S34.E01: The Stakes Have Been Raised (Double Episode)

[Artsda]

They should have gotten rid of Sandra.  They do need to win right now, plus she won twice.

[humbleopinion]

No Hot Tub Time Machine magic for this group of Re Treads.

You know those FBI sketches of missing children updated to how they would look years later...

That what it was like trying to recognize some the contestants Survivor dug out of the used rags bin.

TJ brought  his millionaire winner gut and I thought he was Zeke running into the water for one of the challenges.

So much food!

Miss the days where they made the contestants forage, fish and trap their own food.

Making their own clothes...that was a big mistake...hello Rupert.

[sadiegirl1999]

21 minutes ago, Avalanche said:

So glad that I don't have to watch Tony "tweaking" all over my TV screen anymore... I get twitchy myself just watching him! 

He was making ME anxious just watching, I cannot imagine living with that.

And I don't even mind Tony.

That had to be grating.

[seasick]

3 hours ago, SlackerInc said:

But I do like her for one thing: "I'm against you, Russell."

I second that!  ...and she burned his hat.  Sandra was never warm and fuzzy and I think it was her straightforward, I don't give a crap attitude that got her the wins in the end.    I like Sandra but a third win would be an embarrassment to any cast.  They should all be forever banned from playing again.

2 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

When Debbie said she worked for the military but didn't get paid in money because she got paid in training, I remembered how, last time, the editors wrote a different job title under her every time she had a new "career."  What a hoot.  She gets to come on my fantasy season of "All Crazies," with Coach and Philip and many others.

Oh Yes Please. Add Abbe Marie ( i forget her exact name but played in the last re-tread season with Varner)

[Wouldofshouldof]

11 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

Malcolm still looks extremely hot.  I just never cared much for his personality - there's no X factor.  He's so......... there's a huge lack of something.  Heart, humour?

Malcolm is no Joe.

[Boilergal]

5 minutes ago, Wouldofshouldof said:

Malcolm is no Joe.

There is only One Joe! 

[fishcakes]

I've always been on the slightly positive side of neutral about Ciera, so I wasn't crushed to see her go, but at the same time the whole "playing too hard" excuse for voting someone out bugs the hell out of me. When people are talking about who to vote out, it's not the crime of the century to actually throw out some names. Same for the reasoning that looking for the HII makes someone "untrustworthy." What people mean is, "hmm, this person is playing for herself and not for me, so she has to go."

I like Tai, but he never knows when not to speak. It used to be just TC where he'd come down with the verbal shits, but he did it with Cirie last night regarding Ozzy. It would be fun and lucrative to play poker with him.

As for Cirie, I'm thinking she might need to retire the "gangster in an Oprah suit" and "Jedi mind tricks" assessment of her own skills because after HvV and especially last night, it's starting to look overblown. She's smart and knows what moves to make, but her social skills are not so good so she falls down on execution. She does great when she's ensconced in an alliance, but on her own, her scrambling is so transparent. Her attempts at schmoozing Tai, Zeke, and Debbie were embarrassing; Zeke fell for it because he was starstruck, but I don't think that will last long. And crazy-ass Debbie eating a cucumber or whatever that was like it was an ice cream cone was on to Cirie immediately. Also, it was hilarious that Debbie thinks being in the Civil Air Patrol makes her the equivalent of a Military Intelligence Agent. 

11 hours ago, zoltana said:

I feel so out of sorts.  I normally agree with what most are saying, but I just do not have the Sandra love.  I would have voted her out first thing.  Why would you vote out strength on your 6th day?  It makes no sense to me.  I'll go sit on my corner of the couch...

This is exactly why I love Sandra. She was the obvious, logical choice to be voted out because she's smart AF and she's terrible in the physical challenges. Even she admits she's terrible in the physical challenges. The tribe knows both Tony and Sandra are dangerous players with a demonstrated ability to control other players strategically. Tony is good in physical challenges, Sandra is terrible, and the tribe just lost two ICs in a row. And yet it took her fifteen minutes to get a majority of the tribe to save her and probably not too much longer to get the supermajority. She is the Queen.

8 hours ago, Callaphera said:

I can't with that immunity idol. It looks like a tchotchke from Pier One Imports. Like, instead of decorative gourd season, it's decorative antique scuba gear season. I'm afraid of what the individual immunity necklace is going to look like.

See, now I'm hoping that the individual immunity necklace will be a full-sized antique diving helmet and that the person who wins it will have to sit there with it on his or her head throughout TC.

[Daisy]

I have to say - I don't mind tantrums at times. I figure if i am hot/smelly, and dealing with idiots, I'd be prone for a tantrum as well. I think (feel) the reason why michalea's is very shock and awe (vs. Sandra's) is because they don't know Michalea. They see her blow up.. but then what? will she burn the camp down? will she throw out rice? will she pee on beans? will she go after everyone? So it's like whooaaaaa... maybe. 

vs. Sandra - where you know that she will shoot off her mouth, be 'a'ginst you" but will work with you if it serves her (and ultimately you) until it stops serving her. (so you should - after two seasons of her winning be aware of this). i mean heck she did it today. She wanted to work with Tony. Tony says have an opinion, and Sandra instead of going (like a tonne of people would), start listing names - goes 

"Well tell me who you are thinking, and then I'll give your opinion."

That's very subtle. i only know two, three people tops who would do that. 
Kim, Parvarti and Boston Rob and you easily can argue, Sandra did that first (because Rob didn't do that in his first game) . 

And then when Tony brought up Caleb, she was why the hell would your name come up..  a few people - (Sandra, Cirie etc) know how to use their weaknesses (especially in challenges) to an advantage. Sure, Sandra is weak - but she will protect you. She did with Rupert, and with Courtney, and she tried to protect all the Heroes. to a point (because you can't trust anyone) - you Can Trust Sandra. because if she don't like you she'll tell you, if she's gunning for you, she's gunning for you, and she'll smile and sass you. that's a talent. (i can see why it can be an irritating one, but it is a strong one to have).
 

Someone tell Sarah the reason why she got voted off wasn't because "she played like a Cop." it's because she was Dolly/Christy and she threw her power away. 

Putting Cirie with Ozzy and JT? really, Show? Hopefully she'll make it. 

Bye Ciera And Tony. super happy. 
Finally remembered who Sierra was. I was like Who? (and how the hell did she + Culpepper change the game?)

[peachmangosteen]

Wow, that was even more underwhelming than I expected it would be. Damn!

I thought Sandra was definitely going and for a brief moment I thought maybe my Survivor obsession would finally be cured and I would be able to give up a season before it was done airing. And ngl I'm a little disappointed she stayed because I kinda wanted to be able to stop watching lol.

I feel like there was so much more going on with the Ciera vote than we were shown. It was just weird. It seemed like everyone was stopping just short of saying why they really wanted her out and it seemed like her heart wasn't in it at all. And then she didn't even get a post boot interview thing. So weird.

I found Tony deeply sad in this ep actually. When he first went running yelling that he was looking for an idol and no one followed him, he looked so completely dejected as he realized no one gave a shit about him. It was half hilarious and half super sad. He came off overly paranoid and manic the first time around, but this time he just seemed completely and utterly unhinged. It was sad to watch, but again, also kind of hilarious. I'm glad he's gone though. 

Sandra continues to be the brightest spot of this show at all times. She is indeed The Queen.

I love that Cirie proved that she's actually nowhere near as good at this game as she and most fans think she is. That was embarrassing to watch. I mean when Ozzy is doing a better job at playing the game than you then you know you're fucked.

Sandra going nuts over a bug in her hair and Michaela literally getting ready to run back to the US because of it was maybe the best part of the ep.

I went into this ep hating like probably at least 80% of these people and I came out hating maybe 50% and not giving one shit about the rest besides Sandra (and kinda Hali), so I guess that's kind of a good thing lol.

Edited March 10, 2017 by peachmangosteen

[Lamima]

12 hours ago, Maya said:

I missed Malcolm's season. He used to look BETTER than he does now?? Lol 

Oh yes he did. Still dreamy to me though...DDs-18 didn't find him so dreamy. Boo to them.

[peachmangosteen]

I personally think Malcom looks way better now than he did the other two times. He was doing it for me in this ep!

[uoflfan]

I could watch pretty Malcolm and Ozzy all night. Please, God, let them hang around for a long time.

[Lamima]

11 hours ago, Marmiarmo said:

Come sit in the shallow end of the pool with me, Maya.  I think Malcolm is pretty!  He and Aubry were my reasons for watching this season.

I'm there too. Totally agree on both your points actually... same two I am rooting for. But I do notice Malcolm graying in the beard a bit. Still a hunka though.

[Lantern7]

Thinking about the beginning . . . kinda got nervous when the box fell on Tai. I did like the implication that Survivor had the first fatality in its history, and on the 500th episode, no less. But then he popped up in the water unharmed. I like Tai. He can humanize somebody who is disliked such as Caleb. His magic is limited, though . . . when he hung with Scot Pollard and Kyle Jason, I still wished those assholes great harm.

Probst is going to ride Jeff Varner until he's voted off, isn't he? I think Varner has a sense of humor about that, but it has got to be annoying.

[Lamima]

53 minutes ago, Wouldofshouldof said:

Malcolm is no Joe.

This. Both are fine but Joe has the personality... though neither have great social game. Wish Joe were on this season though.

[Special K]

Tony seems totally coked up all the time which is odd for a cop.  I find him hilarious TV -- The running.  The army crawl. The absurdity of that "bunker" right there on the edge of the path.  The psychotic leaning on the tree watching people sleep! --   I probably would have wanted to vote him out, too.  Too exhausting and unpredictable.

Sandra is a wonder to me.  I just love to watch her do her thing.  I hope she lasts a long time because it is nice to be amazed watching Survivor. :)  And particularly since what she is so amazing at doesn't really translate on the screen.  I mean you can't really see what voo-doo she uses that makes her so manipulative and powerful.

Brad gave me a feeling of hope (for him) when he invoked the "what would Monica do" -- showing he could 1. learn; and 2. respect that a woman might have something to teach him.  But why is he always wearing some kind of giant belt/buckle with too-tight colored pants?  I guess he's a game-changer in that he inspired such open/overt expressions of hatred (thanks, Natalie Anderson and that other blonde woman they showed). 

Tai is just not smart enough for this.  He may have inadvertently screwed Ozzy just because he couldn't seem to process what Cirie was asking him!

Zeke's fan-geekiness may help him make a spot for himself for awhile.  These people are all ridiculously vain -- the best players know that and use it (paging Jeremy).  He just needs to not be blinded by it in the long run.

What brainiac was it that asked Troyzan if that was his real name.  The hell ?!? 

Cirie really should be more circumspect.  These people have her number and are seeing through her.   I mean if Debbie sees through you...  I guess it's all that (unpaid) military training.

I want Aubry to win.  I still wish she had won her season.  Also rooting for Hali who I think is a stealth force and Michaela, though I don't think she can win.  Would't mind seeing Malcolm stick around or Troyzan who seems smarter this time.

[ghoulina]

2 hours ago, djlynch said:

Please tell me that I'm not the only person who has to stop and remember which of the handsome but somewhat personality deficient dudes with long blonde hair is Malcolm and which is Joe from Worlds Apart and Second Chances.

I like Malcom way better than Joe, so they don't seem that much alike to me. But I can see how someone might have trouble telling them apart. 

[Guest]

By the way, until last night, I thought the Caleb that was returning was the one from the Friends and Family season. I was so confused at first.

Malcolm, JT, and Ozzy were all so good looking. Malcolm still is, and Ozzy is to some degree. I'm wondering if JT gained weight to prepare for the island, and if he might improve as the game goes on.

[ghoulina]

20 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

 

Thinking about the beginning . . . kinda got nervous when the box fell on Tai.

 

So did I. But it was because I was afraid the chickens would drown. 

[gesundheit]

I don't hate the returning-players seasons as much as a lot of folks do just because it often takes me so long to start investing in people that I consider jumping ship pretty early. (The payoff is often great, like last season which I was bored to tears by and then turned into one of the best, but I think the combo seasons are the right balance rather than one or the other.) But I've seen every minute of every season and have still blanked on Sierra, Caleb, and Sarah.

It does crack me up that people are acting like being "onto" another player makes them clever somehow, rather than people who watched TV. Cirie was being just as congenial as always, and folks were patting themselves on the back for seeing through it. Congrats! You watched a TV show!

Man. JT was adorable in his first two seasons, but somehow the way his appearance and accent have evolved, he seems more like that creepy guy bothering you at the bar now, you know?

Is Sandra the only one left who's never felt the sting of being voted out before? I was fine seeing Tony go, but that vocal schadenfreude afterwards was so obnoxious.

[Special K]

1 minute ago, gesundheit said:

Man. JT was adorable in his first two seasons, but somehow the way his appearance and accent have evolved, he seems more like that creepy guy bothering you at the bar now, you know?
 

Kind of like going to a high school reunion and seeing what has become of all those pretty jocks.

[TheFinalRose]

Quote

I found the first two boots to be eminently satisfying.  I've always thought that conceived-in-the-backseat-of-Laura-Morrett's-Oldsmobile-Cutlass Ciera was one of the most overrated players ever.  So she voted out her mom.  Big freakin' whoop.  At the time she voted out her mom, she was on the bottom and was scrambling to try and show those in charge that she was with them.  She had little choice.  It's not like she was in control and just voted out her mom to prove that she's a badass.  I have always loathed how big of a deal Jeffy makes of this.  So happy she is gone.

Amen. And add to the fact that I'm sure Jeff and the whole production was dying for someone to give them that "voting off your .... (insert relationship here)" moment and Ciera played right into their hands. Not necessarily because she was badass, but I always suspected that she was younger and more influenced by Jeff's blatant hunger for someone to step up and deliver that moment. Whereas the rest of the players were all "uh, no," ain't doing that." Plus, I saw voting out her mom as a way to salvage any chance of getting the money for both of them (because you know they were going to split it) and was probably an option most pairs had discussed doing in order for someone to bring home some bacon in the end.

I seriously considered skipping this season when I saw her name on the cast list, but seeing her go first was completely satisfying. Then I had a hope that she was crying so much in her farewell speech that they couldn't even show it. Haha. 

Now that she's gone I think there are some fun repeats on this season .... Debbie (an original kind of crazy), Tai, Zeke, Andrea, Malcolm, Hailie, New and Improved Culpepper,  Aubrey (you go girl) and Mikeala (love her). But I don't think it's necessarily fair to stack the immunity challenges with heavy swimming action when Ozzie is on one of the teams and they know he crushes everyone. So I can see the fairness in shaking up the teams again so soon. 

[preeya]

"When I set my sights on a target, I'm a heat-seeking missile"

Bye, Bye, Tony!

[slowpoked]

13 hours ago, azshadowwalker said:

For all those who say Sandra can't influence people and just plays "anyone but me", I want them to watch how quickly she created an alliance to get Tony out. "Anyone but me" is what she says to put others at ease, but this episode showed her proactive play. 

True. Which is why Caleb's pre-show interview of "Why is Sandra even here?! What did she do to change the game" is so ridiculous. Only in his dreams could Caleb cobble together an alliance that fast.

[blackwing]

I just wish they hadn't called this season "Game Changers".  Call it "All Stars" or whatever.  Because honestly, very few of these people would qualify as actual "game changers".  I mean, who amongst this cast besides Sandra and Tony could really be called a "game changer"?  In particular, I'd love to hear Jeff's explanations for how on earth Sierra (eyebrows Sierra), Hali, Sarah the cop, Jeff Varner, Zeke, that blonde I don't recognise at all, Caleb, or Debbie did anything to change the game.  And especially, Brad Culpepper.  Unless you count surviving countless tongue baths from Jeff as being a "game changer".  Are there any links to any articles with Jeff attempting to explain how each person changed the game?

Particularly ironic with respect to Zeke, since wasn't his final tribal question demanding each of the three finalists to explain how they have changed the game?  As far as I can tell, he didn't do anything at all to change the game.  

[slowpoked]

EDIT: Double post

Edited March 9, 2017 by slowpoked

[Special K]

Whoever said upthread that their daughters thought the cast was old got me wondering, so I checked it out.  Here is the breakdown:

50s:  Troyzan, Tai, Debbie, Varner

40s: Tony, Culpepper, Sandra, Cirie

30s: Auby, Sarah, Ozzy, JT

20s: Ciera, Andrea, Michaela, Hali, Malcolm, Caleb, Zeke, Sierra

So still skewed to the younger, but a more even balance than we often see.  Although no one 60+.  Troy is the oldest at 57 and I think looks pretty good and seems pretty fit.  The youngest is Michaela at 25.  We often have at least a few early-20-somethings (or even high school age).  But since these folks have all played before, they're necessarily going to be at little older, even the young-uns.

So on balance, yes, I would think a bigger proportion of the cast is over 40.  Fine with me!  :)

[slowpoked]

6 minutes ago, blackwing said:

I just wish they hadn't called this season "Game Changers".  Call it "All Stars" or whatever.  Because honestly, very few of these people would qualify as actual "game changers".  I mean, who amongst this cast besides Sandra and Tony could really be called a "game changer"?  In particular, I'd love to hear Jeff's explanations for how on earth Sierra (eyebrows Sierra), Hali, Sarah the cop, Jeff Varner, Zeke, that blonde I don't recognise at all, Caleb, or Debbie did anything to change the game.  And especially, Brad Culpepper.  Unless you count surviving countless tongue baths from Jeff as being a "game changer".  Are there any links to any articles with Jeff attempting to explain how each person changed the game?

Particularly ironic with respect to Zeke, since wasn't his final tribal question demanding each of the three finalists to explain how they have changed the game?  As far as I can tell, he didn't do anything at all to change the game.  

Jeff had himself quite a stretching day when he tried to explain this season. So you're not alone in your confusion. ;)

On a really shallow note, has Hali gotten more beautiful than the last time she was around?! Man, she was smoking hot last night. 

Edited March 9, 2017 by slowpoked

[gesundheit]

Whoever said upthread that their daughters thought the cast was old got me wondering, so I checked it out.  Here is the breakdown:

50s:  Troyzan, Tai, Debbie, Varner

40s: Tony, Culpepper, Sandra, Cirie

30s: Auby, Sarah, Ozzy, JT

20s: Ciera, Andrea, Michaela, Hali, Malcolm, Caleb, Zeke, Sierra

So still skewed to the younger, but a more even balance than we often see.  Although no one 60+.  Troy is the oldest at 57 and I think looks pretty good and seems pretty fit.  The youngest is Michaela at 25.  We often have at least a few early-20-somethings (or even high school age).  But since these folks have all played before, they're necessarily going to be at little older, even the young-uns.

So on balance, yes, I would think a bigger proportion of the cast is over 40.  Fine with me!  :)

Yes! I much prefer a cast that isn't dominated by young 'uns.

[preeya]

Can someone explain why Varner is in the game. He is totally useless.

[ProfCrash]

I am so totally on Team Sandra. She is who she is and she owns it. She got into it with Johnny Fairplay in her first season and Russell in her second season so her final word spat with Tony is in no way surprising. I suspect that every player out there knows that Sandra will give as good as she gets and does not back down from a fight. She was on the villain tribe for a reason folks....

That said, she plays the same strategy, is loyal to those who are loyal to her and is able to rally people pretty darn well. She was with Tony until Tony went crazy. And it was a guarantee that Tony was going to go crazy because that is how Tony plays. He spies on folks, he is paranoid and he has to be in control. I am thrilled that he is gone because he is exhausting to watch. I cannot imagine how awful it is to play with him. Just ugggghhhh.

What was in the tool kit that the one tribe got?

I am fine with returnees because the game changes in such a huge way. The game play is very different and can be a lot of fun to watch. Some of these folks are not interesting to me, JT, Ozzie, Cirie, Troyzan, and Brad, but I am fine with most of the folks who are back. You have a nice mix of strategic, crazy (Hi Debbie), and good players. I look forward to JT, Ozzie, Troyzan and Brad going down because they all have such egos and are so over rated.

I want Sandra to win. I am not going to count her out because I suspect that she is going to do her normal thing and people are going to underestimate her again. Which is amazing because she has won twice but you can see it happening already. She is laying the under current, "No one would vote for a two time winner at the end." is her "You are right Russell, I am a total goat and cannot win. I am in an awful place, you should totally take me to the finals you arrogant asshole troll." I won't be surprised if she is voted out but I think she stands a good chance of winning.

[piequinn35]

14 hours ago, LadyChatts said:

Tony and his spy bunker was freaking hilarious.  I loved seeing him belly crawl out of it in the dead of night while he was eavesdropping on Troyzan and Sandra.  He’s a riot to watch.  I get why he annoys people, but he’s comic relief.

+100

I laughed at that, I didn't want Tony to go, he is funny, same as Sandra, they are entertaining to watch. 

[Tryangle]

53 minutes ago, gesundheit said:

Is Sandra the only one left who's never felt the sting of being voted out before? 

Caleb and Aubry are the only ones I can think of at the moment.

[Special K]

3 minutes ago, Tryangle said:

Caleb and Aubry are the only ones I can think of at the moment.

And Tai.  He made it to the finals, no?

[piequinn35]

^yes

[Bryce Lynch]

What names were the castaways suggesting for the goats?  Were they just random names or were the giving them names of famous Survivor goats like Philip, Russell, etc.?   I wonder if the producers put the goats there as an inside joke.  It will be interesting to see if they get eaten.  In past seasons, I would think if they could catch them they would eat them, but with Tai objecting and all the big food rewards they now get, I am not so sure. 

[Special K]

I think they are often told that they cannot eat the wildlife other than fish/mollusks. Not sure this time.  But I do think the editors will make hay with the pointed placement of goat (and baby goat) footage.

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!

The More Survivor's Games Change, The More They Stay The Same

Twenty returning contestants hit the beach for Survivor's 34th season premiere, its 500th episode, and roughly the billionth scene where someone's not there to make friends.

[Constantinople]

1 hour ago, blackwing said:

I just wish they hadn't called this season "Game Changers".  Call it "All Stars" or whatever.  Because honestly, very few of these people would qualify as actual "game changers".  I mean, who amongst this cast besides Sandra and Tony could really be called a "game changer"?

I'd say Cirie counts as a game changer.

I'd say JT was a big game changer in HvV, just not in a good way.

That said, I agree, although I acknowledge they couldn't very well call the season Survivor Retreads, Survivor: Flotsam & Jetsam or Survivor: Same Old Faces, much as I would appreciate the honesty.

[Haleth]

Survivor: Bottom of the Barrel?

[HurricaneVal]

I have absolutely zero recollection of Hali, Sierra, and Sarah.   Zero.  Game changers, my ass.

Russell Hantz (turns in place three times, spits to the left, spills salt to the right, makes the sign of the evil eye towards NOLA so my invocation of his name will not bring him forth)--was a frickin' game changer, not that I ever want to see him nor any of his family ever again.  I'm not really a Sandra fan, but her "I'm against you, Russell" was the best thing ever.

I think Michaela is at a terrible disadvantage in this game.  I don't think she had enough time between ending her first go around and now starting this go around, she hasn't been able to decompress or study up.  She has strong feelings and reactions and has a hard time controlling her strong feelings and reactions and she isn't a Superfan, or even a general fan of the game, so she really has no idea about strategy or how to go along to get along.   I think she'll make it exactly as far in this season as she did in her first season.

Ozzy is really showing his age, and I really don't recall that scar by his mouth before.  Malcolm is still fine though.  I wonder if Caleb and Tai will make it to the merge so they can rekindle their relationship.  Poor Caleb, when they were digging the sacks out of the sand, I was shouting, "Don't make Caleb do that, this doesn't end well!"

I don't really get the Sandra thing.  I mean, Boston Rahb had leadership charisma that completely leaped off the screen.  Sandra just looks generally bitchy and out of sorts all the time.  Maybe in person she exudes some sort of "doooo whaaaaat IIIIIIII saaaaaaaay" hypnotic pheromones.  Otherwise, I just don't get it.

[Tryangle]

43 minutes ago, Special K said:

And Tai.  He made it to the finals, no?

You'd think considering they were in the same freaking season I'd have remembered the Guardian of Poultry.

[survivinmt]

Gezundheit - not only a tv show, but a show that they participated in. Holy cow, Deb! I hope you think you know a little something about these players! Starting with how to pronounce a 3-time player's name. That woman confounds me.

Sandra: "I am calm." <Totally freaks out, rightfully so, about a bug in her hair.> Hahahahahaha!  But then, compared to Tony - everyone is calm. Man, he made me nervous, watching from home.

Tai bugs me with the chickens. Wasn't he not happy but ok with the tribe eating them the last time? It doesn't bother me when people eat animals, what bothers me is people who first make pets of them, and then have heartaches about them getting eaten. Don't make them a pet and you'll be a LOT less concerned about their eventual demise. Especially because Tai seems very interested in fattening them up and keeping them close at hand for the killing - MIXED MESSAGES!

[SnarkKitty]

12 hours ago, sadiegirl1999 said:

I think I'm the only person in the world who hates Sandra.

I don't think she's great and I don't think she's funny. She's pleasant to others when she's getting her way but is hell on wheels when you cross her.

I feel Michaela gets skewered for being this way but not Sandra.

I agree with this part, and I think it's because Sandra is a known quantity and they've seen her other sides. 

9 hours ago, Pazlovejoy said:

Why is it that people agreed that Michaela was "scary" just because she showed her displeasure about being used as a faux target? She didn't storm around and threaten anyone. She merely failed to be "cool" about being used. This makes her a less savvy player and does put her at a disadvantage. This does not make her "scary." It bugs me that women, especially black women are not allowed to show emotion without being judged.

8 hours ago, princelina said:

I don't think Michaela was being judged for showing anger for the reasons you stated; whenever the contestants throw someone's name out there they clutch their pearls when said person is pissed at having his/her name suggested as a vote-off.  Tony was in charge of that conversation and he knew his name was on Ciera's lips - he could have just said "Tell them you're voting for me".  Instead he throws out Michaela's name (most of the group was sitting there so he couldn't say any of them and he probably also had to avoid any names who had been making friends with the person who asked as well as think of someone on the fly).  Then when she gets pissed they all act so innocent and "what? what?" And none of them will admit they don't want their name out there either.  It's like when each contestant "knows it's a game" until someone else says that and wants to vote them off :)

Exactly. I agree with that. 

And they're being crazy hypocritical, because they know none of them ever wants to hear their name, even as a fake because it puts you on the radar at best, and at worst, it's really true and they're just telling YOU it's fake. 

[hoosiermom]

Did Ciera give an exit interview and I just missed it?

[Hera]

10 hours ago, KimberStormer said:

I didn't say Malcolm was bad at challenges, I said he was fine but not an Ozzy, and he still isn't.  His skill with the rings made him being there to throw instead of picking up the snake make a little sense, but I truly don't understand why Michaela wasn't out there.  She was totally wasted on that challenge, and we've seen her single-handedly win them before.

I agree with all of this. Malcolm is good at challenges, but was never the immunity challenge beast that people assumed he would be (he won two consecutive immunities late in the game in Philippines and none in Caramoan). In his first season, he readily admitted that he has unsteady hands, so he's never going to win those "hold a stack of things, while increasing the stack" challenges that turn up fairly regularly.

Zeus mentioned that Michaela doesn't seem to get the credit she deserves for challenge performance. I can't remember if she's a strong swimmer or not—if she's not, that might explain why they had Hali out there retrieving the snake instead of her. I think Mana overestimated the importance of swimming versus brute strength in that second immunity challenge. In any case, it was definitely dumb not to send Malcolm out. He's a decent swimmer and would have been better at hauling the snake up than Hali or Varner. He's undoubtedly good at throwing rings, but I don't think that's such a specialized skill that no one else could have possibly done it.

I was wondering about Ozzy's scar as well. I thought it was new, but then I googled around, and think he had it the first time he played and it's just gotten more pronounced as he's gotten older. Here he is in Cook Islands:

[omophagia]

When Probst unveiled that ridiculous immunity idol, I was surprised that Debbie didn't volunteer an anecdote about how it reminded her of her careers as both a deep-sea explorer and a Scooby-Doo ghost.

I was disappointed that Andrea walked all around the Legacy Advantage 2.0 only to have Sierra And Her Eyebrows find it. I still think she's the most ridiculous person to have been included in this cast and have no expectation that she has any Wentworth-y game to her.

I thought Tony was far too squirrelly and reactive to make for a top-tier winner, though I understand that's not necessarily a popular view. But I do find him entertaining: That army-crawl had me legit L'ing OL.

I'm here for Sandra ensuring that she remains the only repeat winner and, in doing so, making moves that actually build her reputation. As Varner-- still among my all-time favorite narrators, for however long he lasts-- put it, she needed less than 15 minutes to put together that vote and out-game Tony. As I said in another thread, I wouldn't say that either of her wins are among the game's most impressive, but she's far more than "As long as it ain't me," and I hope she gets more chances to demonstrate that before she does get voted out.

[HurricaneVal]

2 minutes ago, omophagia said:

When Probst unveiled that ridiculous immunity idol, I was surprised that Debbie didn't volunteer an anecdote about how it reminded her of her careers as both a deep-sea explorer and a Scooby-Doo ghost.

OMG.  Yes!

[Special K]

1 hour ago, preeya said:

Can someone explain why Varner is in the game.

To entertain me?

[Bryce Lynch]

41 minutes ago, hoosiermom said:

Did Ciera give an exit interview and I just missed it?

Yes, it was all about how she voted out her Mom. :)  

I don't think she had an exit interview.