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#Post#: 386797--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: animaniactoo
Date: April 25, 2026, 9:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: NoLongerAubergine link ---
>
> So I think you only have one more episode to be caught up.
This is based on that one - Ep 9 4/22.
>
> My beef with the twist
> [spoiler] I'm really not happy with so many of the twists
being determined solely by luck. Tonight's seemed especially
unfair. Requiring that a big reveal be read out loud to the
whole tribe gives the loser no chance to use cunning, strategy
or social connection to dodge the bullet. That seems counter to
the proposition that the winner is there from some combination
of strength, strategy, or social game. Boo to the idea that none
of those skills count at all.[/spoiler]
>
> lol. I didn't put it in those terms, but as you see, I had
problems with the setup because of those dynamics even if the
result of the journey was different.
>
> Consequences of last week's vote
>
> [spoiler] Having two members of the strongman coalition
(Coach, Joe, "Ozzy", Jonathan, Stephanie - I think Chrissy
though she is more of a hanger on than a contributor IMO) has
had a devastating effect on them. I have Ozzy in quotes, because
he really is tight with Cirie and is using Jonathan mostly to
gather information or sway opinion, and let's be honest, to play
both sides if it becomes necessary. But mostly the former. He
would only turn on Cirie if he was circling the drain. But I
don't see what that group has to offer him now that it's been
diminished. None of them are very good strategists and their
social game has mostly relied upon their own group, which limits
their ability to form new allies that are real and lasting.
>
> Joe has seen the light and went running to Cirie, which gives
her another number.[/spoiler]
>
> Agree on your evaluation here.
>
> Despite my complaints, this season has me more animated than
usual and more interested in digging into some of the underlying
strategy. So, I listed out how people voted and tried to figure
out why they did what they did - sometimes hard because editing
often leaves out conversations that would make the tribal too
predictable.
>
> My theory on favorites to win
>
> [spoiler] Cirie is handling this huge challenge of so many
people and so many of the weird twists with a lot of skill.
After so many close calls in past seasons, I think she has a
strong chance to win the jury's respect. The big unknown is what
other twists will be popping up. As I noted above, no matter how
well she handles the game handed to her, there is still a good
chance that some dumb twist will knock her out.
>
> I would love to see her win. I like Tiffany a lot too, and if
it's not Cirie then Tiffany would be my next pick. With Cirie’s
game and the lack of obvious bad blood there is little to trip
her up. Up to now anyway. That would make her hard to beat. But
Tiffany has some chance to do so. She has a good social and
physical game, and the skills to articulate them to the jury.
>
> I don’t see anyone else that comes close. Well, maybe Rizzo?
But I have doubts about how well he could articulate a coherent
narrative out of a somewhat chaotic approach to his game. Still
I think he has the next best chance, because I think he has more
allies than, say, Aubry. Strike that – people that like him. He
only has allies that are actually Cirie’s allies. Joe is a
likeable guy, but that’s not enough by itself, and he doesn’t
have much story to tell. That’s pretty much true of all the rest
– thin stories and/or not a persuasive storyteller. That says to
me that Tiffany is not one that Cirie wants in the final three
with her.
>
> I think her best bets are Joe and, oddly enough, Ozzy. IIRC
Ozzy has ticked off a few people. And Cirie has been directing
him a lot. (I’m pretty sure she was involved in the decision
about who he voted for in this episode.) So, her narrative for
both of those two is that she saved both of them and was the top
of that hierarchy. I don’t think they could overcome the story
she could lay out.[/spoiler]
>
> Whew. Told you I’m animated this season.
>
--- End Quote ---
My evaluation:
[spoiler]
Agree that Cirie mostly has the best story but despite her
directing him in this episode, Ozzy has made moves that he can
articulate and he's built relaitonships. The question may come
down to whether people go for relationships or strategy as game
play.
Rizzo has too much "going with the majority" and not enough
"this was my idea" going on. He is able to analyze well to
decide which way to go, but it's more looking at what other
people are doing and deciding which bandwagon to jump on, not
which player he wants to target. He carries information well and
makes himself useful... but is that significant enough?
[/spoiler]
#Post#: 386805--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: NoLongerAubergine
Date: April 25, 2026, 10:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: animaniactoo link ---
>
> Back at camp
>
> [spoiler]
>
> Tiff talking Devins - I'm not actually clear on whether she's
just trying to flush his idol or being real with him. I think
more likely trying to flush it.
>
> Emily sure seems to be enjoying that rice that she was
concerned about how much was being made. I don't like that Cirie
was so dictatorial about it and I think she made a mistake in
not letting Emily have her say and working through it to do the
exact thing they were going to do anyway.
>
> Jonathon working overtime on whipping votes against Christian.
He does seem to be being relatively calm about it, but not sure
if he's in the "doing too much" territory.
>
> [/spoiler]
>
> Journey
>
> [spoiler]
>
> I don't think he's gonna make it.
>
> But also... this is just WAYYYYYY too early to know what you
want to do in terms of a vote in the urn. It locks you into a
plan that you then have to go try and get people on board with
because you've already committed to it. Or you've got to have
tossed your vote and lost it essentially.
>
> Um. Pretty sure that was a fake shot of the puzzle in the
water. Physics wise I don't think it would have stayed as
assembled as he had it once it hit the water, so that lovely
sinking shot further underwater is nice and dramatic but tripped
my willing suspension of disbelief...
>
> [/spoiler]
>
> Back at camp
>
> [spoiler]
>
> Holy Crap. That penalty is way too high. But I bet Ozzy's not
so upset that Christian went on the journey instead of him.
>
> Oh look, there he is being snarky about it. I mean, I get that
he doesn't like Christian, but that is not a good look on him.
>
> Emily painting a target on her back. But they're blaming her
for "being messy" when all of them are just as fucking messy and
trying to shift targets.
>
> And Ozzy taking that betrayal hard and talking about how she's
a flip-flopper? Dude... you were working with Coach! What are
you talking about? I like you, but my lord the hypocrisy all
over this camp right now.
>
> Emily is only "messy" and "chaos" and a "flipflopper" because
she's trying to come after one of the people you really want to
protect. But whatever you need to tell yourselves to eliminate
the threat that she actually is when she's trying to come for
your people. And she thought you were her people.
>
> [/spoiler]
>
> Tribal
>
> [spoiler]
>
> Emily... you risk for reward. That is Survivor. What you're
saying right now feels great but omg. You just put an even
bigger target on your back with your self-righteousness.
>
> This is literally called "how to make me lose the sympathy I
just had for you". And like... maybe Tiff is right about "messy"
because sit the fark back and shut up, there is no good reason
to be saying what you're saying right now publicly.
>
> lol @ Christian "No more ideas for you". Poor guy.
>
> Wow, I would have thought Devins wasn't going to get even one
vote.
>
> Can't believe nobody went for Emily though after all that.
Usually the smack talk smatter talk results in at least one
vote.
>
> Yeah, that journey really did not do Christian well, but even
more than that, it was what he was doing before he went on it.
>
> People keep trying to go for the big threats but they go for
the well-liked big threats and end up backfiring on themselves.
>
> [/spoiler]
>
--- End Quote ---
[spoiler]Re rice. Cirie was hangry. Seems like most of the rest
of tribe was too. At first I held my breath a bit, but I think
it was fine. Emily came off as a little too school marm.
I thought the shots in the water were weird, too.
I've given up on Emily a while back. IMO, she is messy.
As to the votes, I was surprised that none were for Emily, too.
That was one thing that caused me to do a deep dive, and I
realized it made sense. Rizzo is someone who vents but it
doesn't seem to ultimately decide who he will vote for. So he
stuck with the Cirie crew. Emily is an emotional voter - hence
Ozzy despite the lack of numbers. [/spoiler]
#Post#: 386828--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: animaniactoo
Date: April 26, 2026, 7:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Cirie was hangry. LOL Fair point!
#Post#: 387337--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: NoLongerAubergine
Date: April 28, 2026, 4:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
FYI in case you had not heard. Tomorrow's episode #10 will be
two hours instead of ninety minutes.
I wonder what off-the-wall thing they have planned now.
#Post#: 387356--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: animaniactoo
Date: April 28, 2026, 7:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: NoLongerAubergine link ---
>
> FYI in case you had not heard. Tomorrow's episode #10 will be
two hours instead of ninety minutes.
>
> I wonder what off-the-wall thing they have planned now.
>
--- End Quote ---
I had not heard. I will be prepared!
#Post#: 388168--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: animaniactoo
Date: May 3, 2026, 9:04 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Episode 10
Post Tribal
[spoiler]
Ozzy leaning back and calmly talking to Emily... very very smart
play. Emily "I've never been on the wrong side of a vote
before". Welcome to Survivor!
Devens recovering well. Although... him and Emily getting
together as agents of chaos is... probably too late for them.
[/spoiler]
Camp Convo
[spoiler]
Well, Aubry... it feels skinny because you haven't built your
relationships well enough to have a wide open field of play.
Devens revealing the idol is a fake.... and that he set that up
so long ago... that was not a smart play for him. He's just
setting himself up and he already knows it.
[/spoiler]
THE EVENT
[spoiler]
Survivor Auction! You know they have come up with some insane
things to have in this auction.
Devens got really happy at Chaos possibilities.
Aubry trying to get Jeff to say how many items. LOL.
Devens standing there eating his wins... wtf?
Milkshake... wait. What FLAVOR is that milkshake? I am
suspicious.
Went fast though. Hmm. Chocolate, no chaos?
Snack tray... what flavor is the dip?
Dayum, the shared item - and they're bidding without seeing it?
Ewww. Chaos. Just EWWWW.
Jonathon & Ozzy shared item. Blind double blind, triple blind.
Jonathon is just going for that on pride. There's no reason to
do it otherwise. This is total peer pressure. Ozzy owes him big
time. Even bigger than Rizzo owes Aubry.
Cirie "Okay, I'm back." lol. One hundred percent matter of fact.
The full tribe shared item. Why does that feel like Ebay's "buy
now" button? hmmmm.
Joe showing off high EQ here back to back.
Mr Beast? Um. Hmmm. I may be too old. I don't know who that is.
Apparently some of them do know.
"Our little show". Uh huh. <eyeroll>
A beware advantage... hmmmm.
You don't find out until tribal? Oh yeah. That's going to be
DANGEROUS. Especially because nobody has any idea how to prepare
around that whether it's going to affect them and their vote or
not.
[/spoiler]
#Post#: 388174--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: animaniactoo
Date: May 3, 2026, 10:28 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Immunity Challenge
[spoiler]
This better not be a physically demanding Challenge given that
they've all just eaten a bunch of food...
Holy shit. I just thought of the most chaotic twisty minded
thing you could do with a beware advantage... make it cancel
immunity in order to play it. Um. Okay, I'm just gonna show my
brain out now and go back to watching.
I am bothered. I don't think this is responsible. This is
theoretically a stamina challenge, but with the ball, that's a
lot of movement and they've just eaten.
Dayum, Devens seriously struggling. And boom. And there goes
Emily. The two main targets have no immunity.
Down to Tiff and Ozzy.
and like that, Tiff has it. Nice that it means she makes it past
her previous game.
[/spoiler]
Back at camp
[spoiler]
The letters... ohhhh. it's not just one letter from home, it's
multiple letters. That's awesome. Really really awesome.
Interesting that they're all off to read them privately. Sharing
them and reading them to each other has been a significant
bonding moment in previous seasons.
Jonathon... how dense are you. The point of Devens antics with
the idol is that he IS a big thread you numbskull. He is
strategic and thinking far ahead. How can you be so blind to
that danger?
Um. You guys JUST went after Ozzy and it did not go so well.
And Joe being smart is going to talk to Cirie cuz he did figure
out where safety really lies. I did think that they might try to
go after a big target. But Stephenie just screwed herself by
doing the same thing... and lying.
And Ozzy wait... WHY ARE YOU TELLING JONATHON ABOUT THIS? Did
you miss the part where Cirie said it was the both of them?
Advantages gonna be dropping left right and center tonight.
lol. Practically everyone's name is in play. Stephenie going to
Cirie and Cirie covered herself very well.
Devens planning to blow everything up at tribal. Dumb dumb move.
If there's any shot that you're NOT the target, tribal is highly
emotional and you're going to make people upset AT tribal? And
probably looking AT YOU?
[/spoiler]
Tribal
[spoiler]
Um. Yeah, there's a lot of time left on the clock going into
Tribal. Somehow, I think "live tribal" is going to be the
understatement of the year.
lmao. Aubry kicking off live tribal whispering as they're
sitting down.
Here goes Devens...
Stephenie... saying you're never going to say a name first...
means you're not actually making any of your own moves you're
just signing on to someone else's move. You're trying to
survive, but you're weakening your jury case.
Rizzo... mad respect for "you're supposed to say names, man up
and say you did it."
Mr beast super beware advantage... as he's opening the case, my
brain just fired off "all advantages are null and void!"
Shhhhh brain. Shhhhhh. 2 more seconds... okay, after the
commercial break. TG for DVR and fast forward...
Oh man. That's a super deal. Where's the beware part. There it
is.
Steph asks the important question. I thought it was Aubry who
asked it but Jeff said Steph? Whatever. Not worth rewinding for.
Ozzy laying it out there. Devens already feels like he's at
risk. So he might as well.
Emily stating the obvious there. Sorry. Ozzy already made the
point and NONE of these people are dense enough (okay, maybe
Jonathon is) to need it explained.
Okay, that really is the fun of Devens even though he gets on my
nerves sometimes. He is all in living out loud about this and
taking the opportunity that is presented for maximum reward even
when it comes with maximum risk. Living in it, experiencing it,
appreciating it.
I wonder if they weighted the coin. Would be easy enough to
predict someone would take "heads" with that setup. What do you
mean I have a suspicious mind? Me? Suspicious of production?
Whatever.
Wouldn't it be amazing if Devens played that idol to save
someone else tonight? That would be maximum Chaos.
Wonder if it increases the pressure for 2 mil vs 1 mil.
Here we gooo....
wow. I was so sure that more advantages would get played.
I think it's going to be Steph. Yup. She did not help herself at
all by saying she was not stupid enough say someone's name
first.
I've liked her in the past but she did not play well this
season. I think she's going to look back and regret a lot of
moves.
[/spoiler]
#Post#: 388952--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: NoLongerAubergine
Date: May 7, 2026, 6:29 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: animaniactoo link ---
>
> Immunity Challenge
>
> [spoiler]
>
> This better not be a physically demanding Challenge given that
they've all just eaten a bunch of food...
>
> Holy shit. I just thought of the most chaotic twisty minded
thing you could do with a beware advantage... make it cancel
immunity in order to play it. Um. Okay, I'm just gonna show my
brain out now and go back to watching.
>
> I am bothered. I don't think this is responsible. This is
theoretically a stamina challenge, but with the ball, that's a
lot of movement and they've just eaten.
>
> Dayum, Devens seriously struggling. And boom. And there goes
Emily. The two main targets have no immunity.
>
> Down to Tiff and Ozzy.
>
> and like that, Tiff has it. Nice that it means she makes it
past her previous game.
>
> [/spoiler]
>
> Back at camp
>
> [spoiler]
>
> The letters... ohhhh. it's not just one letter from home, it's
multiple letters. That's awesome. Really really awesome.
>
> Interesting that they're all off to read them privately.
Sharing them and reading them to each other has been a
significant bonding moment in previous seasons.
>
> Jonathon... how dense are you. The point of Devens antics with
the idol is that he IS a big thread you numbskull. He is
strategic and thinking far ahead. How can you be so blind to
that danger?
>
> Um. You guys JUST went after Ozzy and it did not go so well.
>
> And Joe being smart is going to talk to Cirie cuz he did
figure out where safety really lies. I did think that they might
try to go after a big target. But Stephenie just screwed herself
by doing the same thing... and lying.
>
> And Ozzy wait... WHY ARE YOU TELLING JONATHON ABOUT THIS? Did
you miss the part where Cirie said it was the both of them?
>
> Advantages gonna be dropping left right and center tonight.
>
> lol. Practically everyone's name is in play. Stephenie going
to Cirie and Cirie covered herself very well.
>
> Devens planning to blow everything up at tribal. Dumb dumb
move. If there's any shot that you're NOT the target, tribal is
highly emotional and you're going to make people upset AT
tribal? And probably looking AT YOU?
>
> [/spoiler]
>
> Tribal
>
> [spoiler]
>
> Um. Yeah, there's a lot of time left on the clock going into
Tribal. Somehow, I think "live tribal" is going to be the
understatement of the year.
>
> lmao. Aubry kicking off live tribal whispering as they're
sitting down.
>
> Here goes Devens...
>
> Stephenie... saying you're never going to say a name first...
means you're not actually making any of your own moves you're
just signing on to someone else's move. You're trying to
survive, but you're weakening your jury case.
>
> Rizzo... mad respect for "you're supposed to say names, man up
and say you did it."
>
> Mr beast super beware advantage... as he's opening the case,
my brain just fired off "all advantages are null and void!"
>
> Shhhhh brain. Shhhhhh. 2 more seconds... okay, after the
commercial break. TG for DVR and fast forward...
>
> Oh man. That's a super deal. Where's the beware part. There
it is.
>
> Steph asks the important question. I thought it was Aubry who
asked it but Jeff said Steph? Whatever. Not worth rewinding for.
>
> Ozzy laying it out there. Devens already feels like he's at
risk. So he might as well.
>
> Emily stating the obvious there. Sorry. Ozzy already made the
point and NONE of these people are dense enough (okay, maybe
Jonathon is) to need it explained.
>
> Okay, that really is the fun of Devens even though he gets on
my nerves sometimes. He is all in living out loud about this and
taking the opportunity that is presented for maximum reward even
when it comes with maximum risk. Living in it, experiencing it,
appreciating it.
>
> I wonder if they weighted the coin. Would be easy enough to
predict someone would take "heads" with that setup. What do you
mean I have a suspicious mind? Me? Suspicious of production?
Whatever.
>
> Wouldn't it be amazing if Devens played that idol to save
someone else tonight? That would be maximum Chaos.
>
> Wonder if it increases the pressure for 2 mil vs 1 mil.
>
> Here we gooo....
>
> wow. I was so sure that more advantages would get played.
>
> I think it's going to be Steph. Yup. She did not help herself
at all by saying she was not stupid enough say someone's name
first.
>
> I've liked her in the past but she did not play well this
season. I think she's going to look back and regret a lot of
moves.
>
> [/spoiler]
>
--- End Quote ---
[spoiler]LOL. I thought I would be the only one not to know who
Mr Beast was,
I,m still not thrilled with some of these twists. But at least
the result gave a win to anyone left in the game. And it gave
the likely loser a chance to pull himself out of the fire. I'm
not mad about either of those things.[/spoiler] Though the final
vote wasn't a surprise to me because when I got up that next
morning (when I had not watched it yet), of course there was a
big headline on the newsfeed when I first opened up my computer.
I guess I should not touch my computer at all on Thursdays until
after I watch. :)
#Post#: 388953--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: NoLongerAubergine
Date: May 7, 2026, 6:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
5/6
[spoiler] Wow. My head is spinning.
When they first split up the tribals, I was unhappy because such
a small group upsets the dynamics so much - especially when it
hands the one person soooo much power. But of course, that was
the intent, I'm sure. Perhaps the immunity challenge was a
metaphor. The ground is not stable under their feet.
But, I've gotta say, the pre-tribal discussions were
fascinating. Everyone (except Ozzy) brought their A game, I
think. A whole lot of creative thinking. Ozzy was hoisted on his
own petard. He was thinking that telling Aubry everything so
honestly would win him her vote when she was on the jury? Oy.
I might be coming around to appreciating some of these twists.
LOL, Joe. Devin's stunt last week was in "poor taste"? That's
enough to get him really angry and moping about it? I'm really
tired of him. Even Jonathan out-strategizes him. In fact
Jonathan seems to have grown a lot in that area and isn't
relying so much on his physical performance as he used to.
Cirie continues to be a target and likely will continue to be.
She also managed to get herself out of the line of fire, but
will her luck hold out? As the group shrinks, I'm worried. But I
do agree with what was said in some of the discussions - her
opponents recognize what a great game she has played. If she
makes it to the end, she most likely wins. I'm doubtful that she
can make it to the end for the very reason that it's so obvious,
and others can't let that be a possibility.[/spoiler/]
#Post#: 389201--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reality Show Addict 2026
DIR By: animaniactoo
Date: May 9, 2026, 5:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Episode 11:
Post tribal/Camp Life:
[spoiler]
Aubry talking to and about Devins... don't get cocky. Don't get
cocky....
Joe... you might have handled it well before... but um... you're
not right now.
Interesting about them managing Joe's emotions. I don't know if
I remember that from his first season. He can be intense, but he
also really is into being an honorable person and playing with
honor. On his first season, he played with someone who was
autistic and she trusted him to explain to him what she would
need if she had a meltdown/freakout. They ended up on different
tribes and she started to meltdown during an immunity challenge
and he was just focused on her the whole time, stopped Jeff when
he was talking to her and asked if he could give her a hug
(which is what she needed - the embrace, the touch). Went over
there, helped her through it, and then went back to his tribe as
if it was no big deal at all. So I have a lot of respect for him
from that, but if he's not managing his own emotions... it makes
me see him a bit differently. Also wonder if they really NEED to
manage his emotions or he recovers and pulls out of his own
spiral on his own if they don't put in that work... mostly
because he's seemed more stable than that to me.
I get that Cirie has PTSD but I'm not sure she is making a smart
move here. Idols can be played for other people.
Ozzy having regrets about his dad.... heartbreaking stuff.
The convo with Devins. This is some of what I watch Survivor
for. Those connections, those convos. Separate from the game,
but part of the experience.
Emily's analysis is good... can she make the move without being
messy about it?
[/spoiler]
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