Monday, April 13, 2009
Survivor: Tocantins - 1807
What an unsatisfying episode of Survivor. Just when you get into it and are ready for the merge. Joe has to get taken out of the game and all of the scheming is for naught.
Feast
At least it really was time for the merge. It would have been interesting to see Timbira play out a little bit more since they were certainly the more interesting of the two tribes but I'm eager to see what the strategies are post-merge this time.
Man I'm glad that they didn't pick the name Dingus. Although I did learn the other day that in Poland and some parts of the US Midwest Easter Monday may be called Dingus day. Who knew that one? Forza sounds like the name of a soccer team that Coach just brought up so that you'd remember he is a coach of something.
It was interesting to see the two tribes try to probe each other for information. Sierra really just laid it out there when she asked them to explain the last two votes, since they didn't understand it. That I'm sure caused a bit of an awkward moment at the celebratory feast.
Immunity Challenge
I really like the individual challenges where it's all about how much you want it. This really wasn't one of those. I think that there was too much strength and balance involved vs some of the others where it's just holding your hand up. This was still better than just digging around in the dirt for some puzzle pieces or something.
Wearing no shoes was really the way to go for this one. Unless you had worn climbing shoes out there, sneakers just didn't allow for enough grip on the grooves in that pole to be useful. Tyson showed us that since his barefoot technique got him the win. I didn't really like Coach jumping down off the pole, that usually gets punished but not tonight. Of course, jumping off looked like a smarter move after Sierra got 1000 splinters sliding straight down the whole length of her pole.
Strategy Analysis
The strategy in this one was all over the place and I was pretty excited to see how it was all going to work out. It's really hard for me to keep things straight right now but I'm trying (more than we can say for Erinn). Timbira really is running the show. If they decided to play it straight they could just get down to 6, that's the beauty of going in with numbers.
The Brendan, Stephen, Taj, Sierra alliance looks like it could be on the ropes. That's basically Brendan's fault since he's determined to have no contact with the other members of his alliance, which is causing them to wonder whether they're really in an alliance any more. I see how he wants to lay low, but it really wouldn't be out of place for him to have a conversation with Taj or Stephen since they are part of a new tribe. You've got to get out there and work it with everyone so they don't know who you're actually tight with.
Coach welcomed JT with open arms. That's sort of strange since he's from the other tribe and they're outnumbered. Doesn't Coach think that JT just wants to split up the Timbira vote at all? And for all Coach's talk about wanting to go up against the best gamers in the finals how is he getting rid of Brendan before Erinn?
Splitting the vote is a pretty good strategy here. If you're really worried about the immunity idol coming out just put it down 4-3-2 and it doesn't matter what the 2 say. The key is making sure that you can coordinate that many people without everyone finding out about it.
Just as I was getting pumped to see what was going to happen it was clear that Joe was gone and there would be no tribal this week. What a let down! Now the whole plan may have to change and there are 3 more days out there. Hopefully this will end up as a positive but I'm not convinced yet.
My Prediction
Joe. It's cheap but I'll take it. I did write in my notes at the beginning that Joe's leg really wasn't looking so good.
Season total: 3-4 (.429)
Spell Check
No spelling this week.
Season total: 30-9-2 (.769)
Quick hit thoughts
Feast
At least it really was time for the merge. It would have been interesting to see Timbira play out a little bit more since they were certainly the more interesting of the two tribes but I'm eager to see what the strategies are post-merge this time.
Man I'm glad that they didn't pick the name Dingus. Although I did learn the other day that in Poland and some parts of the US Midwest Easter Monday may be called Dingus day. Who knew that one? Forza sounds like the name of a soccer team that Coach just brought up so that you'd remember he is a coach of something.
It was interesting to see the two tribes try to probe each other for information. Sierra really just laid it out there when she asked them to explain the last two votes, since they didn't understand it. That I'm sure caused a bit of an awkward moment at the celebratory feast.
Immunity Challenge
I really like the individual challenges where it's all about how much you want it. This really wasn't one of those. I think that there was too much strength and balance involved vs some of the others where it's just holding your hand up. This was still better than just digging around in the dirt for some puzzle pieces or something.
Wearing no shoes was really the way to go for this one. Unless you had worn climbing shoes out there, sneakers just didn't allow for enough grip on the grooves in that pole to be useful. Tyson showed us that since his barefoot technique got him the win. I didn't really like Coach jumping down off the pole, that usually gets punished but not tonight. Of course, jumping off looked like a smarter move after Sierra got 1000 splinters sliding straight down the whole length of her pole.
Strategy Analysis
The strategy in this one was all over the place and I was pretty excited to see how it was all going to work out. It's really hard for me to keep things straight right now but I'm trying (more than we can say for Erinn). Timbira really is running the show. If they decided to play it straight they could just get down to 6, that's the beauty of going in with numbers.
The Brendan, Stephen, Taj, Sierra alliance looks like it could be on the ropes. That's basically Brendan's fault since he's determined to have no contact with the other members of his alliance, which is causing them to wonder whether they're really in an alliance any more. I see how he wants to lay low, but it really wouldn't be out of place for him to have a conversation with Taj or Stephen since they are part of a new tribe. You've got to get out there and work it with everyone so they don't know who you're actually tight with.
Coach welcomed JT with open arms. That's sort of strange since he's from the other tribe and they're outnumbered. Doesn't Coach think that JT just wants to split up the Timbira vote at all? And for all Coach's talk about wanting to go up against the best gamers in the finals how is he getting rid of Brendan before Erinn?
Splitting the vote is a pretty good strategy here. If you're really worried about the immunity idol coming out just put it down 4-3-2 and it doesn't matter what the 2 say. The key is making sure that you can coordinate that many people without everyone finding out about it.
Just as I was getting pumped to see what was going to happen it was clear that Joe was gone and there would be no tribal this week. What a let down! Now the whole plan may have to change and there are 3 more days out there. Hopefully this will end up as a positive but I'm not convinced yet.
My Prediction
Joe. It's cheap but I'll take it. I did write in my notes at the beginning that Joe's leg really wasn't looking so good.
Season total: 3-4 (.429)
Spell Check
No spelling this week.
Season total: 30-9-2 (.769)
Quick hit thoughts
- The new immunity necklace is really bad ass.
- Coach really seemed to be making an effort with the tribe for the first time.
- Did Joe leave his immunity idol back at the Jalapao camp after the merge? I mean it's fake but he should still have it with him.
# posted by Andy Hejl @ 2:42 PM 
Comments:
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AH is right - a disappointing show with a lot of buildup and no payoff. I have to say, they did a good job of foreshadowing that Joe's leg would become a big problem. Think back even to the immunity challenge where he first hurt it - even though Joe hurting his leg didn't play a big role in that challenge, they made a point to show Joe talking about his hurt leg.
It makes you realize how much we take modern medicine for granted. Here's Joe, a strong, physically fit guy taken out by a little scratch that got infected. No wonder people everybody died before 40 until recently.
Coach is so weird. He seems to be playing all on gut instinct or misguided "samurai" principles, rather than actual strategy.
Brendan is also weird. I can't believe he hasn't reached to Taj. I just don't get it.
I still love Tyson. I disagree with AH about the challenge - I think this one is all about how much you wanted it. First, Tyson was smart to go without shoes. Second, Tyson should be used to dealing with pain - there aren't many sports that require constant punishing pain like cycling. (Side note: could he be doping for Survivor?) It was a pretty easy victory for him...
The way everyone spooges all over JT for being such a "great guy" makes me wonder if he just isn't the coolest person who has ever lived...
It makes you realize how much we take modern medicine for granted. Here's Joe, a strong, physically fit guy taken out by a little scratch that got infected. No wonder people everybody died before 40 until recently.
Coach is so weird. He seems to be playing all on gut instinct or misguided "samurai" principles, rather than actual strategy.
Brendan is also weird. I can't believe he hasn't reached to Taj. I just don't get it.
I still love Tyson. I disagree with AH about the challenge - I think this one is all about how much you wanted it. First, Tyson was smart to go without shoes. Second, Tyson should be used to dealing with pain - there aren't many sports that require constant punishing pain like cycling. (Side note: could he be doping for Survivor?) It was a pretty easy victory for him...
The way everyone spooges all over JT for being such a "great guy" makes me wonder if he just isn't the coolest person who has ever lived...
Did you realize that Brendan is the founder and CEO of Bear Naked, the health food crap? That guy must have made a ton of money... entrepreneur indeed! http://www.bearnaked.com/
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