Survivor 31: Second Chance

[CaptainCrunch]

Shirin was an idiot, and if you asked her she'd say she was an idiot. That whole tribe came across as the worst kind of bullies when they were laughing at Abi.

She might be a out of control fusion reactor, but those other idiots forgot that they were playing a game with a million dollars involved that had a social environment to it.

And I give props to Abi, who completely tortured Shirin with it in their one on one talk with Shirin's completely insincere apology when she asked Abi point blank if she was still with her side and Abi basically responded with a "That's not my style".

They basically had the game under control and in one incredibly stupid move turned Abi from an outcast into a incredible weapon.

Shirin came across as a hypocrite and a very small person.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by mile

Shirin not standing up for Abi was her downfall.

Shirin allying herself with Abi in the first place was her downfall. Abi is seriously toxic. That and her commitment to Spencer... Spencer was Varners target and when Shirin found out she tried to make Varner the target and only when Varner found that out did he change the target from Spencer to Shirin. If she'd just decided to allow Spencer to go home she'd have been safe. She shoulda played the Sandra game ("anybody but me").

Props

Terry: Got the swing vote back on his side.

Jeff: Is there a better character on the show this year? I don't think so.

Slops

Spencer: You are (maybe) so lucky that a swap is coming.

Peih-Gee: If you could have just held your tongue you'd be in a dominant position right now... yes it's Abi and Abi is vile but just suck it up for a few votes.

Honorable Slop: Andrew Savage. That someone didn't get emotional over a story about how a high powered attorney met his super-model wife doesn't mean they lack morals, values, and dignity... what a sactimonious ass.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Shirin allying herself with Abi in the first place was her downfall.

Yup I agree that Abi should never have been included in the first place. But it did happen and Shirin failed to build the proper relationship needed to keep her loyalty. Loved it when Woo shut Shirin and Spencer down when they were getting desperate, it was the perfect example of what they were doing wrong.

Originally Posted by Parallex

Honorable Slop: Andrew Savage. That someone didn't get emotional over a story about how a high powered attorney met his super-model wife doesn't mean they lack morals, values, and dignity... what a sactimonious ass.

I was rolling my eyes at that scene. That's a lot of judgement being made about somebody's character based on virtually nothing. Savage looks like the type of player who expects everybody else to play his game, and that he can do no wrong. He claims his tribe is one big family, and yet is actively plotting to get one of them out. If he is in the jury, I expect him to be a very bitter jury member.

[Flash Walken]

I bet Spencer and Kass end up on the same tribe.

Varner is just the best, reminds me of that guy from season's past, the bigger guy, always wearing the hat? He was a writer or something.

Anyway, that guy, he could charm the spots off a leopard, Varner is the same way. I see him as the one to beat at this point.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Varner is just the best, reminds me of that guy from season's past, the bigger guy, always wearing the hat? He was a writer or something.

Did he sound like Alan Alda? If so that's Jonathon Penner. And yes Varner is great, I always felt that if Skupin doesn't fall in the fire that Varner would have had a great shot at winning his first season. Not sure he's gonna have the stamina to take this to the end but it'll be a heckova ride while he's there.

[WhiteTiger]

Got to watch the episode, and it was a special kind of satisfaction watching Shirin's game implode. Interested in the next one, with the split to 3 tribes. Varner is also a lot of fun to watch.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Did he sound like Alan Alda? If so that's Jonathon Penner. And yes Varner is great, I always felt that if Skupin doesn't fall in the fire that Varner would have had a great shot at winning his first season. Not sure he's gonna have the stamina to take this to the end but it'll be a heckova ride while he's there.

YES! PENNER!

Very similar players in my opinion. Soothsayers.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Honorable Slop: Andrew Savage. That someone didn't get emotional over a story about how a high powered attorney met his super-model wife doesn't mean they lack morals, values, and dignity... what a sactimonious ass.

Glad I'm not the only one that felt that way. And then the line "shows where his head is at". Uh ya? In the game? Where is yours? Is the show called Survivor or Say yes to the dress?

[killer_carlson]

who in their right mind voted for abi to be back on the show?

[mile]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

who in their right mind voted for abi to be back on the show?

*raises hand* I did

Seriously though, I don't hate her like most people do and appreciates what she brings to the show. She's the only real villainess this cast has, because I don't even see Kass as a villain.

[Pizza]

Holy crap, where was this Jeff Varner in Season 2?
The Varner i remembered was a jokester and a prankster. This one is calculated and had a plan going in

Did anyone else get the feeling that the 3 way tribe split had been a plan B move for this season?

it felt like they needed to execute it when:
1) people got too comfortable on the Bayon tribe
2) Bayon was dominating and would probably dominate Ta keo in the next immunity challenge
3) Spencer was in danger of getting eliminated next round. Survivor producers felt they needed to protect their 1st or 2nd most popular guy to protect their ratings

[GreenLantern]

Seeing Shirin go home second was probably the most satisfaction I have ever got from a tribal. But seeing her go home as a hypocrite (and being called on it by Probst) is better than if I had written the script myself. I called her on this behaviour the first time around and she has just re enforced my opinion of her. She came into tribal once again trying to play the victim and once spencer just went rogue and put all of the cards on the table her tone changed completely.

Great game by Varner, I thought he was a bit of a dark horse when I picked him but I didn't see this coming. The three way split might actually benefit him because his tribe could just as easily see him as "overplaying" at this point. Will be an interesting episode next week.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by mile

*raises hand* I did

Seriously though, I don't hate her like most people do and appreciates what she brings to the show. She's the only real villainess this cast has, because I don't even see Kass as a villain.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

who in their right mind voted for abi to be back on the show?

I did.

Abi is vile, Abi is a trainwreck... Abi is good TV. I voted for Kass for the same reason.

[killer_carlson]

when Abi speaks or has a sole person interview, I am trying to hit the mute button.

I don't find her good tv. She honestly makes me want to turn the channel.

[Property Manager DB]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

who in their right mind voted for abi to be back on the show?

Annoying yet very entertaining to watch. Drama stimulates views

[WhiteTiger]

Really good episode tonight, I felt.

Nice recovery by Varner on his slipup.

Nice moves by Jeremy to secure that idol.

I like the idea of the 3 tribes more than I thought that I would, though Takeo still looks like a powerhouse tribe.

I find myself, again, liking Spencer. Though I hope he's learned his lesson. I have to wonder if he just needs to be on/near the bottom to work well.

I also kinda feel that Abi keeps 'winning' because folks think she'll be an easy dump later, and I wonder if that's going to bite them in the butt.

[mile]

Okay, now I'm tired of Abi. Her time here has run its course.

Great plays by Tasha and Savage to get the other four to crack. Tasha jumping all over Varner after the challenge was what started it. Varner had no reason to signal Wiglesworth, had no idea what he was thinking there. Only thing I question is keeping Abi over Peih-Gee, she's shown she can flip if you upset her in the slightest. I hope Woo can survive this.

Stephen and Spencer look like they're in much better positions, thanks to the swap.

3 tribes has always worked for Survivor recently, no surprise they did it again. They should have had a challenge to decide who got the Angkor beach though, the disadvantage seemed very unfair and that place looks like hell.

And poor Monica, Kimmi, Ciera, Wiglesworth, and Keith...all invisible so far.

[Barnes]

I casually watch survivor and only have watched the early seasons and the last few years but this season is great.

Joe is a survivor beast. It seems like there is nothing he can't do well but it will be interesting to see how he plays on a tribe that isn't successful in comps if they swap again before the merge.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Joe is a survivor beast.

Meh, just the latest Golden Boy... Joe is Malcolm (who is Ozzy).

Originally Posted by Barnes

Joe is a survivor beast.

Meh, just the latest Golden Boy... Joe is Malcolm (who is Ozzy).

__________________________________________________ ______

Props:

Jeremy - Never a bad day when you aren't in trouble and get the idol.

Stephan/Spencer - Lucky break for those guys. They went from having no one and being the prime target of the guy in charge on their tribe to having each other (as a shield or as an ally) and having their adversaries on a different tribe.


Slops:

The Whole Ankgor Tribe: Unlucky break for those guys... Everyone on the Tribe was in the majority of their prior tribe (and Varner/Savage were basically in control). Now they have no shelter, no food, the worst roster of challange competators, and your fate is in the hands of Abi-Marie Gomes.