It's easy to know when to use the idol when you are seeing the show and know what the other guys are going to do. Results oriented thinking FTW.

I think Reynold's idol play has been perfect so far. Why would you not play it if you have been lied to twice already?

I think this season is about to get a lot better... it's been pretty good from an entertainment standpoint, but I think with the marine and hantz gone it's about to focus less on the distracting drama stuff and there's gonna be a lot of very good survivor play.

He "wound up in the minority alliance" by spending time exclusively with the minority of his tribe and we've seen him dismiss the rest as "nerds". Being charming and staying in the lake is alienating behaviour and his attitude pretty clearly wasn't one of mass inclusion. He also allowed himself to get pulled into the Shamar bull, which was beneath him and didn't wear particularly well.

Having a social game means placing yourself in a position to exercise influence and he's done pretty much none of that. If he got a do-over and asked for my thoughts, I'd tell him not to make a bee line for the pretty girl, not to fool around with her on the first night when that puts a clear target on you, not to dismiss people you see as lesser than yourself and not to assume that charm/looks/challenge proficiency is going to be enough to engender trust.

Bump. Just lol Brandon.

Does anyone know how the rules work on the challenges?

Would Sherri, after being called out by Probst, be able to just be a runner and feed coconuts to Reynold and stop shooting?

This would obviously be better, just let Reynold take all the shots and just have a bucket brigade of people feeding him so he can shoot every 15 seconds.

I'm assuming this isn't allowed and that all of the shooters need to shoot, otherwise we would see a lot of other challenges just having people assist their strong players.

Brandon is mentally ill.

If he wasn't Russell Hantz's nephew, he would have never passed the psychological screening to be cast on the show in the first place.

SS:

I've never seen someone do that (brenda): Brenda machine gunning the words crazy and nuts. For instance, she's never seen that kind of nutness. Never in her whole life. She thinks Brandon will justify it as being the hero of the show. ( He dumped out everyone's rice. How is that in any way heroic? Now Brenda and Erik, who were nothing but nice to Brandon do not get to eat.) She says she doesn't know how anyone can justify that, and I agree. Only in a warped/broken mind does it make any sense. "Yeah, I've watched Survivor meltdowns before. But this goes beyond the game. This was something deep...something...medical, I think." "Should we hide the machete? He's a little weasel. A strong one. He could like...wrestle somebody. He doesn't care. He obviously doesn't care." (Legit honey badger.)

They're younger, but I'm better (Drama Queen): "Standing in there holding that rope. Realizing that I could do this ALL DAY LONG. Sitting there like the rock of Gibraltar. And then, to make sure I didn't flinch. I didn't show any level of give-uped-ness...I reached back to my ancestors. Kunta Kinte. Cause everybody knows about Kunta Kinte. That was Alex Haley's, Roots. (THIS is what self-scripted pandering to the camera looks like, people.) ...when you go back to the mother land from a deep, deep, spiritual knowing...{mimes holding the rope again}...You can sit all day. Athletes do it all the time, doctors do it when they've got a critical patient on the table and it looks like all's gonna be lost...they just hang in there. They get through it. That's my motto for the season. 'They're younger, but I'm better.' I got the heart of a lion. yada yada I'm a force to be reckoned with this season."

he's a quitter (corrine): She mad. "All this time I thought Russell Hantz was the biggest asshat in Survivor history, and it turns out Brandon's got that title now. Congratulations, Brandon. ...20 year old punk...watched many seasons of Surivivor, but don't recall anyone being that horrible... Thankfully, Phillip walked away...he wasn't done...there's a machete around camp...you don't know...he clearly didn't have any boundaries. And then, you're like, what now? We were already going to send him home, do we send him home now? We don't want to win the challenge. This is not throwing the challenge, which I've never been a big fan of. This is going in and FORFEITING...not even playing the challenge. If it was up to me, we would not have given him the luxury of getting voted out....going to tribal. He's a quitter. He should never be allowed to play the game again." (IMO, this is the second time he has quit the game. Quit in bizarre fashion the first time too. Seems clearly self-destructive.)

SS Brandon: Floating with Erik in the water, re-telling the Cochran and Andrea 'let's vote out Corrine scene from last week'. "They're turning on their own people." Erik: "That's good news. If they're not messing with us. That's good news." Brandon: "If they are, I'm gonna go ape ****." Brandon confessional: "You can't cage somebody up and kick the cage, then let him out and expect him to be part of the group. I'm not gonna be on the bottom and be kicked on, spit on, and everything else. (obviously not taking the wwjd route this time) B to E: "What would you want me to do if you were voted out?" E intsa...: "I don't want you to do anything. If you have a chance, you gotta stick around." B: "If you get voted out...I'm burning it down." edit "Would you help me." Erik pause: "I would help you I think." Erik voice over: "I like Brandon as a friend, but he's a loose cannon. The guy is an emotional roller coaster." B: "Okay, this is it, man. If we lose, we bring down the house. And we make it a tribal to remember. And I'll stand up at tribal and say I was the coordinator of that. BOOM!" Brandon confessional: "I'm between a rock and a hard place. If I go to tribal, it will just be embarrassing getting voted out. If I go to tribal burning the shelter and peeing in the rice and the beans...it's gonna be kind of fun, to be honest with you. It'll be more of a bang going out. If I'm going out...what do I have to lose? I could make them be miserable the rest of the time that they are here." (He thinks he comes off more positively by peeing in the food and burning the shelter down instead of getting voted out like a man, and we don't think he's off the rails?)

SS2:

winning is for losers (cochran): Re: the reward challenge. "We didn't need to win the challenge, we wanted to win the challenge. That's the difference between the two tribes right now. We went back to camp and had a feast prepared by Brandon. Some wine was a treat. But we're getting restless. We keep winning. Winning? That's not my mantra. Winning is for losers. Losing is where the game begins. So there's a part of me that's kind of antsy for some sort of loss and some sort of shake up, but for the time being, I'm happy."

it's totally unacceptable (erik): "I understand where Brandon is coming from, having made a big mistake on Survivor in the past. I have a lot of compassion for Brandon's situation, but that's unacceptable that he can do that to our camp. That he can destroy everything that we've worked to build. I mean, I thought we were a team. I thought this could be a team effort. I was leery of Phillip. I was leery of Corrine. But we were turning things around...we were clicking. We are about two or three votes away from a possible merge situation. We have the numbers. We have food. We had STEAKS the other day. And to just go nuts like that {throws up hands}. To say I love you guys, but I'm gonna trash camp. It's unacceptable. It's totally unacceptable. And as much as you can like the guy, he's gotta go. That's horrible. That's totally wrong. I can't say that I'm surprised that Brandon lost it, and destroyed all the rice and the beans. I can't say that I'm surprised that Brandon reacted the way that he did. I'm just sad that I didn't say sooner...you know, you gotta let this go. This is a game. I'm sad about myself. I'm sad that I didn't say sooner, these are the warning signs...this guy is unstable, you shouldn't be on his side, but at the same time, I felt for the guy. I really feel for the guy still. I'm sad that he's gone. Me and him could have done good things in this game. We could have played a good loyal game with each other and now it's all thrown away. ....And maybe I should have helped Brandon more. Maybe I should have helped coach Brandon more. Be a mentor. But I didn't want to control the kid. And then I'm torn by the fact that...this is just another awful decision that I've made...to team up with somebody who is emotionally unstable. Brandon is a three legged table. He was going to fall over eventually. I should have seen the signs. I should have known this was going to happen. So I'm torn between feeling horrible for myself and horrible for Brandon. (Feels like he's stuck with the favorites.)

It's not like he ended up in the minority by accident though. It's clear from his post-TC reactions that he's someone who just says what he thinks and does what he wants, unable/unwilling to keep himself in check.

I want to say there were some stories floating around about Brandon beating his wife before he came on the show the first time. Really wouldn't surprise me at all.

Probst: "Brandon, I don't want you to get physical, all right?"

John Cochran ‏@JohnMCochran
I would've poured out the rice a hell of a lot sooner had I known that that was all it took to get a deep tissue massage from Probst.

I was with you until the "This wasn't a meltdown, it was a ploy part." i disagree. i agree he saw the writing on the wall and that's what caused the meltdown. he showed clear signs of emotions getting the better of him in south pacific. they were far less prevalent there though because almost the entire game went his way until he was voted out. but there were clear signs that this was possible before the season started after we saw what happened in south pacific.

SS3:

I got scared (andrea): Andrea is recounting the blow up. Corrine in the back ground trying to salvage rice. Dawn exits the shelter with the machete (presumably to hide it). Later Brenda clumps by stiff legged with a wrap on her knee. "I don't know exactly what they're fighting about, but basically there has been this Phillip vs. Brandon feud the entire time. He went down the beach. We're not sure where he went, but we're hiding the vegetables from him, trying to recover what we have left of our food. .... When I saw Brandon storm in and start throwing our food everywhere, I got actually really scared. (seems a bit teary) And then it made me really sad that he's so...whatever is going in his mind that he thought it would be okay to throw all our food. We've seen little bits of this the last several days. He's been up and down, up and down, and it's just bubbled over. It culminated, and he went off. We just have no choice, but he needs to go. ... Right now the plan is to go to the challenge and tell Jeff that we're not going to play and we want to go to tribal council. I mean, we can't live with him here after he did that. Who does that? Who throws your rice and beans into the sand? It sucks because it's a numbers game, but at this point, we are ready to go to TC. It sucks because I actually bonded with Brandon out here, and he works really hard around camp. And I want to see him succeed. Do his best for his family (teary again) and everything...it's just...for someone to go off the handle like that...it's a little scary. Especially when you are out here and you don't have much to eat anyway...to see someone do that....it gives you a sick feeling. I think he needs to just go home"

he needs help (dawn): So after he yells at Phillip, Phillip goes down the beach...Brandon comes back up to the shelter and he says, "You're not going to vote me out, I'm going to get myself kicked outta here," and then he jumps up like a monkey onto the shelter...the rice is full...and the beans are there...and he grabs the rice...in slow motion you hear Malcolm and Erik, "noooooooooooooo, Brandon!" and he dumps the rice...actually it's kind of a throw. And within a second people are running over to try to get him...I think to try to detain him...and he grabs the beans and takes the bag and flips it open...and stuff is everywhere. The rice is everywhere. It's over an 8 foot span...rice fan. (she's stifling emotion...appears mostly mad) .... It's crazy. You can't make sense of it. That's the thing. There is no way to understand what he did. He doesn't even understand what he did. I guarantee you he never will. He doesn't think what he did matters. He hurt everyone in the game and our place in the game because we are without food. (I guess spite goes completely over Dawn's head?) We were able to scrape up some of it. But it's got bugs in it. It's got sand in it. Wood in it. It's got all kinds of crap in it. So...that's where we're at. ... I wanted to talk to Brandon after because I was worried...I mean, that was outrageous. Maybe he's literally out of his mind. I felt like I could probably assess that he shouldn't come back, period. He shouldn't be here at all. Or if he's just got a hot head, we need to talk him down, someone needs to apologize, there's more to it...I felt like I didn't really know what was going on. For me once, I saw him, I realized there wasn't going to be a way to break through. I think Brandon already has that tendency. And something about this experience in the game for him...whether it's the lack of food or something going on with him personally....it just took him over the edge. That's what we saw. We have to get rid of Brandon. It's not good for the tribe. But ultimately it's not good for Brandon. I feel like he needs help. There's nothing we can do for him that's gonna help him. ... I feel like we've been playing to win this and I don't want Brandon destabilizing anything. (WE, Dawn? There can be only one.) I'm not going to give it to him. There is no way I'm going to let that whole experience take away what's been going on. We've been positioning ourselves to be a solid nine. We could position ourselves to be a solid 8 and all go to the merge...like we really could do this. And I think he thought he just messed with it, but I'm not gonna let that happen. (Somebody tell Dawn this isn't a team game.)

SS4:

going out on my terms (brandon): "so I said, you know what Phillip, I'll give you a reason to vote me out." Recounts his big baby tantrum complete with chair flipping. "Phillip ran like a little girl. Special Agent style. I. I am the only person who is the author of my fate in this game. Not Phillip. Me. When it's time for me to go home...just like last season...I gave my immunity necklace up...It was me who did it. I'm doing it this time too. I'm not giving somebody a reason to throw a challenge on me. I'm not going down Russell's path for his last season. This is my last season of Survivor. I'm going out on MY terms. Not nobody else's terms. EVER. And I will screw everything up until they...until I vote me out of this game. And he won't talk to me stupid no more. (Proceeds to rant at himself IMO, but inserts Phillip's name first.) ...Phillip, you're a punk. You're a follower. You don't even know who YOU are. You think you're still a freaking cartoon character. (Now back to Phillip.) Nobody cares about special forces R US. Only you. I'm better at this game than you, Phillip. I'm better at this game. You know why? I got you to believe me for nine days...that I liked you. But every single second, I loathed you. And I screwed it up for me. You didn't guess it. Cause you never would if I wouldn't a said something. ...I don't even want to say any more."

btw, I thought A) Reynold needing to learn that telling people you have the idol is bad, B) telling Eddie anyway and C) his assessment that finding idols "Is how you play Survivor" are further good examples of a questionable social game/understanding of basic strategy.

SS5:

I'm playing to win (Dawn): Other tribes' faces are really lean. Eddie shrank. Dawn considered sharing reward because they're human. But those rules don't apply in this game.

I can relate to the fans (Malcolm): Good ol' Matsing.

Brandon decides to stay (brandon): to Dawn: Physically I feel like the toughest guy in the world, but mentally, I feel like a baby. And I feel so irresponsible. And I gotta think of that first. I should have thought of that first before I did this. cut to Dawn confessional: "Want to have compassion for Brandon, but it's hurting the tribe. We all have a job to do and this is a major disruption. It's a lot easier to play the game when you can predict his responses and to me Brandon is someone you can never predict." ... Brandon gathers everyone around and tells them he wants to stay for his family. ... Erik says he can identify with Brandon. "We both have made mistakes in this game. We play the game more emotionally than most people. We both play the game nervously and worry about mistakes." Brandon says he needs to stay out of the shelter because it makes him feel crazy in there, but seems in a more positive state of mind at the moment.

brandon the next day: Lost 13 lbs. Challenges more physical. Elements way worse. Likes that he actually played this time. Poor kid is so clueless. Motivation for pouring out the beans and rice was 90% pissed off and 10% spiteful revenge. (I think those are the same thing, Brandon.) By damn, he will not allow himself to be voted out the game. LOL, thinks his baby tantrum was evidence of coming out of this like a man instead of a little boy. LOL These Hantzes are something else. "I went from a boy to man in two seasons. Ain't nobody gonna stomp all over me anymore. And I made that clear." Thinks his exit was glorious. This immature child thinks he's an adult. Says respect about ten times. Best moment in the game was making it rain with them beans. The douche is strong in this one.

One of many sad things here: He actually played a good game the first time until his exit...the rest of his cast seems to think he'd have won. Too many jaws flapping in his ears.

I wouldn't rate Reynold very high based on what we've seen from him so far, but I don't think showing Eddie the idol is too bad, and I think C) is mostly just him being excited right after finding another idol.

Man, this season would have been so much better if they brought Albert back instead of Francesca

Agreed but it wouldn't really fit the theme of people who need to redeem themselves or made huge errors.

I was upset last night that production allowed Brandon to maintain face by being voted when they should have likely stepped in and expelled him from the game. As it seemed he was an endangerment to everyone on the island including himself and his peers shouldn't have been given that task.

Yes. Particularly one set of jaws that wouldn't relish him doing well.

Maybe they will have an Albert vs. Sash season.

I think Brandon would have preferred that...it's what he was aiming for. Was trying to avoid the tribe voting him out. I think he actually lost face by allowing the tribe to vote him out. Not that he had much face left to lose. He went on a baby temper tantrum. Hard to save face after you've behaved like an irrational child.