Great episode! I was really happy with how everything played out, and suddenly have a new appreciation for the players who are left on the show. Individually, yes, they are dumb. But as a group they are actually quite clever. It's like a successful version of groupthink, which I don't think I've ever really seen before.
I'm sad that my powerhouse is gone, but I'm happy because I think the game will get a lot more interesting. And while I'm worried that Holly stuck her nose out and may now get a target on her back, somehow Benry is taking most of the blame.
I don't have a lot of time to write this, but I wanted to say one last thing: go Jane!!!
Standings:
Team Black Snake Widow: Me - 73 points
[1. Brenda (32 pts)]
[2. Alina (28 pts)]
3. Holly (13 pts)
Team Sanity Crushers: Courtney - 52 points
1. Jane (17 pts)
2. Benry (22 pts)
[3. Kelly (13 pts)]
Team Klepto: Moon - 48 points
[1. Jill (11 pts)]
2. Dan (7 pts)
3. NaOnka (30 pts)
Team Blonde Bimbos: Dachui - 44 points
1. Chase (18 pts)
[2. Jimmy J. (0 pts)]
3. Fabio (26 pts)
Team Cactus: Doug/Bri - 34 points
[1. Marty (17 pts)]
2. Purple Kelly (15 pts)
[3. Yve (2 pts)]
Team SuccoSash: Baggins - 18 points
1. Sash (16 pts)
[2. Tyrone (2 pts)]
[3. Jimmy T (0 pts)]
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Survivor Nicaragua: Episode 9
Wednesday is a big TV night at Chateau Wolf - we have 4 or 5 shows that all come on that night, and we marathon our way through all of them. Last night's agenda looked like this: WSOP Main Event Final Table, Survivor, America's Next Top Model, and Top Chef: Just Desserts. (We also watched TUF, but I fell asleep in the middle of it, so it doesn't count. We also usually watch Modern Family, but it wasn't on for some reason.) Last night's marathon was full of excitement, suspense, and big moves- in all of the shows except Survivor. There were a lot of opportunities for all of these things, but the contestants passed them by.
Instead, what we saw was a continuation of the Brenda Dominance. Two alliances lined up, and then Brenda picked the one she liked better. To me it was cool guys v. misfits. It was fun to see the misfits win, but it was also predictable and dull.
Standings:*
Team Black Snake Widow: Me - 63 points
1. Brenda (22 pts)
[2. Alina (28 pts)]
3. Holly (13 pts)
Team Klepto: Moon - 46 points
[1. Jill (11 pts)]
2. Dan (7 pts)
3. NaOnka (28 pts)
Team Sanity Crushers: Courtney - 42 points
1. Jane (9 pts)
2. Benry (20 pts)
[3. Kelly (13 pts)]
Team Blonde Bimbos: Dachui - 42 points
1. Chase (18 pts)
[2. Jimmy J. (0 pts)]
3. Fabio (24 pts)
Team Pinky & the Brain: Doug/Bri - 32 points
[1. Marty (17 pts)]
2. Purple Kelly (13 pts)
[3. Yve (2 pts)]
Team SuccoSash: Baggins - 18 points
1. Sash (14 pts)
[2. Tyrone (2 pts)]
[3. Jimmy T (0 pts)]
*Determining what points should count for what was difficult this week. After consultation with the good Doctor, we determined that Chase would not be penalized for sitting out the challenge, since a) it wasn't his choice, and b) he did sort of participate anyways. We also determined that the men (minus Chase) would receive "team reward" points instead of "individual reward" points (2 points v. 4) because they really were a team. The scoring of these sorts of challenges always becomes a gray area post-merge. I'm happy to talk about this with anyone who disagrees with the scoring & would love to hear suggestions for how to improve this in the future!
Power Rankings:
1. Black Snake Widow - This episode only helped my team. I got 6 points from Brenda, who is a strong competitor in every challenge. She chose to side with the alliance that Holly is in, so they're probably going to go deep. In a normal season I'd be worried that Brenda & Sash's attitude this past episode would make them targets, but they just eliminated the only other person in the game with more than 10 brain cells so I think they're safe.
2. Klepto - If I were on the jury this season and NaOnka made the final 3 this would be my question/comment at final tribal: "Nay, I'm willing to give you my vote, but only if you promise to go to a psychiatrist if you win. Can you promise me that?" And I would. This is the most unorthodox style I've ever seen and it's impressing me. And I get the feeling it might impress others too.
3. Sanity Crushers - I think the Sanity Crushers and Blonde Bimbos are neck and neck. Both teams have a player in each alliance. I'm putting the Crushers above the Bimbos because I think Chase would sacrifice himself to get Jane further in the game. Jane's on shaky ground already, but hopefully with Marty gone she'll start flying under the radar again.
4. Blonde Bimbos - One bonus of having players in different alliances is that if a coup happens, there's a good chance that Fabio (or Benry) could actually win the entire thing... I'm taking a moment right now to enjoy this possibility. Chase got air time for the first time in a while, but all it revealed was that he's Brenda's whipping boy. Overall it seems like the Bimbos are living up to their name - they seem to make bad decision after bad decision, and it's going to bite them in the end.
5. SuccoSash - Doug asked me if I thought Brenda & Sash would stick together until the end. I think Brenda is definitely capable of betraying Sash, but I don't think Sash works that way. If he does betray her I would be thrilled. It would make for a really interesting twist in what is currently a predictable game. And if Sash went on to win, and Bag did too, it would be the greatest come-back ever. None of this is going to happen of course, but a girl can dream.
6. Pinky& the Brain - Losing Marty was the death knell for Doug & Bri. Now all they have left is Worse-Than-A-Cactus. Sure she's in a good alliance, but she obviously won't win. Although, Purple Kelly does have value as being so useless that she'd be great to take to the final three. If I were Brenda, I'd try to plan it so that the final 4 contestants were me, Dan, Holly, and Purple Kelly. Then I'd be up against the three weakest competitors in the final immunity challenge and have a cake-walk at final tribal council.
Instead, what we saw was a continuation of the Brenda Dominance. Two alliances lined up, and then Brenda picked the one she liked better. To me it was cool guys v. misfits. It was fun to see the misfits win, but it was also predictable and dull.
Standings:*
Team Black Snake Widow: Me - 63 points
1. Brenda (22 pts)
[2. Alina (28 pts)]
3. Holly (13 pts)
Team Klepto: Moon - 46 points
[1. Jill (11 pts)]
2. Dan (7 pts)
3. NaOnka (28 pts)
Team Sanity Crushers: Courtney - 42 points
1. Jane (9 pts)
2. Benry (20 pts)
[3. Kelly (13 pts)]
Team Blonde Bimbos: Dachui - 42 points
1. Chase (18 pts)
[2. Jimmy J. (0 pts)]
3. Fabio (24 pts)
Team Pinky & the Brain: Doug/Bri - 32 points
[1. Marty (17 pts)]
2. Purple Kelly (13 pts)
[3. Yve (2 pts)]
Team SuccoSash: Baggins - 18 points
1. Sash (14 pts)
[2. Tyrone (2 pts)]
[3. Jimmy T (0 pts)]
*Determining what points should count for what was difficult this week. After consultation with the good Doctor, we determined that Chase would not be penalized for sitting out the challenge, since a) it wasn't his choice, and b) he did sort of participate anyways. We also determined that the men (minus Chase) would receive "team reward" points instead of "individual reward" points (2 points v. 4) because they really were a team. The scoring of these sorts of challenges always becomes a gray area post-merge. I'm happy to talk about this with anyone who disagrees with the scoring & would love to hear suggestions for how to improve this in the future!
Power Rankings:
1. Black Snake Widow - This episode only helped my team. I got 6 points from Brenda, who is a strong competitor in every challenge. She chose to side with the alliance that Holly is in, so they're probably going to go deep. In a normal season I'd be worried that Brenda & Sash's attitude this past episode would make them targets, but they just eliminated the only other person in the game with more than 10 brain cells so I think they're safe.
2. Klepto - If I were on the jury this season and NaOnka made the final 3 this would be my question/comment at final tribal: "Nay, I'm willing to give you my vote, but only if you promise to go to a psychiatrist if you win. Can you promise me that?" And I would. This is the most unorthodox style I've ever seen and it's impressing me. And I get the feeling it might impress others too.
3. Sanity Crushers - I think the Sanity Crushers and Blonde Bimbos are neck and neck. Both teams have a player in each alliance. I'm putting the Crushers above the Bimbos because I think Chase would sacrifice himself to get Jane further in the game. Jane's on shaky ground already, but hopefully with Marty gone she'll start flying under the radar again.
4. Blonde Bimbos - One bonus of having players in different alliances is that if a coup happens, there's a good chance that Fabio (or Benry) could actually win the entire thing... I'm taking a moment right now to enjoy this possibility. Chase got air time for the first time in a while, but all it revealed was that he's Brenda's whipping boy. Overall it seems like the Bimbos are living up to their name - they seem to make bad decision after bad decision, and it's going to bite them in the end.
5. SuccoSash - Doug asked me if I thought Brenda & Sash would stick together until the end. I think Brenda is definitely capable of betraying Sash, but I don't think Sash works that way. If he does betray her I would be thrilled. It would make for a really interesting twist in what is currently a predictable game. And if Sash went on to win, and Bag did too, it would be the greatest come-back ever. None of this is going to happen of course, but a girl can dream.
6. Pinky
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Survivor Nicaragua: Episode 8
Merge! I love it when Survivor merges - I think this is when the game really starts. It's like Catan - the first stage is getting your pieces in place, the 2nd is playing it out. In Survivor, when the players are in tribes it's when everyone has a chance to get their game plan set. Once they've merged the game really starts.
I thought this merge was particularly interesting because nobody seems to be voting along tribal lines. No one (except Alina, RIP) is sticking to Young v. Old or La Flor v. Espada or even Sane v. Crazy. The alliances in this season are more fluid than ever before.
Standings:
Team Black Snake Widow: Me - 57 points
1. Brenda (16 pts)
[2. Alina (28 pts)]
3. Holly (13 pts)
Team Klepto: Moon - 44 points
[1. Jill (11 pts)]
2. Dan (5 pts)
3. NaOnka (28 pts)
Team Sanity Crushers: Courtney - 40 points
1. Jane (9 pts)
2. Benry (18 pts)
[3. Kelly (13 pts)]
Team Blonde Bimbos: Dachui - 40 points
1. Chase (18 pts)
[2. Jimmy J. (0 pts)]
3. Fabio (22 pts)
Team Pinky & the Brain: Doug/Bri - 20 points
1. Marty (5 pts)
2. Purple Kelly (13 pts)
[3. Yve (2 pts)]
Team SuccoSash: Baggins - 16 points
1. Sash (14 pts)
[2. Tyrone (2 pts)]
[3. Jimmy T (0 pts)]
Power Rankings:
1. Black Snake Widow - Somehow losing Alina only increased my confidence in my team. She won me a whopping 28 points by making the jury. At best I thought I'd get maybe 15. She wasn't a superstar player, but she really maximized with what she had to work with. Brenda might be getting cocky, which is concerning, BUT - for the first time ever - I had the thought that Holly might have a chance to win this game. Not a big chance, but suddenly it seemed more plausible.
2. Sanity Crushers - I'm worried about Jane's obsession with getting rid of Marty. What happens when she's gone? Is that goal overriding her goal of winning Survivor? I think her chances were also hurt by Marty calling her out at tribal council - but I'm hopeful that everyone will forget about that. In the meantime, Benry is flying under the radar but getting ready to make some moves. Both of them are threats at every challenge too, so there are opportunities for big points with this team!
3. Klepto - Moon's team is still terrible, but at least Nay is actually trying to win the game. Her methods are unorthodox, nonsensical, and strangely effective. She's in the tightest alliance, isn't seen as a threat, and still has an immunity idol. When she gets back to the US she should definitely go see a psychiatrist, but in Nicaragua she's actually doing well! Dan is only more memorable than Purple Kelly, but came up huge by making the jury... at least.
4. Blonde Bimbos - Dachui's team seems to be content playing 2nd fiddle to pretty much everyone. Chase & Fabio seem more happy to be supporting cast than actually stepping up and making moves. This will probably help them last longer, but I don't know if it will be enough for them to win it all. I love the Chase/Jane relationship though - I think they'll both be better off for it.
5. Pinky & the Brain - I still think Marty is a huge threat - but he's not winning any challenges, and the team is at least 20 points behind everyone else who has a chance. Purple Kelly is so boring she could be replaced with a cactus and no one would notice. And she's terrible in challenges. I think this Brain just doesn't have enough firepower behind him to really take over the world.
6. SuccoSash - Bag can still get the record for lowest score in Survivor Pool history, but only so long as Sash doesn't win any more challenges, or finish in the top 3. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
I thought this merge was particularly interesting because nobody seems to be voting along tribal lines. No one (except Alina, RIP) is sticking to Young v. Old or La Flor v. Espada or even Sane v. Crazy. The alliances in this season are more fluid than ever before.
Standings:
Team Black Snake Widow: Me - 57 points
1. Brenda (16 pts)
[2. Alina (28 pts)]
3. Holly (13 pts)
Team Klepto: Moon - 44 points
[1. Jill (11 pts)]
2. Dan (5 pts)
3. NaOnka (28 pts)
Team Sanity Crushers: Courtney - 40 points
1. Jane (9 pts)
2. Benry (18 pts)
[3. Kelly (13 pts)]
Team Blonde Bimbos: Dachui - 40 points
1. Chase (18 pts)
[2. Jimmy J. (0 pts)]
3. Fabio (22 pts)
Team Pinky & the Brain: Doug/Bri - 20 points
1. Marty (5 pts)
2. Purple Kelly (13 pts)
[3. Yve (2 pts)]
Team SuccoSash: Baggins - 16 points
1. Sash (14 pts)
[2. Tyrone (2 pts)]
[3. Jimmy T (0 pts)]
Power Rankings:
1. Black Snake Widow - Somehow losing Alina only increased my confidence in my team. She won me a whopping 28 points by making the jury. At best I thought I'd get maybe 15. She wasn't a superstar player, but she really maximized with what she had to work with. Brenda might be getting cocky, which is concerning, BUT - for the first time ever - I had the thought that Holly might have a chance to win this game. Not a big chance, but suddenly it seemed more plausible.
2. Sanity Crushers - I'm worried about Jane's obsession with getting rid of Marty. What happens when she's gone? Is that goal overriding her goal of winning Survivor? I think her chances were also hurt by Marty calling her out at tribal council - but I'm hopeful that everyone will forget about that. In the meantime, Benry is flying under the radar but getting ready to make some moves. Both of them are threats at every challenge too, so there are opportunities for big points with this team!
3. Klepto - Moon's team is still terrible, but at least Nay is actually trying to win the game. Her methods are unorthodox, nonsensical, and strangely effective. She's in the tightest alliance, isn't seen as a threat, and still has an immunity idol. When she gets back to the US she should definitely go see a psychiatrist, but in Nicaragua she's actually doing well! Dan is only more memorable than Purple Kelly, but came up huge by making the jury... at least.
4. Blonde Bimbos - Dachui's team seems to be content playing 2nd fiddle to pretty much everyone. Chase & Fabio seem more happy to be supporting cast than actually stepping up and making moves. This will probably help them last longer, but I don't know if it will be enough for them to win it all. I love the Chase/Jane relationship though - I think they'll both be better off for it.
5. Pinky & the Brain - I still think Marty is a huge threat - but he's not winning any challenges, and the team is at least 20 points behind everyone else who has a chance. Purple Kelly is so boring she could be replaced with a cactus and no one would notice. And she's terrible in challenges. I think this Brain just doesn't have enough firepower behind him to really take over the world.
6. SuccoSash - Bag can still get the record for lowest score in Survivor Pool history, but only so long as Sash doesn't win any more challenges, or finish in the top 3. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
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