Australian Survivor - General Discussion

[Michichick]

@TVbitch, I don’t like Zara, either. But I’m glad Jesse went home instead of her today. I like Jesse not getting his way.

I don’t mind PD not competing in challenges. He can’t win immunity that way, so he’s not getting a free pass to the end. Though it’s easy to just keep him there for now and vote him out whenever, since he has no way to save himself really.

[jsm1125]

I guess I’m in the minority when I say that I quite like Zara. No, she isn’t warm and fuzzy, but I’ve agreed with just about every one of her game moves and opinions. 
 

Edited March 17 by jsm1125

[dizzyd]

I have no idea what Paulie has done to be a constant target. He unfortunately lost his buddy Noonan early due to being in the minority after the swap, but I have not seen anything to dislike about him. I love his personality and admire how he has been dealing with being on the bottom. I hate seeing anyone ostracized like he has been especially when I haven’t seen them do anything wrong and just wanted to hug him. I’m happy Myles saved him even though it’s put a big target on himself. I like seeing smug Logan not getting her way. And I’m glad useless PD is out, he should not have been allowed to continue if they’re going to let him sit out every challenge and just be a number for votes. 

[Nozycat]

1 hour ago, dizzyd said:

I have no idea what Paulie has done to be a constant target.

Yes I was thinking that too, haven't seen him doing anything egregious, but they all seem to hate him.

[cdnalor]

People keep referring to Paulie as a snake-oil salesman implying that he's very persuasive but if everyone's against him, how persuasive can he be?

Shouldn't Myles have waited for the votes to be cast before using his advantage to steal an idol when JLP asks if anyone has an idol?  People might've suspected what he was up to and changed their votes to him.

[Nozycat]

4 hours ago, cdnalor said:

Shouldn't Myles have waited for the votes to be cast

Mightn't have been allowed to.  I can't remember the wording but might have said he had to do it before the vote.

[dizzyd]

Since Logan and Myles were putting their animosity towards each other out in the open, I wish when Logan was throwing her post TC tantrum and asked why PD, that Myles replied with “my other option was to steal your idol, would you have preferred that?” And then he should kept humming in her ear to drive her nuts. Karin says she was violently ill after the burgers and was close to being hospitalized and JLP says “excellent”, love the banter. I like kaelan and am impressed by whatever invisibility shield he has that no one targets him when he’s winning comps, hope I didn’t jinx him. He’s always smiling and everyone seems to love him so if he makes it to the end, I could see him winning. TG Laura is gone and Logan keeps not getting her way and also lost her bff. I was done with this pair a long time ago, they’re so juvenile, so I’m glad to finally see it split when they thought they were running the show. And I’m not even interested in what Laura has to say at jury villa. I was satisfied with the results of this week. 

[TVbitch]

Wow, Myles really made a splash. I hope he doesn't get too big in the britches about it, cuz that could be his downfall. But damned if everybody didn't vote with him on that next vote against Laura and Logan. I thought the girls were more solid than that. I'm also apprehensive about Myles telling AJ about his second idol, because AJ will stab anybody in the back if it serves him.

Meanwhile Kalen is either playing a totally genius hiding-in-plain-sight game, or, he really is just a big, sweet doofus. I think it's calculated, because even though he just giggles and agrees to any plan anyone comes to him with, he has consistently voted with Myles and AJ. Yet he never gets called out on it.

I notice JLP hardly ever even talks to Kalen at TC, even when he wins the IC! And they rarely show a talking head with him. I wonder if they are trying to help him stay under the radar. Maybe he is even the run away winner and they have cut all his talking heads to try to keep it suspenseful by burying his strategy talk. At some point soon they will have to let us in on it, if he is the winner. @dizzyd or @Michichick do you remember what they said he did for a living?

Also, when do they go to 2 episodes a week? 

[dizzyd]

2 hours ago, TVbitch said:

do you remember what they said he did for a living?

Also, when do they go to 2 episodes a week? 

Kaelan is an ex-engineer and now a PHD student using AI to scout and map vegetation by drone around Antarctica and that’s why he was on Brains. 
 

Facebook says it’s 3/week till the end.

[TVbitch]

Thanks so much @dizzyd. Now I'm even more convinced he is performing a "what, me playing?" strategy!  

[dizzyd]

That had to be the worst auction in the history of survivor! I love that everyone is trying to make moves, no one’s being complacent and I like that the chaos keeps me guessing. I don’t have an opinion yet on the split, the barren tribe is mostly individuals while the bounty tribe has 2 duos. The only duo that’s split is AJ and Myles and they are both good at adapting and working from the bottom. 

[Nozycat]

I liked Myles at the start but his cockiness now is really putting me off more and more.

[dizzyd]

I wish I could be as positive as Kaelan, he smiles through every adversity. Paulie has been dead man walking for a while so it was only time. Glad he could go out on a positive note after being repeatedly beaten down, with a full blown underdog funk segment and a paranoia meltdown all in one episode. I imagine the jungle rat is going idol hunting again. I’m looking forward to the most explosive TC tonight, it better live up to the hype.

Edited March 24 by dizzyd

[dizzyd]

Kaelan did a lot of talking today but he talks too much to AJ. The jury isn’t going to believe he’s the one making the big moves when AJ is taking credit for everything. If Kaelan wants a shot, he needs to remove AJ, Myles and break up Kate and Morgan which is a lot and even then he’d appear evenly matched with the rest. Not to mention he has 3 immunity wins now and surely the target on his back is not invisible to the rest, they just don’t see him as a threat. I was wondering who was going to win in this chess match between AJ and Karin that has been going on for a long time. Tonight it was checkmate Karin. 

[Michichick]

@dizzyd I agree about Kaelan. His under the radar game has been great, but it’s going to be hard for him not to be seen as a tagalong if he doesn’t own a move soon.

sorry to see Karin go.

[jsm1125]

Kristen’s tightest ally after PD is Karin? Would have been nice to see this much earlier.

I know she was a mess at this tribal council, but I think Karin ran out of runway. She did try with a group of people who should be incentivized to get out the current power players in AJ, Kate and Morgan. Like, why would Logan and Kristen not want to work with Karin and Zara to come over the top in the 3-3-3 split. Though she had a bad read on Kaelan. 

I am confused as to why everyone seems to be going out of their way to shut Myles out of anything. It’s not as if anyone else on this season (minus Kaelan) can keep their mouths shut, so it must be more than that. 

Edited March 27 by jsm1125

[TVbitch]

Still loving this season. When they started playing Satie's Gymnopedie No.1 for Paulie's hard luck montage, I laughed out loud. Poor guy.

I knew Kaelan was playing dumb, but they've finally started showing us his talking heads where he admits it. Not sure he should have taken that immunity though. He didn't need it and why risk getting that target on your back too soon. I agree, he needs to mastermind some key moves and let others in on it, or he could "act" his way straight to defeat. I think he might get AJ and Myles votes, even if he ousts them. 

Jungle Rat still entertains me. Even when he is not in on the plan he sits there grinning ear to ear. He is having the time of his life out there.   

[dizzyd]

New alert posted yesterday, starting this week, only 2 episodes per week, Sunday and Monday, no Tuesday episode.

[Michichick]

On 3/29/2025 at 7:18 AM, dizzyd said:

New alert posted yesterday, starting this week, only 2 episodes per week, Sunday and Monday, no Tuesday episode.

Boo! I loved having three per week.

All the hype about “a big player will go home” turned out to be kind of “meh” in today’s episode. Of course Logan’s group wimped out and changed their votes. 

[dizzyd]

This episode title should be 4 is the magic number. 4th immunity idol for Myles, 4th immunity necklace for Kaelan, 4 votes each and 4th jury member. I wanted Logan gone when she was in the coven and associated with Laura but she was ok when she was on the bottom and not smug anymore. I definitely like her better than Zara who I just can’t stand and was actually sad with the final resignation and the dirgy music for her exit. In the meantime, Kate-Morgan still exists because AJ seems to get what he wants and like @Michichick said, no big player went home. 

[SummerDreams]

I can't find ONE likeable person this season thus I just watched the episodes as "previously on Survivor" after episode 6 or something. I think I don't like survivor that much anymore to be honest. I would be glad if Myles won because he is crazy and I like crazy gameplay. I hate logan and everything she represents (reminds me of Parvati 🤢).

[dizzyd]

End game mode and Myles succeeded in not letting AJ play his trademark big move just for the heck of it. Shows Myles can rein it in and play the boring move when needed unlike AJ. The matching looks could kill on Logan and Laura 🤣 Zara didn’t flip and burned her game, she’ll go out 4th in the graduate alliance before her favored endurance challenge. I’m cool with an all boys F3, they played the most interesting game of those left so they earned it.

ETA: watched again after work and how petty was Zara to base her vote on Kristin not picking her for the overnight reward. Also kudos to Kaelan for his 5th necklace and Myles for giving a shoutout to Brooky who was one of my AU faves. I expect Kaelan will surpass Brooke with the immunity wins, like he said, he’s already been labeled challenge beast so might as well own it and at this point, if he loses immunity, he’s out. And does AJ think he has a shot with Kate? He’s openly saying he’s keeping her around because he likes looking at her and according to the preview, he wants Kaelan to target Myles instead of Kate because Myles will vote out Kaelan if he loses immunity, but surely Kaelan is smart enough to know that everyone should vote him out if he loses immunity, not just Myles. Honestly, all the Brawn can blame Ben for quitting when he did and sending them into merge as a minority instead of Brains who were set to vote off one of their own that night. The only reason Kate and Morgan are still there is because AJ has a thing for Kate. And I love JLP’s evil laugh every time he’s torturing them in a challenge.

Edited March 31 by dizzyd

[Michichick]

I don’t see a way that the guys won’t be final three, unless Kaelan loses an immunity and they take the chance to get rid of him.

[Asha124]

6 hours ago, dizzyd said:

ETA: watched again after work and how petty was Zara to base her vote on Kristin not picking her for the overnight reward.

She didn't base her vote on not being picked. She was saying that by picking Logan and Morgan she gave Zara the opportunity to re-ally with the boys since they were left alone in the camp (with Kate, but she might as well not be there).

[jsm1125]

It’s a shame that this season has been so uneven in terms of screen time. I’ve been impressed with Kate’s and Kaelan’s games, but they were so invisible for many episodes that I don’t see how they can win from an editing perspective. I think this is AJ’s or Myles’ to lose. 

[TVbitch]

Can't believe Morgan threw herself on her sword like that. I think it would have been in the girls' best interest to let it go to rocks. Rocks would have given each side a 50/50 chance of controlling the game. Otherwise you are basically surrendering your side for one or two more days.

I still think there is a chance Kaelan could win and they've not featured him very much in the beginning to sandbag him for the sake of more exciting TV. If they had shown he was actually strategically smart, plus well-liked, AND a challenge beast ~and then he wins, it would make for a boring season. But I actually have to root for Myles or AJ at this point for even surviving for this long, let alone totally controlling this game, when everyone else knows how dangerous they are.

 

[shipmate]

Have been watching the Jury Villa episodes and I don’t remember them being this uncomfortable in seasons past. There are some bitter, bitter people on that jury already. I always pegged the Australian contestants being way better with the “it’s just a game“ mentality.

Karin gives great jury face both at tribal and at Jury villa dinners. It’s entertaining.

[dizzyd]

Jury Villa showed me that my opinions of the 5 jurors so far was the same in the game as out, special ugh directed at Laura and Kristin. I agree it’s going to be a bitter jury and it looks like the current 5 have strong opinions that will influence the rest so I think the finalists will be surprised by the failure of their jury management and I think the winner will be the lesser of the evils in the minds of the jury.

Edited April 5 by dizzyd

[dizzyd]

Not much to say on this episode except that I think the 2nd immunity challenge took out any other options. They could no longer split the votes on Kate and Morgan for a Myles blindside that they were planning hoping he wouldn’t use his idol. I dont know how the other 3 post grads are not taking it out on AJ for his constant hero complex on Kate. That’s more patience than I would’ve had but they’re just biding their time. Is he going to mope next episode after they take her out like I expect they will?

[jsm1125]

I find it incredibly suspicious on production’s part that they never showed Morgan’s after tribal interview at the end of the episode. 

[Michichick]

Dang it, Zara. I really wanted AJ to go home. Though I do understand why she considered Kate to be a personal threat.

[dizzyd]

On 4/6/2025 at 3:51 PM, jsm1125 said:

I find it incredibly suspicious on production’s part that they never showed Morgan’s after tribal interview at the end of the episode. 

There’s a rumor that she claimed she was sexually assaulted by Ben when they were on Brawn and that’s why both of them were purpled, idk if it’s true, but that’s disgusting. There’s another rumor that Ben used the N word. If either are true then I don’t see how she made it 43 days in the game without it becoming a big deal and the show not taking any action or owning any responsibility. Also questions the validity of Ben’s mysterious health issues. But clearly she wanted out after being voted out, no parting words or jury villa or even staying on the jury and quitting the game is the most noticeable thing she’s done all season. Hope the rumors are false and she had some other personal valid reason and not just wanting out because she realized she was so bad at the game, that would be poor sportsmanship from an Olympian.

So close to taking out AJ, Zara blew it. There’s no way she’s going to win against any of the 3 guys. Looking forward to AJ and Myles duking it out post TC. Does anyone know if it’s a F2 or F3 FTC?

Edited April 7 by dizzyd

[Michichick]

@dizzydmy understanding is that it will be a final 2.

[Nozycat]

9 hours ago, Michichick said:

my understanding is that it will be a final 2.

Yes that's what they all seem to be working towards.

[TVbitch]

I know she had her reasons, but Zara just voted out the only person she could beat at final tribal.

I was wondering why we never learned very much about Morgan, or heard much from her, since she made it so far. I just assumed it was because her whole game strategy seemed to be that of a passive follower, but maybe she wasn't all that ineffective and they were just hiding her because of her unusual exit. Hope we get the whole story. 

On a personal note, how is it possible that Kaelan gets even better looking as the days go on. 🤭

[dizzyd]

This was the best F3 for me, they really worked the season in their own different and entertaining ways and deserve to be there at the end more than most others although how they made it to the end with massive targets in their backs is mind blowing to me. I especially liked how they respect each others games and even though they are working against each other and have different opinions, there’s been calm, logical reasoning in their talks, impressive. I’d be happy with any of them winning although I’d put AJ in 3rd for all the times he threw challenges and didn’t give it his all like the other 2. 1 more episode left, I hope we get to see it in the US (idk where the rest of you live but I’ve been watching on YT and the finale is usually blocked, hopefully not this time). It’s been nice waking up to a new episode before heading to work and I usually go through withdrawal when the season ends but this time S48 has been pretty good in comparison. So if we get an episode 24, I’ll see whoever is here tomorrow. ✌️ 

[SummerDreams]

Who is in the final three?

[Nozycat]

3 hours ago, SummerDreams said:

Who is in the final three?

AJ, Myles and Kaelan.

[dizzyd]

Finale not up yet online but AJ out at 3 and Myles over Kaelan 7-1, only Kristin voted for K. Wow that it wasn’t close and jury wasn’t as bitter as I expected and didn’t chose the likeable winner. Congrats to Myles, he worked his ass off all season mostly from the bottom. I don’t think there’s ever been a winner with so many votes against in the history of the entire franchise. Also didn’t realize Myles is only 23, way younger than most everyone out there and only one younger was Zen at 21 who was pulled from game by medical early on. More after episode is posted if it is. 

Edited April 14 by dizzyd

[WearyTraveler]

It's been a great season. My heart wanted K to win because he really was an honest, likeable person, but Myles did play an impressive game, considering how much he had going against him.

 

I liked that he recognised his mistakes regarding his social game. Most of all I didn't want AJ to win because he was such a chaos bringer always wrecking someone else's game at the last minute. I don't mind one or two last minute plays, but AJ was always pulling that shit off and betraying his alliances by blabbing to someone else so he could keep them with him.

I think he might have the record for being the luckiest player, even above Myles, because he burned every bridge he had and never suffered the consequences.

Go Jungle Rat! And I hope we see Kaelan in the next All Star season

[Nozycat]

9 hours ago, dizzyd said:

Also didn’t realize Myles is only 23

Neither did I, he looks older to me.

I am happy with the outcome.  At first I thought Kaelan had it after the pitches, thought he made a really good one, but then thought Myles did much better on the questions.

[Michichick]

I was happy to see Myles win. I’m shocked that Kaelan picked Myles over AJ, but happy he did. AJ really rubbed me the wrong way. Kaelan couldn’t have beaten either one.

[Nozycat]

1 hour ago, Michichick said:

AJ really rubbed me the wrong way.

Me too.  In the Jury Villa he admitted to throwing a lot of the challenges and was so up himself imo.

[dizzyd]

Omg what an amazing finale! I had to watch it twice before commenting because my 1st was in distracted segments at work. I liked the trip down memory lane to start off. I knew the results before watching but the episode played out so differently than what I expected given the results that I already knew.

For one, based on the last preview, I thought the final IC favored Myles. The challenge was as brutal as expected but it looked like all 3 had evenly spaced pegs not based on individual bodies and that favored long limbs, I don’t see how Zara could have won that if she was there but that’s par for Zara’s delusional course. The risky changing of positions by Myles and Kaelan in the 2nd phase was nerve wracking. So when Myles dropped, I couldn’t fathom how we ended up with the final result and even considered that the results posted were wrong. I was also concerned that maybe AJ really threw all previous endurance challenges because his humongous ego (see evidence number 56 or something at 5 minutes into the episode) asserted he didn’t need to win challenges and that he may actually win this one that favored his long limbs and wrapped up feet. He did successfully psyche Myles into dropping and admittedly took pleasure in it. So naturally I was very happy to see Kaelan not buy into AJ’s condescending pitch to drop and to see K win it and lose it emotionally in the presence of his proud, adorable momma. Such a beautiful young man and a consistent favorite of mine from the start. On a side note I was pleased to see Nabil tell Ollie to fire up Myles when he was struggling, that was nice, I couldn’t see AJ doing that if he was in Nabil’s place.

Re: the penultimate TC, I’d like to know what Kaelan learned in that private chat that made him choose Myles or maybe he just felt the jury preferred AJ’s game over Myles’. Me personally, I just wouldn’t want to spend the last 24h on the beach alone with pompous AJ talking at me or down to me.

Now onto FTC, wow was the right word for those opening speeches, JLP!  I remember being disappointed last year with Feras’ FTC performance but these openers were on point and powerful. Myles clearly won the jury over with his answers, they appreciated that he recognized his flaws, fought hard through the whole game that the whole jury had witnessed first hand because they were the cause of most of the barriers he had to fight through, he owned his moves (good, bad, successful, failed). He sold himself perfectly to a jury who wanted to reward him for literally surviving everything they threw at him on the daily. I’m even going to credit AJ for pointing out why he thought Kaelan shouldn’t win. I also liked his jury villa which showed me that maybe he was playing a character in the game and he’s maybe a decent human being irl. 

Congrats to Myles for the win, he may have attained the title of sole survivor but he will always be remembered in Survivor history as the jungle rat and I especially love how he made this derogatory moniker he was given into something he could be proud of and owned it. I still am impressed that he’s only 23, but he is now a Survivor legend.

In the end, I need to give props to the music for this episode, it made me feel throughout that I was watching something epic. This really imo capped off a very good season. I loved that this episode was in no way predictable.
 

Wow, this was a looong post! Look forward to seeing you in a few months for Aus v World which I don’t expect will be as good as this but hope I’m wrong.

[Nozycat]

2 hours ago, dizzyd said:

it looked like all 3 had evenly spaced pegs not based on individual bodies

Yeah this seemed unfair, I did wonder if I saw it correctly.

[TVbitch]

Great season, right through to the very end. What more can you ask for?

Kaelan is such an interesting guy. He seems very young and innocent to me. I was surprised to hear him genuinely refer to Myles and AJ as his best friends, and it clearly tore him up to have to vote one of them out. I think that little conference they had at final three tribal was Kaelan just needing them to assure him that they would still be his friends whatever he chose. And to their credit, they did. I thought Kaelan made the very best case he could for himself, but Myles made an even better case.

Myles was so well spoken throughout final tribal. He made the argument that definitively won me over with his poker analogy. Explaining how in a poker tournament, players who play conservatively can often make it deep into a tournament, but they don't win. It's players who make bigger/riskier moves at certain times who build up the stack necessary to win a final showdown ~but most times, you end up getting knocked out that way. When I play in poker tournaments, I don't play to win, I play to come in the money at 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, because I want to come out ahead money-wise over the many decades I have played. Myles was playing to win.

Congrats to Myles and Kalaen, and the whole cast, for a very entertaining season!