Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Survivor: Tocantins - 1802
I wouldn't say that this week's episode had too many compelling story lines, it was more setting the stage for some things to come - I hope.
I'm not sure that this year's crop of survivors are the brightest bulbs in the shed. First Sandy didn't know what a pace was. Then Sierra and Brendan are digging a huge hole on the beach and then just tell Debbie that they're digging a fire pit for that night. Not only does she buy it, she thinks it's a great idea and then the other tribe members mention how hard they are working.
Immunity Challenge
When do they usually start the reward challenge? I was confused since this challenge was for reward and immunity. That shocked me. The physical challenge is becoming a staple for Survivor. I do like that they put it really early in the game when the contestants are still somewhat strong. Can you imagine this on day 31?
It took a minute to realize that both goals are on the same side of the field. That's probably better since the game would have taken forever if they had to go back and forth. With that geometry it seems like there is at least one clear strategy - shoot for your goal from between the two. If you miss long then the ball is far away from the other team's goal. If you shoot from the outside and it comes down in the middle they can just grab it and dunk (like Crystal from Gabon). They didn't really seem to get this part of it.
Taj was a physical force playing this game. With that said she was also a chucker. Passing her the ball was like giving it to Ian, you just knew that she was going to shoot so you can stop looking to get the ball back. The other parallel watching this episode was that this was like playing pool basketball with Brendan and his water polo friends. Completely brutal and a test of wills.
In the end Jalapao won the challenge and the fishing gear. But wait, there is Exile Island. And not only that, the exiled person gets to pick someone to go with him. That is certainly a change. We'll have to see how this plays out, but I am encouraged that it gives people the chance to make alliances before the merge. Could be good, and it really doesn't hurt you to share the clue with someone from the other tribe, as long as you team up with them later. The other twist is that you can go to the other tribe if you want to from Exile. Does that mean the two people switch or do two people go back to one tribe? We'll have to see that play out. I think you really have to be on the outs to switch tribes, but if they pull a tribe swap someone could switch back to get in with their people.
Strategy Analysis
Going into tribal this time it was really a choice between Sierra and Candice. Sierra has the stigma of being the person originally voted out and it is always hard to change first impressions. I hated how it came up at tribal that there was resentment toward Sierra because she wasn't on the trek and was flown to camp in a helicopter. That's completely irrational. There shouldn't be any resentment since it wasn't her choice. The team voted for her to do that. But this isn't a rational game.
Again, at the beginning it's bad to be weak but it's worse to be annoying or negative. Sierra was pretty weak but she wasn't annoying like Candace was. So that throws a wrench in the works.
My Prediction
Sierra. I didn't think that she was strong enough to win over the gamers. Wrong again, looks like they were getting rid of Candace with her bad attitude.
Season total: 0-2 (.000)
Spell Check
Right: 4
Wrong: 4 (Candice 3, Candance (seriously, Candance?))
Other: 0
Season total: 8-8-0 (.500)
Quick hit thoughts
I'm not sure that this year's crop of survivors are the brightest bulbs in the shed. First Sandy didn't know what a pace was. Then Sierra and Brendan are digging a huge hole on the beach and then just tell Debbie that they're digging a fire pit for that night. Not only does she buy it, she thinks it's a great idea and then the other tribe members mention how hard they are working.
Immunity Challenge
When do they usually start the reward challenge? I was confused since this challenge was for reward and immunity. That shocked me. The physical challenge is becoming a staple for Survivor. I do like that they put it really early in the game when the contestants are still somewhat strong. Can you imagine this on day 31?
It took a minute to realize that both goals are on the same side of the field. That's probably better since the game would have taken forever if they had to go back and forth. With that geometry it seems like there is at least one clear strategy - shoot for your goal from between the two. If you miss long then the ball is far away from the other team's goal. If you shoot from the outside and it comes down in the middle they can just grab it and dunk (like Crystal from Gabon). They didn't really seem to get this part of it.
Taj was a physical force playing this game. With that said she was also a chucker. Passing her the ball was like giving it to Ian, you just knew that she was going to shoot so you can stop looking to get the ball back. The other parallel watching this episode was that this was like playing pool basketball with Brendan and his water polo friends. Completely brutal and a test of wills.
In the end Jalapao won the challenge and the fishing gear. But wait, there is Exile Island. And not only that, the exiled person gets to pick someone to go with him. That is certainly a change. We'll have to see how this plays out, but I am encouraged that it gives people the chance to make alliances before the merge. Could be good, and it really doesn't hurt you to share the clue with someone from the other tribe, as long as you team up with them later. The other twist is that you can go to the other tribe if you want to from Exile. Does that mean the two people switch or do two people go back to one tribe? We'll have to see that play out. I think you really have to be on the outs to switch tribes, but if they pull a tribe swap someone could switch back to get in with their people.
Strategy Analysis
Going into tribal this time it was really a choice between Sierra and Candice. Sierra has the stigma of being the person originally voted out and it is always hard to change first impressions. I hated how it came up at tribal that there was resentment toward Sierra because she wasn't on the trek and was flown to camp in a helicopter. That's completely irrational. There shouldn't be any resentment since it wasn't her choice. The team voted for her to do that. But this isn't a rational game.
Again, at the beginning it's bad to be weak but it's worse to be annoying or negative. Sierra was pretty weak but she wasn't annoying like Candace was. So that throws a wrench in the works.
My Prediction
Sierra. I didn't think that she was strong enough to win over the gamers. Wrong again, looks like they were getting rid of Candace with her bad attitude.
Season total: 0-2 (.000)
Spell Check
Right: 4
Wrong: 4 (Candice 3, Candance (seriously, Candance?))
Other: 0
Season total: 8-8-0 (.500)
Quick hit thoughts
- Taj is married to Eddie George?! That's fantastic. He was a fantasy stud for years. If she follows the same trajectory she'll dominate for 8 weeks and then not be able to walk by the end of the show.
- An argument about how to cook beans and rice, together or not. Coach is going to rub these people the wrong way.
- In the challenge, JT totally faked out Jerry. Doesn't he know you shouldn't leave your feet?
Labels: Buckeyes, physical challenge, Tocantins
# posted by Andy Hejl @ 5:24 PM 
Comments:
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I should've posted earlier when I was fresh... but two quick things:
1. What were Coach and Tyson doing in the water with the burlap bags? It looked like they were dropping rice and beans into the water but then catching them with the bag. Weird. Coach is not going to last long.
2. Why is Coach so horrible in the challenge? It was like he was totally out of shape.
3. Don't you think that Brendan's clue refers to the same hidden immunity idol that Sierra already told him about? I suspect they are one and the same.
4. Not only is Taj married to Eddie George, she is also a Grammy-nominated singer. She was apparently part of SWV (Sisters with Voices, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWV), which I do not remember at all, but which my roommate swears was the rival to TLC back in the day. If the cast thinks she doesn't need the money b/c of Eddie, wait til they realize she's also a successful singer in her own right. Taj ain't struggling for money, that's for sure.
5. Good man-gun reference. That guy was definitely a chucker.
1. What were Coach and Tyson doing in the water with the burlap bags? It looked like they were dropping rice and beans into the water but then catching them with the bag. Weird. Coach is not going to last long.
2. Why is Coach so horrible in the challenge? It was like he was totally out of shape.
3. Don't you think that Brendan's clue refers to the same hidden immunity idol that Sierra already told him about? I suspect they are one and the same.
4. Not only is Taj married to Eddie George, she is also a Grammy-nominated singer. She was apparently part of SWV (Sisters with Voices, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWV), which I do not remember at all, but which my roommate swears was the rival to TLC back in the day. If the cast thinks she doesn't need the money b/c of Eddie, wait til they realize she's also a successful singer in her own right. Taj ain't struggling for money, that's for sure.
5. Good man-gun reference. That guy was definitely a chucker.
I'm not sure whether Coach and Tyson were washing the beans or something? I thought they might be getting bait fish.
Coach didn't perform this week in the challenge either. One of the girls totally dusted him running down the course.
I am pretty sure that the immunity idols are not the same. Since the one that Sierra had an opportunity to find was good only for the tribe's first tribal council.
Coach didn't perform this week in the challenge either. One of the girls totally dusted him running down the course.
I am pretty sure that the immunity idols are not the same. Since the one that Sierra had an opportunity to find was good only for the tribe's first tribal council.
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