Survivor: Redemption Island Discussion (Spoilers)

[Skywalker]

I was okay with Redemption Island in the first half of the game, but I'm not sure I like it still being in play post-merge. I guess it would depend on when the Redemption Island champion comes back. It'll be especially bad if Matt makes it back into the game again. Who's going to give $1 million to a guy who got voted out twice?

If Ralph's hidden immunity idol goes back into play, I hope Rob finds it. But the people from Zapatera don't seem as oblivious as the Ometepe folks, so he'll probably have a harder time of it now.

 

[Brian]

^ You could also look at him as the guy who fought his way back twice...


Why do the contestants fawn all over Rob and do his bidding? Have they never watched the show?

 

[Snaploud]

Interesting unaired interview from Andrea:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/video/?pid=WkyEpuy7KxIeCvV5VxLcBGEvjEjVPbez

 

[Skywalker]

^ You could also look at him as the guy who fought his way back twice...

It's a nice story, but I don't think I'd want to reward him for winning out on Redemption Island. The goal of Survivor is to outwit, outplay, and outlast, and by making it through Redemption Island, you've only done one of those.

Why do the contestants fawn all over Rob and do his bidding? Have they never watched the show?

It could be that the girls who haven't really been playing the game so far (Ashley and Natalie) have just been content to hang back and not make any waves because they know everyone will be gunning for people like Rob and Grant. Riding the coattails of an actual player who's alienated the jury has proven to be a successful strategy numerous times in the past.

 

[JD]

^ You could also look at him as the guy who fought his way back twice...

It's a nice story, but I don't think I'd want to reward him for winning out on Redemption Island. The goal of Survivor is to outwit, outplay, and outlast, and by making it through Redemption Island, you've only done one of those.

Yeah, I'm really hoping he gets to come back with a least a few weeks before the finale, so he can get back to the outwitting, outlasting, and outplaying. It wouldn't really be fair IMO, if he made it all the way to the final few people just because he was on Redemption Island.

 

[Roger Wilco]

There's zero chance he's winning the million anyway, none, so whatever. If he's mentally strong enough to hang on through so many duels (and the last one was really impressive, he was at a huge disadvantage there) I say props to him and congratulations to whatever the losers in the finale get.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I think if Matt bakes it back from RI again then I think he definately deserves to be in the final 3. Nobody does all three Outwit, Outlast and Outplay. Most only do one or two. The past few seasons the people to win have been coat tail riders or ass kissers. I'd like to see Philip flip because he can't be around too much longer. It should be interesting to see what happens next.

 

[Roger Wilco]

from this review:

And now, even with all my reservations about what Redemption Island has done to dampen the drama at the end of each episode, and the news that it will be continuing past the merge, I have to admit, the only thing that could make that twist extension worthwhile would be seeing you battle your way back again, only to get voted out a third time by Boston Rob. It's like Kenny on South Park: Keep bringing Matt back just to see him get killed off in new and exciting ways. I'm sorry, Matt. I don’t mean to laugh, but seriously, what else do you expect me to

 

[Trekker4747]

from this review:

And now, even with all my reservations about what Redemption Island has done to dampen the drama at the end of each episode, and the news that it will be continuing past the merge, I have to admit, the only thing that could make that twist extension worthwhile would be seeing you battle your way back again, only to get voted out a third time by Boston Rob. It's like Kenny on South Park: Keep bringing Matt back just to see him get killed off in new and exciting ways. I'm sorry, Matt. I don’t mean to laugh, but seriously, what else do you expect me to

If Matt doesn't win the game then I'd certainly expect him to see him win the "America's Player" or whatever vote.

 

[OmahaStar]

Linky

There's a rather, um, strange spoiler regarding the finale. I don't think it has anything to do with any voting, it's about casting. I'm not really sure what to make of it.

Spoiler: weird spoiler

Survivor is casting a stand-in resembling Matt Elrod for three days around the show’s May 15 finale. Matt was just voted out of the game for the second time, and obviously his time on Redemption Island will be discussed during the live reunion, but why does the show need a stand-in for him and him alone for three days?


The gig is for an AFTRA member who will get paid $24 an hour for three days; the person needs to be between 160 and 195 pounds, white, and between 18 and 30, with “long blonde hair.”


While it wouldn’t be strange or suspicious for the show to use stand-ins to prepare lighting—they do that on location, using the Dream Team to light Tribal Council, and prepare the cameras at the start of every challenge—this is the only casting notice for a Survivor stand-in currently posted on Actors Access.



It’s also odd that it explicitly mentions the show and Matt’s name; it could have just described him physically. And if it’s just for lighting or blocking purposes, why do they need the stand-in for the entire weekend? Are they doing something special with Matt during the finale? Or is it just something innocuous, like he can’t be there until the live show?


Here’s the casting notice from Actors Access:

SURVIVOR FINALE (Stand-In)
Reality TV
AFTRA
Pay Rate: AFTRA $24/hr. (3 days) Casting Director: Jennifer Feraday
Shoot/Call Date: 5/13, 5/14, 5/15
Location: NYC
Stand-In for Survivor: Redemption Island Finale:
[ MATTHEW ELROD STAND-IN ]
Male, Caucasian, 18-30, 5’10”-6’, 160-195lbs, long blonde hair.
​

 

[Nowhere Man]

Rob is turning into Manson.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I don't think that's a fair comparison. Rob isn't doing anything wrong, in fact it seems like he's truly on his way to play the perfect game (even though it will become a gamble eventually when it's down to 7-6-5-etc; luck does play a little part in Survivor). As impressive as that is though, I'm not enjoying this season, Rob is simply too dominant.

 

[Trekker4747]

Philip: Someone get the net.

Rob: Jesus Christ how is this guy still alive in the game?! How stupid are these people?! You cannot trust Rob! You just can't.

 

[Roger Wilco]

It's not about trust at this point, it's about power. You can trust Rob to do one thing, and that's whatever is in his best interest. Keeping Philip and the other ex-Ometepe "alive" coincides with that for now. It is infuriating because for me as a viewer it is so boring and weak, but I actually think Philip and the others are doing the right thing to suck Rob's dick and shutting the fuck up at the moment, strategically.

 

[OmahaStar]

It is infuriating because for me as a viewer it is so boring and weak,

It reminds me so much of that season with Stephanie, where the other tribe dominated her tribe. Week after week after week, it was her team being eliminated until it was down to just her. Where's the drama in this? Where's the fun? It's playing by numbers at this point.

 

[Pegaritaville]

It may have made strategic sense up til now for Rob's teammates to blindly follow him, but I hope someone makes a move soon- the show is becoming rather tedious. And the longer his tribe waits, the less opportunities they'll have. If they don't want Rob running the show, they should make a move before all the Zapatera members are gone. Matt should realize Rob's not about to give him a chance to make the final.

 

[Danny99]

It is infuriating because for me as a viewer it is so boring and weak,

It reminds me so much of that season with Stephanie, where the other tribe dominated her tribe. Week after week after week, it was her team being eliminated until it was down to just her. Where's the drama in this? Where's the fun? It's playing by numbers at this point.

I remember liking a lot of people on that season, but it suffered by that dominance: it kept Janu, Coby, and Caryn around too long.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I don't think that's a fair comparison. Rob isn't doing anything wrong, in fact it seems like he's truly on his way to play the perfect game (even though it will become a gamble eventually when it's down to 7-6-5-etc; luck does play a little part in Survivor). As impressive as that is though, I'm not enjoying this season, Rob is simply too dominant.

I didn't literally mean Rob is a manipulative murderer. It's just very cult like, he's controlling everything, what they eat, when they eat, making them hold hands. The girls are like super protective and Grant is his right hand man. Philip is just his pawn. It reminds me of the family and they are all too stupid to see that he is going to throw him under the bus.

 

[Stardate]

It is kind of sad seeing David voted out. He really had a good episode with him and Philip going at it.
Rob tribe(cult) is really dominating now and i dont see how remaining Zapitera tribe are going to turn the game around.
Ralph and Steve are week strategic players but i can glimmer of hope that Julie can go deep and turn the game around for her.
I hope David or Mike wins the duel next week. Both has played better then Matt overall.

 

[Skywalker]

This season has been boring just because of Rob's complete dominance of his tribe, but it's also entertaining to watch most of them just fall lock-step in with him. I don't know if they're genuinely following his lead, or if they're all just waiting for the right time to turn on him.