Survivor Recap: Dumb Money

As an old-time Survivor fan who’s seen seasons more than I can count on one hand, let me tell you, this season is giving me some serious déjà vu. The small tribes and forced voting blocs are making the game predictable and dull, just like the old days. I remember those times fondly, but we need a change! Why not shake things up with no tribes at all? Let them self-divide and watch the chaos unfold.

In more contemporary times, only a handful of “Survivor” original episodes have received significant enhancements. Two instances that come to mind are the return of a fitting theme song and the Survivor auction. I’ve never been fond of the auction, where players would bid on food rewards and advantages such as feasts, game changers, or contaminated water in a bottle. Every participant received an equal sum of money. Essentially, it was about who could shout out to Jeff, “You can have all my money!” first.

But in the new era, it’s actually kind of exciting. The players have to scramble for bamboo tubes hidden all over camp with different amounts of money in them. Sierra is excellent at finding them, banking the most at just over a thousand smackeroonies. Andy, however, is as terrible at this as he is at not fainting on the first day of gameplay. The editors are savaging him even worse than they did Rome before his eviction. He’s walking by a bamboo sitting atop a pile of rocks and not seeing it. He tells his supposed ally Genevieve that he just wants to find one, walks by a tube in a rock face, and she grabs it as soon as he’s past and puts it in the bank. Lady, at least give Andy a little bit of scratch.

It’s beneficial for Andy that whoever has the most money remaining at the auction forfeits their vote in Tribal Council. Jeff randomly selects the number of auction items, keeping the players guessing. This turns the game into a strategic dilemma: How can players maximize their rewards while minimizing their perceived threat? For wealthy players, it’s risky to choose an item, invest heavily, and hope that what lies beneath Jeff’s cover is a tasty burrito instead of two fish eyes. The addition of cash returns on some dishes this time makes the strategy more complex, and one item – let’s spare the Survivor Outwit, Outlast, Out-Breakfast Sunrise Spectacular, but Moons Over My Hammy will still be the only legendary breakfast dish name – requires players to compete in a classic “eat disgusting things” challenge.

My favorite moment is when Kyle buys a plate of Buffalo wings, but he tells Jeff that he has been a vegan for six years and only recently became vegetarian just so he would have more things he could eat in case he got selected to play on the show. He then decides he will go against his beliefs and dig right in. Jeff asks him why he’s doing it. “Well, because you haven’t done us the decency of giving us even a tiny little bit of rice, so my starvation has forced me to leave my morals behind,” he says. Just kidding. He just said he was hungry.

The auction was jam-packed with intrigue and I thoroughly enjoyed how it dominated the show’s duration, as our players appeared to be having a blast throughout. Moreover, I appreciate that no advantages were up for grabs. Historically, everyone would hesitate in bidding until that elusive item offering an edge came along. However, since they knew there wouldn’t be any such items this time, they seemed to be spending money as freely as investors on a ketamine spree.

The individual who receives a reward is Rachel. In her pile of fries, there’s a note indicating that a concealed immunity idol has been stitched into the edge of a tarp located centrally within the camp. Similar to Sue’s secret idol, this is another clever method of hiding it: It’s openly visible, and while it can be tricky to obtain, it isn’t so challenging that it seems overwhelming. Rachel, as usual, demonstrates her skill by retrieving it without drawing attention from the others in the shelter.

Following the auction, it appears that the former Lavos (reddish) and Gatas (yellowish) are planning to collaborate, aiming to eliminate the Tukus (bluish) one at a time, starting with Kyle who consistently wins immunity challenges. I can’t help but feel frustrated as I struggle to recall the tribal names from before the merge. This scenario is a recurring theme in the new era of the game. The small tribes foster strong bonds and compel players to vote in blocs, preventing them from reaching the merge and forming unexpected alliances. Instead, they cling to their numbers as long as possible, which makes the post-merge phase rather uneventful. Perhaps it’s time to revert to two tribes or even a season without tribes altogether. Let everyone be stranded on the same beach and allow them to form their own groups naturally.

In the immunity contest, it’s reminiscent of classic Survivor: Keep your pail aloft for as long as possible, and the last person standing takes the victory. However, Jeff Probst has a twist – there will be two winners, one male and one female. To emphasize this, Jeff reveals an identical replica of the immunity charm, which seems like it was put together by Hordak’s Horde in a visual onslaught on our eyes. Perhaps they could have made the women’s necklace a bit more distinctive? Couldn’t they add one more rhinestone or a bracelet to make it stand out more?

Sue, who triumphed in the challenge, finds herself sporting an unattractive bat signal. Her win is no surprise; the competition emphasizes strength-to-weight ratio, and Sue’s short stature and strength make her ideal for success. Following her victory, she delivers a speech about the importance of participating in Survivor, regardless of age, to prove one’s abilities. During the auction, Sierra shared a margarita with Jeff Probst, suggesting he should apply for Survivor if he wishes to do so as well. Subsequently, we are reminded through commercial breaks that viewers should also consider joining Survivor. My question is: Why this persistent push for applications? Are they struggling to find contestants? Do they only have those who have already watched the show in mind? Couldn’t they show these ads during The Challenge or other programs to attract new applicants?

In summary, Kyle once more secured immunity due to his strength and lean physique, ensuring safety for two members from the previous Tuku group. Upon their return to camp, Genevieve attempted to unite the remaining Lavo and Tuku against the Gata, viewing them as a greater threat due to their perceived danger, charm, and unity. This sentiment was reinforced when Andy came to believe that Sam and Sierra were merely amusing him, planning to eliminate him at their convenience. As a result, both Andy and Genevieve began strategizing significant shifts within the existing alliances, rather than forming new ones, with the aim of realigning Lavo and Tuku against Gata instead.

There’s a bit of confusion about who will get voted off at Tribal Council – it could be Sam, Sierra, or Rachel. The council meeting seemed uneventful, but then Rachel took a risk and played her hidden idol, which didn’t save her, but she still has it. The votes ended up tied between Sam and Sierra. Since Sam lost his auctioned vote, Sierra got to cast another one, but Sam couldn’t. She voted for Sam, and he was eliminated. Rachel was the glue holding together Sam and herself, so her departure has fractured Gata completely. Now, a strategic player might try to form a new alliance with the remaining members, ideally a group of three or four that could make it to the final stage. However, such an alliance is unlikely to materialize; instead, we’ll probably just see more drama at Tribal Councils until the final five. The new era has improved some aspects, but it didn’t change the Survivor auction entirely.

2024-11-07 06:54

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