LAST EDITED ON 12-09-23 AT 00:10 AM (EST)
Survivor has a way of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Always, the Players Rock the Boat and put many irons into the fire. They do not have to put off until tomorrow what they did the week before:
When Austin gave his idol to Julie he forgot that «Two in the hand is worth more than One » in Julie’s Bag. Austin acted as if he had « Too much too early. »
In order to get Bruce out of the game, Emily decided to « Make War, Not Love ». She decided to « Live and Let Die » by telling him that « Fiction is Stranger than the Truth. »
When Jiffy said it was time to play your idol, Bruce « Rested On His Laurels. »
Emily, « The Canary who Swallowed the Cat » would soon realize that « One Bad Turn Deserves Another »
Back in camp, the tribe decided to « Celebrate Good Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. » They poured themselves big glasses of Well Water. It was as if they were « Spending it all in one Place. »
Katurah said they « found a needle in a Haystack. » Now, she could hear « The Sound of Silence. »
When the others started wondering why Bruce wrote Julie’s name, Emily spoke up and proved once again that « it is easy to be wise after the event. » She wanted them to « Give the Devil Her due » so she revealed that she was « a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothings. »
Sitting away from the others, The Reebok 4 were savoring their numbers not realizing that « Two is Company but Four is an Orgy. » For Austin this was like a gift from the Mafia but soon Drew would « look that Gift Horse in the Mouth » and realize it had bad breath.
Before that though, Dee and Austin savoured a moment of intimacy. They even reminisced about the Romber showmance which is « Getting Long in the Tooth. »
Dee originally saw Austin as a 5 but after 6 months on Survivor he’s become her 10. She knew « showmances were big Red Flags » but her friends knew she’d find her husband on « Love Survivor Style. »
Maybe some say that Austin is the most complete Survivor out there but how come he feels that Dee completes him? He’s so enraptured that he’d want her to win.
The Fijian Warrior jumped out right after these words. He was telling Austin « To Be Careful What He Wished For » while giving us a big hint that Dee would indeed win.
In another example of « Being Careful What You Wish For » Jake was counting his votes. Didn’t he ever hear the song that goes: « You never count your VOTES when you're sittin' at the Beach. » He’s counted 7 votes and wishes he doesn’t get another one.
I’m a Gambler and I’m all in on this one: Jake will not get a vote when it comes time to select a winner!
When Katurah joins him, Jakes makes another wish this time about « the Applecart being upset somewhat. »
Katurah doesn’t understand the meaning of applecart.
I mean, come on Katurah! It’s a portemanteau word especially constructed to make it easy to understand. I hope you understand another portemanteau word that fits you snuggly and that word is « Dumbass. »
This led to a sentimental scene where Katurah said she was « Losing (her) Religion. »
The next morning, a sound wakens the cast. At first they wonder: « It’s a bird...It’s a Plane...It’s Superman! » No, it’s just a boat. One must get on board. Jake wants to but he has to let the others decide and the decisions is to pick rocks. Emily’s gets the green one but she’s not happy about it. She’s thinking: « I don’t need a boat, I just need therapy. »
No one forced you to pick rocks. Here’s to another dumbass.
As soon as Emily is out of sight, Julie proves this saying: « The price of success is to bear the criticism of envy »
For Julie, it’s clear: Emily has to go.
Drew doesn’t give her the response she expected. Drew is hungover and « one of the curious effects about a bad hangover is that you think you’re wrong. » So Drew starts questioning his whole game alliance with Julie. For him Julie’s hold on the idol is like « Gollom with the ring »
Dee does agree with Julie about Drew’s crack : « He already has a buttcheek in each alliance. »
Since Drew is close to Emily, Dee wanted Emily to be next but she worried about what Emily could gain during her expedition.
Dee may as well « believe in the boogeyman! »
In reality, for Emily, the trip to the island was a case of « Veni, Vidi, it kicked her ass back to camp. » For her it was indeed the 4th quarter of the game and she fumbled the ball.
Practicing for the fire challenge with Jake, Katurah expresses one of my long held opinions: «Why can’t we vote someone out at 4 »
Of course, I always add «and at three » but I have long lost hope of that ever happening again. The gambler in me comes back to say that one of Jake or Katurah wins that Fire-Challenge!
When Drew throws Julie’s name under the bus, Katurah is quick to say that she wants to become a serial killer that jumps out of the shadows and gets rid of people. She wants to be « Kat the Ripper. »
The editors missed a nice opportunity: Jake had his machete in hand and he was thinking along the same line so why not show his confessional instead and have us call him « Jake the Ripper? » Doesn’t it have a nice ring?
But since Katurah was the one chosen to talk about making big moves, wasn’t it facinating to see her walking right behind Austin? She had his back in plain sight. Could she be the one that backstabs him if it happens?
When Emily comes back to camp, she realizes the game is down to a Julie versus Emily showdown at the OK Corral.
But first, we’ll have a showdown in Mickey Mouse’s Backyard, better known as the Challenge.
It will be a combination Reward and Immunity challenge.
Do you realize how many words comes out of Probe’s mouth during a challenge? He was enjoying giving rope to all his colorful fish, tiring them before declaring a winner. For me, the following saying fit the scene: « A fool is made more of a fool, when their mouth is more open than their mind»
Austin, probably doing the same as I always do during a challenge, didn't listen to Jiffy’s information and that opened the door for Drew to win immunity.
When Drew picked Jake and Austin for an afternoon with the boys, Dee started worrying. She imagined herself being in the boys’ mouth as they gobbled up burgers, hot dogs and all the fixin’s.
In a case of « when the cat is away, the mice will play », the women had a spa day. For them, it was « all quiet on the Fiji front » because, as Katurah put it, half were plotting to eliminate Julie while the other half were plotting against Emily. It was a Mexican Stand-off, a Stalemate, a case of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction), a Zugzwang.
For the boys, it was a little different, more like a Mexican Fiesta, a Sated Mouth, a case of BAD (Burger Assured Destruction), a Chugalug.
Ha! Ha! You didn’t think I’d have anything to juxtapose with Zugswang did you?!
When the boys started talking strategy, did you notice the return of an old Survivor editing tradition? It was back: The FOG of WAR When the boys’ plan turned against Julie we saw them through the smoke of the Bar-B-Q fire. That editing trick has been proven right every time: A plan discussed behind the Fog of War will always fail and so did this one.
Jake told us that he felt he had been playing the role of a tree in a children’s play but that now he had more of a supporting role.
Yes, Jake, your tree has become the bench that is supporting these asses
The Return of the Prodigal Sons didn’t live up tp its billing because it was mostly Drew curling up inside the shelter, close to puking all the burgers he had just eaten.
Austin was wrestling with his conscience and he wasn’t winning: We just knew that he was going to reveal the plan to Dee. As soon as that happened, you knew that Dee would tell Julie and that the two would put on an act all the way to the reading of the vote.
But Hell hath no Fury like a woman scorned so who would pay for this egregious act? Usually the woman unleashes her anger at the man who spurned her but here, Drew is safe. Does that only leave Austin? Of course not! The other woman can also be the target of that anger. Here, oddly enough, beause of a slip of the tongue, Dee telling Julie that Austin was her number 1, we could also see an innocent bystander get striken.
Casting Doubts on the winner is the editors’ main job at this point.
In the end, despite all the lies, half-truths and innuendos, Julie played her idol.
Jiffy read 6 parchments that had Julie’s name on it.
Then he turned the last parchment, the one written by Julie and it had one name:
EMILY
For Emily, the morale of the story is: « It is not enough to learn how to ride, you must also learn how to fall »
I must admit she did so gracefully but she will never get back up.
For us, the morale is: When a situation contradicts so many well established sayings then you know that the situation isn’t real life. Despite all of Survivor’s hardships revealing the character of a person, these players know they are in a game and they can put on an act, they can lie even if it isn’t in their nature.
Now this is hysterical.I was starting to write my summary when you posted your bash submission.
I'll definitely respond to yours this weekend.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. My goal was to make you chukkle. Which part(s) did you like?
I liked many parts, but by FAR my best was Dee upgrading her rating of Austin from a “5” to a “10.” LMAO! Brought back memories during my bar-hopping days MANY moons ago when I needed to safeguard myself from the “2 at 10; 10 at 2 Syndrome.” To clarify, that’s when you get to a club or bar at 10:00pm and see someone you probably would rate a “2” on a scale to 1 to 10. But after four hours of solid drinking that same person starts looking like a “10” at 2:00am. Hence the “2 at 10; 10 at 2 Syndrome.” Even though I think most women would rate Austin a little higher than a “5” at first sight, I totally see where you’re coming from. LOLBeing the best (most complete) player THIS SEASON and wanting to find his soulmate to “complete him” on a personal level are not one in the same. Jerry McGuire wanted to be the BEST Sports Agent. By the end of the movie, he achieved just that; but he still needed Dororthy Boyd to “complete him.”
Very clever incorporating R.E.M.’s <Losing (her) Religion> to Katorah’s backstory.
Also enjoyed the play on AC/DC’s <Good Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.>
Both rival the Percy Sledge references in my Summary.
Even with both of our posts for this episode submitted concurrently without one seeing what the other wrote, not surprising we were on the same wavelength with:Jumping all over Katurah’s ignorance of the “applecart” idiom.
Jake as the quintessential GOAT.
“Dumbass” Emily choosing to take a chance on a journey she did NOT want to go on.
But would a reply be complete without a disagreement...If you think the ONLY reason Reality Shows place players in challenging and dire environments is JUST for “good TV,” then I have a bridge 25 miles from me (in Brooklyn) I would LOOOOVE to sell you!
A big reason and (personally I would even go so far to say) the primary reason castaways are stripped of essentials and taken out of their comfort levels is to allow their TRUE COLORS to surface. When everything is all hunky-dory, it’s much easier to put on a “happy face” or portray a “holier than thou” demeanor. Alas, when as few dark clouds start to hover over one's horizon and things begin to go south THAT’S when a person’s true colors begin to emerge. THAT is what we witness on Survivor when players are confronted with adverse conditions and grave situations.
Here's the rub...eventually they are subjected to the stark realization that those who they associate with on a regular basis back at home (along with millions of other viewers) will see them for what they are. More times than not, it isn’t flattering to say the least. Given that predicament, they franticly “pour pitchers of Kool-Aid” for those who want to take a sip as a desperate means of self-preservation to make those think the unflattering traits are NOT "really" them.
Listen...everyone will believe what they want. Simply put...I’m not drinking what they’re pouring...
Thank you for the additional comments. It helps me see what you like and where to aim!I can assure you that I know all about the: “2 at 10; 10 at 2 Syndrome. In Survivor it's more day 2 vs day 20!
I agree with you (suprise!) that hardship will reveal personal traits but that's in between the strategy sessions. Cycles aren't three days anymore but, traditionally, if it was raining and they had no food or water on day 1 and 2 of the cycle, they'd be more themselves but ON DAY 3, when it comes time to strategize, the most honest person could become the biggest liar. It's a big part of the tactics of the game and the winners, with very few exceptions, couldn't get to the end without pulling the wool over the eyes of ennemies and friends alike.
For example; I believe Julie is really honest with everyone around her in real life.
The point I’ve been making FOREVER on this board is when the chips are down THAT’S when a person’s TRUE COLORS come to the forefront.That being said, the dire situations and adverse conditions prompting one’s reaction to deceive and lie (if that is in their nature) will probably not occur with the same FREQUENCY at home as on Survivor.
But here’s the rub...anyone who can DELIBERATELY deceive and INTENTIONALLY lie as willingly, and as easily, and as convincingly as most who are casted to play the game, it tells me it is a natural inclination for them regardless of their lame attempts at self-preservation.
I've exchange with some of the biggest villains ever on Survivor and they were very forthcoming, very nice EXCEPT for RussHole Hantz so I KNOW that lying on Survivor doesn't equate to lying in real life.Just an example: Do you think Mariano's marriage would have lasted up to this day if he had been as bad at home as on the islands?
Another and from one of your favorites: When the chips were down just before merger on Exile Island, Terry Dietz reneged on his promises, first to Ruth Marie and then to Dan. I've gotten to know Terry from his numerous posts on Facebook and he wouldn't hurt a friend in real life like he did with Dan.