Board 8 > Reality TV Discussion Topic: Survivor, Amazing Race, Big Brother, etc.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Inviso posted...

Oh my fucking GOD. YES!

Somebody's fake idol BS FINALLY got called! Epic.

This episode was almost entirely character-based and it was the most interesting episode of the season thus far.

Them canceling this Tribal is dumb. Because their game plan is inflexible with the TWISTS!

Inviso posted...

This episode was almost entirely character-based and it was the most interesting episode of the season thus far.

But yeah, this. This episode is why Survivor clicks. Carson/Kane geeking out. Yam-Yam/Josh bonding over coming out to their mothers. Matt/Frannie crushing on each other. Carolyn Carolyning.

Huge upgrade from last week. Especially with Matthew out of the game. We'll see what became of his idol though.

Inviso posted...

This episode was almost entirely character-based and it was the most interesting episode of the season thus far.

agreed 100%

the extra time from not having tribal unironically improved the episode

matt getting medevac'd really compromised my draft oops, i had him going to f7

BlueCrystalTear posted...

Guessing we're getting a Matthew MedEvac, then a "to be continued" with the Tribal and merge next week. Merge Tribal would be in the following episode.

Or something.

There was no way this was ever gonna happen. This has only happened twice in Survivor history - the Outcast two-parter in Pearl Islands, and the penultimate episode/finale in Exile Island. No way would it happen on just a random-ass episode.

Underleveled posted...

There was no way this was ever gonna happen. This has only happened twice in Survivor history - the Outcast two-parter in Pearl Islands, and the penultimate episode/finale in Exile Island. No way would it happen on just a random-ass episode.

Don't forget the 41 merge.

Inviso posted...

Don't forget the 41 merge.

The second part didn't open on Tribal Council.

So where does Matthew climbing that rock land on the list of dumbest moves ever?

Medevac is the worstttt

Inviso posted...

...how are these two being SO open about this shit in front of Carolyn?

Misogyny

Also having a feast as an exile reward is awesome. The cross-tribe communication is pretty strong with these too. I don't think there will be many secrets after merge.

Big fan of the nerd bromance ("What's your favourite pokemon type", literally loled) and ongoing Matt/Frannie showmance segments, I know one if not both of them probably aren't long for this game once they get tagged with the pair target post-merge (really already tagged that way within their tribe already), but I'm hoping they stick around!!

https://parade.com/tv/matthew-grinstead-mayle-survivor-44-interview

interesting interview after Matt's exit - apparently *spoilers for next episode re: idol* He didn't go back to Ratu so he didn't have the chance to give anyone his idol

also apparently his best ally on ratu at the time was Kane?!?

does anyone on b8 watch drag race

Before this episode, I was gonna guess either Jaime or Josh was getting the merge boot edit...and Jaime definitely seems to be getting that edit thus far.

I think it could be either

I love how Jeff still pretends this isn't the merge.

Carson saved Jaime

I was so worried that purple would lose, because it's basically Brandon, and all the important characters thus far this episode. Orange is the team I like less, so good for Carson being a massive dork and 3D printing the puzzle.

Carson be wildin, damn

I think Kane is gonna go

Yeah I'm thinking Kane

Wow that was a lot more lopsided than I expected

Thank God.

that preview gives me Lauren goes vibes

I would've rather it been Kane but I'm fine with this instead of Yam-Yam

I want to like this season, but it feels like the only people who actually matter are the remaining Tika 3, and maybe a side of nerdmance. The majority of the cast feel so...background and irrelevant.

I was watching on a bit of a delay, so I didn't say anything. Josh gave me "merge boot" vibes for the whole episode, ESPECIALLY his early episode cockiness. I didn't think Kane or Jaime was ever in trouble tonight.

As for the preview, the immunity winner doesn't get to vote? Why?

Pretty whatever episode. Too much was packed into too little time, and that made it feel needlessly chaotic. I'm not really enjoying the season because of how many twists and advantages there are. With relationships on top of that, it's becoming impossible to keep track of, which in turn makes it mindless. I've really stopped caring, so don't be shocked if I suddenly disappear from these topics again.

Also, I particularly hated all the "Oh we're not at merge yet, just on the same beach" talk. Like... could that have been any more contrived? Just call it a merge like the fans do. If they're all together on one beach and voting at the same Tribal Council, it is absolutely a merge.

The One World twist, including the "fake merge" in Thailand, is not a merge since they vote as separate entities and face off against each other in challenges.

BlueCrystalTear posted...

As for the preview, the immunity winner doesn't get to vote? Why?

Did it say this? He said a few things out of context that don't necessarily add up to this. At least my mind didn't go there.

Underleveled posted...

Did it say this? He said a few things out of context that don't necessarily add up to this. At least my mind didn't go there.

It was implying that. But it could be trickery and just be the usual twist of someone being exiled from Tribal. But it's unusual for such a thing to happen at 11, which is why my mind went there for the first individual challenge.

That twist, if it's what happens, may be the thing I need to know I should stop watching this show.

BlueCrystalTear posted...

It was implying that.

Again, all I heard was that someone won't be eligible to vote. It didn't say or imply how or why this person would receive this punishment.

Inviso posted...

I want to like this season, but it feels like the only people who actually matter are the remaining Tika 3, and maybe a side of nerdmance. The majority of the cast feel so...background and irrelevant.

To be fair, Pearl Islands was like that as well. Carried on the shoulders of like six people (Rupert, Sandra, Jon, Lill, Christa, and Burton, plus Savage who was the merge boot) and everyone else was background noise but that group was enough to make it amazing.

I like this season. Yes, I wish we were seeing more of, say, Lauren or Heidi, or like, maybe Kane or Brandon actually mattered to the story, but Carolyn, Yam-Yam, Jaime, Carson, Matt, Franny and Danny are doing a good enough job keeping me entertained.

I especially like that the showmance isn't between two borderline supermodels for once ever. Matt and Franny certainly aren't unattractive but there's a big difference between them and most people that get into a showmance on RTV.

holy fuck

i'm #11 in the draft to win a call with wentworth/lolly/wardog

and i'm the only person in the top 15 with carolyn as my winner pick

carolyn

UnderUrMattress posted...

carolyn

is awesome

she was amazing and then she goes and makes that comment about how she had a mace when she was a kid

just incredible

Underleveled posted...

To be fair, Pearl Islands was like that as well. Carried on the shoulders of like six people (Rupert, Sandra, Jon, Lill, Christa, and Burton, plus Savage who was the merge boot) and everyone else was background noise but that group was enough to make it amazing.

This is a terrible comparison. By your own explanation, Pearl Islands had 7/16 people as standouts, all of whom made merge. That's pretty normal. Who this season stands out beyond the season in the same way that group did? I find everyone other than Carolyn somebody who doesn't stand out as a truly great character because they aren't allowed to blossom.

Chaeix posted...

i'm #11 in the draft to win a call with wentworth/lolly/wardog

and i'm the only person in the top 15 with carolyn as my winner pick

Good luck, my friend! That would be an AWESOME thing to win. Like seriously.

Carolyn is certainly the season's protagonist, so that does improve her chances of winning (but doesn't guarantee it). But if she wins, you win, and I'd love to hear what you talked about if you do!

Inviso posted...

I want to like this season, but it feels like the only people who actually matter are the remaining Tika 3, and maybe a side of nerdmance. The majority of the cast feel so...background and irrelevant.

I know we always have background characters but having just watched last night's episode: when "Heidi (Engineering Manager)" had her confessional - you could've put a gun to my head demanding I tell you whether she was on the green or orange tribe pre-merge and I couldn't answer. Though I also feel like I'm not paying attention to this season as much as I should be so maybe that's more of a "me" problem.

(...just checked wiki and she was on the green tribe, go figure)

The Traitors (US) is finally on a Canadian streaming service yesssss

Tribal itself is so unbearably bad. That is something Jeff could definitely change overnight if he wanted.

foolm0r0n posted...

Tribal itself is so unbearably bad. That is something Jeff could definitely change overnight if he wanted.

Nowadays, Tribal is people talking out of their ass, hoping they say something "cool" that will make it into the edit. Which means weird analogies, bizarre tangents, referencing Survivor 101, etc. and no actual serious talk. Why, you ask? Because Jeff likes it that way, especially the self-aggrandizing he does, acting like this is a replacement for his failed talk show. I honestly don't pay attention during Tribal anymore. It's devolved into airtime filler. Modern Survivor would be better with more camp life scenes and going to Tribal just to vote. We get enough "Jeffing" at challenges as it is, and it's even worse at the "After Show" (and having that immediately after the winner reveal is in poor taste anyway).

Part of the problem is also the lack of diversity in casting. By having so many gamebots and not enough people who have no clue what they're doing, we don't get scumslips that cause people to get paranoid at Tribal much anymore. At least Australian Survivor delivered in droves with that this year (I have two episodes left to watch), and Survivor SA does it right since the gamebots lose their damn minds.

I don't get why he likes it though. He wants to be as neutral as possible, but in the past he has been more direct and mentioned drama between specific players. I guess people didn't like that, and felt he was influencing the game. I can easily imagine fans and players getting mad about that.

rumours swirling that s45 is gonna be 90 minute eps

yesssssssss

an extra 30 minutes of tribal?

foolm0r0n posted...

an extra 30 minutes of tribal?

an extra 30 minutes of people explaining idol/advantage rules

I'm all for 90-minute episodes if they use that extra 30 correctly. But since that's a major "IF" statement, I don't know if I can stomach it. We need that 30 minutes to be partially devoted to camp life and regular relationship-building instead of a reward challenge and more strategy meta. You know what they're going to do with it.

That said, it's just a rumor at this point. Could be that this rumor is baseless, but who knows? You gotta consider what CBS would do with a 30-min slot after Survivor. Or if they'll expand something else to 90 minutes...

Chaeix posted...

rumours swirling that s45 is gonna be 90 minute eps

yesssssssss

I remember when we were speculating on this for Winners at War and they didn't go that route then, I wonder why now...

BlueCrystalTear posted...

You gotta consider what CBS would do with a 30-min slot after Survivor. Or if they'll expand something else to 90 minutes...

Well back when there was 90 minute W@W speculation I was thinking/hoping for 90 minute Amazing Races as bookend, but if they do that now I'd also need upped quality there.

Knowing our luck they'll slap in the aftershow podcast in the remaining 30 minutes...