seacliffsal

But, but Q told us that he has been throwing challenges (I.e. the balance on a triangle over water) so people wouldn't know how good he was. You don't think he's not being truthful about being the biggest physical challenge threat? What???

I really liked Sam at first, but she has consistently gone down in my 'liking' rankings. I am so tired of her honoring the ghosts over Jay and it's getting to the point that I think he should leave to preserve his dignity. It's one thing if there are odd requests here and there, but her choosing the ghosts' requests and preferences actively undermines her and Jay's lives and livelihood. There needs to be a point at which she chooses him over them.

I thought it was Orion who wasn't in the male friendship loop. And, I'm not rewatching to catch which guy was not in the loop. Of course, maybe whoever isn't in the loop is actually the best guy of the group...

Well, Ashley got her 15 minutes...did she really agree to participate knowing that she would lose her job if she exceeded her vacation days? Or did she realize that Ty is a dud and just wanted out of there (especially as she didn't even try during the camel experience last week). As for Joy, I think there has to be more to her story. She has epilepsy so doesn't care when others are in pain? I would think she would be more understanding and sympathetic towards others as she would understand how debilitating pain can be. But, I really didn't like Emerson rolling her eyes while Joy was answering questions (about make up and malls) and then belittling her (oh, and Emerson? When someone says 'no offense' it's because they know they are totally offending someone). I think Gracie is the best bet for Brandon but he may choose Joy. For someone who likes hunting, I was surprised that Sydney said deer meat instead of venison. That made me go "hmmmm." I liked watching the family interactions. But, I guess Ty doesn't send anyone home because they need two women for the next episode and he only has two women.

I may have had tears in my eyes a few times during this episode... I just so much love this show. Sure I get frustrated with some of the Ormewood family drama, but I did like the 'drama' in this episode related to the braids. So, I guess when it's not melodramatic I can enjoy it. Like others, I hope his uncle is a positive member of Will's extended family. But, when Antonio's closest friends started demeaning Will because of being a cop, I started to have some doubts about the future direction of their relationship (I.e. Antonio and his friends are involved in some nefarious endeavors). I hope I'm wrong though as I really liked their interactions and am glad Will is going to find out more about his family.

I had the impression that the general knew what Tonanaga was planning and that the sepuku was part of the plan. That Ishido had to be convinced that Tonanaga was defeated to the point that his generals/followers were upset and willing to turn on him. The way the general forbade his son was commiting sepuku and then the later comments from Tonanaga led me to think this (only his son's death was unplanned yet helped me gain time). Also, the tears in Tonanaga's eyes instead of anger if the betrayal was real. I think it may be the way the actor is playing Blackburn, but I find him the least interesting part of the story and am dumbfounded that Mariko seems to be in love with him. Maybe she just prefers European men? I've got nothing...

For whatever reason, Adrian bothered me this episode. Maybe it was her "Americans think they have everything and we have nothing' comment, which, maybe some Americans think that, but don't lump/stereotype all of us because it's just not true that we all think that. Or her statement about getting the best health care ever. Again, maybe, maybe not. She certainly was tainting Americans and America-but limit the criticism. Some Americans, some healthcare... Adrian has never been my favorite realtor but she just rubbed me the wrong way here. They chose the right apartment for themselves, but the way the husband focused on the dog barking made me a bit concerned about how much their dogs bark. I have new neighbors with three non-stop barking dogs and it's kind of driving me crazy. So, if he's already concerned about how much their dogs bark, maybe it's an issue with which they should deal. Otherwise, I thought the couple seemed really nice. I often watch shows and wonder if I could be friends with the featured participants and I definitely could be friends with them (the sniping, critical, entitled house hunters are the ones I definitely couldn't be friends with...).

I still think it was unnecessarily mean to humiliate Jess with the fake idol tomfollery when Jess was being voted out.

Wow! I could feel the actual hatred and tension through the t.v. I think the women actually hate the men and that's not something I see much of in real life or reality t.v. Unfortunately it seems that the women came in with a plan (other than Chloe) and exposed it when talking about their continuous communications and planning their outfits. They all knew each others' perspectives and specific examples that were going to be used (as evidenced by their chiming in as everyone else was talking). This is the 'get everybody's stories straight' that many people use when perpetuating a lie or story. Having been a career high school teacher with excellent classroom management and very few discipline issues, I have learned how to accurately interpret facial expressions/reactions and student 'get the story straight' dynamics in order to be proactive in preventing issues from arising. This leads me to believe that the women did plan on accusing the men of every issue and deny, deny, deny any personal responsibility. There were a few slip-ups that revealed the women were far more participatory than they were planning on admitting (i.e. Becca letting it slip that the women were part of the strategizing about optics and another example I was going to use that just slipped my mind). Also, some people should realize that the more they divulge, the more they implicate themselves. After this episode, I feel pretty much the same about the participants as I had been feeling all season except I like Chloe a bit more, Michael a bit less, and Emily a whole lot less. Agree with an above poster that Kevin is doing a good job and that next week will also be on fire.

I find it amusing that so many of the players state that they want to control their own game and therefore want to face the banker. Probably just bravado as they know they will be the ones who have to play against the banker. But, there is very little strategy involved in 'facing the banker.' If the offer is lower than most of the remaining cases, then it will most likely be a 'bad' deal. If the offer is higher than most of the remaining cases, then it will most likely be a 'good' deal. That's really it. This show has really been about hyping people into thinking they will win 'big' money when most of the cases don't really have that much in them (of course, I would be excited to win anything but that's not the 'response' they want-they want the hype, the pressure to try to go 'big'). And, on this iteration of the show, they try to pressure the players to add 'big' to the last suitcase. The priority should be to not be eliminated, not to add 'big' money to one suitcase that, most likely, nobody will win anyway.

I think the survivors purposefully didn't play Q's alphabet game the way he wanted it to be played because they are tired of his lectures/dictates. I thought Hunter's facial responses showed that he knew he was pushing Q's buttons. And then, after Q was out and said he couldn't talk because he wasn't in the 'fight' Tim told him to be quiet when Q wanted to give shout outs because, as Tim said 'you're not in the fight.' So, I think they are all tired of him but don't want him out quite yet. On this week's Deal or No Deal Island, Rob gave strategic advice to Stephanie which was that the most dangerous players are the ones nobody targets as they will get through to the end. I think we are seeing that with Liz. She bragged about her comfort and therefore not bringing her bag to TC. Things are going to get good as Tevin really didn't like that Venus got the credit for Soda's blindside. I think he's really going to start targeting her, but others won't buy into it as several (or seven?) players this episode stated that while they don't like Venus, they know her game so aren't worried about her right now (again, referencing Boston Rob's advice on the other show-she's dangerous as she will most likely make it far or to the end). Was this Kenzie's redemption story-that she showed compassion and care for Ben? Could be. Could mean she's going far. The team that came in with only 3 needs to be careful because as numbers on the other teams start to dwindle, they will not be as pivotal to the votes moving forward as other inter-tribal alliances could form.

Things that make me go "hmmmmm..."

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...