Survivor: Game Changers (Season 34)

[Fridge_Break]

So if I am keeping track of things correctly, the next vote we could potentially be in a situation where 5 people are immune and 1 person is automatically outsted. I really doubt it would happen (but who knows after this last TC madness that I am still confused about).. Sarah immune from the legacy advantage, one other person immune from the immunity challenge, and there's 3 idols floating around. For this to happen, that would obviously require Tai to give up one of his idols, but that'd be one shitty way for someone to have to leave the game with this many advantages in play this late.

 

[smurfy]

Tony Wheeler - I do not disagree. I am just frustrated with the episode. 2 TCs in one hour - I just feel like I am out of the loop. I usually do not care who wins, because there is noone to root for in other many other seasons, but it is the journey. I feel we got cheated out of the shenanigans at camp to really know what is going on. Almost like if I missed the episode and someone told who won the immunity challenges and who was voted out would be the same information as watching it.

First vote - yes Andrea was a threat- but get rid of the other side (Culpepper or Troyzan or Tai).
Second vote - I think I understand what Cirie was trying - my interpretation - Cirie trusted Aubry, but Sarah didn't and Cirie was going to make a grand thing of stealing Sarah's vote, let Tai think he was safe, and not play an idol, and get him out.
But then Cirie did not read the document before TC.
Then they vote out Michaela. to me the smart thing would have been to vote out Cirie or Troyzan or Sarah. Michaela seems to be a good goat. I really wish it was a 2 hour episode,
and I have a strong odd feeling that Culpepper is going to win this. Some how, though deserving - not sure if Sarah will be there at the end, nor Cirie.

And to the show - somehow please work it out that the whispering at TC gets close-caption. I think knowing what was said would make me less annoyed right now.
I hope the beginning of next week shows some conversation of what happened last night.

 

[smurfy]

https://parade.com/572454/joshwigler/survivor-game-changers-michaela-bradshaw-exit-interview/

Interview with Michaela. She evens say her 3rd time should be when she is 35 and has simmered down.
I think she will get better with age (I had said this before). Very interesting that she was downplaying her ability.
And I really like that she bonded with Sandra and Cirie - 2 of my favs.

 

[BaileyCatts]

https://parade.com/572454/joshwigler/survivor-game-changers-michaela-bradshaw-exit-interview/.

Michaela: Brad, Troyzan, Aubry and Tai were trying to get together to vote for Sarah. But Aubry and Tai were the weird ones. What ended up happening is either Aubry or Tai backed out of the plan, and then it was a race of who is going to get to Sarah first and let her know. Aubry gets to Cirie, and Cirie thinks that she needs to tell Sarah what Aubry just told her. Cirie trusts Aubry, but Sarah trusts Tai. Now Cirie wants to get rid of Tai for some reason. Cirie becomes hellbent on getting rid of Tai, to the point that she wants to take Sarah’s advantage and steal Sarah’s vote just to vote out Tai. It’s just too much. But we hungry at this point. I don’t know. (Laughs.) It’s just too much extra. But Cirie was hellbent on getting rid of Tai, and the majority was supposed to vote Aubry, and when the advantage fell through, Sarah’s all on the fritz, and she’s like, “I don’t want to get rid of Aubry now. I want to get rid of Cirie.” But somehow, the whispers go from Aubry to Tai to Cirie to Michaela, and Michaela gets four votes and goes home.

My head hurts.

 

[Prancer]

I think that Cirie has been strategic this season but she jas also made some truly weird voting choices. Like when she voted for Sierra a few weeks back when no one else did (I think the week that Ozzy was voted out) and this week with the Aubry vote.

Sometimes it's not who you vote for, but who you don't vote for. Cirie had told both Ozzy and Michaela that she wouldn't vote for them, and she didn't. If she makes it to the end, there are two people on the jury who might be on her side because she didn't vote them out. And while she voted for Sierra and Aubry in those TCs, neither vote hurt them.

 

[PeterG]

Was it Sarah who orchestrated the ousted of Michaela? If so, did Sarah do that in order to split up the Cirie/Michaela pairing, which at the same time was a jab at Cirie for betraying Sarah? (I assume Sarah went after Michaela instead of Cirie because Cirie is not a challenge threat.)

If Sarah was the mastermind, she's left herself with the three men who used to be (still are?) part of a group that is now half of the remaining six people. Other than Sarah, that leaves Aubrey, who has been totally left out of the loop for the last two or three tribal councils. She is floundering and needs a steady group to join up with...prime picking for the men to take her in. Then there's Cirie left with Sarah, who I assume are at odds with one another now. That leaves Sarah all on her own. The men should work with Aubrey (and/or Cirie) and take out Sarah. Why Sarah has allowed her strong group of six to get picked off one by one is horrible game play. Sarah...you are losing it, girl!

 

[Rogue]

I also think Sarah targeted Michaela because she is the only one who knew about the legacy advanctage. Also, Sarah can't be taken out at the next IC because of the legacy advantage. So even if Aubrey and/or Cirie flip to the men, Sarah can target anyone she wants to.

 

[alexikeguchi]

Culpepper "pretty good for a dumb jock" FTW! I wonder if Sarah may have peaked a little too soon, and Culpepper is making a strong comeback.

And Tai is still a basket case who could blow up anybody's game.

ETA That was the most ridiculous tribal council yet. The producers really need to reconsider how many HIIs are available.

 

[Fridge_Break]

So if I am keeping track of things correctly, the next vote we could potentially be in a situation where 5 people are immune and 1 person is automatically outsted. I really doubt it would happen (but who knows after this last TC madness that I am still confused about).. Sarah immune from the legacy advantage, one other person immune from the immunity challenge, and there's 3 idols floating around. For this to happen, that would obviously require Tai to give up one of his idols, but that'd be one shitty way for someone to have to leave the game with this many advantages in play this late.

......Holy shit. I never thought in a bazillion years that this is what would have happened, but it did!! I just wish Cirie wasn't on the short end of that stick!

 

[JoannaLouise]

Argh, I miss my old office buddy so bad right now! I have no one to discuss this with at work tomorrow!

 

[Fridge_Break]

I wish they'd go back to a 5-person finale (or even better, a 4-person finale with a final 2). Tonight just seems so rushed. Challenge, 2 minutes of deliberation, TC, challenge, short deliberation, TC, wash, rinse, repeat.

 

[Fridge_Break]

Not sure how much I like this political campaigning style of FTC. It means I have to hear more from those that I would rather not. ie: Debbie, Ozzy.

at Michaela being the least-bitter one of the group, and she went out in one of the crappiest ways possible (minus Cirie's exit)

 

[alexikeguchi]

Okay, that was kind of funny because I'm pretty sure Brad would have won if he took Tai.

 

[jkl]

Well that was no surprise!

 

[BaileyCatts]

So I missed half the show due to weather updates. But anyway .....

for Sarah!!!!

So Brad only got 3 votes, right? Who was the third vote .... Ozzy, Debby and ???????

I felt so bad for Cirie. What would have happened if Cirie had an Idol also? That would have been funny if she pulled one out too. I hope she's up for another round. But please, no more Ozzy and no more Brad!!! And please bring Michaela back for another round. She would kill at this game if she learns to calm down.

 

[Fridge_Break]

So Brad only got 3 votes, right? Who was the third vote .... Ozzy, Debby and ???????

I was wondering this, also, but I'm guessing it was Sierra.

 

[BaileyCatts]

What the hell did Ozzy just say in the Reunion show? Right at 10:45p?? What was that about?

Next Season preview .... the Bellhop guy looks entertaining! But clearly the Season is already in the can. I just don't understand how they can keep it quiet for so long that it doesn't leak out who won! Unless it does get out and I just never hear about it? I don't go looking for spoilers so maybe they are out there, I just don't know about it.

 

[smurfy]

Glad Sarah won. I was getting nervous during FTC - Andrea was really angry at her.
Ozzy lost any respect I had for him in his defense of Brad. His defense of Brad is why he has played 4 times and not won - he ignores the social aspect of the game. Winning challenges is admirable, but not enough. It is like Ozzy is justifying why he should have won., very self centered.
His comments at the 10:45 mark - odd - dig about Trump??
Before the vote at the final 4 - I kept wondering - why Tai, why not Sarah. Tai was a good goat to take to the end. Did Brad not see anything Sarah had done? Million dollar mistake - glad that Probst brought it up.
Debby - blinded by Brad - she just proves she is useless. I hope to never see her again.

Loved the FTC new format - more conversational. Just wish it was longer. On BB they show the jurors having a conversation before the Final - that would be a great addition.
Troyzan - acted like a grownup in FTC as he realized he had no chance.
Not a bad Final show, no Sia, no Jeff running in the audience. Still too short, but decent.
Varner - did ok, until the end plugging his book.
Was Caleb there?

So the folks that could come back if they want to: Cirie, Malcolm, Zeke, Michaela, and probably Caleb
Folks I never want to see again: Debby, Culpepper (& Monica), Tai, Ozzy, Varner

And Aubry - as much as I love Cochran as a Survivor player, seems like a good guy, my survivor tv boyfriend would be Malcolm!

 

[BaileyCatts]

Hold on ... was Debby at the Reunion, or did Jeff completely ignore her?

 

[purple skates]

She was there.

 

[PeterG]

So glad Brad lost after how he treated Tai. Then at tribal council Brad went after Tai again. They were both in an alliance at one time, but Sarah flipped on them and took all their power away. Shortly after that, Brad voted to get Tai out of the game. Tai never voted against Brad. So for Brad to act all high and mighty when he's the one who turned on Tai...

And at the same trial council, Brad voted against Troyzan and Debbie, who both voted Tai (Brad went out on his own and voted Aubry). Unlike Brad, Tai voted with his new alliance of Aubry and Cirie, even protecting Aubry by giving her his final immunity idol. I just don't see how Brad can label Tai a bad guy when Brad has made so many dirty moves himself.

 

[Jenny]

Does Varner have some sort of contract with CBS? Because WTF was that? I get bringing him on for the redemption storyline that Survivor loves so much, but letting him name his new employer and then plug a book? Seriously? And the way Jeff said, "Oh yes, Varner you said something to me in the break that you wanted to share" really sounded like Jeff was reminded that Varner would get to say that.

If they had all the time in the world I wouldn't care, but in the process we did not hear from several players at all - JT was at the heart of one of the biggest moments of the game (and he's still in my heart ), plus he's a former winner and did not speak once. Caleb has an interesting personal story, and he did not speak. Tony is part of Sarah's story and it would have been interesting to get his perspective on both his game and hers from last time to this time.

Instead, the entire last 25 mins or so was Varner, preview of next season, and buy stuff in our auction. There was a way too long segment of Jeff trying to make a point that Culpepper resisted (and frankly if there's one person in the audience I would have liked to see it might have been interesting to hear from his Survivor alumni wife), so basically there was about 5 minutes of reunion to cover everything else.

Boo.

 

[Kasey]

Just watched the finale (not the reunion show yet), and wow, what an awesome season, and an awesome winner! I liked the FTC format, because I think it gave the players a better opportunity to own their moves, rather than being limited to answering questions that may or may not get be put to them. And well done Troyzan, for the early realization that he is a goat, and accepting that fact gracefully. I was also really glad to see Cirie applauded when she was (not)voted out. Other than Culpepper being a bully twonk, a very satisfying finale for me.

 

[Erin]

Other than Culpepper being a bully twonk, a very satisfying finale for me.

Agreed. My heart nearly stopped when the third vote for Brad came up though because I was terrified that meant he had won. I had to run out during the finale and only got back in time for the voting and hadn't even seen him being such a bully and I still didn't want him to win. But of course Ozzy would vote for Brad and champion him because Ozzy is trying to justify why he "should have" won. Debbie is of course bitter that she was outplayed and that Sarah betrayed her, although it is a little funny to compare her voting confessional to her losing it on Brad pre-merger. She really is all over the map. Anyway, I'm just glad the rest of the jurors (save Sierra?) voted for the best player.

I loved Sarah's comparison to being an undercover cop - that if she had to be a drug user or a prostitute, then that's what she was, and this was the same.

at Michaela being the least-bitter one of the group, and she went out in one of the crappiest ways possible (minus Cirie's exit)

That was really remarkable - I would have never guessed that she had that kind of maturity in her, but kudos to her for proving me wrong. I agree with whoever said earlier that they'd love to see Michaela come back when she is in her mid-30s and has settled down a bit. If she could show that kind of maturity through the whole game, she could kill it.

 

[Rogue]

Does Varner have some sort of contract with CBS? Because WTF was that? I get bringing him on for the redemption storyline that Survivor loves so much, but letting him name his new employer and then plug a book? Seriously?

I don't think the other survivors were buying his redemption. At the end, he was standing around awkwardly while all the others were giving each other hugs. No one approached to talk to him or hug him.

 

[merrywidow]

I have to say I wasn't a fan of this season & its personnel but I did enjoy the final result. Happy for Sara. It did seem to me there were a lot of athletic contests & not any or no memory skilled contests. Am I correct or just not paying attention?

 

[smurfy]

On previously tv - I love all the comment sa

I have to say I wasn't a fan of this season & its personnel but I did enjoy the final result. Happy for Sara. It did seem to me there were a lot of athletic contests & not any or no memory skilled contests. Am I correct or just not paying attention?

So true about all athletic with puzzle. What about the challenges for memory. Back in the early days - I remember Jeff telling some story about the region, and then asking questions - multiple choice or true/false. Or - stuff is covered - and they try to find 2 matches, then they get covered over. And they have to remember what was where.

 

[Fridge_Break]

I have to say I wasn't a fan of this season & its personnel but I did enjoy the final result. Happy for Sara. It did seem to me there were a lot of athletic contests & not any or no memory skilled contests. Am I correct or just not paying attention?

The last 3-4 immunity challenges were more or less the same, just with different obstacles to collect bags, and a different puzzle. That's probably why Culpepper won most of them at the end. I think they really should have had an endurance/concentration/how-bad-do-you-want-it for the final IC. Puts pressure on the players and sometimes we get some wheeling and dealing when there's just 2 left standing.

I hope the challenge department steps up its game next season.