Survivor 30 - Worlds Apart Discussion *SPOILERS*

[Timewalker]

I don't remember Abby Maria that well, but I was very happy to see Stephen, Vytas, Terry, Spencer, Ciera, and a few of the other ones. Also while I don't necessarily love them, Jeff Varner and Andrew Savage were similar in that they finished 10th and were the first one knocked off as the leader of the losing alliance.

I didn't mind Kass too much. I like Shirin as a person but she's a very bad player and that's what I didn't want in this season. Kelly and Kimmi should at least be wild cards just because you know their games will be completely different after such a long time.

The most I remember about Kimmi is that someone made the comment that she didn't make much effort to keep herself clean.

As for Kelly... well, she helped pioneer the whole alliance strategy that's an essential and expected part of the game now.

BTW, I think there are two Kellys who got in, aren't there? Kelly Wentworth? Or did I hear that wrong, and she didn't make it?

 

[Garak]

"My social game has been solid." - Rodney

That guy is so blissfully unaware of himself.

I think Mike should have won, no problems there. Big risk him taking Mama C over Rodney, but I liked it. That 2hr finale was the best episode of the season I thought - the reward and immunity challenge sets were incredible I thought. Definitely not the best season but it had its moments.

I'm stoked for next season, I recognize quite a few people going back. I love how they were leaving right there from the studio.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Kimmi cost her tribe an immunity challenge by refusing to eat meat.

Now that I think about it, having both Jeff and Kimmi back is interesting. It was directly Kimmi's fault that Jeff was voted out. Back in season 2, ties were broken by previous votes. Kimmi mentioned at the immunity challenge that Jeff had previous votes. So then when they merged, everybody on the other tribe voted Jeff, and he went home on the previous votes tiebreaker.

And no, I have no idea why I remember seasons 1-3 so damn well but can barely remember anyone not in the final vote in any other season other than all star seasons and Guatemala.

 

[Timewalker]

Actually, the previous votes should have more weight in tiebreaker situations. It's absolutely not fair for someone to be voted off by chance (wrong color rock, for example) if they have a clean vote record, or at least cleaner than the other person. If both have the same number of previous votes (even if both have 0), then by all means have them do a fire challenge.

Speaking of fire challenges... I don't remember who the contestants were or which season, but they ended up being given matches to start their fires, since they were so inept at doing it any other way. And even then they still had trouble.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I disagree with that. It changes the dynamics of the game if you only have to create a tie instead of creating a majority. Also it doesn't make sense to me that getting a meaningless vote from the person voted out first should screw you later in the game. They added the rocks to make it so people were more motivated to avoid ties, and it worked. Between seasons 4 and 28 there wasn't a single rock draw. The rock draw isn't a good idea because it's random, it's a good idea because it's scary.

There were three tie breaks in the first four seasons, and then there was one tie break in the next 26. I say the rocks work.

I wouldn't mind if they made the tiebreaker fire building, but definitely not previous votes.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Speaking of fire challenges... I don't remember who the contestants were or which season, but they ended up being given matches to start their fires, since they were so inept at doing it any other way. And even then they still had trouble.

Becky and Sundra in Cook Islands, episode 15. After more than two hours of nothing, Sundra used the whole pack of matches she was given after failing to start a fire with flint, and had to just sit and wait while Becky used the rest of her matches. Becky finally started a fire and won.

I'm happy that Mike won, and would have been fine if Carolyn won as well. They were the only two deserving players. I thought it was great that Jeff called out Will and Dan, who are both clueless, but it's a shame their whining took up so much time that he couldn't confront numbnut Rodney as well.

Most of my choices for Second Chances got in, so that was good. Although Chaos Kass and Abe-Maria both got in, who I loathe. I don't mind villains, but they're not even good players. They're vindictive and petty and terrible at strategy.

 

[Snaploud]

Speaking of fire challenges... I don't remember who the contestants were or which season, but they ended up being given matches to start their fires, since they were so inept at doing it any other way. And even then they still had trouble.

It was Survivor: Cook Islands. Jeff gave them matches after an hour (after nearly running out of flint). The ridiculousness didn't end there, though. One of them had to give-up after using all the matches.

 

[Timewalker]

I disagree with that. It changes the dynamics of the game if you only have to create a tie instead of creating a majority. Also it doesn't make sense to me that getting a meaningless vote from the person voted out first should screw you later in the game. They added the rocks to make it so people were more motivated to avoid ties, and it worked. Between seasons 4 and 28 there wasn't a single rock draw. The rock draw isn't a good idea because it's random, it's a good idea because it's scary.

There were three tie breaks in the first four seasons, and then there was one tie break in the next 26. I say the rocks work.

I wouldn't mind if they made the tiebreaker fire building, but definitely not previous votes.

My reasoning for preferring that previous votes be considered is so people make more of an effort not to garner votes in the first place.

Speaking of fire challenges... I don't remember who the contestants were or which season, but they ended up being given matches to start their fires, since they were so inept at doing it any other way. And even then they still had trouble.

Becky and Sundra in Cook Islands, episode 15. After more than two hours of nothing, Sundra used the whole pack of matches she was given after failing to start a fire with flint, and had to just sit and wait while Becky used the rest of her matches. Becky finally started a fire and won.

I'm happy that Mike won, and would have been fine if Carolyn won as well. They were the only two deserving players. I thought it was great that Jeff called out Will and Dan, who are both clueless, but it's a shame their whining took up so much time that he couldn't confront numbnut Rodney as well.

Most of my choices for Second Chances got in, so that was good. Although Chaos Kass and Abe-Maria both got in, who I loathe. I don't mind villains, but they're not even good players. They're vindictive and petty and terrible at strategy.

I hadn't remembered her using up all the matches! If the other hadn't gotten a fire going either, what next - flamethrowers?

Aw, so Rodney got a birthday cake after all. Sheesh.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

IMO, the game works better when all you have to worry about in tribal council is the result. That way you can spread votes strategically. The previous votes thing only really made sense in the first season when the producers expected people to vote strictly their conscience.

Also having previous votes be a tiebreaker encourages the TV unfriendly blend-in strategy.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Speaking of fire challenges... I don't remember who the contestants were or which season, but they ended up being given matches to start their fires, since they were so inept at doing it any other way. And even then they still had trouble.

It was Survivor: Cook Islands. Jeff gave them matches after an hour (after nearly running out of flint). The ridiculousness didn't end there, though. One of them had to give-up after using all the matches.

Jesus Christ, you'd think that learning how to make fire would be a no-brainer.