I didn’t say I didn’t like her. I just didn’t remember her.

Agreed, but it's also probably rates to be better for the show to have him on the show vs having only 2 returnees and his slot replaced by typical fresh meat. I don't particularly like the choice of Aubry either, she's a strong player but not especially entertaining. But again Aubry and Joe both coming back rates to be better than two randoms.

So everyone is virtually guaranteed to pick to stay in the game after being voted out right?

I think we might see some quits on Extinction Island purgatory with the way they're portraying it so far though.

There's not point quitting right away because you don't know the consequences of choosing to stay in the game, yet, so it's rather pointless which makes the initial decision pointless, too.

I would've preferred if they at least hinted what lies behind door number one and that it's GOING TO SUCK.

Not a huge fan of the new cast members, yet, but I obviously keep watching and probably a couple of personal favorites will emerge like they almost always do.

Overall, one of the weaker season openers in my book. Not too many memorable scenes, I doubt I'll be able to tell you anything about this episode a year or two from now.
I also didn't feel like they did a good job introducing me to the cast so I at least get any sense of what they're about.

It's funny how past seasons all merge together in my head at this point and I couldn't tell you which of the returnees played how many seasons before.

It was her father who was essentially unlikeable, not her.

That said, she did go sort of off the rails at tribal this week. I don't recall her being like that in her other seasons.

Probably for similar reasons to having Cirie on multiple seasons. I am sure that there's a tremendous amount of meek and mild mannered middle age men out there that find a rooting interest/inspiration in David. Also, his social game approach isn't the worst. He knows the impression that he gives off and leverages that pretty well from what I have seen.

I couldn't agree more with your comments on "War dog."

The people who genuinely think that David is a "useless" player really don't understand Survivor. He's very charming, incredibly strategic and really active and he basically controlled the entire boot order in his first season. He got himself to final 4 where if he had won the final challenge he'd have won 10-0-0 in addition he got there with his closest ally who was very torn about betraying him and had to be dragged to do so.

He's a strong social and strategic player much like Cirie who dominated 2 seasons. Joe is more "useful" in the tribal sense but to what end? He's had zero impact on either of the games he played beyond how other people perceived him and how that shaped their games and how Jeremy used him as a meat shield. David's made an alliance that went to rocks, played idols successfully, fooled other people with fake idols. He's good tv.

Likewise Aubry who really ran her season, Wentworth didn't but she had a much better underdog run than Joe at least in that she made it almost to the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lowucD9CiRM

Here's Wentworths most famous moment for those who forgot her. She has a lot of great moments in Cambodia. She was a nonentity in her first season though

I thought it was pretty universal that these were good returning players (if there have to be returning players), with the exception of Joe. Strictly in terms of gameplay, Aubry, David, and Wentworth have definitely proved themselves. And obviously Joe has proved himself in all the survival/challenge ways

The only thing that clip makes me think of is that I wish Spencer was a returnee instead of her.

Yeah this, most of the time those neurotic paranoid people are a complete disaster but he really turned his weakness into a strength and made himself look very nonthreatening while still having a decent grasp of what's going on.

Granted, he grew a lot from episode 1 where he was legit clueless from what I remember.

Sad the hot redhead did not get more airtime

Reem is annoying, I wanted to turn off the episode when she said "age discrimination".

No good deed goes unpunished, kinda sad that the bottom was decided by 2 people teaching someone else to swim. Though it's likely they'd have been on the bottom anyway.

I did not remember Wenthworth either. Though tbf I only recognize 7 people out of the 13 players shown in that tribal video posted higher.

She has aged and filled out some. None of the competitors have really shown their ribs from the Survivor diet in recent seasons.

So, I guess that Wentworth already has experience with the "Edge of Extinction."

Incredible article. I can't believe they manage 718 people on day 1, that's insane.

Think there's a pretty big chance it won't come into play if it has to be used by the third tribal. Even if they do go, Ron's likely in the majority and has no reason to use it.

Had totally forgot this. It was pretty bad ass.

I mean, I've seen every season but I'm not a superfan of the show like some of you...pretty likely to forget a few players here and there

If he doesn't use it, it would be really easy to use as a fake advantage. Just tear off the bottom part that says it expires after the 3rd TC. The edges are raggedy anyway, so you can make it look unsuspicious.

Amazing article, thanks for posting. No wonder they chose to stay in the same place from now on. Just the expense of moving people and equipment from place to place would be staggering).

Agree. That article was pretty awesome. I way underestimated the scale of the production.

Hello everyone! I accidentally got spoiled for this season through YouTube comments within like the first 4 days they got back from filming.

I was so pissed I didn't even watch David vs Goliath.

Is David vs Goliath worth watching?! If not I'm gonna start watching this season.

Yes. Best season in years

You didn't enjoy David's transformation in S1? He's an all time great. Only surprise was it took this long to bring him back. He likely declined the opportunity to play back to back seasons.

Extinction Island seems like an advantage catered to keeping Joe in the game even if he gets booted early.

+1

I think Probst confirmed somewhere that they use the EI/RI concept mainly/only for returning player seasons, implying it was for that reason.