# Survivor: Game Changers Starts on Wednesday **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 6, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580 "2017-03-06T21:15:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/101 "2017-04-06T05:20:39Z")
Well, they didn’t merge, she just ended up on the wrong side of another tribe swap. I think in a merge situation she actually would’ve been better off because 1) she would’ve had a lot more people to work with and 2) it’s a better time to say “let’s vote off Ozzy.” Going into TC, I was thinking she had no shot because they’d either vote her off, or Tai would play a HII and she’d go home anyways. But she went for the smart play of turning Tai and it almost worked! Nice to see someone finally try to work with the other person on the bottom instead of both targets just trying to get the other person. I think there was a bit more to TC than what they showed and people eventually settled down and were sure to stick with their original plan. I hope Varner at least gets to the jury this time, he really deserves it. Not sure how I feel about the Exile twist. Hopefully it lets Debbie reset mentally because I can’t stand seeing crazy players for too long (shades of Brandon Hantz and Phil). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/102 "2017-04-06T11:13:00Z")
Zele called it: Everyone who said “we can get rid of Sandra later” ended up losing to her in the end. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/103 "2017-04-06T12:42:02Z")
So, top of the threat list now? Ozzy and Brad (physical), Tai (likeability? or are they getting generally disillusioned yet?), and then who? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/104 "2017-04-06T16:58:59Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But I’m confused about Tai. He ended up voting for Sandra, so was that whole thing a ploy? I doubt it. Tai has to go. He’s paranoid and completely unpredictable. Get that crazy little fucker off the island!! Yeah, that was a very odd TC edit. Obviously they needed to make there be some drama to the vote (although there still wasn’t much), but I can’t tell if Tai was putting on a show (and got everybody else to go along with it), or if he was legitimately going crazy and then they somehow called him down with a “stick to the plan” speech that was cut. Either way, I was rooting for Sandra to somehow pull another rabbit out of her hat - it would have been amazing to survive what was possibly the worst possible split for her. I’m quickly running out of folks to root for… ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/105 "2017-04-06T17:28:20Z")
Looking purely at the editing the pretty girls are interesting. Hali and Sierra get no attention at all - but complete disregard isn’t a sign of a winner. One of them might make the final, but only as a goat. Barring a complete change in personality, they’re looking at at third place at best. Andrea, on the other hand, is getting more airtime and it shows she is thinking strategically. I took note of her in her first season and thought she might do well in this format. She’s sharp - I’ll bet she pulls off a big move sometime during the merge phase. I can see her rallying support from Hali and Sierra to do something big. Big plus this episode - swimsuits! ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/106 "2017-04-06T18:35:23Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Mrs. Wheelz was literally screaming at the TV during the goat discussion. I would have had a hysterical wife on my hands if somebody had killed a mama goat six months ago halfway around the world. For that reason alone, I’m glad they didn’t do it. Same here, except it was my 10-year-old daughter screaming. I was _very_ relieved they let them go, just to avoid a week of being woken up by her nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/107 "2017-04-06T19:08:23Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Same here, except it was my 10-year-old daughter screaming. I was _very_ relieved they let them go, just to avoid a week of being woken up by her nightmares. The Silence of the Goats. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/108 "2017-04-08T00:04:39Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > So, top of the threat list now? Ozzy and Brad (physical), Tai (likeability? or are they getting generally disillusioned yet?), and then who? Tai will be a target, but not because he’s likeable… no one seems to like him. They all see him as a snake. It’s one reason he was able to make it to the end in his first season, everyone saw him as a Finals goat who would get no votes. Cirie is another big threat. She’s just been under the radar because she hasn’t gone to Tribal yet. Zeke is another threat I think, but the other players might be discounting him because they haven’t seen his season, so he doesn’t have a rep. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/109 "2017-04-08T20:32:54Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Yeah, that was a very odd TC edit. Obviously they needed to make there be some drama to the vote (although there still wasn’t much), but I can’t tell if Tai was putting on a show (and got everybody else to go along with it), or if he was legitimately going crazy and then they somehow called him down with a “stick to the plan” speech that was cut. Yeah, there had to have been a good bit of TC that we didn’t see. I was shocked that Tai didn’t play an idol and was quite sure he was about to go home with _two_ idols in his pocket. (Would that have been a first?) Tai’s behavior was odd, but that’s not really new. What was more odd was that he voted Sandra anyway after all that. Though she annoyed me at first, I’d been coming around on Sandra and it would have been fun to see her miraculously survive yet another vote. In any case, I was glad that she went out with a smile on her face. I kind of enjoyed the Exile Island twist, but it was frustrating that Debbie happened to draw the empty pouch; the strategy session with Cochran was likely wasted on her. I predict she will take none of his advice, and may possibly even waste her extra vote advantage on some tantrum that doesn’t affect the outcome. I guess we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/110 "2017-04-08T21:21:39Z")
James was blindsided with two Idols in Survivor China. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/111 "2017-04-09T00:13:15Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I kind of enjoyed the Exile Island twist, but it was frustrating that Debbie happened to draw the empty pouch; the strategy session with Cochran was likely wasted on her. I predict she will take none of his advice, and may possibly even waste her extra vote advantage on some tantrum that doesn’t affect the outcome. I guess we’ll see. I can’t imagine Debbie changing one iota. She is what she is. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/112 "2017-04-09T01:57:37Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I kind of enjoyed the Exile Island twist, but it was frustrating that Debbie happened to draw the empty pouch; the strategy session with Cochran was likely wasted on her. I predict she will take none of his advice, and may possibly even waste her extra vote advantage on some tantrum that doesn’t affect the outcome. I guess we’ll see. Imagine if it were Sandra that was sent to Exile Island. What could Cochran (or anyone) say to her in a strategy consultation? ---
**Author:** ![Maurie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Maurie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maurie)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/113 "2017-04-10T17:29:25Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Imagine if it were Sandra that was sent to Exile Island. > > What could Cochran (or anyone) say to her in a strategy consultation? Yeah, that would have changed the game entirely. I would have loved to see how Sandra would use an extra vote. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/114 "2017-04-10T19:00:21Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Imagine if it were Sandra that was sent to Exile Island. > > What could Cochran (or anyone) say to her in a strategy consultation? I think Cochran would’ve acted more like a sounding board. Here’s a chance to just talk about your strategy out loud with no repercussions. Kinda like when a family member comes to visit. BTW, the extra vote seems to me like the clear correct choice. The fake idol requires a lot of stuff going right in order for it to make any difference. Usually it’s more for fun than anything and doesn’t impact the actual vote. The challenge advantage will probably only be good for a couple more challenges, and it doesn’t guarantee anything. Although, if it could also be used on an individual immunity challenge, I might choose it. ---
**Author:** ![Rain\_Soaked](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rain\_Soaked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rain_Soaked)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/115 "2017-04-10T19:48:29Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Same here, except it was my 10-year-old daughter screaming. I was _very_ relieved they let them go, just to avoid a week of being woken up by her nightmares. You may not want to hear what Sandra [said](http://ew.com/tv/2017/04/06/survivor-sandra-diaz-twine-game-changers-goat/) about the goats then… ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/116 "2017-04-13T00:55:06Z")
Wow. What a tribal. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/117 "2017-04-13T01:11:27Z")
OMG. I was in tears. I can’t believe Varner did that. Is he gay, or no? I thought he was. So Varner of all people should have known what he was doing was reprehensible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a non-vote like that. There’s no jury yet, right? I’m still in shock. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/118 "2017-04-13T01:20:10Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > OMG. I was in tears. Me too. It was such a despicable move. Absolutely disgusting. I understand there’s some deceit involved in the game, but there’s some lines you don’t cross and that was one of them, big time. There was the time they didn’t even go to tribal and voted out what’s his name, Russell Hantz’s nephew. I think there was another time they had a unanimous non-vote at tribal, but I might be just thinking of the time with his nephew. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/119 "2017-04-13T02:01:02Z")
That’s the only time in all whatever-the-fuck seasons of Survivor that I’ve cried over a Tribal Council. Just the look of panic and shock on Zeke’s face. It’s still making me tear up thinking about it. In a way, I feel this is much worse because Varner is gay himself. HE. SHOULD. KNOW! He should KNOW this is unacceptable, and why, and how it would make Zeke feel. I was and am so angry with Varner… ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/120 "2017-04-13T02:31:22Z")
Zeke officially came out today ahead of the show, because he knew what was going to be shown. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580.md?page=7)