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Patrick • 05/04/07 • 2:18 AM:

I finally got to see this episode. I ended up paying $1.99 to iTunes and waiting over 3 hours for it to download. I really liked it. I was a little sad how it ended up (who knows why I have certain affinities for certain people). I think maybe the last season (won by Yul, second place Ozzie) was even cooler strategically, when Yul “used” his immunity idol without ever having to play it, thus turning the tables and saving his underdog alliance. I also like that their alliance never broke up, that they didn’t really backstab.

As for this recent episode on Fiji (season 14), I really liked how Dreamz was running back and forth telling each alliance the other’s plans, like he’s some kind of strategic genius. But the fact is, he’s not that smart. And in the end, he got left out of the deal. Then he tried to lie to “The Two Horsemen” and make like he was as duped as they were. Puh-lease.

Nevertheless, I’m glad that somebody finally played the hidden immunity idol.

OK: Question about the following week’s episode: Mookie and Alex were willing to rifle through Yao Man’s bag to see if he had the immunity idol, so why didn’t they just steal it? Is that illegal in the game rules? That could have been really cool. Of course, they would have had to know who was getting the boot, but they could have at least gotten it out of Yao Man’s hands…

I’m betting the 6-person alliance will break up and Alex will benefit, becoming the swing man.

David • 05/05/07 • 4:56 PM:

I agree - that was the best Survivor that I’ve seen. Keep in mind though, that I’ve only seen a few over the years. I have seen all of these season and last (with Yul and Ozzie), but only a few of the other ones.

I haven’t seen the most recent episode, but I did like how Jeff planted the idea of Alex becoming the swing vote/player. Nice touch.

What I don’t like so far is what I’m calling the “Anti-Ozzie” direction of the show. The challenges have had little to do with athleticism or effort and way too much to do with luck. Come on CBS, why not make it so that a great athlete like Ozzie can win. Even the ones that are supposedly ‘strategic’ (like the ‘battleship’ flame one) are mostly luck.

Dad • 05/06/07 • 8:42 AM:

I had the same thought Patrick had, that Mookie and Alex should have stolen the immunity idol. Ever since Rupert stole the equipment from the other tribe (“we’re pirates”) stealing has been legitimized. And nothing has ever been about “finding” the idol in somebody else’s pack.

Actually, other approaches could be tried. How about intimidation? physical assault to remove the immunity necklace? blackmail? It could get considerably uglier than mere betrayal.

What I really liked about this episode was the fact that the immunity idol was played but had no effect. When they put the idol into the game, I though it would be a major factor, but so far, it’s become more of a negotiating tool than a direct weapon. Maybe they should allow it to be played after the votes are counted.

Another technique nobody seems to have discovered is purposely voting off the guy with the idol once you find out he has it. I like Yao Man but they should really get his idol out so they can move on.

Finally, I agree with David that the contests have gotten away from athleticism and maybe should swing back. Maybe they’re just trying to change the mix to keep contestants off guard. Having said that, however, did you see the latest episode where Alex almost won but couldn’t pull himself up on the pole without the climbing platforms? I think Ozzie could have done it!

Patrick • 05/12/07 • 12:05 PM:

First of all, I remember hearing that it’s illegal to ever hit another contestant. You will see people wrestling (in the challenges) sometimes, but not striking.

Second: The immunity idol did have an effect, just not the effect that the “four horsemen” wanted it to have. The effect, in fact, was what made the episode so great, in your eyes: everybody’s name got bandied about in the pre-tribal-council connivings.

This is the effect that it has often had: it throws strategy into a tizzy. The reason you don’t want to vote for the guy with the idol is that you might be the one who leaves the game. Remember that the mechanism used to be that you’d play the immunity idol after the votes were read, so you could hold onto it until you actually needed it. And, although it never happened or was never discussed really, I don’t see why, say, Yul couldn’t have the hidden immunity idol, but pass it off to Becky in the moment that it’s apparent that Becky has the most votes. It seems to me that in this way, whoever’s aligned with the hidde-immunity holder is golden.

Maybe that’s why they changed the rules this time, to where you have to play the idol after votes are cast but before they’re read.

Anyway, back to the idea of “purposely voting off the guy with the idol…” The problem is that then you don’t know who’s getting voted off. It might be you. Although people work with others in the game, it’s really a highly individualistic game, with absolutely no incentive for one person to “take one for the team” so that the others have a better chance. You’re much better off, individually, aligning yourself with the idol-holder, or avoiding that person for as long as possible, voting off the other people you don’t like/find too competitive. Maybe that’s one more thing that made this Great episode so interesting: Mookie actually gave away the idol to help a companion, or at least to try to help him. I guess he was also trying to help himself, but even that was based on trust. He probably could have gotten further in the game had he kept the idol (and stolen Yao Man’s!).

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