Sigh. I'm going to have to watch that dreadful scene again...

I'm not making a gif of that piece of **** situation unless I'm leaving Brenda in there.

Really? I thought it demonstrated why Brenda was a weak player. She didn't come ready to play a game. Her strategy of appearing weak is fine but she showed that she didn't understand that winning the family reward was what put her out of the game and that loyalty in a million dollar game is not going to guarantee reciprocity. She wasn't playing Survivor she was playing Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

Guarantee the pre-theme song clip in the finale will be Dawn melting down over what a tough decision she had to make and how hard it is out there and bla bla bla

From Gordon's interview with Brenda http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv/...wn-ever-again/

Such flawed thinking. Clint Eastwood sums it up best.

Seems like she's the only one able to recognize Cochran was the biggest threat, so she has that going for her.

Were Phillip and Brenda saying Dawn's game was too cruel when she was lying her ass off to Malcolm and Co. that week they were planning to blindside Malcolm? Maybe it was only Cochran and Andrea who thought that was a good plan? The rest thought it was too villainy to mislead the other side like that? I bet Phillip morally objected to Dawn abusing Corrine's trust the week they booted her off.

It's her emotional neediness that is causing her the problems. She's just take take take from people. They might be able to live with her decisions against them if they didn't have to coddle her in the game all the time. Decision-wise she and Cochran are playing in tandem. But he's not requiring the emotional support from others that Dawn is. Even so, I think they are mistaking her weakness for cruelty...and I don't think that's a particularly fair assessment.

She should have kept it anyway and used Dawn as an excuse. I'd love to give you guys this, but I can't take it away from Dawn...sorry. I was ranting at the TV when she gave away the reward. She had already made the decision to pick Dawn and screw the others and she should have stuck to that.

the 2 are not necessarily mutually exclusive

I think they see Don's emotional neediness as hypocracy and even sociopathy considering her cutthroat backstabbing. I think that's a fair assessment.

Ponderosa

Andrea fits in well with the guys: Reynold has infected cuts and is getting IV antibiotics. He's holding Andrea's hand and taunting Eddie that this was all part of his master plan...fall on his sword, get voted out, and try to get Andrea to fall on his sword at Ponderosa. She's laughing and playing along. Malcolm says Ponderosa is still a bunch of guys hanging out. Andrea is a cute girl, but she grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and she can run with the boys. Reynold concurs. Malcolm predicts Cochran and Dawn are sitting on top of things and Eddie should be coming home. Phillip predicts Dawn. Reynold shaved off the awful stache and is obv rooting for Eddie. Andrea strolls into the compound wearing some eff-me shorts and short boots, and the guys get sidetracked for a bit. Michael rooting for Eddie and Cochran.

Brenda arrives at Ponderosa: Brenda realizing she wasn't in control like she thought. Trying to find the lesson. Everyone greeting her with hugs and saying she played a great game. Brenda crying and soaking in the love. Andrea, "Did you know I was going out?" Brenda, "Yeah, I knew." Andrea nonchalantly, "Dammit, it was everybody."

Brenda lost 10-12 lbs. Already a stick.

Reynold: "You know, appearance vs. reality with Dawn. What she preaches ain't what she practices."

Phillip: "If you're not mad right now, give yourself a couple of days." The guys erupt in laughter at Phillip and Phillip is nodding.

Phillip: "Some of these people, they have no heart. Regardless of how many children they have and how many they've adopted. ...Referring to Dawn, I am {punctuates by jutting his chin at us}." (Yeah, Phillip, because underhanded maneuvering in Survivor is a better measure of a woman than providing a loving home for orphaned children in the real world. Somebody call social services and get those poor kids away from that scumbag.)

Brenda repeating the mantra that she's not angry...that's the game.

JB is right, Brenda's exit interview on RHAP was ok for a recruit or someone who hasn't watched any previous seasons of Survivor. As a self-proclaimed gamer and "strategist" though, her decision and subsequent defense of that decision indicated just how naive Brenda still is about the game. If in this era of Survivor you're actually expecting selflessness to garner long-term good will and be rewarded then you're a complete idiot. Brenda was also hypocritical and the notion that Dawn and the people who voted her out weren't "good people"--while she presumably is--was particularly lolworthy. In short: Lol Brenda (I'd still hit it though).

While I can't stand Dawn - she annoys me to no end - one thing I can't accuse her of us insincerity or fakeness in her emotions.

Choose the Dark Side. Let the hate flow through you.

It would actually be Darth Meehan...noob.

Dreamz gives his perspective:

Dre Herd
I didn't know that being nice was a threat. she shouldn't have trusted Dawn. I would've look out for her because of her good heart.
Like · · Unfollow Post · 22 hours ago via Mobile

I get that Dawn made the right move. Brenda was a threat.


I still think it is odd that Dawn's move will, for some, seem acceptable game play by the jury, while Russell's moves, all having no hint of any previous emotional attachemnt with the victim, somehow are viewed as ruthless and unacceptable.


We humans are funny creatures. We say ...."give it to me straight--up." and Russell says you screwed me over and you are going home. Straight-up? Yes. Is he a bully? Yes? do you resent that he trivialized you? yes. Will you vote for him? No.


But then we have Dawn. She bonds with Brenda. Brenda calms her emo ass the whole time. Brenda fishes her teeth out of the water. Brenda picks her for the food reward. Dawn votes Brenda out.


In the end Dawn will cry and say it was the hardest thing she did and it hurt all her values but it was about winning a million dollars and Brenda was a threat, and Dawn might actually get jury votes.


Funny thing is when Russell sent you home it was water off a duck's back to him. When Dawn does it then it is a huge conflict with her values. But she does it anyway.


Does anyone not see that Dawn's approach is much more hurtful than Russell's, becuase Russell didn't care. Dawn cared and did it anyway.


I guess the answer is we are much more tolerant of hypocrites than bullies. But, Boston Rob et al proved this long ago.

SS

Cochran's mom: "My family has always described me as not having a heart, but when I saw him, and as I got close to him, I was in tears and so was he and it was just such a beautiful moment to see him after 35 days. I couldn't take my hands off of him." Paraphrase: Have both been huge fans since day 1. Being out here is surreal. A dream come true for both of us. We talked some strategy at the BBQ. Felt like old times. Got the impression he has re-invented himself this time around. Played a more active role in strategizing and making decisions. Feels good about it. No mention of thank you to Brenda.

eddie's mom: Very proud to be Eddie's mother. He looked like a mountain man. Never seen him like that. He looked so dirty, but so good. Chocolate chip cookies will be awaiting him when he gets home. "He's such a smart kid." Once in a lifetime opportunity to get to experience this with Eddie. No mention of thank you to Brenda.

edward T fox junior son of edward T fox the third: Never seen Eddie looking like the wolfman. He's the same ol' happy guy that I always see. He's one of a kind. Blessed to have him for a son. Luckiest guy in the world to be Eddie's dad. Amazing experience...a beautiful thing. No mention of thank you to Brenda.

erik's brother: Erik is so skinny. His brother is kinda boring too. And also talks about food. Never seen Erik eat that much. He needed that food. Awesome Erik got to spend this time with both brothers. Once in a lifetime experience. No mention of thank you to Brenda.

Sherri's husband: Owns seasons of Survivor and has watched them multiple times. Huge fan. Lost it when he heard her voice. So good to see her and touch her. Talks about how hard being apart has been. They spend a lot of time together normally so it's been difficult. He started a journal to help himself cope. It's over 100 pages now. Stoked to be competing on Survivor with Sherri vs. people he is fans of. "This was a gift from her to me." (Actually, it was a gift from Brenda.) So great to be able to experience this as a family. No mention of thank you to Brenda.

erik's older brother: Erik's hair really bushy and cool. Nourishing relationship with his younger brother...guide him and instruct him. yada yada. Best friends. Perfect that he got to compete with Erik in a challenge. A chance for their family to shine. (They lost to a skinny girl and her skinny dad.) But overall it ended up better for them. FINALLY...some gratitude. "The sacrifice that both of the girls made was really great. I thank them for that. Because of their sacrifice, i got to spend time with both of my brothers out here." (Dawn getting some credit here. Not sure she was really on board with the decision. Her bamboo slamming seemed to suggest not.) Sounds like Erik sugar coated his love for the experience he is having. No mention of his suicidal climb up the palm tree apparently.

cochran's dad: "I am Jack Cochran. I am Cochran's dad." That tickled me a bit. LOL is detailing making a pyramid of the charcoal and waiting till they turned gray in order to BBQ the food. Very clinical sounding. When the crew arrived, they ate them very expeditiously and ravenously...it was dramatic. (this guy is gold) Very proud of Cochran. He's grown a lot. Surivvor has been very good for him as far as his emotional and social growth. He's still very sweet and innocent guy in many ways, but he's become more practical...maybe bordering on cynical at times...so that's all good preparation for life. (I hear Cochran in his dad's cadence.) He takes after both parents in many ways...they even argue about who he takes after the most...which is a sign that they care about him and have had an influence on him. No mention of thank you to Brenda.

sherri's son: Talks about cooking the food for the players ahead of time. Mom leaped into his arms. (Kid is beaming.) Goes on about how excited Sherri was about everything...ice, best cola ever, napkins, towels, everything. Realize that you take advantage of the simple things. Like forks. Mom lost a lot of weight. It was quite shocking. Very proud of his mom. Speechless about how far she has gotten. She's very charismatic. "I think she has quite a strong chance."

LOL

Also how have Dawn's allies not realised that she has played this way the entire game starting with Fran. I'm sure almost everyone on the jury spent time comforting Dawn and she didn't have any problems with voting them out so why should Brenda or Cochran expect anything different. She brought two knives to the island, one to stab them in the back and another to slit their throats.

Maybe some people think both are behaving unacceptably (by playing to win even if it hurts others--though I'm not sure why those people are fans of the show...you'd think they'd be morally opposed or something), but they just like Dawn better so they excuse it in her case.

I know my mother in law has said that she likes it when people feel badly about having to vote people off. I think she said something about it makes them seem human. She doesn't like bullying. She doesn't like people talking vindictive smack in the confessionals. She typically identifies with the emotional wrecks and says she would probably be the same way. I think she likes it when the tables get turned on the bully/scheming types. I've been working on trying to adjust her thinking over the years, but have had little success getting her to come over to the dark side. (She does like Malcolm at least.)

It was hard for Dawn. I don't really begrudge her that. I don't take it as an indictment against me or my values that Dawn has a much harder time forcing herself to play what she believes is the best game for herself than I imagine I would (and I also am open to the idea that I'm wrong about what I am capable of). I mean, it's a game, but it's a game of people not inanimate objects. Every time you vote someone off, you end that person's chances to win the milly. If you have come to care for the person you are voting off...I can see how that can be difficult. Additionally, if you have to betray trust and loyalty that you've built in order to get that person out of the game without exposing yourself to undue risk...I can see how that could be really difficult.

But many people value caring, and the lack of caring not so much. And many value the connections that they make with people and can overlook slights committed by people they otherwise have favorable feelings towards, but have a very difficult time overlooking slights committed by people they despise. Even a juror who doesn't particularly have hang ups about people doing what is best for themselves in the game, STILL might be someone who casts their vote based on who they like the most regardless of game play. I think people just value lots of different things, and in casting their votes, they weigh the sum of their estimation of not only a player's game, but their estimation of the player himself.

Or it could all just be as simple as...

no I am sorry, kim especially had some of the biggest mouthbreathers to every play the game. You do realize they do IQ testing for the show right? And that they explicitly have selected for dumb people in the past? Jeff probst has gone on record saying he explicitly does not want dumb people on the show anymore.... he said this non-facetiously, he meant it literally. He basically said this around maybe 2 months ago in a pretty interesting interview and it was clear he was alluding to that season.

boston rob, ok... but it took him 4 times to get there and twice he didn't even make the jury

here is what malcolm has said on ponderosa about the type of person he is voting for, don't know if you guys consider this spoilerish:

sweet i can remove you from ignore list now that your avatar isnt reducing my life expectancy