Hello KittyPryde1, and thank you so much for yet another very detailed and thoughtful post. I really enjoyed reading your comments and you
brought up some excellent points once again! I'm glad to see that you enjoyed this episode more than last week's and it wasn't such a
disappointment (although I'm sure you would have preferred one of Aras' three to go).
Thank you. I'm really glad that this episode made up for some of the disappointment of last week, and I felt that it would. That's what I really liked about the "twist" of having the Reward at camp, but like Alexis tried, it is also designed to cause some disdain for those people as well. With how the episode was "edited", everyone was supposed to be thrilled that Mary wasted the idol, and you were definitely supposed to be glad that Sherea went home. She was the one person not involved in what was going on, and hence, those that are still left will bring more drama into the last three episodes (ironic since Sherea brough almost all of the drama in China). There's been a few times where three or more people got votes at Tribal Council: during Peih-Gee and Jaime's boots in China, Jason's boot in Micronesia, Candice's and Cristina's boot in Cook Islands, Flica's boot in All-Stars are a few that comes to mind. But you're right that it's not very common - not on the show either. I wanted this episode to polarize people against the Aras three and like the other five, so we'll see how effective that was.
As much as I don't want to just say "Yes, you're right," the episode did make this pretty evident, as you said. So it's hard for me to try and deny it. You were definitely right on throughout the season about this being an important theme, and there's been more to the two of them for a long time. I won't reveal everything about them until the story's over, but there's a lot I want to say about those two. But yes, the Favorites destroying their world while the Fans build themselves up from nothing was also important and ties into this. It fits in to Tracy's confessionals in this episode, and it all has some great significance. I'll explain it all at the end in my "Editing Analysis" of the season. You're very insightful though and able to pick up on these things really well. Amazing job! :)
There are so many things about this episode that I could call my favorite, but this is definitely up there. I liked that whole scene.
With the vote, you mean? (ie. why Aras voted for Brooke?) I tried to explain everything as best as I could in the notes, so I hope that might clear a few things up. Sorry about any confusion though - and glad that this episode wasn't spoiled for you! :)
Thanks for this excellent question. I would love to ask it at the Reunion Show.
Thanks for your predictions, and for filling out the Popularity Poll. I love how the comments are becoming more negative for those you dislike and more positive for those you like!
Yep, she was satisfied with her work there. She definitely improved her position and hurt Brooke's position, and Brooke went along with it possibly without knowing.
I hope so. I'll tell you, the scene with them was definitely important.
Excellent job on those Edgic ratings! They're all very close to what I was going for, except for I definitely think Mary has to be OTTN with her edit and I also thought Eliza might be OTTM. Other than that, they're all very accurate.
Again, you have a great take on each of the edits as well, and your Contenders / Eliminated lists look very good.
And his first positive. I think he should be CPP in this episode which is a change from before.
Thanks again for your comments. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, and for being so thorough with everything. Hope you enjoy the last three episodes, and have a great day! :)
After the depression of seeing Kathy get booted last episode, this one definitely made up for it. Aras/Alexis/Mary having to watch Eliza and Mikey eat? Chyeah. Mary playing her idol and not going home? Chyeah. Boring Sherea finally going home? CHYEAH. Overall, it was a good episode. But I thought it was extremely hectic leading up to tribal council. I mean, I can't remember the last time we had a real plurality in one of your fanfics. I thought there was a ton of strategy, and with that usually comes a ton of unnecessary strategy. But yeah, the annoying trio is still in the game, but they got thoroughly owned in the process. Alexis can cry me a fucking river over Eliza winning all the rewards by the way. Maybe if she wasn't such a little seahaglet, she'd win rewards.
Thank you. I'm really glad that this episode made up for some of the disappointment of last week, and I felt that it would. That's what I really liked about the "twist" of having the Reward at camp, but like Alexis tried, it is also designed to cause some disdain for those people as well. With how the episode was "edited", everyone was supposed to be thrilled that Mary wasted the idol, and you were definitely supposed to be glad that Sherea went home. She was the one person not involved in what was going on, and hence, those that are still left will bring more drama into the last three episodes (ironic since Sherea brough almost all of the drama in China). There's been a few times where three or more people got votes at Tribal Council: during Peih-Gee and Jaime's boots in China, Jason's boot in Micronesia, Candice's and Cristina's boot in Cook Islands, Flica's boot in All-Stars are a few that comes to mind. But you're right that it's not very common - not on the show either. I wanted this episode to polarize people against the Aras three and like the other five, so we'll see how effective that was.
This episode did prove one thing to me. The theme of this season is exactly what I've been thinking this whole time. The fans are better players than the favorites. Tracy and Mikey have been directly opposed since day one, and yet they managed to bury the hatchet and promise to work together for their own mutual self-interests. Meanwhile, Eliza turns on Sherea, loosening the stranglehold they had on Tracy and Mikey and also given Alexis/Aras/Mary a chance to get back into the game. And furthermore, Brooke turns on Sherea as well, putting another player on the jury that's going to be upset with Brooke for screwing them over. So the fans from Airai, the ones that have really been playing Survivor without all the luxury and rewards, they're definitely endgamers, while the favorites, who had everything handed to them, are just losing ground more and more every episode. The past two episodes have basically been the fans outsmarting the favorites, and it's a definite trend.
As much as I don't want to just say "Yes, you're right," the episode did make this pretty evident, as you said. So it's hard for me to try and deny it. You were definitely right on throughout the season about this being an important theme, and there's been more to the two of them for a long time. I won't reveal everything about them until the story's over, but there's a lot I want to say about those two. But yes, the Favorites destroying their world while the Fans build themselves up from nothing was also important and ties into this. It fits in to Tracy's confessionals in this episode, and it all has some great significance. I'll explain it all at the end in my "Editing Analysis" of the season. You're very insightful though and able to pick up on these things really well. Amazing job! :)
Tracy and Mikey promising to work together in spite of everything that has gone down. Mikey went from Tracy's enemy in episode one to her main ally in episode 11.
There are so many things about this episode that I could call my favorite, but this is definitely up there. I liked that whole scene.
9 (a little confusing at the end)
With the vote, you mean? (ie. why Aras voted for Brooke?) I tried to explain everything as best as I could in the notes, so I hope that might clear a few things up. Sorry about any confusion though - and glad that this episode wasn't spoiled for you! :)
Tracy, do you think working on a construction site made you more capable of dealing with situations like the one with Mikey B?
Thanks for this excellent question. I would love to ask it at the Reunion Show.
Thanks for your predictions, and for filling out the Popularity Poll. I love how the comments are becoming more negative for those you dislike and more positive for those you like!
Eliza - 10 (Brilliant play, and I can just picture her massive smile at the end of the episode)
Yep, she was satisfied with her work there. She definitely improved her position and hurt Brooke's position, and Brooke went along with it possibly without knowing.
Mikey - 10 (Tracy x Mikey 4 Ever)
I hope so. I'll tell you, the scene with them was definitely important.
Excellent job on those Edgic ratings! They're all very close to what I was going for, except for I definitely think Mary has to be OTTN with her edit and I also thought Eliza might be OTTM. Other than that, they're all very accurate.
Again, you have a great take on each of the edits as well, and your Contenders / Eliminated lists look very good.
2. Mikey (He's starting to get his complexity now that the merge has hit, and much like Jason/Joel, I think that he's a fan, and he has a good edit, and that's enough to get him second on my list.)
And his first positive. I think he should be CPP in this episode which is a change from before.
Thanks again for your comments. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, and for being so thorough with everything. Hope you enjoy the last three episodes, and have a great day! :)
But good drama.
