phlebas
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Posts posted by phlebas
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What's this? Shane doesn't understand what's going on? This is amazing! Let me run out to the back yard and see if I can find my Blackberry...
Ciera was great. She made a mistake jumping in on Kass' fight with Tasha to pick one with Savage, but otherwise I was impressed. She and Kelley are both better off on this show without their parents around. Makes me want to get Katie Collins back for one more.
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It's hard to say. I think Jeremy would have pulled out his generic "for the family!" sob story no matter what, and it's effectiveness may have varied depending on who he was against (if we're really spitballing this enough to consider anyone and not just the real F4 or 5) and THEIR story and how they reacted. I mean some might have even better stories (for example what if Mr. Sick-Kid-In-Hospital had been notified of the kid being in the Hospital but NOT gone home and then gotten to a FTC--bam instant better sob story). Or some, if up in a council against Jeremy might have called him out on the story and found a way to basically say "hey, we all got families--a new(er) kid doesn't change that". I mean Kelly for example might have strongly brought everyone's attention back to strategy and gameplay and while Jeremy does have a few things to say on that, so it's not a hopeless contest, she has the outsider against the odds aspect too. I agree Tasha loses to everyone, although I'm not sure the exception would be Kimmi--who I think people liked even if there wasn't huge respect shown. Keith I still think is the one who beats a lot of people with no thought put into it. He's got the outsider who persisted angle and then plays up the "aww shcuks country boy" stuff and he's got a lot of pull suddenly. Kelly probably calls him out on that stuff in a FTC and asks if he simply got lucky a lot, but I wonder if anyone else would. Joe... now Joe would be an interesting test if they actually let him get to FTC. I think he beats anyone but a true strategic mastermind. Kelly would have to hustle a lot to sell herself that way, and Jeremy would have had to say a heck of a lot more on the subject than we actually heard him say (it's amazing he won saying--in what got broadcast at least keeping in mind stuff could have been cut--so little about his strategic decisions).
I think once you start going back too far, there's too much chaos theory involved to really make any predictions. Especially if you are going to retcon Terry's story. But at that point, you might as well start from the assumption that Jim Rice gets in over Woo. That's why I said Final 6 -- i think Jeremy sweeps any combination of those other five that doesn't have Kelley in it, and I think he wins against Kelley too -- just not as easily.
Could Jeremy win against Joe? If Ciera had made it to the finals instead of Tasha, how would that be different? The entire second half of the game would have played out differently. Terry went home pre-merge -- if his son didn't go into the hospital until after the merge, that changes things in unpredictable ways.
I enjoy speculating, but you quickly get to a point where it's creative writing instead of game analysis.
So my opinion is that by F6, everyone else was drawing dead against Jeremy. At F7, might as well pick names because I don't know what a FTC with Joe in it looks like.
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I don't think anyone's said she would have won against anyone but rather she would have won against Spencer and Tasha. Stephen's walked back his certainty that Kelley would have won against Jeremy--although it certainly is a strong possibility--so I don't see how anyone could be certain Kimmi would have either. I think Kelley would have beat Kimmi.
Keith probably would have won against Spencer and Tasha, too. It sounds like those two were just not well liked or respected on the island... kind of like how Fabio won because people just didn't like Chase and Sash, even though I don't think anyone really thought that Fabio played a better game.
I think Jeremy beats anyone this season. At least anyone from the final six. Kelley beats anyone but Jeremy. Keith and Spencer are a tossup in my mind. Tasha loses to all of them except maybe Kimmi, and I wouldn't bet money on that either.
And it's a good thing for Fabio NaOnka quit. According to a reliable source (NaOnka), she would have won going away. I think the game rules are different on her planet tho.
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Do you think Savage or Kass carry on in a courtroom like they do on this show?
That's not Savage's real Lawyer Hat?
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They have had the pros come in and build at least part of a camp before. I think they got a bathroom in Palau. And of course there was the "haves" tribe in Fiji
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Am I the only one that didn't like how the Idols protected them beyond one vote?
You mean with the drawing rocks thing? I think Keith probably agrees with you. But if you make the idols useless against the rocks, then you should do the same with the necklace.
I don't actually have a problem with how it works now, and I doubt we're going to get another TC like we got this season any time soon. But changing it would encourage the people with vote immunity to work to avoid ties.
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I don't have any children, but I have whipped out pictures of my girl Shammy and had quality bonding time with other dog owners/lovers. A shared interest or experience isn't enough to build a lasting friendship, but it's a good place to start an amiable conversation.
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Yeah, I was irked that he just let it slide by without following up right when she said it.
I think Rob is uncomfortable diving into the Big Issues on a podcast discussing a TV show. He struggled last season too when discussing misogyny.
In his shoes, I would be inclined to back away from this as well.
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This might be the wrong forum, but I can't think of a better one.
On RHAP, they've been talking about this Third Time's a Charm idea. Is there anyone you'd like to see back for a third time (not just from this season, but anyone who's played twice).
I'm struggling to think of any. There have been a handful of two-time players who improved their stock on the third time:
- Boston Rob (he actually didn't do great in HvV, but it set up his RI win)
- Parvati Shallow (won on her second try, but still made the FTC on her third)
- Coach (made it to the finals on #3)
- Tyson (Won in BvW)
- Jerri?
But the rest just sort of took up space and arguably kinda damaged whatever legacy they'd had:
- Rupert (actually placed better on #3, but was no strategic or even much of a physical threat)
- James
- Candace
- Colby (see "Rupert")
- Cirie
- Russell
- Amanda
- Stephenie
- Tina (See "Colby")
I left out Penner because you sorta get the same with him every time. He was never going to win any of his seasons, but he gives Grade A snark for as long as he can.
Are there any two-timers you'd like to see back? Bobby Jon? Kat? Malcom? Jenna? Eliza? Lex? Courtney Yates?
Looking through the list, the only one who really catches my eye is Francesca, just to give her one shot at not going out first. (Force Phillip to be her loved one visit.) For the rest, I don't know... I liked Danielle well enough, but I think I've seen what she's bringing to the table. Same with Ami Cusack. And Monica Culpepper. And Shii Ann. And Yau-Man. And Big Tom.
Are there enough two-time players that interest you enough to field a season of three timers? Or would we be looking at this season again with Erik or Ethan taking Jeremy's seat? (And Jenna Morasca taking Wigles', because I think we learned that well is dry).
(FTR, I think there are enough interesting one-timers to do another decent second chances in the not too distant future.)
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I thought Jeremy was going to win heading into FTC. I was convinced of it when he threw Kimmi's question back in her teeth. Then when he brought up Val's pregnancy, you could see that Spencer was just as convinced.
Do you think Woo will casually mention from time to time that he got more votes at FTC than the SpenceBot?
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Was Savage castigating Jeremy and Spencer for being arrogant, or asking for tips on how he can do it better?
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Yep. I think you won't be seeing either Randy or Vytas on a CBS camera again. Vytas might make it back to RHAP, since Rob and Aras are friends. I think Randy may have burned that bridge the last time he was on, too.
Plenty of others to spend time on. Buh-bye guys.
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I don't believe so. I think JT is the closest we have to it.
Does Erik from FvF count? His wasn't an immunity idol, but just the necklace (which makes it even dumber/awesomer).
Mookie from Fiji -- the smuggest of the horsemen -- would have gone out after he gave one to Alex if Earl & Co had trusted Dreamz more.
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Isn't Cochran the only player to have played what is referred to as a "perfect game", i.e. no votes at all?
No, Cochran is one of two. J.T. is the other. And Earl won his FTC unanimously, but I think he took a vote or two during the game
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After Abi finally got voted out, I decided to rewatch Survivor: Nicaragua to try to get some perspective on how she stacks up compared to other villains -- specifically, against two people I remember being surprisingly awful people: NaOnka and Shannon.
I've made it past the point where both of them left the game. And I think my memories of those two were worse than they came off the second time around.
I remember Shannon as being this moronic, homophobic douchebro. And I still think that, but now he seems more ignorant than vile. In my memory, he was this poster boy for anti-LGBT bigotry that would have happily snapped Sash in half given the chance. Second time around, he strikes me more as a clueless manchild with no filter.
NaOnka is much more complex. I remember her as being cruel and hateful, and I still think that. But she's also someone acting on impulse and cannot admit she did anything wrong. Pushing over Kelly B I think was an accident, but NaOnka was unable to back off or apologize. She had this amazing sense of entitlement and a severe misread of her social game. I find her more pathetic and pitiable now.
By comparison, I don't feel Abi measures up, awful-wise. Abi is an emotional player who is quick to anger and vindictive. But I don't think she's cruel or hateful. I think with Abi there is a mix of a communication/culture barrier and her decision to play a character. (NaOnka implies she did the same, but I don't know if I believe her.)
Interesting experiment.
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Now that I've had two doses of Abi and have been both amused and appalled at her game, I'm trying to give myself some perspective. I just put on Survivor: Nicaragua -- curious to see how I feel about the Brazilian Dragon after revisiting NaOnka and Shannon Elkins (both of whom I remember as being particularly vile people).
In about three episodes, I'm going to wonder why I'm mistreating myself like this
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You won't see Abi being bitter or vengeful like Savage or others who take this thing so seriously. "It's just a game" she's always saying. And that's how she sees it. It's not her life, it's not about making a point or seeking revenge or redemption. She enjoys playing the game and the role of troublemaker. Which, for me, is fun to watch since I know she's just playing a character in a game.
I believe you :)
But since she's played this character the whole game, I want her to turn it up to 11 in her final scene. She set her feet on this story arc, it would be a shame to step off it before the denouement. Once the votes are cast and Jeff gets on his Ski Doo or whatever (I miss him doing that), THEN I want her to pop up and hug everyone and be friends and go back to a happy life and feed you stories that you feed to us.
But let's make the Final 3 squirm first. I hate the "bring a goat to the end" strategy, so let's make them pay for it.
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And Dan. Can it annoy Dan, too, please?
I'm in on things that annoy Dan at all times, Survivor-related or otherwise.
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I don't like Stephen Fishbach, but on the jury he does give GREAT face.
He did seem highly surprised that Tasha almost drowned.
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Apropos of nothing, this Saturday will be three years to the day when Abi's boot episode from Philippines aired.
Does anyone remember Abi's question from the jury in the Philippines FTC? I am hoping for something caustic and neurotic this time.
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You can call Tasha a lot of things, but buoyant isn't one of them.
(I kid. I'm glad it wasn't any worse for her. I can imagine the ocean being panic-inducing when you're not a strong swimmer AND you're exhausted.)
I guess in the Midwest "keep integrity of the game" means "please don't vote me out."
I have never wanted anyone to go on an immunity run more than I want Keith to go on one right now. The only way a Keith run would be better is if it annoyed Russell Hantz somehow.
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People are the worst.
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Not that it matters. People don't really vote for who makes the best argument at FTC.
Amanda Kimmel for you on Line 2.
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I am 100% done with Abi, by the way. Her horrifying smile throughout Joe's whole ordeal. She was so goddamn gleeful. That's a sick person. I never even saw her give up one mistaken or deliberate flicker of concern through the whole thing, from start to end!
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Past Seasons Talk: The Tribe Has Spoken
in Survivor
Always loved Amanda. At first it was because she was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen (YMMV). And she also brought the goods when it came to the game. She just had that one fatal (in Survivor) flaw where she couldn't own the moves where she had hurt people's feelings.
And yeah, James got grumpier each time he came on the show. By the end, he was kind of a jerk.