Survivor Nicaragua--Old v. Young

Ouch. Some harsh comments in that yahoo piece on bringing back the retreads. Does it influence your enthusiasm? I was only disappointed in learning there's no new location. I always look forward to the filming in new places...now we'll be looking at that same beach every week lol.

No - it doesn't - peaks my curosity a bit. But at least you know that there will be some good characters - last go around there wasn't quite so many interesting individuals.

Just wanted to remind you guys that the new season of Survivor starts tonight.

Enjoy.

Here! (With a sense of deja vu...but here!)

Yup, looking forward to it.

Someone should make a new thread for it!

Yep - hopefully I am will be out of work in time

Got to see it - and I would say this was the best 1st tribal council. What dumb a$$ that girl was that found the idol - at first I figured she's smart - then to start showing it around already - of course she is now a target. Bonehead.

First TC was crazy!!! I wanted Francesca to stay instead of Kristina, though. OMG watching Francesca and Phillip argue was hilarious!!

Kristina is like a female version of Russell -- I think he found something like 6 hidden idols without ever reading a clue.

Finally caught the first episode. I was impressed with Rob. He suspected that Christina had the idol. Very astute. He worked out a plan to get either Christina or Francesca. He's gonna be hard to beat. He's likable.

We'll see if Russell has wised up this time. If he alienates every member of the jury, as he's done in the past, he won't win again.

It remains to be seen how Redemption Island will affect the game.

This could be a good season.

BTW, that Phillip person is a pain in the patoot. Why should anyone care that he was once a federal agent?

Philip is a mental case. Can you imagine him as a federal agent? He would never have to worry about being tortured by the enemy, he would blab everything he knew before they had a chance to turn on the interrogation light. I assume he will go next week if they're back at tribal because the other idiot can play her Show & Tell idol.

Rob was always a smart adaptable guy and Russell always plays the same predictable game, so I think Rob will come out of better than Russell, but I doubt he will win. They both have big targets on their backs.

I want to know how what the "duels" are for Redemption Island. It can't be physical because of ability extremes and intellectually people are all over the map. I want to see how they make it fair.

Yeah.... Phillip.... what a nut case. I don't see him going very far at all. Nobody is going to trust him.

The battle of the egos between Russell and Rob is going to be an amazing thing to watch. If both of them make it to the merge there is going to be serious fireworks.

I really like the redemption island twist. The fact that nobody will know who it will be that makes it back into the game throws a serious monkey wrench into things.

I can't believe all the stuff they gave them -- hammers, nails, sewing kit -- even other shoes. I noticed several girls in high heels when they landed on the beach but they all have sneakers now. I can understand them leaving those things on the island since the group would have a huge advantage otherwise but it just seems they have some pretty cushy stuff to get started.

I think they are giving them better supplies because in the past people quit over the misery of the conditions in Nicaragua. Overall, I don't think having a decent roof makes the game itself that different and the producers realized it. The most interesting part has always been a player's ability to out think the other players - not wether or not a player is wet or shod. We can't feel the cold or the hunger, so the home viewer is mostly caught up in the social drama. I think they are now trying to really emphasize that part of the game. It also explains Redemption Island, the viewer can still root for a favorite player if they get voted off because of this second chance. It prolongs the emotional interest.

According to his Linked-in profile, Phillip was a federal agent 25 years ago! Since then he's worked at almost a dozen different jobs (sales), lasting 1 - 4 years at each.

I think he's hilarious. When he was arguing with Francesca I kept waiting for him to explain to her how he (as a secret agent) once saved the entire US population from an alien invasion!

And then at tribal...when he kept mispronouncing her name! OMG I think he did it on purpose to piss her off!

That makes sense.

I admit I liked the actual survival aspect of the earliest seasons. It seemed to heighten the drama of all the decisions of the players since someone who could find food or make something out of nothing was valuable to the tribe in ways that they aren't anymore.

I suppose the social game makes a more interesting narrative though.

I think for a federal agent he is dumb. Ya think a federal agent would have the sense to have viewed prior survivors to see what works and what doesn't - being an a$$ and belittling people has never worked. Not to mention throwing all your cards on the table at the beginning.

My opinion - to vote off Rob too early wouldn't be smart - for most physical competitions (expect the real heavy lifting like the most recent one) and most mental challenges he is incredible. You want some one like that to help win immunity - he almost got them the win with the puzzle after being so far behind.

The one thing about Russell - he had an advantage at that last survivor because of the timing - no one saw his sneaky methods to win - now that he has played two and he played the same way - only an idiot would follow him and not want to vote him off right away.

I think he mispronounced too to get at her. Either way I like to watch him because he adds trouble to the picture and I do like him calling people out although that stuff will do him in.

Agreeing what others have said about that Philp guy. What a nut case!

And Kristina, what a dipstick for blabbing about her idol. I couldn't believe her luck (instincts) in finding that first one. She won't last, methinks.

It will indeed be interesting to see if Rob and Russell play the game any different than last time, particularily Russell. Some are already putting 2 + 2 together. He really should get another strategy.

The Redemption Is. thing - very interesting, but I'm a bit confused. Do one of the winners of a challenge come back immediately into the game, or only eventually? It definitely puts a twist to the outcome.

I, too, was flabbergasted as to how much gear they had to start. We will see if this happens in subsequent seasons.

Have any of you decided on any early favourites to win yet?

I'm confused, too. I think, from the promos, that each eliminated contestant will be sent to RI immediately after each tribal and then participate in some type of 'duel', with the loser being sent home and the victor staying on at RI to face the next challenger. It's unclear to me if the duel will be the same challenge each week or if they'll change them up with some being physical and some mental. I think Jeff has said that whomever prevails at RI will 'at some point' be allowed to re-enter the game, but it's fuzzy as to when that will be -- around the time of the merge or closer to the end? Also, do they mean just one is allowed back in the game or more than one? And what happens to the last 7 or 9 eliminated players needed for the jury? Do they shut RI down at that point and send the jury members to the Ponderosa? Aargh!

Oh, and Jeff appears to have mad love for Phillip -- at least this is what he wrote in his cast assessment piece:

PHILLIP – To all the Survivor angels looking over our show, I’d like to take a moment to personally acknowledge you and thank you for once again blessing us with one of the GREATEST CONTESTANTS OF ALL TIME! If you loved Coach, you are going to fall out of your chair for Phillip. Phillip is so good and so unique I do not think I can describe him other than to say that he’s one of a kind in the greatest possible way and that I would sacrifice two episodes of WEEDS if it meant I could ensure he lasted to the end. He’s that good, cause trust me… I love me some Mary Louise Parker.

Link

Yeah, if you, or anyone else, can find more info on the RI thing, it would be great.

Have they deliberately left this wide open? Indeed, how many will be let back in the game?

I was hoping that the victor of the duel would come in immediately, as this would make it more interesting, rather than way down the road.

I guess we'll have to see how this works out.

I think having them gone until the merge would be perfect.

None of the regular players will have any idea who might be out there waiting to come back. It will really keep them on their toes.

I imagine that anyone who thinks they're marked for removal will start stealing stuff from the camp to make their time on the Island easier. That would make it very interesting.