Massive amounts of credit for my team winning after a looong drought has to go to Ben. He was the one who suggested drafting Tony, someone I wouldn't have seriously considered if he hadn't pointed out all his dark horse-y virtues. Lo & behold, Tony came through big time!
A valiant effort from Sinkers & Floaters & their beastie dregs, and a bit of a scary moment from WooBrr when it looked like Woo - clearly a descendant of both Asian Keanu Reeves & the Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz (if I only had a brain) - might take Kass to the finals, sweep the vote, and have a huge come-from-behind victory. Fortunately his teeny tiny intellect somehow led him to believe that martial arts integrity in a game about backstabbing & manipulation was more important than winning $1,000,000. I imagine that in 5-10 years, an older semi-wiser Woo will be reflecting on this decision with a lot of bitterness.
It's super exciting that the Pool Idol will come to live in our house for a little while! I'm very excited to see what Moon & Bee put together & am going to start scouting out a good place of honor where it can reside. If next season Bag & Andrea win and Doug & Bri lose, then we'll have completed a full cycle of everyone contributing to the Idol & emerging victorious.
Also, I believe that Moon won a "12 pack of delicious micro brews" from Doug this season for picking Tony to win over Tash/Kass.
Final Standings:
J'Tude: 149 points
1. Tony (99 points)
2. Kass (24 points)
3. Jeremiah (23 points)
4. J'Tia (3 points)
Sinkers and Floaters: 103 points
1. Sarah (19 points)
2. Morgan (13 points)
3. Tasha (32 points)
4. Spencer (39 points)
WooBrr: 81 points
1. Woo (54 points)
2. Brice (0 points)
3. Alexis (2 points)
4. Jefra (25 points)
Space Cougars: 53 points
1. LJ (23 points)
2. Trish (24 points)
3. Cliff (10 points)
4. Lindsey (-4 points)
Bookkeeping:
- Tony wrapped up Douche of the Week as well as a near sweep of the vote at final tribal. I think that might be a first!
- It appears that there is no official fan favorite this season, nor was there one last season either. No points awarded for that.
Reflections:
- This was easily my favorite season to watch in a long time, and not just because we won. It was refreshing to have a season of all new players and especially players who weren't afraid to make big moves.
- I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around how little credit Kass got for her plays. AND she got no time in the reunion to explain herself! Poor form, Probst, that certainly would have been more interesting than talking to Tyler Perry.
- Huge shout out to everyone for their insightful & plentiful comments this season! The additional perspectives, both through official guest blogs & comments certainly added to both the season, the pool & the blog.
Suggested Rule Changes for Next Season:
- Penalty points for first person & or round of people out once we reach individual immunity challenges
- +1 point for a player each week they have the idol but don't play it (and it turns out to be correct play for you of course)
- A more scaled point system based on when players are eliminated. E.g. 1st person voted out gets -5, then -4, -3, etc. until the merge/jury when there would be a +10 base points addition. E.g. 1st person voted out at the merge/jury +10, then +11, +12, etc.
Next Season:
It's Blood v. Water II, filmed in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. It's nice to see them finally leave the Philippines and it'll be an all new cast again - hurray! Apparently everyone loved the all new castaways for Cagayan, so they are doing it again. Like the last Blood v. Water it looks like it'll be pairs of loved ones split into different tribes. Also they're bringing back Redemption Island which was where Probst seemed to enjoy most of the drama on the last BvW. I think it's going to be 10 pairs, 20 castaways total, but don't quote me on that. Premieres in September!