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Last week on Survivor...At first I felt discombobulated. Like something was amiss, then my fears were revealed to be true. Something was certainly amiss.
However after the first two hour episode, the clues started making sense.
THIS is a parallel universe.
It's not just Good against Evil, it's good-good against good-evil and evil-evil against evil-good.
It's a world where Coach is bearable and Jerri is likeable.
Where Rob is a hero and James is a villain.
Where Rupert is weak and Colby is ineffective.
Where Russell is NOT top dog and Amanda is NOT runner-up.
Frankly, it's still a bit unsettling.
So many knowns becoming unknown.
Well, that's why I'm here.
To clear the spacial dust and point out exactly where these "parallel universes" meet.
Before getting to the climax, let us first start with the foreplay in a segment called, "From the past comes some insight into the future."
Or as I call it '...Everyone has an opinion...'
Snidget brings us Jiffy's Blog.
In his post-episode 2 entry JP notes a few intriguing tidbits;
1. That Rob is like Rocky.
2. That Rocky has a Bullwinkle in Russell, if Russell could ever get over his ginourmous rack.
3. That Cirie has shown to be quite formidable but is unsure of her ability in sealing an alliance.
4. That Stephenie's Boot was "idiotic"
5. That most survivors these days are TC sheep and are unable to make choices on their own, even if it's not in their best interest.
6. That tribe strength is paramount to winning the game.
7. That James annoys him and if he had a vote, James would probably get it.
8. That some of the best one-liners of the season are in next week’s episode.
9. That he still has a crush on Colby. Big-time.
The insights from VerucaSalt's The Players, The Game, The Editing Thread, and it's contributors, is always an amazingly in-depth foray into the editing and it's ability to lead us gently down a specific storyline and manage to cue us into it's over-arching themes of the season.
The themes this season, much beyond the Heroes vs. Villains is moreso focused on old-guard vs. new-guard. Is the new strategy of self-preservation from start to finish impedeing on the old way of keeping the strength and brains intact? Another theme point being that within the tribes, factors of both good and evil are emerging. But is it because of pre-season productorial errors in tribe division or is it because of the adaptive abilities of players as they naturally react to their surroundings. (or maybe it's just ease of manipulation through strategically placed cymbal crashes and animal imagery.)
Next up is the great Krautboy's 20/20 Hindsight Thread, which has served as a very intrical piece to cracking the EPMB code of editing, for good. Due to it's relative reliance on the knowledge of the full boot list, those who participate will no doubt hone their spoiling edge.
SquidProQuo brings us the news from episode 2 via Survivor Insider
Of note;
1. Amanda, Cirie, JT, James and Rupert are in a confirmed 5 person alliance. The longevity of which everyone involved is nervous about. Specially after hearing that Cirie is rightfully nervous of Amanda.
2. Candice is on the outside because JT has informed his crew that Candice has stated she doesn't trust the Micronesia alliance.
3. Colby, much like JP, is disgusted with the recent change in strategy to boot the challenge threats during tribal phase.
4. Tom blames the last IC loss squarely upon JT's shoulders.
5. Danielle is the strongest of the Villain women and has been stepping up on the leadership angle lately.
6. The villains all agree, the villains suck.
7. Courtney is our "great one-liners" participant for episode 3.
8. Sandra seems to be straddling both sides of the Villains tribe. The busy go getters (Rob, Coach, Jerri, Russell) and the lazy sun-bathers (Courtney, Parvati, Danielle).
Also, Goldenmike brings us the sage summarizing of Stephen Fishbach.
Of whom seems to be solely fixated on Tom.
While RTVW itself has an interview with Stephenie wherein she mes her way through...
* Still bitter about James
* Still bitter about Rupert
* Cirie is a really good liar.
* Had Sugar been non-annoying, Cirie would have been gone.
* JT, Rupert, Amanda and James are tight. Candice and Cirie are tight. Colby and Tom are tight.
Not to mention, EW's Popwatch had a sit down with her too.
Wherein she was asked pretty much the same things and had pretty much the same answers.
1. Neither James nor Rupert deserve fan-favorite.
2. Sugar is sweet.
3. see RTVW interview above
Okay, was that all of 'em?
Great.
Now, as to the third episode.
The one this SOTS is all about.
To start everything off, michel brings us the title..."That Girl is Like a Virus"
and then SquidProQuo provides the tease...
One tough Villain has the whole tribe on edge as everyone sets their sights on a very dangerous alliance."
AND
"One of the most powerful women in the game targets a worthy adversary and gets aggressive in her efforts to oust an immediate threat.
Hmmm... lot's of schools of thought.
Most notably, Parvati, Jerri, Cirie.
Russell, Rob, James and Coach.
Either way, the majority coming from the Villain tribe. And a particular focus on the Micronesia crew. But who is the real Viral-Girl?
Now, while we've become accustomed to the hype, what we're also noting this season is that the title and tease have been misdirection. In that when the Villains claim "It's getting the best of me", It actually gets the best of the Heroes. Or if the Villains claim "Slay Everyone, Trust No One", it's the Heroes who must trust no one.
This week, there's a female who is seen as a virus. But will this viral-woman have anything to do with the bootee? Not likely. Or at least, not in keeping with the trend so far. In fact, the Viral-Girl could even be Cirie.
Keeping this in mind, let's get to the parsing out of vidcap evidence, shall we...
Taking a peek at the ep3 vidcap thread reveals a couple of good tid-bits.
The Heroes return to camp after TC and let James have it. (In their passive-aggressive ways)
Tom: James has got to bring down the nasty, brutish bullying.
James: I just want to win, ya'll.
Colby: It's ugly, the situation.
Tom: You could have been gentler.
I can pretty much guarantee that the manner in which Tom and Colby go about calming the beast will end up resulting in an even angrier beast.
Specially, if the beast loses once again.
While there is no vidcap evidence of a Reward Challenge, there are challenge arrival shots where Courtney and Sandra's outfits do not match what they are wearing for the Immunity Challenge. (And a particular upcoming bootee is visible so it can't be from episode 3)
The result?
Well, James is still sulking.
So, it's very likely, the Heroes losing streak continues. Beast still on the loose.
Now, with regards to Hidden Idols and RC twists.
There are rumblings of both.
If there are HI's (and it's a pretty darned foregone conclusion there are) at this moment there are no indications anything happens to/with them. There could very well be a clue, but it seems the search isn't even worth a scintilla of hype, therefore it's most probable a hidden idol is NOT found, just yet.
So without twists, HIs or a reward, will the Heroes somehow manage to win the immunity?
Tis fortold that they will but let's do the deducing ourselves anyways...
The immunity challenge is based off of a Palau challenge titled Sumo at Sea.
Replace the sea with mud and voila!
SitOuts: Sandra & Courtney
IC Match-ups: (How do we know it's for immunity? Take a peek at the corner of Jiffy's pedestal. Yup, it's the idol.)
Tom Vs. Russell
(Winner: Tom?) The showdown continues and this round will probably go to Tom.
Amanda Vs. Danielle
(Winner: ?) Could go either way. These women are all but the same. Even in mud-grimed grimace.
Rupert Vs. Coach
(Winner: Coach!)
Candice Vs. Parvati
(Winner: North American Straight Male and Lesbian Female Viewers/Tie?)
JT Vs. Tyson
(Winner: JT?)
Cirie Vs. Jerri
(Winner: Cirie) On pure Sumo-standard weights and measures.
Colby Vs. Rob
(Winner: COLBY?!)
Which leaves...James Vs. Randy
(Winner: James) Only evidence being that James has FINALLY decided to wear a smile, even if it's not sincere...
Tom, Cirie, Colby, JT and James make the necessary points to FINALLY allow the Heroes a moment in the sun and away from Tribal Council. And a moment of joy for Candice and Rupert...
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Okay, I'll go start a vote thread now.
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