S48.E09: Welcome to the Party

[Rodney]

Tensions continue to rise among disagreeing alliance members.  Concentration is key in this week’s individual Immunity Challenge.  Then, a secretive midnight journey turns not-so-secretive when tribemates notice this player sneak out of camp.

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

[Nashville]

15 hours ago, Rodney said:

Tensions continue to rise among disagreeing alliance members.  Concentration is key in this week’s individual Immunity Challenge.  Then, a secretive midnight journey turns not-so-secretive when tribemates notice this player sneak out of camp.

With the exception of the last sentence, this description could apply to every episode of this series ever aired.  😂

[Rodney]

Didn't see it coming that they'd wipe out their post-merge villain this soon, but glad about it!

Goodbye, David.  Glad to see you go.  And after you fucked up at the Immunity Challenge at the last second, no less.  Not to mention your paranoia.

I hate that you got Mary infected with your paranoia, too.

Poor Mary has to scramble all over again now that David is gone.  And poor Star was left out of the loop and thought that Mitch was in peril.

But . . . David's gone, so good episode for that alone!

Edited Thursday at 11:43 AM by Rodney

[Carey]

Forget it

Edited Thursday at 01:32 AM by Carey

[mojoween]

Kyle, Kamilla and Star staying safe makes an enjoyable episode.

Funny how David saying he would take Joe on reward, but Joe seeming to not even consider taking David, never seemed to come up.

Chrissy would have been furious to know that Joe, David, Shauhin and Kyle were the last ones standing in the challenge.

[LadyChatts]

Justice for Star!  I swear she seems so funny and wonderful, and yet we barely ever see anything of her.  

I admit, I really didn't know if Joe and Eva would flip on David and Mary.  BTW, wouldn't there be another idol hidden out there somewhere?  I'm amazed Eva is the only one in the game who has one.  She seemed very conflicted on the vote tonight, and I thought she might use her advantage to get out of it.  But in reality, David and Mary would have turned on her the second they felt uneasy about something she did, said, or who she was talking to.

I loved Mary, but I don't get how she suddenly became the second in command to an alliance she got pulled into.  It's like if it wasn't David's way, it had to be Mary's way, and no one else got a say, or had David and Mary suspicious of them if they did something that they didn't approve of.  That alliance really made no sense, and I can't believe it was going to stay intact much longer. 

Some other highlights: I loved seeing Joe's face when he won the IC (probably by a hair).  I seriously thought David had that wrapped up.  Loved that Joe picked Mitch to go on the reward.  He is a sweet man.  Loved seeing Kyle and him having that bonding moment on the beach, too.  Had no idea Kyle had a past like that, but he has a lot to be proud of now!  It was sweet that Mitch was trying to help Star learn to swim.  And finally, thank you David, for giving a bitter AF exit.  We didn't need words, but your silence said it all.

Edited Thursday at 01:38 AM by LadyChatts

[Carey]

  

2 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

Guess David's gotta find a new girlfriend.

Yes he does.  After all, the worst thing for David is that Chrissy says NO

[KeithJ]

David beautifully self-destructed his game tonight.  I’m still trying to figure out why he thinks Joe went back on his word.  Like Joe said, the whole alliance agreed on Chrissy.  David even voted for her.  Just because you didn’t get your way doesn’t mean someone else went back on their word.

Edited Thursday at 01:54 AM by KeithJ

[dancingdreamer]

Boy David was pissed off, so was his exit! Self destruct  much? 
I honestly thought David was going to win immunity though, and the look on Joes face when he won, made me smile,

. I wish we saw more of Star, she makes me laugh.
Mary, Star, and Kamilla need to join up, but don't take my Joe out. I love that guy.

[Souris]

I really thought the editors were playing us about a David vote and it was going to be Mitch. So glad I was wrong!

I think David sealed his fate when he said (multiple times) that Joe went back on his word.

Kyle did good damage control confiding in Joe about his past and how he was triggered last ep to explain why he was acting squirrelly about Kamilla. I don’t know how much of that was strategy, but it worked that way.

[rr2911]

Now that David is out, everyone's attention should be to eliminate Eva.  If she ends up in the final 3 she is winning hands down.  There isn't anyone that could beat her.  She's a strong player but her greatest weapon is her autism.  Joe might be able to beat her but knowing him, he would probably decide to give her the money even if he has more votes!

I'm a Mary fan but was disappointed that she aligned with David.  I hope she gets her head straight. 

[choclatechip45]

Happy David out. Happy Kyle, Kamila and Star are not. 

Such a boring episode. 

[TVFan1]

Got to admit, I was worried for Mary, but glad David got out. He clearly was angry. Mary was also blindsided by the vote. Hoping she can somehow stay safe through the next couple of votes or try to create an alliance of her own. 

My guess is Joe and Eva go very far towards the end if nobody targets them. Joe can win immunites, especially with David gone, and Eva is strong herself. Eva also now has an idol and a "Safety Without Power" advantage. If they are not targeted, one of them will win this game.

[bunnyface]

Sweet sweet sweet.

But somehow I've turned on Mary.  I'm not as happy to see her survive as I was.  Maybe guilt by association and once her association is gone I'll feel differently again 

[Steph Sometimes]

I just cannot figure out the Star edit. She's not seen or heard from for huge portions of episodes, then wanders into frame, says or does something hilarious or awesome, and then just disappears. 

I loved the way they filmed Shauhin in the dark watching Eva, and then the way he woke up Joe. What did Joe call him? A wombat? Is that one of the animals on Joe's list that he can fight?

[Andyourlittledog2]

Sometimes I think I'm watching The Godfather. There sits Joe, gazing into the distance, chewing on a stick or something, listening to his consigliares advise him so that he can make the final determination about what to do next. It's just weird how he is the one they all must run their plays by and he sits there, listens to them talk to him, and makes the decision. And his insistence that he and his alliance are the 'honest' group, and are determined to play a completely honest game like no one has ever done rings hollow to me. I have always liked Joe, but this attitude seems to be a huge flaw that has blinded him to what is going on around him, to playing the game for himself for the win.  And Eva, who I do not like at all at this point, has him so wrapped around her finger that he seems like he would completely tank his game and go home if it meant Eva was protected up until the end while he looks on like some proud papa as she wins the whole thing. It may be unconscious or not, but she has manipulated Joe into being her guardian and ride or die brilliantly. I don't like it. I want her gone like yesterday. 

This whole season seems off to me. The Cool Kids (and that's what they think they are) have decided they are the winners and are just choosing who at the Loser's Table they will pick off this week. That's why David was so thunderstruck when the vote landed on him. He was unable to understand in the moment how he, the Homecoming King, had just been told to leave the group.  The whole season seems like some high school movie to me. The actual fun in watching is the sincere hope that the Loser's Table rises up and takes the Cool Kids down like with David tonight. There's a lot of winners at the Loser's Table and I am rooting for them.  YMMV, of course.

[Lantern7]

Blah episode. At least we didn't get a Journey or Sanctuary.

I take it the He-Man Muscular Alliance is kaput with David gone?

Shauhin is a wombat? Okay, why not? Does he poop in cubes too? No, seriously, look it up. Legitimate wombat fact.

We've had that challenge before, right? The balls bouncing on the sand made things a little sillier. What happened to the heavy balls and breakable tiles?

[OutOfTheQuestion]

5 hours ago, LadyChatts said:

I loved Mary, but I don't get how she suddenly became the second in command to an alliance she got pulled into.  It's like if it wasn't David's way, it had to be Mary's way, and no one else got a say, or had David and Mary suspicious of them if they did something that they didn't approve of.  That alliance really made no sense, and I can't believe it was going to stay intact much longer.

David complaining that Shauhin or Kyle was trying to undermine the "Strong Five" by aligning with Kamilla was more than a little undone by his immediately bringing Mary into the group without any debate.

[JudyObscure]

I wish I'd been among a betting crowd during the challenge.  I could see early on that the players were shocked when their balls fell because they couldn't feel it moving.  I kept telling Joe to look up and when he did, while David continued to look smugly ahead, I knew David was going to lose.  Sweet.

I'm happy for David's girlfriend that he hasn't won the money so she won't feel she has to marry him now. Plus she's seen how domineering and mean he can be when he doesn't get his way.

[violet and green]

I really didn't like the way Eva tossed out Star's name as the next potential vote out - after Star gave her her idol. At this point, I really don't like Eva.

Great to see the underdogs rise up! Thank god something happened, finally. So glad it wasn't Star or Mitch voted out. So good to see David stomp out furiously!

He should never have told Joe that Joe went back on his word. Boy, did that make him mad.

[Artsda]

Star seems like she's just there. Floating around.

David seems like a different person compared to all girls tribe now, that was good blindside. 

 

Good move by Kyle. 

[Haleth]

Eva was looking so unhappy at TC I knew David had to be going. Yay! Of course you take out the biggest, strongest guy when you have the opportunity! Unfortunately this puts a target on Joe now.

Of course Joe immediately picked Mitch for the reward since he is such a good person. That convo he had with Kyle was heartbreaking. I hope both of them make it to the end but it’s unlikely.

How did Mary go from being such an underdog to a villain and now an underdog again? 

[dsteele]

Literally seconds after David stepped off the platform and lost, I said out loud: "I should have won this!"

And then as he walks to the sideline that's exactly what he said. Because when you're the manliest man of all men, of course you're going to win all the macho challenges.

Have to admit, I had the biggest shit-eating grin on my face for the rest of the episode. 

[seacliffsal]

In reading through the posts, I am a bit relieved to see that I'm not the only one who is over Eva.  I think Jeff made a huge mistake trying to replicate his attempt at a feel-good talk show by focusing on Eva so much and the appearance of the show itself favoring her.  I think it's starting to backfire and that viewers are getting frustrated with Eva.  I'm cynical enough to start doubting her backstory...

And, without any appreciation of the generosity of Star giving her the idol, Eva floats out her name to be voted out.  Eva claims she wants to be with those she trusts-well, what have any of them done (except Joe) that is more trustworthy than giving her an idol?  It's especially sad to see players placating her and not wanting to upset her.

Glad Mitch and Star survived.  Would like to see them make it to the finale and for one of them to win.  

David just couldn't see how he was engineering his own ouster.  He wanted to be 'king' of the 'strong' alliance.  I was so happy when he lost the immunity challenge and then tried to justify it with 'I just lost concentration for a second' and Jeff was all 'yep, that's all it takes...'

[rhygirl720]

My first thought when I saw the challenge...what's up with all the strength challenges this year?  I don't like to buy into conspiracies, but I'm calling shenanigans. Then David loses and his reaction and it's get him out now while you can, never thinking it would happen.

I was also wondering why it was ok for David to bring in another alliance member without any input from his other alliance members, then why is Mary and David calling all the shots? So, I was happy with Shaheen maneuverings. I was amazed at Eva's understanding that while she felt safe her alliance was perhaps not, very astute.

David blew up his own game confronting Joe. David, I believe had every intention of turning on his alliance eventually. Being compared to Rob the godfather was a compliment he didn't deserve. He definitely lacks Rob's self-awareness and charm. His glowering at tribal when voted out was intimidating with his size. Rob would have understood the game move and complimented them on the move.

Glad to see David's backside, now we get to watch the prom king mean mug his way through every tribal.

[Tango64]

14 hours ago, Andyourlittledog2 said:

And Eva, who I do not like at all at this point, has him so wrapped around her finger that he seems like he would completely tank his game and go home if it meant Eva was protected up until the end while he looks on like some proud papa as she wins the whole thing. It may be unconscious or not, but she has manipulated Joe into being her guardian and ride or die brilliantly.

This has felt wrong to me from the start. On some level Eva knows, maybe from past experience, that a strong, good man like Joe will be compelled to protect and care for a young woman who portrays herself as fragile and vulnerable. With their age differences, there is an innate father/daughter protective instinct that Eva has tapped into in a big way.

Despite her physical prowess, she most definitely positioned herself that way with him by confiding in him when they were still strangers and having him promise to literally hold her hands when she is upset. “Here is my weakness and my need. Only you know. You will protect me, right? Now and forever?”

And then it was Joe — only Joe — who could console her during the big breakdown, even though she had half a dozen caring people actually hugging her and soothing her.

It all feels very manipulative. Perhaps Eva is not entirely aware of it, being that she is young and these dynamics can be hard to recognize without life experience. But she does enjoy the benefits and will be happy to take the prize money when Joe sacrifices himself to save her. Joe will feel like he did the right thing, but it won’t look right to me. 

Edited Thursday at 07:42 PM by Tango64

[violet and green]

I hope the underdogs band together, Star tells them she gave Eva her idol, and they quietly blindside her out of there.

[LadyChatts]

6 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

In reading through the posts, I am a bit relieved to see that I'm not the only one who is over Eva.  I think Jeff made a huge mistake trying to replicate his attempt at a feel-good talk show by focusing on Eva so much and the appearance of the show itself favoring her.  I think it's starting to backfire and that viewers are getting frustrated with Eva.  I'm cynical enough to start doubting her backstory...

And, without any appreciation of the generosity of Star giving her the idol, Eva floats out her name to be voted out.  Eva claims she wants to be with those she trusts-well, what have any of them done (except Joe) that is more trustworthy than giving her an idol?  It's especially sad to see players placating her and not wanting to upset her.

Glad Mitch and Star survived.  Would like to see them make it to the finale and for one of them to win.  

David just couldn't see how he was engineering his own ouster.  He wanted to be 'king' of the 'strong' alliance.  I was so happy when he lost the immunity challenge and then tried to justify it with 'I just lost concentration for a second' and Jeff was all 'yep, that's all it takes...'

I'm also over Eva and have been for a while.  She's the only one I don't want to see win, but I think I'm okay with anyone else taking it.  Sai mentioned in her exit interviews that she didn't think people wanted to target Eva for fear of getting cancelled back home.  Yet somehow targeting Mitch is okay.  I don't think she needs to be infantilized like that.  She knows what she signed up for, and I'd hope people aren't afraid to go after her because of backlash (though why her and Joe are never an option is puzzling to me).  I am surprised that she went along with voting off David, though maybe she realized she had no choice.  Joe seemed very annoyed (and rightly so) when David was lecturing him about going back on his word, when David himself voted for Chrissy.  It's funny to me how David couldn't read a room and see that maybe his actions and attitude were turning people off.   And it was a unanimous vote, so I'm wondering if he accused everyone of going back on their word, or just Joe.  I liked the flashback scene of Shauhin last night, talking with Joe and planting seeds in the days before this.  Starting to keep my eye on him as a possible winner.  But Kyle and Shauhin seemed to be doing the work that David should have been doing.  Kyle even poured his heart out to Joe in an effort to help explain why he acted the way he did before the previous TC.

I mentioned in the live chat that the strong-person alliance made no sense: they were starting to not trust each other, were suspicious of each other, getting annoyed with each other, letting paranoia run wild, and yet some of them entertained wanting to stick together just because they didn't want to side with the people who were perceived as weak and unpopular.  If that doesn't scream high school mentality, I don't know what does.  

I admit I am curious where we go from here.  I think Kyle had one foot in, one foot out of the strong-people alliance, and has from the start.  Not sure if he will try to regroup with them and bring Kamilla in this time.  But I am a little nervous for them.  Or maybe the two outsiders will be easy vote-offs the next two weeks.  Star bringing up trying to find cracks in alliances, and working her way in gave me some flashbacks to Chrissy finally getting a clue right before she was voted off.  So I hope this isn't setting Star up.  

4 minutes ago, violet and green said:

I hope the underdogs band together, Star tells them she gave Eva her idol, and they quietly blindside her out of there.

I'm wondering if Kyle or Shauhin will tell anyone about her safety without power advantage.  In case they want to try to blindside Eva, but she uses that instead.  She may give Joe her idol to play, too, if they feel people are coming after them.  She can leave tribal without casting a vote and Joe would be safe.

[SummerDreams]

Advantage handed to Eva: 

Here's an advantage just because you are you!

Now you can play a 50-50 game, if you win, you get a better advantage, if you lose, you just lose the advantage we gave you just cause you have autism and that's a great story for our brand because you randomly found the scroll in your potatoes.

[Nozycat]

I don't understand why Mary latched on to David like that - and he her.  I liked her to start with but she lost me there.

[SummerDreams]

8 hours ago, Andyourlittledog2 said:

Sometimes I think I'm watching The Godfather.

Joe would be a perfect serial killer in a movie.

[RedbirdNelly]

glad to see David go. It was ironic to me that Kyle and Camilla had been scheming against Shahin but then David ends up driving them together.

It was odd to me the way Mary was added to the alliance and had no chill. On one hand, kudos to her for not just floating along. On the other hand, if I'm the newbie in an alliance, I would normally try to be less demanding at least at first. It was odd that David and Mary seemed to assume she gets to pick who goes out. Eva brings up Mitch--who is a legitimate target; he's not without skills--and they say no, Mary wants Camilla. I would be ok, Mitch is a legit option and let's not draw too much attention to myself, new alliance member.

[GenerationX]

One of the reasons this is a good season is the reduction in advantages.  Sure, Eva has a couple, but we don't need a big board scorecard to keep track of who has what.  It's forcing the players to rely on their wits and powers of persuasion.  I'm most intrigued by Kamilla and Shauhin, who both seem to understand laying groundwork for long-term options.

[Cheyanne11]

44 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

I'm most intrigued by Kamilla and Shauhin, who both seem to understand laying groundwork for long-term options.

I did like the little 'backstory' Shauhin told of him planting seeds--very well done.

Looks like in the previews Kamilla goes to Star and Mary and says "hey, girl alliance."  If they bring in Mitch and Kyle, boom, majority.  Then probably first pick off would have to be Shauhin (unfortunately, as I do like him) but hope that Eva burns her idol.  

Now that I said that?  None of it will happen, lol.

[Guigoaoshi]

For real, if the ´´loyal, honest, Justice League`` people kept dominating the game after tonight, I would give up on this season (that had a great pre-merge but had a rough 2-3 latest episodes with people playing so boring with such hypocrisy). And glad that the first one hit was David. I give him credit for clock Kyle and Kamilla, but the way he (and Mary) handled it with his bad social, adding with all the loyalty/keep a straight game speech, he more than deserved that. And I hope that now we have other players waking up, having a division and that Kyle and Kamilla put these lazy players against each other and at least one of them make till the end and wins as a reward for saving this season.

Edited Thursday at 02:59 PM by Guigoaoshi

[iMonrey]

David may not be the brightest bulb in the box, and he definitely put his foot in his mouth accusing Joe of going back on his word. But he seemed to be the only one not actively trying to help Eva win. I'm not sure there's much point in watching the rest of the season.

David's real downfall was targeting Kamilla. That got Kyle to turn everyone against him. So he's going to be able to say a lot of "I told you so's" when everyone watches this season back.

At least we were spared another food feast. I swear some of these people probably gained weight going on Survivor. Even Mitch, who had yet to go on a feast, didn't exactly look like he was starving to death.

{tinfoil hat} Remembering how Eva treated Star in the early days of the Lagi tribe makes me wonder if that's why there's so little footage of Star. Maybe it's because most of it is being treated like crap by Eva and most of her talking heads are complaining about Eva. And they don't want us to see any of that. {/tinfoil hat.}

Edited Thursday at 03:48 PM by iMonrey

[LadyChatts]

30 minutes ago, Guigoaoshi said:

I give him credit for clock Kyle and Kamilla, but the way he (and Mary) handled it with his bad social, adding with all the loyalty/keep a straight game speech, he more than deserved that. And I hope that now we have other players waking up, having a division and that Kyle and Kamilla put these lazy players against each other and at least one of them make till the end and wins as a reward for saving this season.

I feel like David should have taken the approach that Shauhin and Kyle seemed to do in planting seeds and doubt, and not spiraling.  I don’t think Mary helped matter, either, so he didn’t have someone that could ground him to reality.  Kyle used the David/Mary alliance against them, whereas if David didn’t go unhinged right off the bat, maybe he could have planted some doubt about Kyle and Kamilla more subtly.  Of course he seemed to also have the tunnel vision that Shauhin and Kamilla were working together as well.  But I felt that seemed to come more from Mary than David.  I’d still love to know how Mary got so deep in this alliance where she was calling the shots alongside David.  

 

10 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

David's real downfall was targeting Kamilla. That got Kyle to turn everyone against him. So he's going to be able to say a lot of "I told you so's" when everyone watches this season back.

I think this and going after Joe last night about going back on his word.  Pushing for Kamilla and not wanting to divert from that plan was the start, but I think lecturing Joe about going back on his word (when Joe didn’t do that) was the final nail in the coffin for him.  He saw how Kyle reacted when Kamilla’s name got brought up and knew something was up there, so he should have taken a step back to figure things out before making a move against a better move against Kamilla.  I’m not exactly sure why Mary had it out for her so bad when they had other targets they could have gone after first.  Especially because their read on the situation was partly incorrect (Shauhin and Kamilla having a secret alliance).

 

38 minutes ago, Cheyanne11 said:

Looks like in the previews Kamilla goes to Star and Mary and says "hey, girl alliance."  If they bring in Mitch and Kyle, boom, majority.  Then probably first pick off would have to be Shauhin (unfortunately, as I do like him) but hope that Eva burns her idol.  

Now that I said that?  None of it will happen, lol.

I feel like this might be setting up a Kyle-in-the-middle scenario (although it’ll probably be Kyle and Kamilla) who stick with Joe/Eva/Shauhin if they are still aligned, or go to Mitch/Star/Mary if an underdog alliance is truly forming.  I think it’ll sadly be much ado about nothing and Mitch or Star get the boot :(. Maybe Mary, but she might be safe for now.  

[Guigoaoshi]

10 hours ago, Andyourlittledog2 said:

Sometimes I think I'm watching The Godfather. There sits Joe, gazing into the distance, chewing on a stick or something, listening to his consigliares advise him so that he can make the final determination about what to do next. It's just weird how he is the one they all must run their plays by and he sits there, listens to them talk to him, and makes the decision. And his insistence that he and his alliance are the 'honest' group, and are determined to play a completely honest game like no one has ever done rings hollow to me. I have always liked Joe, but this attitude seems to be a huge flaw that has blinded him to what is going on around him, to playing the game for himself for the win.  And Eva, who I do not like at all at this point, has him so wrapped around her finger that he seems like he would completely tank his game and go home if it meant Eva was protected up until the end while he looks on like some proud papa as she wins the whole thing. It may be unconscious or not, but she has manipulated Joe into being her guardian and ride or die brilliantly. I don't like it. I want her gone like yesterday. 

This whole season seems off to me. The Cool Kids (and that's what they think they are) have decided they are the winners and are just choosing who at the Loser's Table they will pick off this week. That's why David was so thunderstruck when the vote landed on him. He was unable to understand in the moment how he, the Homecoming King, had just been told to leave the group.  The whole season seems like some high school movie to me. The actual fun in watching is the sincere hope that the Loser's Table rises up and takes the Cool Kids down like with David tonight. There's a lot of winners at the Loser's Table and I am rooting for them.  YMMV, of course.

Agreed. But as long we have Kyle and Kamilla not only in the game, but playing both sides and with the potential to wake up Mary, Star, Mitch and build a blind against Joe and Eva, this season still has hope. This episode was a good step towards that.

Edited Thursday at 03:45 PM by Guigoaoshi

[Guigoaoshi]

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

One of the reasons this is a good season is the reduction in advantages.  Sure, Eva has a couple, but we don't need a big board scorecard to keep track of who has what.  It's forcing the players to rely on their wits and powers of persuasion.  I'm most intrigued by Kamilla and Shauhin, who both seem to understand laying groundwork for long-term options.

Exactly. We even had Eva saying on her talking head that she probably only feels so confortable on playing a safe gam because she has all these advantages (plus Joe as such a shield that he might give up on his chances to keep her on the game/give her the prize if needed it ).

[iMonrey]

BTW, the second Jeff pulled Mitch's name out of the urn first, I knew David was going home. If he had pulled David's name out first, I would have known Mitch was going home.

Way to be consistent on the giveaway, Probst. 

[fishcakes]

David getting voted out is so hilarious to me because he did it to himself. He was instantly brought into the meathead alliance post-merge and all he had to do was sit quietly and wait for the inevitable split between Joe/Eva and Shauhin/Kyle, pick a side, and come out with relatively clean hands. But no, he has to bring in Mary as his Lady Macbeth, and then let their hypocrisy, paranoia, and smugness run rampant. Him losing the reward was almost funnier to me than him getting voted out because, my god, the drama of it all. He and Mary were acting like they'd lost their first-born child instead of ham and cheese wraps. I am looking forward to the small dick energy that I expect he will bring to the jury.

I am getting pretty sick of Eva telling us that she's at a disadvantage because she can't tell when people are lying to her. MOST people cannot tell when others are lying to them. That is why lying works.

Really there were a lot of nice moments in this episode. Kyle and Joe's talk on the beach, Mitch coaching Star's swimming, Joe choosing Mitch for the reward for no other reason than that Mitch is the only one who hasn't had a reward. I wish they would include more of these moments of people just being decent to each other.

[Tango64]

Anyone else see this scenario coming? The final three are Eva, Joe, and probably Mitch as the likable but not really a threat option. Eva gets upset in the final tribal, Joe gallantly consoles her while Mitch feebly tries to pat her on the back from as close as they allow him to get. Probst praises the show of support and affection. The jury gives the win to Eva. Probst never shuts up about the important impact Survivor has on the world.

[meep.meep]

Under that scenario, I think the jury would give the money to Joe.  But we'll have to wait and see.

It was a toss up which was funnier - Kyle's talking head about Mary consoling David over his loss or Star explaining to David what Camilla means when she talks about "jury management."

[seacliffsal]

I did not appreciate Jeff's comment after he asked Joe why he picked Mitch.  Jeff asked if it was an alliance move.  Hey, Jeff, if it was, then why are you putting someone's strategy.  Sometimes Jeff just inserts himself way too much.  I did not doubt for a second that Joe picked Mitch just to be nice to him, but Jeff's attempt at raising doubt about Joe's move was unnecessary and could have had negative repercussions.  So, now players have to try to strategize around a zillion possible advantages/idols, the strategizing and alliances of other players, and Jeff potentially exposing one's strategy to the others.

[RedbirdNelly]

50 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

I did not appreciate Jeff's comment after he asked Joe why he picked Mitch.  Jeff asked if it was an alliance move.  Hey, Jeff, if it was, then why are you putting someone's strategy.  Sometimes Jeff just inserts himself way too much.  I did not doubt for a second that Joe picked Mitch just to be nice to him, but Jeff's attempt at raising doubt about Joe's move was unnecessary and could have had negative repercussions.  So, now players have to try to strategize around a zillion possible advantages/idols, the strategizing and alliances of other players, and Jeff potentially exposing one's strategy to the others.

we were thinking the same. There is no good answer unless the honest answer is "X person is hungry/hasn't been on a reward." We were joking it would be funny if people started answering totally honest "well, Jeff, X person is not in my alliance but i dont want him to think we're voting him out, so I picked him so he wouldn't get rattled" or "well, Jeff, X person is in my alliance but I'm planning to blind side him later tonight. Need to keep him happy and unsuspecting for now."

[SurvivorXMP]

Gah, I despise Kamilla so much.  She's so nasty and hateful.  Utterly unlikeable.  

Kyle reeks of desperation and anxiety.  I can't imagine him as a trial lawyer.  One, "I object" from the prosecution and he'll start shaking, crying to the judge that it's unfair.  

Star hasn't had much air time, but she's not doing too much to earn it.  

Mitch is rather annoying and acts like a scared little dog with his tail between his legs.

Eva, while she may be intelligent, she's entirely too young and naive.  She deserves nothing.

Joe was once my number 1, love his attitude, his morals and his game, but he too is becoming far too naive.  He can't see the wood for the trees, unable to read people like David was doing.  His blind trust will be his downfall.

Shauhin, I liked him, but how he's jumped ship and aligning with the wrong people, ones who actively want him out, he's not game smart.

Mary is all that is left to root for.  I enjoy her game and her personality thus far.  Sad that Sai was picked off too early.  I enjoyed her as well.  

[blackwing]

I know that many people here didn't seem to like David after he went all power trip, but I didn't mind him.  I think he was just playing the game, albeit a bit aggressively.  He was astute in thinking that Kamilla was secretly working with one of the "Strong Five/Six", and I think he speculated that Kyle was working with her.  Then he also said that he thought Kyle and Shauhin were pairing and trying to go after one of the "Core Four", and it turned out he was right.

The others described him and Mary as "paranoid", which I didn't fully get, because everything he was saying was true.  Kamilla was secretly working with someone in the alliance.  Kyle didn't like David going after Kamilla so banded with Shauhin and Joe/Eva to get David out.

Star is hilarious.  I think she is smarter than people here and on the show give her credit for.  Loved her translation of Kamilla's threat about jury management.  She has no filter and says what is on her mind.  She's a hoot!  I hope she can see that she was left out of the vote and will try and make something happen.

At this point, I think the three biggest threats to win are Eva and Mitch.  Both will get lots of sympathy votes because of their conditions.

Why aren't people targeting Mitch?  Mitch will run away with the win if he makes the finals.

14 hours ago, Andyourlittledog2 said:

Sometimes I think I'm watching The Godfather. There sits Joe, gazing into the distance, chewing on a stick or something, listening to his consigliares advise him so that he can make the final determination about what to do next. It's just weird how he is the one they all must run their plays by and he sits there, listens to them talk to him, and makes the decision. And his insistence that he and his alliance are the 'honest' group, and are determined to play a completely honest game like no one has ever done rings hollow to me. I have always liked Joe, but this attitude seems to be a huge flaw that has blinded him to what is going on around him, to playing the game for himself for the win.  And Eva, who I do not like at all at this point, has him so wrapped around her finger that he seems like he would completely tank his game and go home if it meant Eva was protected up until the end while he looks on like some proud papa as she wins the whole thing. It may be unconscious or not, but she has manipulated Joe into being her guardian and ride or die brilliantly. I don't like it. I want her gone like yesterday. 

I don't get this either.  He is a nice guy and he is playing a great social game because everyone likes him.  But I don't think he's very bright. He doesn't seem to have a mind for strategy, he just insists that his game is "being nice".  That's exactly what Julie Rosenberg (one of the zero-vote finalists from some seasons back) said... her strategy was to "be nice".

Joe doesn't seem to have any strategy at all.  He just approves what others suggest.  His partner Eva also doesn't have any strategy because she cannot pick up on any social cues.  Yet these two seem to be the dominant alliance, everything needs their approval, and they are going to find themselves in the final just because nobody wants to challenge them.

7 hours ago, seacliffsal said:

In reading through the posts, I am a bit relieved to see that I'm not the only one who is over Eva.  I think Jeff made a huge mistake trying to replicate his attempt at a feel-good talk show by focusing on Eva so much and the appearance of the show itself favoring her.  I think it's starting to backfire and that viewers are getting frustrated with Eva.  I'm cynical enough to start doubting her backstory...

She plays up this "who me, I'm just happy to be here and I can't tell if anyone is lying to me or not, but apart from my autism and my muscles, I'm just like you!" image.  The clue in the chip bowl was ridiculous, if there were assigned seats and each seat had its own chip bowl.

6 hours ago, rhygirl720 said:

My first thought when I saw the challenge...what's up with all the strength challenges this year?  I don't like to buy into conspiracies, but I'm calling shenanigans. 

No different than all the other years when there are so many yoga/balance challenges (which I always thought were designed to favor Joe Anglim when he was on the season) or puzzle challenges.  I always think the producers manipulate the seasons to some extent (cue in all the people who claim Quiz Show whatever, etc) and this season, they want either of their darlings (Eva or Joe) to win, and that's why there are so many strength challenges.  I would like to see how Joe or Eva do in an individual puzzle.

5 hours ago, GenerationX said:

One of the reasons this is a good season is the reduction in advantages.  Sure, Eva has a couple, but we don't need a big board scorecard to keep track of who has what.  It's forcing the players to rely on their wits and powers of persuasion.  I'm most intrigued by Kamilla and Shauhin, who both seem to understand laying groundwork for long-term options.

The producers reduced the number of advantages and yet somehow Eva has two.  Eva has an immunity idol that everyone knows about.  And now Eva has a "safety without power" advantage that everyone knows about.  That's two times that she is guaranteed to be safe from eviction if she chooses to use them.  Next episode we better see some of the non-Strong people banding together and trying to blindside Eva.

 

2 hours ago, seacliffsal said:

I did not appreciate Jeff's comment after he asked Joe why he picked Mitch.  Jeff asked if it was an alliance move.  Hey, Jeff, if it was, then why are you putting someone's strategy.  Sometimes Jeff just inserts himself way too much.  I did not doubt for a second that Joe picked Mitch just to be nice to him, but Jeff's attempt at raising doubt about Joe's move was unnecessary and could have had negative repercussions.  So, now players have to try to strategize around a zillion possible advantages/idols, the strategizing and alliances of other players, and Jeff potentially exposing one's strategy to the others.

Jeff has been interfering in the game for years.  I really liked last week when Jeff suggested he could shut up on the pole challenge and Mary told him to do so.  I have long disliked how he has to run his trap at the competitions.  I think he says it would be boring if nobody said anything, but that's how I would prefer it if I was a contestant.

[iMonrey]

Here is my issue with Kyle. He turns to the camera and tells us "It's David's way or the highway, nobody else is allowed to say anything." Well, clearly that's not true because David voted for Chrissy last week, just like Kyle wanted. So Kyle's issue isn't really with the way David is behaving. His issue is that David is targeting Kamilla and he's being disingenuous about it.

And this has happened twice now: The alliance is sitting around deciding who to vote for next. David says Kamilla, both Mary and Eva are on board, and Joe acts like he just doesn't care. The only one getting upset over this is Kyle, because this isn't his real alliance. His real alliance is with Kamilla. So it's Kyle who's the sketchy one here, not David. 

David would still be here if he didn't target Kamilla. And maybe that's great gameplay on Kyle's part, but he isn't owning it. Instead he's acting self righteous while running around putting a bug in everyone's ear about David but not for the real reason he's against him. David's the one who's actually loyal to this alliance. Kyle is not. Meanwhile Kamilla benefits from this despite doing nothing herself. I dunno - I used to like Kyle and Kamilla and now I don't.

I said this over in the live thread, but at this point the only people I can muster any enthusiasm for are Star and Mitch. I'm completely over everyone else.

[blackwing]

29 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

Here is my issue with Kyle. He turns to the camera and tells us "It's David's way or the highway, nobody else is allowed to say anything." Well, clearly that's not true because David voted for Chrissy last week, just like Kyle wanted. So Kyle's issue isn't really with the way David is behaving. His issue is that David is targeting Kamilla and he's being disingenuous about it.

And this has happened twice now: The alliance is sitting around deciding who to vote for next. David says Kamilla, both Mary and Eva are on board, and Joe acts like he just doesn't care. The only one getting upset over this is Kyle, because this isn't his real alliance. His real alliance is with Kamilla. So it's Kyle who's the sketchy one here, not David. 

David would still be here if he didn't target Kamilla. And maybe that's great gameplay on Kyle's part, but he isn't owning it. Instead he's acting self righteous while running around putting a bug in everyone's ear about David but not for the real reason he's against him. David's the one who's actually loyal to this alliance. Kyle is not. Meanwhile Kamilla benefits from this despite doing nothing herself. I dunno - I used to like Kyle and Kamilla and now I don't.

I said this over in the live thread, but at this point the only people I can muster any enthusiasm for are Star and Mitch. I'm completely over everyone else.

I completely agree.  There is the alliance of the Strong Five/Six.  They should be looking to get out anyone who isn't in their alliance.  That means one of Mitch, Kamilla or Star.  The obvious choices are either Mitch (because of his condition) or Kamilla (because she is a strategic threat).  Mary wanted Kamilla out last time.  David and Mary suggest Kamilla and it seems like they plus Eva plus Joe because he and Eva vote together are onboard.

Kyle is all panicky about it.  He explains away his reaction about Kamilla's name being suggested by telling David that he is an emotional person.  Then he stirs the pot with Joe and Eva and tells them that David needs to go.  

Shauhin agrees since it seems he is barely in this alliance, he doesn't seem to be making any of the decisions even though he thinks he is.  

I agree that Kyle made a great move to get David out but he phrased it in terms of David being disloyal.

At this point, I don't care for Eva (she is being shoved down our throats and wouldn't it just be oh so special if someone with autism wins, Mitch (same, except substitute with his condition), Shauhin (thinks he is in control), or Kyle and Kamilla.  I'm indifferent to Joe but I'd rather not see him win just because it seems like he isn't even doing anything.

Star and Mary are the only two I am actively rooting for.  I hope Mary and Star and link up.

[violet and green]

2 hours ago, blackwing said:

I know that many people here didn't seem to like David after he went all power trip, but I didn't mind him.  I think he was just playing the game, albeit a bit aggressively.  He was astute in thinking that Kamilla was secretly working with one of the "Strong Five/Six", and I think he speculated that Kyle was working with her.  Then he also said that he thought Kyle and Shauhin were pairing and trying to go after one of the "Core Four", and it turned out he was right.

I don't mind him, either, and all of this is true. Some of the bragging in confessionals and all the talk of muscles was a bit much, but I found him endearingly goofy and also so keen and into the game. I also appreciated him taking Mary in and appreciating her, after her horrible earlier experiences.

But god knows what happened to the earlier Mary. Was she infected with muscleitis, or did she snap after having no power for so long? They both mishandled her new position as the five plus one equals six alliance (previously held by Kamilla!) and demanded votes go her way. Maybe David saw how much more intelligent she was. It would have been nice to see their friendship develop and hear her strat talks.

Anyway, I am just so relieved something happened that might upset Joe and Eva as a duo steamrolling nobly to the end.

Edited Thursday at 10:53 PM by violet and green
typo