# Survivor Season 35: Heroes, Healers and Hustlers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293 "2017-09-25T16:36:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [December 8, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/181 "2017-12-08T18:30:33Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Yeah, this. It’s been 30 days, not six months! Hell, especially the children and parents…I went away to school and didn’t see my parents for over a year. I did too, but that was on purpose! If I could have stretch it to longer than a year, I would have. 😉 ---
**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:** [December 8, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/182 "2017-12-08T19:07:52Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I hope the “challenge” is not a trend. And honestly, as long as they took to pick rocks they could have done some very quick kind of challenge. > > I can sympathize with parents separated from very young children, but otherwise I do think it’s a bit much. I told my wife that because I was not paying much attention, I thought the rock pulling was some kind of “choosing teams” moment. That was the game? I bet that it the only appearance of that kind of game. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/183 "2017-12-08T19:44:21Z")
The only excuse I can think of is if one or more of the “loved ones” had some sever physical malady that prevented them from doing anything more than reaching into a back to pull out a rock. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/184 "2017-12-08T19:46:09Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Not only was the Reward Challenge lame, but Lauren’s “retrieval” of the other half of the HII was just as (if not more) lame. > > All she had to do was bend over and pick up a shell. Yeah, this too. I enjoy it when they “hide” idols and clues in plain sight at the challenges. But other times, players have had to be at least a _little_ bit sly to snag them without being noticed. The producers may be starting to run out of creative steam after all these years. Fortunately, we had that crazy Tribal Council to save an otherwise tepid hour. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/185 "2017-12-08T20:08:31Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Yeah, this too. I enjoy it when they “hide” idols and clues in plain sight at the challenges. But other times, players have had to be at least a _little_ bit sly to snag them without being noticed. > > The producers may be starting to run out of creative steam after all these years. Fortunately, we had that crazy Tribal Council to save an otherwise tepid hour. To be fair, she did have to find the clue about that shell, so it wasn’t a complete gimme. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/186 "2017-12-08T22:07:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > To be fair, she did have to find the clue about that shell, so it wasn’t a complete gimme. Then just give her the idol, the whole idol. There wasn’t any drama in picking up that shell. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/187 "2017-12-08T22:13:30Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Then just give her the idol, the whole idol. There wasn’t any drama in picking up that shell. Maybe just a little. Because it was so obvious, someone might have noticed and gotten suspicious. I agree that they usually make it a little harder, but there was some exposure. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/188 "2017-12-08T23:14:51Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > To be fair, she did have to find the clue about that shell, so it wasn’t a complete gimme. But the shell wouldn’t even have\* been \*there had she not already found the clue. At least, I didn’t spot any shells in front of anybody else’s platform. I suppose the idea of having to find two parts of an idol is a potentially interesting one; the execution just wasn’t very good. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/189 "2017-12-08T23:25:54Z")
I agree that it was not nearly as fun as other cases where people have had to be sly about grabbing idols. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > The only excuse I can think of is if one or more of the “loved ones” had some sever physical malady that prevented them from doing anything more than reaching into a back to pull out a rock. Even then, I’m pretty sure in recent seasons they have had challenges that loved ones did not participate in (which I lamented, but still). ---
**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:** [December 8, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/190 "2017-12-08T23:31:26Z")
Yeah, they could have done a completely mental challenge-- having the contestants and “loved ones” guess answers to questions and seeing if they match. I think the’ve done that before. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/191 "2017-12-08T23:42:10Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, they could have done a completely mental challenge-- having the contestants and “loved ones” guess answers to questions and seeing if they match. I think the’ve done that before. They could have planted a “Fiji Fact Book” in the loved-ones Hotel Room, and asked questions that were in the Fiji fact book. The same fact book could have been in the contestants hotel room during the pre-game. Potential Questions include the Capital, President, Population, #islands. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/192 "2017-12-09T00:00:00Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I’m willing to give survivors a pass on their emotions - they’re completely cut off from everything they knew, living a primitive-ish lifestyle, surrounded by people who are pretending to be their friends & allies but perfectly willing to stick a knife in their back at any time. That’s a bit more than being on a business trip and calling home every night. They’re under enormous stress, and at that late stage of the game they’re usually exhausted, hungry, and sleep-deprived. I’m not surprised that they fall apart when they see a familiar face. I hate it, though. If I was in charge of _Survivor_, that’s the first thing that I’d eliminate. > [@muldoonthief](#): > > BTW, in Probst’s interview with Dalton Ross, he said they did that stupid rock challenge because they wanted a quick one to fit everything they wanted into the episode. Which strikes me as difficult to believe, since at the time they’re filming, they have no idea how much material they’ll have for the episode that will eventually be broadcast. I don’t believe it either. I strongly suspect that there was a physical challenge set up that wasn’t used for some reason (as **John Mace** suggested, maybe one of the family members couldn’t or wouldn’t do it). I’ve taken Probst’s post-episode statements with a grain of salt since he claimed that he didn’t know how the female contestants kept their legs hair-free and no razors were provided (in the first season, Sue Hawk was briefly seen shaving her legs with a disposable razor; the producers made sure we never saw anything like that again). ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/193 "2017-12-09T00:42:48Z")
I’m so disappointed in Lauren’s idiotic gameplay. She was my favorite, now I’m in a holding pattern, not sure who I’d like to see win. I know I’ve been wanting to see Ben go for a few weeks though. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/194 "2017-12-09T00:44:37Z")
The challenges have absolutely sucked lately, way too many endurance challenges, not enough physical, This is fun to watch challenges. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/195 "2017-12-09T05:48:54Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I hope the “challenge” is not a trend. And honestly, as long as they took to pick rocks they could have done some very quick kind of challenge. > > I can sympathize with parents separated from very young children, but otherwise I do think it’s a bit much. Didnt Jeff say something about a race tied to your loved one?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/196 "2017-12-09T16:22:00Z")
> [@Patx2](#): > > I’m so disappointed in Lauren’s idiotic gameplay. She was my favorite, now I’m in a holding pattern, not sure who I’d like to see win. I know I’ve been wanting to see Ben go for a few weeks though. Watching this episode the first time through I thought the exact same thing. It seemed like idiocy to not bring her second vote paper and give away part of her II. But… In re-watching it a second time it really wasn’t that stupid. Think about it, her showing her vulnerability actually paid off in that EVERYONE voted for Ben (who legally could). No one, including Lauren, knew (or suspected) Ben had an idol so (in the players mind) there was no reason to split the vote. Having her second vote with her wouldn’t of changed anything, even if she had played it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/197 "2017-12-09T16:23:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Didnt Jeff say something about a race tied to your loved one?😕 Yes, he did. Like was mentioned upstream, I too thought the rock-pulling was team selection for a three-legged race. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/198 "2017-12-09T18:59:39Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Watching this episode the first time through I thought the exact same thing. It seemed like idiocy to not bring her second vote paper and give away part of her II. But… > > In re-watching it a second time it really wasn’t that stupid. Think about it, her showing her vulnerability actually paid off in that EVERYONE voted for Ben (who legally could). No one, including Lauren, knew (or suspected) Ben had an idol so (in the players mind) there was no reason to split the vote. > > Having her second vote with her wouldn’t of changed anything, even if she had played it. Yes, you speak the truth! I had forgotten that no one was aware of Ben’s idol. Now this makes me wonder how Chrissy is going to feel about that because she was pissed about the vote the week prior and had gone to him even before that and basically told him everyone thought he was a tyrant. They did seem to kiss and make up, though, Ben was playing her, but she seemed to buy into it, idk. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/199 "2017-12-09T20:14:23Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Watching this episode the first time through I thought the exact same thing. It seemed like idiocy to not bring her second vote paper and give away part of her II. But… > > In re-watching it a second time it really wasn’t that stupid. Think about it, her showing her vulnerability actually paid off in that EVERYONE voted for Ben (who legally could). No one, including Lauren, knew (or suspected) Ben had an idol so (in the players mind) there was no reason to split the vote. > > Having her second vote with her wouldn’t of changed anything, even if she had played it. It’s not the decision not to play the second vote that was damning, it was giving away the idol. There are a few hard and fast rules of Survivor (IMO), and she actually violated (at least) TWO of them. #1: Never give away your idol #2: If you have immunity available, and you have any suspicion whatsoever, play your immunity #3: Never tell anybody about any advantage you may have (idol or otherwise). That said, I’m not entirely sure what happens if she plays her immunity and so does Ben. I guess the others all have to vote for someone _other_ than the two of them, right? That’s still probably a decent outcome for her since she has an extra vote still going forward and Ben is still a bigger threat to win the game. On the challenge: I think maybe they actually did run some sort of race but it either didn’t work well, made for bad TV or something and they decided to jettison it. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293/200 "2017-12-09T20:51:11Z")
Then that was very bad editing to leave Jeff’s comment in, because I remember hearing it and being confused, too. This is a _Survivor_ outrage, and heads must roll!!! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-season-35-heroes-healers-and-hustlers/797293.md?page=11)