Survivor 23: South Pacific (Discussion)

[Garak]

Another season of Survivor is upon us tomorrow night, season 23 I believe. Yay, let us rejoice.

So in keeping with the Redemption Island theme we have two former Survivors making their returns to the show - Oblivious Coach (who actually isn't a coach of anything ) and Competitive Ozzie.

Redemption Island will be back, despite its mixed reviews last season. Personally I like it, and I believe they have modified it a bit this year.

Here's the cast:

Oh and Russel's nephew is in this one.

I hope everyone enjoys it!

 

[Roger Wilco]

I like Ozzy, glad he's getting another shot, although he was a dumbass last time. Did I say I was giving up on this show? I guess I'm stupid too...

 

[OmahaStar]

While I like Ozzy, I do wonder how long it will be before there is a truly new cast with no returning players?

Also, I seriously wish they would get rid of the immunity idol. Remember how much more interesting Survivor was before that "hidden" idol?

 

[Roger Wilco]

They'll never do that. The producers love the drama and twists the immunity idol produces.

eta.: and that's one hell of a picture on "Coach"'s wikipedia site.

 

[Garak]

Like the producers, I also love the drama and twists the immunity idol creates - I think it's one of the best ideas they've had to tell you the truth.

As for the returnees, I can see Coach getting voted off very sharpish as he really brings nothing to the table other than his ego whereas I can see Ozzie sticking around for a while because he's amazing at challenges and helps out so much in camp life in terms of food procurement, etc.

Edit: And it seems they are hiding the clue for the hidden idols:

. The first involves the hidden immunity idols. “This year with hidden immunity idols, we’re hiding the clue,” explains Probst. “No clue as to where the clue is. Once you find the clue, then you have to find the idol.”

Link

 

[Danny99]

This is the Achilles heel of reality shows. Why do we continue to bring back people who didn't win and were complete idiots in their season? Even fan favorites is annoying!

Either do another All-Star season or give me newbies!

 

[Skywalker]

I love the immunity idols, but I'm also kind of weary of this halfway measure of bringing in a couple of veteran Survivors and throwing them into a bunch of newcomers. Either do a full All-Star season or make a cast made up entirely of newcomers.

I think Coach is hilarious (in a "I can't believe this guy!" kind of way), and Ozzy is probably one of the most dominant players of all time in terms of physical challenges, so he should make things interesting. I wonder if he's learned from the mistake he made in Micronesia.

Speaking of Micronesia, I'd never seen that season before (I missed a lot of the middle ones) so I decided to go back and watch it a few months back. I regret not watching it when it first aired, because that was a frakking awesome season. I can only imagine what it must have been like having to wait another week to see what happened next after all of those crazy tribal councils.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Watching the videos of the cast on entertainment weekly, there aren't many people I like on first glance.
Elyse, the model - looks like the typical pretty face who won't do anything
Branden, the Hantz - just bland
Whitney, the country singer - appears to be a likable person, but I would guess she's just there to further her career and not to play the game
Albert, the dating coach - might be a favourite to win, but looks and sounds like a douche
Edna, the doctor - very dangerous imo; clearly an intelligent and outgoing person. Might be annoying/bossy to the other players though considering her professional background
John, the Harvard law student - real fan of the game, so I'll probably be rooting for him, but obviously intelligent players with little physical skills have a hard time on the show
Christine , the New Yahwker - don't see what she's offering besides a big mouth, appears likable though
Jim, the medical marijuana dealer - very fond of himself, total douchebag, I hope he gets voted out soon
Semhar , the artist/model - too finicky I think, life on the island will be hard on her
Sophie , the medical student - not a very good looking woman, which I like, because I assume she must have convinced the casting some other way
Mark-Anthony, the NY cop, self-described "daddy bear" and token gay man - I like him, but not his chances, his age (48) might be a disadvantage
Mikayla , the Lingerie Football player - very pretty, very athletic; one of my favourites to win
Keith , the Water Treatment Tech (whatever that is) - my first impression is "pretty boy California surfer guy", we'll see if there's more to him
Dawn, the English professor - 41 years old and looks very non-athletic (although older women have sometimes done well in that regard); don't know, could be one of the first voted out depending on how her tribe does
Rick, the cowboy - 51 but probably a very hard worker; could do well unless he's annoying I think. I like him.
Stacey, the mortician - first impression "plays the character of sassy black woman", doesn't know much about Survivor; I don't like her chances

Coach, the Dragonslayer - no idea,either they vote him out ASAP or keep him around as jury bait
Ozzy, the Ozzy - if he's learned from his humiliation last time around, might have a chance, especially since he's likable. Huge, huge target on his back though.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Uff, glad Cochran survived, interesting tribal council. I was very worried since he appeared so much in the early parts of the show which sometimes indicates a very early exit.

I'm not sure if Ozzy was just dazzled by Semhar's good looks or if he was trying to make a power play to demonstrate his dominance, but clearly he failed. And that's not good for his chances in the game. Right now I would say Coach is looking better than Ozzy, especially since there seems to be a number of people on his tribe who are more obvious targets, but of course that can shift again with the next challenge.

 

[OmahaStar]

Branden just doesn't know how to shut up, does he? Every few minutes "I'm Russel's nephew, but I don't want anybody to know" ... Ok, then shut the fuck up and nobody will know. "But you see, I don't want them to know I'm Russel's nephew" ... Ok, so don't tell anybody. "There's Coach. He looks trustworthy" ... *facepalm*

 

[Roger Wilco]

If that was the only thing that's in any way notable about you, you would be saying it all the time too.

 

[mimic]

Branden just doesn't know how to shut up, does he? Every few minutes "I'm Russel's nephew, but I don't want anybody to know" ... Ok, then shut the fuck up and nobody will know. "But you see, I don't want them to know I'm Russel's nephew" ... Ok, so don't tell anybody. "There's Coach. He looks trustworthy" ... *facepalm*

He looked pretty ridiculous swimming with the shirt on over just his shoulders. He should just come out and admit to being Russell's nephew, act all ashamed and chagrined about, there you go.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Yay for another season starting, and just in time to ease the blow of Big Brother disappearing from my life for another year. I have never really been a fan or Ozzy or Coach, so I can't say I was thrilled to see either of them back. I never noticed before how personally Ozzy is playing the game, choosing his possible alliance members based on who he feels some attraction or strange vibe with rather than those who could actually be an asset to him, and make up for what he lacks. This is why I think he was out for Cochrane right away. The two of them could actually make a great team, with Ozzy winning out physically and Cochrane winning out mentally, and both of them having great social game. Unfortunately, because Cochrane is obviously not the type of guy Ozzy would "click" with in real life, he wants to get rid of him. Ozzy says he's going to play more strategically this time, but I doubt it!

It's still too early to formulate any other strong opinions on my part....I look forward to the rest of the season!

 

[Garak]

Well I for one am happy there is a Redemption Island because Semhar is very easy on the eyes, even if she's a BS "spoken word artist".

I hope that creepy bit with little Russell judging the hard working woman was foreshadowing of his lame christianity coming in to play and fucking him over.

Coach does seem a bit more settled than Ozzy, which I would have never guessed, but like someone said that can all change with an immunity challenge loss. Coach was smart to get in on that fivesome though, where in the hell were the other 3 people? Never, ever ever ever ever let a large group of people go off at the beginning of Survivor, sheesh.

I like Cochrane, he cracks me up, but after watching that tribal his argumentative lawyer side is what will get him kicked out, not his lack of physicality. Sometimes you just have to let it go dude.

That mother of six is such a control freak, she was cringeworthy and I hope she gets the boot next.

 

[Keith1701]

I like Ozzy, glad he's getting another shot, although he was a dumbass last time. Did I say I was giving up on this show? I guess I'm stupid too...

I am hoping that Russell's nephew go far. I think Russell got voted out because of the way he was. I really was hoping he would go to the end the 2nd time around. He should have never been voted out he was playing the game.

 

[Skywalker]

I am hoping that Russell's nephew go far.

After tonight, I don't know if he will. He was not thinking strategically at all tonight, and now he'll have everyone on the tribe doubting him.

 

[Keith1701]

If that was the only thing that's in any way notable about you, you would be saying it all the time too.

It looks like it's going to another great season of Survivor 23: South Pacific

 

[Greg Cox]

Boy, Brandon has issues. It seems like he has this borderline stalkery obsession with Mikayla (sp?) and wants her voted out just because he doesn't trust himself around her.

As far as I can tell, Mikayla's only "crime" is wearing very little clothing--like, er, pretty much every other Survivor contestant--but Brandon has somehow convinced himself that she's some sort of devious femme fatale . . . because he can't stop looking at her boobs.

No wonder she looked so confused to find out she was a target. She hasn't done anything--except apparently make Lil' Hantz think about cheating on his wife! The hussy!

 

[Roger Wilco]

Fuck me, is Brandon the creepiest guy ever on Survivor or what? That guy need to be fucking locked up.

Boy, Brandon has issues. It seems like he has this borderline stalkery obsession with Mikayla (sp?) and wants her voted out just because he doesn't trust himself around her.

"Borderline"? Just look at the smirk on his face during tribal. I've never seen another person give off such a strong axe murderer/serial rapist vibe as he does.

eta: after googling a bit I found this

We eventually moved back to north carolina from where we first left and lived with his mom and dad (let me just put in this,the whole time we are trying to get pregnant) and there we still had fights and we hit each other but it got a little better and throughout these times i would fervently pray for gods help but no answer because i wasnt doint right with god.
We found out a month before my 16th birthday that i was pregnant and we were sooooooo excited even though we had stopped trying we were glad we where finally going to have a family!!!!
Well anyways the day before we went to get married he hit me, we had gotten into an argument and we went at it!!!!

I'm so shocked he's the kind of person who would hit a woman. But hey, he's found Jesus now, I'm sure that helps...

 

[Garak]

Glad I'm not the only one who got the woman abuser vibe off of Lil Hantz. Guy is creepy and then some. He's also very threatened by fiercely independant women, which is what I tend to think Mikala is.

In any event, he's gone - telling "Coach" who he was was his first mistake, and his second was coming clean in Tribal Council.

What a Tribal that was, one of the better ones from recent seasons, IMO.

I still don't get - well ok I guess I do - why people think of it as bad to go hunting for an idol. If you've watched any of this show, you know how powerful they can be. You're playing the game to win and when you find an idol you've just ensured yourself a place of power, to me it's a no brainer to seek one out. I'll also never understand why people tell other people they have it, just puts a target on your back to flush it out.

Saying that, past two seasons the returning Survivors have found one without much help, Boston Rob and Ozzie. Hmmmm.