Survivor: "Bring the Popcorn"

Ok, I'm breaking my silence on Survivor (I haven't written about the show since this happened) because after tonight's episode I have to say: What. The....?

Shirin - keep standing tall.
Source: cbs.com

Let's start at the beginning. No, actually, let's start at the end. Shirin cast her vote for Jenn? Why? I mean, I get why. Shirin desperately wants to be there, and Jenn, well, Jenn just doesn't really care.

And speaking of Shirin - if you had told me back when she and Max were colonizing a new nudist colony that she would be the one I'd be rooting for when there were eight contestants still in the game? I'd never have believed you. And yet, that's where we are. This season, things can turn on a dime. Seriously, did any of us think this would happen? We have ourselves a season of Survivor wherein I cannot guess from one episode to the next who will redeem themselves or who will absolutely lose all credibility and any shred of respect.

Yes, I had to write this tonight because I think tonight's episode of Survivor might be the most societally important episode since this happened. Again, I'm in shock. Weeks ago, when I was complaining on twitter about the chauvinistic Blue tribe guys, I had no idea how mild their stereotypical comments would seem in comparison to the verbal assault Shirin withstood during tonight's episode. This show can depict anyone at their absolute worst. It can bring that out in the people who choose to play the game. I can only hope Will regrets his unsportsmanlike, unacceptable, absolutely un-Christian personal attack on Shirin. I don't even know how to react to that. It hurts. There was something "ugly" in tonight's episode: Will's words.

Shirin's reaction to all this showed strength. Everyone else's showed... well, not strength. It's hard to believe that Mike was the only one who came to Shirin's defense. (Even though he didn't admit to starting the rumor - about Will hiding food - that began the attack.) And the rest of them just stood there? Was it the bystander effect? Self-protection? Basic greed for the million dollars that Will might vote for them to win? Whatever the reason, they stood there.

Doing nothing.

Jeff said that this was a group of people who would stop at nothing to win this game. But nothing is all I saw.

Back when they were happy.
Source: cbs.com

I don't know. I don't know if I should launch into a diatribe about the human condition or fall back on the old favorite line - it's a game. After what we saw tonight, is it a game you'd want to play?

John Cochran: Caramoan's Sole Survivor

Being named Sole Survivor must be worth more than a million dollars to John Cochran. It was a win thirteen years in the making for the nerdiest, smartest, and cutest Survivor superfan of all time.

Source: rickey.org

I've never been so happy about a Survivor winner. I'd been pulling for Cochran from the start. By the end, it was clear he was the only one who deserved to win.

OUTWIT: John Cochran was always in control. He said it best: He was calm without being complacent and vigilant without being paranoid. He chalked it up to timing, but it was so much more. He's the most intelligent castaway ever to play Survivor.

OUTPLAY: He was the challenge monster he claimed to be. Even if he did need the advantages to win the immunity challenges, he earned them by being smart enough to buy the one and skilled enough to win the other. 

OUTLAST: Not only did he make it to the jury's cross-examination, he made it through the jury's cross-examination, which is the bigger accomplishment. Not to mention that every one of his answers was perfect.

To top it all off, I'm certain that Cochran said things in his testimonials solely for the benefit of the cameras. He summarized the plot articulately, concocted snide (yet witty and endearing) insults, and spoke ambiguously enough about strategy that his comments were ready-made for teaser previews. He doesn't just understand the game from a castaway's point of view, he understands it from the producers' point of view.

The Challenges
I was thrilled with the finale's challenges. The reward challenge was a reprise of one of my favorites. Remember this moment from South Pacific?



Watching that challenge again reminds me how happy I was for Sophie. She's now a close second to Cochran in my list of favorite Survivor winners.

The final immunity challenge was a great combination of challenge elements. Sure, it was mostly a puzzle challenge, but puzzle challenges are my favorite. I think they prove that even the "outplay" pillar of the game is about more than just brawn.

The Jury Speaks
I can't not address the Dawn and Brenda squabble. You know I feel that this is a game, and should be treated as such. Dawn made a smart move and has no reason to regret any of her game. As for Brenda's tribal "question," that was low. Low and unnecessary. It stemmed from somewhere bitter and that's not cool, but it's also not uncommon. Being a bitter juror is easy. I have more respect for the gracious jurors - like Andrea.

If anyone had a right to be bitter, it was Erik, not Brenda. Poor Erik. He doesn't know how to leave Survivor the usual way! Boy, did Erik show his bitter side to Sherri. That was a fight I wasn't expecting. Sherri got the short straw in this finale, and I don't think that's fair. Maybe she didn't articulate it well, but Sherri did play a strategic game. While there was still an alliance of fans, she was in control of it. Had he not been medevac'd, she doubtless would have been in control of Shamar. And unlike any of the other fans, she was able to infiltrate the favorites alliance. Did she play a game worth a million dollars? No. But she played a game worth a few more questions, both from the jury and at the live after show.

There is one thing I'm still curious about. Was this a unanimous jury vote? Sure seems that way. No one cast a single vote for Cochran all season, until they all voted for him in the end. There's your fairy tale.

This was an unbelievable season of Survivor. In spite of the tough times, it was one of my favorites to watch, and seeing Cochran win was the icing on the cake. Just for Cochran, let's imagine that as vanilla and peanut butter icing. Congratulations, John Cochran. You deserved it.

Survivor: "Don't Say Anything About My Mom" Review

First of all, everybody take a deep breath. Ok, now wipe away the sympathy tears for Brenda. Now remember that this is a game. Ok.

Source: cbs.com/Survivor

Let's take a look at the three who wrote Brenda's name down, forcing that sweet, honest, genuine girl out of the game. What did we learn about each of them?

Sherri:
The most important thing we learned about Sherri is that she's a big fat liar - and good at it. I don't think she could have sounded more sincere when she assured Jeff there was no way they could vote out Brenda after what she sacrificed for them at the reward challenge. Gotta say, I kind of wish we'd seen that manipulative side of her all along. But then again, the cards were stacked against the fans from the start, so maybe she didn't get the chance for long-term snake strategy.

Dawn:
Dawn is no longer playing to win this game. She said it herself, she let Cochran control her game in South Pacific, and she's doing it again. In a final three with Erik and Brenda, Dawn would have had a good chance at winning. Up against Cochran, I don't think she'll have a shot at all. Dawn will get all the blame for this blindside, but Cochran will get all the credit.

Cochran:
Cochran is a strategic genius. I mean, he's a mastermind. He's the one putting the Brenda blindside plan in place, but lets both Sherri and Dawn articulate the plan themselves. Making other people think the plan is theirs is Survivor 101. But since Cochran basically has a PhD in this game, I'm not the least bit surprised. This was, without a doubt, the best strategic move he could have made. Brenda would have been gunning for him next. He just bought his ticket to the final three.

I'm still calling this game for Cochran. Unless, and this is important, unless Eddie makes it to the end. He's got two bromigos in his corner, and if he can pull out an immunity win before this season's over, he just might gain enough respect from the rest of the jury to take home the million dollar prize.

But for all we know, Cochran could be the next one out! If there's one thing we've learned from Survivor: Caramoan, it's that anything can happen! That's why the fans are still watching, 26 ridiculous seasons later.

Survivor: "Come Over to the Dark Side" Review

Survivor: Caramoan has had more surprising, unconventional, and record setting tribal councils than any other season, at least that I can recall. And I love it! It's made for a fascinating, sometimes upsetting, definitely classic season.

Last night's episode was both "delicious" and heartbreaking. Malcolm and Cochran were each my favorite player of their respective first seasons, which made it thrilling to watch them go head to head this season. They are two very strategic players with otherwise very opposite skills. These two (not Sherri) were clearly in control of the game, and it makes sense that they had one another in their sights. With Malcolm gone, so is Cochran's greatest strategic adversary. And there aren't many left on the island who realize just how pretty Cochran is sitting.

If you could declare a winner at the food auction, it was Cochran. Not only did he get an advantage in the immunity challenge, but a picture perfect peanut butter moment that caught even Jeff off-guard.

Source: facebook.com/survivor

Plus, Cochran had that precious emotional moment reading his letter from home. How cute was that? (I'm totally crushing.) Malcolm, on the other hand, got nothing but beer and nuts. But his mistake wasn't not finding the idol he paid for, his mistake was thinking he himself (and his bros) wouldn't need that immunity challenge advantage. But that was his second mistake in this game. His first was leaving "Stealth-R-Us." But I can't blame him for that. Besides, I think we're all grateful. Last week's tribal council will go down in Survivor history. Malcolm can be proud of a game well-played.

Cochran's getting a bit cocky himself, though. Since the title of this episode pays homage to one of my favorite movies, it's appropriate that this is what came to mind when Cochran declared himself a challenge beast:

I think I'm rooting for Cochran to win it all, and I think he just might. But in a season like this one, anything can happen! And I can't wait to see what happens next!

Survivor and the Ethics of Reality TV

In 2011, I read this article by Linda Holmes about the ethics of reality TV. In it, she laid out a proposed code that reality TV producers should follow. Read her article. And if you have time, read the ones she cites. (You can find the Seitz article here and the Dehnart one here.)

These articles, although they are two years old and mostly refer to non-competitive non-network reality shows, say most of what needs to be said in response to Brandon Hantz's breakdown on tonight's episode of Survivor. 

After last week's episode, when the promo for "Persona non Grata" came on, I was a little worried. Worried that I'd lose my willingness to watch this show if the outburst wasn't dealt with well. But all in all, I think the Survivor crew dealt with it ok. Even though a vote technically took place, it was clear that Brandon was being removed from the game. Twitter is scattered right now with snide comments - from fans and former contestants - that Jeff's physical calming and restraint of Brandon in the midst of his tirade was awkward or strange. I don't think so. I think it was necessary. In that moment, I almost wondered if Jeff Probst is a trained crisis counselor.

This episode was unquestionably hard to watch. And the producers probably could have more responsibly and ethically handled the unstable state of things on the Caramoan islands. Perhaps by not bringing back a contestant who proved himself not fit for the task the first time around. But before we blame CBS or anyone else, consider something Rebecca Hertz once said about a show she produced. "There are no victims in reality TV, only volunteers."

The ironic part is that Brandon was right about so many things. About Phillip's egomania, the childishness of Stealth R Us, and the fact that Boston Rob is the only reason Phillip made it to the end of "Redemption Island." He was right about so many things. His mistake was pointing them out. 

The only other thing that needs to be said was articulated so well by Dawn when Jeff asked if the Bikal tribe was better off. "Brandon is better off, and that's better for the tribe." I hope so.

Survivor: Caramoan "There's Gonna Be Hell to Pay" Review

The second episode of Survivor ("Honey Badger") was a bit of a snooze. A lot of focus on the self-elected tribe leaders, Phillip and Shamar. I would have been happier to see a bit more of Gota's cool-kids clique. Was it just me, or did Reynold seem to be holding back tears when Allie's torch was extinguished? And Reynold's last minute idol-find could have been much more dramatic.  

In "There's Gonna Be Hell to Pay," one of the best moments was once again  at Tribal Council. The three way tie was a nice bit of excitement, but ended up only hurting the unpopular foursome. Not enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. I think the problem is with Gota. Yeah, they're bad at the challenges, but also relatively uninteresting. At least, what we're seeing of them. Next week, I might be rooting for the Fans to win the challenge, if only because I'd like to see the Favorites in more than just the pre-challenge half of the episode.

Gordon Holmes's recap of the episode over at the Xfinity TV blog is well worth your time. (As is following him on twitter.) In his recap, he joked about "some crew member named Julia." He's not wrong. Increasingly over time, and more distinctly this season, Survivor has inclined toward a structure of lead and supporting characters. In Caramoan, it's not just Julia who's been cast in a minor role. Brenda, Erik, and Michael seem to be on the outskirts of this season's plots, as well. And Cochran's only shining moment was his mini-commercial for the show within the show.

My latest #Survivor innovation: advertising Survivor *on* Survivor.
— John Cochran (@JohnMCochran) February 28, 2013

I'm not sure whether or not I like this new structure. Certainly, there's no point in giving contestants airtime just for the sake of it, and I suppose there are some contestants being overlooked because they won't be around much longer. But I have a feeling the plot could be more interesting if it was less simplified. Hopefully, in the next few weeks, it will be. Otherwise, this might be a disappointing season. 

Survivor: Caramoan "She Annoys Me Greatly" Review

That Survivor theme song. Can't you just hear it? It gives me the chills. And this week, before that horn signifying the beginning of another great episode sounded, two things were obvious. 

First, Malcolm, who was on the losing-est team in all Survivor history, was not going to lose this time. Well, lose anything but his swim trunks. He fought harder in that first reward challenge than anyone else. Maybe it was because he came so close to making it to the end last season. Or maybe it was because he's the least far removed from the game, having been on the most recent season. 

Second, Phillip has got to go, but he'll be around for awhile. Phillip is in the line of Boston Rob Survivor contestants. In other words, a strong, powerful player who you might only get one chance to vote off. Yet, when that chance comes around, these threats somehow get by with their torches still lit. By the end of the episode, with not a vote cast for the guy who so unconvincingly claims to have buried the hatchet, it was clear that we'll have to deal with Phillip for awhile. 

Then there's this guy:

Source: cbs.com

Cochran - Oh, John Cochran. I don't care how sunburnt you are, you're adorable. Overall this week, I was rooting for the Fans over the Favorites, but I think I'll always been rooting for Cochran.

As much as I love this show for the competition and sociological intrigue, the B-roll nature footage alone almost makes it worth watching. Who else thought that sea turtle was the most gorgeous thing you'd ever seen?

Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

I am very excited for the return of Survivor. I admit openly that this is a reality show I watch consistently. Well, I watched consistently for about the first six seasons, then watched sporadically until Season 23: South Pacific. I've been a faithful fan since then, biting my nails until Jeff lets us know that the tribe has spoken. This, the original reality competition show, born 13 years and 25 seasons ago, is a sociological experiment that fascinates me. It puts real people in unreal situations that nonetheless bring out very real aspects of the human condition. 

CBS seems a little confused about the nature of this year's pool of contestants. This preview claims that Survivor: Caramoan will bring back "some of the most controversial castaways to ever play the game," and yet the subtitle of this season is "Fans vs. Favorites."

I'll guess we'll see. Frankly, I don't care what they call it. I'll watch. So, whatever. 

It's set to be quite the cast. I'm hoping this season doesn't bring out the worst in two of my favorites - Malcolm from last season and Cochran from South Pacific. Dawn from South Pacific is really fantastic. I don't imagine there's a bad side of her to bring out. And with the "fans," who knows what we'll find?

Before the premiere tomorrow, I wanted to say a word about reality shows. (I mentioned this briefly when I talked about the mockumentary nature of The Office in this post.) The camera, which stands for the producers, the directors, and indeed all the staff of a show like  Survivor, is itself a character. It changes the plot by what it chooses to capture and show to the audience. I want to be sure I acknowledge that, lest you think I didn't realize the unreality of reality TV. All I'm saying is that it makes it no less entertaining. And when we watch Survivor this season, we'll be entertained. I'm sure of it.