North of Eden

Producers I have said it before and will keep on saying it. Please dial back on post leg confessionals. Johnathan bon vivant demeanor or acting like a kid on Christmas was telegraphing their first-place win. For the love of God at least put a moratorium on them for the finale episode. Phil didn't slip it past me that he didn't say "the last team to check in here will be eliminated" so I was hopeful for a Han and Holden save. From the moment they got lost of the funicular it seemed to guarantee a last place finish. I wonder if they still give you some sort of penalty for being saved by a non-elim. Just glad to see them as one of my posts a few episodes back was clamoring for their return. Tonight I finally realized why a dislike Carson so much. EVERYTHING he does has to be over exaggerated. From hanging his mouth open wide enough to fly a 747 through upon hearing about the fire challenge, a bizarre facial expression during the pizza challenge to swinging his arms about as they leave the pit stop. Just tired of his clownish behavior and want him gone...next week please? A pizza-oli? Wow imagine your whole life's work is built around making pizzas? The one in the red shirt didn't seem like he was feeling the whole thing.

Every time Eva pitched Star's name the word Creep flashed into my mind. What an Ungrateful wench. With this episode we officially reached the One Millionth time a group of underdogs just can't pull it together to take out a big dog (usually thanks to a fearful or non-trusting wussie-Mitch I'm looking at you) and allow themselves to be picked off over subsequent episodes. Worse yet the group didn't even bring up Eva's name once even with her known idol. Was praying for a strong gust of wind to blow over Joe's letters. I'm sorry but him winning all the time simply does not make good television. If Mary goes next week my interest will plummet 99% because who wants to watch the foregone coronation of Eva.

Argh! Way too much helping this late in the race. Johnathan and Anna were particularly stupid. It cost them second place and could have been worse. So dumb. Anyway we were robbed of an epic payoff to the taxi mistake by the women coming in last anyway. I feel cheated out of what could have been high drama of losing the race THAT way.

It sad that we have come to the point where Phil has to promote self-driving as special when it used to be a staple. Does Johnathan actually love his wife or is she just a receptacle for his physical needs because the way he kept blaming her for everything didn't sound very loving to me. Disappointed Green Shirts beat a 3 hour time separation to stay in the race. Really don't like Carson. He's annoying.

My number one take away from tonight is that David has deliberately been playing a character all season and tonight he let the mask drop. He was cold, calculating and shrewd, a complete 180 from how he has been presenting himself all season. I find that very interesting. Chrissy flies under the radar all season and only opens her mouth long enough to talk herself into getting voted off. Bravo. Mitch celebrating when he heard about the Tacos had me instantly thinking there is no scenario in this world where he makes it to the final four at the poles. With 90 minutes per episode it would have been nice to see when David became Mary's ride or die but I'm just glad she has got one. Could Kyle have been any more obvious he might be working with Kamilla? The desperation was palpable. Lastly can anyone familiar with the temperatures in Fiji explain this? Two episodes in a row we see the castaways on the beach bundled up like they are about to tour the fall foliage in New England. I thought it never got cold there so what's the deal?

Pleased with the outcome with Sas And Joan getting together But I'm not holding my breath ...the show will not deviate from the status quo...just ask Nigel.I am sure Joan will get sent packing soon.

Lose, lose episode for me. After waiting years for the return of the Fast Forward it goes to my least favorite team (Well Carson anyway because he bugs) and my second least favorite team who offers ZERO entertainment value bet out Pops and Jeff who I like and live to bore another day. Darn I wanted to see what was inside the future museum...frankly the entire city looks like something out of a futuristic set sci fi movie. Strangely few locals...it seemed everything from sky diving to the surf boards were run by foreign nationals. Look it was a great twist in the game at first but the novelty of there being no NON-ELIMINATIONs has worn off. Next season needs to bring them back. There was always something satisfying when a team you liked was saved by non-elims. Bring 'em back!

And just like that Sai become undatable.... Requiem for the season's biggest villain. Too bad for her she toasted her idol way back when. Anyone remember that time SURVIVOR tried to gin up suspense at who's going home in their big double eviction episode AFTER they had a castaway tell you point blank Ced, Mitch and Sai were all in trouble and targets? My vote for the worst episode of the season.... between opening it with Mitch-fest followed up by an unending challenge as Jeff gets the big O from having two alpha male beefcakes in a showdown it just dragged. I was desperately bored and my mind was wandering. Man, somehow Chrissy applies, makes it through all the rounds of casting, actually gets out to the island and even makes the merge and then has a whopping two confessionals near the very end of a 90-minute episode. Casting win of the season right there! So Mary is the last of her tribe right? I worry about her. Does she even have any allies let alone a ride or die? I've yet to hear her name being mentioned in the groups that pledge they will make it to the final together. Sadly sooner or later all of Kyle and Kamilla's plotting is going to blow up in their faces.

Disappointed That's Sas Got distracted by shiki When it looks like he had a really good thing Starting to get going with Joan. I hope after the whole thing blows up in his face As you know it must That she will be amenable To giving him another chance. The ghosts all begging on Samantha's writing abilities was Pretty hysterical. And of course a ghost like Trevor who died during the 1,990s would be all in on tiffani amber thiessen. The whole 50 year I'll go snub thing doesn't line up with the notion that Roberta claims to be A young ghost at that time. Didn't she die way back in the 20s ?

Johnathan...the biggest tool in the box. What a petulant little b@#$h nearly costing the race with his childish tantrums...oh and he's a litterbug too leaving his water bottle like that. And his wife...pity her. She has self-esteem so low that there is no scale for which it can be measured. A living breathing doormat. But on a positive note the blue skies and beaches were the stuff of wonder.

Thanks! It went by so quick I thought it was Star making the vote!

Must have been interns doing the editing tonight...the only thing missing was a flashing neon sign over Charity's head that said TONIGHT'S BOOT. For a brief moment I was going to give Sai credit for seemingly realizing she would come off as a massive hypocrite when she immediately clammed up after squealing about the merge feast but then she reverts later to going on and on about the food. So yep, she is a card carrying hypocrite extraordinaire. Star's jankie vote for Cedric after consoling him is head scratcher. Speaking of Cedric, he's extremely lucky there were bigger fish to fry as I honestly was certain his goose was cooked after turning in one of the most dismal performances in a challenge since the time scout master's Lil's boat sank with her sitting in it as it went down. Is he good at.... anything? I'm glad Star didn't ask for the idol back...that would be so crass (granted she should not have given it away to begin with but...) Naked Mary yum-but don't blame me she's the one who put the thought into my head LOL. Lastly watching Chrissy at tribal left me thinking she's little more than a glorified extra in a crowd scene in any movie. Why is she there? What was interesting about her she beat out 1000 other candidates? The answer remains elusive.

Did you not see Chrissy nearly fall into a one on one showdown against Sai if Bianca had just kept her mouth shut. The vote could have gone down that way but Chrissy too fixated on Sai never even seemed aware the smart move would to put that aside and work with everyone to make the easy vote of removing the "outsider". You are giving too much credit to her. She hasn't done anything to distinguish herself as having the chops to go far.

Unless some super phenomenal episode crops up between now and May I think we've easily witnessed their Emmy submission for the season...one that may well win them the trophy. Even my cold dead heart couldn't help but be squeezed when you could see how Joe wanted to rush to Eva and it was taking everything in the world to hold back-so glad Jeff allowed it. That was some great TV there and lands in the top 5 most dramatic moments along side Skupin's legendary plunge into the fire...if I could some it up at long last this episode put the Reality back into Reality TV because all that emotion was genuine. It is said though because the target on their backs can be seen from the ISS in orbit. Such a strong pair won't be allowed to make it to the end. Plenty else to love like Jeff throwing shade on Sai. "I'm not feeling any pressure" "You should" and them proving he doesn't give f^%k all about Sai as he rushes over to coach Eva ignoring the loudmouth one's own struggle. And then Team International! Love the bond that seems to have formed and I really hope the four don't have to turn on each other and can go deep into the game as a unit. Wow...so weird to be so positive about an ep so I better throw in some digs LOL How did Starr make it past casting? She has no idea how to play the game if she's giving away the idol...she's probably kicking herself watching right now knowing that Eva literally said she was serving Starr up to the others to be voted out And Lastly tribal was anticlimatic because I realized I don't give a damn about anyone on Team Orange. None of them have what it takes to make the long haul to the end not even as a potential goat-complete cannon fodder. Over and out. Edited to add: It's clear that Sai didn't really mean what she was saying with her detante with Mary after the Justin boot. Her performance after the reward loss made it clear she still hates Mary.

Sai being ungrateful to Cedric after he saves her...who da thunk it?! I do with Mary and Sai had wound up on a new tribe together just to see if their détente was genuine or not. So happy for Mary NOT having to go to a tribal finally. Don't care the other two were spared. Thomas was my least favorite player slightly ahead of female fire Lt and tattoo arm sleeve girl so this episode was made for me. I was so worried that whole build up to K& K's plan was just going to have no pay off. I was mildly shocked when they showed Shahuin actually writing down Kyle's name kind of tipping the hand that it was going to work after all. Just glad it did. Eva's relationship for Joe seems suspiciously shallow as soon as she had a new piece of beefcake to latch onto....and yet somehow, I found her more endearing tonight than all the previous episodes before so I kind of hope her and David's pairing pushes forward.

Maybe its just me but if I am 15 attempts behind I would not be wasting time hugging my partner or daughter in a pity fest. That was a time to get cracking and who knows it might have saved the father daughter against the siblings if they hadn't bled time like that. Too bad I liked them. They were barely on last weeks show and now they are gone.

Day behind-just watched now and all I can say is.... Ugh, just ugh the Sai lives to bitch, whine and complain another day. Cedric I want to like but Jeez-Louise! Justin I do have to throw a little shade on...he shouldn't have lied to Cedric which set it all in the motion. Mary was awesome with her head games and Sai was sounded so stupid, "See, see I told you!" No you told them that she had an idol. Finally David...run...run as far away from the 38 year old gold digger as you can. You don't need someone if they only want to be with you for your money.

I feel like in general brother/ sister teams don't make it too far. Was it last season or the season before such a team was first out?

Welcome back RACE! It was a good premier...until it wasn't. My issue was the similarity of the tasks at the fork in the road. They should have been polar opposite...like one for the singing and another for hauling a load of bricks across town in a wheelbarrow. Plus having people we don't even know yet buried under makeup and huge costumes doesn't help to try and learn who they are. Literally in the last four minutes of the race to the pit stop there was a lost mother and daughter team and I was like....where did they come from? Also because I am contractually obligated each season I must rag on confessionals from after the pitstop. Its the same complaint I have every year. The demeanor of Team Purple told me they were out and that was before they got so far behind with the "steps-phobia". What's with not going all the way to the top of The Budda? It was too bad for John and Anna for losing their huge lead but I've never seen a second place winner as glum as Johnathan. Team Green Gamers I fear are going to be taxing because one of them is a "On 24/7 " personality and its a bit much. Pops didn't say a darn word the whole episode but I love 'em. Hope he and his son go along way....I'm in awe how fit he is for 64. Sorry the sisters went so early. Mom didn't get to have adventures around the world and alas neither did her daughters. And the aging firefighters I would have liked to have seen more of. I would have traded both teams first out to get rid of Octo-Mom or Brett and his man because I feel like they might dominate with their physicality. Spiderman couldn't' have scaled that tower faster. Glad to have been wrong about one thing....as soon as I saw Holden an Han I was like "first out" Ending on a positive note the Santa Monica mountains were an absolutely gorgeous backdrop to start the race with.

Rarely ever do I get moved by a boot but I really felt bad for Kevin. You could see how terribly hurt he was...dreaming all these years about playing only to go home on the second vote. It does explain why the premier was a Kevin-fest though as they knew they weren't going to have him for very long. So that leads me to... Sai. What nasty player she is. I knew she would throw a hissy when she believed she"won" the right to go to Extra Advantage Island. So predictable. I want to like Cedric so bad but his devotion to Sai really torpedoed the best chance to get rid of her. How the heck are they going to win another challenge when Sai and Mary don't like each other? I doubt they can pull it together. Okay Star. Easily one of the worst players ever. The way she told everyone was ridiculous and as soon as I she did that, I knew sabotage would immediately be on the table. Personally, I feel these cannister idols are a misfire when so far, the actual finder would still be fiddling with it to this day if they didn't have someone helping them. It feels UNEARNED. Quick notes: Jeff was trying to revive the glory of his ill-fated talk show when questioning Mitch. You can draw a straight line from the 90-minute run time to inane filler like the bizarre body parts segment. I was getting antsy and wondering what am I watching? Extra Advantage Island feels played out at this point...time to consign it to the dustbin of history along with Exile Island. Ending on a positive note I noticed for the first time the new vaguely sinister looking shot of Probst in the opening and got a kick out of it.

Wayyyy late to the party on this one but I had to chime in. The Flint Michigan story left me dumbfounded that those people would come on and try and garner sympathy. They were horrid well mostly Amber. I would 100 percent believe that hot head accidently struck her friend with that bat because she proved herself out of control multiple times. I'm sorry the young man died but I feel more sorry for Kenny. I finally understand how these things happen. We had noise makers and their kids running wild in the street of our formerly quiet neighborhood just when I finally got a deck built. They were literally ruining the peace-thank god they got evicted. Anyway back to Flint...that was a family of bad apples.

Yep! Anyone remember Ethan running like a Looney Tunes character in front of a GINORMOUS ball of wood Season 3? Time to bring back variety-and yes to the Gross Food challenge. That challenge is fundamental DNA to the very essence of what made this show great early on.

You know you are in trouble when you are stealing from BIG BROTHER with the shots of people being told they have been selected to be on the show.

First episodes are always harder to post about with most people nothing but cyphers (especially when you cover them in mud for the first half hour making them impossible to tell about.) Fortunately, there are a few people who can stand out enough good or bad to post about. Sai is Godawful obnoxious. Her big mouth flapping during the puzzle challenge could be heard all the way to the mainland. Playing too hard, too fast and completely unlikable. I was happy when they were flirting with the idea of putting her out first but.... Big Bird (that's what I was calling Steph in the first five minutes on the beach when she was towering over everyone with her blond locks) I figured was dead woman walking from her first confessional when she said she was just going to sit back on her hands...yeah you can't play too hard but you can't play too soft either. She was doomed and now Mary by extension. I do like Cedric though. Calm, cool and collected. Exactly who I would want operating on me if I ever needed something. I hope he can get to the merge and then move on from Sai. Thick beard guy also bugs. Shahim? Whatever...don't like him. Please let this be the last week we hear about the autism. We don't need to be beat over the head with it weel after week. I question the wisdom of sending someone crying like a baby two minutes into the first Challege about their shoulder to win you the flint but thanks to Kyle's accident with the glass we will never know for sure how that would have ended. (Great challenge by the way and the glass breaking was a truly unexpected twist). Speaking of twists....I dare you....no I double dog dare you producers....give us a voting choice that restricts it to one...just ONE hidden immunity idol for season 50-actually making the idol special again.

I generally don't like mob stories so I'll move onto the subplot...what I liked most of all was seeing Flower---who showed while putting together the room switch plot that she could have been a talented and savvy lawyer if her fiancé hadn't come down with a case of LOVE STORY and died propelling her into the cult. Girl had potential! It's kind of sad.