S48.E03: Committing to the Bit

[Skooma]

5 hours ago, bunnyface said:

But it's kind of a weird ultimatum to make.  If I understood what he said correctly, if he doesn't win, she is leaving him.

That is not what she said.  She was more about if he can't be a responsible adult and support a family she will leave.  

From this David has deduced that he must go on Survivor and win a million dollars so she won't leave because getting a regular, steady job like the rest of humanity doesn't seem to occur to him.  🤣

Edited March 13 by Skooma

[blackwing]

8 hours ago, Haleth said:

I was thinking Cedrek made the wrong choice but then considered that maybe it would be helpful to his game. They must be expecting the merge soon and Sai is a lot more irritating than Justin. He can kind of blend into the scenery as he has so far while Sai runs her mouth and gets booted.

But the whole point of a tribe going into a merge is that they want to keep numbers strong.  Cedrek just needs numbers or someone to stand with him.  Obviously Green is down to three but they could still be a pair or a triple that offers themselves as numbers to a bigger alliance.  They could even be swing votes if it comes down to one alliance against another.  I think the issue is that Justin would have been 100% loyal to Cedrek, and if they go into a merge, they are solid allies.  Sai will not be loyal to Cedrek.  And I also don't think she has any intention of "working on" her relationship with Mary.

7 hours ago, PhoneCop said:

The good news for David is that a 1-in-15 chance of winning $1M is better than the odds of rolling a Natural 20. The bad news is that instead of a 5% chance, it's still only a 6.67% chance. And he doesn't exactly strike me as a strategic genius who's likely to go to the end anyway. Homie needs to see if Disneyland needs a backup Gaston actor.

Hah.  He definitely preens like Gaston, taking every opportunity to take his shirt off for the camera.  I was waiting for him to talk about eating five dozen eggs.

4 hours ago, iMonrey said:

This. 100%. 

This show has become so stale and will continue to be as long as they keep starting with three tribes of six. For one thing, there's not much suspense in who goes home when only three people are eligible. For another thing, there are still way too many people I don't know anything about because the show has no choice but to continue focusing on the losing tribe. Apparently there's a Bianca? And a Charity? And a Chrissy? Who knew?

On top of that, we get the same old challenges week after week after week. It feels so lazy and just adds to how stale the show has become.

I actually thought that this week's challenge was at least different from the usual blindfolded challenge with the caller and the huge blocks and the posts conveniently placed at crotch level.  ("That's gonna hurt!")  I only wish it had been more difficult.  I would have put giant pools of water in front of each of the three rope pull things.  And I would have made the slide puzzle 16x16 instead of 9x9.

6 hours ago, bunnyface said:

Sir, that joke will never be old.  Now get off my lawn.

But it's kind of a weird ultimatum to make.  If I understood what he said correctly, if he doesn't win, she is leaving him.  Uh...how's that going to work?  You're 32 and wants 4 kids sooner rather than later.  But if he doesn't win, you're going to leave him and try to find someone else and put in the time to make sure that guy is going to be a good father and then you're going to be...36, 37?  Maybe try to figure out a normal game plan with the guy you're already with.  Unless he's just refusing to do what it takes to get a normal job and support her in a normal way, in which case he's not the right guy anyway.  

 

3 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

Oh I agree with what you're saying, but I didn't imagine that her ultimatum was that he win Survivor, rather that he figure out a way to get out of that trailer and into a proper home of some sort.  I thought it was most likely in his mind only, that the way to get money was win Survivor.  

Totally agree with Tango.   I think she's admirable to want financial stability and if he doesn't soon  get steady work then she should move on.

 

59 minutes ago, Skooma said:

That is not what she said.  She was more about if he can't be a responsible adult and support a family she will leave.  

From this David has deduced that he must go on Survivor and win a million dollars so she won't leave because getting a regular, steady job like the rest of humanity doesn't seem to occur to him.  🤣

I do agree that at 38, anyone should want financial stability.  I don't know how much stuntmen get paid, but apparently not enough to afford to live anywhere other than a trailer parked on his dad's driveway.

She seems to be critical of his inability to get a high paying job.  However, I found it interesting that he said "she wants to be a stay at home mom".  Why is it OK for her to not want to work at all and earn zero money while giving him an ultimatum that he has to make more money?  Many couples cannot afford to have someone (usually the wife) stay at home to take care of kids.  They both work, and get daycare or make other arrangements.  Why can't David and his girlfriend both work?  Why is that not an option?  

Why does she get a pass for wanting to be a stay at home mom but he gets criticised for not making more money?  Why can't he be a stay at home dad and she goes to work?  To me, the ultimatum just sounds like "I want a rich husband so I don't have to work".

I don't know anything about these two, but I think it seems a little unfair that in 2025, the man is automatically expected to provide all the income, solely because he is a man.  Sounds to me that they are not right for each other.

He could supplement his income by being a personal trainer.  At least he would show he is trying.  But the ultimatum that "you need to make a whole lot more money otherwise we are done" seems harsh.

 

Edited March 13 by blackwing

[violet and green]

I liked hearing about David's living situation. It humanized him. Everyone wants to win, and their reasons are valid for them.

[Kendra143]

2 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

Oh I agree with what you're saying, but I didn't imagine that her ultimatum was that he win Survivor, rather that he figure out a way to get out of that trailer and into a proper home of some sort.  I thought it was most likely in his mind only, that the way to get money was win Survivor.  

 

Totally agree with Tango.   I think she's admirable to want financial stability and if he doesn't soon  get steady work then she should move on.

It sounds like she wants to stay home and be taken care of. How is she contributing to their financial stability? What if she can’t have the four children they think they need? I don’t understand women who can’t/wont provide financial responsibility for themselves. Marriages don’t always last.

[JudyObscure]

Just now, blackwing said:

Why is it OK for her to not want to work at all and earn zero money while giving him an ultimatum that he has to make more money? 

Because staying home, bearing and raising children, watching them, teaching them, keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, shopping, cooking and driving them places -- is work.

Why is it if that if you pay other people to do all that work, and go sit in an air conditioned office somewhere you're working harder than the SAHM?

[Rodney]

10 minutes ago, JudyObscure said:

Because staying home, bearing and raising children, watching them, teaching them, keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, shopping, cooking and driving them places -- is work.

Not paid work, though.

[30 Helens]

12 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

Because staying home, bearing and raising children, watching them, teaching them, keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, shopping, cooking and driving them places -- is work.

 

12 hours ago, Rodney said:

Not paid work, though.

It’s paid work if you’re not paying someone else to do it. In terms of your household bottom line, you’re essentially paying yourself. I am my household’s cook, laundress, maid, accountant, banker, investor, buyer, hirer and overseer of service professionals, and manager of all things miscellaneous. I may not get a paycheck for all that work, but if you think I do it for free, you’re nuts.

It is true that working outside the home and hiring someone to watch your kids doesn’t make financial sense for a lot of people. Sometimes a person’s entire paycheck goes toward paying the nanny. Without knowing the girlfriend’s earning potential, it’s unfair to assume she is just looking for a free ride. 

As a stuntman, David’s earnings are likely sporadic. I assume he makes good money on each gig, but he may go months between jobs. Maybe the girlfriend could get a steady job and he could be the stay-at-home dad when he’s not on a set, and get a babysitter when he is.

But that’s up to them to work out. I do think it’s fair for any romantic partner (male or female) to ask their partner to commit to financial stability before getting married or having kids. That’s just being a responsible grownup.

 

 

Edited March 14 by 30 Helens

[North of Eden]

Day behind-just watched now and all I can say is....

 

Ugh, just ugh the Sai lives to bitch, whine and complain another day.

Cedric I want to like but Jeez-Louise!

Justin I do have to throw a little shade on...he shouldn't have lied to Cedric which set it all in the motion.

Mary was awesome with her head games and Sai was sounded so stupid, "See, see I told you!" No you told them that she had an idol.

Finally David...run...run as far away from the 38 year old gold digger as you can. You don't need someone if they only want to be with you for your  money.

[cowgirlwen]

On 3/13/2025 at 1:36 AM, Skooma said:

David, did you ever consider getting a regular, steady job might work for supporting a family you want instead of going on TV and preening and wanting everybody to think you are totally awesome?

This!!!  Oh, and by the way, maybe tell your fiancee that nowadays most women do not have the luxury of being a stay-at-home-mom.  Unfortunately, most American families find it necessary to have two incomes to get make ends meet.  That doesn't mean she can't have a family.  Her dream of a "Leave it to Beaver" lifestyle may have to be put on hold, if she really loves him.  You gotta do what you gotta do!

[rhygirl720]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who was taken aback by Davids's story. I did stay home while my babies were young. That was a decision made by two people and a lot of sacrifices were made to make this happen. I didn't decide the life then find the man who fit my ideal. I've been both a working mom and a stay-at-home mom and both have value and challenges and its personal choice between two people. What took me aback was how this was framed. Not to be controversial but the days of stay-at-home moms are not most people's reality due to financial obligations. Run David run.

[Seelouis]

Not to mention that $1million minus taxes isn’t a lot, especially to raise 4 children. It’s certainly not viable plan for long term stability. 

[Skooma]

15 hours ago, North of Eden said:

Finally David...run...run as far away from the 38 year old gold digger as you can. You don't need someone if they only want to be with you for your  money.

Again, like stated above a lot, she never said go on Survivor and win a million dollars.  She just wanted a responsible father for if/when they had children.  Which is what a future mother should be thinking about.

He was the total idiot that decided that meant he should go on Survivor and win a million instead of, you know, getting a good, steady job like the rest of us.

6 hours ago, cowgirlwen said:

This!!!  Oh, and by the way, maybe tell your fiancee that nowadays most women do not have the luxury of being a stay-at-home-mom.  Unfortunately, most American families find it necessary to have two incomes to get make ends meet.  That doesn't mean she can't have a family.  Her dream of a "Leave it to Beaver" lifestyle may have to be put on hold, if she really loves him.  You gotta do what you gotta do!

Except do you know how much child care costs these days?  Especially for say 2 children at a time needing it.  Sometimes you are far worse off financially working than staying at home with the children.

[Dewey Decimate]

I'm scratching my head about the "choice" Cedric had at the end. (If I cared more about this New Jack Era of Survivor, I'd rewatch, but yeah, no.) The votes were tied between Sai and Justin, twice. If the final vote were still tied, wouldn't those two be immune and the rest of the tribe would go to rocks? Mary, however, had the Magical Scroll of Safety, which would leave Cedric ousted by default. So his "choice" was between voting out Justin or going full seppuku. I must be missing something*, right?

*Other than old school original fucking Survivor; I've missed that for years. 

[Skooma]

2 hours ago, Dewey Decimate said:

I'm scratching my head about the "choice" Cedric had at the end. (If I cared more about this New Jack Era of Survivor, I'd rewatch, but yeah, no.) The votes were tied between Sai and Justin, twice. If the final vote were still tied, wouldn't those two be immune and the rest of the tribe would go to rocks? Mary, however, had the Magical Scroll of Safety, which would leave Cedric ousted by default. So his "choice" was between voting out Justin or going full seppuku. I must be missing something*, right?

*Other than old school original fucking Survivor; I've missed that for years. 

He could have votes out Sai.  And he SHOULD have voted out Sai.

[Paws]

I’m wondering if David has a ton of debt or previously had some sort of illness or issue (addiction etc) that has prevented him from getting ahead. To be in this position and fully aware of how bad it is at 38 while being an obviously strong healthy guy to me means something must have gotten in the way.  He could start driving and handling packages for UPS and make a good amount of money.

[fishcakes]

8 hours ago, Dewey Decimate said:

The votes were tied between Sai and Justin, twice. If the final vote were still tied, wouldn't those two be immune and the rest of the tribe would go to rocks? Mary, however, had the Magical Scroll of Safety, which would leave Cedric ousted by default. So his "choice" was between voting out Justin or going full seppuku. I must be missing something*, right?

As @Skooma said, he could have voted out Sai, but I think your main point is right. In the past, after two tie votes, the two targets become immune and the rest of the tribe goes to rocks. Cedrek would be the only person eligible to draw a rock, which has never happened before (it was a little different when Cirie got eliminated by default because there was no tie, it was just everyone but her being immune after the first vote) so not sure how they would handle that. Either they say he's out by default or they have him draw from a bag of two rocks with the possibility that no one gets eliminated that night. Then I guess they'd have to do a double elimination at some point after that so that they stay on schedule in terms of the number of episodes.

I often wish that they'd stop using rocks as a tie-breaker and go back to eliminating whoever has the most total votes in previous TCs. It feels more fair and also had they done that this episode, we would be rid of Sai.

[iMonrey]

On 3/13/2025 at 2:35 PM, blackwing said:

I don't know anything about these two, but I think it seems a little unfair that in 2025, the man is automatically expected to provide all the income, solely because he is a man.  Sounds to me that they are not right for each other.

On 3/14/2025 at 9:38 AM, rhygirl720 said:

I didn't decide the life then find the man who fit my ideal.

Bottom line he needs to dump her either way because clearly she doesn't love him if their relationship is conditional on how much money he has. If her priority is having four babies and being a stay-at-home mom, fine, but that means her priority is not him.

[JudyObscure]

On 3/15/2025 at 6:25 AM, Paws said:

I’m wondering if David has a ton of debt or previously had some sort of illness or issue (addiction etc) that has prevented him from getting ahead. To be in this position and fully aware of how bad it is at 38 while being an obviously strong healthy guy to me means something must have gotten in the way.  He could start driving and handling packages for UPS and make a good amount of money.

He said something to the effect that he had enjoyed his life and the adventures he has had up until now, but that it was time to change since he wanted a family.  I thought it sounded like he had probably had a habit of doing stunt work for a movie then gone on a surfing or mountain climbing vacation, then back to work when he was broke, then more fun till the money ran out, and so on. 

There's nothing wrong with that, but he just something else now and he's found a woman who wants the same thing, they just can't do it unless he gets some steady work.

[Scatterbrained]

DH calls David “Derek Zoolander”.  LOL.

Jeff’s rapt face at tribal was highly entertaining.  
 

Sai and Mary.  Survivor Odd Couple.  They are going to be fun!

[Skooma]

9 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Bottom line he needs to dump her either way because clearly she doesn't love him if their relationship is conditional on how much money he has. If her priority is having four babies and being a stay-at-home mom, fine, but that means her priority is not him.

He also said he wanted 4 kids.  He has just been doing things to gratify himself all his life so it is time for him to grow up or stop thinking he can marry someone and keep being selfish.

[blackwing]

On 3/14/2025 at 9:38 AM, rhygirl720 said:

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who was taken aback by Davids's story. I did stay home while my babies were young. That was a decision made by two people and a lot of sacrifices were made to make this happen. I didn't decide the life then find the man who fit my ideal. I've been both a working mom and a stay-at-home mom and both have value and challenges and its personal choice between two people. What took me aback was how this was framed. Not to be controversial but the days of stay-at-home moms are not most people's reality due to financial obligations. Run David run.

This is the part of the story about their relationship that I have issues with.  A couple should be making decisions together.  It seems like his girlfriend has already decided that they are having four kids, she wants to be a stay at home mom, and he had better figure out a way to support them otherwise she is dumping him.  The decisions about their life together seem to have been made by her.  That's not a marriage.  That's a woman who has decided that she needs his sperm four times and his money so she can have the life she has envisioned for herself.

On 3/14/2025 at 12:43 PM, Skooma said:

Again, like stated above a lot, she never said go on Survivor and win a million dollars.  She just wanted a responsible father for if/when they had children.  Which is what a future mother should be thinking about.

He was the total idiot that decided that meant he should go on Survivor and win a million instead of, you know, getting a good, steady job like the rest of us.

As I have said upthread, why can't he want the same thing from her?  Where is it written that in order for a man to be a "responsible father" that means he has to earn enough money to singlehandedly support the family?  I know more than a few stay-at-home dads.  I know more than a few couples in which both spouses work but the wife earns far more money than the husband.  All of them are happy.  Because that's what marriage should be... a partnership between two spouses who love and respect each other.  Seems like she only respects him if he has a wallet as big as his muscles.  

[dkb]

On 3/13/2025 at 11:07 AM, fishcakes said:

Justin was right not to tell Cedrek about losing his vote, but I do think he should have put up more of a fight to stay instead of giving his blessing to being voted out. It might have made the difference.

Mary is my favorite player right now. It was when she looked at an exhausted Sai standing there in the jungle and took off running again that did it. If Sai is going to act like that jackass Rome sticking like glue to Sol, then at least Mary is making her work for it.

 

 

100% agree. Cedrek already wrote Sai's name down 3? times at that tribal - if Justin had put up some kind of actual fight against Sai I don't think he would be gone. Seemed like Cedrek was looking to Justin to say anything at all to justify his original decision.

Good for Sai, I guess for picking up on Cedreks emotional side and putting him on the spot and actually fighting to stay, Justin kinda gave up.

 

Mary is my favorite now too, she seems very down to earth and funny. 

I find it funny that on the green and purple tribe their are 2 women who just decided that we cannot work together and will never work together, lol - Mary and Sai, Star and Eva.

 

Edited March 16 by dkb

[dancingdreamer]

On 3/13/2025 at 11:10 AM, JudyObscure said:

True, lilysmom, Sai still doubted Mary.  

I 'm so glad she didn't get booted though, she's my favorite this year, so funny and so honest.  I  thought it was hilarious in the first show when she said she became a therapist because she likes hearing people's secrets.

She keeps her good humor even when she's losing and most of all, in a show where people seem to get cast according to how good they are at bragging, often winning final tribal for the same thing, it is so refreshing to have someone who can admit to a few faults.

I loved she was safe, using  her shot in the dark. I often forgot Justin was playing,  even in his dwindling  tribe. I'm hoping for  Mary and Sai to be on different  tribes, and I'm hoping Joe wins it all.

[princelina]

On 3/12/2025 at 9:33 PM, LadyChatts said:

if there's a tie they re-vote (except for the people who are part of the tie), and if there's another tie they draw rocks?  

 

On 3/12/2025 at 10:05 PM, LadyChatts said:

Personally, I wish there was a way Cedrek could have gone home tonight.  

It seems to me that Cedric should have had to draw (the only ) rock!

 

On 3/15/2025 at 1:04 AM, Dewey Decimate said:

I'm scratching my head about the "choice" Cedric had at the end. (If I cared more about this New Jack Era of Survivor, I'd rewatch, but yeah, no.) The votes were tied between Sai and Justin, twice. If the final vote were still tied, wouldn't those two be immune and the rest of the tribe would go to rocks? Mary, however, had the Magical Scroll of Safety, which would leave Cedric ousted by default. So his "choice" was between voting out Justin or going full seppuku. I must be missing something*, right?

*Other than old school original fucking Survivor; I've missed that for years. 

When they did the revote it was Cedric and Sai, voting between Sai and Justin, and obviously she voted for Justin, which means that if Cedric voted for her then he knew he was forcing a tie, which typically means pick rocks.  Now I have wondered for years why that's the obvious assumption, when at one time the person with the most accumulated votes was the one to go, but apparently it is rocks, so Cedric should have understood that he was setting himself up to pick a rock by himself.  And when that didn't happen he certainly should understand that Sai knows he's an untrustworthy scoundrel who voted against her even at the risk of picking the rock!

[princelina]

20 minutes ago, surfgirl said:

Ai yi yi! Sai is such an unlikable human being, isn't she? She's just nasty for the sake of being nasty. Mary never did anything to her, but she came at Mary like she had a huge vendetta with her. It's just unbecoming and bitchy AF.

Aw I don't think she's so bad - she's very young and she's here to play!  And she thought she was allied with the guys so Mary was outside their alliance.  After this episode Cedric is the one I'm rooting against for being a big dumb wiener.

[ljenkins782]

On 3/15/2025 at 1:04 AM, Dewey Decimate said:

I'm scratching my head about the "choice" Cedric had at the end. (If I cared more about this New Jack Era of Survivor, I'd rewatch, but yeah, no.) The votes were tied between Sai and Justin, twice. If the final vote were still tied, wouldn't those two be immune and the rest of the tribe would go to rocks? Mary, however, had the Magical Scroll of Safety, which would leave Cedric ousted by default. So his "choice" was between voting out Justin or going full seppuku. I must be missing something*, right?

*Other than old school original fucking Survivor; I've missed that for years. 

Yeah, did the tribe know what would happen if they deadlocked a second time? And I assume they edited out a discussion of why there were only 2 votes because it was obvious after the first vote that Justin didn’t have one.

Cedrec voting Sai again was certainly a risky move that by the old rules would have bitten him in the ass. That would’ve been pretty entertaining if he purple rocked himself out of the game. And honestly, would be kind of fitting, his gameplay is proving to be less than brilliant. Keeping Sai after voting for her TWICE was a real head scratcher. Like, is that really the energy you want around camp? Not only is Justin much lower key than Sai, he’d also be grateful to you for saving him. Sai does owe him gratitude for keeping her, but I think the betrayal part will loom larger in her memory
 

I only just started watching, I nearly turned off the first episode because it just felt so same-y, been there done that in the intros. But I pushed through and by the 3rd episode, I’m really liking the season.

Despite the usual spiral of incompetence of one tribe, I feel like all the tribes are getting decent screen time and I feel like we’re getting a sense of the dynamics in all 3.

I’m actually a little disappointed that they’ll be switching up because each tribe has an interesting dynamic and I really want to know who would go.

And the green tribe’s situation is absolutely hysterical, I want Cedrec to have to spend a few more days with two people he has actively tried to get out, including the ally he betrayed not once, but twice at this last TC. Plus the Mary vs Sai thing is comical.

[ratgirlagogo]

About David's girlfriend and her desire to be a stay-at-home mother to four kids.  You do realize that we only have David's word on this.  We don't know if he even has a girlfriend or if she has expressed any ideas like this.  After all, this is Survivor!  Where you HAVE to lie, to win.

[Lantern7]

Here is Erik's cartoon for this episode, "The A-Maze-Ing Race."

[eel2178]

On 3/12/2025 at 9:47 PM, TVFan1 said:

 I hope Mary and Sai team up to take him out. 

To me, it will always be The Vulva Alliance.

[Shermie]

I wish Gen Z would learn how to pronounce English.

One of them was “weary” of what the others would do. The word is “wary”. 

Another gives a bracelet as a “momento”. It’s a “memento”.

And so many change T’s to D’s within words; how many times do I have to endure how “impordant” something is? 

Gawd, people, learn how to speak your language. /rant over

[violet and green]

On 3/18/2025 at 5:04 AM, surfgirl said:

Humanized him because he presents himself as a total and utter douchebag? The guy's a loser. He preens and crows about how manly he is, but apparently he can't bother to hold down a decent job to support a family?

Woah! That's a lot of assumptions about what he is or isn't doing.

Anyway, I have since read that he has used all his savings to get a commercial pilot's licence, as stunt work was drying up, but despite qualifications now he has been unable to land a job as a pilot.

[ljenkins782]

20 hours ago, Shermie said:

I wish Gen Z would learn how to pronounce English.

One of them was “weary” of what the others would do. The word is “wary”. 

Another gives a bracelet as a “momento”. It’s a “memento”.

And so many change T’s to D’s within words; how many times do I have to endure how “impordant” something is? 

Gawd, people, learn how to speak your language. /rant over

Weary and imporDant drive me crazy to. Also, “I resonate with that” seems to be becoming a thing, no, something resonates with you, you don’t resonate with it.

The stunt man’s confession about his relationship made it seem destined for failure on so many levels. Putting that kind of pressure on a relationship that isn’t even fully committed, plus putting a number of kids plus the time pressure of biology…that’s all too much. Maybe you’ll have 1 kid and realize it’s hard and maybe not want 4 of them. Maybe once he’s no longer Hollywood adjacent with a “cool” job, he’ll cease to be as interesting to her, who knows. But either way, winning Survivor is not a sound financial plan.

Unrelated, it is nearly impossible to post on this site from a mobile device. It just keeps refreshing the page and sometimes the content is saved and sometimes not. Super annoying

[Rodney]

On 3/12/2025 at 11:32 PM, LadyChatts said:

It's why I can appreciate Thomas keeping his advantage to himself for now, even from Bianca.  Shady?  Absolutely.  Will it backfire on him?  Maybe.  But it might also pay off for him.    

Based on the next episode's result, I'll take backfired for $400, Alex!

[LadyChatts]

44 minutes ago, Rodney said:

Based on the next episode's result, I'll take backfired for $400, Alex!

lol well I knew it would, I just didn’t expect it to happen that quick!  Based on his edit I couldn’t believe he wasn’t being set up to get blindsided, but I expected it at the hands of his own alliance over getting outplayed like he did.