31 replies to this topic

[raceguy120390]

It really was, wasn't it?

There's a lot to like in this one, but just as much to hate. For every awesome challenge like Around The Bend (the one recycled into that challenge from the James/Tyson boot episode in HvV), there's a Pole Dancing (the F5 Immunity Challenge Steph won and I still don't understand fully. For every awesome cast member like Gary and Lydia, there's a Judd. For every Howlie, there's a Probst.

Discuss.

[sienna gold]

I just want to say from now, I shotgun "Cook Islands" I have the perfect title in my head :D

Alrighty. Guatemala; I loved this season, and I was very much sad that Brian got kicked out so early [and because of this early boot, I don't know if he's ever invited back because he didn't really make that much of an "impression"]. Gary, Lydia [for the life of me I don't know why she gets much hate. She was sweet, and I loved her little "I'm so crazy! Dance"] Amy's ankle injury was really sad too.

What I didn't like was that Stephenie and Bobby Jon got invited back (so soon). These two would have really awesome to have in FvF (or even HvV). Like I never understood why necessarily they HAD to come back. Yes, they were Ulonged, and the last to survive, but to play back to back? I also felt that, yeah it was "The Stephenie Empire" [and the Bobby Jon show].

[Lantern7]

Stephenie sucked. Bobby Jon? He was golden. Honestly, why wasn't he invited back to Heroes Vs. Villains? He didn't get voted off either time he was on, and he could've gotten into a "Good Ol' Boy" feud with JT like he did with Jamie. Really, I don't remember much about this season beyond those two bumping and yelling at each other. It was awesome.

And there was hapless Gary, preparing to be outed by Danni. I kinda wish Pirate Master wound up going on a similar path with Christian Okoye.

ETA: Remember when Probst introduced Bobby Jon and Steph as "tools" to be used by the tribes? That was funny, was it?

Edited by Lantern7, May 30, 2010 @ 11:48 PM.

[Mr. 888]

Once I got past the early boring predictable boots (Bye, Brianna! Bye, Brooke! Bye... Bridget?!) I thought this was a fantastic season with one of the least bitter juries ever and a very likeable cast (except for Judd). Rafe had the lead in Individual Immunities with four, mostly because they involved puzzles. Steph won her first Individual Immunity at F5. Gary "Hawkins" was the first person to find a HII, and he didn't even get a clue. Bobby Jon got screwed for the second time. Lydia was a fishmonger. All sorts of fun.

I think it's a travesty none of the Guatemala contestants came back (Steph doesn't count) for a second chance. I really liked at least half the cast, hated about three or four, and forgot the rest. That's pretty good, all things considered.

[raceguy120390]

I just want to say from now, I shotgun "Cook Islands" I have the perfect title in my head :D

Oooh, what is it? I was thinking "10-Year Rewatch: Cook Islands: see also Race, Amazing" myself. In any event, we've still got to do Exile Island (tentative title: "10-Year Rewatch: Panama: Gypsies, Tramps, And Skeeves") and the Australian Celebrity Survivor: Vanuatu (to fill in an extra week, tentative title "10-Year Rewatch: Celebrity Survivor: The One Without Any G-Listers" before we get there.

I think it's a travesty none of the Guatemala contestants came back (Steph doesn't count) for a second chance. I really liked at least half the cast, hated about three or four, and forgot the rest. That's pretty good, all things considered.

Agreed, but the show seems to think it's the Survivor equivalent of syphilis for some reason. We even got Shii Ann back for Thailand and Yau-Man from Fiji, but still there hasn't been anyone from this season. (Even in the HvV graphics, Steph was listed as "Palau".)

[Hope Estheim]

Two early boots I'd wished lasted longer were magician's assistant Morgan and nurse Margaret.

Morgan was cute and adorable, and judging from some of her post-show interviews, she sounded like a huge fan of the show who really knew the game. The sad look on her face when she was blindsided just at the second Tribal Council made my heart break for her a little bit. She didn't even get a confessional in her last episode (though she did in the premiere)!

And I really liked Margaret. The guys on her tribe were falling left and right during the eleven-mile hike, and she was on top of things, putting her skills to use to get them back on their feet. She seemed to know a couple of things about the game, too. Pity the tribal swap really threw a wrench in things for her. And feuding with Judd certainly didn't help.

And this season had one of my favorite F2s. Stephenie and Danni were the first F2 since Vecepia and Neleh when I truly thought the final vote could go either way (only unlike Marquesas, because I thought the jury might honestly respect the way both people played, whereas that season was more like a lesser of two evils thing despite them both playing well). I was surprised Stephenie burned that many bridges to lose in a landslide to Danni.

[ByaNose]

Stephenie is may all time favorite chick. She was great on Palau and I was amazed how far she got in Guatemala. She had the same second chance game that Parvati would have years later. Both did okay the first time and used what the learned for the second time, but with opposite results. Shephenie felt she needed to play more cutthroat to suscceed whereas Parvati played her charm and brains to make it to the final two. Of course, HvsV was almost the same, but Stephenie was voted out second (or, third) and Parvati made it to the finals again. Anyway, Stephenie is still my girl. And, it has nothing to do with me being from the Philly area.

[sienna gold]

The funny thing is; I don't think Stephenie had a chance to actually play the game the first time; she was too busy trying to survive! In Palau she was in the "majority" of Ulong; and by the time she got to Koror, she was already screwed because she was seen as a major winner threat if she got to the end.

[It is also a shame we didn't see her play in HvV because I would wonder if the way she played in Guatemala help/hurt her here]. Stephenie played hard, and I don't get why she was so... vilified is the word I want to use for doing so. I wonder if the reason why Danni won in a landslide was because Steph burned her bridges, or if the jury was thinking "Steph played before, so I'm not voting for her." I really can't remember a lot of "things" about this season [very much in need of a re-watch], but I know she did blindside Judd, but other than that like Hope said; never would have imagined it would have been a 6-1 Danni win.

Oooh, what is it? I was thinking "10-Year Rewatch: Cook Islands: see also Race, Amazing" myself. In any event, we've still got to do Exile Island (tentative title: "10-Year Rewatch: Panama: Gypsies, Tramps, And Skeeves") and the Australian Celebrity Survivor: Vanuatu (to fill in an extra week, tentative title "10-Year Rewatch: Celebrity Survivor: The One Without Any G-Listers" before we get there.

There was an Australian celebrity survivor? When was this? lol [but then I just recently realised that there are a lot of International Survivors out there... Canada, poor Canada has nothing].

I was contemplating 10-Year Rewatch; Cook Islands: Ebony & Ivory together in Harmony.

[Bob Sambob]

Once I got past the early boring predictable boots (Bye, Brianna! Bye, Brooke! Bye... Bridget?!) I thought this was a fantastic season with one of the least bitter juries ever and a very likeable cast (except for Judd).

I don't think I'd put Brooke in there as one of the early predictable boots. She was very bright and I seem to remember her being one of the ones screwed by the tribal swap. I've always felt she and Brian would be perfect castaways for a "Second Chance" season.

[FlippinChipmunk]

Once I got past the early boring predictable boots (Bye, Brianna! Bye, Brooke! Bye... Bridget?!)

Haha! By Bridget, do you mean Morgan & Margaret?

I really like this season but would like it even more if Morgan, Brooke, Margaret, Amy, & Brian had made it farther. Brooke is very smart & is quite athletic (& a Facebook friend of mine). Morgan didn't really get much of a chance but seemed to enjoy the chance & appreciated the game. We all know how awesome Brian, Amy, & Margaret are.

I agree that if they do a Second Chance edition that they could & should pick any of Brian, Margaret, Brooke, & Amy. Brian, Amy, & Margaret because they're awesome & Brooke because she really got screwed by the tribal swap & because Judd is an idiot.

[Mr. 888]

I don't think I'd put Brooke in there as one of the early predictable boots. She was very bright and I seem to remember her being one of the ones screwed by the tribal swap.

Once the twist happened, I thought it was predictable that Judd would flip and either Margaret or Brooke would go. On a general level, the first few episodes lacked genuine intrigue (Gary "Hawkins" may not be a landscaper? Oooooh!), and I don't think I was surprised by a single boot until Blake. Actually, that's kind of a lie. I did expect Lydia to go instead of Morgan (That's her name!)

I wonder if the reason why Danni won in a landslide was because Steph burned her bridges, or if the jury was thinking "Steph played before, so I'm not voting for her."

It could be a combination of all those things. Steph was coaxed into blindsiding Jamie and Judd, two members who were in her alliance that were polarizing and better options to take to the FTC than, well, anyone else. Danni had a great relationship with most of the jury as she didn't screw over her former alliancemates and barely lied at all throughout the game. I don't think that playing before really counted much against Steph (we did see the equally aggressive female player Danielle lose to somebody with better social play a season later) since Danni played a solid game.

[enlightenedbum]

On the one hand: Rafe was an obnoxious, greedy, moralizing twit at the end of the season. On the other hand: he wrote most of the best Chuck episodes this year. So I forgive him, I guess.

This season was fairly entertaining, though would have been better without Steph's whining for the first half and triumphalism in the second half.

[Lantern7]

I just figured Rafe to be a dopey Mormon in a long line of dopey Mormons (Julie Stoffer, anyone?) But he wrote three episodes of Chuck? Damn, that surprised me. Way to go, Rafe!

My fave reflection from then: "There's a part of me that now wants a Bobby Jon/Jamie final. You wouldn't need a jury...just put them in a steel cage, throw grits on the floor and play 'Sweet Home Alabama' while they tear each other's heads off. That's television history right there."

[AuntieLizard]

On the other hand: he wrote most of the best Chuck episodes this year.

What? That makes him a bigger celebrity than most of the Survivor contestants.

"There's a part of me that now wants a Bobby Jon/Jamie final. You wouldn't need a jury...just put them in a steel cage, throw grits on the floor and play 'Sweet Home Alabama' while they tear each other's heads off. That's television history right there."

I would have watched that. This season was painfully boring. A lot of people were sweet, some were mildly annoying - my sister and I stopped the rewatch halfway through.

[LemonLime]

I'm watching this season for the first time and I'm just wondering, was there no medical back then? With the puking, eyes rolling back and sprained ankle (so far) I'm surprised we don't see the med team.

[sienna gold]

I'm watching this season for the first time and I'm just wondering, was there no medical back then? With the puking, eyes rolling back and sprained ankle (so far) I'm surprised we don't see the med team.

There is always medical, but the medical has to be "called in". So I don't know if a medical personal is walking besides a camera man at all times ready to jump in. And I figured no one wants to risk being pulled out of the game over "something minor".

[Bob Sambob]

I will always wonder what this season would have been without Steph and Bobby Jon coming back.

It was so weird watching all the newbies just cater to Steph and what she wanted. Bobby Jon seemed to immediately gel with his teammates, but it seemed like almost everyone stepped aside for Steph. The same thing happened on a much bigger scale on Fan vs. Favorites, when NOT ONE (except Tracy ... another must-have for a Second Chance season) of the Fans had the balls to make a move against the Favorites.

That F Vs. F dynamic became retroactively glaring here when this cast (or at least the people on the same tribe with Steph ... Cindy is a great example) did the same thing for and against JUST ONE PERSON instead of for and against a TEAM of favorites.

Edited by Bob Sambob, Jun 2, 2010 @ 7:51 PM.

[Isuzu]

when NOT ONE (except Tracy ... another must-have for a Second Chance season) of the Fans had the balls to make a move against the Favorites

Even when Alexis, Natalie and Erik succesfully allied with Cirie to boot Amanda at F6? And were only thwarted because the producers liked Amanda more and gave her this weird HII at camp?

That being said, Tracy needs to come back.

And I liked Guatemala and Danni remains one of the best winners ever.

[Bob Sambob]

Even when Alexis, Natalie and Erik succesfully allied with Cirie to boot Amanda at F6?

I guess I was referring to the early stage of the game when there were still plenty of numbers on both sides.

[whippletheduck]

Didn't really like this season. If they had brought back people from a couple of seasons to this one, maybe it would have seen more sincere. Keeping it at just Stephenie and Bobby Jon seemed disengenous, especially when in S10 there were two people (Jonathan and Wanda) that did not even get picked for that first cut thing.

I think a lot of it was that Burnett wanted Steph to get as far as she could...she was the most popular female ever and right up there with Rupert. Putting her in a game where people were deferring to her on decision making SOLEY because she had already played is rather un-Survivor like and more or less told us in advance what would end up happening when they put S16 together, which IMHO Burnett did to get either Amanda/Parvati/Ozzy/James as the winner.

[Yogurt Baron]

Sorry I'm late to the party - I just watched this season for the first time. Not the best season, but the producers got what they wanted: 39 days of Steph, nothing for anyone else. She was the original Li'l Russell!

I, too, am surprised that no one from this season has ever been invited back---Danni got the most underwhelming edit of any winner I've ever seen, and I'd like to see her play again. Throughout the game, her only memorable moment was being the only person (in the game, or, you know, in the universe, ever) to recognize the long-retired backup quarterback who was so certain he was a household name---that was funny, and I wonder if TPTB cast them both in the same season for that exact purpose. I'd like to see Gary brought back too, to see if he would pretend to not be the same Gary H. who'd been on the Guatemala season. Stealth Challenge Monster Rafe is another all-time classic player.

Confused about this:

Bobby Jon? He was golden. Honestly, why wasn't he invited back to Heroes Vs. Villains? He didn't get voted off either time he was on...

How do you mean? He got voted off in Guatemala.

[Lantern7]

No, Gary got voted off . . . but when he presented the hidden immunity idol to Probst, Bobby Jon had to have his flame snuffed.

[Jabua]

Gary presented the idol before the vote, actually, so everyone in the ruling alliance then had to go after Bobby Jon in an actual vote.

[KimberStormer]

I posted this in another thread but it belongs here, I think:

Well I just finished Guatemala. It's interesting how prior knowledge/reputation changes my perception of things. From what I'd heard, I expected a Stephanie as obnoxious as Russell, and a Danni as invisible as Sophie, which means I was pleasantly surprised in both cases. (If I watched South Pacific again, I wonder if I would find that Sophie was more visible than I remember, too.)

To which I'd add, that was the worst-designed final IC that I can remember. When Jeff was describing it, I thought, "Let go of only one rope? That's insane" and indeed, it had the absolutely predictable result of sending everyone toppling off. I didn't expect the dangling, and getting their footing back, but once they did it they were all in a position that the producers obviously didn't intend, and gave an obvious advantage to tall players.

[Jyn]

I think the only thing they could count on from there was someone either slipping like Stephenie finally did, or losing focus and making Rafe's mistake. Luckily, both happened, so the challenge didn't go on for too long.

[SnideAsides]

I just rewatched this season recently, and... I have to be honest, Lydia might be one of the most underrated players of all time. Possibly the best social game ever.

Edited by SnideAsides, Nov 16, 2012 @ 3:15 AM.

[ByaNose]

It is amazing how Stephanie, Parviti & eventually Rob had to play meaner on their return visits and all ended up in the finals. Hantz was already mean so it was easier for him but it is pretty impressive that they were able go that far. Of course, they had the advantage of playing before but they totally had to change their game to get further. I'm just surprised that people still let returnees have the chance & let them get that far. I guess we could include Penner & Skupin too. If its me I'm pulling a Jeff Kent (much nicer & not a jack***) and vote any returnee out first. That's my game plan and I'm sticking to it. LOL! BTW! I was surprised that Judd was never asked back in a villain role. He got far the first time.

[kikaha]

I'm just surprised that people still let returnees have the chance & let them get that far.

Several newbies have tried to kick out the returning vets early, or publicly put targets on their backs. IIRC, with one exception they all failed. The newbies ended up going home real early, not the vets. (And the one that succeeded cost the 'victors' the rest of the game.)

There's a reason. The returnees have almost all been great players. They manipulate the other players well, they are good in challenges, know how to make camp better. When their tribe goes to tribal, everyone is desperate to stop losing. They look for the 'weaker' players. That keeps the returnees safer. When things go well, the issue doesn't come up.

The exception was Russell at RI. His tribe targeted him early on, even throwing the challenge so they could vote him out. Turned out the biggest mistake they could make. Besides thinning out their numbers, it started their long slide into oblivion. Also left Rob pretty much unopposed. They picked apart Russell's tribe.

Moral to me was, "be careful what you wish for."

[jsm1125]

Slightly off-topic, but I still maintain that Russell's tribe didn't exactly make a catastrophic move by throwing the challenge. They still WON the challenge immediately following Russell's elimination, and still had the numbers advantage by two people.

Anyway, does anybody know why Jeff thinks the Guatemala season is like the Black Plague? He even brought back Shii Ann from Thailand and Eliza and Ami from Vanautu.

[ByaNose]

I think he hated Judd and sort of liked Rafe. I also think (as usual) that Danni was a boring winner (and, a woman) thus it's not one of his favorite seasons. I didn't think it was that bad. I liked the part where Cindy (I think that's her name) didn't want to share the car (I miss that challenge) and, I still liked that Steph scratched and clawed her way to the end even thought she only got 1 vote. Not one of the greatest but not nearly as bad as Fiji or Thailand.