Survivor 35 Discussion Thread 11/01 SPOILERS!!!

I am bummed! For the second week in a row, someone I really liked went home. Last week it was Roark and this time it’s Ali. I thought Ali would go far. She seemed to be someone people trusted and were drawn to. She was logical, calm, kind, and smart. Boo on you Ryan you weasely little jerk! The sad part is, I really liked Ryan. Now that he’s chosen to align himself with Chrissy though, he’s losing my love. I really cannot stand Chrissy—what do you guys think of her?

When I saw that smug smile on her face at last week’s tribal council—just rubbed me the wrong way! There is something about her I really cannot stand. Although I must say, she looks really great and she’s playing a great game (even if it’s a game I don’t like and is taking out people I root for).

So, the beginning of the episode showed them coming back to camp after last week’s tribal. Ali was really upset with Ryan (understandably) and did not hesitate to show it. That part was a mistake. Ryan pretended it was because he felt Ali was getting to close to Roark (aw, poor widdle Wyan felt weft out?) but we all know it was because he believed Chrissy’s lies and feared this supposed all-girl alliance Roark was supposedly proposing. I wonder if he will feel bad or stupid when he realizes that Chrissy proposed it and then came back and lied? I think Roark is someone he could have worked with and trusted more in the long run. Same with Ali. I hope his mistakes cost him in the long run.

I am really beginning to warm to doctor Mike. Watching him catch that little tiny fish and be so thrilled with it was adorable. Then when tried to cook it, dropped it in the fire and still managed to save the charred thing. Omg, loved it! I also loved that people took note that he happily shared that little tiny fish with others while Cole (with his piggish eating habits) apparently caught a fish and at it all by himself. I originally liked that guy, even though he seemed dumb as a box of rocks, but he’s now wearing thin. Jessica would do well to distance herself from him at some point.

Watching Cole pass out was scary though. It was like Wendy Williams all over again, right down to the gibberish! I think that Ben made a good point, guys like Cole were very foolish in staying so lean and in shape. Might help them in challenges in a perfect world, but doesn’t work so well when you’re practically starving on a beach. He made me crazy pushing for them to eat up all of their food (Cole, have you watched previous survivors?), but now I understand why—he really needed it. I really like the Yawa tribe though—they’re probably my favorite of the three tribes. I love Ben, Mike and Jessica. Lauren, despite her stupid red-head comment, is getting back in my good graces. She’s too blunt and lacks finesse so she’ll never go terribly far, but she’s a good one to have around for now. Ben, I just love, absolutely love.

Despite the drama at the Soko camp after TC, they were still able to rally and win at the reward challenge. Yes, much of that was due to JP’s work with the sling shot. I agree with Ali though, a merge is coming (and as we found out in the previews for next week, it’s here) and they needed to get rid of him. He is not strategic, I think he can be easily swayed, and he’s a power house in challenges. Keeping him over Ali was a mistake IMO. The pizza looked delicious though. And ten of them! I wonder how long they last? I love how the 2nd place tribe got a pizza to take back to camp. I think that was the Yawa tribe. That will be a nice little morsel for them. Poor Levu tribe had trouble from the beginning when Desi and Ashley couldn’t get the buoy to the matt. That caused them to get far behind. Glad they didn’t lose the immunity challenge too because that would have surely sent Ashley home. Those swells in the ocean were ridiculous though weren’t they? Really gave that challenge an extra bit of difficulty there at the end.

The immunity challenge was an interesting one. It was crazy to see some tribes almost win (I think Soko had the blocks set up first) and then knock them all down while trying to get back to their starting mat.

It will be interesting to see how everyone comes together in the merge. My favorites are Ben, Mike, Jessica, Ashley and Devon. I cannot stand, and would like to see them go next—Chrissy, Joe, and Kevin. I’ll lump JP in there too. Cole can go soon too.

I know many have been complaining about this season. I get it—it’s not filled with big, dynamic players as seasons past. For me though, I’m enjoying it. I think these people feel like real people, rather than Survivor characters. Many of these guys are true fans, not models, actors and bartenders recruited by Survivor producers (I hate that). I think some of the really big characters were people who acted a certain way just to get air time, to get their 15 minutes of fame, rather than playing the game. Come on—throwing socks in the fire, dumping rice in the fire, and some of the other antics. I want this to be Survivor, not Real Housewives of Fiji. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy the dram and that I don’t love to hate some of the big villains, but I prefer the game feel real and not contrived. And I’m just such a huge fan of the Survivor that even when it’s a less exciting season, I still love the heck out of it. It’s the show I look forward to most all week. I also hate the idea of changing the location. I LOVE the beach setting. To me, seasons where they veered from that were generally less successful. I know many people loved the Africa season and loved Ethan (the winner), but I thought that season felt too dry. And I thought it was boring. And honestly I thought Ethan was boring (*ducks and runs for cover). I need water challenges and beautiful beaches.

Heres’s Dalton’s recap.

I wanted to like Ryan and did in the beginning...he's the underdog and I like to root for the underdog, however his true colors are starting to show and it's screaming weasel!!! At least he owns it, but, yea...he can go anytime now.

I think it was a bandaid protecting bug bites or an infection. We've seen a few contestants with them the last few years.

Ali tanked her game coming out swinging at Ryan after the TC last week. It sure didn't make Chrissy want to work with her after losing the IC again this week and Ali missed the opportunity to develop anything with JP. Smart players who have been on the wrong side of the votes bite their tongues and figure out how to save themselves. The other three had already voted together once and she directed her anger at the one she had the strongest relationship with loudly and in front of the others. JP may be a challenge beast but he is going to be up against equally strong Cole & Devon for Individual immunity now and only one will be safe so I think the were right to keep him.

I don't get the Chrissy hate and hope she makes it to the end.

Loved Mike and Ben in the episode and, yes, even Lauren. Cole is the worst kind of selfish player and lacks any self awareness. I wish they had show their tribe dividing the single pizza. 😆

The challenges were excellent especially the roller coaster in the surf!

Hate that Joe has another idol. I agree with Dalton that it is an unfair advantage to put them in the same spot at each beach.

Well, I am still rooting for Ryan because he's my player in the Pea pool.  But yeah, how ridiculous are his tiny little red undies?  SaveSave

Just read your post Debbie and I agree completely with you!

Lol, I have no idea who Kevin is though. Maybe I meant Ryan.

Yep that's me. 35 seasons in and I've never missed an episode but this time I find myself not caring if I see it or not. Who knew hustlers and healers could be such duds?
I don't want big crazy characters sabotaging things...but I do want some interesting people with some personality.

I have to say I was surprised they didn't call in the medic for that faint, they usually show it these days when they do, but it looked like he banged his head to me and it would have been worth at least checking his heart rate and BP.

According to Jeff Probst they did have the medical team check him out... they just didn't show it.  Jeff said that he wasn't injured.

Thanks for that, good to hear they did check him out...like I said they usually show it these days so I was a bit surprised when it didn't happen, they kind of made it look like his team mates just thought he'd be fine after a few extra spoonfuls of rice.

Nah..... don't bother. It wouldn't make a difference. All of the players are unremarkable. 

I agree with everyone's assessment of Chrissy, she's really not very likeable & definitely not trustworthy - but she's my pool person so of course I hope she goes far! LOL

but in terms of fave players, I definitely wouldn't say I have one this season. Its still a bit of a snooze-fest for me this year

Ryan changed my mind this week. I sort of enjoyed him at first but he now is coming off full of himself and not likeable. Chrissy is like a few past coworkers you never want to have to deal with...hope both go soon. The parole officer getting another idol is discouraging as I have wanted him gone from the beginning. Hope JP gets to stay around. I like the doctor.

Oh man, you guys really think Cole’s fainting was fake? Have you seen and heard that guy? I don’t think the big lug is capable of pulling that off. Honestly, I’m surprised we don’t see more people faint. It did get him some extra rice though, so who knows? 🙂

(Truly, I would be shocked if I found out it was fake.)

I thought Cole's fall was genuine. IIRC they showed his hand trembling before it happened.

Lots of people who faint know it's going to happen.  I fainted during my amnio and I knew it was going to happen, as did my dr.  I started taking big gulps of air and lost all my vision and hearing before I went under.  It probably took about 15 seconds, but if I'd been standing, I would have had the wherewithall to at least try and break my fall.  Most people don't just drop when they faint.