LAST EDITED ON 11-08-13 AT 07:13 AM (EST)

Jovan Benito

Hello!

One of the things that I most miss when watching the modern Survivor are the cultural vignettes that contributed so much to the show’s now-lost sense of footloose fantasy and adventure. There is no longer even a pretense of the mysterious or exotic. Or even of mundane difference. And there hasn’t been since Tocantins.

But it has occurred to me that in putting together Signs …, I have been as guilty of the generic-beach-generic-somewhere syndrome as they. So, although it’s going to be a rather awkward merge of old and new - I’m not particularly fond of sand/beige as a background for the vibrant colors of Ms. Benito’s paintings but I’m not about to do everything over – I hope you enjoy the new scenery.

Speaking of a Merge …

We know the new Tribe’s name and the names of all of its members. So we know that, for the first time together in Kasama, there are the three familial couples and four natural – Same-Sign duos remaining in the Game. Only Gervase is still without either a familial or natural counterpart/competitor in his camp.

But, being without a familial counterpart/competitor in his or her camp has been a fact for all of Blood v Water’s participants from its first day. And, as I’ve said earlier, I think that that is a sorry fact. Because it is to me such a waste of a good idea and of the half-cast of returning veterans.

If, instead of having them micro-managed and macro-edited via controlled confessionals that are scripted by their question and answer format and brief encounters in contrived-conflict Redemption Island and Challenge settings, I think that it would have brought a unique feel to Season 27 and a fresh perspective to an aging and lately-lackluster series if we had been treated to the spontaneous dynamics between former Survivors who we think that we know and their most intimate partners and closest relatives: including both-persons, in-person storytelling.

For instance:

Would Aras’ and Vytas’ story have been quite the same (or even recognizable) if it had been told – together – to an audience of four other ‘couples’? Or Kat’s and Hayden’s? Or Colton’s and Caleb’s? Or Tyson’s and Rachel’s?

And how much more fun (for us) might Challenges, Tribal Councils and Rewards have been if the Tribes had looked like this:

Galang
Gervase and Marissa
Monica and Brad
Tyson and Rachel
Colton and Caleb
Tina and Katie

Tadhana
Laura and Ciera
John and Candice
Rubert and Laura
Kat and Hayden
Aras and Vytas … ?

Would we have had fewer or more ‘couples’ left in the Game at this point? I have no idea. But I do think that we would have come to know far more about more of them (than three) before this point. And I do think that more interesting partnerships (than a sibling rivalry – that seems not to be that much a rivalry – and two mother/daughter duos) might have survived.

For instance:

I really wish we had been able to watch the relationship between Gervase and Marissa play out over the course of the entire Game. Theirs was, arguably, the least ‘connected’ of the pairings. But, perhaps because of that, I think that it was, potentially, the most explosive.

Ah, well. We have what we have. And although I am convinced that the original plan was to allow the couples to play the Game together – and that it was discarded when it became obvious just how large and lethal that hornet’s nest might become – I’m surprisingly happy with the compromise edition. It’s far more like any and every other Season to be an outstanding one. But I’ll keep watching if for no other reason than to see what they do about The Loved Ones’ Visit.

Then and Now

So, let’s get the details out of the way first – by beginning with the Chart below that features snapshots of the Season’s natural Tribes as they were at the start of the Game and as they are now on the eve of the Merge – so that we can get to what is always the best part of any behavioral critique: talking about the people who’ve left the room.

At the top – left – of the Chart:

The original cast for this Season was composed of 7 (Physical) Fire and 5 (Intellectual) Air natives. And of 4 (Practical) Earth and 4 (Emotional) Water natives. A 60% (Complementary Fire and Air) – 40% (Complementary Earth and Water) split.

At the Game’s beginning, there were 8 Superiors (Instinctively – Leaders), 7 Soloists (Instinctively – Independents) and 5 Subordinates (Instinctively – Supporters/Specialists). A 40% - 35% - 25% split.

And divided between Blood v Water’s initial camps were 8 (Initiative) Cardinal Signs, 8 (Steadfast) Fixed Signs and only 4 (Versatile) Mutable Signs. A 40% - 40% - 20% split.

At its beginning, then, if this Season were a personality, its dominant keywords/descriptors would have been:

Physical and Intellectual
Leaders and Independents
Initiative and Steadfast

The first two characteristics (as noted above) are complementary and the record confirms that, as a practical matter, this Season’s winner will be a Fire (Physical) or Air (Intellectual) native. Each of the other four, however stand alone and are, I think, more than a bit contradictory. And therefore, more than a bit accurate …

Note: It is widely thought that Tyson, a Gemini/Air native (and, therefore, a member of the Season’s Majority) will be its Sole Survivor. But Tyson is also a member of the 25% of this cast who are Subordinates and of the 20% of this cast who are Mutable Signs. And because of those facts and because of Gemini’s less than impressive performance within the Game, I said earlier that Tyson would be an unlikely winner.
And – although it is certainly becoming more probable with each Episode – he would be.

He would not, however, join the ranks of the next-to-impossible Sole Survivors: Tina, Yul and Jud Birza. An underdog – yes. A counterintuitive (tail wagging the dog) surprise – yes. A minor miracle – no.

At the top – right – of the Chart:

Now, on what is for us the eve of the Merge, the cast is composed of 4 (Physical) Fire and 4 (Intellectual) Air natives. And of 3 (Practical) Earth and 2 (Emotional) Water natives. A 62% (Complementary Fire and Air) – 38% (Complementary Earth and Water) split.

Now, there are 5 Superiors (Instinctively – Leaders), 4 Soloists (Instinctively – Independents) and 4 Subordinates (Instinctively – Supporters/Specialists). A 38% - 31% - 31% split.

And divided between Blood v Water’s current camps are 6 (Initiative) Cardinal Signs, 4 (Steadfast) Fixed Signs and only 3 (Versatile) Mutable Signs. A 46% - 31% - 23% split.

So, the Fire and Air Majority has gained a little ground. The Roles comparisons have tightened up a bit. But, the (Initiative) Cardinal Signs are now a clear majority. And their numbers (and those of the Fire and Air Majority and of the Superiors and Soloists) will only look better when, shortly, the two Subordinate/Earth/Fixed and Mutable natives – John Cody and Laura Boneham – leave the Game.

And these are the keywords that are applicable to Season 27. At the moment.

Physical and Intellectual
Leaders and Independents
Initiative

The Chart, then. And with it a Legend for the Roles and Modes. And below that is the Chart that pictures Tadhana and Galang – Then and Now.

Note: I hope to get back the Tribal Chart. The casting and the early play in this Season – twist aside – was fascinating and featured great characters. In the meantime, you are more than welcome to comment away.

And we’re almost there!

But, as our host has said (and said, and said … ), ‘First things, first’. And Redemption Island is just below. I’ve taken the liberty of sending John and Laura Boneham shopping (in Manila, I think) and Laura Morett back to the loving arms of a newly-merged Tribe.

Note: This is another of those things that I hope to get back to. I really would like to talk about the people who’ve left the room. Or read you talking about them. Or both would be fun!

Now and Then

So, we’re here. And it is so nice to be able to consolidate several streams of material into one pretty little chart.

The Majority Fire and Air Signs are at the top. Minority Earth and Water in the middle. And the Jury has reserved space at the bottom (that will grow as their numbers increase).

Links to the Season’s Individual Profiles

The Earth Signs – These three practical and industrious Signs are Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo.
The Water Signs – These three emotional and intuitive Signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
The Fire Signs – These three charismatic and spontaneous Signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
The Air Signs – These three intellectual and balanced Signs are Libra, Gemini and Aquarius

Link to the Season’s Couples’ Profiles

Anyone you know?

The Compatibility Legend

The (Updated) Compatibility Chart

And now we know that at F11 the cast is composed of 4 (Physical) Fire and 4 (Intellectual) Air natives. And of 1 (Practical) Earth and 2 (Emotional) Water natives. A 73% (Complementary Fire and Air) – 27% (Complementary Earth and Water) split.

Now, there are 5 Superiors (Instinctively – Leaders), 4 Soloists (Instinctively – Independents) and 2 Subordinates (Instinctively – Supporters/Specialists). A 46% - 36% - 18% split.

And, now, at Kasama, there are 6 (Initiative) Cardinal Signs, 3 (Steadfast) Fixed Signs and only 2 (Versatile) Mutable Signs. A 55% - 27% - 18% split.

So, if we were going to apply descriptors to the new Tribe, they would still look like this:

Physical and Intellectual
Leaders and Independents
Initiative

Note: However, if we are to believe Survivor’s editors – and why wouldn’t we – while all of the (Initiative) Cardinal Signs other than Aras are tripping over themselves in their efforts not to play the Game and have arrived at this point by virtue of doing just that, Gervase (Scorpio, Superior, Fixed Water), Tyson (Gemini, Subordinate, Mutable Air) and (soon) Monica (also Gemini, Subordinate and Mutable Air) are about to run away with the Season.

We know, too, that the Fire and Air Majority will reach F10 with an 8 – 2 or 7 – 3 split in their favor. And that’s why the next two Charts appear here.

The first of the two originally appeared in my 2nd post to this thread and illustrates the history of the natural opposition of the complementary Elements of Earth and Water to the complementary Elements of Fire and Air within Survivor. And as you can see, its upper right contains that history for those Seasons that were cast with an even split between the two groups of Sun Signs. The lower left contains the same history for those Seasons that were cast with an Earth and Water Majority. And finally, the lower right portion of the Chart contains the history of the Fire and Air Majorities in the Game.

The Chart that follows it is specific to Fire and Air Majority Seasons and expands the information to include the histories of their F10 to F1 boots … so that we can follow along.

Who knows? Although - because the split is so lopsided it is doubtful that we’ll ever reach that point - perhaps we’ll be able to identify a boot here and there.

And finally, here are updated versions of the Charts that depict the individual Sun Signs’ performances in the Game. The first spans all of the 26 completed Seasons and the second is specific to Fire and Air Majority Seasons.

And looking at the latter, you would think that Aras or Caleb has it made, wouldn’t you? While a quick glance at the first could lead you to believe that Tina just might pull off a second stunner …

And now I’m off to see if I can’t put together Compatibility Profiles for our ‘Same-Sign’ couples: Monica and Tyson, Caleb and Aras and Hayden and Vytas before the show tonight.