These occasional Survivor “All-Stars” editions are a good idea for the franchise. Usually it takes a few weeks before we know anyone well enough to give a damn about them, which means we generally don’t care about the first several people eliminated. By filling the cast with people long-time fans have seen before, it changes the game immediately.
I already have thoughts, opinions and feelings about last night’s eliminated player, and there are still 19 people out there. For the most part, the casting department did a great job of pulling together some of the most remembered contestants in the history of the game, but there will always be those who bitch about who is and isn’t there.
In the cases of Danielle and Candice, I understand. Who the hell are they? 300+ contestants later, nobody remembers. But you have to consider that many people would probably never do it again if they were promised a million dollars to do it, and others — like Richard Hatch — were unable to attend for various reasons. But we still got some fascinating additions.
There was a little bit of self-congratulations and idol worship throughout the episode, but it looks like we may be able to put that behind us. I think Boston Rob earned himself some praise for seeing that the Villains side was a bunch of lazy good-for-nothing and stepping up to make fire all by himself … without flint! Randy was such a tool he’d decided already it couldn’t be done.
The sequence where Rob and Sandra were betting on whether or not Coach would shimmy up a palm tree to get the fronds was a classic example of why this format can be fun. These people know one another, or at least of one another, and it’s a lot of fun watching them play off of that.
Also, with each team winning a challenge right off the bat, it keeps any one side from getting too cocky. I think Rupert was right in thinking the Heroes side was feeling a bit sure of themselves going into the second challenge. Instead, they exposed a massive weakness on their side.
Heroes are generally classified as those people who played a fairly clean game (or at least hid their scheming well, like Cirie), often succeeding through physical prowess like Tom, James and J.T. at critical moments in their seasons. The Villains are those people who plotted and manipulated the game to their advantage. In other words, the intellectually savvier people are on the Villains camp, and I think that showed when it came time to do the puzzle.
Unfortunately, as Jeff pointed out, there are pretty much always puzzles on Survivor now, and because this is an All-Stars edition, they will be even harder. If I were the Heroes, I’d be a little worried about that. I’d also be looking to figure out how to plot and scheme and form alliances people won’t expect, because if a lot of those Villains are still around post-merge, things are going to get very hairy for them.
It is interesting that the girls, for the most part, stayed in the background this time. The men were preening their feathers on both sides of the camp, but you didn’t hear much from the Ciries, Amandas and Parvatis of the world. Another force to be reckoned with is quiet women on the island. Quiet women can lead to all-girl alliances, and those are very tough to break up. Especially with some of the women on the island right now.
When it came time for the Heroes to decide who to send home, I understand their reasoning for choosing Sugar, while at the same time I don’t get it at all. As Jeff pointed out, she didn’t play with anyone there so doesn’t have any natural incoming alliances. She proved herself willing to do anything for her team by scoring a point in the reward challenge even after Sandra had undone her bra. Hell, she scored one of their three points.
What did she do wrong? She was one of four people who blew a puzzle challenge? The only things that stand out are that she annoyed everyone at night by keeping them up and trying to flirt with Colby, and she cried. I guess none of them watched her season, because she cries all the time. It’s not a sign of her weakness, it’s just a part of her character. Hell, she made it pretty damned far that season.
But maybe that’s it. Even though they didn’t show us anyone talking about it, Sugar played a surprisingly clever strategic game in her season, catapulting herself toward the end at key moments. But it looks like it was a move to eliminate their perceived weakest player. Cirie is perhaps physically stronger, but she’s also far more dangerous. Not only because she has Amanda in the game with her, but because nobody plays a social game in the history of Survivor as well as Cirie. There’s a reason people are surprised she’s on the Heroes side, and its because of how manipulative and under-handed she can be. But she does it all with a giggle and a smile. That’s why.
Russell’s fun to watch, scrambling around with this group of Survivor veterans. I thought it was very interesting that Parvati saw through what he was doing with trying to make alliances with everyone, but agreed anyway, and seemed genuine enough about it. She’d rather keep him on her side than against her. In other words, even when they see through him, these people might still work with Russell, which could bode very well for his gameplay.
Next week’s promo has me worried. The first “All-Stars” season had people leaving the show constantly for reasons other than Tribal elimination, and it would be a shame to lose Rob that quickly. Stephenie and Rupert took injuries during the first challenge and they’re still in there. But Rob looked pretty messed up in what we saw, and he’s as much as already indicate that he’s not willing to fight through anything, now that he has a wife and kid at home, and plenty of cash.
Already, I can tell this is shaping up to be a fantastic season of Survivor! Coach and Jerri alone is enough to make me turn my head, though it would be nice for Jerri to have a positive experience on the island for once. Maybe she’ll stick around this time for the reunion. It could turn out to be one of the best seasons yet.
Clacked by Jason Hughes 
on Feb 12, 2010 @ 16:31 EST5EDT
Boston Rob can’t be gone soon enough for me. He wore out his welcome after his first appearance. This is his third, plus the TV wedding and The Amazing Race. Enough already!
I’m curious to know how well the all-stars actually know Russell since the seasons were filmed back to back so they couldn’t have watched his season, and at this point in time, Russell didn’t know he’d lost his season based on his game play…the same strategy he’s employing now. Whoops!
The fun thing is people can’t know Russell. He’s filmed back to back seasons and that’s also why I’m afraid he will be gone soon – he’s very think compared to season 19. Also I think he clinged so much to the title in the Reunion show of Season 19 it’s an indicator that he’ll be gone rather sooner than later from Season 20. Which is a pity.
To be honest I disagree with you that this will be a great Season. I am a big fan of Survivor and I almost liked every Season, except maybe Amazon. And the First All Stars.
I think especially because we know these people so well, we also have grudges against them from the start. That could be why we tune in, but on the other hand it’s also why we grow tired of them much earlier. I don’t really like any single one of the people on this Season – except Boston Rob. I know it sounds idiotic but I like how this guy managed to get to where he is now. It was fun seeing him grow – but he’s done now, and I don’t get why I should watch a weak version of his former self compete. He doesn’t need it anymore and that’s exactly how he performs. And like you mentioned it, I really think he’s going to pull a Jonny Fairplay on us. Many of these guys must’ve gotten a huge signing bonus for this Season and I think for some of them getting on the show was all they wanted.
Also I don’t like Coach for ovious reasons. I started fast forwarding through his scenes on this season back then – and I’m doing it again here. It’s unbearable for me. Sugar’s crying is more acceptable than him acting like a complete lunatic. I mean this guy is clearly mentally impaired and they get him on the show again. I really think it’s good for him. This guy needs help. I’m not saying this because I’m really worried about him, this isn’t to spite him. I really do think that something’s wrong with him and that he should see someone about it. He’s the kind of person back in roman times who thinks he can talk to the Lions not to eat him.
Also I don’t understand why you would put on Rupert for a third time. I can understand it from a producer’s standpoint, but that’s about it. He’s gotten his million. He isn’t the little guy who got screwed over anymore and also I can’t really take his “If you are good, good things will come to you” attitude. That’s so extremely wrong for this show. I get it that people in the US have a hard time in Highschool getting bullied and that the school system promotes people separating into groups – which isn’t really the case over here. I’m not scarred for life by school and while there’s of course bullying, I just can’t sympathize with Rupert (any more). To me, he’s not the underdog anymore and he also isn’t someone who gets bullied. I mean how long can you portray a guy how’s been bullied all his life? I think he “grew up” on Survivor and that would just make him another grownup now. So where’s the reason to root for him now?
I can give you one: His charity. I know it sounds strange but I know he’s mostly doing things for his charity now and living of getting money meeting people and I think that works for him. So having him on the show is kinda OK but I really don’t think it’s interesting because the only reason to root for him now is so he can get money to do good. I hope he stays on long enough for people to notice him again so he gets a lot of donations. But from a game point of view there’s really no reason to have him on. So he’s crafty. Big deal. As soon as the game is down to eight people Rupert’s a goner for sure simply because he can’t play strategically. It’s a shame, I know, but it’s as if you know right off the bat rooting for him is moot.
Tom: I hate the guy for talking the kid off the pole in his season. Suckiest ending of a season ever.
Colby: I loved his season. I loved how he made fire when he was almost gone from that challenge. I hated it that he lost to Tina. But with coming back he’s tarnishing that. He’s like “Lethal Weapon 4″. Really? Is this necessary?
Like you I fear there are too many women on this show. It doesn’t take much for all the weak girls to huddle together and stick it out. Especially with Rupert round. It’s kind of good that Sugar was voted off first so she can’t be part of that group but with all the testosterone around it’s rather sooner than later that strong men will be voted off and then we end up with an episode of “The View” every week where the girls decide what’s good for the tribe and what’s not.
Oh I forgot: Sugar getting voted off and why: she was talking all the time. During the Reward Challenge she kept yelling. She pitted Rupert and Tom as the leaders and then basically got her will by proposing where to put the shelter. And later on she started to get cozy with Colby. In my book those are three offenses at least, count in the crying and you are at four. Also she wasn’t shown building alliances with anyone and I guess that’s not just because the producers didn’t show it but maybe also because she simply didn’t do it. On her season she flew under the radar pretty long and she definitely didn’t do it here. The mouthing off alone could’ve gotten her voted off, cuddling with Colby who put an end to it pretty fast was just plain stupid. Like he said: if you ruffle the feathers of the tribe, you are gone.