Survivor South Pacific - Episode 10

[dr.strangelove]

Another boring episode, but at least it shows some thinking for next week. So the Pagoning is almost done, with only Cochran to go. Dawn fought the good fight, but needed that immunity. Whitney too. Sadly, they both did themselves in. I hope one of them beats Ozzy, but we will see.

I really did not understand what Coach was saying after tribal with the the bottom of the alliance better feel good. They all know whats up, its just whether he has done a good enough job of letting people know they are with him. I think its all on Cochran.

Anyway, the game was on auto-pilot last night. Ozzy wins the duel and we say goodbye to Keith and Jim. Both could have been good players, if only they did not outcast Cochran. Then its the IC and Dawn fights to good fight, but in the end Sophie took a huge risk by carrying a giant bowl of rice, enough to win. It was the right thing to do. If she won, she gets to pick whop goes, if not, its just Whitney, so it was a great move for her and it made me think better of her.

Back at camp Albert started to put some seeds in Cochran's head while coach did the same later. Both think that next week its about Cochran. I am wondering where the quiet cowboy comes into it. Is he in coach's pocket or not. I think Coach has Brandon and Edna locked up since that is his final 3. Has he convinced the cowboy that he is also in the final 3. HAs Albert convinced him that its cowboy Albert and sophie. We will see.

Anyway, the double eviction was a nice surprise, but it went as expected. Now we are down to 7. Next week should be fun.

[Goblinmonger]

1. I'm guessing Albert has a plan

and we just didn't get to see it in the edit to give us a "surprise" later on. I can't believe Albert is dumb enough to think that keeping Coach around gets him to the final 3, and if he doesn't have a better plan with Sophie then this was his time.

What was up with Coach's "if you go against the alliance then it is instant death" BS. How does that math work out? If there are 5 people that get together to vote someone out, it would be instant death for the other 4. I really don't like coach, but he is clearly smart and playing a good game.

[truebrit71]

2. It had the potential to be a good episode but then it just became full of 'meh'...

Really glad Ozzie won (again), Cochran continues to behave like a cockroach (he's next to go imho), and Whitney and Dawn fought bravely but ultimately for naught...

Coach thinks he has this wrapped up but I think he is in for a real surprise...I don't think that any jury will vote for him, especially if he tries that "I played with honour" bullshit bearing in mind his lies to Brandon (still waiting for that mashed-up bag of stupid to find out that Coach made him look like an idiot), Edna hasn't done a dmaned thing, and I don't think the cowboy has said more then two words the entire series...that means it is up to Albert/Sophie to make something happen..perhaps allying with Ozzie when he gets back from redemption..???

I'd like to see Ozzie win it all because he is definitely the best 'Survivor' out there...I would like to have seen Jim stay in it a little longer too, he could have made things very interesting..

All in all an episode full of 'meh', but there are hopefully some better episodes ahead as we get down to the nitty gritty..

[dr.strangelove]

3. Wow, we view this show differently

I really can't stand Ozzy. Big deal, he can climb a tree and fish. this game has nothing to do with surviving the outdoors. Every year there is some idiot that thinks if they provide fish they are fine. That guy has been Ozzy 3 times. He has no ability to outwit and outplay, which is why he does not outlast anyone. It is sad how bad he is at the far more important social side of the game. I think he is probably a fun guy to be around, but he just does not get this game. I hope he loses and we an move past him.

On coach, it remains to be seen how good he is. It all depends on how good he has played cowboy, little russell and edna. I thin edna is his to command. If he kept the other two, they will oust either Sophie or Albert this week. If not, Coach is toast. I will judge Coach's game in teh next two weeks.

[truebrit71]

4. Apparently so...

Ozzy is da man!!

[Goblinmonger]

5. I like Ozzy.

I realize his social game is not great, but, to me, that's only half of it. He is a BEAST at the challenge part of the game which is very important, too. I think everyone thought like you did about the fishing, but they are in the hurt bag now without him. They got used to that protein source and now it's gone. He may not have a great strategy understanding, but he will be in great health after his days on Redemption when others won't--both physically and mentally.

It probably takes a better mix of the two skills to be the overall winner, but I respect Ozzy for the physical side he brings to the game. And Coach is really misplaying the strategy side, in my opinion. I think he is underestimating Albert's game (though if last episode is an example of his actual game skills, perhaps not).

[lazarus]

7. no need for challenge ability at all

The best winner in Survivor history, Sandra, never won a challenge. She was actually pathetic at the physical side of things, but she had the best social game ever. This game is a social strategy game above all else, which is why someone like Ozzy can't win. He led the bullying of Cochran that cause his tribe to get pagonged; he was the next to go in Cook Islands when the mutiny happened; and he totally got played in Micronesia.

As for being a great provider, that maybe sort of worked to help Hatch way back in S1, but it hasn't really worked since. Maybe in Palau, but that was a weird season with strange editing, so it's hard to suss out what the dynamics of Koror actually were and why Tom and Ian were basically untouchables.

I just wish they'd quit bringing back previous players. This season has a lot of very interesting players, many of whom seem to have some idea how to play the game. I just wish they'd had a chance to do so without interference.

I also wish they'd shitcan Redemption Island, which has totally ruined the show for me. We've been watching some earlier seasons (CI, Fiji, and on China now, then will start from S1), and it's amazing how important reward challenges are to the way the game used to be played. For example, post-merge, they used to randomly divide the tribe into two teams, with the winners going on reward. That mixed the alliances up. Rob would never have been able to maintain the cult last season that way.

[Duer 157099]

6. I don't get why they didn't all just vote Coach out

They were on the right track when they started talking about booting Edna, but why not just go straight for the jugular and get Coach out? Albert and Sophie just needed to turn and it would've turned the whole game upside down.

Instead we get a big yawn.

[qanda]

8. I think the only the only person keeping this season interesting is Ozzy

The rest of them are a bunch of wimps following after what Coach wants them to do. And don't even get me started on Cochran-- worst move in Survivor history. To be such a student of the game, he sure doesn't know how to play it.

I haven't been around for awhile but it's good to see you're still hanging in here with the Survivor updates. Hope you and your family are doing well. I think I remember you had a 2nd child but it's been a long time so forgive me if I'm wrong.

[dr.strangelove]

9. Thanks - we are all fine

We did have a second child. My son Declan is nearly 4 now. Time sure does fly.

I am not a fan of the returnign players. I'd have rather seen ozzy and coach ousted and let the new players go at it. As for Cochran, I don;t think he hurt himself much. He was the first to go on his team as well. I think I'd have rather if he had the spine to tell these jerks he turned on them because they were so bad to him.

This whole redemption island thing has taken away some enjoyment of mine from the show. I love the traditional two challenges per episodes and the cool rewards they used to do. I do not like the duels.