I literally had Dee number 1 in my power rankings from episode 3 onwards? Katurah fell into the backup spot at the end by default on edit and edit alone. Make no mistake about it I think she is very likely the worst player of the new era. Dreadful at all three facets of the game.

For me a much much better season than 41-44, of course largely down to the 90 minute episodes.

Only slight dissapointment for me is now looking back at my locked in final 15 onwards winner picks in the new era;

S41 Deshawn = 2/15
S42 Mike = 2/15
S43 Cassidy = 2/15
S44 YamYam = 1/15
S45 Dee = 1/15

The editors really need to do a much better job at hiding who is ending up at final tribal. Take note from the Survivor Uk season which has just ended who similar to Survivor SA did a great job at keeping the game feel very open throughout.

Pretty sure Kellie and Emily voted for who they liked the best just as Drew did.

Jake won the night

Finally watched the finale:

Would love to see Jake back on another season, I think he learned a lot and was very aware of the game within the game. He would be one person I could see doing just as well the next time he played.

Austin handed the season to Dee. He had zero justification for why he should win over her because she controlled everything he did. And agree that Dee should have gone home so that final 5 vote lowered her in the overall ranks for me, although I'm glad it happened because anyone else winning would have been a huge disappointment.

Lmao Katurah you are a moron. I'm also positive that if she made FTC she would have been the other Jake and gotten zero votes, she didn't do anything the whole game. Possibly one of the top 5 dumbest moves in Survivor history joining Woo and Diamond Lil.

Does anyone else think that final immunity was pretty much set up for Dee to win? She'd already proven she had great coordination and stamina and any male was going to have a harder time with that type of stepping issue. That was tailor made for her to pull out the win.

Super happy they are continuing the 90 minute episodes because it made the season WAY better. Just because of that it was a top season in the past 5-7.

After listening to the exits I'm down a lot on Dee as a winner, but I gotta say I think the defining thing about this season will probably be Jake. Utterly horrific at the game, always trying and failing to make a big swing, him having a temper tantrum and breaking the final immunity challenge will for sure be one of the most memorable Survivor moments for me.

That switch by Katurah is completely inexplicable. She thinks everyone is voting for her... so she votes for Julie? If everyone votes for her she's gone regardless.

And then she blames Jake for not letting her know about playing his idol for her... why would that make any difference, she already didn't trust him to vote Dee so why would she trust him about playing his idol for her?

For someone who claims she's so logical and smart, she played most of the game like a basket case, starting with her obsession with getting Bruce out.

On the final immunity challenge, Probst actually talked about this on the podcast and it was interesting, at the very least it's designed in his mind to be fair for everybody. They had it tested out with dream teamers and the number of plates had to be designed with the shortest person in the cast in mind, which was Dee.

Don't think it's the most egregious example, but I do think production is "Happy" with Dee winning. Nothing too fishy about the game generally, so not a Ben situation.

Dee absolutely kicked ass on that final IC. Quite a performance. Would have been a crime if she didn't win the million tbh. Although I really did miss the spinning balls challenge... I'd be up for that being the final IC every season.

In the end, it was Zathura who went peepee in Austin’s Coke

This ^. I don't understand why people are so down on Jake except, obviously, he cries too much--but much of that is his passion for the game. He put forth ideas, which if followed, would have busted up the controlling alliance and opened up the game for everyone else, but Katurah insisted on helping the Reba 4 team win at every opportunity. During the tribe mix up, Jake's idea to force a tie and make Austin switch his vote to Julie was a daring plan, but Katurah wouldn't go for it. Presumably because she was afraid Kaleb and Jake would realign with Bruce which would have been the end of the world for her. Even though Bruce was targeting Kaleb and Kaleb knew it so the idea of them realigning for the long haul seemed a lot less likely than the very tight knit Reba people sticking together and dominating. Then, right in the critical moment, she makes Jake swear on his Nana to vote Dee and has such rampant trust issues, she'd rather vote in a way that defied logic (see above) than once again open the door for herself and everyone else. I mean, I guess people can say Jake played badly because he failed to talk Katurah out of her crazy, but his ideas were sound. If she doesn't trust him, maybe just give some thought to what's in his best interests and trust that he'll do that?

What kind of lunatic says no to voting Julie, insists it MUST be Dee, on Nana's fing life, then votes Julie and blames the person who saves her dumb @$$ with his immunity idol? She might want to get some therapy and figure her $#!% out.

Was wondering who he'd choose

please remind me to never watch this show again

Jake is an okay player completely harmed by being stuck on a 6 man tribe with Bruce and Katurah. In my opinion the two worst Survivor players in the new era.

He should be a lock if the next returnee season is a second chance season as he fits the theme perfectly. However I don't think it will be as they will want to cast Maryanne and YamYam


If I had to now predict a likely new era all stars season now the season is done;

Tribe 1 -
Ricard, YamYam, Omar
Emily, Shan, Noelle

Tribe 2

Jonathon, Jesse, Jake
Carolyn, Maryanne, S46 woman

Tribe 3

Carson, Caleb, S46 man
Dee, Drea, Cassidy

A lot (most?) of Survivor is bringing people around to your point of view when it is time to vote someone out. Jake failed at this, but he certainly didn't have much to work with. I know we only see a part of what's going on, but from the merge I could not understand why everyone else just let the Reba people just cruise through. At least Jake tried.

Jake needed to use the word survive five times in his speech. All he did was survive for the whole time out there and that’s at least an angle you could push.

I was really pleased with his knowing specific winners by seasons. I dont think they played him up as a superfan enough from day 1. People would have been into that.

I was a bit LOL at lawyers not being able to recognize other lawyers. I guess they don't have cop instincts.

In his winning season, Tony told everyone he was in construction. Early on in a confessional, Sarah says "I'm a cop. I know cops. He's a cop."

A better FTC contestant would have said:

Five minutes ago you were saying Drew vote was the first time I was left out. Ten minutes ago you were saying you play with your heart and emotion is part of your decisions and that you wanted to play an authentic game. Now you say you kept info from me, your #1 ally even until FTC. Obviously, that's not true (turn to jury) If you want to give her the title because she was most in control or made the biggest moves, I can respect that. But I'm the one who stayed true to my main allies, I'm the one who played the authentic and honest game. If that's what you value, pick me. Don't accept her claim that she played a true and honest game when she just told you that isn't true - she can't have it both ways.

Imposta syndrome

It's a weird comparison, but his season this time reminded me most of the season where Sandra beat Russell. She was sounding the alarm about Russell the whole season and trying (and failing) to get him out. She ended up winning because she was the last one standing, and could tell a credible story to a bitter jury that she told them to get rid of Russell and tried to make it happen.

Difference is Dee is a nicer person so Jake's story doesn't resonate as much since no one hated her.

I was LOL at the idea that a lawyer needs to lie about their occupation. Are lawyers really that big a target out there?

After years of procrastinating and never doing it, I just sent in a casting vid. In Survivor fashion, I didn't tell them I was a lawyer until the end.

Housenuts just admitted to being a lawyer

Housenuts

Enough said

He was legit shellshocked ... he could barely process the information.. he felt duped

I don't know if I'd say that on the show. Maybe? Probably better than crypto guy. But felt lawyer better than crypto guy for casting. Also have zero chance of getting on as a straight white man.