Survivor 34: Game Changers

[Jennasis]

Looks like Jeff Varner was fired from his real estate sales job due to his actions at tribal council on the show.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...-job-outing-transgender-contestant-zeke-smith

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Pretty harsh but typical these days. Once the social justice warriors put their feet on your throat, they won't let up.

 

[KingLlama]

Wow. Longtime DIS'er, glad I stumbled upon this board and this post. Enjoyed reading everyone's reactions to last week's episode.

Won't rehash that, but I will say that I wish they hadn't titled it "Game Changers". I mean, when it comes down to it, how many of the original cast could actually be considered people who "changed the game"? Five? Six? I feel like it was miscast from the start. I'm not saying it's a bad cast, it's fine....but most of these people aren't what I would call "game changers". Heck, I couldn't even remember 1-2 of these players.

But hyping it that way, and ESPECIALLY after a few of the legitimate "game changers"(Sandra, Tony) were voted off early, I wonder if the producers are trying too hard to run with that theme? I was thinking this before last week's episode, so I'm not saying that the Varner/Zeke situation is part of that, but I've thought this was the case for a few weeks now....that they're trying too hard to shoehorn that motif into every episode. You can even tell in the interviews with the players....frequently they'll refer to the theme. And that's what got me wondering if this season was just trying too hard.

"Survivor" works because the game is so good. It doesn't need gimmicks, and it doesn't need themes to help it along. Just get a great mix of personalities and backgrounds, and let it play itself out. The more organic, the better.

As far as how it'll play out the rest of the way, I actually think last week's TC makes it LESS likely that Zeke wins, not more. I'm thinking it comes down to Aubry, Tai, or Cirie, because they're the three who I think can most skillfully take out the bigger threats while pinning it on others. Actually, I think two of those three will make it to the Finals, and they'll bring Troyzan along as the 3rd because, well, he's Troyzan.

 

[lovin'fl]

Wow. Longtime DIS'er, glad I stumbled upon this board and this post. Enjoyed reading everyone's reactions to last week's episode.

Won't rehash that, but I will say that I wish they hadn't titled it "Game Changers". I mean, when it comes down to it, how many of the original cast could actually be considered people who "changed the game"? Five? Six? I feel like it was miscast from the start. I'm not saying it's a bad cast, it's fine....but most of these people aren't what I would call "game changers". Heck, I couldn't even remember 1-2 of these players.

But hyping it that way, and ESPECIALLY after a few of the legitimate "game changers"(Sandra, Tony) were voted off early, I wonder if the producers are trying too hard to run with that theme? I was thinking this before last week's episode, so I'm not saying that the Varner/Zeke situation is part of that, but I've thought this was the case for a few weeks now....that they're trying too hard to shoehorn that motif into every episode. You can even tell in the interviews with the players....frequently they'll refer to the theme. And that's what got me wondering if this season was just trying too hard.

"Survivor" works because the game is so good. It doesn't need gimmicks, and it doesn't need themes to help it along. Just get a great mix of personalities and backgrounds, and let it play itself out. The more organic, the better.

As far as how it'll play out the rest of the way, I actually think last week's TC makes it LESS likely that Zeke wins, not more. I'm thinking it comes down to Aubry, Tai, or Cirie, because they're the three who I think can most skillfully take out the bigger threats while pinning it on others. Actually, I think two of those three will make it to the Finals, and they'll bring Troyzan along as the 3rd because, well, he's Troyzan.

I am thinking it might be Aubrey and Culpepper taking Troyzan as F3. Disappointing as I LOVE Aubrey and HATE Culpepper but he is playing a good game and seems to have Aubrey suckered in... and Cirie might be part of it too, can see her in F4 with them. I'd rather see Aubrey team up with Ozzy but I suspect, once merge happens, Ozzy and Culpepper will be gunning for each other and Aubrey is, sadly, team Culpepper. Tai... can't see him going to the end. He just isn't a smart player plus he seems to be on people's radar.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

They'll have to beat Ozzy in a challenge to vote him out. Easier said than done.

 

[lynxstch]

Looks like Jeff Varner was fired from his real estate sales job due to his actions at tribal council on the show.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...-job-outing-transgender-contestant-zeke-smith

IMO it served him right. For me, that was pretty much the lowest, most despicable thing he could have done!

 

[Mizzoufan]

Looks like Jeff Varner was fired from his real estate sales job due to his actions at tribal council on the show.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...-job-outing-transgender-contestant-zeke-smith

I feel bad for him. I hope he finds a new job. I'm in the camp that believes it was set up on Survivor side. Esp with that puzzle and the puzzle word. That seems like a little to much of a coincidence for me.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't do conspiracy theory. I don't think Survivor "set Jeff up". I don't think they prodded him to say anything. I think he dug his own hole and went down his own path. That isn't to say that things aren't manipulated in editing, but nobody is to blame but Jeff Varner for doing what he did at tribal council.

With the way things have turned out for Varner, there is NO WAY he would stay silent if the show had anything at all to do with what he did/said. I do believe that his judgment may have been impaired due to the stress of being on the show. The hunger and exhaustion. It doesn't excuse the behavior...it just explains it AFAIC.

FWIW, I feel like he has been very real with his apologies. I hope he's able to find a new job and move past this.

 

[KingLlama]

They'll have to beat Ozzy in a challenge to vote him out. Easier said than done.

True. It won't be easy. But he won't win them all. And as past winners have proven, it's not as important to win the MOST challenges as it is to win the RIGHT challenges.

The difference in Ozzy this season is that he's playing a much more aware game(socially) than he has in the past, and hasn't been as trusting of others(Cirie), and he's laying relatively low. Even in last week's Varner/Zeke episode, he didn't say all that much(of course, that could've been editing). But this is easily the best he's played of his past three attempts.

Still, with Malcolm out, he is still the biggest physical threat remaining in the game. People are gonna take their shot. Not only to prevent him from making it to the final three, but also to bolster their own resume.

 

[Dancind]

I was thinking Zeke would go soon because someone will bring up the sympathy factor, that he might win because of it. Not the same thing but remember the lady that was quickly voted out because she had a prosthetic leg? The instigator's reason was the sympathy vote. They may have shown a clip of that this season, always thought that was pretty mean.

But no one could ever claim Survivor is a nice show. Glad they keep bringing back the Ozzys, Malcolms, Joes etc. Capable, easy on the eyes, fairly nice guys that are fun to watch even though they don't usually last long.

 

[aprilgail]

I am thinking it might be Aubrey and Culpepper taking Troyzan as F3. Disappointing as I LOVE Aubrey and HATE Culpepper but he is playing a good game and seems to have Aubrey suckered in... and Cirie might be part of it too, can see her in F4 with them. I'd rather see Aubrey team up with Ozzy but I suspect, once merge happens, Ozzy and Culpepper will be gunning for each other and Aubrey is, sadly, team Culpepper. Tai... can't see him going to the end. He just isn't a smart player plus he seems to be on people's radar.

I am the opposite- I like Culpepper and I HATE Aubrey! I don't like Tai either so he can't be gone soon enough!

 

[nikkistevej]

I am the opposite- I like Culpepper and I HATE Aubrey! I don't like Tai either so he can't be gone soon enough!

I agree with all this. Cannot stand Aubrey or Tai.

 

[Ride Junkie]

I rewatched the end of last week's episode. Did anyone else notice the clips they showed during Varner's exit speech? One of them was a slow-motion clip from one of the challenges where they showed Zeke shirtless, and there were visible surgical scars on his chest. Perhaps that was partly how Varner knew.

 

[xjillianpaige]

I rewatched the end of last week's episode. Did anyone else notice the clips they showed during Varner's exit speech? One of them was a slow-motion clip from one of the challenges where they showed Zeke shirtless, and there were visible surgical scars on his chest. Perhaps that was partly how Varner knew.

When he was outed, the first thing I did was google him to see if I could see his scars. It's hard! He has a verrrry hairy chest! That hides the scars a bit.

But to be fair, plenty of overweight men will have gynecomastia repairs which has the same scars.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I hated Aubrey in her first season but she seems less annoying this time around. Probably editing.

I was a big fan of Culpepper the first time around and still like him. I don't know why everyone hated him the first time around except that he stood up for his wife, which any man would do.

 

[KrazyPete]

Get your Fantasy Team roster swaps in before showtime.

 

[KingLlama]

But to be fair, plenty of overweight men will have gynecomastia repairs which has the same scars.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

How much airtime is Zeke going to get? Geez, it's like the Zeke show.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I hate Debbie so much

 

[lovin'fl]

Boo!! Debbie needs to go. And WTH with Cirie's vote????