A great season! A great winner! I really enjoyed Survivor Philippines!! Figured I'd add another post here highlighting some blurbs, primarily surrounding Denise, that I wrote throughout the season. I'm in agreement with Jonathan as he voted at TC, as I too feel Denise played a flawless game. It was fun watching it all season long - here are the highlights:
Episode 5:
"One of the themes be "fighting back." As has been noted here, we can see emphasis from this theme along with strategy talk in being flexible and working with what you're given (As we heard in key confessionals from Lisa, Michael, and Denise)"
"There was still continued focus on Masting when coming back from TC, making things look really nice for Denise & Malcolm. Editing could've easily used some of that time for showcasing the other tribes even more, but it didn't. And this continued further when focus was still on Malcolm and Denise when they arrived in their new tribes. They have been set up so nicely as a major part of this season's story. Does this pair hold the winner? Well, from an editing standpoint the two look to go far and at the very least will play together again on the same tribe, as their story as an alliance is not over."
Episode 6:
"Denise - Like with Malcolm, the recap highlighted Denise's progression so far in this game. We were reminded of her great quote "Every step is an opportunity to turn things around." This was yet another good episode for her, even though the attention wasn't mainly on her. Like with the first scene with Katie, not only did it help set up Katie's boot, but we once again got to see Denise in action with another player working her magic. Also in Ep6 we now hear 3 more players in the game (Jeff and Carter, then Penner) talk about her work ethic and loyalty, and ability to win challenges. We are consistently being told of Denise's value. Plus, we can now add to Denise's list of remarkable quotes: in response to the letters from home, she stated "It's motivational fuel, it's emotional fuel... to just keep going" And yes, while many of her quotes could be weaving the narrative for the Survivor story, it has a feeling of being about Denise's personal journey through this game. Along with the rest of her deliberate attention she's getting, this makes it more than a journey edit, but rather a winner's edit."
Episode 7 merge:
"The Matsing story went from being the demised tribe, to a story of survival for Malcolm and Denise. The recap continues to highlight Malcolm and Denise, even when the aren't the top players in the coming episode. We are meant to remember their story and their connection - which is very good for them."
"Denise - Again we hear in recap "every step is an opportunity to turn things around." This is the mantra to which we are to view Denise. And wouldn't that just be a lovely winning mantra too. We got to see Denise too with her Individual Immunity win. Not as prominent as others in this merge episode. But with her II win, and her moment connected with Malcolm, we are still aware that Denise is in this. Even though she was likely brought in on the plan about how the votes would be split between RC and Jonathan, she was out of the fray of what went down. We continually see flexibility in Denise her thoughts and actions. With first stating that she's stay with the 4 Kalabaw, to wanting to reconnect with Malcolm, to then making a decision to stick with the majority and keep herself safe and not a target. This is how you get to the end in Survivor."
Episode 8:
"Regarding Denise, yes, she has proven to be very resilient. And she may be (arguably) the best edited under-the-radar player the show has seen. With the demise of Matsing and her assimilation into the nuKalabaw, the audience has been privy to see why Denise would choose an UTR strategy and be rewarded for it. Plus, if you add in the factors that she is both a good physical and social player, then UTR is totally working for her game at this point - as the target can be put on other good physical and social players."
Episode 10:
"Regarding Denise, yes, she has a narrator presence post-merge, although I feel she always had, she was just second to Malcolm and Jonathon at times. I also feel she has remained relevant since the merge, its just that often times editing focuses on other big players that are finishing up their storylines. Since the merge episode, Denise (along with Malcolm) was mentioned in the recaps, has continued to be shown strongly in challenges (along with winning the first II challenge), has been shown in key strategic discussions (she suggested Artis), and has gotten to re-iterate her mantra of "every step is an opportunity to turn things around." Even in this past episode, with all the attention on the back-and-forth between Denise and Abi at TC, it was Denise who was shown articulating this what the rest of the 6 were thinking. From an editing standpoint this is good for her, like a pre-jury speech. Especially when considering factors like Pete saying they were ALL coming down on Abi (although Denise was showcased) and Jonathan's comment last episode (albeit to Lisa) about what would the audience want to see this season. The audience wanted to see Abi get put in her place, and the editors had Denise deliver it to us!"
"I agree with the consensus here that the back-and-forth between Denise and Abi at TC was not damaging for Denise... While I did actually feel for Abi a slight bit (considering she's classified as a villain, but responded with some emotion, rather than being smug) I felt Denise was articulate and as cool, honest & direct about it as she could be. Denise stated what the others were thinking and what the audience had been viewing of Abi all season. Which reminded me of Jonathan's comment to Lisa from last episode about what would the audience want to see this season. I believe the audience wanted to see Abi get put in her place, and Denise was the one to finally do it!"
"All season I've been looking at Denise and Lisa to make it to FTC, and with each episode it looks like Mike has the best chance to be the third in a final 3 scenario."
"This brings us to Denise. Her edit seems like the classic ingredients of substance, frequency and relevance to the game. She's stated clear points to the themes of the season, like how things can change at every turn. She is continually visible through her challenge prowess, Jeff's commentary, social interactions at camp, strategic decision-making, key confessionals and speaking at tribal. A sprinkling of all these things throughout ALL of the episodes. Yes, some episodes have less than others, but this is the subtlety the editors use to make the winner not look TOO obvious. With the exception of Boston Rob, our winner has some kind of ebb and flow. Denise is good in all areas (triple threat, having prowess in strategy, social skills, and challenges) similar in that way to Kim from One World. She's playing a great game, and doing her share on the survival aspect (which seems to take less precedence in recent seasons). The difference with Denise and Kim from a storyline or editing point of view is that Denise is playing with returning players, as well as better players, therefore the ratio of her game portrayal then changes. If there were no returning players and less stronger players this season, we'd likely see even more of the powerhouse that Denise is. But that would make her an obvious winner like Kim. Fortunately it makes for a better season to have a lot of the endgame players still playing the game, and having their strengths in the game to be what causes the doubt to a Denise win, rather than more editing manipulation for her competitors."
Episode 13:
"The last 3 consecutive tribal councils have provided us a min-story arc of Denise vs Abi - making for some great TC theatre. In the first act, when Abi was obliterated by Denise's words, I saw this as a good thing for Denise as she was stating what everyone was feeling about Abi (both viewers and remaining players). I also thought it was nicely crafted by the editors to portray, simultaneously, scenes to allow us to have BOTH sympathy for Abi (as she would soon be an underdog and win Individual Immunity when it was most pivotal for her) and to give some needed attention to Denise (as her post merge story was beginning to fade) Their first TC exchange was just the beginning, and it played nicely for the editors to give some juicy fireworks at a time in the game that often stalls due to having some predictable boots. Then during Carter's TC boot, we revisited Denise and Abi, and were able to see Denise walk through the minefield some more - facing her most difficult opponent, socially, so far in the game. In this last episode, we now got to see what this arc was leading up to - having these two polar opposites stranded on the beach together with nowhere to turn from each other. Awesome! The editors likely saw this as story-telling gold They got the chance to highlight the feisty villainess in her attempts to hang-on to the game, while weaving some story (and doubt) into one the strongest remaining players. And a good job at that - it was highly entertaining! In the end, Denise prevailed and Abi was sent packing - providing the outcome that most viewers were likely hoping to see."
"Malcolm & Denise have had the strongest bond throughout this game. Yes, Mike and Lisa are tight, but we have seen much more connection and focus on Malcolm and Denise early in the game and highlighted in recaps at the pivotal merge time. Their alliance was edited nicely and continued to sway viewers to view their pairing most positively. This episode we finally see that even this powerful, likeable alliance will come to end - as they have made it to the final four and it is an individual game for them now. Interestingly we heard of the break-up from Malcolm. He was the one shown to make the final 3 deal with Lisa and Mike, and turn on his trusted alliance mate. While this is smart strategy for him to win, in terms of his likeable edit, it could be a kink in his noble armor that he would consider betraying Denise. Also of note, I think many would have loved to see Malcolm play his idol for Denise (just in case) as they found this together and shared a bond for so long. Although it didn't appear that Denise was in much danger, Malcolm holding onto the idol spoke volumes that this is an individual game. Denise has been granted permission to do what she needs to get to the end. Which appears to be a better position for Denise editing-wise as she was let go and was never shown opposing her alliance mate (who many have come to love)"
"Denise pushing through he pain from being bitten by an island creature, connected nicely to her early statement that she had way back in episode 2, that it is "she" who will get herself to the end. Whether in the form of pain from a creature's bite or being in the line of Abi's fire, Denise is coming through "every step" the game is throwing at her "to regroup and turn it around." And her episode 4 accolades of being the person to beat this season, are finally echoed just in time to set the stage for the final episode."
"Denise - Along with her emotional testimonial to "suck it up, you have 3 days left" regarding the pain she was feeling, we once again hear that Denise would win the game if she makes it to the end. The case for Denise was clearly spelled out by the others on the reward challenge. We hear Malcolm state: "the only way anyone has a shot at winning is if Denise isn't sitting there" Further stating "Nobody beats Denise" - to have Lisa chime in "she's been at every tribal council" then back to Malcolm, "nobody works harder, and she hasn't betrayed anybody" Whether all of this is true or not, it was a pivotal scene that allowed the audience to be reminded of why Denise has earned the title of Sole Survivor."
Thanks for everyone's speculation on the editing too!!