I have a question mark in the subject line because this latest episode would be the twelfth if you count the dreadful Thanksgiving Eve re-cap show. I don't think I need to explain why there was no review after that disaster - the less said, the better. I even had trouble digesting my turkey the next day.
Anyway, regardless of whether this newest edition was #11 or #12, it was watchable, though sub-par for this season. Generals fight the last war and Survivors use the tactics that worked in recent seasons. Everyone saw last season and they are sticking to Boston Rob's successful blueprint. So, assuming no returning player from Redemption Is. goes on an immunity run, the winner should come from the core five-person alliance that has dominated just as Rob's did [unlike two and three seasons ago, where the winners (Fabio and Sandra) did not come from the core alliance]. Yes, I know I'm discounting Edna with my assumption, but despite Jeff's tribal council speculation, I don't think she'll win immunity next week. Even if it's mental, shouldn't Sophie beat her? After all, if Edna is so smart, why is she just now realizing she's going home 6th? I understand inertia takes over, and it's hard to move against your tribe at 9. but, if you're going to wait till 7, you better have a plan - and she needed more of a plan than telling Albert that Rick calls him "princess". Edna, where's your plan for Coach or Sophie? They are the power centers. Albert had immunity, and he still couldn't get them to go with what he wanted. Sophie doesn't want to upset the apple cart, because the apple cart is carrying her to the final four. No one is going to target her before then, because no one is worried about her winning a stamina challenge at four. As long as they can get rid of Ozzy before then, she is safe. If Ozzy is still in the game at five, they might get rid of her if they think they need physically strong players to beat Ozzy at four. However, since Sophie won an immunity involving balance - she might have a more plausible argument to stay in the game rather than Rick, or even Brandon. I don't think Albert is that physical of a player, but Coach and Albert will be kept in the game as long as Ozzy is around. So, expect that to emerge as a consideration when they start making the tough decisions at five (after Edna is booted at six).
In some ways, Survivor has the rhythm of the tides. You go several seasons without a major betrayal, and a few people start forgetting that major back-stabbers might benefit in the short-term, but almost never go on to win. Then, a desperate player betrays his tribe, it blows up in his face, everyone re-learns the lesson, and you go several seasons without a major betrayal. (Repeat cycle). By almost any reckoning, Cochran's betrayal must be viewed as a failure. Don't expect to see anybody abandon their tribe over the next couple of seasons.
Finally, my last re-cap contained an analysis of Coach getting flaky and wanting to target Brandon. It was based on a clip of the coming episode. However, the coming episode was a re-cap, and the clip came from EARLIER in the game. So, a lot of that analysis hasn't panned out yet. Coach has clearly stayed loyal to the core five.
Anyway, regardless of whether this newest edition was #11 or #12, it was watchable, though sub-par for this season. Generals fight the last war and Survivors use the tactics that worked in recent seasons. Everyone saw last season and they are sticking to Boston Rob's successful blueprint. So, assuming no returning player from Redemption Is. goes on an immunity run, the winner should come from the core five-person alliance that has dominated just as Rob's did [unlike two and three seasons ago, where the winners (Fabio and Sandra) did not come from the core alliance]. Yes, I know I'm discounting Edna with my assumption, but despite Jeff's tribal council speculation, I don't think she'll win immunity next week. Even if it's mental, shouldn't Sophie beat her? After all, if Edna is so smart, why is she just now realizing she's going home 6th? I understand inertia takes over, and it's hard to move against your tribe at 9. but, if you're going to wait till 7, you better have a plan - and she needed more of a plan than telling Albert that Rick calls him "princess". Edna, where's your plan for Coach or Sophie? They are the power centers. Albert had immunity, and he still couldn't get them to go with what he wanted. Sophie doesn't want to upset the apple cart, because the apple cart is carrying her to the final four. No one is going to target her before then, because no one is worried about her winning a stamina challenge at four. As long as they can get rid of Ozzy before then, she is safe. If Ozzy is still in the game at five, they might get rid of her if they think they need physically strong players to beat Ozzy at four. However, since Sophie won an immunity involving balance - she might have a more plausible argument to stay in the game rather than Rick, or even Brandon. I don't think Albert is that physical of a player, but Coach and Albert will be kept in the game as long as Ozzy is around. So, expect that to emerge as a consideration when they start making the tough decisions at five (after Edna is booted at six).
In some ways, Survivor has the rhythm of the tides. You go several seasons without a major betrayal, and a few people start forgetting that major back-stabbers might benefit in the short-term, but almost never go on to win. Then, a desperate player betrays his tribe, it blows up in his face, everyone re-learns the lesson, and you go several seasons without a major betrayal. (Repeat cycle). By almost any reckoning, Cochran's betrayal must be viewed as a failure. Don't expect to see anybody abandon their tribe over the next couple of seasons.
Finally, my last re-cap contained an analysis of Coach getting flaky and wanting to target Brandon. It was based on a clip of the coming episode. However, the coming episode was a re-cap, and the clip came from EARLIER in the game. So, a lot of that analysis hasn't panned out yet. Coach has clearly stayed loyal to the core five.
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