before that I had always hidden them behind sleeves. In my early teens, I decided to put on weight to hide these flaws, and started eating as much fattening food as I coud (not that much, actually, because what I'm more inclined to are veggies, bread and pickles:)...). But I put on weight, and puberty hit at the same time, and suddenly neighbours were commenting on how much weight I had put on (maybe 10 pounds...) and what a shame it was when I had had such a nice silhouette before (well where were they when I was fretting about my protruding bones???). I was lucky back then, once the worst of puberty was over, my genetically inherited quick metabolism helped me go back to my normal weight, and apart for the embedded compulsion to hide my clavicles, I had a healthy relation with my body. I hope I don't sound like a Madison here. (And by the way, I'm now experiencing a slower metabolism, and I'm still adapting - my abs are stronger than ever, but still the tummy, it is not flat....) I just wanted to add my two cents about weigh issues and how powerful any comment about that is to a growing young girl.

@Zola, I'm not sure if you're an only child or not, but as the mother of an only child, I quite cherish the cards I get for special occasions like my birthday that seem written with so much thought about the special moments we shared during the year together or separately, when one of us was there for the other. I would be shocked and rather depressed if such a personal message was signed by someone else that I don't know well and that doesn't know me well. *Especially* if it was for mothers day: I have one child, one; one child that I want calling me mum; one child that I have that visceral bond with. I'll welcome any partner of any persuasion, but the mum-child bond should remain one-on-one. I'd be very hurt if I got a mother day card where my child's wasn't the only signature actually. Now, Christmas cards etc. are all fair game, I'm happy to see as many signatures as can be.

Well, this season continues to be entertaining, which is great - I just finished a big work, and rewarded myself with this episode and then your wise and fun comments here :) I like that stones are drawn. It makes sense given the divide in the tribes, but mostly it allows someone who would never have been picked to go there. Not that it has helped anyone much, except in allowing them to be away from their tribe mates and drop the mask for a little while (hence why there have been tears shed there - I suspect later on in the game the dynamics will change). No Kim, no Rob. As maligned as the latter can be, it takes not only game understanding, but more importantly amazing charisma to play as they both (in very different ways) did. I've found out that the game is even more enjoyable when I don't particularly root for one person. Why not enjoy it and go with the flow? From week to week, feel free to dislike someone you previously liked, and vice versa. I makes you more objective, I think, in how you analyse each move instead of relating to it as either a personal affront or the best thing ever invented. Lastly, in the spirit of the Survivor doppelgänger game, Bradley, especially with his glasses on, reminds me of that guy on the third season of Unreal (the smugness may play a part in that), and there's someone whose name I still can't remember who brings to mind Greta Gerwig, with dark hair. Otherwise, during challenges, I've realized that I mentally surimpose Ozzy's head to Sebastian's. ...? I had to laugh (but in a good way) at how hard Chris played both challenges. Nothing builds a fire under you like the idea that you must prove yourself indispensable so as not to be voted out next.

Wonderful analysis, I think you just nailed it. All of the dynamics from origins to finish, including the movies, you've beautifully covered. Very impressive! Very, very, slim chance. I waited until it was on TV, still got ready with some rosé to enjoy, because really, how bad could it be? But it was very, very bad. And cringeworthy. More than slightly desperate, but as @melancholy wrote above, a bit of return to S1, episode 1, or to the book that started it all. The problem for me was that over the course of the series we had seen the characters evolve whereas the movies, especially the last one, are very much nope, that never happened, they're all still the same sad sacks they started being. So it's depressing, and doesn't gel with the series. Another thing that was missing in the last movie was New York, because I feel like it should be one of the main characters too! When you watch it, please report back!

Andy McDowell was indeed very good in Sex, Lies and Videotapes; I also liked her a lot in Dinner with Friends. And she was vey good in the series Jane by Design. About Hugh Grant, I was recently discussing James Ivory (because everyone is talking about Call me by your Name), and remember that the first movie I saw Hugh Grant in was Maurice, where he played a completely different role than the romcom he moved on to become famous for. He was so good in that drama, I would not have expected him to go on to the type of career he's had. For me, in Four Weddings, the most intriguing character and actor was Kristin Scott Thomas, and she went on to deliver ever since, both in English and French speaking roles.

Thanks for the feedback. I will get to watch it all, for sure. But maybe I'm still bummed that season 3 wasn't overall as good for me as season 2, despite still being strong, and that season 2 already engaged me less than season 1. It's still an amazingly clever show, and I'm fascinated by stories that take current situations/ trends and bring them to their extremes. So I'll continue watching, just taking a hiatus for now :)

I agree, but having read the book the series was based on later on, I think she was a more faithful version to some characters in the book - which was rather depressing, as I remember. However, I really like how the Samantha character evolved during the course of the series (but not in the last movie!).

I think your first sentence nailed it. Guy came into the game with a list, and he's looking to check each item on it. Maybe he'll start looking around and adjusting to the game instead of trying to look at how the game fits into his list?

Thank you. As it happens 15 million and Waldo are among my least favorite too. I'l watch the rest at some stage, for sure, but I right now I'll keep on procrastinating... First time I procrastinate watching rather than by watching, but I guess Black Mirror is unique that way...

Dominick sees an opportunity to get rid of Chris's faction. However, the four he needs have a different agenda. Ergo, Dom underestimated the votes he counted on, who turned out to be people with their own agenda (s). Sucker!?

Damn, I'm impressed. But still, you wash your hand first. So, yes, you can cook without water, but me, I kind of wash my hand all the time when I'm cooking, so I just couldn't imagine cooking without running water.

Your recaps are the best, the highlight of my watching and deserve to be on the PTV payroll. Excellent note. And what about Randall identifying so much with Deja from the start when he grew up, from babyhood, into a loving family, and she, from the get go, was extra luggage in her life? What, again, do they have in commun that is so strong that he sees himself in her? Haha, the whole episode was like what is called a recrap on other shows.. Who would even think you would actually attempt to cook without water!?

The combo of innocent looks and deadly gameplay is very enticing, I hope she keeps it up!

Good point. Something like xxx, previously yyy, now zzz, would have been helpful. Well, he was talked about a lot in Ep 1 and 2, not so much in Ep 3. I'm all for multiple people getting featured, and I'd rather have a big cast that a cast dominated with one or two mains, and the others very obvious background characters. Young Joan Cusack, anyone?

I remember reading years ago a philosophical essay by a prominent author which put the Cain/Abel fratricide under a different lens that saw it absolving Cain. I wish I could remember more, or the exact source, but I remember getting out of it that clearly Cain wasn't the murderer he was portrayed as but rather the victim of circumstances / interpretation. Again, from what I remember, Cain was the good one, Abel the offensive one, not sure about why or how, I think about how religious authorities of the time deemed them, I'll check if I still have this book somewhere...

I'm actually very happy that we'll get Claire Underwood with no FU in sight. And even without the Kevin Spacey business, in regard to all that's happened in the previous six months, it would still have made sense to have a Claire Underwood in charge. Of coure, there will be setbacks and hurdles and what not. Still....

As the last two posts hint at other episodes/seasons, I'll jump in because I don't know where else to post this: After binge watching the first season way back then and watching all of second season in a somewhat timely manner, this first episode has made me not eager to watch the rest of the season. And I know it doesn't make any sense, because each episode is different etc. but this one just didn't resonate enough with me to make me continue watching. I'm not even sure why I'm posting this - maybe someone will answer that following episodes are much closer to season 1? Or not all in the same vein as this one? I DO feel ridiculous - I KNOW that each episode is a different ballgame. And still, after the first episode, I couldn't be bothered to watch any other. What gives?

I love Cooper! I feel bad for him growing up by himself but I love how he's totally accepting that Oliver and his family live differently and doesn't judge them at all for that, and is really eager to hang out with them and even learn from them :) But maybe that's because it feels so true. I've met kids from extremely well-off families who were so eager to spend time with their friends' parents, because they craved the interactions they didn't have at home.

Late to the party, but if you like Amy Adams, you should also watch Sunshine Cleaning, where she - again - plays a completely different character. It's more an indie movie than te ones you listed, but it's really good. I think if I had to list my top 3 Amy Adams movies in terms of diversity of acting, I would go with Enchanted, Sunshine Cleaning and Nocturnal Animals.

For real. Even on that season where there were Miserable and Five Star Comfy tribes, the ones who switched from Five Star to Miserable showed better grace than those - although, maybe they felt some guilt on how bad the others had had it. But Kellyn is now on the tribe that is on her former camp, right?

After being blah about the opener, I've perked up after this episode. That was fun, some people are playing well, and while I don't know all the names I was able to remember who was from which team based on whether or not I had seen them at trial council. I also like it that editing seems to be less obvious so far, for the 3 episodes. To the poster above (sorry, can't remember who, read it yesterday) who saw the resemblance between Sebastian and Ozzy: Yes!! Last week, I too thought that Seb looked like a long-lost half brother of Ozzy's, who got the same genes body shape-wise, but an other set for the face. And sounded more stoned that Ozzy ever did :) Never thought about the Gremlin mix, but the image gave me a good laugh.

It's always the more fit young guys who suffer the most at first with dehydration. See Guatemala.

I too expected to come out of this with a clearer view towards her innocence or guilt, but I like that I still can't decide between the two. I tend to veer towards innocence of sorts - knowing what could or would happen and putting it out of her mind - coupled with a sharp understanding of people and what makes them tick developed in childhood and honed during the incarceration years. And very strong superstitions, which may have coloured how she interpreted or related "facts". Ultimately, a tragic character, whose potential completely went to waste due to her circumstances.

And that reminds me that I smiled when someone (I think Jacob?) was silently mouthing the ending of Jeff's catchphrase at tribal.