Survivor 34: Game Changers

[DisneyFan32WI]

Before tribal council, Varner said that he would cut everyone off at the knees if he had to. I think he was planning on things like this to say if he felt trapped. I thought Jeff lectured too much and pretty much made sure that Varner was going home. I always thought that something was different about Zeke (soft blue eyes, small ears, higher voice). Now I know why. I just never expected that much hair (full beard, chest hair, mustache, etc).
At least Debbie wasn't annoying last night.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Regarding last night, my initial reaction was how did Varner know Zeke was transgender? But the two seemed close (or were portrayed that way) so I could see Zeke telling him.

No I don't think Zeke told him because at Tribal, Zeke said "In my two years of playing Survivor, I haven't told anyone."

I think Varner just knew. I had my suspicions as well and that was just from watching him on TV for a little bit of time. If you're with him 24-7, I think it'd be pretty easy to know.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Also one thing I don't understand. In Zeke's last season, he told Brett (I think that was his name) that he was gay. But if Zeke was born female but transitioned to male and wants to date men, is he really gay or just transgender?

 

[xjillianpaige]

Also one thing I don't understand. In Zeke's last season, he told Brett (I think that was his name) that he was gay. But if Zeke was born female but transitioned to male and wants to date men, is he really gay or just transgender?

Sexuality and gender are totally different. If he identifies as male and is sexually attracted to men then he is a gay man, as he identified last season.

Some other people mentioned the editing but I really don't think they could have edited it out and had it make sense. And I don't think zeke had any say in whether or not it got edited. They sign a contract basically accepting that the edit is what the edit is and it's up to production.

 

[lovin'fl]

Plus, we may see them go back to camp after TC, in next week's episode, and talk about it. Probably will see them talk a lot about it. If merge is soon, then we'll likely see it get discussed at merge too. So there may be too much to edit.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Plus, we may see them go back to camp after TC, in next week's episode, and talk about it. Probably will see them talk a lot about it. If merge is soon, then we'll likely see it get discussed at merge too. So there may be too much to edit.

I hope not. I hope once the merge happens that this incident is forgotten. As I said earlier, if this turns into something that garners sympathy for Zeke and he wins because of it, I probably won't watch this show again. I'm not interested in scripted Hallmark moments.

 

[rickybobby]

Just watched the episode. Good arguments for it being possibly scripted, but sure looked like raw emotion.

 

[mnrose]

Just watched the episode. Good arguments for it being possibly scripted, but sure looked like raw emotion.

I don't think any of them are that good of actors. LOL. I think it was real. Zeke said in that article (link was posted above) that he was fumbling around trying to think of what to say, and hit upon the metamorphosis thing, and that it was coincidental. I believe him.

 

[mnrose]

Sexuality and gender are totally different. If he identifies as male and is sexually attracted to men then he is a gay man, as he identified last season.

Some other people mentioned the editing but I really don't think they could have edited it out and had it make sense. And I don't think zeke had any say in whether or not it got edited. They sign a contract basically accepting that the edit is what the edit is and it's up to production.

100% correct. Some female to male transgender individuals are attracted to females and some to males....i.e., some are heterosexual and some are gay.

 

[Aladora]

And, imo, CBS outed Zeke. That part could have been removed from broadcast. Zeke is already out proud and transgendered (and has/had a girlfriend) on that Harvard link from 7 years ago. I wonder if he told Bret the gay cop from last season with whom he bonded?

CBS consulted with both Zeke and GLAAD before the show was aired.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

By the way, it would have been hilarious if after Probst said, "we don't need to vote, Varner is going home," Varner would have said, "Not so fast Jeff. I ain't finished playing just yet." And then handed him an idol.

And then Varner votes out Zeke.

 

[Moxiepup]

I hope not. I hope once the merge happens that this incident is forgotten. As I said earlier, if this turns into something that garners sympathy for Zeke and he wins because of it, I probably won't watch this show again. I'm not interested in scripted Hallmark moments.

So you're saying that the only reason Zeke could win would be because of Varner outing him? That's not very fair minded. Players have to overcome many obstacles, physical, emotional, and strategic to win. I really don't think that when it comes down to the line, that people will vote for someone just because they're transgender. It's about how you play the game, no matter how you identify.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

So you're saying that the only reason Zeke could win would be because of Varner outing him? That's not very fair minded. Players have to overcome many obstacles, physical, emotional, and strategic to win. I really don't think that when it comes down to the line, that people will vote for someone just because they're transgender. It's about how you play the game, no matter how you identify.

I said that it shouldn't even be one of the reasons that helps Zeke win. It simply is irrelevant in terms of the game. But it seemed like Probst set it up so that Zeke could give a little speech and Zeke made the most of it. But that was probably just a small sample of what we would get at final tribal.

I really hate when the players intertwine their personal lives back home with the game in order to persuade the jury why they should win. It should be 100% about the game (i.e. how did you outwit, how did you outplay, and how did you outlast).

 

[jrmasm]

I said that it shouldn't even be one of the reasons that helps Zeke win. It simply is irrelevant in terms of the game. But it seemed like Probst set it up so that Zeke could give a little speech and Zeke made the most of it. But that was probably just a small sample of what we would get at final tribal.

I really hate when the players intertwine their personal lives back home with the game in order to persuade the jury why they should win. It should be 100% about the game (i.e. how did you outwit, how did you outplay, and how did you outlast).

I agree. I thought the winner last season was completely manipulative with his mother's situation. It drove me crazy!

 

[Moxiepup]

I said that it shouldn't even be one of the reasons that helps Zeke win. It simply is irrelevant in terms of the game. But it seemed like Probst set it up so that Zeke could give a little speech and Zeke made the most of it. But that was probably just a small sample of what we would get at final tribal.

I really hate when the players intertwine their personal lives back home with the game in order to persuade the jury why they should win. It should be 100% about the game (i.e. how did you outwit, how did you outplay, and how did you outlast).

Do you really think that Zeke shouldn't have been given the opportunity to address the issue after Varner brought it up? Zeke wasn't the one intertwining his personal life into the game. Varner did that for him. There is no putting the cat back into the bag. You seem to be laying the blame for this at Zeke's feet, but it was Varner who brought it into the game, and he paid the price. Had the tribe reacted the way Varner had hoped, and ithe information had hurt Zeke's chances, would you still be thinking it unfair?

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Do you really think that Zeke shouldn't have been given the opportunity to address the issue after Varner brought it up? Zeke wasn't the one intertwining his personal life into the game. Varner did that for him. There is no putting the cat back into the bag. You seem to be laying the blame for this at Zeke's feet, but it was Varner who brought it into the game, and he paid the price. Had the tribe reacted the way Varner had hoped, and ithe information had hurt Zeke's chances, would you still be thinking it unfair?

As I've said now for the 3rd time, I'm fine with it now. But I want it to be forgotten when the merge happens and if Zeke does make to final tribal, I don't want it discussed because it has absolutely nothing to do with why he should win the game. Do you understand?

 

[Moxiepup]

As I've said now for the 3rd time, I'm fine with it now. But I want it to be forgotten when the merge happen and if Zeke does it make to final tribal, I don't want it discussed because it has absolutely nothing to do with why he should win the game. Do you understand?

Agreed that it should have absolutely nothing to do with why he should win the game (as I said earlier). However, that does not preclude that that could be the ONLY reason he could win the game. Do YOU understands?

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Agreed that it should have absolutely nothing to do with why he should win the game (as I said earlier). However, that does not preclude that that could be the ONLY reason he could win the game. Do YOU understands?

1) I never said it would be the ONLY reason he would win
2) It shouldn't even be A reason that he would win

 

[gometros]

Hopefully they gave Zeke the option to have that section edited out of the show. It would have been weird and choppy but I'm sure they could have figured out a way.

There was a piece about this on GMA this morning It was only aired after conferring with, and getting the okay from, Smith.

 

[cats mom]

In the article linked on the previous page Zeke says he knew this was something he might need to address when he signed up to be on Survivor, and he had decided (at least in general terms) how he would respond months before Varner made that a necessity. Of course I'm sure he was picturing any such discussion happening differently than it did. Even with the ambiguous ethical code of Survivor game play as a backdrop, what Varner did was wrong on so many levels, I don't think anyone could have adequately prepared for that. I would be disappointed if Survivor had chosen not to show the incident, or to gloss over it, though. The show bills itself as a social experiment, and as such, they need to show the good, the, bad, and the ugly interactions.

There have been enough tribe changes this season I don't know whether I can keep whether people are sticking with current tribe lines or going back to previous ones straight. I'm game to try though.