Culturally Preconditioned

It seems that most people I know think that this season so far has been a total snoozefest. Can I blame them? Not really, because certain episodes in this season has so far been kinda lame and tonight was one of them. Is Survivor losing its steam? Sure, the lack of eye candy may be a major factor in what’s making the season boring (all the hotties have so far been booted), but personally after Survivor All Stars, this is a VERY welcome change. And if you are a Survivor nut like me, you would notice that the editing patterns in the castaways this time around is really different. Almost everyone in the game is getting a Complex edit instead of a clear cut Over The Top or Under The Radar edit, which is highly interesting because you never know where the character’s story arc is heading. Again, it’s a balance. Okay, back to the game.

Episode 6 : Castaways Impressions

Yasur Tribe

Ami - The emotions she showed over her little brother at the Reward Challenge softened this angry lesbian’s edit. I can’t quite put where Ami is. First she says it’s all about the girls, then last week she had to go mental on Lisa, now it’s back to the girls again? I don’t know. Ami is either going all the way, or she’s headed for a big fall. It was interesting to hear her mention that she was worried that Julie (or Twila) might be voted off. Julie was never in Ami’s equation before this, was she?

Eliza - Oh thank god there was very little of her this episode. I had a good laugh at the Reward where everyone was pointing to pictures of their families, and all that we got out of Eliza was “Oooh that’s my dog”. I was mildly surprised her dog wasn’t a Chihuahua (as it should be).

Leann - We got almost nothing out of Leann during the Reward except for the part where Scout mentioning how good she looked in one of the pictures. Her performance at the Reward Challenge wasn’t spectacular either, which was surprising because after her rather ‘bad’ performance during last week’s challenge, I would’ve thought she’d buck up a bit. I have written Leann off from the list of possible winners, but she’s Ami’s second in command, so if Ami goes far, so will she.

Rory - Rory’s editing is the most interesting out of the bunch. His ass was on the line in every single episode so far, and yet, he’s outlasted eight people. Makes you think, doesn’t it. His edit earlier on started as the unlikeable brother and a loser. Even Jeff called him out in public on how he sucked at the challenges and how no one gives a shred of respect to him. And now? We actually see Jeff giving compliments to Rory. Talk about a 180 huh? We also see him gunning for Ami - the head mafia herself. Rory’s editing is baffling. Is he the underdog that we’re supposed to root for? There is INDEED magic on Vanuatu. I am almost afraid to say that he just might end up in the Final Two and winning this game. Seriously.

Scout - Not much out of Scout this week. The part where she showed the pictures of Annie, her partner, was endearing. Is Scout on the outs of her alliance now? We know she doesn’t like Eliza. Ami’s got Leann, will she start a pact between herself and Rory? Or will she join Twila and the guys when the merge comes? That could very well be the case.

Lopevi Tribe

Chad - We finally get more than 5 minutes of Chad. We are shown him strategizing, or at least, his attempt at strategizing. I’m surprised to hear that he, out of all the guys on Lopevi, didn’t trust Julie because they seemed pretty chummy earlier in the game. Chad’s storyline is just beginning. It’s also interesting to note that this is only the second time that his ‘disability’ and the possibility of him winning the Final Two based on sympathy votes was brought up. But personally, if it was me out there, that so won’t affect how I’m basing my votes on. Nobody should deserve sympathy votes - disabled vs non-disabled, poor vs rich, unpopular vs popular. As far as I’m concerned, everyone is on a level playing field when they sign up for Survivor. So if I feel my gameplay is better than Chad’s, I would NOT hesitate to bring Chad with me to the Final Two at all. But then again, that’s just me.

Chris - For the third time we see Chris working his wiles again. First it was how he managed to make his tribe not vote him up when he fucked up the first challenge. Then we see him tell Sarge that “it is not the time” to vote off Rory. Now, we see him talking to Chad and managed to talk to him into voting off John instead of Julie. Chris gets his ways. His quote in episode 1 “(paraphrasing) Men - I can manipulate. Women - I’m not sure”. So far, he’s been dead on. Will a merge with the Yasur women spell his demise? It is interesting to hear John giving Chris props and rooting for him to win even though John KNEW that Chris lied to him.

John K - John K had no chance. It was rather smart of him to at least start scrambling with Twila and Julie. Well at least he tried so I give him props for that. But Twila likes Sarge, Chris and Chad, and why would they want to force a 3-3 tie and show the 3 other guys her disloyalty? So John was in a no win situation. His days are numbered anyway. Honestly speaking, I never thought he was gonna last this long, though.

Julie - Finally, no more Darrah edit for my Julie! We finally get to see her scheming ways. I thought it was really brilliant of her to pull that sly move on Twila (lying about being offered a Final Four place by the guys). You go girl! And talk about adapting, she is really smart to have that pact with Twila, knowing how Twila is in with the guys. Julie managed to put her differences aside and made a pact with an ex-formidable foe, and that’s how you play Survivor. Fuck interpersonal relationships, you gotta do what you gotta do to keep ahead in this game.

Lea - Not much out of Sarge this week. In fact, he is suspiciously absent from all voting-related discussions/confessionals. Is this indicating that, like Scout, Sarge is no longer in an influencial position in his tribe?

Twila - If anyone other than Rory who’s getting a 180 degrees turn in terms of editing, it’s Twila. I like her. Like Julie, she managed to put personal differences aside and do what she gotta do to stay in the game. She was constantly being dotted on during Tribal Council. Jeff and several tribe members called her out on her great work ethics. It was the same when she was at Yasur, only difference is that while at Yasur, it was talked about as though it was a bad thing. Here at Lopevi, Twila really happy when people are talking about the same thing - her work ethics. Same subject, totally different receptions. Very interesting indeed.

Predictions : Brain/Heart/Gut

Brain : I think the tribes might be merging next week. Please, no more fake merge. If there is a merger, I can’t really predict what the tribal dynamics will be. Will Rory return to the guys and continue gunning for Ami? Will Julie go back to the Yasur girls? Who knows. But IF there is a merge, there will be individual threats, and out of everyone left in the game, I would say Sarge might their biggest threat. So I think Sarge might be booted next week.

Heart : Eliza

Gut : Sarge

Stickies for the Sevent Episode :

- the shot of the spider devouring its victim, moments before the conversation between Chris and John K. (that just proves that imagery in this show really DO mean something)

(will add more stickies later tomorrow)