# Survivor: Redemption Island Starts tonight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609 "2011-02-16T18:23:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/1 "2011-02-16T18:23:58Z")
Premier episode at 8 pm est. With Russell and Rob back [sigh]. and [Russell apparently in trouble](http://www.tvgrapevine.com/index.php/cbs/264-survivor-redemption-island/10283-survivor-redemption-island-russell-hantz-and-finger-pointing) with Survivor executives. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/2 "2011-02-16T21:10:19Z")
Augh…I forgot it was on Wednesdays now. I approach this like I’ve approached Survivor for the last five or six seasons…with reluctance and footdragging. I’d opt out entirely if Survivor night weren’t cuddle-and-watch night with my partner. That said, I have no taste for this show anymore, really. What isn’t old and stale is tasteless and ill-considered. The retreading (again!) of Rob and Russell makes me roll my eyes. The Redemption Island thing is just “meh”. I don’t mean to threadshit, really. I’m just…I don’t know. Not looking forward to it, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/3 "2011-02-16T21:29:16Z")
I agree. I’ll probably record it for a few weeks but never muster the enthusiasm to watch. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/4 "2011-02-16T21:32:21Z")
I’ll watch the first few episodes at least, but if the cast is as full of douchebags as last season, that’s it for me. Russell is very tiresome, and Rob is just…Rob. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/5 "2011-02-16T22:18:59Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’ll watch the first few episodes at least, but if the cast is as full of douchebags as last season, that’s it for me. Russell is very tiresome, and Rob is just…Rob. I actually _like_ Rob. But he’s had ample chances to win (ditto Russell) and he has not. It is embarrassingly obvious at this point that either Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst, or both, view Rob and Russell as the kind of player that they _wish_ could win at their game, and they’re bound and determined to do whatever they can to make that a reality. And that kind of obviousness kills the fun of the game for me. I mean, just give them each a million dollars and be done with it, you know? ---
**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:** [February 16, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/6 "2011-02-16T22:19:03Z")
It’s gotta be better than last time, which was the worst Survivor season ever. I don’t care one way or the other about Rob and Russell being back. On the one hand I’ve seen enough of both of them, but on the other, if you’re going to “cast” the contestants, at least you know with these two that they are competitive and will play the game hard. Much better than the head-cases and the phonies that are just on the show to advance their showbiz careers. Heroes vs. Villians was all retreads and it was one of the best seasons ever. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/7 "2011-02-17T01:20:12Z")
Is there a question mark at the end of “Former Federal Agent”? Phillip is the new Coach. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/8 "2011-02-17T01:32:06Z")
Yeah, it says: Former Federal Agent? Wow, interesting cast this year. I have to admit, I actually have an immediately liking to this season, something that did not happen last season at all. Dude, those “redemption island possible moment” things are insulting to all our intelligence. We get it; they get to maybe get back in the game and that is hugely significant. It’s not that complicated. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/9 "2011-02-17T01:38:16Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Dude, those “redemption island possible moment” things are insulting to all our intelligence. We get it; they get to maybe get back in the game and that is hugely significant. It’s not that complicated. Yeah, I really hope this is a one night only thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/10 "2011-02-17T01:39:18Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Yeah, I really hope this is a one night only thing. I also think they need to tell us when the “re-insertion” moment is. I mean, when does the person get back in? If it is really late in the game, it’s lame. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/11 "2011-02-17T02:07:28Z")
Yeah, so Philip is insane. I think Rob is loving this new group. Amateurs. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/12 "2011-02-17T02:08:34Z")
OMG, WTF, batshitcrazycakes alert! ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/13 "2011-02-17T02:11:20Z")
Oh, and I’m liking the amount of blur on the chicks already. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/14 "2011-02-17T02:39:18Z")
Yeah, we have another “blurr butt” girl. Reminds me of Amanda. By the way, “dude in orange tank top” got ripped off. He spoke not one word, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/15 "2011-02-17T02:41:02Z")
I bailed halfway through last season and never looked back and tried this season with a skeptical eye, mostly because this would be my first chance to watch it in HD. Honestly, despite the utter insanity of Phillip (he was a Federal Agent you know), I was kind of bored, don’t really like any of the cast and just plain over Survivor I think. On the other hand, Boobs. I’m conflicted. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/16 "2011-02-17T03:41:46Z")
Survivor: Redemption. That one episode reminded me of how this show can be so good. One of the smartest players gets booted first due to aligning herself with two completely crazy people. Boston Rob takes complete control of his tribe from go. The smallest, youngest, woman on Russell’s tribe swears that she will not be pulled in by him, and makes it about 24 hours before doing exactly that. One guy is completely crazy and cannot keep his mouth shut for 30 seconds. Anything told to him will be known by the entire tribe within a day. This may be a valuable piece of knowledge that can be exploited by a savvy player. One woman has a basic level of smarts, but when given a huge advantage, she doesn’t spend one moment thinking about how she can best use it, but instead focuses like a laser on how she can use it _right now_! If she were somehow to win the million dollars, she will have it spent before she leaves L.A. after the reunion show. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/17 "2011-02-17T03:56:30Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Phillip is the new Coach. Oh yeah. I think this has the possibility of being an interesting season. For one thing, the 180 difference between how Russell’s team took the news they were getting him, vs. Boston Rob’s team. (And, yeah, I’m a Boston Rob convert. “Amateurs!”) I’m not committed yet, but I do think this could turn out to be an interesting season. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/18 "2011-02-17T04:52:33Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Phillip is the new Coach. No. Coach at least knew what show he was on. ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/19 "2011-02-17T05:03:57Z")
Truly bizarre tribal council :). What in God’s name set the federal agent off? Why did he start spouting off? I may actually enjoy this one. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609/20 "2011-02-17T05:05:58Z")
Okay, random thoughts time. -Disappointed Franchkwestkwa is gone. (I know she’s not really gone, but I can’t imagine she’ll stick around on Redemption Island forever). She seemed really smart, and capable of repairing all the damage to Survivor race relations that Naonka did. - Idol girl was dumb in trying a big move so early. Fran was right, if she had pulled it off, it still would’ve been 2/3 vs. 5. - That was easily the most amazing first tribal council ever. Probably in the top five of all tribals. - Lot of eye candy this season. All ruined by a Former Federal Agent? in red briefs. - I was hoping to see Russell change up his game. He basically played the exact same way both times, expecting to win each of them. He knows he can’t go that again. But he seems to be going down the same path. - I have no opinions of anyone on the purple team, other than Russell, yet. -Lot of eye candy. - Teams seem fairly well matched. One slightly more physical, one slightly better at puzzles. But there’s no “huge powerhouse that sucks at puzzles” team. - Lot of eye candy. Wonderful, blurry, “who is that girl, has she even talked before?” eye candy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-redemption-island-starts-tonight/571609.md?page=2)