Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Survivor: Tocantins - 1808
This episode was clearly going to come down to one big blindside or another. Brendan just didn't see it coming at all. I thought that he would be a little more savvy, but his trust in his alliance was just too much.
Reward Challenge
Coach was very excited about the possibility of winning a rafting trip. Don't get me wrong, I think that it would be totally awesome, but he seemed more excited about rafting than the chance of winning the whole game. Sierra on the other hand was very excited about brownies.
Going into watching the challenge I didn't think that the teams were stacked up and I didn't give Stephen, Sierra and Erinn even an outside chance. I guess that I forgot this was an attack challenge not a defense challenge and they had many chances to just stick around if they're not considered a threat. They didn't pull it off but that was pretty good. I wonder if there was a rule against throwing the balls overhand, that would have been a lot easier.
I was hoping that they'd send Coach to Exile but that would have been too great. I was also wondering if there was going to be another idol put into the game post-merge, but that just didn't happen. Stephen's trip to Exile was reminiscent of Janu's revelation when she was sent to Exile. Of course Stephen didn't come back and immediately let Jeff talk him into quitting the game. And that is why Stephen is not one of my least favorite Survivor contestants ever.
Immunity Challenge
The challenge was pretty cool, but there's not much to say about it. Not really any strategy but it was fun to see people literally tie themselves in knots as they tried to get through the course quickly. Brendan looked like he had it sewn up and blew it at the end, that really is going to cost him dearly.
Strategy Analysis
This is where last week's positioning really paid off. It came down to whether Brendan or Coach/Tyson would hold the day. It really all came down to JT, Taj, and Stephen and how they wanted to play it.
Brendan's whole philosophy of an outcome he was happy with in the game really confuses me. So if I get this right: If Brendan wins Survivor, Brendan wins. If JT wins Survivor, Brendan wins (but also loses). It sounded to me like Brendan was afraid of losing and so cooked up this idea in his head so that when he lost the game it was okay as long as someone else had a chance. I call that a cop out for sure.
I've said it before but Coach's philosophy of surrounding himself with warriors doesn't really jive with his desire to slay the dragon. I mean if he's the dragon don't you think that Brendan is a better competitor than say Sierra, or Erinn. I don't really agree with Coach's philosophy in the first place. I think that if the goal is to win the game then you should surround yourself with people that you can beat.
My Prediction
Sierra via Brendan. I went out on a limb with this one thinking that Brendan would use the idol. His problem, my loss. Really a good chance, they might not get another chance to take out his immunity idol.
Season total: 3-5 (.375)
Spell Check
Right: 8
Wrong: 1 (Brendon)
Other: 0
Season total: 38-10-2 (.792)
Quick hit thoughts
Reward Challenge
Coach was very excited about the possibility of winning a rafting trip. Don't get me wrong, I think that it would be totally awesome, but he seemed more excited about rafting than the chance of winning the whole game. Sierra on the other hand was very excited about brownies.
Going into watching the challenge I didn't think that the teams were stacked up and I didn't give Stephen, Sierra and Erinn even an outside chance. I guess that I forgot this was an attack challenge not a defense challenge and they had many chances to just stick around if they're not considered a threat. They didn't pull it off but that was pretty good. I wonder if there was a rule against throwing the balls overhand, that would have been a lot easier.
I was hoping that they'd send Coach to Exile but that would have been too great. I was also wondering if there was going to be another idol put into the game post-merge, but that just didn't happen. Stephen's trip to Exile was reminiscent of Janu's revelation when she was sent to Exile. Of course Stephen didn't come back and immediately let Jeff talk him into quitting the game. And that is why Stephen is not one of my least favorite Survivor contestants ever.
Immunity Challenge
The challenge was pretty cool, but there's not much to say about it. Not really any strategy but it was fun to see people literally tie themselves in knots as they tried to get through the course quickly. Brendan looked like he had it sewn up and blew it at the end, that really is going to cost him dearly.
Strategy Analysis
This is where last week's positioning really paid off. It came down to whether Brendan or Coach/Tyson would hold the day. It really all came down to JT, Taj, and Stephen and how they wanted to play it.
Brendan's whole philosophy of an outcome he was happy with in the game really confuses me. So if I get this right: If Brendan wins Survivor, Brendan wins. If JT wins Survivor, Brendan wins (but also loses). It sounded to me like Brendan was afraid of losing and so cooked up this idea in his head so that when he lost the game it was okay as long as someone else had a chance. I call that a cop out for sure.
I've said it before but Coach's philosophy of surrounding himself with warriors doesn't really jive with his desire to slay the dragon. I mean if he's the dragon don't you think that Brendan is a better competitor than say Sierra, or Erinn. I don't really agree with Coach's philosophy in the first place. I think that if the goal is to win the game then you should surround yourself with people that you can beat.
My Prediction
Sierra via Brendan. I went out on a limb with this one thinking that Brendan would use the idol. His problem, my loss. Really a good chance, they might not get another chance to take out his immunity idol.
Season total: 3-5 (.375)
Spell Check
Right: 8
Wrong: 1 (Brendon)
Other: 0
Season total: 38-10-2 (.792)
Quick hit thoughts
- Erinn's in a pretty good place in this game. If you can make it all the way through with no allies you start to become a swing vote as they line up 2-2 against each other. Win a lucky challenge and you're in the finals. Not bad for a cancer.
- Coach was attacked by Amazonian pygmies? I'm not the only one who found that a little bit outlandish.
- Brendan didn't give anything away saying he had the idol. Everyone already knew it
# posted by Andy Hejl @ 3:28 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
I admit - I fell for it. I thought Brendan's alliance would blindside Coach. I think I forgot the Number One rule of Survivor after the merge: get rid of the strong first. Because who would you rather take the Final Two: Brendan or Coach?
Brendan had an interesting point during his interview on Popwatch (the same site with Probst's blog): he said he should've known he was cooked when everyone started agreeing with his strategies too easily. I think that's a good point - when people stop debating with you, they're probably just telling you what you want to hear.
Personally, I think Brendan's biggest problem was not solidifying his alliance with Taj and Stephen after the merge. By keeping it too close to the vest, he let Taj start re-thinking things.
Coach, of course, is insane. Amazingly, I think he actually believes the lies that he tells. I guess I would characterize him as delusional rather than a liar. I'd say there's still a 5% chance he's putting everyone on, and that after he wins the game, he'll turn out to be a normal person who did this whole "dragon slayer / honorable samurai" persona in order to win the game by staying under the crazy radar. Regardless, his schtick is so annoying - he basically just does whatever suits him at the time and then justifies it with some bullshit later.
From next week's preview, I'm already excited to see Sierra-Tyson showdown. And by showdown, I mean Tyson being unnecessarily mean while Sierra cries. I'm quite interested to see whether Sierra truly puts up a fight, or if the previews just make it seem that way to keep my interest. Will we ever find out what XXIII means?
Tyson certainly seems like a force in immunity challenges - we'll see when the producers design one that will be tough for him to win.
Brendan had an interesting point during his interview on Popwatch (the same site with Probst's blog): he said he should've known he was cooked when everyone started agreeing with his strategies too easily. I think that's a good point - when people stop debating with you, they're probably just telling you what you want to hear.
Personally, I think Brendan's biggest problem was not solidifying his alliance with Taj and Stephen after the merge. By keeping it too close to the vest, he let Taj start re-thinking things.
Coach, of course, is insane. Amazingly, I think he actually believes the lies that he tells. I guess I would characterize him as delusional rather than a liar. I'd say there's still a 5% chance he's putting everyone on, and that after he wins the game, he'll turn out to be a normal person who did this whole "dragon slayer / honorable samurai" persona in order to win the game by staying under the crazy radar. Regardless, his schtick is so annoying - he basically just does whatever suits him at the time and then justifies it with some bullshit later.
From next week's preview, I'm already excited to see Sierra-Tyson showdown. And by showdown, I mean Tyson being unnecessarily mean while Sierra cries. I'm quite interested to see whether Sierra truly puts up a fight, or if the previews just make it seem that way to keep my interest. Will we ever find out what XXIII means?
Tyson certainly seems like a force in immunity challenges - we'll see when the producers design one that will be tough for him to win.
Maybe XXIII is because Sierra is a huge Michael Jordan fan, but needed to be different.
I agree with knowing you're done when people just agree with you too quickly. On that episode the substantive discussion was limited to Brendan saying "Coach right?" and everyone quickly saying yes and moving away.
It is get rid of the strong first. If they take out Coach, JT has to worry a little bit that they'll get rid of him next.
I agree with knowing you're done when people just agree with you too quickly. On that episode the substantive discussion was limited to Brendan saying "Coach right?" and everyone quickly saying yes and moving away.
It is get rid of the strong first. If they take out Coach, JT has to worry a little bit that they'll get rid of him next.
<< Home
Post a Comment