seacliffsal

Wow. Just wow. There was quite a bit of animosity evidenced here. However, Stephanie revealed a weakness that infects a lot of participants on these reality competition shows when she stated that she needed to get rid of players who weren't here to play for her. I am always amazed when people think that everyone else should be playing in order to help them win and not, you know, win for themselves. Alyssa knew how to push Stephanie's buttons, that's for sure. Rob gave some good strategy advice-basically that those who nobody is targeting are actually the most dangerous players as they will make it to the end. Aron was out of his emotional depth in this game. He was way too tied to Alyssa. Rob tried to bring the emotions down after Alyssa left, but Aron was far too affected by the drama. I have no idea if he will quit the game or continue. Liked Rob and Nick during the paddle board competition, it looked like they just accepted that they were the worst at paddle boarding and just decided to enjoy the moment. Oh, and it doesn't matter how large the final case is-chances are the winner will end up with the $.01 case anyway...

I had two shared docks on a lake and for them to build/put all kinds of furniture on them was ridiculous. I couldn't believe it when the one team built a hammock on the side of their dock where a boat would be tied. How does that even make sense? Climb over the hammock to get to/from the boat? And the sculpture? What? I would really like to know about building codes and permits (where I lived on the lake one couldn't build any permanent structures on the docks). Everything was kind of underwhelming this episode. My biggest grip is that I really want to see the finished product for each episode and they barely show what has been done.

There were at least two contestants who complained that they hadn't won anything yet. I was surprised because we aren't that far into the season. Does everyone expect to win everything? I was disappointed that so many decided to serve some form of fried cheese. During the prep time the day before the event someone stated that it would be 100 degrees the next day so they were aware of the heat issue. Heavy fried food on a really hot day? I'm surprised that all of the attendees were there. I know that food competition shows like to put conditions and challenges on the contestants, but I just like to watch good food being created. Glad Michelle won as I've liked her from the beginning. Liked Kenny, but I think it was his time to go.

I like both shows for different reasons. I understand that many also think that Phil is a superior host to Jeff, but, as much as the shows are different so are the hosting responsibilities of the shows. The shows inherently demand different sets of skills and strategies which is why I thoroughly enjoy both of them. When I was (much) younger I also applied to both shows (and obviously never received a call [what were they thinking?]). So, count me in for enjoying both shows and both hosts.

Everything tied up too neatly and too quickly IMO. So, he's been planning his revenge for 30 years, yet has his Amanda board and hostage on his father's property which he most likely knew would be searched? I think someone focused on revenge would have taken an extra day to find a villain's liar before enacting his plan. Loved Will's doggie carrier/back pack when he was running with Amanda. And, I guess villain of the week called in the gun sighting to keep targeting Amanda? Oh, and like others, don't care about the wife going to a mental health facility and the family drama centered on the cop (whose name I obviously don't know).

I don't understand why the farmers are so hesitant to send women home with whom they do not feel a 'connection.' It seems obvious that a few of the women could be eliminated and it would not affect the farmers at all. Brooke overestimated their 'connection' by demanding that Ty sent someone home. Ty also should have seen the signs that Ashley really doesn't want to live on a farm when she walked away from the camel activity. But, she got the 'fireworks' date so that probably means he'll pick her at the end. Also, is it only me who wonders why people make out during personalized fireworks shows? I would so be 'let me watch the show...' Just me then? Alrighty... I wonder if Joy and her sister had some traumatic event in their lives that left them from feeling some emotions? She seems nice and that she wants to fit in, but as she stated during her date with Brandon, she just doesn't feel things.

Yep, I really didn't care. They put their lives on camera and I get to watch the trainwrecks-I don't have to care about them individually. I am happy if any of these matches work out, but don't have an emotional investment if they don't. I barely remember who any of these participants are after their seasons end (same with other reality shows I watch). Does that make me a bad person? Maybe. But, in real life, I do care about people.

I wonder if they like having the participants covered in mud/sand/dirt to make it look like they are truly 'surviving' in all of the elements due to the shortening of the seasons/days. They no longer look to lose as much weight as during the traditional 39 day Survivor nor do they look as worn and ragged, so maybe the producers think a layer of dirt makes up for the much more grueling longer seasons.

I only tuned in to this during commercial breaks of Survivor. I have no idea why they chose the participants that they did (I do understand including Doug and Jamie though as they are the originals). Had enough of the rest of them during their seasons. The most I got out of the bits and pieces that I saw was the fact that they all like hearing themselves talk. Word salads? Yep, many servings... I agree that Paige had the worst deal ever on this show (i.e. Chris) but that doesn't mean I want to watch/listen to her go on and on without really saying very much. I really struggled to remember who Rachel was and once I remembered I was all, oh yea, didn't even care during her season. Bennet was a really interesting participant to include. Got tired of Arris during his season, and Stasia always seemed way too set in her ways. Maybe they should have a 'reunion' of the villains of all of the seasons. That could be way interesting.

Well, I, for one, really enjoyed the fact that everyone had to participate on the puzzle portion of the challenge. I thought the orange team might be able to pull ahead because of that, but when Hunter was on the final portion for the purple team, they were able to get the win (and they were behind before Hunter got there). I was impressed with how the orange team was able to catch up to purple at the puzzle. I wondered if Moriah sealed her fate at the TC due to proving she was willing to disclose strategies and alliances so publicly. It would have been wild had her shot in the dark worked as then just Charlie's lone vote would have sent Venus home. Now that Namu has the plurality, it would be interesting to see them team up with Siga to get rid of Q, Tiffany, and Kenzie but I doubt that would happen as Siga will probably try to pull them in to get rid of Namu. It's not always a disadvantage to go into the pre-merge, kind of merge, earn the merge, whatever, with smaller numbers as that often leads to that tribe being in the position of determining votes and alliances. This episode just further reminds me of how much I miss original recipe Survivor. They haven't even been there 2 weeks and act like they would have 'died' without the merge coming at 12 days.

I enjoyed this episode a lot. I like the strategizing, shifting alliances, subtle observations, etc. I am also glad that we are finally rid of Taranaga's son (who raised him? he doesn't seem to take after his father at all). The ambush really represented the son-unplanned, chaotic, no thought about consequences, etc.

So, Bhanu thinks his team wasn't empathetic? They coddled and listened to him way more than I would have, but I guess the fact that they voted him out and didn't sacrifice their own games so that he could win means they're not empathetic... Go away Bhanu. I couldn't take what we saw of you during the season so I definitely don't want to keep hearing from you.

I was actually hoping that the Banker Bonus case was going to reveal a double elimination, so I was really disappointed. Rob really keeps the game going-he's playing the alliance that's against him as smoothly as his actual allies. Everyone is so focused on him that they aren't playing their own game. I'm sure he worked a contract that guaranteed a payment to him whether he wins or not (he has had similar contracts for some of his later Survivor appearances [my source is this board for his and Amber's appearances on the all-star version of exile island]). Although not a fan, I felt for Amy when Alyssa sat next to her, proclaimed that they could just relax and not talk game, and then preceeded to do nothing but talk game. Oh, and snakes? That was tough-hopefully they have medics to take care of the bites...

They have consistently had non-alcoholic beverages when there have been players under 21. I think it's due to legalities more than preference.

I watched the deleted scene and just wonder what Liz thought when she came to play. Did she expect they would cater to her allergies by making sure she could eat everything provided? I so get that they are all hungry and want to eat whatever they can. What wasn't said during that scene was if they were saving anything for Hunter who is essential to their winning.

Regarding Cam not being at the group event-I'm more surprised that any of them showed up. Those relationships are over. It could not be more clear to me as a viewer so it must be even clearer to an actual participant. Now, if they are contractually required to be there, I can understand why they're there (were penalties/fines levied against Brennan, Cam, and Clare for not being there?). Emily made a deal about Cam not being there and did reference 'who does therapy at night' about Clare not being there-but if Clare knew this was a filming date, she could have cleared her schedule for it. Emily was also snarking about Brennan not being there. Now that I'm thinking about it, it was Emily who was calling out everyone for not being there. But, outside of additional t.v. time or contracts, I can not see one reason to be there (free drinks? not worth it).

The only people I felt sorry for during this episode (other than us, the viewers...) were the patrons of the bar/restaurant where the group activity took place. The background people looked like all they wanted to do was eat and drink in peace and enjoy their evening. But, noooooo, they had to witness the arguments, accusations, and word salad of the show's participants. I would have demanded that the restuarant or producers comp my meal. Really? They couldn't get a private room for these shenanigans? Oh, and during either the episode or Afterparty, Becca mentioned that she still didn't feel well from her surgery. I think it was a real misstep that she participated in this season as she obviously (based on her statement) wasn't feeling her best and it may have affected Austin as well as she did have limitations during the honeymoon and perhaps through the entire season.

I was really hoping that the women who threatened to leave had left. I wonder if the producers talked them out of it with some type of incentive. I still like Brandon and Nathan, but the more I see Ty and Mitchell the less I like them. Ty especially was peeved that the existing women did not warmly welcome the new woman. What? Does he think that he's such a catch that the women should be happy to stay there no matter who he brings in? I was surprised that all of the farmers brought the new women home. McKenzie I understand as she was there at the beginning but then left due to an emergency. Okay, I'm grumpy, but I needed someone, anyone, to go home this episode. Have some dignity. Or they should have had the men eliminate someone. So, I guess, nothing really happened this episode except 4 more people were inserted into this mess.

The more I see of Emily the more I dislike her. On the Afterparty, she really tried to deflect when Keisha asked if Emily cheated on Brennan. In the plethora of evasive statements she made, Emily said that she didn't consider it cheating. So, I was, 'yes, she did cheat...' Agree with an above poster that the women have turned this season into an us versus them season and have claimed the victim narrative. They act all hurt and can't understand why their 'spouses' aren't showing up to the group events. Why would they? A lost of the criticism revolves around the idea that the men didn't try as hard as the women, but the reality is that the men did not act/respond how the women wanted them to and that is a whole different issue. And Emily is showing herself as very negative in her comments, not the 'most positive person' persona. I'm not on anybody's side but I don't like the 'ganing up' mentality nor the victim narrative. I don't know what self-image Orion has, but it doesn't match his words and actions.

I actually resented that I had to rewatch so much Bhanu in the 'previouslies.' So glad that the other tribes weren't shocked that he was the one voted out. I think the producers waaaaay overestimated his appeal. Hopefully they will get the message that Bhanu is not winning a million hearts. Oh, and I hope Sia shares my opinion as I don't want him to be rewarded in any way... Okay, I think I might grumble my way through this whole post, but...it irks me every time they reference the 'new era.' All it does is remind me of the original, better recipe Survivor (remember the failure of 'New Coke'? 'New Era' brings the sad predictor of failure to me). Q references quitting (then takes it back) and it's only day 10 or 11? That would be a drop in the bucket in the 39 day Survivor, yet here it's almost halfway through. Four immunity loses? Again, a drop in the bucket. Tribe of 3? Sounds good to Stephanie or Bobby. Oh, and challenges that didn't end in puzzles or tossing sandbags...Stop making me miss the 'old era' superior Survivor. I was glad Jem was voted out. I don't appreciate needless manipulation and her glee at making her teammates dig/search for 3 dyas wasn't entertaining to me. So happy to see other players whose names aren't Bhanu. Liking Ben, Maria, and Moriah from Siga. Would like to get to know the players better on Namu.

Me too! The only reason I watched it at all is that I heard Boston Rob was part of the cast. I was so over original recipe Deal or No Deal, and in this version the game is very convoluted. But, BR is everything in this show. Rob so clearly understands the difference between playing a game and living real life. Once he's off the show, I'm probably done with Deal or No Deal.

Francesca who then had the distinction of being voted out first in two different seasons. Love the idea about no chance second chance. Could people change up their games and last longer?

I really enjoyed this episode. Nico and the reference to Alfred and Batman/Bruce Wayne, the Boo Hag (?) which reminded me of the show Grimm (which I was sad eneded), the fun secondary case (I enjoyed the "ex-wives of Atlanta" sequences). And, as always, I enjoy the character of Will Trent (well, I enjoy most of the characters).

I think Miranda was totally right taking the personal offer. There's no guarantee how long she will last and she knows that Aron is not tight with her, and she's probably not in any alliance. Also, even if she made it to the finals, there's no guarantee that she will walk away with more than the $.01 case. And, yes, I think it was great that she shared her info (she doesn't owe Aron any kind of loyalty). I think Aron overplayed and his position may start changing. Rob may be looking for a new #1. This game has always been a lot of smoke and mirrors. They put focus on the high numbers and that dazzles everyone, but there are more lower number cases.

I think they all had the same amount of cooking time as the groups were staggered entering the kitchen (so, first group was there 30 minutes before the second group and the third group came in 30 minutes after that). Thus, the other groups seemed to have more time, but in actuality it was because the three groups did not all start at the same time.