I thought that’s how it always was? (Not the revote, but the Purple Rock of Doom being used on the voters and not the votees.) Isn’t that how what’s-his-name, Pascal I think? got voted off a few years back when he had been in absolutely no danger of being voted out?
Oh, and the reactions on the faces of Galu during Tribal were epic. Awesome play there. These past 3 weeks have been some of the best Tribals I’ve ever seen.
Yeah, I’m surprised he would return to shenanigans for a couple of reasons. First, he runs the risk of someone watching him do it. Second, with the strong Foa Foa sticking together, there is no reason to consider keeping his deal with Rocket scientist John to vote out a Foa Foa member - they can and should vote Brett off next, then either Dave Ball or Rocket scientist John since they are strong physical players. Not much risk in keeping Monica since she is weak and probably not smart enough to do anything dangerous to Foa Foa. Best thing Rocket scientist John could hope for out of the deal is getting to the final five with no Galu players left. Besides, no Galu player is going to have any love for Rocket scientist John now.
That being said, Russel does have the HII and he just might be thinking 3 or 4 moves ahead by returning to his evil ways. Seems risky to me, as playing a straight Foa Foa game would keep his idol safe until the final five, but it’s his game.
i guess i could be mistaken, Prock of doom hasn’t been used in ages. Wasn’t it like really early on that the rock was instituted and abhorred afterwards? All I remember was that it was a smaller number of people being purple rock of doomed and not like this series. The only one immune to the first PROD was the challenge immunity holder the other 3 had to duke it out with PROD. Here, the votees were exempt and I assume the Challenge immunity holder so it woulda been 7 people getting the PROD. I’m just glad someone came to their senses and realized it was stupid to sacrifice themselves (albeit a PROD chance) to keep the two voted people safe or the one specific person in your alliance safe. Making this a game of chance diminishes the survivor slogan of Outwit, Outlast and Outplay.
Previous PROD for those too lazy to search for it, hehe
it was season 4, so I did forget a lot about this season.
What the HELL is with the “everyone draws rocks” bullshit? They last did this, what, 10 season ago? I kept laughing about how these folks don’t even watch Survivor, 'cus everyone knows they break ties with a fire-starting challenge. Right? Right? Up until Probst said “what, you want to draw rocks? Really??” to DaveBall or someone else. WTF?? Where did this come from?!? Bad, bad, bad idea. It sucked 10 seasons ago, and it sucks now.
Anyway, another great episode, another hated player screwed until she squealed like a pig (squee! squee!). Bye Laura. JohnnyRocket will have some uncomfortable conversations back at camp, me thinks. Congrats to Russell, he’s confounded the producers big-time (and I’m sure they’re delighted).
I was thinking that at some level it doesn’t matter that Russ found the HII a third time. He started looking, found it, and stopped looking for it. So everyone else did as well, and assumed he had it (I may be trusting the editors too much on this, but I think its likely true). At that point, it didn’t matter so much if he found it, if everyone believes he did. The rest won’t vote for him and won’t look for the idol because, well, of course Russ has it, right?
that last paragraph only happened because JohnnyRocket told the Galu crew they’re pretty much morons to vote Russell and draw out the HII even if he had it or not. They were going to vote for him until rocket scientist said not to. Or that’s what I thought happened when Brett (the no namer), Dave Bald and the girls were talking amongst themselves and trying to figure out who should go from Foa. They had their sights aimed on Russell again, then rocket scientist showed up nixed the idea and then had a confessional pretty much knocking his whole tribe for being morons from Erik last second move, isolating Shambo to pretty much make her seek out Foas friendship. His insights showed the lack of gamesmanship the Galu have because they were so comfortable winning challenges and not “practicing” the conniving part of the game the Foas are so used by now.
Who wouldn’t be alarmed after what happened last week? All it would have taken was one conversation to be over heard and Russell to give the HII to Natalie and the Galu tribe member with the most votes (John, if they would have put his name down) to be gone. I am mildly surprised that he waited until the revote to put down Laura’s name.
WTF is with Dave Ball? Isn’t he supposed to be a FITNESS instructor? And some fat-assed businessman runs him into the ground?
Excellent blog by Probst.
I don’t think Russ is as out-of-shape as people think. I think the man packed on a bunch of extra pounds before he set out on the journey so that he could lose the weight without anywhere near the damage that someone who is thin would be subject to as the game went on. He would also appear less of a threat at the start,allowing him to establish himself. And if you look at him now, he’s dropped weight fairly quickly, and there’s muscle underneath. I truly think the extra weight at the beginning was strategic and intentional. Not that he’s a young foxy sprite, but I don’t see him as a fat-assed business man either.
Yes, I have gone to the “Russell” side of the force. He is indeed a great player.
You couldn’t tell that this year, they had clearly been informed of tie-breaker rules? I automatically could tell they knew what they were talking about.
Yeah, they knew it would be rocks. Which is stupid, because last time it sucked as a tie-breaker.
Somebody needs to do a Youtube remix of Russell after running his voice through a few filters so he sounds like Darth Vader.
Wouldn’t’ve occurred to me – but I think you’re right.
'Cause that’s exactly the kind of thing one of the five best strategic players in the history of the game would do.
HISSSSSSS-clonk
HISSSSSSS-clonk
Your lack of smarts…delights me.
HISSSSSSS-clonk
Dumbass.
HISSSSSSS-clonk
My kids got into Survivor this year (ages 7 and 9) and are now obsessed… last night I told them they got in at the right time… this is playing out as the best season I can think of…
Color me extremely dubious about the finding of the HII. Russell ‘loses’ Dave, while being trailed by cameramen and sound men? Doubles back and turns over the right rock without Dave ever catching up? Hmmm.
Speaking of manipulation, did anyone notice the continuity error in the scene where Mick, Jaison & Monica are conspiring in the shelter? Monica is wearing a bikini top…then a tank top over the bikini…then the tank top is gone.
I don’t believe anything until it comes out of Probst’ mouth. Every season there’s players speculating what the rules are. After all, there’s always a seven member jury, right? The tribes always merge when there are nine players, right? There’s always reward and an immunity challenge every three days, right?
I don’t think John is in as bad a place with his new allegiance as we might think. Shambo seems to hold him in high regard and she may be able to convince Russel to let him hang around. I think it’s likely that her current dream-final-3 is Her Russel and John.
Poor Erik is still holding a grudge @Panderosa. (videos on cbs.com) His finale speech should be good (if a Galu is there at the end)
Here is my understanding about the Purple Rock of Doom:
Strictly speaking, they actually messed up Marquesas’ PROD situation (Probst has attested to this somewhere, I believe). In a tie situation, those who have votes in the tie should be immune, and all the others without individual immunity should be up for the random draw. So in a final four situation like Marquesas’, the person not being voted for and without individual immunity would go home automatically in that situation (Vecepia in Marquesas, I think), which would - theoretically - insure that the tie would never stand after the first 2-2 vote (because they would flip or be voted out).
So there were different rules for the Final 4 tie - the fire-making - that they forgot about in Marquesas. I believe that since then the PROD has been the rule for every other season, it’s just that there’s never been the possibility of a real tie situation at a larger number than 4 since then.
So - it’s not like the PROD went away. It’s just never been an issue. And I assume that in the rules the contestants receive, it outlines the tie situations, and that’s how they knew.
sometimes I think they should just do what Big Brother does and give the Immunity Challenge winner (or Head of Household for BB) the ultimate tiebreaker vote. This would make the winning of the immunity challenge of utmost importance when there is a possibility of a tie.