S47.E05: The Scales Be Tippin'

[Rodney]

The fallout from Tribal Council leaves one castaway feeling like they are on the outs.  During the Reward Challenge, tribes must shoot their shot to land a win and earn an advantage.

This is the episode's actual discussion thread for after the episode airs.

Edited October 16 by Rodney

[Skooma]

Wow Anika, you were blindsided.  Your aren't the first nor will you be the last so get over it. 

I thought they would have to send in Bouncers to finally escort her off, lol.

[mojoween]

Everyone getting excited for Kyle’s veggie dog was very cute.

It has become clear that Rome is an e-sports commentator because he sucks at the actual sports.

[Brown44]

Finally somebody getting pissed about getting blindsided and not leaving saying "I love you guys". No, she was like F ya'll and you ain't getting a goodbye from me.

[LadyChatts]

First, I'm glad Anika went out in a bitter blaze of glory.  I do feel sorry for her though.  I hate that the show sends these castaways on those journeys and doesn't even give them the option anymore of whether to keep their vote or risk it.  It's really not fair, especially when the tribe make-ups are so small.

I think Rome has been dethroned by Andy as the castaway I most want to see fall into a volcano.  I don't believe he's playing anywhere near as masterful a game as he thinks.  That's all Sam and Sierra and he doesn't even know it.  But this is the guy who got upset that nobody cheered for him when he was chopping coconuts, so I'm not surprised.  I can't wait for Sierra to try and do damage control next week.  Since so many people on the other tribes peg her and Sam as a power couple you'd think that would give them a motive to target the other. 

Edited October 17 by LadyChatts

[Thalia]

3 minutes ago, Brown44 said:

Finally somebody getting pissed about getting blindsided and not leaving saying "I love you guys". No, she was like F ya'll and you ain't getting a goodbye from me.

I thought for a moment she was going to refuse to leave.  

[Brown44]

3 minutes ago, Thalia said:

I thought for a moment she was going to refuse to leave.  

When she turned around she looked like she was about to slap somebody. 

[North of Eden]

I was unusually bored with this episode. Never thought I would say it but some of these 90 minute episodes are too long. It didn't help front loading it with the Social whatever they were calling it. That was not engaging at all and I was getting restless.

Then as soon as yellow lost I knew it would be an inevitable slog to Anika's ouster since Sam has been gunning for her since about episode 2 because she had the audacity to question the shelter building if I recall correctly.

That was a shame. She really was a nice, likable inoffensive person but manly man Sam was threatened by her and keeps the black hole of suck a/k/a Andy.

The episode was only redeemed by the last 5 minutes when we finally got an HONEST reaction to a blindside. That's the way it's supposed to be...no fake, fake, nice, nice to the people that took away your shot at the money. I applaud Anika.

Lasty I was worried Sol tripping running to the mat would cost the victory. Glad it worked out and he got to stay.

[princelina]

1 hour ago, LadyChatts said:

I think Rome has been dethroned by Andy as the castaway I most want to see fall into a volcano.  

Andy's always held that honor for me - I haven't hated a contestant so much since Russell Hantz 😄. Not just his initial temper tantrum, but the constant smugging makes me want to punch his face.  After tonight, however, I am rooting for him to hang around long enough to totally screw Sam over 😈

26 minutes ago, North of Eden said:

I was unusually bored with this episode. Never thought I would say it but some of these 90 minute episodes are too long.

Ugh they're all too long - IMO one of the reasons Survivor has lasted so long is because  they DIDN'T succumb to the temptation to make the show longer for all of these years.

[Tango64]

These people are not hungry.

They finally decided to try using the fishing net they earned “a few days ago” and just flail in the surf with it while whining “I can’t believe Jeff did this to us!” Of course they give up without catching any fish.

And they voluntarily hand over three chickens because they can’t agree to eat them. I bet if one person killed one and cooked it, everyone would want some.

And they can’t cook the eggs because they lost their flint??? Is it that hard to keep embers alive while you’re at the challenge? Not if you’re seriously hungry. 

[TVFan1]

Losing Anika wasn't a shock to me. What I was most shocked about was her reaction to her ouster. She was livid and upset, which is what she should be instead of saying "oh, hey, good game you guys, you got me". Can't stand Sam at all. His and Andy's vote out will be great to witness.

 

[AntFTW]

Those chickens are going to end up on somebody's plate.

[Scatterbrained]

Andy is like the joker with his maniacal grin.  After tribal everyone except Andy looked stressed and unhappy, including Sam who wanted Annika gone.

While, it made it seem like Tianna’s loose lips might have sunk her own ship at the Survivor Social, I have a bad feeling Caroline may have sealed her or Sue’s fate with her “we’re so tight” comments.  Meanwhile, Sue seems to think she can use sheer force of will to control Tiyanna and Kyle to protect Gabe.

[dancingdreamer]

I like we had two challenges,  keep that up.!

I have to say the second  challenge  was so darn close,  one block away,  and Gata came from behind. Anika was maybe  complacent,  she  looked at her tribe, with a 'how dare you' look. I'm thrilled  she didn't  wish anyone  luck, or say she  loved them all. She just turned and said ' nah' 

The merge next week, where alliances  go to die, and Rome gets on new people's  nerves.

Edited October 17 by dancingdreamer

[AntFTW]

So Andy's winning the season, huh? You all can see the vision right?

[ByaNose]

16 minutes ago, dancingdreamer said:

I like we had two challenges,  keep that up.!

I have to say the second  challenge  was so darn close  a block away,  and Gats came from behind. Anika was maybe  complacent,  she  looked at her tribe, with a 'how dare you' look. I'm thrilled  she didn't  wish anyone  luck, or say she  loved them all. She just turned and said ' nah' 

The merge next week, where alliances  go to die, and Rome gets on new people's  nerves.

They had both tribes in the same shot (lucky for them they were next to each other) and, almost it almost look like they both had the same block to place and were even but Red was able to call Jeff over first and run (or fall, as in Sol’s case) before Yellow did. It was just that close. 

[Skooma]

17 hours ago, Rodney said:

It's perfectly human to feel that way.  She can react however she wants

Yep Anika could go out looking like a spoiled brat.  She thought SHE had engineered a blindside and that would have been just fine with her.  But when the shoe is on the other foot she showed no grace at all. 

I prefer some good sportsmanship in any game that is played but she showed none.  But then she thought she was the big cheese since episode 1.  She was more deluded than Andy who, of all people, actually "played" her.

Edited October 17 by Skooma

[ByaNose]

I will say I did like Anika’s exit. Usually, the person voted out is either in nicey-nicey, in shock or mad. I think Anika was in shock and mad which made for great tv. I guess we’ll find out if this was the right move for Sam and Sierra down the road. 

[Lantern7]

I'm probably going to go back to recording this next week. I would've made the swap tonight, but I was intrigued by the promise of another Probstian twist. I rate it six out of ten . . . nice to see tea getting spilled, but then they to bring up Sanctuary, where good things seldom happen, even when cornhole is involved. Also, I'm disappointed we didn't see anyone put a hand in the hole, searching for another idol.

Damn, Anika got shook. It sucks to get betrayed, and it sucks harder to go out before Andy's dumb ass could. Aside from giving us the formula for combinations, has he contributed anything positive for us? He can go at any episode, and he can drag Rome with him while he's at it.

38 minutes ago, AntFTW said:

Those chickens are going to end up on somebody's plate.

You think the production people would cook 'em up after that one tribe traded them in for eggs that they couldn't cook up because they needed flint? Yeah . . . that's probably what happened. After that one season where they chickens were released (Tai's first season? I'd look it up if I truly cared), I'm willing to bet that all food sources are eventually used up. And I agreed with some of you on the live thread . . . the gameplay has gotten soft. If S50 comes down to mixing up the old school with the "New Era," the latter will probably get massacred. How do you not at least try to fish with the nets? I know Rupert committed bigamy with that Hawaiian Sling, but he would've tried out the nets if he needed to do so.

[Kenzie]

5 hours ago, mojoween said:

Everyone getting excited for Kyle’s veggie dog was very cute.

Those were pretty pitiful looking hot dogs and not a condiment in sight.  I've seen more appetizing-looking hot dogs that have spent eight hours on the heat lamp rotisserie at 7-11.

[Tdoc72]

9 minutes ago, Kenzie said:

Those were pretty pitiful looking hot dogs and not a condiment in sight.  I've seen more appetizing-looking hot dogs that have spent eight hours on the heat lamp rotisserie at 7-11.

Remember early Survivor had Pringles and Mountain Dew as sponsors?  And last year they couldn’t shut up about Applebees.   This was a pitiful reward. I can get over the no name soda, but no condiments or sides is pathetic. 

Edited October 17 by Tdoc72

[SummerDreams]

This season starts to get boring for me. The amount of air time players get really shows who makes it far and who doesn't. It was obvious Anika would leave the first time they'd lose. She got zero air time unless she was talking about Andy or sam.

I'm bored and I am sad because I wanted to actually enjoy this season. :(

[violet and green]

I am back to liking baby Andy. That really was enjoyable to watch. Anika's shocked facial reactions and body language - that long pause where she just stood there before turning to finally leave - were so fun! Obviously, not for her.

So pleased Red managed to win - with a puzzle, no less! - and all made it to the mat in time, even after Sol's somersault trip, which looked painful.

Really excited that Kyle and Sol are still there.

[30 Helens]

Whoo, Anika! Those were some stellar dagger eyes. Too bad we can’t bring her back for the jury, because she could stir up a whole boiling pot of bitterness. 

When those chickens ended up back on the beach, I was waiting for another tribe to step up and say “We’ll eat ‘em!” and then for Jeff to hand them over. No harm, no fowl. (Sorry.)

Andy has been a mostly entertaining mess, but he is currently teetering on the edge of smug unlikability. Stay in your Dumb Puppy lane, Andy. It’s where you belong.

[mojoween]

Daaaaaang it is really too bad that Anika didn’t make the jury (now she’ll never get a boyfriend!) because hopefully she would have stewed over this and brought the bitter.

[KeithJ]

Voting Anika out was a terrible decision by Sam and Sierra.  Both of the other tribes think they are a couple and they are running things.  Now, after the merge, they're going to have an angry Rachel telling everyone else that they are a couple and they were running things.  They just put a huge target on their backs and should have just voted out Andy.

1 hour ago, 30 Helens said:

When those chickens ended up back on the beach, I was waiting for another tribe to step up and say “We’ll eat ‘em!” and then for Jeff to hand them over. No harm, no fowl. (Sorry.)

I was really surprised at the deal Jeff made for them.  They wanted 24 and he ended up settling on 18?  He shouldn't have negotiated and stuck at 12.  Wasn't there a deal he made on a previous season where the contestants were totally taken for a ride?

Edited October 17 by KeithJ

[Gummo]

1. Now THAT's a blindside!

2. 

8 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

the gameplay has gotten soft. If S50 comes down to mixing up the old school with the "New Era," the latter will probably get massacred.

Boy, howdy. 

"We've had this vital fishing equipment sitting around for days ... maybe we should try using it? [5 minutes of fumbling with net] *waaaaah* This is haarrrd. I don't wanna do this anymore!" [back to sitting on beach complaining]

3. Worst reward ever? Wtf, show?? 1 naked hot dog and no-name soda? Has all the production money been diverted to pay for Jeff's hair dye? Rewards used to be ... [musical flourish] REWARDS! Jebus, they used to give away cars, fer crissakes! Now, it's just Evil Oprah -- you get one hot dog, and  you get one hot dog, and you....

[seacliffsal]

So, they weren't willing to kill a chicken but they were willing to catch and then kill a fish...make it make sense...

In this 'new era' it seems like there are way too many players who think they are untouchable and running the game.  I remember the sweet, sweet satisfaction when Edgar (I think) thought he was in the controling alliance and was blindsided at tribal.  Truly epic.  But now, it seems like everyone has delusions of running the game.  Boston Rob would have mind-controlled them all!

Kyle seems like he's the only one who is truly hungry.  I bet he would have already used the fishing equipment.  Well, and Rome did use the equipment at their camp.  

Even though I will stay with Survivor until the bitter end, I truly do miss OG Survivor.  Massive weight loss, Elizabeth's hair falling out, Ozzy climbing the cocoanut trees, eating rats, Africa...those were the days...

[GenerationX]

The most compelling characters in this first half of the season have been Sam and Genevieve.  They have been in control of their respective tribes, and I will be curious to see how they react to the merge dynamics.

[Mean Jeanne]

Ok so I haven’t commented here for a long time, about the time I stopped caring for this show. I watch now mostly out of habit. Truly miss the old school show, where they got really skinny and actually looked forward to the gross food challenge just for the nourishment. And the auction. When rewards were actually “worth playing for”. Villains were actual villains, not like today when they’re just obnoxious assholes with no real gameplay. I miss seeing conversations that are more than strategy, getting to know the players, seeing them have occasional fun. When it was an actual fight to survive. You know, like the name of the show. Won’t bore you with the long list, of the things I miss which are MANY. I’ve literally watched every episode of every show, most of them at minimum twice each. I kind of feel like I’m missing an old friend.

So please indulge me with an answer to this question. Do I really miss the old show, or is it just that being old af (71)) has changed my perspective?
 

Because I would give just about anything for a family visit and a brand new truck with all the bells and whistles as a reward

[LadyChatts]

9 hours ago, Kenzie said:

Those were pretty pitiful looking hot dogs and not a condiment in sight.  I've seen more appetizing-looking hot dogs that have spent eight hours on the heat lamp rotisserie at 7-11.

It was a pretty pathetic reward.  I was thinking there would be more than 1 hot dog for everyone, too.  And they couldn’t splurge on condiments and some chips or a side?  Whatever happened to these people being starving?  I hope when Survivor 50 happens they really go old school with everything and throw the returning newbie players for a loop (but Probst has gotten soft so I’m not expecting that).  It seemed like the real reward was getting to talk to the other members of the opposing tribe.  

Edited October 17 by LadyChatts

[Gummo]

13 minutes ago, Mean Jeanne said:

So please indulge me with an answer to this question. Do I really miss the old show, or is it just that being old af (71)) has changed my perspective?

I thought of posting the 'Why Not Both?" meme girl but ... naah.

Yeah, you miss the old show.

Somewhere along the line, Probst and Burnette decided no one wanted to watch  'Survivor' to see people actually trying to survive. 

So maybe it would work better if they changed the name. Instead of "Survivor," they could call it "A Few Weeks of Inconvenience and Whining."

Truth in advertising, after all.

[TVbitch]

I will see this show to the end, cuz we've had such a long relationship, but the anticipation I used to have for it is long gone. It just isn't the compelling, entertaining competition it once was. The new era is more about lower production costs and Jeff's delusion that he is uplifting humanity with his "deep thoughts" pep talks and fire side chats.

For those interested, Australian Survivor is still old school, brutal and awesome, and new and past seasons (and old Survivor South Africa) can be streamed for free at https://southhemitv.com/category/survivor/   

[gesundheit]

I feel like a no-frills hot dog reward actually is more old-school. When early rewards were something very very very simple that they'd bleed for anyway because they were so hungry -- only later in the game post-merge did they get the more decadent rewards. I'm just happy we got a reward challenge instead of a reward/immunity combo.

[iMonrey]

11 hours ago, dancingdreamer said:

I like we had two challenges,  keep that up.!

Me too. Because I FF thru them and zip through the episode in about 15 minutes.

i am so bored with this season I don't even know why I'm even keeping up with it at all. My interest in the players ranges from apathy to severe dislike. There is literally no one I want to root for and it feels inevitable at this point we are headed for a winner I cannot stand like Andy or Rome. 

20 minutes ago, TVbitch said:

The new era is more about lower production costs and Jeff's delusion that he is uplifting humanity with his "deep thoughts" pep talks and fire side chats.

Yeah I FF thru those too. Honestly the show just feels so lazy now, from lame casting to lame, recycled challenges to lame twists to lame rewards. 

27 minutes ago, Gummo said:

So maybe it would work better if they changed the name. Instead of "Survivor," they could call it "A Few Weeks of Inconvenience and Whining."

I can't decide if it's a problem with the casting or a problem with the generation. Either way we've been getting some really bad casting fails for awhile now.

44 minutes ago, Mean Jeanne said:

Villains were actual villains, not like today when they’re just obnoxious assholes with no real gameplay.

And there you go. And a big part of that is with all the dumb twists and gimmicks you can't really "play" Survivor anymore, it plays you. You just have to be lucky enough to get through it. That's all there is to it anymore.

Edited October 17 by iMonrey

[Katrina Kate]

12 hours ago, Tango64 said:

And they can’t cook the eggs because they lost their flint??? Is it that hard to keep embers alive while you’re at the challenge? Not if you’re seriously hungry. 

My guess is that since season 6, The Amazon, when the camp burned down while the tribe was at a challenge, the producers force all the tribes to put out their fire any time the camp will be unattended.

[bankerchick]

3 hours ago, seacliffsal said:

I remember the sweet, sweet satisfaction when Edgar (I think) thought he was in the controling alliance and was blindsided at tribal.

Wiping the smug from from Alex, Mookie and Edgardo's faces remains to this day one of the highlights of this show's entire run.

[fishcakes]

For the first time in 25 years, I fell asleep in the middle of a Survivor episode. Only for a few minutes, but still.

When they voted out Jon at the first TC, I said I hoped that it would come back to bite them and that Andy would outlast all of them, so I'm pretty happy the vote went the way it did. Also glad it was Anika, who's been queening around since the beginning and thinking she was running things. All her outrage and crying? Inject that into my veins.

Genevieve was trending last week on social media as "the new Parvati" which is one of the more ridiculous Survivor takes I've seen over the years, so I hope her belated well duh realization this week that Rome is not a reliable guy will put that trend to rest.

Sol saying "FFFFFART" after learning about Teeny's amulet was really cute. Love him.

[Haleth]

This season is really boring. I feel like the players and the challenges and the conversations are all interchangeable with so many other seasons. The whole concept is pretty stale. 

[Nashville]

12 hours ago, ByaNose said:

I think Anika was in shock and mad which made for great tv.

“Shock” might be one word for it, but I don’t think it sufficiently conveys the impact Anika was experiencing; “emotional concussion” might be a little more accurate….

 

4 hours ago, KeithJ said:

Voting Anika out was a terrible decision by Sam and Sierra.  Both of the other tribes think they are a couple and they are running things.  Now, after the merge, they're going to have an angry Rachel telling everyone else that they are a couple and they were running things.  They just put a huge target on their backs and should have just voted out Andy.

Possibly - unless S&S can pull Rachel into, if not an alliance, then at least a mutual nonaggression pact.  And wouldn’t that actually be in Rachel’s best interests?

[meep.meep]

15 hours ago, Brown44 said:

Finally somebody getting pissed about getting blindsided and not leaving saying "I love you guys". No, she was like F ya'll and you ain't getting a goodbye from me.

There was one just two episodes back - Ayesha from the red team.

Annika at least asked who voted her out.  Shades of Jay saying "I did this!"

With all the announcers and podcasters in the cast, no one is doing a running commentary to rival Probst's?

[SummerDreams]

2 hours ago, Mean Jeanne said:

Do I really miss the old show, or is it just that being old af (71)) has changed my perspective?

Before I got to this question, I was thinking of replying to you and everyone who misses the old survivor, that it is very common that people like more things from the past not because they were actually better (sometimes they were really worse), but because they have attached them emotionally with their youth. Sometimes I see photos with families 50 years ago who were poor and people comment "they had only one piece of bread to eat each but they were happy". No they were not happy, if they could choose, they would prefer to be rich. But this is what they remember as they were kids and these memories are always happy.

So yeah, I think that Survivor for all of us is connected with us being younger thus mostly happier, more carefree, more hopeful so that's why we feel nostalgic with old school survivor.

Personally I would like it to become 39 days again and that's all. I don't want to see them starve or suffer because I want them to be mentally strong for the strategy part I so much love.

[gesundheit]

By the way, when did Jeff stop ending TC with some nugget of a lesson? He always used to do some version of, "As you can see from tonight's result, no one is safe even when they think they're safe. G'night!" It's been a while.

[Chicago Redshirt]

4 hours ago, seacliffsal said:

So, they weren't willing to kill a chicken but they were willing to catch and then kill a fish...make it make sense...

In this 'new era' it seems like there are way too many players who think they are untouchable and running the game.  I remember the sweet, sweet satisfaction when Edgar (I think) thought he was in the controling alliance and was blindsided at tribal.  Truly epic. 

Seems like I post to the YouTube link of the Edgardo blindside once a season or so, because schadenfreude is a thing.

No time like the present!

 

[eel2178]

16 hours ago, Brown44 said:

Finally somebody getting pissed about getting blindsided and not leaving saying "I love you guys". No, she was like F ya'll and you ain't getting a goodbye from me.

I thought she'd at least say "I'm taking my ball, and I'm going home!"

[JudyObscure]

I agree that Edgardo's blindside was the greatest ever, but even he took it without a hissy fit.  Kids are  taught in Little League that no matter how bad you feel about losing you force a smile and say "Good game," to the other side.  It's not being dishonest it's good sportsmanship.

I never saw Jeff look so disgusted with a player when he snuffed their torch as he did with Anika.

I love Kyle, he plays the challenges with so much smooth skill and courtesy for the rest of his team.  He's so nice, he didn't even snort with derision at the carnivores sudden concern for chicken life.

Couldn't the ones with the fishing net at least have tied one end to a stump and left it in the ocean, in the hopes that a few fish might suicide into it?

[Skooma]

1 hour ago, Haleth said:

This season is really boring. I feel like the players and the challenges and the conversations are all interchangeable with so many other seasons. The whole concept is pretty stale. 

The challenges are all the same every year.  Go out to a stunningly beautiful part of the world and untie knots, drag heavy loads around and play with an indoor item called a puzzle.

Indiana Jones voice:  I hate puzzles!

45 minutes ago, SummerDreams said:

So yeah, I think that Survivor for all of us is connected with us being younger thus mostly happier, more carefree, more hopeful so that's why we feel nostalgic with old school survivor.

I don't think nostalgia really has anything to do with the very valid criticisms of the show these days.  They are very objective points being raised.  Survivor has gone downhill badly.  

Points like a shorter season, basically the same "challenge" over and over again with stupid puzzles in most, endless food rewards where players are taken out of a "survivor" existence and put into a jarring looking fast foodville instead of staying where they are and sacrificing for a bag of rice say, etc. 

And the worst is all the damn twists -- seemingly millions of idols, advantages, disadvantages, steal a vote, gain a vote etc etc etc.  That alone makes this no longer a game of strategy that players have some control over but just a game of dumb luck.

I for one don't feel one iota of "nostalgia" for old school Survivor.  I feel that old school Survivor objectively was a better show.

[Chalby]

21 hours ago, Skooma said:

Wow Anika, you were blindsided.  Your aren't the first nor will you be the last so get over it. 

We've seen this play out before. All I know is if I made a pact with 2 other women, I'd have to understand one is definitely going to find a male to make a pact with.

For some reason,women (and men) do not believe a woman, or women, can get them to the final leg. The groups always appear strong and united, until they see their, and others, numbers dwindling.

There's always talk about staying loyal to a pact in the beginning, but come on, bets are off for most players, once they merge. 

[dizzyd]

7 hours ago, Mean Jeanne said:

So please indulge me with an answer to this question. Do I really miss the old show, or is it just that being old af (71)) has changed my perspective?

It has absolutely nothing to do with your age. This is clearly the general consensus among most viewers and is expressed multiple times every season. But what can we do, we’ve expressed it and they don’t care. US survivor is now all about pampering and feelings and sob stories and being woke and discovering yourself and Jeff’s therapy. That’s why I love the Aussie version, they do everything I like and miss and I’m looking forward to the Australia v World season that has already filmed and will air next year, just wish there were more players and I suspect it wont be as hardcore as the regular Aussie seasons to cater to the legends from US. That being said I can’t stop watching our kid gloves version because there are the occasional gems like Annika in her exit showing glimpses of OG Sue at season 1 FTC. Fuck the peaceful and respectful acceptance of being blindsided and eliminated, tell us how you really feel, loved it. 

Edited October 17 by dizzyd

[dizzyd]

4 hours ago, Chicago Redshirt said:

Seems like I post to the YouTube link of the Edgardo blindside once a season or so, because schadenfreude is a thing.

No time like the present!

 

I especially love watching Earl ( the OG king of Fiji). smiling behind Edgardo. Aah, the good ole days!