+1.

Big respect to dawn for getting julia booted by playing her against phil.

Malcom seems to know what hes doing, hope he follows through.

Brenda was super sexy.

Good episode for the people i want to win imo.

I got to thinking about ways to improve the game, listed in rough order of value IMO.

1) stop bringing back returning players;
2) sequester Ponderosa;
3) start making the idol difficult to find/obtain again;
4) stop requirement casting;
5) returning to final 2;
6) bring back endurance challenges, especially as final challenge;
7) eliminate the loved ones episode;
8) force all reward challenges to involve a winner taking a subset of players;
9) tribe swaps are a school yard pick rather than random;
10) every second tribal council vote takes place immediately after the game with no discussion time.

Clovis, you actually had me going there until I got to #10

I knew 10 would be the least popular which is why it's last I just think it would add some interesting social scrambling if you can't know who will win immunity before you have to try to figure out how to vote. That's also why I suggest every second so that the original dynamic is maintained as well.

4 should read recruitment.

A foreign version of Survivor had a twist called the "black vote" or the "black necklace" where the immunity winning tribe would designate 4 members of the losing tribe with black votes/necklaces, restricting them to be the only ones eligible to be voted out

It really swung tribe dynamics and created some good drama where a majority subset of one tribe was forced to turn on each other in the one season I watched

they need to stop recruiting so many mactors period

bad enough that there's multiple players that were pulled off the street to play in this season, but the theme is FANS vs favorites ffs

I don't think people like Reynold or Eddie have the faintest clue of how to play this game, I doubt either has seen more than the 1 or 2 mandated seasons CBS had them watch before departing

bad enough when the theme of the season mismatches by virtue of experience, but the tribe that's supposed to be fans of the game has about 5 actual fans of the show on it

Adding the option to Mutiny at any immunity challenge could be interesting, with the stipulation that if the other tribe doesn't accept the mutineer that person is out of the game.

Really exited about the next episode and the prospect of a big power shift. After 7 episodes of Phillip boasting of how great he is, it would be a fantastic payoff if Phillip gets blindsided in spectacular fashion in one of the upcoming eps.

speaking of recruitment, who the f*ck casted Julia and Carter? surely there were at least 2 other people more worthy of a spot in the thousands that applied

They had something similar in an Israeli Survivor where the winning tribe would send a member of the losing tribe to Exile Island, with the added twist of that person being immune from TC by virtue of not being present

This caused people on the outs to pretty much blatantly volunteer and pander the other tribe to send them off

I don't recall that they even gave any clues this season, did they?

Nope all found without clues if I remember correctly.

why waste the paper

I agree they need to change idol hiding at least to some degree. I mean I guess they just want people to find them because they want them to be played because it adds to the game.

I never saw Heroes vs Villains but I always assumed that was a good pre merge?

Anyone know if an idol has never been found in a season?

Not sure Clovis but to me I like the hiding spots like last season on the lid of the rice pot or under a bridge (one that Russell found) whatever as opposed to randomly stuffed in a hole in a tree. Then clues mean something. And that can add to the game too, I mean Redemption Island was great here with all of Rob's great work to find the clues, throwing it into the volcano, catching that one woman on day one finding it in the rice, Phillip catching Rob and Grant reading it, etc.

SS

I didn't foresee this (Cochran): Calls out Brenda for being obnoxious. Says she was catatonic for the first 12-13 days of this game. Now she switches sides and is leaping up into Reynold's arms after the reward victory. Concerned about people gelling over on the other tribe. Realizes the favorites on the Gota tribe are in a much better spot, not because of the reward wins and so forth, but because they are able to make bonds with people who will potentially be on the jury.

SS Julia: Not really sure what Michael is gathering for Phillip, but he appears to be preparing the food the way Phillip likes it or something. Julia and Michael are discussing their potential votes at TC. No hard feelings, we may have to vote for each other and so forth. I wonder if Michael approached Corrine at all about the possibility of getting rid of Phillip?

No fun in dysfunctional (Dawn): "This experience teaches you so much about yourself and human nature. People most equipped to play this game are recent high school graduates, because they've just went through all the psychology and drama positioning themselves for...you know pole positioning, or people with a degree in psychology." Dawn struggles with the stress from sending people home even though she knows that it's them or it's her. Then outlines the drama between Phillip and Corrine over splitting the votes. "There should be no argument here. We all want the same thing. We agreed that Michael stays. The majority are in agreement that we split the vote. Cochran, myself, and Phillip all agree that we need to split the vote just to make sure that there is no idol in play." Corrine thinks Michael would be more trusting if they didn't throw any votes on him. (I think that's not giving Michael very much credit. The guy isn't dim. I also think it was pretty foolish of Corrine to make a fuss about this matter. The play is to blindside Phillip, or just keep your mouth shut and toe the line. Being problematic within your alliance for no good reason is NOT the play.) Dawn says there has been a lot of camp life disrespect between Phillip and Corrine and there is a hostility hanging in the air. "I feel a little like a child whose parents are constantly fighting. And for whatever reason, you're just praying they stay together. Keep the family together. And it's really dysfunctional. There is no fun in dysfunctional." Just hoping the favorites hold it together until the merge.

why are they keeping him? (Julia): On board for getting rid of Phillip. Pretending to be his student, but would love to vote him out. Natch.

Julia the next day: I'm not watching this. I'm sure this experience was once in a lifetime and taught her a lot about herself tho. Made her appreciate her family and so forth.

I knew she would respond to me ("the gay"--not that there's anything wrong with that): Michael outlining his relationship with Corrine. Knew they were a predestined match before they even met. The first thing he said to Corrine, "I'm so glad I'm with you. You're hilarious." ...and she liked that and responded to it. Michael slowly but surely trying to build trust with Corrine. (Sounds like he didn't want to push too hard to soon, but I really think he should have at least asked her if she'd consider getting rid of Phillip. Maybe he did? I don't think she realizes her position is as precarious as it might be, but if she did, I definitely think she would have considered getting rid of Phillip even tho it's very risky as far as damaging her other relationships in the game. I might compose my thoughts on this matter at a later date.)

It wasn't a pathetic challenge (dawn): Dawn felt better about their tribe's performance in this immunity challenge. Jeff hurt her feelings last time, calling them pathetic. She wanted to put the other tribe in the position they've been with regards to having to vote out these fans. Give Bikal more time to bond with these fans and explore possible working relationships with them. (Like you couldn't swap any of these people for Phillip and be in a better spot as far as having someone to work with (not beat in the end obv)? And that's hard to figure out?) Dawn into moral victories.

anger management 101 (corrine): Saw the boat, thought 'sweet'. "But here's the problem. If Phillip doesn't have a 30 minute head start, he can't perform." Ironically, Corrine is the female Phillip of pimping her own challenge prowess--though more accurate, to be fair. "Apparently, the only person who doesn't understand that Phillip is terrible at carnival games is Phillip. ....Just stop. You're a withered, fat, 54 year old who can't do anything. ...I'm in sales in my real life, and I have to blow a lot of smoke up people's asses. NOTHING compared to this. That man needs constant ego stroking. 24 hours a day. In the middle of the night he needs to be told thank you for getting up and getting wood. 24 hours a day he needs to be validated. ...There is no way to talk sense into him. You can't have a rational conversation. All you can do is puff his ego up until he quiets down. It's just about putting out fires with him. I have no option of ever having a reasonable conversation with him. (sounds like a great person to be in an alliance with for a grueling 39 days...enjoy).

I'm embarrassed (julia): Not a fan of losing. It's not like her. She and Michael have been very unlucky. Can't catch a break.

I did do the right thing (phil): Phillip has another feather and is blathering about his g-g-grandfather again. Blaming throwing the challenge on Jessem Hiram...I bet he's rolling in his grave. You know Jessem Hiram would not approve of throwing challenges.

SS2

I'm in the clutch spot (reynold): Neck and neck going into the grappling hooks, but he wasn't worried. Happy to have been put in the clutch spot. However, he was hoping with the new Gota tribe he could fade from the limelight instead of being out front as a challenge threat. But whatever, it's where he lives and thrives.

12th reward in a row (malcolm): Can't be a 100%, but if you go back this coffee shop reward is his 12th in a row. You'd think he'd learn to pace himself, but the fat kid inside of him went crazy. Shack of sugary treats...ooo that's sounds so delicious...kind of like how Malcolm looks.

I feel a little bad (Andrea): Was trying to battle overconfidence, but then saw what the immunity challenge was going to be and LOL gg Bikal. Feels bad that her friends on the other tribe are destined to lose, but brownies and cookies.

bikal is depressed (brenda): "In true Reynold fashion, he did an awesome job at tossing." Pretty sure she's slathered in baby oil fellas...might want to take a gander at this scene. "Phillip had no chance against OUR Reynold." Thinks the other tribe is cursing the day they cracked the purple egg on themselves.

I'm on cloud nine (eddie): New tribe is super fun time. There are pretty girls running around the camp again. Brenda and Andrea are so awesome. Even warming up to Sherri again. Checking everything off his list of things to accomplish. Beautiful girls to look at, hard work to get done, crushing challenges. It's awesome.

i live for rewards (erik): I know immunity is important, but I need food to live. Cannot put a price on food out here. Brownies and cookies, man.

it is unbelievable (eddie): Brownies and cookies, man.

lol at 'brownies and cookies, man'

I think I'd consider Reynold a good Survivor player if this were one of the first few seasons instead of the 26th.

Lolol, that's a perfect way to describe reynold

Reynold doesn't have the benefit of hindsight despite being labeled a fan of the show. He was recruited off the street, so he might as well be going in blind

He's making every amateur mistake in the book

It was, yeah. Not sure why people ITT considered Philippines good though, Russel was unwatchable and blue tribe got wiped out. If Denise/Malcolm didn't pull out a miracle run the season would have been considered "Ulonged", and you can't justify pre-merge as good based off what happens post-merge.

Regardless of exceptions (exception?), pre-merge is consistently worse than post-merge, but I guess after One World and RI they're afraid to mess with a "sufficient but not great" formula? What about tribes looting each other like on Pearl Islands? That seemed to work out pretty great.

The way I see it the breakdown if Malcolm is serious about the bros is:

1. Malcolm, Reynold, Eddie, Corrine, Michael
2. Phillip, Andrea, Dawn Cochran
Swings: Erik, Brenda, Sherri

Not sure why you think Brenda would go with Phillip and Andrea when they left her on the outs on the original favorites

Once merge happens the chances of Phillip making it to final 3 is close to 100% right? Everyone wants to go up against him at FTC.

Also since I just caught up in this thread I did the first 1500 post or something, but its not just me in thinking Sherri looks like Julia Roberts right?