S30: Rodney Lavoie, Jr.

[SlackerInc]

His funny impressions make me wonder if his whole obnoxious persona is a complete front. Whoever suggested that he could suddenly start quoting Nietzsche and Shakespeare might not be too far off.

 

Yeah, I was gobsmacked by Rodney's impressions.  It's not just that he's surprisingly good at altering his voice; the way he did them bespeaks an intelligence that I just 100% did not believe he possessed.  Hard to wrap my mind around.

[KimberStormer]

Yeah, I was gobsmacked by Rodney's impressions.  It's not just that he's surprisingly good at altering his voice; the way he did them bespeaks an intelligence that I just 100% did not believe he possessed.  Hard to wrap my mind around.

 

That is exactly it.  How can he be smarter when doing funny voices than he is at any other time?  Like, I sort of believe that happens with writers and actors, where by some alchemy of inspiration the characters they create can be wiser/smarter/more interesting than they are; but via silly impressions?  It's sort of amazing.

 

Even though I still think he's scary and would run away from him if I saw him IRL I must admit I'm in that same bizarre upside down world where, of the blue/white collar alliance of assholes, he's the one I have to root for.  He's thinking, he's playing, he's a character, he's not our Red State Messiah, he's not our M'Lady Misogynist, he's not Our Lady and Lord of Self-Impressedness...

[LadyChatts]

Since it's Rodney's birthday episode tomorrow, someone needs to write his name down just so they can say 'happy birthday' during the voting confessional.  While I'm skeptical they will grant him his wish and vote him off (or if he'll really mean it wanting to get voted off), it would probably be in Sierra and Dan's best interest to do so.  I would love to see a scenario where Rodney begs to get voted off, believing they will keep him around because they assume he's miserable, but they call his bluff and send him packing.  He looks side to side, as dumbfounded as when Joaquin was voted out, and Jeff has to go over, take him by the hand, grab his torch for him, and the jurors escort him down the walk of shame towards Ponderosa.  As he's still looking around from side to side flabbergasted.  Rodney would almost make a cheesy 1920s movie villain that's always getting foiled.

 

I will say that while I don't know quite what to make of Rodney's character, I do admit he's playing a pretty good game.  It's unfortunate he's in a season with a lack of gamers, if the editing is to be believed.  Obviously there's a lot more going on , judging from interviews, so maybe someone is secretly plotting his demise while making him think he's in control.  Truthfully, I think he's like the other youngin's this season that just didn't have many people to chill with, and while he got lucky with the numbers, again, not a lot of scheming going on out there.  Out of all the people left, I wouldn't mind him winning.  At least he's shown something to prove why he's earned it.  And while he could still be considered a goat, he could at least make an interesting argument to the jury.  Who knows, maybe he's the real one playing all of us with being such an unpredictable loud mouth hot head. 

[Richard]

Am I the only one who gets the "deeply in the closet" vibe with Rodney? From his actively seeking out a bromance, to his over-confident view on women (over-compensating?), to the need to bulk up and appear tough (in a world where tough = macho = straight) without actually having much strength. I've known many closet-cases that exhibit his similar quick-to-rage impulses and the threatening of violence without ever following through on it.

Just food for thought.

[ByaNose]

I don't think Rodney is in the closet. I think he suffers from the Napoleon. LOL!! The dude is short and can't deal with it. I think that's where the overcompensating comes from. He's a short dude and tries to cover that up with his loud mouth. LOL!!!

[Special K]

Yeah, and he's a mama's boy.

[ByaNose]

I wonder with Rodney not being on the 2nd Chance list does this mean he wins? Now, hear me out. Maybe, Mike & Caroyln don't win (or, in the Final) and, CBS is using them as red herrings and Rodney is the winner. Of course, Rodney would probably have to be in a Final 2/3 with awful people such as Will & Dan, right? Think about it. Rodney never seen wins a reward challenge. Rodney never win individual immunity. Rodney cries like a baby on his birthday. Perfect (not really) storyline to overcome all of that and win! Nah! It could never happen. LOL!!!!

[kikaha]

Byanose, let me think out loud, how Rodney might get there.  Dan sticks with Rod and so does Will.  Mike loses the next IC, and gets booted at 6, with Dan's extra vote the difference.  Sierra goes at 5, as Carolyn plays her idol.  At 4, Rodney wins the FIC, and the latest incarnation of Los Tres Amigos votes out Carolyn.  Rodney wins the final unanimously. 

 

I sincerely hope that is NOT how things play out!  Actually if anyone left other than Mike or Carolyn wins, I will consider the outcome a pretty big travesty. 

[ByaNose]

Kiki, that is great thought out play by play. I'm a horrible writer. I have the ideas in my head but it never makes the paper (computer). Unfortunately, it really could work out that way and wouldn't that be simply awful? Ugh! If this scenario is true then I don't know how Jeff could come to the conclusion that it would be a great season?! I totally agree that the only "happy" ending (for me) would have to be either Mike or Carolyn winning. That said, if indeed Rodney does win I blame you. LOL!!! I would have blamed me but you explained it so much better than me. LOL!!!

[LadyChatts]

If Mike doesn't go next, I have a feeling he'll make it through to the final 4, lose out on an IC and (like a lot of boots this season) be predictably sent packing.  Jeff did the whole 'weakest to the end' last week at the end of tribal, I wish he'd take that up a notch to 'maybe you are dragging someone to the end that's unlikable for an easy win-now you have to figure out, are you the goat or are you the person with the poor strategy'.  I could actually see Carolyn going on an immunity run.  At least in the endurance challenges, she's done extremely well.  They've had so many of those so far, but I'm sure we haven't seen the last of them.  Especially since, I'm guessing, it makes it more equal with those that are left.  It's hard to say what the order will be, especially if Mike does go out next.  I do think Sierra is one of the next two to go.  Maybe Mike wins the final immunity and he takes Carolyn to the final 3, or she gets there by a tie breaker of something.  I could actually see Rodney just missing out on the final 3, or making it with Carolyn and one of the 2 goats.  I see either of Will or Dan in the final 3 (maybe both, maybe not).  To be honest, I wouldn't mind a Rodney victory so much.  I want Mike, but in the end, whoever wins, it's going to be unsatisfying whether I tolerate them or not.

[LadyChatts]

First, Spencer needs to come back for S31.  Second, if Probst ever retires, I want Spencer to take his job.  I love reading his twitter account and the play by play from each episode.  Here's a couple of gems about Rodney:

 

Spencer Bledsoe @SpencerBGM  ·  May 6
Give Rodney some credit: He was acting like a 10-year-old upset about his birthday long before day 30. #Survivor

Spencer Bledsoe @SpencerBGM  ·  May 6
Phew! Rodney visiting an orphanage would be like the Grinch deciding stealing Christmas isn’t a big enough rush anymore #Survivor

 

I hope the S31 announcement on top of the drama with the sexism and Shirin don't take up too much time at the reunion.  I want to see a best-of Rodney (mainly him losing every individual challenge and no one picking him to go on a reward).  Maybe throw in the clip where his wicked Survivor family made him wash dishes on his birthday with some sad violin music playing in the background.  In a normal season, Rodney would never be anywhere close to a favorite of mine.  But this season, he's a sad silver lining.

[ljenkins782]

I want to see a best-of Rodney (mainly him losing every individual challenge and no one picking him to go on a reward).  Maybe throw in the clip where his wicked Survivor family made him wash dishes on his birthday with some sad violin music playing in the background.  In a normal season, Rodney would never be anywhere close to a favorite of mine.  But this season, he's a sad silver lining.

 

There is tons of potential for Rodney montages, all of the above plus a montage of all his uber-confident sports metaphor confessionals detailing plans that never work out. 

 

My favorite part of his birthday meltdown was his fury at the island that refuses to grow coconuts and fruits for him. It was purely irrational foot-stomping in the "My ox is broken" vein and those are my very favorite kind of meltdowns to watch. (And sadly, I can identify with them, I get stupid and irrational when I'm frustrated too. )

[CletusMusashi]

Rodney is the only one still playing who I really look forward to seeing next week. Oh, I'll be rooting for MIke, of course. But if Mike doesn't make it, then he's just another guy on jury. Rodney, whether he's a juror or a finalist, promises to be hilarious. I kind of want him to not make the finals, though, just because if he's there for that big final day breakfast feast he'll feel like he finally got a reward, and watching him bat zero per cent is just way, way funnier. I feel terrible for falling into Jeff's trap, but, yeah, part of me actually does hope they bring him back for "Survivor: Morons."

Edited May 14, 2015 by CletusMusashi

[ljenkins782]

Rodney is the only one still playing who I really look forward to seeing next week.

 

Oh, me too, if only for the fact that we can add his purely "That bitch didn't give me her rightfully earned reward so she must be voted out" plan to the pile of the foiled Rodney plans montage. I need to see the fallout for that to be complete. 

[LadyChatts]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6oxJfvK8e0

 

Rodney is such a comedian.  Apparently he believes he's got a great social game, while he's knocking Mike for being a redneck that gets up at 6am to do chores and tell the same stories all the time.  Which, isn't that what Rodney admits to doing about his deceased sister?  He believes he's making the final 3, and once he goes and has that big feast it'll rejuvenate him and he'll be able to talk a smooth campaign.  Assuming the jury doesn't need subtitles to understand him, his jury speech will be a good one.  

[CletusMusashi]

He hates Mike for doing chores? Rodney, remember how much you cried the time you had to do dishes? Vote him out for being a threat, sure. But the personal reasons are fucking ridiculous. He's a redneck? No, actually he really isn't. He speaks with a funny regional voice? You sure you wanna open that can of worms? Really? He washes the fucking dishes for you? That monster! Just admit that the real reason is that if you don't get him out, he will beat you. That's fine. It's a perfectly valid reason. So man up and quit being such a dick about it.

Edited May 14, 2015 by CletusMusashi

[ByaNose]

I'm actually kind of scared that he might win. If he's in a Final 3 with Will & Sierra he could win. Both Mike & Carolyn either need to find a HII or win Individual Immunity the next two times. I said it before that his (annoying) story arch could be he never won reward or Individual Immunity but does win tthe million dollars. I just can't!!!

[CletusMusashi]

"All my sista eva wanted was to see me win Saviva! I ain't askin' no winnas to trade places wit me. I's just sayin'... yous could vote for somebody who's dead sista really needs to see him win one, or... yous could vote for dis udda piece o' crap! Whateva. I don't care.." Starts pacing around the room kicking chairs and walls...

I suppose he'd probably still beat Will. Sierra could probably take him, though.

ETA: I do not actually have a problem with or prejudice against his Boston pronunciation. But don't hold yourself up as the pinnacle of Not Being a Redneck, okay? If Mike were a stereotypical macho dimwit from Texas, he would be a redneck. But he isn't really. Rodney totally is a stereotypical macho dimwit from the urban northeast, though. What would be the word for that, anyway? A blueneck?

Edited May 14, 2015 by CletusMusashi

[pennben]

 

I'm actually kind of scared that he might win. If he's in a Final 3 with Will & Sierra he could win. Both Mike & Carolyn either need to find a HII or win Individual Immunity the next two times. I said it before that his (annoying) story arc could be he never won reward or Individual Immunity but does win the million dollars. I just can't!!!

 

I have a growing sense of dread that this might happen as well, for the precise storyline reason you state.  Ugh. 

[LadyChatts]

I'm actually kind of scared that he might win. If he's in a Final 3 with Will & Sierra he could win. Both Mike & Carolyn either need to find a HII or win Individual Immunity the next two times. I said it before that his (annoying) story arch could be he never won reward or Individual Immunity but does win tthe million dollars. I just can't!!!

 

I don't think there will be a HII to find anymore.  It can only be used up until the final 5, so unless it is re-hidden and found by the next vote, one of the two of them is probably going home first next week.  My guess is Mike.  I can't exactly say I'd be totally unhappy with a Rodney win.  At this point, though, I am so ready for the season to be over I don't even care if Will wins (not that there's any chance of that happening).  However, Rodney has at least managed to play the game.  Although it appears a lot of his game play was just getting lucky to get a bunch of doormats in an alliance and then do nothing but complain.  So I don't even know if I can give him the whole 'he played a good game' argument, but at least he's playing a better game than Will or Sierra.  Although in Will's case, I think it's more he's comfortable in his position, so he doesn't have to a lot of game playing, either.  I'm just so over this season and cast, and there's only about a handful of them I would ever care to see again.

Edited May 14, 2015 by LadyChatts

[kikaha]

If we're to believe Jeff (a big if), no way Rodney wins this season.  Rodney one of the most popular winners ever?  Iconic?  Someone who, everyone agrees, earned the victory by his great play? 

 

Mike is the only one left who fits all that IMO.  Also, the producers have built the narrative, the edit, around the "iconic Mike" theme. 

 

I think the only F3 Rodney has a chance in is with Will and Sierra.  Seems real unlikely -- and even then Sierra might come out on top. 

 

I'll be shocked if Rodney wins this season. 

[Special K]

CletusMusashi, you're killing me.

[scowl]

Remember, there is still a very small chance that the Wiley E. Coyote of Survivor: Worlds Apart could turn into the Wiley E. Coyote in the Roadrunner episode where he suddenly starts talking to the camera. Wiley's first sentence would be perfect for FTC:

 

Rodney: "A legitimate question, young man, deserving a legitimate answer..."

[hacman00]

I hope Rodney has had his last birthday if you know what I mean.

[CletusMusashi]

I do look forward to finally seeing his mother. I'm expecting her to bear an eerie resemblance to Joaquin in drag.

[Ms Blue Jay]

Rodney has already won --- funniest (unintentionally) player on Survivor this season by a mile.  I'm actually sad Joaquin was knocked out so early.  So much comedic potential with the both of them I feel like.  A girl can dream.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Ms Blue Jay

[LadyChatts]

Rodney has already won --- funniest (unintentionally) player on Survivor this season by a mile.  I'm actually said Joaquin was knocked out so early.  So much comedic potential with the both of them I feel like.  A girl can dream.

 

I'm disappointed Joaquin isn't on the list of second chancers.  I feel like he'd give it a serious, legit shot vs playing a character and trying to avenge what could have been for himself.  Per one of Dan's interviews, he takes credit for getting rid of Joaquin.  Sierra and Mike wanted to vote off Joe at that point, but Dan says he was the one who thought keeping Joaquin would be a bigger threat, due to his bond with Rodney and his ties with Tyler and Carolyn.  I'm glad Joe survived, but would have rather seen anyone but Joaquin go at that point.  I do agree, he and Rodney would have been comedic gold together, especially if they both thought they were the only two running the show.  Can you imagine them being on opposite teams for the Rodney birthday RC, and Rodney gives his bro puppy dog eyes as he begs him to give it up for him.

[blackwing]

I hope he is never asked to return.  And I don't think he will be.  Jeff has so much disdain for him.  I'm not a fan of Jeff but I loved Jeff asking Rodney about the entitlement from thinking people would just give him a reward because it was his birthday or because he hadn't won one.  

[Jersey Guy 87]

Rodney's entitlement over getting rewards is fun to watch.  He's not won a thing yet he feels everyone owes him a reward.  His inability to talk coherently (more so than usual) in front of Jeff was pure gold.  I hope they bring him back every season in the future to be on the tribe that loses reward - nothing else.  Have the challenge, Jeff sends off the winning tribe and then tells the losing tribe - I got nothing for you, except here's Rodney to hang out while you're not on a reward.

[peachmangosteen]

He's not won a thing yet he feels everyone owes him a reward. 

 

I honestly don't think he believes everyone owes him a reward. He believes Carolyn does. Because he has women issues and mommy issues.

Edited May 15, 2015 by peachmangosteen

[Jersey Guy 87]

I think he feels Carolyn most of all owes him a reward, but after losing an earlier challenge he implied Mike owed him a reward (that was before his birthday as best I remember).  He feels that by being absolutely terrible in reward challenges he somehow deserves to be given a reward.  Before the teams were even picked he said he thought someone might give him their place on this reward.

 

He feeling that Carolyn owes him a reward springs from her saying that if she won individual reward and got to invite someone on the reward she'd bring him.  She never once told him she'd give up her reward so he could have one. But when the reward challenge turned out to be a team challenge (and Rodney did nothing to help his team win, as usual) he someone decided Carolyn had promised to give up a reward for his birthday.  Because Rodney is delusional.

[Special K]

I'm quite sure Mommy always made sure he had the biggest pork chop while she sat in her apron and drank a cup of decaf.

[scowl]

Rodney has already won --- funniest (unintentionally) player on Survivor this season by a mile.  I'm actually sad Joaquin was knocked out so early.  So much comedic potential with the both of them I feel like.  A girl can dream.

 

Someone edited a montage of Coach's epic moments from Tocantins peaking with his Christ-like return from Exile Island. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen. Maybe someone could edit clips of Rodney's whining and primate behavior. 

 

Coach's unintentional humor was helped by smartasses around him. Joe's look of disbelief to Jenn was pretty good, but it wasn't as funny as Erinn's comment about Coach: "Wouldn't it be funny if we found out that this is the first time the guy has ever been out of Nebraska?" 

[NutMeg]

I'd pay a dollar to see a recap of Rodney's "moments" on the show with the equivalent Wile-E-Coyote cartoons.

 

But if he ends up against Will and Sierra in an F3, I'll sure be rooting for him.

 

Of course, I hope thast won't be the case, but in this unfortunate scenario, he'd be my pick for sure. In the land of the blind, etc. Poor as its execution was, at least he had a strategy and kind of stuck to it!

 

[Edited to correct a typo.]

Edited May 15, 2015 by NutMeg

[backformore]

In the end, Rodney never got a reward, is starving, had to wash freaking dishes on his BIRTHDAY.

 

  After all that, he deserves a million bucks for his troubles, right?   

 

Oh, no, wait -  he got melon!   Never mind then. 

[scowl]

I'd pay a dollar to see a recap of Rodney's "moments" on the show with the equivalent Wile-E-Coyote cartoons.

 

Oh man, clips of his challenge screwups with Warner Brothers cartoon music would be classic!

[NutMeg]

I know, right!?

[ByaNose]

Rodney for the win, right? He's not on the list for Season 31 Second Chances. Obviously, that's because he wins, right? It's possible, right? Anyone? Anybody? Why is no one listening to me? LOL!!!!

[Lamb18]

ETA: I do not actually have a problem with or prejudice against his Boston pronunciation. But don't hold yourself up as the pinnacle of Not Being a Redneck, okay? If Mike were a stereotypical macho dimwit from Texas, he would be a redneck. But he isn't really. Rodney totally is a stereotypical macho dimwit from the urban northeast, though. What would be the word for that, anyway? A blueneck?

 

Maybe a codneck?

[CletusMusashi]

Or a codpiece.

[Way Wes Jr]

Is "Masshole," something specifically different?

[CletusMusashi]

"Masshole" is lacking in geographic specificity.

Not that I really care if a masshole is from Texas or Massachusetts or whatever, but for some reason Rodney does.

A lot.

[LadyChatts]

I sincerely don't know what to make of Rodney.  For starters, I was sad his mom wasn't at the family visit.  I really wanted to get a glimpse of her.  I feel like she's family at this point!  Also, no epic meltdowns from Rodney over Mike winning immunity, no Jeff rubbing it in in front of his pops that has yet to win a challenge and no one has been willing to hand over the reward to them (not even on his birthday).  And no epic TC speech.  I think Rodney is full of a lot of hot air.  Which might confirm my suspicions that he gets slapped a lot when he's out.  When he's one on one with his bros he probably talks tough, but when he's face to face with the situation, he backs down.  He talks a big game, but he couldn't pull it off.  Boston Rob, I would say got unlucky in his first two ventures.  But calling Rodney a discount version I almost feel like is more insulting to Rob and his legacy (even if it did take him four tries and a season full of goats to win).  Obviously in a final 3 he still wasn't winning, so glad Jeff took that poll.  Considering he didn't win, it makes me surprised they didn't have him back for S31.  Jeff seems to love the guy, so I know we haven't seen the last of him. 

 

Also, I think the island look with the dirty, matted hair and beard suits Rodney best.  He looked like a little boy with no beard, and tonight, I don't know if he thinks he's getting lucky with the slicked back hair and cheap suit, but he looked like something out of a d-list 70s movie about a gigolo.

Edited May 21, 2015 by LadyChatts

[Porkchop]

Rodney's Ponderosa video is up.

[Jersey Guy 87]

Rodney wearing his '70s style blue suit was a highlight of the reunion.  It looked like something people used to wear to their 8th grade class dance.

[BigRedCheese]

The suit looked sort of Pee Wee Hermanish, or maybe Sheldonesqe.

[fishcakes]

When I was in high school in the early 80s, I had a part-time job at Sears in the Boys department. We sold suits like that every Easter. Clip-on ties FTW.

[kikaha]

Rodney put together a kick-ass alliance, of widely disparate people, from all the collars.  He held that alliance together, and got all its members it to vote the way he wanted.   Everyone liked him, even the no-collars.  He was the best mastermind this season, a great entertainer, a manipulator who did his job so well, most of those being manipulated didn't even realize it till later. 

 

And he's just 24 years old.  Look out for this guy.  He has the potential to influence lots of people in his life. 

[ProfCrash]

I am split on Rodney. He did put together a good alliance but I don't know that he kept them together. Will, Carolyn, and Tyler pretty much had to work together because they were outnumbered by Mike, Dan, Sierra, Rodney and Kelly. After the Kelly blindside, it was still three to four. Rodney had a connection with Tyler from the swap and was comfortable working with him.

 

Pretty much all of the exit interviews said that they had been planning on taking Rodney and Will to final tribal. Rodney was seen as more of a goat then Dan. Think about that. Rodney was seen as more of a goat then Dan. Yeah, that is just how frequently he was throwing his little tantrums at camp and not working around camp and sucked that badly at challenges. 

 

So I think Rodney made a good move but I don't think he was 100% the reason for the alliance and I don't think he held them together. I think they had to hang together and Rodney was a goat.

 

Now, Mike saw that Rodney had a good enough social game to be a bit more dangerous then he had been given credit for. I don't really think that Jenn and Hali would have voted for Rodney at final tribal. I think it is easier to say that they would at the Finale because they have seen the entire season and they remember the impressions and they have been talking and socializing since the season ended. At the final tribal council, Jenn and Hali saw Mike in the competitions and saw Mike who stepped up when Shirin was in trouble and Mike socialized well with them. I think Mike still gets their votes.

[BigRedCheese]

I think more and more, players are just raising their hands at the reunion to screw with Probst.