Survivor 40: Winners At War

[MB.]

If a returnee reached the final 3, they would most likely win.

Adam? :amazed:

https://i.imgur.com/xMGa5n9.png

[Macie Lightfoot]

In the end, and especially with All Stars seasons, you never how the jury is always going to turn out to be. I feel like this year they will respect game moves over their emotions, but you never know. Because we don't see everything happening at camp due to an heinous editing often, it's hard to tell sometimes. Let's hope he gets to FTC and wins the last challenge. If he's final 3 I would like to hope he will be fine.

I agree! A lot's changed since the last time they've had an all-stars cast and there's such a heavy-handed push from production now about RESPECTING THE GAME and NOT PLAYING WITH EMOTIONS and all this other stupid **** because the show is actively trying to condition its players to vote a certain way. They don't want any more winners like Michele. They want their Bens and Tonys and the like, and that's why we're at a point now where we are very likely going to have six male winners in a row, and I'm not particularly optimistic about that streak getting broken anytime soon with how diluted the actual game is.

There's also a lot of stuff with Tony that doesn't get shown, which is one of the reasons why I can't really get behind Cagayan as one of the best seasons ever. Tony's edit was HAMMERED with negativity and I don't think anyone ever actually spoke highly of him at any point in the season, and yet he demolishes the Jury vote and we find out after the show that he was a very hard worker around camp and would give his last cup of rice to other people more hungry than him and that his manic gameplay was only like.... an hour or two a day and the rest of the time was him building relationships and being liked by his cast.

[JerseyWins]

Ugh @ Nick winning the IC. Wanted the Nick plan to work out :(

Also it's weeeeird that they did that challenge this early already? Hmmm lot of time left for the first half

[Macie Lightfoot]

Denise last week: (talking to Michele and Nick) this is a final there that can go all the way!

Denise this week: (confessional after Nick wins Immunity) well the ONE PERSON we didn't want to win just did :(


This is such ****ing lazy storytelling and it doesn't even make sense? Was their one confessional where Ben said Denise will do what he says, something we have NO PROOF OF considering they've never even talked on camera, the entire justification for Denise suddenly turning against him? This show literally doesn't make sense anymore.

[Macie Lightfoot]

"Ben and Denise are very good friends" literally came out of thin air, I think the last time they spoke was the beginning of episode 2 when she found her Idol?

This show is not good.

[JerseyWins]

Eh I think it's a product of these people playing crazily and not so straight forward like most seasons.

The story/dynamic for this episode is still really interesting/entertaining and easy to follow :clap1:

[reece(:]

Ugh @ Nick winning the IC. Wanted the Nick plan to work out :(

Also it's weeeeird that they did that challenge this early already? Hmmm lot of time left for the first half
Tribal council at half past :skull:

[Macie Lightfoot]

The story/dynamic for this episode is still really interesting/entertaining and easy to follow :clap1:

I mean you can follow it in a vacuum but there's no consistency or coherency from episode to episode which is kind of an important part of this show? Like, if the show doesn't care to show us how things form organically and would rather just choose to give us random updates through confessionals, why should I care about these people? The show just doesn't give us any reason to care about these dynamics because they are just presented to us as something we're supposed to accept without any tangible evidence.

And it's even more insulting that this show is talking about how SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS MATTER THIS SEASON like they matter so much that they don't show any of these relationships actually form.

[reece(:]

That tribal was so boring :skull:

[JerseyWins]

LOVED the post-TC scenes tho :joker:

Michele finally SNAPPING :joker:

[Macie Lightfoot]

Seriously WHEN did Ben and Denise become this unbreakable alliance, this is the third time this "alliance" has been brought up this episode and also the third time this season what shoddy storytelling.

In other news, Michele is That Bitch :love:

[Macie Lightfoot]

"No claps, notice??? :D" lmfaoooooooooo the library has been open all episode for Michele to read these ****ers.

[Jack_]

So I’m guessing there’s gonna be some sort of way for them to spend their remaining fire tokens, or else why give away two at the challenge?

[Macie Lightfoot]

Do you not think they are enticed by the menu, where the most expensive of option is "write a letter to someone on the Edge?" ?!?!?!?!?!

[Macie Lightfoot]

Denise is such a ****ing plant lmao

But on a serious note, WHEN did she turn into a Sarah/Tony lackey like how the hell did that come about?

[Jack_]

Do you not think they are enticed by the menu, where the most expensive of option is "write a letter to someone on the Edge?" ?!?!?!?!?!

Totally forgot the menu was a thing :joker: have they even shown it more than a couple times?

[JerseyWins]

I'm soooo confused by this half of the episode :think: So much flip flopping around lol.. No clue who goes here

[MB.]

"No claps, notice??? :D" lmfaoooooooooo the library has been open all episode for Michele to read these ****ers.

Michele LaBeija is canon

[JerseyWins]

WOW @ that result

Nick getting the fake winner's edit towards the very end had me thinking he at least doesn't go yet. Keep getting through Tony! :clap1:

[Macie Lightfoot]

Another plothole we're just randomly supposed to accept: Natalie buying Tyson an Idol rather than buying one for Jeremy or Parvati or anyone who we've actually seen her interact with on the show.

[Macie Lightfoot]

Nick's "fake winner edit" was him talking about being EVIL DONATHAN VAMPIRE, smelling himself, transparently lying to Tony and being sussed out immediately, continually making bad game move after game move, and being set up for an obvious downfall with confessionals about how he's NEVER been in such a good position.

[Jack_]

So they just moved the season recap to the end of this ep rather than the start of the finale? Random

Seems a shame in a way that it’s still going ahead, an all winners season deserves a traditional live finale. I’d have rather they postponed it till later in the year :shrug:

[JerseyWins]

So they just moved the season recap to the end of this ep rather than the start of the finale? Random

Seems a shame in a way that it’s still going ahead, an all winners season deserves a traditional live finale. I’d have rather they postponed it till later in the year :shrug:
Eh, something to tell the grandchildren about, how the legendary historic Season 40 All Winners season of Survivor was concluded on a zoom call

[JerseyWins]

Nick's "fake winner edit" was him talking about being EVIL DONATHAN VAMPIRE, smelling himself, transparently lying to Tony and being sussed out immediately, continually making bad game move after game move, and being set up for an obvious downfall with confessionals about how he's NEVER been in such a good position.
Oh I totally agree but he got a lot of hype in the Survivor spoiler universe where those confessionals were supposed to be a big thing :joker:

[Captain.Remy]

God damn it they saved the returnee for the last episode :rolleyes: Of course they did...
All of a sudden Natalie is friends with Tyson (???). Something that came out of nowhere again. I just hope Tyson doesn't come back, the two seconds we saw of him last night were enough for a lifetime.

Anyway, Michele coming back with a bang this episode, getting that screentime, snapped big time and she's THAT bitch! We stan an unbothered last minute winner. At least it takes the heat out of Tony a little bit.

Denise played it well on the last TC. She knew she was toasted and tried the oldest trick in the book which is to feed people to stay in the game (we live for a move that was so golden back in the old days). But when did that friendship with Ben started? All of a sudden we find that out despite them having talked to each other for 10 episodes straight. Someone in the editing team needs to be fired, for real.

I can't get behind the Sarah and Ben train because they're just not likeable. Tony and Michele are more likeable than both combined. Sarah is trying too hard, and Ben is...Ben. I liked him on his first season but this time he's not about that life.

And the King of the season is still untouched. Tony went through that without a problem and that's tough to do when you won 3 challenges and is responsible for a lot of the evictions.

[Calderyon]

It's between Natalie and Tyson on who comes back, I think.

As who wins this season, I think is between Tony, Michele and the returnee.

[caprimint]

Pretty ****ty episode tbh

Disappointed/shocked @ both of Jeremy and Nick going, especially Tony voting Jeremy out :(

By the end of it, I was really rooting for Nick/Michele and actually happy that Michele won that immunity

Adam isn't gonna come back, it's blatantly obvious it's gonna be Natalie so I'm done with this season for now

Hope Tony wins I guess

[Captain.Remy]

As if Adam could come back lmao
But stranger things have happened on Survivor...

Anyway, either they're setting us up for a glorious comeback of Natalie (that played 3 days and became irrelevant) and win the season, or they're selling this storyline of the girl fighting to come back and doesn't.

If she ends up winning the whole season is ruined tbh Like how come they will crown her when she hasn't been in the game for a month? It will be super disappointing if they do so. And the Edge of Exinction needs to be put to the trash and never come back as a twist. Never ever again of that bs.

[caprimint]

Yeah I was just thinking... it would be such a disappointment/so underwhelming if Natalie won :umm2: She was in the game for like the first episode and that's it

The EOE twist is tragic

Would be great if Nick or Jeremy came back because they've actually been relevant to the game but doubt it

[Captain.Remy]

The tokens can get lost in the ocean, and half of those advantages too.

[JerseyWins]

EOE needs to never return again. When you're out you're OUT! On Survivor returns feel a lot worse than in Big Brother because it's SUCH a numbers game and ruins the flow.

Fire tokens were also a flop under EOE rules but could maybe be better as its own twist on the island.

[Wizard.]

It's between Natalie and Tyson on who comes back, I think.

As who wins this season, I think is between Tony, Michele and the returnee.

I hate it but Michelle is out next most likely :(

I REALLY need Natalie to win the 'battle back' otherwise this whole season won't make any sense.

[Wizard.]

Also Rob and Natalie were allowed to buy idols? Wtf is that about. But Michelle had extra tokens she had to spend on rice.

[Calderyon]

The tokens can get lost in the ocean, and half of those advantages too.

Seeing how hyped up they are about the tokens, It seems are going to become the norm now.

[Calderyon]

Also Rob and Natalie were allowed to buy idols? Wtf is that about. But Michelle had extra tokens she had to spend on rice.

Denise bought the bag of rice with 5 tokens. Rob's idol was bought before the first battle back competition as was Natalie's first one. The other one Natalie bought was given to Tyson by her as a gift.

Natalie had 14 tokens altogether which she spend on 3 advantages in the 2nd return challenge, a big jar of peanut butter and a second immunity idol (which she gave to Tyson, because you apparently are only allowed to have one ). She was left with 6 in used coins.

5 other Extinction Islanders bought an advantage in the 2nd immunity challenge.

[Macie Lightfoot]

Personally I think a Natalie win would be HILARIOUS because Survivor as a whole is so broken that "playing the best game" now comes down to whether or not you found the purple string discreetly hidden in the jungle or how quickly you rolled your ball into the slot in the table maze. It's basically a social experiment but without the social.

Also, to off-set all the NEGATIVITY upthread (what was it, a week ago when my posts were deemed too negative?), I will combat that by saying that Michele's second half performance last night is easily one of the best single-episode performances in recent memory :love:

[Captain.Remy]

I hate it but Michelle is out next most likely :(

I REALLY need Natalie to win the 'battle back' otherwise this whole season won't make any sense.

Having a battle back doesn't make sense in the first place. And why Natalie specifically? She has been irrelevant during the premiere and ever since. Earning tokens and climbing on a top of a mountain doesn't make her a winner.
I would very surprised if the old school players would actually vote for her to win, if she makes it that far.

[Macie Lightfoot]

And further, another thing I do appreciate in spite of..... everything else going on this season, is how many people previously praised as AMAZING winners tried to pretty much play the exact same game as their winning season because it worked for them, but all they did was make fools out of themselves and play like garbage. Adam was still a paranoid mess who frantically scrambled and made terrible moves, and he went out in humiliating fashion. Nick was shockingly arrogant and thought he had way more power and control than he ever had, and he also embarrassed himself these last few rounds. Jeremy wanted to keep the meat shields around to protect himself and just assumed that everything else would work out, and he had terrible reads all merge and had no clue that he himself became the meatshield.

And I'm not even going into Ben because that's self-explanatory.

[Calderyon]

Having a battle back doesn't make sense in the first place. And why Natalie specifically? She has been irrelevant during the premiere and ever since. Earning tokens and climbing on a top of a mountain doesn't make her a winner.
I would very surprised if the old school players would actually vote for her to win, if she makes it that far.

If given the chance (ie: they let a returnee to final 3), the jury is always going to vote for them, whoever it is.

That's why the returnee should be target #1 over anyone.

[Macie Lightfoot]

I would also be surprised if this Jury votes for Natalie just because the show has conditioned everyone into thinking you need a certain number of items on your resume to win and I'm sure the FTC will just be Jeff pushing the outwit/outplay/outlast narrative towards Tony being superior to anyone, but if Natalie returns she would have a HUGE advantage considering she lived with the Jury the entire time and will have been able to do some Jury management moves like buying Tyson an Idol. Whereas some Jurors will potentially have never met either of the other two finalists.

But yeah, Fire Tokens and the Edge of Extinction have *always* been garbage so I'm glad y'all are finally realizing that now, even if it's only at the impending horror of a first boot coming back and returning in an all winners season :joker:

[Captain.Remy]

Personally I think a Natalie win would be HILARIOUS because Survivor as a whole is so broken that "playing the best game" now comes down to whether or not you found the purple string discreetly hidden in the jungle or how quickly you rolled your ball into the slot in the table maze. It's basically a social experiment but without the social.

Also, to off-set all the NEGATIVITY upthread (what was it, a week ago when my posts were deemed too negative?), I will combat that by saying that Michele's second half performance last night is easily one of the best single-episode performances in recent memory :love:

Michele gave me French Survivor teas when the impossible becomes possible because the french version is way harder than the US on the surviving skills, camp life, merit, the challenges can last for HOURS and are iconic.
She came out of nowhere and that's why Survivor is fun to watch too, not the constant twists that make zero sense just because Jeff is bored.

[Captain.Remy]

I would also be surprised if this Jury votes for Natalie just because the show has conditioned everyone into thinking you need a certain number of items on your resume to win and I'm sure the FTC will just be Jeff pushing the outwit/outplay/outlast narrative towards Tony being superior to anyone, but if Natalie returns she would have a HUGE advantage considering she lived with the Jury the entire time and will have been able to do some Jury management moves like buying Tyson an Idol. Whereas some Jurors will potentially have never met either of the other two finalists.

But yeah, Fire Tokens and the Edge of Extinction have *always* been garbage so I'm glad y'all are finally realizing that now, even if it's only at the impending horror of a first boot coming back and returning in an all winners season :joker:

I realized it the moment it was announced. It all started with Redemption Island where then I understood it wasn't going nowhere, and the producers really put forward shady stuff like that over the surviving skills.

[MB.]

I also think a slight factor that would count against Natalie in a hypothetical final three scenario is the fact that we haven't seen a single jury vote cast for a woman since 2017, and that this show is so geared against women nowadays that even a Chris Underwood-style route to the end wouldn't guarantee her the kind of cross-jury support I suspect it would for, say, a Tyson (the obvious solution therefore being for her to use her fire tokens to buy a male drag disguise and fool the jury a la Portia in The Merchant of Venice)

[Jigs]

I stopped watching after Wendell's boot BUT I totally and wholeheartedly would endorse a Natalie Anderson return. How iconic for her to have such a redemption arc after being voted out first.

[Captain.Remy]

I also think a slight factor that would count against Natalie in a hypothetical final three scenario is the fact that we haven't seen a single jury vote cast for a woman since 2017, and that this show is so geared against women nowadays that even a Chris Underwood-style route to the end wouldn't guarantee her the kind of cross-jury support I suspect it would for, say, a Tyson (the obvious solution therefore being for her to use her fire tokens to buy a male drag disguise and fool the jury a la Portia in The Merchant of Venice)

Some women in past Survivor seasons were really disrespected by the lack of votes for them in the end, but really Natalie doesn't fit that category.
This year if Tony wins it will be fully deserved, or maybe Michele if a woman is to win.

[Jack_]

I don’t mind the Edge that much, but I’d certainly prefer a season without it.

I can understand why they brought it back this season though cause it’s an easy way to get 39 days worth of content from every winner. And as ludicrous as a SIXTEEN person jury looks on screen, I do think it’s a nice touch that for an all winners season, every winner will have a say in who wins.

To be honest my main problem is with the advantages and tokens...you shouldn’t be allowed to influence the game when you’re not in it :shrug: the whole game is just convoluted and a mess and impossible to follow. The Edge is fine if it’s just eliminees sitting on a beach starving with nothing to do except test their resolve.

I do think you could make the argument that a returnee deserves to win though, but equally it’s not exactly Survivor :joker:

[MB.]

I do think it’s a nice touch that for an all winners season, every winner will have a say in who wins.

I hope this means that the vote will end in a three-way tie and Jeff's going to have to throw to Sandra over Zoom to break it

[Jack_]

I hope this means that the vote will end in a three-way tie and Jeff's going to have to throw to Sandra over Zoom to break it

I don’t think 16 divides by 3, as much as I’d like an appearance from the Queen :joker:

[MB.]

I don’t think 16 divides by 3, as much as I’d like an appearance from the Queen :joker:

Spoiler: they fly all of the jury's kids and spouses out to cast votes as well, bumping the total up to a healthy 48

[Captain.Remy]

I do think you could make the argument that a returnee deserves to win though, but equally it’s not exactly Survivor :joker:

It should become "Edge of Extinction" winner, and have another winner for the main game :joker:

Still not over the Zoom crowning, but here we are. At least we don't wait for weeks/months before finding out:shrug:

[Wizard.]

Having a battle back doesn't make sense in the first place. And why Natalie specifically? She has been irrelevant during the premiere and ever since. Earning tokens and climbing on a top of a mountain doesn't make her a winner.
I would very surprised if the old school players would actually vote for her to win, if she makes it that far.

Because the whole Edge edit has literally been geared toward Natalie returning so if she doesn't I'll just ask myself why.

[Captain.Remy]

Because the whole Edge edit has literally been geared toward Natalie returning so if she doesn't I'll just ask myself why.

It looks like it, but to me it still doesn't mean she's a deserving winner. The winner of the Edge yes, but not the whole game :skull:

[Wizard.]

It looks like it, but to me it still doesn't mean she's a deserving winner. The winner of the Edge yes, but not the whole game :skull:

Yeah I didn't say the whole game. I WANT Michelle to win based on her personality and her edit and frankly it'd be funny, but if Tony makes the final 3 he deserves to win based on his game. Ben and Sarah and Denise just infuriate me because their personalities not only suck but they're so willing to go to the end with Tony for some reason and they're so unaware that he'd just annihilate them in the final TC.

[caprimint]

One highlight of the episode though was Nick: "I'm going to vote out the slayer of the queen" :clap1:

[Macie Lightfoot]

I don’t mind the Edge that much, but I’d certainly prefer a season without it.

I can understand why they brought it back this season though cause it’s an easy way to get 39 days worth of content from every winner. And as ludicrous as a SIXTEEN person jury looks on screen, I do think it’s a nice touch that for an all winners season, every winner will have a say in who wins.

I would feel that way if they actually gave everyone 39 days of content but we haven't really seen anything from Danni or Yul or Wendell since they've gone to the Edge and we've seen very minimal content from Ethan and Amber (it's almost like the show was originally designed for a smaller cast of ~16 people :o)

I personally have two problems with the whole Edge/Fire Tokens combo: from a gameplay perspective, it's hilariously unfair. As much as I like Natalie, I'd be furious if I was out there because she's at such a huge advantage having been on the island the longest. She's going into the Return Challenge* with three advantages and an Idol, whereas Nick doesn't even have an opportunity to earn any Fire Tokens. Even if he had his six Fire Tokens, you typically have to bequeath them upon getting voted out. This creates a system that rewards you inversely for how long you last in the game. It's a laughably broken system where it's actually to your advantage to get voted out earlier, and that's the entire opposite point of the show in the first place.

And then from an editing perspective, the tandem of twists have entire suffocated the show. Even when they cut out a Reward Challenge, they still need to dedicate time in each episode to a scene from the Edge, a scene of someone on the island receiving an advantage and contemplating whether or not they should inevitably buy it, and possibly a scene of them needing to borrow additional Fire Tokens from their allies. It effectively creates ~10 minutes of dead airtime most episodes where there's no forward plot movement and no exploring of relationships between the players actually in the game. It's led to many confusing moments like Jeremy/Michele's alliance being dropped and picked back up again and random moments, Nick/Michele's alliance getting similar treatment, Sarah/Sophie being an strong pair who only interacted on camera in the swap episode where Rob was booted, and Ben/Denise somehow being airtight duo when they spent practically the entire game not seen together on camera. The idea of "wow there's just too much content for 45 minutes, I really wish the show had longer episodes each week!" never came into fruition until the show literally gave itself too much content by stuffing twist after twist into the clown car to the point of suffocation.

[Jack_]

I would feel that way if they actually gave everyone 39 days of content but we haven't really seen anything from Danni or Yul or Wendell since they've gone to the Edge and we've seen very minimal content from Ethan and Amber (it's almost like the show was originally designed for a smaller cast of ~16 people :o)

Oh I definitely agree with that! In fact it’s disappointing cause frankly I’d have much rather been watching the EoE than the people left for about a month now...

My point was more that from a production standpoint, they have 39 days worth of content from everyone to do with what they like

[Captain.Remy]

The idea of "wow there's just too much content for 45 minutes, I really wish the show had longer episodes each week!" never came into fruition until the show literally gave itself too much content by stuffing twist after twist into the clown car to the point of suffocation.

I guess we always have the same discussion about it, but a 45 minutes episode of Survivor has not been enough for a very long time, even before season 20. It's insane to have two challenges, tribal council and strategy/plot development in such a short period of time.
Not only that, but they need to cut out some of those twists and advantages and hire new people for editing.
And if in the end they still go ahead with those twists/advantages, the show still need to be longer and better edited.

So yes, in the current situation where the producers won't back down and that we have no other choice but to accept that (or stop watching), there's just too much content for 45 minutes, I really wish the show had longer episodes each week!:laugh:

[Calderyon]

This list could be completely wrong:

Denise - Most likely to go next
Michele
Sarah
Ben (Idol)
EOE Returnee (Idol)
Tony (Idol) - Least likely to go next

Predicted boot order:

Denise
EOE Returnee
Michele

Final three:

Ben 2nd runner up
Sarah 1st runner up
Tony Winner

[Wizard.]

This list could be completely wrong:

Denise - Most likely to go next
Michele
Sarah
Ben (Idol)
EOE Returnee (Idol)
Tony (Idol) - Least likely to go next

Predicted boot order:

Denise
EOE Returnee
Michele

Final three:

Ben 2nd runner up
Sarah 1st runner up
Tony Winner

Well at least a woman would get promoted from always coming third with no votes to 2nd place even if I do detest Sarah

[MB.]

I've been following a quarantine Survivor season that's been playing out on Instagram with miscellaneous comedians as contestants, and quite honestly I've been enjoying it more than Winners at War? (possibly because someone recently won an extra vote advantage by singing Reflection from Mulan the best)

[Joe.]

All in all I am against the edge of extinction, like Chris Underwood’s win was one of the most undeserved wins of any survivor season. I only have liked it being able to see all the winners more that have been voted out. The idea of an edge winner would be good, like who’s worked the hardest and won the most fire tokens over there. Fire tokens I also like, I just wish the ‘menu’ had been more visible to viewers who wanted to buy something. The final five (without the returnee) are a good final five and I think all have worked hard for that and being there at the end game. Ben is the only one I really don’t want to win, can’t remember who said it but a Ben Dreiberg Zoom win would be the worst thing to happen to this season. Ben so didn’t deserve to win his season, Chrissy played the best game by far. All in all I have loved winners at war, just think for the amount of players and the quality of players the usual 40 minutes has not been enough to explain what’s really going on within the tribe. I agree with Macie (can you believe it) that the whispering tribals are frustrating, at first they were entertaining but the fact we don’t even see the votes nowadays it makes things not make much sense. I want Tony to win the most because I appreciate him as a player and he has played his ass oft. Natalie deserves to return but doesn’t deserve to win, if you are out of the game you are out of the game in my view.

[Joe.]

So agree with the fact that Edge is unfair, purely because Nick who was just voted out has a far lesser chance than Natalie who was voted out first. Survivor definitely needs to take a note from the challenge and have one hour episodes too, so many episodes have been so rushed and with ten minutes spent on edge it’s not showing enough of the players still in the game and going to tribal. Honestly though I still have found winners at war so entertaining and one of my favourite seasons, every season has it’s flaws though.

[JerseyWins]

So agree with the fact that Edge is unfair, purely because Nick who was just voted out has a far lesser chance than Natalie who was voted out first. Survivor definitely needs to take a note from the challenge and have one hour episodes too, so many episodes have been so rushed and with ten minutes spent on edge it’s not showing enough of the players still in the game and going to tribal. Honestly though I still have found winners at war so entertaining and one of my favourite seasons, every season has it’s flaws though.
Yeah it really is a flawed twist. How you gonna reward people for being out of the game earlier? The whole fire token system was reeeeally poorly done in this and it's a shame they decided to do that on a legendary ALL WINNERS season :bored:

[starry]

I'm sure many realise the Extinction twist is unfair, but the challenges can be quite boring too. Here it was just a run to somewhere, of course they couldn't tell us that others knew where it was but it looked extremely likely that they did.

And Denise's strategy of pretending she was ok going looked far from convincing.

The elimination always seemed between Michelle and Nick. Nick got the advantage but all it did was help Michele in the end.

[MB.]

In the words of Sarah Harding, it's about time

1260238604263186435

[Wizard.]

In the words of Sarah Harding, it's about time

1260238604263186435

Why did they stop opening credits? Also, I'm so excited for the finale

[Captain.Remy]

I think they stopped because they had to put in so much stuff in 45 minutes, so they scrapped it :shrug:

Tonight is the night guys! Can't wait for Tony snatching that crown over Zoom :joker:

[Macie Lightfoot]

Why did they stop opening credits? Also, I'm so excited for the finale

"There's just too much of a story to tell so we can't afford to waste forty-five seconds on opening credits" --a show that has somehow gotten even worse at storytelling.

[Calderyon]

Tony probably wins comfortably, with Sarah getting a few votes and Ben ending up with 0 or 1.

Denise gets voted off first, then the returning contestant and Michelle loses fire making against Ben.

Returning Extinction Islander is either Natalie or Tyson, most likely Natalie. Rob and Parvati are only distant possibilities, but more possible than the others on EOE (excluding Natalie and Tyson). Unless they are making it too obvious on purpose and then blindsiding with a surprise returnee.

[Captain.Remy]

Denise would probably vote for Ben, I don't really see anybody voting for Sarah as she's not as likeable as the others, so yeah if Tony gets there he wins.
A bit more scared if Denise or Michele gets to Final 3, they might snatch some votes.

I would die if they make Natalie too obvious and ends up losing, but it's unlikely at this stage because she has an idol and makes top 4 at least, so they're building some resume for her.

[Wizard.]

What time is it on? Don't know if I wanna stay up and sit through commercials

[Captain.Remy]

8:00 PM EST and it's a three-hour season finale.

[caprimint]

3 hours? :o

You've got to be bloody joking

[Calderyon]

3 hours? :o

You've got to be bloody joking

No, it's true.

[Calderyon]

Denise would probably vote for Ben, I don't really see anybody voting for Sarah as she's not as likeable as the others, so yeah if Tony gets there he wins.
A bit more scared if Denise or Michele gets to Final 3, they might snatch some votes.

I would die if they make Natalie too obvious and ends up losing, but it's unlikely at this stage because she has an idol and makes top 4 at least, so they're building some resume for her.

Top 5, unless she wins an immunity idol before that.

I would imagine anyone who returns and has an HIID and does not have an immunity necklace, uses it on the final 6 tribal.

Rob and Tyson also have idols, but Rob's edit has decreased in terms of quality, so he probably isn't returning. Tyson's is somewhat better.

[Captain.Remy]

Anybody but Tyson. And I mean ANYBODY so yeah Adam is included in that lol
If Natalie returns, I somehow feel she they won't vote her out on the first tribal council (the producers won't allow the unnecessary use of that dumb twist just to have the returnee evicted immediately) and uses her idol and the last tribal council possible. That's why I said final 4.

[Calderyon]

Anybody but Tyson. And I mean ANYBODY so yeah Adam is included in that lol
If Natalie returns, I somehow feel she they won't vote her out on the first tribal council (the producers won't allow the unnecessary use of that dumb twist just to have the returnee evicted immediately) and uses her idol and the last tribal council possible. That's why I said final 4.

I guess she or the one who returns wins immunity then.

But it's probably between Natalie and Tyson. Maybe Parvati or Rob also, but that's not likely.

[Macie Lightfoot]

Yeah the finales are always three hours.

[reece(:]

Rooting for Michele and Tony

[Wizard.]

3 hours but like 45 minutes of commercials so I will watch it tomorrow morning

[Captain.Remy]

3 hours but like 45 minutes of commercials so I will watch it tomorrow morning

Yeah, that's not worth it tbh :joker:
Perched for that Zoom crowning :laugh:

[Calderyon]

Yeah, I will also watch it tomorrow.

[Calderyon]

Yeah the finales are always three hours.

You are correct. 2 hour finale episode + reunion episode.

[JerseyWins]

Nat with the start-from-ahead come-from-behind comeback :smug:

Pretty glad to see her back but how dumb that a first boot is there in the F6 now :joker: Gonna be interesting.

Nice emotional content from them all too especially since some/many of them will never be playing again :clap1:

[Matthew.]

Glad to see Natalie back :clap1: I’d take anybody left as a winner tbh, not bothered about Sarah but wouldn’t mind if she won either

[Macie Lightfoot]

Michele recreating her iconic puzzlekick.gif from four years ago :love::love::love:

[JerseyWins]

I.... don't get how Cops R Us survive right here :worry: Better be some nice idol trickery/play(s)!

[Macie Lightfoot]

This is how lol

[Macie Lightfoot]

Is Denise really about to be UTR1'd out of the finale because alol

[JerseyWins]

Yet again, Tony the genius & Sarah the dumbass :facepalm: She needs to realize and listen to Tony ffs :joker:

[Macie Lightfoot]

Jeff FINALLY reaching some level of self-awareness is almost satisfying if not for the fact that this is all going to end in a Denise UTR1 boot lmfaooooo

[MB.]

Michele Samantha Fitzgerald

[JerseyWins]

Lmaooooooooo close call for Cops R Us! WHEW!

[MB.]

Natalie Patricia Anderson

[JerseyWins]

Damn this is so intense. :skull:

[JerseyWins]

Tony coming in with the CLUTCH immunity win let's goooo :clap1:

[Macie Lightfoot]

That was an embarrassingly low budget Challenge.

[Jack_]

Why does CBS21 news keep interrupting my stream

[Macie Lightfoot]

"Women's rights" --Ben lastname :love:

Ladies it's time to let him IN, he's been hilarious all season!

[Macie Lightfoot]

Okay this finale is actually really good so far and it's entirely because of SARAH and Natalie and Michele and Ben and not Tony at all whoops

[JerseyWins]

Lmao that was SUCH a lame, anti-climatic voteoff can't even lie :joker:

[Jack_]

I feel like Sarah’s going to win lol

[Macie Lightfoot]

lmfao I manifested boring ass Simmotion as the final challenge, what a disaster :joker:

SUCH a missed opportunity for them to not do Hand on hard Idol or even Slip Through Your Fingers with fire tokens???

[reece(:]

https://66.media.tumblr.com/e2b7bff93805ebe0ad00691abba1107d/5be77cf97293c9b3-1c/s540x810/c153f1e7544bc4918c1c0a3c88e15ddc54602437.jpg

[JerseyWins]

How the hell do they even do this challenge with 5 balls :skull:

[MB.]

https://66.media.tumblr.com/e2b7bff93805ebe0ad00691abba1107d/5be77cf97293c9b3-1c/s540x810/c153f1e7544bc4918c1c0a3c88e15ddc54602437.jpg

"Just two Jersey gworls" - Valentina - me

[MB.]

Michele being the only winner this season to never have been voted out... this really was Winchele at War, huh

[JerseyWins]

Tony winning fire to a round of applause from the jury WOOOO :devil:

[reece(:]

I've loved this finale

[Jack_]

****ing hell what a finish :joker:

I’ve not enjoyed the boot order this season but this is the perfect final 3 from those who made the finale! Don’t mind who wins now

[Matthew.]

I’m happy with whoever wins. Such a great top 3 :clap1:

[Macie Lightfoot]

This finale has been VERY GOOD but not because of Tony at all lol like it was the Lacina One Woman Show featuring Ben, Natalie, and Michele. Tony's just been a boring gamebot sorry.

[JerseyWins]

Tony stealing the show all the way up to the FTC :clap1: Has the jury cracking up :joker:

They really need to go back to the old jury questioning tho... this one is just pretty bad.

[caprimint]

Lmao @ the way people are suddenly rooting for Natalie because... she's not Tony, she's not been able to do anything 'wrong' this season because she's been completely irrelevant and she's good at talking... :think:

[Macie Lightfoot]

Yawn.

Poor Michele :(

[Macie Lightfoot]

"If you're 16 you should apply" um no you should not.

[Matthew.]

I’m glad he won :clap1:

[Jack_]

Teenagers applying :skull:

Natalie put up a good FTC performance actually, yas for Tony though :clap1:

[JerseyWins]

Suuuuch a depressing vote reveal :joker: BUT AN EPIC UNBELIEVABLE RESULT :amazed:

[caprimint]

#AdamWasRobbed

Second best winner there could have been this season :clap1:

[Macie Lightfoot]

I'll post ~thoughts~ later when I rewatch but I will say that the whole "women are equal to men" wokeness that keeps coming up each season nowadays really just seems like hot air considering that we haven't had a woman winner in six seasons :skull:

[Jack_]

Also the biggest revelation of this season for me has been Michele

I just considered her a bit of a non-entity last time, which is why I was so dissatisfied with her win narratively. But this time she’s been fun, sweet and endearing - I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed her content! idk maybe it was the edit in Kaoh Rong or maybe I wasn’t paying attention, or maybe she just was better this time around - but either way, happy to say I’m a convert :clap1:

[NICKP]

all the props to Tony Vlachos well deserved win in the greatest season ever!

[reece(:]

Tony deserved it he played an epic game

And he had a lot of emotion in the final I thought? They all did, it was very character driven which is what this WHOLE season has been missing

[Macie Lightfoot]

Also the biggest revelation of this season for me has been Michele

I just considered her a bit of a non-entity last time, which is why I was so dissatisfied with her win narratively. But this time she’s been fun, sweet and endearing - I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed her content! idk maybe it was the edit in Kaoh Rong or maybe I wasn’t paying attention, or maybe she just was better this time around - but either way, happy to say I’m a convert :clap1:

Yesssss she really is endearing and I'm so annoyed that she just got resorted to the semi-annual "good job for making it to the finale" third place woman who gets nothing more than pat on the head. She looked so sad during the vote read and she absolutely should've gotten votes from Wendell and Nick if not for this show's recent trend towards people forfeiting their personal Jury vote for voting for who they think will be seen as The Best Winner.

Honestly I think if you rewatch Kaoh Rong you'll like her there too. Her edit is slightly more subdued and flat because they needed to sanitize it so that she would be given a winning edit and because she came into this season with the perfect prepackaged storyline of someone whose win was seen as undeserving and is constantly trying to prove her worth as a player, but the charm is still there and she's just a fun presence.

[Headie]

We love an iconic set of finalists

https://66.media.tumblr.com/e2b7bff93805ebe0ad00691abba1107d/5be77cf97293c9b3-1c/s540x810/c153f1e7544bc4918c1c0a3c88e15ddc54602437.jpg

[Headie]

Anyway the real winner for me tonight was Sophie <3

1260764420013207559

[caprimint]

1260728880081432577

[reece(:]

6-3t1aTYAdc

obsessed

[reece(:]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EX8NOsoWoAQmeu8?format=jpg&name=small

[JerseyWins]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EX8NOsoWoAQmeu8?format=jpg&name=small
Epic :joker:

1260758284396609540

This really was iconic too :clap1:

[armand.kay]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EX8NOsoWoAQmeu8?format=jpg&name=small

suddenly I love the monarchy

[Captain.Remy]

YESSSSSS!!!!
Thank God he won, he totally deserved it! 12-4-0 that is so good!
Jeremy being the bitter judge is so rubbish and a weak finish for him. I thought Parvati would respect game play, but she was too close to Natalie. Ethan and Tyson are irrelevant.

Tbh the ending was so intense, Natalie scared a lot of us but in the end the jury knew what was up and Tony was the King! I feared for him when Natalie came back and when Sarah delivered a strong speech at tribal council.
So happy of this ending, this season had its flaws (edge, fire tokens) and it's a stretch to call it the best ever, but overall it was a great season!

[Macie Lightfoot]

Jeremy and Natalie are practically family at this point, he’s not bitter for voting for her to win.

[Captain.Remy]

Jeremy and Natalie are practically family at this point, he’s not bitter for voting for her to win.

It still looks weak, Tony protected him and had a bound with him. He's just mad Tony wanted to work more with Ben.
In the end it had no consequences for Tony to win, so it's all good!

I still feel a little bad for Michelle not getting a single vote. She struggled the whole time, I thought Wendell would give his vote to her.

[Wizard.]

That was the best finale I've ever seen, the final 3 were perfect :clap1:

Tony's win was predictable but deserving. I felt SO bad for Michelle, someone could've thrown her a sympathy vote but I guess they didn't wanna get hate on Twitter. She didn't even play a bad game, if anything her and Natalie had the hardest journey's to the final. Tony had it easy the majority of the game, it really shows when he said the worst thing that happened to him was being extorted for 6 fire tokens. But he also had the benefit of being a good talker and making the jury laugh.

Also FUQ Boston Rob, he really came across as an a-hole this season. Tbh Idk what he was like before Island of The Idols but the back handed Natalie comment wasn't necessary.

Why would Natalie have given up her secured spot in final 3 to battle Tony? Just cause Chris did it? She EARNED her spot by winning immunity she shouldn't have to give it up.

I'm also sick of all this talk in the last few seasons of how appreciative they are for the women in the world and how they have mothers and daughters, but it has no real meaning in the end when men have won season after season and sometimes not deservedly so.

And NOT 16 and 17 year old for next season :skull: that's just a disaster waiting to happen. They have like no life experience so what the hell will they talk about in their interviews? I don't wanna generalise but like, they're not gonna have many life skills to bring to the game are they? Also unless they come from like poor backgrounds, I find it really hard to imagine they'll be able to cope.

[Captain.Remy]

In regards to Natalie not giving up her immunity, I was glad she didn't because if she did and won the fire making challenge, she would have won the season. She earned her spot rightfully.
And really S38 was bad enough to crown a dude who spent his life on the Edge to have another winner who followed that path.

[Captain.Remy]

This finale has been VERY GOOD but not because of Tony at all lol like it was the Lacina One Woman Show featuring Ben, Natalie, and Michele. Tony's just been a boring gamebot sorry.

How is he just a gamebot? I know don't you don't like him but credit should be given where credit is due.
He has loads of charisma that made people stick with him, he won the most challenges (how refreshing to have a winner that actually did well in that part of the competition), he had zero votes against him, he still got away with the spy nest despite doing that trick twice before, he called most of the eliminations he attended, made super valid points at the last TC and he saved himself when Natalie was his biggest threat (how funny is it that Natalie thought she was giving them lies from the Edge only to be beat so hardly at the end from the same people on the Edge).
On a personal side, he's a nice funny dude and when he beat Sarah he was really emotional. The true MVP of the season.

And he didn't need to make the finale more entertaining, he only had to stay calm and get it right. Obviously the edit was more focused on Natalie and Michele, but he already did all the necessary work before.

[MB.]

https://i.imgur.com/kx7FmUD.png

[Captain.Remy]

https://i.imgur.com/kx7FmUD.png

:skull:
I bet we'll get an all-female season one day just so Jeff can say Survivor is a progressive TV show :joker:
Though him admitting he's done shady stuff in the past was a nice thing to do. Kudos to Sarah for pointing that out so clearly and getting her point across.

[Wizard.]

:skull:
I bet we'll get an all-female season one day just so Jeff can say Survivor is a progressive TV show :joker:
Though him admitting he's done shady stuff in the past was a nice thing to do. Kudos to Sarah for pointing that out so clearly and getting her point across.

It kind of seem forced though like she was trying to justify to the jury why she wasn't cutting Tony out :laugh:

[Captain.Remy]

It kind of seem forced though like she was trying to justify to the jury why she wasn't cutting Tony out :laugh:

She probably wanted to save that for the last tribal council but Natalie coming back and saying all those things to her probably made her change her mind. Had she landed in the final three and delivered that speech, she would have gotten a lot of votes.
But still, a little readjusting when it comes to gender bias is always appreciated.

[JerseyWins]

How is he just a gamebot? I know don't you don't like him but credit should be given where credit is due.
He has loads of charisma that made people stick with him, he won the most challenges (how refreshing to have a winner that actually did well in that part of the competition), he had zero votes against him, he still got away with the spy nest despite doing that trick twice before, he called most of the eliminations he attended, made super valid points at the last TC and he saved himself when Natalie was his biggest threat (how funny is it that Natalie thought she was giving them lies from the Edge only to be beat so hardly at the end from the same people on the Edge).
On a personal side, he's a nice funny dude and when he beat Sarah he was really emotional. The true MVP of the season.

And he didn't need to make the finale more entertaining, he only had to stay calm and get it right. Obviously the edit was more focused on Natalie and Michele, but he already did all the necessary work before.
Preach :clap1:

[Macie Lightfoot]

It still looks weak, Tony protected him and had a bound with him. He's just mad Tony wanted to work more with Ben.
In the end it had no consequences for Tony to win, so it's all good!

I still feel a little bad for Michelle not getting a single vote. She struggled the whole time, I thought Wendell would give his vote to her.

Jeremy is *not* obligated to give Tony his vote to win over his closest Survivor friend of all time just because Tony protected him for a round or two before voting him out anyway. Like it's just factually incorrect to say his vote was bitter because he voted for someone who he's had an extremely close bond with since SJDS. The three tightest bonds entering the game were Rob/Amber, Tony/Sarah, and Jeremy/Natalie and there's literally no way any of them wouldn't vote for their partner in the end. It has nothing to do with bitterness, it has to do with relationships.

I think it is very telling about how toxic the fanbase is that they get the desired outcome that they want with a Tony win and are still mad about it because it wasn't a unanimous win. Like, we're at a point where a Juror can't vote for a runner up without receiving any backlash and that's complete bull****. Jeremy and Tyson have external relationships with Natalie, and Parvati and Ethan were never on a tribe with Tony. The votes all make sense, and yet people are making them feel like they have to somehow defend or explain their votes post-show. Tyson said it best, he would love to see a true friend win and enjoy $2,000,000 rather than an acquaintance you barely know.

I felt SO bad for Michelle, someone could've thrown her a sympathy vote but I guess they didn't wanna get hate on Twitter.

Also FUQ Boston Rob, he really came across as an a-hole this season. Tbh Idk what he was like before Island of The Idols but the back handed Natalie comment wasn't necessary.

Why would Natalie have given up her secured spot in final 3 to battle Tony? Just cause Chris did it? She EARNED her spot by winning immunity she shouldn't have to give it up.

I'm also sick of all this talk in the last few seasons of how appreciative they are for the women in the world and how they have mothers and daughters, but it has no real meaning in the end when men have won season after season and sometimes not deservedly so.

Ooh lots to unpack here. I'll go in order:

-Michele has said in interviews that Adam, Danni, Nick, and Wendell have all told her post-show that they wanted to vote for her to win but they were afraid that having the vote split between all three of them could've let to a potential Natalie win so they just decided to further back a Tony win :skull: I don't know how fact-checked that is, but even if that's true for just one of them then it's just even more evidence that the F3 format is complete garbage and needs to be done away with. It never will, but the integrity of a Jury is ruined when the Jury is afraid to actually cast their personal votes.

-Rob's an ass who was retconned into a position of Survivor loyalty after being gifted an opportunity that no one else has received, and the two seasons that he ran strategically are both unquestionably two of the worst in franchise history! I know correlation does not inherently imply causation, but yeah he sucks.

-I can't even decide what's worse about the Natalie thing, the fact that Big Movez culture has devolved to the point where she's criticized for not giving up Immunity, or the fact that Rob in particular is so unimaginative that he derided her for not replicating Chris Underwood's game :skull:

-If Survivor is still a microcosm for the world around us, it's fitting that the show will pat itself on the back for acknowledging that there is a sexism problem while doing **** all to actually eliminate the barriers that repeatedly keep women from succeeding. Like, I think Jeff actually does want a woman to win at this pint because he recognizes that the optics of only have three female winners in the last fifteen seasons is terrible, but he's going about it the entirely wrong way and looking for women who play aggressively rather than eliminating the abundance of twists and advantages that largely help men.

And when we do get the next woman to win, she's surely going to get a coronation edit and be hailed as the best woman to EVER play the game, essentially blaming the women from the 30s for not being good enough Survivor players without actually taking a look at the issues with the show's structure and format. And after she wins, we'll get another string of male winners and everyone will just put their fingers in their ears and loudly proclaim that there's no problem because "see?! Women *can* win the show, men are just better players!!!"

How is he just a gamebot? I know don't you don't like him but credit should be given where credit is due.
He has loads of charisma that made people stick with him, he won the most challenges (how refreshing to have a winner that actually did well in that part of the competition), he had zero votes against him, he still got away with the spy nest despite doing that trick twice before, he called most of the eliminations he attended, made super valid points at the last TC and he saved himself when Natalie was his biggest threat (how funny is it that Natalie thought she was giving them lies from the Edge only to be beat so hardly at the end from the same people on the Edge).
On a personal side, he's a nice funny dude and when he beat Sarah he was really emotional. The true MVP of the season.

And he didn't need to make the finale more entertaining, he only had to stay calm and get it right. Obviously the edit was more focused on Natalie and Michele, but he already did all the necessary work before.

I think it's possible to acknowledge that Tony is a good Survivor player while also acknowledging that he's not exactly great television, which is the point I'm trying to make. His edit is overbearing, none of his charisma or social game was actually focused on in Cagayan which is a huge part of what actually led to his win, and he's a bit too much into the whole "ugh, why are people playing the game with emotions??? Why are we watching Sarah have a fashion show and have fun when we could be PLAYING DA GAME?!?!?!" and I don't think any of that is interesting to watch. Like, am I supposed to be entertained with yet another derivative of the spy <shelter> when we've already seen that played out twice before? He played a good game but that doesn't exactly constitute a personality trait.

And he was easily the weak point (after Denise who didn't even exist lmaooooo) in the finale in terms of objective contributions when you factor in Natalie and Michele's unlikely underdog journey to the F3, Ben basically having the arc Spencer wished he had in Cambodia and falling on his sword for Sarah, and literally everything Lacina did.

[Wizard.]

I also imagine there's NDA's but surely the jurors tell each other who they voted for and the winner already knows? it's a long time between the final tribal council and the vote reveal.

[Captain.Remy]

I never said Jeremy was obligated to do anything, I'm just saying that regardless of what Tony did, he would have voted for Natalie or whoever else but Tony anyway which does invalidate the process on voting for the best player...that Natalie really wasn't. I really couldn't care less for a unanimous win, and just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean I'm a toxic fan, wtf. And if you prefer external relationships over what happens in the game, that's on you.

You can find whatever you want entertaining and that's on you, no problem with that. But he played well, has a great personality and by the looks of it deserved to win by 12 votes against 4 for his runner-up. He did what worked for him aka the shelter that really nobody thought about clocking him out for it. The edit is not his fault either, go talk to the producers about it :shrug:

And in terms of contributions, he had the strongest chance of winning on the last episode purely based on everything he did up to that point. He connected with people, made them trust him (charisma that attracts people), won challenges, went searching for idols, was UNTOUCHED the whole time and still went through Natalie's tries at getting him. But I get it, you don't like him and that's fine. Just don't be mad at him for doing stuff the others couldn't do or because he had en edit you don't like. Whatever he did previously doesn't count since they were all on the same level field. He even said it himself that he didn't play like the first time...and clearly that worked very well.

[Macie Lightfoot]

Yeah, usually everyone leaves the FTC with a general understanding of who won. There are a few exceptions, like when Skupin left Philippines and was somehow convinced that he won to the point where he leaked it to spoiler sources :joker:

[Captain.Remy]

Overall, it was nice sharing that Survivor season with you all! Always good to see Survivor fans out there and sharing thoughts and debate together!

[Macie Lightfoot]

I never said Jeremy was obligated to do anything, I'm just saying that regardless of what Tony did, he would have voted for Natalie or whoever else but Tony anyway which does invalidate the process on voting for the best player...that Natalie really wasn't. I really couldn't care less for a unanimous win, and just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean I'm a toxic fan, wtf. And if you prefer external relationships over what happens in the game, that's on you.

But who the best player is is entirely subjective and the Jury votes based off of their own experiences and their individual connections and their view of how the finalists played the game. That's why there's a Jury in the first place, because there's no inherent right or wrong answer.

And especially in a season full of returning players who run in the same circle, there's no way to separate personal relationships from the game because they bleed into each other so much and have doing so for twenty years now. Everyone comes in with pregame alliances and many other factors that inevitably affect the direction of the game. It's why Sarah was basically allowed to use her elimination as a preamble to the FTC.

And for the record, I wasn't trying to imply that you are a toxic fan :love: that's more for the people who are proclaiming that they have lost respect for Parvati and are harassing Jeremy and Tyson on social media for not voting for Tony to win.

[Calderyon]

Good season, good ending.

[Natalie.]

Also the biggest revelation of this season for me has been Michele

I just considered her a bit of a non-entity last time, which is why I was so dissatisfied with her win narratively. But this time she’s been fun, sweet and endearing - I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed her content! idk maybe it was the edit in Kaoh Rong or maybe I wasn’t paying attention, or maybe she just was better this time around - but either way, happy to say I’m a convert :clap1:

I'm the same :clap1: I didn't think she should have won that season, I think I'll give it another watch

Such a good finale, I would have been happy with any winner really. Natalie is my favourite but Tony is a deserving winner.

[Matthew.]

Here’s my edgic chart for the season

https://i.imgur.com/8U8t4T9.jpg

[LukeB]

Here’s my edgic chart for the season

https://i.imgur.com/8U8t4T9.jpg

Who do you think has the best edgic?

[Matthew.]

Who do you think has the best edgic?

I liked Tony’s, Ben’s and even though I didn’t like him, I think Adam has a fun edgic too

[Captain.Remy]

I never understood edgic charts, can somebody explain please?

[Calderyon]

I never understood edgic charts, can somebody explain please?

https://insidesurvivor.com/survivor-edgic-an-introduction-3094

[Captain.Remy]

https://insidesurvivor.com/survivor-edgic-an-introduction-3094

Thanks!

[Macie Lightfoot]

https://i.imgur.com/t4IJ3T7.png

I've already documented my MANY issues with this season so let me start off with something good: the finale is fun and holds up well even on rewatch! Lots of fun with Natalie and Michele making an unexpected underdog run to the F3, Ben saying yes to feminism and falling on his sword in the spirit of friendship is an inspired arc for one of the true great characters of the season, and Lacina was just a constellation :love:

That being said, the editing was still a mess this season and the Ben/Sarah thing would have been even more powerful if they actually traced their relationship throughout the season. Same with the Ben/Denise relationship that apparently was super tight and important but came into thin air during the double boot. All the advantages are extremely suffocating and this show is just..... not Survivor anymore. Remember when the final six and the final five used to be their own epic episodes? Like, imagine the Christy Smith boot getting rushed into the first half hour of a finale. Or the Burton boot getting squeezed into the middle of a rushed finale. There's just no focus on relationships or characters, it's all mindless strategy solely for the sake of Big Movez, to the point where the Final TC format is literally broken up into "how was your social game," "how did you navigate all the twists and advantages," and "give us a closing statement." The entire endgame is just so bastardized with everyone hoarding onto their advantages and Idols until F6 or F5 so that there are only one or two boot options, fire-making at F4 which is a complete death knell to the show and has eliminated the social politicking of the F4 vote (aka the premise of this ****ing show in the first place), and it's understated just how bad the F3 is because we're so used to it.

It's just a shame how predictable it is for Survivor to fall apart at the merge. And for a season whose theme is WINNERS AT WAR, COMING FOR MORE, this season didn't really feel like much of a war at all. There weren't really any moments that were engaging because each vote just turned into TC whispering because Nobody Can Make Up Their Minds Because The Game Moves That Quickly And That's How You Play Survivor and it's just repetitive and ****ing lame and literally dead airtime. None of the players have any motives we can truly get behind and there's no soul or context behind anything that happens. It's all flash but no substance.

I'll do my cast ranking and season ranking tomorrow goodbye!

[Calderyon]

I might do a season ranking vote.

[JerseyWins]

If you want to see the highlights of Winners at War:

goFqxsjDVVM