Culturally Preconditioned

WOOHOO!! MERGE TIME! Two reasons why I love the merge episodes. One : The game has now just officially started. Two : I can finally order my three buffs (although I’m not too crazy over the new mere buff. Orange buffs are just hideous! *cough*Morgan*cough*).
Anyway, very very interesting episode tonight. First of all, I don’t think enough credit is given to the challenge department. You can see all the team members and body doubles hard at work preparing the challenges from the “Behind The Dream Team” featurette in the All Star DVD. The reward challenge tonight was very creative and interesting, so kudos to them. I loved it when they used the “lalalalalalalaalaalaa” happy chants from the Survivor:Africa soundtrack. My favourite happy track ever, never fails to put a smile on my face.

Second of all, I am so psyched with the outcome because once again, the spoiling community has been bamboozled by Mark Burnett. Many have said that Julie won’t make it to the jury. Well she survived tonight and I am so glad the spoilers have been debunked. (But I still think the Christy boot is Number One on the “Spoilers Have Been Fucked” list. That was a surreal day. The whole spoiling community was shattered, and I mean, really shattered when Christy got the boot in Amazon. Every source said she would end up in the Final Four but she didn’t).

Thirdly, we are finally seeing more and more people strategizing and that’s what this game is all about. Do I think the girls will continue to Pagong the men? It seems like the most logical thing to happen, but mark my words, it’s NOT going to happen. And I’m not saying this because of any spoilers. There have been NO spoilers on who the Final Two might be. But seriously, an all-female Final Six? Ain’t gonna happen. It will be so fun to see things unravel.

Episode 8 : Castaways Impressions

Alinta Tribe

Ami - She has not said much in this episode, but she keeps getting a negative edit throughout. How did she ever get a 180 on her editing? She was edited so differently at the beginning of the game. I hate to say this, but personally, I think she’s a hypocritical bitch. The coconut thingy? She didn’t want Lisa to show it to the men, but she herself can do it? Bitch please. Nonetheless, she is an interesting character. She is either going all the way, or she’s set up for a big big fall.

Chad - Lots of strategizing talk from Chad tonight. He seemed a tad jealous when Julie snuggled up to Sarge which was funny. I still don’t think he’s calling the shots and will probably stay a loyal partner to Chris. For a limbless guy, he did pretty well on the individual challenge.

Chris - Like Ami, I think Chris will either go all the way, or he’s being set up for a big big fall. We see Chris once again strategizing. The final two mentions (between himself and Chad, himself and Julie, himself and Sarge) was nothing short of interesting. If he were to go the next episode or two, why bother putting those confessionals in? It also struck to me that her comments about Julie being one of the Final Five from two episodes ago as odd. Why all these Final 2 and Final 5 talk if he is going soon? His performance at the Immunity Challenge was abyssimal. He lost out to Eliza. LOL. Either he really sucked, or he didn’t want to come off as an individual threat (which is smart). Nevertheless, I still have him pegged to win this game. It’s not about winning challenges. It’s about winning the game.

Eliza - Not so annoying anymore. Her confessionals have been kept to a minimum. She kicked Chris’ ass in the individual challenge, so good for her. She is not calling any shots in the game, and her lifeline depends on Ami. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Ami takes Eliza to the Final Two. Eliza needs Ami because she knows she’s dispensable.

Julie - Woohoo! Way to work it, girl! Way to - WORK.IT! I like Julie. I like her a lot. Showing some skin never hurts anyone. The scenes where she was working her wiles on Sarge was amusing. That said, I think she is more than just a pretty face, Julie is so playing the game. I am most impressed by how she and Twila are working together, and I will explain it further in my Twila assessments.

Leann - Is a non-factor. Out of everyone left in the game, I think she has the least chance of winning. Everyone else has a decent chance of winning. Leann? No.. she is NOT going to win. Mark my words. Mark Burnett wouldn’t dare pull another Vecepia on us viewers. If Leann wins this game, I’d giveaway my Survivor All Stars DVD for free to one lucky person. Nope. Sorry. Bye bye.

Rory - There’s no more magic on Vanuatu for this guy. Well at least Rory went out on a positive note. His character was interesting to watch. He has been receiving votes in all the tribal councils that he has attended, but tonight his number was up. Is it just me or is he the first African American male Survivor to edited in a positive light? Rory was the ‘hardworking’ one on Yasur? Let’s see. Gervase was the clown. Nick was invisible. Clarence was the thief. Sean was the outspoken one. Ted was the grinder. Osten was the quitter. Honestly, I would’ve loved to see Rory go a little bit further in the game, but I guess that was not to be.

Sarge - LOL for once, I’m glad ntv7 is censoring bits of the show. I don’t think watching Sarge’s bare ass would make for good tv. Sarge kicked ass in the Immunity Challenge. But was it a wise move? He’ll be regarded as a threat more than ever now.

Scout - If Leann is the front runner on the “Who’s Not Gonna Win” list, then Scout is most definitely the runner up. Once again, she did very poorly in the challenges. I thought it was kind of harsh of Jeff to point that out loud, but you gotta love Jeff’s Harshness. (Still LOLing over the “Wasn’t Jeff P Harsh?” thread over at Sucks”). Scout’s not the most strategic person with her comments when the two tribes first meet after the last Tribal Council. But yeah, no, I don’t think she’s gonna win. She might, but I hope not.

Twila - Why did I hate her so much at the beginning of the game? Cause I have grown so very fond of Twila. If someone had told me in Week One that I would feel this way, I never would’ve believed them. Now, Twila and Julie was put in a very difficult situation tonight. They were the swing votes. Their decision to side with the girls (this time) and boot off Rory was the best thing that they could’ve done. If they had sided with the guys, they would at best finish at fifth and sixth place. By siding with the women, they now have two options :
1) vote with Chad, Chris and Sarge next week to eliminate Ami (a 5-4 vote) which will put them at best fourth or fifth place OR
2) vote with the women next week to eliminate one of the men (a 6-3 vote) THEN the following week, vote with the two remaining men (ie. Chris Chad Julie and Twila) and eliminate one of the Ami (ie. Eliza Ami Leann Scout). This will force a tie vote, and in this case, Ami will be eliminated based on the previous votes rule. In this case, Julie and Twila will be guaranteed a Final Four position.
The only thing that will royally fuck this up is if the 3 men and the Yasur women, smells something fishy and vote Julie and Twila out because they are the swing votes (read : dangerous)
Some might argue, why would the men trust Twila and Julie again? First of all, Julie and Twila informed the men of their intention to vote Rory off. Second of all, Julie and Twila had an alliance with Chris, Chad and Sarge. Not Rory. But most importantly, the men need the numbers to proceed. They are in the minority, and should snap every opportunity that comes their way.

So you see, do I think a straight Pagoning will happen? The men being voted off one by one? It’s the most logical thing to happen. But I highly doubt that will happen. If it happens, then I’ll eat my words, but for now, I’m guessing another man will be voted off next week, then the female alliance will be shattered.

Predictions : Brain/Heart/Gut

Brain : Sarge. Immunity Threat

Heart : Leann (overrated)

Gut : Sarge

Stickies for the Eight Episode :

(will add stickies later)