Friday, March 13, 2009
Survivor: Tocantins - 1805
This week didn't have any big strategy moves, but did feature two fantastic challenges. They were the most impressive for a single episode that I can remember. We'll get to them a little bit later on.
Taj, Brendan, Stephen and Sierra are working to solidify their cross-tribal 4 person alliance. Taj found the immunity idol finally so they now have both immunity idols in their possession. I was a little surprised that she gave it to Stephen immediately. I was even more surprised that Stephen immediately considered the idol to be his. Technically she did give it to him, but I can't imagine the fury if Taj asked for it back and he didn't give it to her.
Sierra also seemed to be getting a little cocky proclaiming the alliance unstoppable. She also said "I'm proud of myself, I formed an amazing alliance" If she means that Brendan and Taj decided she should be in on it then I guess she did form the alliance. She did bring Brendan into the hunt for the immunity idol on day 2 so she was not just standing by helplessly.
I continue to think that the alliance switching up who goes to Exile is a good idea. Although they should have tried to get some more buy in from the tribe on who to send. If Brendan had somehow told them he wanted Stephen to go beforehand then Tyson might not be so suspicious. Stephen is right to keep his options open and not burn his bridges just yet. This alliance will put them in a good position at the merge but a 4 person alliance isn't a sure thing when you're split 2/2 and there are 12 people left.
Reward Challenge
When I saw that the challenge would involve spinning people around and then walking balance beams, I knew we were in for a good one. There's always something funny about people getting dizzy and trying to walk. it's probably because walking is usually so easy. And even better the reward is a trip to the product placement experience. The only problem is that the sponsor is Charmin who makes a product they can't show the Survivors using. Brilliant marketing scheme there.
I wonder how they decided the matchups for who goes against who. Do they write them down ahead of time or try to match people up on the spot? Spencer didn't even look that dizzy getting off the spinner, maybe he just looks dizzy all the time. Highlight may have been JT falling off the balance beam before he even got one foot on. At least that didn't cost him much time to go back to the beginning. Ultimately Jalapao ends up winning and sent Brendan again, who took Stephen.
Immunity Challenge
With the equipment for the challenge JT exclaims "I can hit or throw anything". After enough time playing softball I've learned that people who say they're really good, usually suck. Actual good players usually say they're pretty good or alright. JT is the exception, that guy was a beast out there. He nearly single-handedly got Jalapao the win. In the process he got part of his tooth knocked out. Even better is that he just spit it out like it was nothing. The thing is, he's probably right. Probst was in a big hurry to get that tooth back to him but what's he going to do with it now. Chew his food before it's in his mouth?
Timbira had a huge comeback. Partially spurred on by Taj matching up with Brendan. That was no contest and anyone could see it. Then Spencer seemed to have an off day and let Tyson get the best of him. They should have just taken all the other people out and let JT win the whole thing for them. That would have worked, Jalapao just keeps shooting it deep.
Strategy Analysis
Taj is choosing an interesting strategy in attacking her tribe with a bunch of vocal outbursts. She says at tribal council that anything can cost you, so that's just another thing you can't worry about. The problem with this logic is that exploding at your tribe is one of the few things you can control. She's a wild card and this was an especially bad time to go off since there were no obvious targets since Crazy Sandy was gone. You know that makes her partner Stephen nervous. I think that Stephen's option to let Taj get voted out and keep the idol would be a fantastic play. Especially when Taj is going off on people like that. This is his last chance before a merge to do that because with Spencer out she's definitely the one they're coming for.
Spencer didn't really come across as that weak or bad in challenges. JT was really pissed after this week's immunity but I wonder what else was going on there. Taj didn't perform either and she just seems to out there. Spencer was more contrite and took a different tack. I think he should have been slightly more passionate and not just agree with how much he disappointed all of them.
The bit about how Spencer is gay and didn't want to tell his tribe was certainly something that the producers wanted in the show and figured it had to be now since he's getting voted off (I should have seen that as a clue). It didn't really fit in the show at this point. I'm torn on how to feel about that. On the one hand you don't want to give someone a reason to vote you out. But at the same time by assuming they won't accept you aren't you just judging them too? It's a tough question in a game where there are few second chances (unless you're Lil)
My Prediction
Taj. Her outbursts have to start costing her. I'm still bad at this game. Spencer didn't seem to perform that badly in other challenges. Maybe Stephen was very persuasive.
Season total: 1-4 (.200)
Spell Check
Right: 6
Wrong: 0
Other: 0
Season total: 26-8-2 (.765)
Quick hit thoughts
Taj, Brendan, Stephen and Sierra are working to solidify their cross-tribal 4 person alliance. Taj found the immunity idol finally so they now have both immunity idols in their possession. I was a little surprised that she gave it to Stephen immediately. I was even more surprised that Stephen immediately considered the idol to be his. Technically she did give it to him, but I can't imagine the fury if Taj asked for it back and he didn't give it to her.
Sierra also seemed to be getting a little cocky proclaiming the alliance unstoppable. She also said "I'm proud of myself, I formed an amazing alliance" If she means that Brendan and Taj decided she should be in on it then I guess she did form the alliance. She did bring Brendan into the hunt for the immunity idol on day 2 so she was not just standing by helplessly.
I continue to think that the alliance switching up who goes to Exile is a good idea. Although they should have tried to get some more buy in from the tribe on who to send. If Brendan had somehow told them he wanted Stephen to go beforehand then Tyson might not be so suspicious. Stephen is right to keep his options open and not burn his bridges just yet. This alliance will put them in a good position at the merge but a 4 person alliance isn't a sure thing when you're split 2/2 and there are 12 people left.
Reward Challenge
When I saw that the challenge would involve spinning people around and then walking balance beams, I knew we were in for a good one. There's always something funny about people getting dizzy and trying to walk. it's probably because walking is usually so easy. And even better the reward is a trip to the product placement experience. The only problem is that the sponsor is Charmin who makes a product they can't show the Survivors using. Brilliant marketing scheme there.
I wonder how they decided the matchups for who goes against who. Do they write them down ahead of time or try to match people up on the spot? Spencer didn't even look that dizzy getting off the spinner, maybe he just looks dizzy all the time. Highlight may have been JT falling off the balance beam before he even got one foot on. At least that didn't cost him much time to go back to the beginning. Ultimately Jalapao ends up winning and sent Brendan again, who took Stephen.
Immunity Challenge
With the equipment for the challenge JT exclaims "I can hit or throw anything". After enough time playing softball I've learned that people who say they're really good, usually suck. Actual good players usually say they're pretty good or alright. JT is the exception, that guy was a beast out there. He nearly single-handedly got Jalapao the win. In the process he got part of his tooth knocked out. Even better is that he just spit it out like it was nothing. The thing is, he's probably right. Probst was in a big hurry to get that tooth back to him but what's he going to do with it now. Chew his food before it's in his mouth?
Timbira had a huge comeback. Partially spurred on by Taj matching up with Brendan. That was no contest and anyone could see it. Then Spencer seemed to have an off day and let Tyson get the best of him. They should have just taken all the other people out and let JT win the whole thing for them. That would have worked, Jalapao just keeps shooting it deep.
Strategy Analysis
Taj is choosing an interesting strategy in attacking her tribe with a bunch of vocal outbursts. She says at tribal council that anything can cost you, so that's just another thing you can't worry about. The problem with this logic is that exploding at your tribe is one of the few things you can control. She's a wild card and this was an especially bad time to go off since there were no obvious targets since Crazy Sandy was gone. You know that makes her partner Stephen nervous. I think that Stephen's option to let Taj get voted out and keep the idol would be a fantastic play. Especially when Taj is going off on people like that. This is his last chance before a merge to do that because with Spencer out she's definitely the one they're coming for.
Spencer didn't really come across as that weak or bad in challenges. JT was really pissed after this week's immunity but I wonder what else was going on there. Taj didn't perform either and she just seems to out there. Spencer was more contrite and took a different tack. I think he should have been slightly more passionate and not just agree with how much he disappointed all of them.
The bit about how Spencer is gay and didn't want to tell his tribe was certainly something that the producers wanted in the show and figured it had to be now since he's getting voted off (I should have seen that as a clue). It didn't really fit in the show at this point. I'm torn on how to feel about that. On the one hand you don't want to give someone a reason to vote you out. But at the same time by assuming they won't accept you aren't you just judging them too? It's a tough question in a game where there are few second chances (unless you're Lil)
My Prediction
Taj. Her outbursts have to start costing her. I'm still bad at this game. Spencer didn't seem to perform that badly in other challenges. Maybe Stephen was very persuasive.
Season total: 1-4 (.200)
Spell Check
Right: 6
Wrong: 0
Other: 0
Season total: 26-8-2 (.765)
Quick hit thoughts
- I thought that Coach talking about the wind shifting was symbolic of power shifting in the game. It was actually him just bad at predicting weather. You know they couldn't have an episode without Coach doing something crazy.
- Jeff must do the voice overs for the challenges after the fact. They were clearly shooting the balls in the reward challenge at the same time but he was able to describe each in turn
- Stephen does run like that all the time
- I thought Joe might have torn an ACL for a moment there. I'm not sure whether that's foreshadowing or just to contrast with JT spitting out a bloody tooth
Labels: dentistry, dizziness, Tocantins
# posted by Andy Hejl @ 6:51 PM 
Comments:
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- A while back, AH asked what the essential Survivor skills are. I remember fire starting & knot untying, but I don't recall the others. In any case, this episode clearly demonstrated that balance beam walking is another essential Survivor skill. Of course, the added twist here was the spinning. Great challenge.
- Shouldn't models have great balance? Disappointed in Sierra there.
- Speaking of Sierra, those bugbites are pretty hott. Nothing sexier than hundreds of bugbites.
- As my non-fan roommate pointed out, why do the letter writers always claim to be "proud" of the Survivors? The people back home don't know what's going on down in Brazil. Wouldn't you be embarrassed to have written to Osten that you were "proud" of him?
- Product Placement Fail: The Charmin Cafe. Somehow the ideas of toilet paper and a place to eat is not very appetizing. Remind me not to name my restaurant the "Wipe your butt Diner."
- I thought it was rather perceptive of Tyson to figure out that Brendan is making good connections with the other tribe. This stuff seems so obvious to those of us at home, but in the game, I can see how the Survivors could overlook that. Of course, it doesn't help that Brendan looks almost happy to go to Exile every time.
- Hey Spencer, how did that "Let's not tell them that you're gay so they won't vote off" plan work out for you? His gay confession just seemed weird. Survivor has certainly had its share of gay contestants in the past, and I don't think anyone's ever really been voted out because they were gay.
- Taj needs to calm the fuck down. This ain't SWV and she doesn't always get her way. I think she's gone before the merge and Stephen keeps the idol.
- I still don't know what XXIII means?!
- Shouldn't models have great balance? Disappointed in Sierra there.
- Speaking of Sierra, those bugbites are pretty hott. Nothing sexier than hundreds of bugbites.
- As my non-fan roommate pointed out, why do the letter writers always claim to be "proud" of the Survivors? The people back home don't know what's going on down in Brazil. Wouldn't you be embarrassed to have written to Osten that you were "proud" of him?
- Product Placement Fail: The Charmin Cafe. Somehow the ideas of toilet paper and a place to eat is not very appetizing. Remind me not to name my restaurant the "Wipe your butt Diner."
- I thought it was rather perceptive of Tyson to figure out that Brendan is making good connections with the other tribe. This stuff seems so obvious to those of us at home, but in the game, I can see how the Survivors could overlook that. Of course, it doesn't help that Brendan looks almost happy to go to Exile every time.
- Hey Spencer, how did that "Let's not tell them that you're gay so they won't vote off" plan work out for you? His gay confession just seemed weird. Survivor has certainly had its share of gay contestants in the past, and I don't think anyone's ever really been voted out because they were gay.
- Taj needs to calm the fuck down. This ain't SWV and she doesn't always get her way. I think she's gone before the merge and Stephen keeps the idol.
- I still don't know what XXIII means?!
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