I couldn't help but think that was karma at work. Phillip steals their rice and then there are maggots in the rice.

I don't think Matt is going to keep winning at Redemption Island. David beat him at this last challenge but Matt lucked out that only one person had to leave. I think Matt's state of mind is going to hurt him in challenges.

If it weren't for the previews, I might agree with you. But the previews showing Matt "breaking down" make me think he's not done yet.

Besides, there's still the Jesus edit. Last week and this week, we were getting major Jesus-in-Gethsemene moments -- "Take this cup from me"; "Nevertheless, not my will but yours." Maybe I'm too immersed in Holy Week, but that sure looks like how they're playing it to me.

Yeah, but it's a shame Phillip's tribemates also had to suffer his bad karma. Did anyone from Phillip's tribe know he stole the rice? (I don't remember seeing anything that indicated they did.)

:):)

Random hijack: Our service was great last night. Some great reflections from some awesome congregants.

I don't think he'll be done this week, but I'm not convinced he'll get to go to the Final 3 either.

One analysis I read said it was because Steve and Ralph have proven so ineffective at challenges lately -- Steve sat one out that he knew he couldn't do, and has said numerous times he's "done" -- that Julie was the best chance for beating Matt. Given the clip last week of Rob talking about how he keeps sending people to RI that he thinks could beat Matt, I'd say that's a reasonable guess.

Just a random "What if.."

What if Ralph or Steve finds a hidden immunity idol, and what if one of them wins the immunity challenge tonight?

Obviously it's a long shot, but I think it'd be fun to watch Ometepe scramble to decide on who to vote out.

And I kind of wonder who would be the first Ometepe to jump ship and befriend the 2 remaining Zapatera members in order to try and secure extra votes..?

Good call on the Jesus edit, MC. Jeff was really obvious about that in this episode.

I'm kind of glad we're down to Ometepe. Things will be interesting now. First Ometepe to go? Phillip? Grant? (thinking Rob will want to get rid of competition but who might beat Matt too)

I think the boot order will be Andrea, Grant, Ashley, though obviously the person who get immunity could affect that.

Rob is in an amazingly good position, I think. I'm really dumbfounded that the other Ometepes let things get this far -- surely they know there's not a Final 6. He seems to have each of them believing, or wanting to believe, that "Rob will take me to the end." That being the case, they're likely to vote off whoever Rob wants them to vote off because "It's not me." It's amazing that the only one of them we've seen any strategic thinking out of is Phillip.

BTW, Probst said that there will be 8 people when the finale starts on May 15. So, Redemption Island will still be in play at that point.

I wonder why they're keeping so many people on RI. There are 4 people there now, right? That seems like a lot for only one to have the chance to get back in the game.

We've seen glimmers of strategic thought from Grant. And last night, it seemed that Natalie and Ashley considered thinking strategically (when Steve told them they were voting for Rob), but obviously they decided against it.

It'll definitely be an interesting finish. I think Rob has played a brilliant game (due in part to the tremendous luck in getting matched with a tribe that allowed him to develop that game), but I'm not sure that I want him to win anymore. Then again, when I think of people who I'd rather see win, I'm at a bit of a loss. None of the remaining girls are winning material, IMO. Phillip is too crazy to give $1 mil to. That leaves Grant and the RI person. If Jesus... I mean, Matt... is the RI person, I think I'm pulling for him. Otherwise, at this point, I'm on team Grant. At least for now, anyway.

I thought about that, but other than when Grant ate a little of the Zapateras fish after Rob told Ometepe not to, what we've seen little of from Ometepe is consideration of strategy that doesn't include (and ultimately defer to) Rob. All their strategy still gives him the power. No one else, except Phillip and Andrea briefly, has seriously considered ways to upend things so that they, not Rob, control the game.

^^Right. That's why I said *glimmers* of strategic thought. :p

All in all, I thought last night's episode was a little dull. Maybe it's because the Ometepe 6 have dominated so much that it became boring and predictable. Dee's right about it becoming more interesting now that they have to start picking off their own.

Phillip's success in finding his shorts was... lucky? impressive? I don't know. When things like that happen, I can't help but wonder if the production crew secretly tipped him off.

I think that Rob will try to vote Grant off next. He still needs the girls to vote with him, and then after Grant is gone, the girls will go. Rob will keep Phillip so he's sitting next to him at the final Tribal Council. I think that Matt is the only person who can beat Rob in the end...otherwise, it's his. Frankly, Matt and Rob are the only two who have really earned it.

It warmed my little Christian heart when Julie told Jeff that because of Matt, she's excited to go home and find a church to get involved in. I hope it wasn't just talk. If so, regardless of the "Jesus edit" and all that, Matt can say that he truly WAS there for a purpose, even if it wasn't to win the game.:D

The rest of the episode felt like "let's just hurry up and get these two gone so the backbiting and in-fighting can begin". When Steve approached the two girls, it was like for the first time it dawned on them that there are only 3 spots in the finals, Rob is taking one of those spots, and they weren't sure if the other two spots were theirs - but that was short-lived.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK (Post 2051383) I wonder why they're keeping so many people on RI. There are 4 people there now, right? That seems like a lot for only one to have the chance to get back in the game.

I think this would make it more interesting. Keep voting people out at tribal council until they’re down to 2 people, then have one giant challenge on Redemption Island to see who gets back in the game at the end. If they do this, though, they should start showing more of RI, and split the time between the people who are left and those that have been kicked out. Otherwise, us as viewers will have no idea what happened on RI, and understanding why people are voting the way they are during the Final 3 might be impossible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK (Post 2051420) All in all, I thought last night's episode was a little dull. Maybe it's because the Ometepe 6 have dominated so much that it became boring and predictable. Dee's right about it becoming more interesting now that they have to start picking off their own.

I was kind of disappointed that the show decided to use the whole voting a second person out at tribal council thing this week and not next. Could you imagine? Rob and his pawns all think to themselves that there’s only one Zapatera left, the vote is obvious, and they are down to six. And then one of them reads aloud at tribal, “You have to vote someone else out right now…”

If I were one of Rob’s puppets, I would DEFINITELY vote for him then.

::Sigh:: but of course that didn’t happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProudandTrue (Post 2051573) I think that Rob will try to vote Grant off next. He still needs the girls to vote with him, and then after Grant is gone, the girls will go. Rob will keep Phillip so he's sitting next to him at the final Tribal Council. I think that Matt is the only person who can beat Rob in the end...otherwise, it's his. Frankly, Matt and Rob are the only two who have really earned it.

If Rob doesn’t try to vote out Grant next, he’s an idiot. I think Grant is the one person who would try to break away from Rob and make a move toward voting him out. And Grant is a huge threat in immunity challenges.

I had a feeling you would be disappointed in the episode when you posted this in another thread:

Yes, I was much happier Climbing Every Mountain and solving my Maria problem that night than I was watching this episode.

I can't believe Mike let the Ometepe 6 visit with their families. I was shocked! Jeff hit the nail on the head when he said, "I thought the odds of that happening were less than zero."

I wonder why the producers didn't just call this season Resurrection Island. It would've set up the religious undertones much better, imo. We're getting the Jesus edit even when Matt doesn't deliver. *Cue Mike and his, from what I can remember, first Bible quote of the season.

Each week, I'm finding myself more conflicted about who I want to win. Rob is playing such a good game, it's almost too good. I can't explain it, but his domination in the challenges, the social game, the strategy, manipulation, etc... is almost to the point where I feel sorry for the other players. They're being completely outplayed. So, part of me wants to root against Rob. Then I remember that the other players had the opportunity to get rid of Rob and never even considered it. So, I'm finding it hard to root for any of the Ometepe 6.

I'm pulling for Matt, Mike and/or Ralph, and hope they can beat Andrea (and any of the other remaining Ometepe players). Go Team Jesus!

Not gonna lie, I totally teared up when Mike's mom said that she wasn't surprised at his decision because he is always a hero. I kinda think he was sincere when he told the camera in a side interview that he really did it because it was the right thing, not to earn votes.

I'm actually happier and happier with the Jesus edits. At first I thought they were going to get hokey and make Christians look like idiots, but I think they've shown some sincere religious moments.


On the other side of the coin...Andrea. Wow. How could you not see that coming?

It looks from the previews that people start talking and finding out that they're all promised final spots from Rob. Really? That thought just occured to them that they all think they're going to the end? Unless one of the RI ends up in the finals, Rob (or maybe Phillip, depending on his closing arguments about how he worked the crazy man strategy) is the only one that's actually played the game and deserves to win.

And Rob keeps winning immunities and STILL has a hidden immunity idol too. He can't use that past the final four, I believe, so he could use it next time to save himself or, if he wins immunity, to give it to someone else to use.

I just wanted to scream when Andrea said that, now that the Zapateras were all gone, they could get back to the real game. Well, Andrea, if you'd been playing the real game all along, maybe you wouldn't have gone home.

And I'm with you about Mike last night (and Julie last week). I find myself being a little moved in a way I'm not used to on Survivor.

Serious question: Why? If it's people just being themselves, why is it that different from any number of other ways we see people be themselves on shows like this?

^^^ No problem. I hope I didn't sound critical asking -- I certainly didn't intend to.

My guess is that the editors are working with what they got, and it does play off the Redemption Island theme nicely. I know plenty of people like the people we've gotten the major religion vibes from -- Matt, Mike and Julie -- and I think they're just being themselves. FWIW, Reality News Online had this in an interview with Julie:

RNO: Well that’s good! You said after the duel that your life has changed – how so?

Julie: Once again, I went for one reason and watching Matt and his story, I just realized I was there on Survivor for a reason – God had put me there for a reason. I had a reborn relationship with God.

I’ve come back and found a church and I left the game fine with not winning the million dollars because what I had taken home from Survivor was worth way more than any amount of money. I found a great church and my financial worries are gone and it’s all good. I didn’t go for an experience but came home with an incredible experience.

RNO: Did Matt really convert you?

Julie: (Laughs.) No, Matt didn’t convert me. I actually found God in ‘87 and my relationship and faith had kind of dissipated in the years. God just came back in my life. Matt didn’t convert me, but Matt’s story was very touching.

I guess I've enjoyed this part because it seems to move beyond stereotypes just a little, and all too often players are pigeon-holed into stereotypes.

I get the feeling that, while Matt/Julie/Mike's religious sentiments are heartfelt, the producers are capitalizing on it. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, of course. But I can see how it could be off-putting to some. Perhaps it's because one's path to religion is typically private? I don't know. It feels calculated to me, but not necessarily off-putting.

ETA my prediction: I think it's being edited this way because Rob and Matt will be in the final 3, and the producers are setting the scene for us. Rob has been portrayed as the army chief and the puppetmaster; Matt has been portrayed as the shepherd. Both got people to do what they wanted (Rob got his tribemates to follow him blindly; Matt got his RI-mates to follow Jesus) and both end up in the finale due (in part) to their skills. Still cheering for Team Jesus here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen (Post 2053923) I don't know .... it's just a weird vibe that's not enjoyable for me to watch, and I feel like I can't really find the words to explain why.

I feel the same way. And it’s one of those situations where I don’t even want to attempt to explain it, because I’m afraid I’ll somehow (unintentionally) offend someone.

However……….. I’ll try…

First, let me start by saying that I’m not religious at all, so I think that could be a big part of it. I watch Survivor for the entertainment value, and I’m not “entertained” by all things religion, nor do I understand them.. nor do I want to.

I think what’s really turning me off about it is that it seems like it’s kind of taking over the show (and that it’s taken over Matt’s entire life). Yes, everyone has their own personalities, and they are all “being themselves,” but when someone like Matt appears to be completely consumed by everything religious, it just gets old. I can’t recall a clip of Matt where he DOESN’T mention something religious. Whenever they showed him on Redemption Island, I thought, “Here we go again.. what sign did God throw at you this time?” I’m sure that sounds awful, but it’s starting to remind me of a teenage girl who starts going out with her first boyfriend and WILL NOT SHUT UP about him. It gets to a point where you wonder if the person has ANYTHING else to talk about.

And that’s the best way I can explain it.

http://www.google.com/url?source=img...xkeGJ5x18z2MYg


It's supposed to. Matt is actually demonstrating well what a Christian life SHOULD be like. It SHOULD be like the girl with the new boyfriend that's so excited it's all she can talk about. That is MODEL Christian behavior. Not that Matt hasn't slipped a few times, but for the most part, "Well done, good and faithful one". Too many Christians are scared to act like that, because people WILL be off-put, think they're weird, or even persecute them. Jesus even told us in the Bible that it would happen, but we're supposed to follow him completely anyway. It kinda makes me sad that Matt can do this on national TV, and sometimes I have trouble doing it just in front of the people in my life.

Spread the Gospel...use words, if necessary.
Love people until they ask you why.:D

Clearly, we're getting an edit -- we see 40 minutes out 2-3 days each episode. So I do imagine that for any survivor, it's unfair to assume that the little bit we see is all there is to them. The editors show us what they think makes a good story arc, and I think SydneyK is calling it exactly right as to where they're headed.

They always work with story arcs, foreshadow and telegraph how things will end. That's frankly part of the fun for me -- to see if I'm reading the clues right.

We do seem to be headed to a Matt/Rob finale. I'm not sure what they could have done to hide that, given that hardly anyone other than Rob (and Phillip if you believe him) has been playing playing with any real sense of strategy.

The previews are such teasers, but next week may be very interesting for Rob - ?

As evident at the last tribal, EVERYONE thinks they're in good with Rob, so they all feel like they're going to the finals. What seems to be lacking is the fact that whoever actually IS in with Rob and does make it needs to have some sort of reason why they should win...unless their goal is $100,000 instead of the million. I doubt this season's jury is going to accept coat-tail riding as an actual strategy (ie Natalie a couple seasons back), unless they buy Phillip's game/nuttiness was actually strategy and he's not just cray-cray.

I think the fact that everyone said they felt comfortable last tribal is what ultimately is going to bring about the realization that it's time to start talking amongst themselves, since there are five people there, and probably only two of them are going to make it to the end via natural causes (not RI).

I won't get to watch this week's normal episode until Thursday. I wonder if they're really going into the Finale Sunday with 8 people still "in play".

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog (Post 2053981) It's supposed to. Matt is actually demonstrating well what a Christian life SHOULD be like. It SHOULD be like the girl with the new boyfriend that's so excited it's all she can talk about. That is MODEL Christian behavior. Not that Matt hasn't slipped a few times, but for the most part, "Well done, good and faithful one". Too many Christians are scared to act like that, because people WILL be off-put, think they're weird, or even persecute them. Jesus even told us in the Bible that it would happen, but we're supposed to follow him completely anyway. It kinda makes me sad that Matt can do this on national TV, and sometimes I have trouble doing it just in front of the people in my life.

I’m not off-put, think he’s weird, or wanting to persecute him. If that’s how someone wants to live their life, that’s fine. I just don’t want to watch it unfold on television. That’s just my own personal preference, and again, I meant no offense to anyone. I’m just simply explaining that the reason why some people who aren’t religious (and yes, I have talked to others about this.. but I certainly refuse to speak for everyone) can’t seem to get on board with Matt is because that’s all he’s ever talked about on the show. And I really don’t care if it’s religion, or a boyfriend, or anything else someone could possibly get excited about, if they talk about that one thing, and ONLY that one thing ALL THE TIME, it does get tiring listening to it.

But hey, that could just be me.

Having said that, I can completely understand this…

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat (Post 2053996) Clearly, we're getting an edit -- we see 40 minutes out 2-3 days each episode. So I do imagine that for any survivor, it's unfair to assume that the little bit we see is all there is to them. The editors show us what they think makes a good story arc, and I think SydneyK is calling it exactly right as to where they're headed.

We do only see a fraction of these people’s lives in each one of these episodes. It could very well be that Matt has talked for hours in front of the cameras, but we only get to see the few times he has mentioned anything having to do with religion. Regardless, I wish they’d show him talking about something, ANYTHING else… if he does in fact talk about other things.

Ok, back to the show… :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnchorAlum (Post 2054044) The previews are such teasers, but next week may be very interesting for Rob - ?

In reference to what he said at the very end of the preview immediately following the show (and I can’t remember his exact wording), I think he was implying that the other tribe members are starting to talk and work with each other, which is something that they’ve just figured out how to do. If that’s the case… it took them long enough! If I were Rob, and I made it to the finals to plead my case, I would definitely use to my advantage the obliviousness of my tribe. I would mention the last tribal council, and how not one person raised their hand when Jeff inquired about who thought they were in trouble. Rob has owned this game the whole way through, and I’d hate to see him go home now.

But I don’t really think it will happen.

That's what Phil tweeted, I'm told. There are 9 now, so if one goes this Wednesday, that leaves 8.

You might enjoy this Ranking of the Final 9 at Reality News Online.

fixed your post ;)

LOL. Still have TAR on the mind, I guess.

Thanks for the link, MC - good stuff! What does the 'n/c' mean (in parentheses next to Rob's and Grant's names)?

Wouldn't it be great if one of the RI challenges involved having the RI-folk and Survivors pull rocks out of a bag, and those with black rocks returned to the beach and those with white rocks stayed on RI. I'd love to see a major switch up like that (I know it won't happen, and I know there are too many reasons not to do something like this, I'm just dreaming). Can you imagine how much that would screw with Rob's strategy? (I'd include other players in that, but Rob appears to be the only one with strategy, so he'd be the only one affected.)

No change (from the rankings last week). Likewise, the +# or -# in parentheses next to others' names shows the change since last week.

Well, shucks. I like Grant. But I'm really hoping Matt can pull it off, so I hope Grant loses at RI. And let me just say that I'm liking the RI crowd (minus Andrea) more than the survivors.

I don't know. It's crazy how RI has affected this game. If it weren't a factor, I'd totally be pulling for Rob - his gameplay has been straight from the Survivor textbook. But as long as there's hope for Matt, and to a lesser extent Mike and now Grant, I just can't get behind Rob. Yet, at the same time, I can't dismiss the fact that he probably deserves to win. And I'm really liking him this time around.

Where's the conflicted emoticon?

I agree. With all of this.

My problem with someone on RI winning is that they didn't really have to play all aspects of the social game. I also think they should be showing us more about what's going on over there rather than just the challenge. That would tell us whether Matt is playing a social game over there or not. Since most of the people there comprise the jury, it seems like we should be seeing how they are interacting with each other. RI changes the game significantly and may allow someone who was voted out of his own tribe not once, but twice, to win. That just doesn't seem right. I also don't like that only the person who comes in last leaves. I liked it better when it was one on one challenges over there.

One could just as easily argue, though, that if Matt can win his way back into the game, then convince the jury to vote for him after spending almost the whole game AWAY from them, that he deserves to win just as much as anyone. That's what I like about Survivor - if you make it to the end, you've played the game well. Some do it through winning challenges, some stay below the radar, some befriend everyone, and some manipulate everyone...but in the end, the only way to win is for the jury to vote for you. If you can convince them to give it to you, you obviously deserve it.