Survivor Season 35 Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers starts 9/27/17

[jkl]

Ryan describing himself as a weasel. I bet Aly just might agree.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Okay, it totally looked like .. and sounded like .... Cole smacked his head on that bamboo floor when he fell! Did they bring in Medical to check him out and we just didn't see it, or someone other than his teammates, regardless that they have medical backgrounds?

 

[MarieM]

No matter what changes each season, one thing we can always count on is @MarieM obsessing about who is getting the winner's edit

Because it's a way to understand why they are showing things and not others. IMO Ryan has been the most on our screen from the start of this season. This is why I'm asking if he isn't our winner

 

[Prancer]

Survivor is about the narrative and the characters who drive what the producers see as the overall story. The winner may or may not be pivotal to that story. Editing decisions have a lot more to do with what the producers consider good TV than they do with promoting a winner.

Most seasons (but not all) feature narrators, who do most of the commentary about tribe dynamics and such. Typically, there are premerge narrators and postmerge narrators. Premerge narrators are usually good, important players who go to at least midgame, but they rarely make it to the final round. But sometimes they do.

Ryan is clearly a premerge narrator, so I wouldn't put money on him winning just yet.

 

[Jenny]

Ryan is treading on thin ice. His old tribemates Devin and Lauren are going to wonder why their old pal and supposedly Ryan's pal Ali is now gone, and assume he's chosen to go with the old Heroes tribe of JP and Chrissy, and perhaps by extension Ben and Ashley as well. Ashley and Devin appear to be close, so maybe it will work if they all join forces, but it does put Ryan at the bottom of that totem pole.

At this point I'm looking at Ben to go far. He gets the game, is a good competitor, and is getting along with everyone. He's perceptive too, so perhaps can read the dynamics better than others. Loved his line about Cole (paraphrasing): "If you have an appetite problem and you knew you were going on Survivor, then you should have packed on a few pounds instead of worrying about your six pack."

 

[smurfy]

Bummed about Ali - I really like her. Returnee? not sure, being voted out premerge.
Ryan is playing hard. I still like him, but he lost a few points with me
Chrissy- I originally liked, but is smug, don't like her so much. Is Ryan being loyal to her - so as not to look like he wasted giving her the idol at the beginning?
Ryan now has a very loyal follower in JP. Could be a good shield for Ryan.

Cole - hope is ok. I assume medical checked him out, just not shown. But Cole and Jess can go anytime now.

Dr Mike - he is getting a very good edit. With the merge now, he can be under the radar while they focus on the physical threats. I do like he went into doctor mode with Cole, very reassuring.

Ryan and winner's edit - he is getting a great edit, Probst likes him, but it is almost too good of an edit. I am leaning towards him not winning, but we will see him again.
Guessing who will come back is an official thing!

Joe found another idol, ugghh. I like how Desi is willing to vote him out. Would be great if Joe is voted out in a blindside with idol in pocket. pretty please!
I am liking Ben and Devon. Ashley is growing on me.

 

[Jenny]

Agree with pretty much everything you said @smurfy. However, I don't think Ali will be back - she started strong, but her game caved and I don't get the feeling there's much potential as a player there, or for the redemption type storylines that Survivor loves.

re JP as Ryan's shield - you may be onto something there - planting the seeds now and then promoting the idea of getting rid of physical threats first buys him several rounds of TC before people start going after the smart people/breaking up alliances. Could work, especially if the first individual immunity is won by JP, Cole, Devin or the like to support the idea.

Agree that Ryan's edit is almost too good. It's like they are setting him up for a huge fall. Feel like that with Chrissy too.

 

[Erin]

I pretty much agree with Jenny and smurfy, I could probably quote their posts in entirety and say ITA

Bummed about Ali - I really like her. Returnee? not sure, being voted out premerge.

Yes, she was one of my faves for sure and I agree that premerge means she's less likely to return. But you never know, it's happened before.

Ryan is playing hard. I still like him, but he lost a few points with me
Chrissy- I originally liked, but is smug, don't like her so much. Is Ryan being loyal to her - so as not to look like he wasted giving her the idol at the beginning?
Ryan now has a very loyal follower in JP. Could be a good shield for Ryan.

Both have lost some points with me in the past couple of weeks and I agree that Chrissy is smug, but she also is still smart so I can't totally hate her either. I find them both irritating at the moment, but feel like they could both win me back with a big move, so...I could go either way on them. And excellent point on the shield

Cole - hope is ok. I assume medical checked him out, just not shown. But Cole and Jess can go anytime now.

Ugh, yes to this.

Dr Mike - he is getting a very good edit. With the merge now, he can be under the radar while they focus on the physical threats. I do like he went into doctor mode with Cole, very reassuring.

Dr. Mike is my new favorite with Ali gone and Ryan/Chrissy turning annoying. I think you're right that the focus will be on the threats. I'm hoping that what we might see is a Hero/Hustler alliance with Dr. Mike joining, since he was in with Lauren and Ben. There seems to be a Hero/Hustler connection on each tribe - Lauren/Ben, Devon/Ashley, Ryan/Chrissy/JP. I could see them all united against Joe/Jess/Cole/maybe Desi, at least for one or two tribal councils.

Joe found another idol, ugghh. I like how Desi is willing to vote him out. Would be great if Joe is voted out in a blindside with idol in pocket. pretty please!

I'm really hoping for this too! Actually if my speculation about a Hero/Hustler alliance is right, it could happen, although they would definitely need Mike to split votes and it would really good to also get Desi on board (since she is willing to get Joe out, that is at least a possibility). Probably wishful thinking on my part though.

Agree that Ryan's edit is almost too good. It's like they are setting him up for a huge fall. Feel like that with Chrissy too.

Hard to say...I alternate between whether they are setting them up for a fall or giving them the Tony edit where you just couldn't believe that everyone else let him get away with this. It's not quite as egregious as Tony (and to be honest, there wasn't much that Ali could have done anyway).

 

[Prancer]

Bummed about Ali - I really like her. Returnee? not sure, being voted out premerge.

Cole - hope is ok. I assume medical checked him out, just not shown.

In Jeff's weekly interview, he said that he likes Ali and would like to see her back (which is no guarantee--he also likes Roark, but I don't see any chance for her), and that Cole was checked out by the medical team immediately.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Ali made a mistake lashing out at Ryan and showing emotions over his decision. She should have said to him "on the second thought, you're were right"... and deal with him later.

So far Ryan is my favorite, regardless..

 

[smurfy]

Interesting episode
New challenge that was very cool!
Joe - like Tony, w a bit of Russel Hantz

Nonhealers- smart to figure out to vote out Jess and flesh out the idol
One of my 3 least fav people - gone. Cole is so dumb, I am not sure he knows what is going on
Joe seems pleased with himself. Can cole and Joe be gone next?
Jess - being a virgin does not mean you r a good person, how naive.

Biggest targets now- Joe, Cole, Chrissy, and not the physical threats, yet!
I definitely expect the no healer alliance not last and to see fluid alliances.
What fun!

 

[jkl]

Chrissy really seemed stunned that she even got one vote much less as many as she did! Obviously she doesn't realize how obnoxious she is.

 

[Erin]

Good episode overall. I didn't watch live so I knew that Jessica had been voted out when I watched, which made it pretty entertaining to watch her say things like "I'm feeling like queen bee".

Chrissy may be obnoxious but she is smart and good for her for realizing that Joe might have an idol, Cole was next in line but Jessica was unlikely to have an idol.

Joe is an idiot for playing his idol after pulling it out. Clearly no one was going to vote for him after that. He could have saved it.

 

[Jenny]

Very interesting. Have they ever had them show up at a fake challenge like that? I haven't watched as closely in recent years, so it was a new moment for me at least

Chrissy is really bugging me, so I very much enjoyed the look on her face when she got a vote (and probably said to herself oh that's some jealous person) but then when they kept coming ... and Jeff seemed to be enjoying it going back and forth the whole way like that. Sometimes he stacks them one way to set up a slide down to the end. And Jessica thinking she's just too nice to get votes - she'll blame it on her "strong social skills" rather than realize that she was the next best thing to getting Cole.

re Joe (husband kept asking me who Tony is because I keep calling him that ) and the Idol - I get the showboating, but I'm surprised he played it. Then again, he was convinced it was him or Cole, so perhaps a good move after all. And there's still the idea that if anyone has another one or will find another one, it's likely to be him. at Cole actually saying he was looking for clues and practically having his hand on it in the cinnamon sticks but still missing it, and then Ben making fun of him for sitting around chewing cinnamon.

@Erin I'm not sure him showing the Idol was going to change anyone's vote - there were 12 of them sitting all spread out so not much chance to reorganize a plan - I expect what happened was exactly what was going to happen no matter what. And they got Joe scared enough to blow his Idol.

And yes that challenge was a fun one to watch - not sure that Desi did herself any favours by winning it though.

 

[smurfy]

Chrissy lost any positive vibes with me with her talk a the Outback meal right in front of folks and dismissing that they could hear. That was very stupid, and if she was not on anyone's radar, she put herself there.

Joe/Tony - LOL - they are so similar - that nervous energy is the same!

 

[Prancer]

Chrissy lost any positive vibes with me with her talk a the Outback meal right in front of folks and dismissing that they could hear. That was very stupid, and if she was not on anyone's radar, she put herself there.

I thought the issue with Chrissy was that she exposed herself as smart.

And yes that challenge was a fun one to watch - not sure that Desi did herself any favours by winning it though.

I've had my eye on Desi for a while as a someone going deep. She's a presence without being a major factor, her name doesn't come up for votes, she doesn't seem to clash with anyone and she's talked just enough strategy to show she has game. I don't think winning this challenge will make her a threat--too many strapping dudes left.

 

[smurfy]

I thought the issue with Chrissy was that she exposed herself as smart.



I've had my eye on Desi for a while as a someone going deep. She's a presence without being a major factor, her name doesn't come up for votes, she doesn't seem to clash with anyone and she's talked just enough strategy to show she has game. I don't think winning this challenge will make her a threat--too many strapping dudes left.

Chrissy - yes she is smart, but talking like the others could not hear at the meal showed she is getting cocky is what I was referencing as to what made me lose my positive vibes for her. Yes, she exposed herself as smart rattling off the number of seconds for Jeff during the challenge is important, but I was talking about what made me lose any interest in rooting for her.

I like Desi - hope she goes far. The physical threats will become targets and she will be one.

 

[Prancer]

Chrissy - yes she is smart, but talking like the others could not hear at the meal showed she is getting cocky is what I was referencing as to what made me lose my positive vibes for her. Yes, she exposed herself as smart rattling off the number of seconds for Jeff during the challenge is important, but I was talking about what made me lose any interest in rooting for her.

Ah, well, Chrissy is not one of my favorites; I think she will be done in by her own alliance at some point (they will use her for strategy until they don't) and I won't miss her, but I have to say that I do like seeing superfans like her on the show and don't miss the model-and-bartender casts at all.

 

[Jenny]

Yes I was impressed that Chrissy said she had been applying for 16 years. And she's definitely a worthy player even if not that likeable.

 

[Erin]

@Erin I'm not sure him showing the Idol was going to change anyone's vote - there were 12 of them sitting all spread out so not much chance to reorganize a plan - I expect what happened was exactly what was going to happen no matter what. And they got Joe scared enough to blow his Idol.

I agree it didn't actually change anyone's vote, but if anyone had been planning to vote for Joe, it probably should have. Much as I don't like him, I will give him credit for reading Ashley well the first time around to realize that he is the target, but I feel like he played this one wrong in so many ways. So I'm perfectly happy to take the credit back now.

Chrissy lost any positive vibes with me with her talk a the Outback meal right in front of folks and dismissing that they could hear. That was very stupid, and if she was not on anyone's radar, she put herself there.

Yeah, I think that while Chrissy was smart on who to target this time, I think she made quite a few mistakes this episode and you've highlighted one of them with showing her cards by trying to talk to Ben out in the open. @Prancer highlighted a second with showing off how smart she is and making herself a target.

Another thing that could have been an issue, but luckily for her wasn't, but talking openly about who the target was in front of Lauren, who maybe wasn't on their side. If Lauren wanted to stick with the Healers, she could have gone right up to them, told them Jessica was the target and then someone could have played an idol for her. Chrissy didn't show any sign that she was worried about either Ben or Lauren's trustworthiness, which is another chink in her armor.

Joe/Tony - LOL - they are so similar - that nervous energy is the same!

Are they ever! At least I feel pretty confident that the Tony strategy won't work this second time around, as I'm not getting a winner vibe out of Joe.

A few other random thoughts...I agree that I don't see this Hero/Hustler alliance lasting for too long. For one thing, it's just too big. For another, Lauren and Ben were wavering so hard, that you know they are flippable.

I forgot about one of my favorite moments of the episode, Mike flat out saying that he was on the bottom of the Healer alliance in tribal council. I always enjoy when people call out the alliance hierarchy in the open. He also managed to do it in one of the least bitter ways I've seen someone do it, which was pretty impressive.

So far, I'm still really liking Mike, Ben, and Desi. Ryan is entertaining when he isn't being too smug. Ashley has turned out to be all right and Lauren made this episode interesting. Devon is kind of just there but is inoffensive. At least I remember who he is, which is more than I can say about JP, who I forgot was still on the show (I had to look up who I was missing because I knew there was 11 left but I could only think of 10). Chrissy can go at any time, but I'm still happy it was Jessica over her this time. Cole can go join Jessica ASAP. Joe I don't like, but I guess he makes someone good to root against?

 

[Jenny]

re JP. The only thing I remember about him this ep is how very mad he was when he blew the immunity challenge.

Cole is doing some dumb stuff, but JP isn't even playing the game. I guess someone told him he should have alliances but otherwise he seems to care only about the challenges.

 

[Fridge_Break]

I rewound and watched again, but still wasn't sure. Did someone's ball (Joe?) go flying out of their circular contraption and smack Cole in the leg before it hit the ground? What the heck would have happened if that had caused him to fall, at no fault of his own? Restart the whole challenge? Or at least reset everybody who was remaining? Or just tough luck, you're out? As far as I know, they draw for placings in the challenges so perhaps that's part of production's way of saying that there's equal chance that someone could accidentially be bumped by someone else, but I wouldn't have found it very fair if it did happen, regardless.

 

[tony]

I rewound and watched again, but still wasn't sure. Did someone's ball (Joe?) go flying out of their circular contraption and smack Cole in the leg before it hit the ground? What the heck would have happened if that had caused him to fall, at no fault of his own? Restart the whole challenge? Or at least reset everybody who was remaining? Or just tough luck, you're out? As far as I know, they draw for placings in the challenges so perhaps that's part of production's way of saying that there's equal chance that someone could accidentially be bumped by someone else, but I wouldn't have found it very fair if it did happen, regardless.

I saw it in real-time and also wondered. I'm pretty sure it did hit him but they would say it's just part of the game and tough luck, just as wind or rain or the waves from the ocean as we saw last week can also create an unbalanced playing field at times. I was amazed Cole was able to keep his concentration and not have a little tantrum

 

[BaileyCatts]

I woulda dropped that ball even quicker than Ryan did if I had to do that. Totally can't do coordinated things like that.

I just don't understand why these people tell everyone about their Idols whenever they have them. If I found an Idol I would keep my mouth shut and not tell anyone! I would only let it be known the minute I pulled it out, and only then when I was sure I was the target. I'd be gone the next vote, but it least it would get me 3 days further in the game. But then again ..... I'd be the easy First Vote Out too, so there's that.

 

[Prancer]

So much for my crystal ball .

I hope we get to see lots of speculating about the vote count next time.

 

[purple skates]

Joe was definitely trying to figure things out.

 

[Jenny]

Looking at the vote breakdown on Wiki, it seems clear that all but Joe and Desi agreed on a split - it's quite random and not the alliances you'd expect, so I can only conclude they did it as a group. In the second vote, all voted for Desi except Chrissy, who voted for Joe. Again, I think that was planned, and by her, just on the off chance Desi had an Idol or someone gave her one.

Anyone know if Jeff read all the votes both times? He often leaves out a couple if the result is set, which would keep Lauren's secret safe. And it's in the producers' interests to do so anyway.

These newfangled Idols/Advantages are confusing me though. So by giving up her vote(s) this TC, she gets two votes at the next TC? Or any time in future? And did she have to do it this time, or could she have waited (which I guess doesn't matter as the best time to do it if you want to keep it hidden is when there are still lots of votes). It would be helpful if Survivor posted the instructions they get somewhere so the rest of us could read them.

Also, speaking of producer manipulation, is it me or did they not show anyone moving their feet back on the Immunity Challenge as they were to do every 10 mins or so? They usually show those moments to emphasize the difficulty, no? So perhaps there's a reason they didn't?

And I'm ready to come out and say it, if just in a whisper, I'm rooting for Cole. He makes some dumb moves, but he's also perceptive and is quick to see what's happening, even if he doesn't always act fast enough or smart enough.

 

[Rogue]

I'm still trying to figure out why Ben wanted to split the votes in the first place. If they had followed the original plan to split 4 and 3 and the targeted Healer played an idol, the Healers' 4 votes would have beat the remaining Alliance 3 votes.

But good for Ben for talking Dr. Mike, and by extension Cole, into flipping. And I'm betting it was Dr. Mike who had Joe and Desi voting for different people.

 

[smurfy]

I am confused - why didn't they vote out Joe in the second vote?
Desi is a challenge threat, but Joe - not liked, pain in the ass, and idol whisperer. I want him gone.
I feel like I didn't get to know Desi at all, other than her being great at challenges.

Loved the twist with the reward challenge. Two weeks in a row - something new with challenges.

Dr Mike is getting a very good edit.
I am liking Ben more and more. He is what he is. He could win this too.
When can they get rid of Cole? The outcome of the idol search by Ryan and then skirmish with Chrissy and Cole was so funny. It could not have worked out better.

 

[Jenny]

Maybe enough people without saying it out loud wanted Joe to stick around as a shield? Desi seemed quite well liked, and with her challenge prowess might have slid through to the end. Joe is less likely to win challenges so they can get rid of him any time (barring Idols of course) and if he makes it to the end, some might think so be it.

I did say that Desi didn't do herself any favours by winning immunity last week