S40.E09: An Era of One

[AntFTW]

Quote

Having seen their whole team lose in elimination, one challenger must hold their entire era on their back to earn safety; cracks in an alliance begin to form as relationships across eras create paranoia and uneasiness.

Air date: October 16, 2024

[AntFTW]

Everything that I wanted to happen to make this a good tension-filled episode happened.

Rachel was safe so she couldn't anyone's easy vote because she's a team of one.

The Vacation Alliance had to squirm. They proposed a deal to Rachel that would have been impossible for them to keep. They can't save Rachel because their alliance is so big that someone will always come before Rachel. It will always come down to someone from their alliance being on the chopping block that they will save, which will leave Rachel out.

Lastly, Tori won. Devin lost.

I like Devin but not so much this season. I love Tori so I'm glad she's staying. Kaycee losing always makes me happy because everyone always wants to save Kaycee.

Also, Kaycee is not good for my entertainment because Kaycee is boring. However, Kaycee did talk a lot more shit in that interview chair this season than she has on previous seasons.

[AntFTW]

Also, I am shocked that Tori chooses Johnny as a target because her and Johnny have worked together season after season now... even if it was somehow "revenge" for Devin.

[AntFTW]

I listened to Johnny's podcast. He had Rachel on recapping this episode. It seems like Kaycee and Kyland had no real shot of actually convincing Rachel to save them. Rachel had already decided to send them in before the deliberations but she waited and made everyone sweat because she wanted to get a promise from Laurel specifically that they would have each other's backs going forward.

Also, I was reminded on the podcast, which I found interesting while watching the episode, was that Jordan was saying that Rachel should make a deal and save Kaycee and Kyland over Ryan and Laurel. That's interesting coming from Jordan because when Laurel had power, she saved Jordan when he was a target. Laurel saved Jordan previously, and now he's advocating to save Kaycee and Kyland, which means Laurel goes into elimination.

Edited October 17 by AntFTW

[Jobiska]

15 hours ago, AntFTW said:

Also, Kaycee is not good for my entertainment because Kaycee is boring. However, Kaycee did talk a lot more shit in that interview chair this season than she has on previous seasons.

Especially when she asked if Kyland was "really the human calculator???" when I didn't notice her getting more solutions than he did....

[LaurelleJ]

This was a great episode. I was hoping that Rachel could pull out a solo win but didn't think she would, so when she did I was so happy. At the very least I was hoping Era 2 would win and give Rachel a break. It was so great to see Rachel at the head of the table alone. So great. 

Kaycee getting mad that Josh didn't save her was rich. You hid behind your era for weeks and now that it's your turn to get called down to the carpet you are upset? When Jenny is a target every other week? Bye Kaycee. Jumping on Josh was so weird, blaming him for Kaycee going in because he couldn't convince Rachel. I never thought for a second that Rachel was going to hang Ryan out to dry, and from a game standpoint, it's better to have Laurel on your side vs. Tori or Kaycee. The right choice was made. 

It just sucks that it had to be Devin vs. Kyland because I really like both in the game. I wouldn't even know which one to pick. I think another reason why Devin was hot with Josh is that he would have much rather gone against Ryan, even if that leaves his bff Tori with Laurel. In the end, everyone for themselves I guess. 

I was surprised that Kyland picked Jenny AGAIN. Even though the eras are splitting, people will still try to ride for their eras so picking someone who might have had your back was weird. Even though Johnny is a target, he's in there with Ryan and Derek so the odds look good for him. Jenny might give Rachel trouble, she would have a better shot at Aviv. 

The mid season trailer looks good. I just hate that all of era 1 except Rachel are gone. 

[AntFTW]

1 hour ago, LaurelleJ said:

I think another reason why Devin was hot with Josh is that he would have much rather gone against Ryan, even if that leaves his bff Tori with Laurel. In the end, everyone for themselves I guess. 

Tori would have preferred to go against Laurel because Tori wanted to save Kaycee. Devin and Tori were in alignment if Devin wanted Ryan.

[LaurelleJ]

1 hour ago, AntFTW said:

Tori would have preferred to go against Laurel because Tori wanted to save Kaycee. Devin and Tori were in alignment if Devin wanted Ryan.

It feels like saving Kaycee would have been at the expense of herself because Laurel would have been a much tougher draw. Why does everyone want to save Kaycee so much? 

[AntFTW]

5 minutes ago, LaurelleJ said:

It feels like saving Kaycee would have been at the expense of herself because Laurel would have been a much tougher draw. Why does everyone want to save Kaycee so much? 

That stupid alliance they have.

Their worst case scenario, as they perceived it, was Tori and Kaycee facing each other, and Devin and Kyland facing each other. If there was a chance to keep all of the alliance there, they would have taken the chance. Obviously, that means the only other option was Laurel going into elimination.

Edited October 17 by AntFTW

[Lantern7]

Caught the episode tonight. It is bad to say that it peaked with the flashback of Melissa ripping into Julie at the start of BOTS1? Good times, especially since Julie went away early that season.

Thinking about it, they could’ve played Rachel’s “This game is ugly!” clip from back then. Becoming a team of one and almost guaranteed to go into elimination if she didn’t win . . . that’s peak ugly, right? Well, she wound up outlasting everyone in the mission and got other people to sweat for once. Naturally, she became a Target for the next episode as we move into the next phase of gameplay. Small steps. I still think she’s overrated.

I should’ve watched this episode “live,” just for the cries of joy that Kaycee struck out. The people I see posting on Facebook can’t tell her apart from furniture. And we lost Devin, which . . . whatever. One less asshole, I guess. Josh, as always, was a goof. You can have pains in the ass like Andy and Rome on the current Survivor, but at least you know they’ll go away for a spell. Not our boy Josh, though.

Edited October 18 by Lantern7

[RedbirdNelly]

I'm not a Josh fan but I was team Josh this episode--found it odd they want to blame him as if he had power over Rachel. 

I don't hate Kaycee but she's been floating along and seems to expect everyone else to play their game for her benefit. I understand wanting that, but she seemed to overdo it--being annoyed with Rachel despite Kaycee doing nothing previously to help her out. 

Devin also has a tendency to get mad if everyone else isn't organizing their lives for his benefit. I understand wanting to keep people who have your back, but I appreciate people who have self awareness to not get mad when the other person tries to do so when they can, but ultimately puts themselves first. 

[Jobiska]

And oh yeah, on the topic of Kaycee's skills(?) with numbers--she was supposed to karma-point people from 1-5, and I forget who it was that she said she was putting zero for.  Perhaps joking, but?  

A silly personal reason besides her boringness that I don't really like watching Kaycee--her hair pulled that tightly back gives me a vicarious headache!  I mean, I know it's because of her athletic background and part of her personal aesthetic, and the look doesn't bother me except it looks so tight!  I hope she doesn't get traction alopecia!  Maybe she gels it down and it's not as tight as it looks.  Or maybe my scalp and head are extra sensitive.  Heh.

Lantern7, Just FYI, I also watch both Survivor and this, but I save Survivor for when my kid is available, and they generally are at their partner's until Saturday...so I'd appreciate no spoilers (not that the above really is except that it hints that Andy and Rome are still in.  Ugh?)

[AntFTW]

27 minutes ago, Jobiska said:

(not that the above really is except that it hints that Andy and Rome are still in.  Ugh?)

Andy is going to win the season.

[RedbirdNelly]

1 hour ago, Jobiska said:

And oh yeah, on the topic of Kaycee's skills(?) with numbers--she was supposed to karma-point people from 1-5, and I forget who it was that she said she was putting zero for.  Perhaps joking, but?  

A silly personal reason besides her boringness that I don't really like watching Kaycee--her hair pulled that tightly back gives me a vicarious headache!  I mean, I know it's because of her athletic background and part of her personal aesthetic, and the look doesn't bother me except it looks so tight!  I hope she doesn't get traction alopecia!  Maybe she gels it down and it's not as tight as it looks.  Or maybe my scalp and head are extra sensitive.  Heh.

Lantern7, Just FYI, I also watch both Survivor and this, but I save Survivor for when my kid is available, and they generally are at their partner's until Saturday...so I'd appreciate no spoilers (not that the above really is except that it hints that Andy and Rome are still in.  Ugh?)

maybe i'm expecting too much but it annoyed me that she ranked Rachel low. I mean show some respect for what Rachel has handled and it's not like Rachel was gunning for Kaycee the whole time. 

I also wonder about the tight hair pull back.

[AntFTW]

On 10/16/2024 at 9:58 PM, AntFTW said:

Also, I am shocked that Tori chooses Johnny as a target because her and Johnny have worked together season after season now... even if it was somehow "revenge" for Devin.

 

[Maya]

Devin and Michele are a strange couple. I don’t even like her and I still think she could do better than him. 

[bunnyface]

12 hours ago, RedbirdNelly said:

I'm not a Josh fan but I was team Josh this episode--found it odd they want to blame him as if he had power over Rachel. 

I don't hate Kaycee but she's been floating along and seems to expect everyone else to play their game for her benefit. I understand wanting that, but she seemed to overdo it--being annoyed with Rachel despite Kaycee doing nothing previously to help her out. 

Devin also has a tendency to get mad if everyone else isn't organizing their lives for his benefit. I understand wanting to keep people who have your back, but I appreciate people who have self awareness to not get mad when the other person tries to do so when they can, but ultimately puts themselves first. 

Look at you, trying to inject reason into this shit show at this late stage.  No, there is no reason.  Fifteen years ago this guy over here squinting at me and I've never forgotten and now he must die!!!!  I mean, sure, maybe it was the sun but I don't know and now he must die!!!

[jsm1125]

I’m not sure why Kaycee and Devin blame Josh for Rachel picking Kaycee to go into elimination. As if Rachel wasn’t going to save Ryan, who she’s been friends with for over 15 years.