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All of these participants receive, what in my opinion is justified, criticism. However, I do want to acknowledge that Austin did have a family dinner with Becca and his parents and he did take her on that trip to meet his grandmother and other family members. So, there may have been a time during which he did see a future with Becca. I think there is way more to their 'story' than we have been told. As for meeting up with the producer-this show should better vet its staff as first we had Jon and the female 'expert' (obviously I forgot her name), and now a potential crossing of the lines with Austin and producer. As much as all of the participants sign a huge contract, perhaps staff should sign one as well (i.e. no dating of participants until after divorces are finalized).

It really bothered me that, once again, Mark was able to derail an offer made by a shark (in this case Kevin) to a presenter (the shower head thing). Those guys needed a shark IMO as they seemed not quite...focused. Kevin could have really helped them but, no, Mark didn't like the offers so he basically torched it. I really don't like it when any of the sharks do this. If someone else's offer is so offensive to you-then make your own offer. But, when they go out and then torpedo any offer made, it just seems kind of arrogant to me. I'm sure robotic kitchen guy will have sales because there seems to be a wealthy subset of consumers who just want the latest technology. I see the product being cumbersome and, as Robert said, there are plenty of home delivery services. But, it does appeal to people to try to be on the cutting edge of technology. Really don't have an opinion on the breast feeding cover, but if there is a need for being cool while breast feeding, then I think this will work. Chocolate candles? I think the novelty will wear off. I could see this as people buying them once and not necessarily for every celebration. My friends and I don't even use candles anymore for birthday celebrations (but we certainly have cakes!) and still sing 'Happy Birthday.' I probably would have gone with Barbara because she does have the connection to Daisy cakes and this could be an add-on. Lori's first offer was horrible-it was actually $125,000 for 20% (the rest was a loan and she would receive the interest payments) while Barbara's was $250,000 for 25%.

The producers really need to show us more of the footage from when the couples are alone. They used it for the cinemax scene of Michael and Chloe, why not show us what is REALLY happening behind the scenes. I think they all have been on their "camera" behavior-including those who are the fastest to accuse the others. I bet the behind the scenes stuff would really enlighten us as viewers. Otherwise, we are witnessing the idea of 'those who yell the loudest/overtalk the others the most' win, when, in reality, none of them have 'won' proving that they were the better person. I think Becca uses tears to get out of a lot and that she is just as responsible as Austin for their relationship failings. She was shocked that Austin wanted to end the marriage after the pizza confrontations? Really?

This series has had probably the opposite impact on me than what the creators anticipated. I just wanted Truman to hurry up and die during this episode (the fictional Truman as I would not wish that on an actual living being). The episode felt like it would never end. I absolutely agree with those who think the back story of the relationships should have been included. I have no idea why the Swans were even friends with each other. And, yes, I will watch the final episode even though I do not find this to be riveting t.v.

The whole "new Era" formatting of Survivor just doesn't work for me as a viewer. Especially with only 26 days-one of the tribes just took the pre-cut and gathered bamboo stalks and just laid them on the ground. They all know there's no point to really focus on the shelter (other than a roof) as they only have 26 days. Why bother? And then they are all surprised that they are wet, tired, and hungry. Also, as mentioned by others, too much focus on determining who the outcasts/early outs on their teams will be. Maybe they should try mixing up the tribes after every tribal council so that there isn't any chance of creating long-term alliances (i.e. after TC everyone picks a rock that will put them on a tribe until after the next challenge and TC after which they again get randomly assigned to a tribe, etc.). Okay, another quick thought. What if they just left all of the participants on the island without any tribes, supplies, or even a greeting from Jeff and we just watched what they did for the first 4-5 days before Jeff finally met them, put them on tribes and held the first challenge? Just several days of them trying to figure anything out.

I really don't care for any of these participants. However, I was surprised by Dr. Pia's obvious bias against Brennan. These participants must have signed iron clad contracts as I can't imagine any reason most of them stayed in the decision day meetings with the 'experts' as well as the final confrontation at the 'party.' I would have walked away from the final confrontation even as an innocent bystander as it was too accusatory and out of place. Why do some of them feel the need to continue to point out all of the 'faults' of the spouse they are soon divorcing. Have some dignity and just move on. Ganging up on others is never a good look no matter who is right/wrong. Oh, and when someone self-identifies how wonderful they are, I have found that it usualy means they ... aren't. Emily and her 'most positive' and 'life of the party' kind of means she isn't. Clare and her being 'so empathetic and caring' again, means she isn't. Oh, and that she thought her right to have access to Cameron during his recovery trumped his need to be alone? I don't see how that is empathetic or caring. If someone doesn't want to see you after heart surgery and during recovery-listen to that person!

This is the first time in many seasons that I'm just not watching for some reason. It's not that I purposefully am not watching-I'm just not watching. Maybe I'm not really interested in any of the judges, or maybe it's just becoming repetitive and redundant to me. We'll see-maybe I'll start watching at some point.

When reading the forum last night, I realized that Rob is really the reason I'm watching this show at all. Wasn't interested in it until I heard he was on it and I enjoy watching his strategic and social game. Rob knows (and probably knew going in) that there's a target on his back and I enjoy watching him try to put the target elsewhere. Otherwise, I'm not quite sure I would be that interested in this show. A bunch of people I'm not that interested in (outside of Claudia) with a premise that doesn't always depend on strategy but rather luck (how much is in your suitcase? No way of really knowing) whereas other shows depend more on the strategy. I see how alliances could endanger people by being selected to go home if the suitcase guesser wins the round but it still seems haphazard.

I think Michoone should have told Rick about RJ as that would have provided the extra motivation for Rick to come up with a plan (after all, he may love Judith, but she may still be Shane's biological daughter...). I would totally trust Rick in this situation as he has lived within this community and understands their ruthlessness and that they would totally have started a search to find those responsible for downing the helicopter and killing their soldiers. Various posters have identified that Rick mentioned "one of the last times I tried to escape" which was a red flag, but there are a whole lot of factors that enter into this. Really sorry to see Michonne's travel companion die as I really liked him. Oh well. Instead it looks like I'm stuck watching Jadis who I never liked in the first place.

Oh, I think that there will be a LOT of celebrating after Decision Day, but not the type the producers want...

I think Becca may be more savvy than we are crediting her. She may be playing to long game-create viewer sympathy and see what one may parlay from this show after it ends. There are a few ways to try to guarantee more camera time on this show. The most obvious way is to be a full on jerk/villain. But, another way is to be the innocent victim who just wants to find love. I am not saying that she is playing the game and the audience but I am saying it could be a possibility.

I just watched the second episode and am really liking Claudia. Loved that she spotted that Kim's faux crying did not include any tears. She knows the game and seems very savvy strategically. If she and Rob team together for a while I think it could be a master class of strategy. Even though Rob was disappointed to be paired with Aron in the challenge, Aron got Rob as many arrows as he needed for them to win the challenge. Rob does have nerves of steel-well done. It will be interesting to see how alliances form and shift from this point. And, I think they are getting too excited about how much money will be in the final case as the finalist may only win $.01 if they choose the wrong case or the wrong deal. I think the better play for Kim would have been to align with Rob and then take him out towards the end. We shall see.

As for the carrot cake discussion, maybe it smells more than other cakes and that's way Isaac would want it? The cinnamon gives it a lovely smell, especially when it's baking. Obviously, just IMO.

Since Truman mentioned Wallis Simpson in this episode I thought it would be great to have a season of Feud: Wallis vs. Elisabeth (the Queen Mum, not Elizabeth II). I have read a bit about the bitterness and competiveness between the two and think it would be delicious!

I agree about liking the Costa Rica house hunter. Even though he wanted to be close to the beach, he didn't go on and on about that and found positivies about all of the properties. My heart felt for him and I hope he finds the peace and comfort he is seeking. I liked all 3 places and laughed when he stated that he bought a vehicle anyway (as that was his hesitancy about two of the choices). Seemed like a nice guy who is easy going.

I don't have a horse in this race, I don't particularly care for either one of them, but I think she knows what he likes/doesn't like (including having 'clay hands' grab his clothes) and grabbed his coat to set him up. Now she can be a victim in that he cared more about his coat than that she felt cold.

In terms of the farmers successfully ending up with someone, I think Brandon is actually in a better position with only two women left. I think he'll be able to get to know him better, and vice versa, due to having a smaller number of 'contestants' remaining. I think Reba leaving was really a positive for him as she had some major jealousy issues. She's known him for about two weeks? And she already claims him and gets upset when he spends time with someone else? Not good. A few other women also act like if they are not the 'front-runner' then they don't want to be there. How is that even a possibility after about two weeks (I feel the same about the Bachelor Franchise and yet I watch). I wonder just what some of these women thought farm life was all about. Oh, and I loved the scene when Jennifer called the farmers over and that little boy went to her. So cute, and she seemed fun with how she interacted with the boy. Sweet.

I think a factor in Emily seeing herself as the persona of positivity may be her drinking. I have noticed that some people when they drink become louder and ruder and interpret that as their being the 'life of the party' and super fun. I have had friends that became mean drunks (not physically but verbally) and thought they were just the funniest people ever, but in reality were very hurtful (towards others as well as towards me personally). Yes, other people laugh at what they say but that doesn't mean what they said was positive or actually funny. Emily may (or may not) fall into this category because she was really ANGRY that he did not see how so very 'positive' she is.

I really enjoyed the scenes about the changing times (hat store closing, no more glove department, the datedness of how Truman styled Kate, etc.). This is one thing I enjoy about period shows-how things have changed while at the same time people and their behaviors/actions don't change. I really think that had the show developed the friendships before they fell apart I would be more interested/sympathetic to some of the characters. As it is, I really only care about Babe of the swans as her story has been better developed than those of the others IMO. Also sad how people become so desperate to try to turn back time and regain their youth and all that is associated with it. At least the plastic surgeon understands/sees Truman. Jack may actually be the most sympathetic character.

No, she told him that she had a lower value case than what it actually was (at the reveal we saw it was 600,000). He had found a case that was higher than what she said she had and offered it to her. He was trying to help her (to gain an ally no doubt) and didn't understand why she lied to him.

I think Brennan also viewed Emily as being negative everytime she told him how he needed to change/what he should do better throughout their brief relationship. Emily, as well as the other participants, never gave one thought to what she should do differently but was always willing to tell Brennan what he should be doing. And the most positive person? No, I don't see it. I think we have seen snippets of what Austin is talking about with Becca. He didn't want her to take over the bagging of the souvenirs that he bought last episode and she turned it into a rejection of her. And in this episode she told him that usually when she has an idea he wants to talk about it (and she said it was too long and drawn out) but this time he just said 'sure' and that's what she wants more of. So, it was exactly what Austin identified-she just wants him to agree with her about everything. I think that fact that she cries and proclaims her hurt that it makes it seem like he is an awful person. I don't care for any of these participants (maybe Michael a little bit, but he seems quite performative). None of them look at themselves-it's always the other person who is in the wrong (Chloe and Michael haven't been pointing fingers). I think we are seeing the result of everyone being told they should be strong and independent and not understand that it means they are always 'right' and that compromise is sometimes important rather than always getting what one wants.

I don't know what show Jelinsky actually thought he was on. Smashing the timer because they only had 2 3/4 hours left? All of these challenges are run and timed before the Survivors ever get to the island, so it was possible. And, we have seen various participants outwit challenges and find ways to finish them that the creators never envisioned. Jelinsky also tried to drag Q down with him (which infuriated me as I liked Q who understands the concepts of both 'hard' and 'work'). Then, it seemed like Jelinsky took pride in buckling during the 3 person get an advantage journey. But, what most surprised me was how calm he was prior to tribal council. Dude, just because you think you made a rock solid alliance on day one doesn't mean they won't change their minds. He kept referencing himself in the third person (no, just no) and then tried to convince us all that he was going to be a legend. Well, maybe he succeeded in that-but not in the way he probably envisioned. I like several (however more than seven) players-but, of course, I may totally change my mind about them as the season progresses.

I totally missed that the new season started? Anybody watch? Any impressions thus far?

If Daisy is, indeed, the next Bachelorette, I don't think I will be able to watch as her vocal fry is off the charts IMO. She's nice and pretty, but I couldn't listen to an entire season of the fry.

I watched this solely because of Boston Rob. I unapologetically love him as a reality competitor even though I didn't like him on his first season of Survivor. I like that he understands strategy and social interactions. I thought the show had some good twists-and I felt the tension as Aron got close to the end of his deals. I also liked Claudia (the former suitcase model) and hope she stays around. I found it interesting that Stephanie (?) lied to Boston Rob for no reason when he was trying to help her. Save the lies for when they are needed-it's not good to expose oneself when there is no reason for doing so. I'm in for now. In the previews it looks like there will be several twists throughout the season.