Survivor 30 Power Rankings Week 3

Time for my power rankings for Survivor 30 following episode 3. Just a reminder that these rankings are not necessarily who is playing the best game but who is the safest position leading into the next episode. Even though next week is going to be a 2 hour episode and most likely a swap, I'm just going to rank normally and go with the flow. 

1. Carolyn

Previous week:2

Carolyn gets the number one spot because I believe she is the swing vote of the WC tribe. Tyler and Joaquin have bonded over the awkwardness of the nudist pair Shirin and Max. If they go to tribal, Carolyn will be the vote that determines which side will prevail.

2. Joe

Previous week:1

Joe is still in the power alliance of the NC tribe but the reason why I dropped him from the number one spot is because of idol potential. Now that Will is the clear number one target for NC, the scenario for Will to find the idol and dethrone the King is there. Unlikely though, which is why Joe remains high.

3. Hali

Previous week:3

Hali stays in number three because she's part of a majority alliance and is very unlikely to be the target of an idol. She isn't threatening at all and has an easy buffer before her. 

4. Sierra

Previous week:5

Sierra moves up because she's one of two silent players on a tribe full of psychopaths. People are at each other's throats and fortunately for Sierra, she's not one of those throats.

5. Kelly

Previous week:7

Kelly also moves up for the same reason as Sierra. She's trying to mother these crazy blue collars while they try to rip each other to shreds. Since she's not the recipient of any malice, Kelly has nothing to worry about.

6. Jenn

Previous week:8

Jenn moves up a little mostly because of multiple people moving down. She's still in a majority at NC with an obvious boot and only has to worry about Will having an idol. I don't believe she has much to worry about at this point.

7. Rodney

Previous week:4
Rodney moves a couple spots down because he totally blew up. Although his position in a majority doesn't seem to be in danger, it's never a good thing to give yourself unwanted attention. He apparently argues with Lindsay next episode too, which could be a bad sign.

8. Max
Previous week:6
Shirin's crazy antics could be the end of Max. Tyler and Joaquin have started bonding and if they can grab Carolyn, then they'll set their sights on Shirin and Max.




9. Tyler
Previous week:12
Tyler gained a strong ally in Joaquin, and if he can just pull Carolyn away from Max and Shirin, then he gets into a solid majority. Carolyn has complained about Shirin but isn't too sure about where she'd go if they had to vote someone out. Until Tyler gets into a concrete majority, he's going to stay ranked somewhere in the middle.

10. Lindsey

Previous week:10

Losing your cool is never good in Survivor. Lindsey didn't just lose it, she threw it off a cliff. Lindsey might be in a majority against Dan and Mike but if the preview is any clue then it looks like she's getting into it with people she thought she had on her side.

11. Joaquin
Previous week:13
Joaquin still might not be in the best position but at least he has an ally in Tyler. If Joaquin can just focus on using Carolyn as a third, he can take out either Shirin or Max. Unfortunately though, he's most likely next if he can't grab Carolyn.

12. Shirin

Previous week:10
Shirin seems to be alienating herself more and more from her tribe. If she keeps pushing too many buttons, it's going to turn her once close ally Carolyn. I have a feeling that if WC does go to TC, Shirin will be the victim.

13. Dan
Previous week:14
Dan's game is very hot and cold. His big mouth shoots him in the foot every time it looks like he's getting into a reasonable position. Luckily for Dan, not only is he on a powerful tribe but he has someone who is more annoying then him. That person is...




14. Mike
Previous week:15
Whether or not I believe Mike is in the wrong is irrelevant. Mike is in a terrible situation because he isn't meshing well with his tribe and having loud confrontations with people who aren't doing enough for him. Mike is my pick to go if BC goes to tribal.




15. Will
Previous week:11
Will takes a plummet because he is on a tribe that can't really keep it together. He is the only person not in the NC power alliance and if they can't win the next challenge then he's the obvious choice. Will is my pick to leave for episode 3.

Survivor 30 Episode 3: Crazy Is As Crazy Does

Episode 3!!! It was my least favorite of the season but it still manage to provide some crazy drama and weird monkey activity. I feel like the boot was pretty easy to figure out and the dynamics of the tribes didn't change but were only highlighted. Either way, time to dive in!

Vote blowback/NC dynamics

So Nina becomes very down in the dumps about the vote and her position. I can understand how frustrating and annoying this could be for everyone. I'm sure Nina has gone through some tough experiences because of her disability BUT you can only play that card for so long before it becomes redundant. Jenn had a good point about how Nina's problems aren't her lack of hearing, it's her attitude. 

That smile is photoshopped

It was great to see Joe make an attempt to socialize with her and make her feel welcome. It shows that Joe is very aware of the importance of unity and needing to keep everyone comfortable. I think those qualities are really going to help when he jumps to a new tribe after a swap. 

Monkey Loving/WC dynamics

Not the showmance I was expecting...

Shirin is crazy, literally insane. I don't know what was more strange, her watching them from start to finish or how excited she was to tell everyone the great news. I think the relationship between Carolyn and Shirin is not as strong as it was during the first episode. Shirin's actions and demeanor show a real lack of social awareness. Her idea of calling off the idol search wasn't the most graceful thing ever. It reminded me of that guy who knows he's about to lose a board game so he tries really hard to just make the other person call it a tie. 

I don't know how I feel about Joaquin's reaction to Shirin, but I have to say that I think he's more in the right. He knows that he's on the outs so he can look for the idol as much as he wants. I also really think that he made the right call of showing the clue to Tyler. He shows Tyler that he trusts him and that he wants to work with him. I'm really hoping that Tyler/Carolyn/Joaquin can make something happen moving forward and take out the nudist duo. 

Yo Momma/BC dynamics

This tribe is a complete mess but they can't seem to lose! Everyone (maybe not Kelly and Sierra) on this tribe is doing something wrong! Dan can't keep his mouth shut, Mike demands too much from his team, and Rodney can't take a mom joke! I have been high on Rodney as a player these last two episodes but I'm starting to see some weakness now. It's great that in his confessionals he's talking about how he needs to relax and let other people bury themselves but it doesn't do anything if he just blows up on people anyway!!!

I don't think Mike is playing a good game at all but I don't defend Lindsay at all. Her comment was super offensive and she had no reason to take it to a level like that. Mike might not be a social genius but his intentions are good, he just wants to help everyone survive and keep the team strong. If they keep winning and make it to a swap or merge without having to vote anyone else off, I think some people are going to really regret the way they've treated each other.

Immunity Challenge

There really isn't much to say about this challenge except No Collar sucked...like BAD. Where is the strategy in completely ignoring one of your teammates? The worst part is that even with Jeff constantly nagging them for there stupid strategy, they stuck to it for the entire challenge! This really shows how bad the Vince vote has hurt them. This once strong tribe has now become a complete and utter joke.

No Collar Tribal/Vote

As soon as NC came back to camp, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Nina was in trouble. The edit flirted with the idea of Will being the boot instead, but I think Nina was a no brainer. Even though Will has been absolutely useless in challenges, Nina has no loyalty to the NC tribe and would flip on them in a heartbeat.

The Right Call?

I think this was the best thing to do for the tribe. If someone is obviously against the tribe, it's best to cut them out as soon as they can. They must be anticipating a swap in a round or two, so it makes sense to cut the person that's less likely to flip and betray them. I blame both parties for the Nina alienation but alas, it is what it is.

Next week on Survivor...

Well what do you know, Blue Collar fighting? I'm in shock! Word on the street is that we're getting a two hour episode next week. I predict that we're going to have an easy boot and then a swap of some sort. As dysfunctional as BC is, I think odds are that NC loses again and we see Will leave the game. I'm really excited to see what a swap brings and who stays on top and who loses it all. Should be fun! :)

Survivor 30 Power Rankings Week 2

Time for my power rankings for Survivor 30 following episode 2. Just a reminder that these rankings are not necessarily who is playing the best game but who is the safest position leading into the next episode. Let's get rolling!!! 

1. Joe

Previous week:11

Joe get's a huge boost in the rankings because of the terrible move by Will. Joe is now in a majority position and doesn't have to deal with Vince anymore. Even if Nina or Will find an idol, they will most likely target one of the girls instead Joe because of his challenge ability. Joe isn't going anywhere until a swap. 

2. Carolyn

Previous week:6

Even though the White Collar dynamics are all over the place, I put Carolyn as the highest from that tribe. Her idol and strong connection to Shirin should keep her safe from anyone plotting to target her. The trio of her/Shirin/Max should be in control of the next vote, leaving her in a solid position. 

3. Hali

Previous week:2

I've ranked Hali pretty high these first few rounds not for her gameplay but strictly for her position. She's in the majority of No Collar so the only way I see her leave is because of an idol play. If an idol is in fact played, I would predict it goes to Jenn because of Jenn's obnoxious attitude towards Nina. 

4. Rodney

Previous week:3

Rodney drops just one rank because he obviously loses his temper next episode, something that isn't usually good. I don't see him going anywhere though because of the annoyance of Mike and Dan. His challenge performance has been pretty solid too, so I don't see him going if the challenge votes on performance.

5. Sierra

Previous week:10

Sierra isn't taking the game by storm but she's managed to put herself in a safe position. As long as Dan and Mike stay the way they are, Sierra will be just fine.

6. Max

Previous week:7

Max's nudist attitude didn't earn him any fan points for me, but the Shirin's confessional reenforced how infatuated she is with him and his gameplay. As long as there isn't any conflict between Shirin/Max/Carolyn, I don't see any of them being in danger.

7. Kelly

Previous week:1

I had Kelly ranked as the safest player in the game last week. I gave her a huge drop because she didn't have a single confessional last episode, which isn't a great sign for longevity. Her sitting out of the challenge also suggests that she might be perceived as the weakest member of the Blue Collar tribe. If the tribe decides to vote on challenge performance, it could be the end of Kelly. I'm not giving her a huge drop though because I'm very confident that if BC goes to TC then it'll be Dan or Mike's number.

8. Jenn

Previous week:5

Even though she's part of the NC majority, Jenn gets a drop because she's made herself a prime target for Nina. I think the odds of Nina and Will finding an idol are slim but if they do find and use it, I think it'll be used on Jenn. 

9. Lindsey

Previous week:9

Lindsey seems to blow up on Mike next week, so I decided to leave her in the same spot. She should be in the majority on the vote but might just be in danger from an idol. 

10. Shirin

Previous week:13

Shirin isn't making any friends with her nudist behavior, but she's been moved up mostly due to actions of other players who are now ranked lower. Her relationship with Max and Carolyn hasn't seemed to waiver so as long as she performs well enough in the challenge, she should be okay.

11. Will

Previous week:4

Will takes a huge plummet because of his move last episode. He passed up an opportunity to put himself in majority but has now put himself and Nina in the bottom. If he gives one more bad performance in the challenge, they might skip Nina and go straight for Will.

12. Tyler

Previous week:8

Tyler is one of my favorite players but the reason I have him ranked so low is because he doesn't really have a solid group with anyone on the tribe. Tyler acted very uncomfortably around naked Shirin, so I'm not sure if it's going to distance himself away from the group. There's also the fact that no one commented on Joaquin being on the outs last episode. After Joaquin won the challenge for WC, Tyler might find himself in trouble if they decide they want to keep Joaquin because of his challenge skill. 

13. Joaquin

Previous week:16

His performance in the challenge moves him up a few ranks but Joaquin is still the safe bet if WC goes to tribal. If he doesn't make any solid connections, the tribe might just band together and vote him out due to trust issues. Even though I have him ranked low, I wouldn't count out Joaquin just yet.

14. Dan

Previous week:17

Dan had a much better episode this week. He was great during the challenge was able to be out shadowed by Mike's firewood antics. It's possible that the vote sticks to Dan, but if he can keep showing his worth, he might just survive the vote.

15. Mike

Previous week:12

Mike should have stuck to eating scorpions because his social game is much better when he's throwing up all day. His total lack of social perception is going to make several of his tribemates hit the breaking point. If the preview is any indication of what's next to come, Mike might be the next one on the chopping block.

16. Nina

Previous week:15

Coming in dead last is Nina because she is in the obvious minority of the NC tribe. She barely has any bonds with anyone on her tribe except for her one ally that screwed up her plan. Nina is the safest bet for episode 3's boot.

Survivor 30 Worlds Apart Episode 2:It Will Be My Revenge

Before this episode aired, I would have debated that No Collar was the most cohesive tribe. After viewing it, the No Collars proved why in fact they are the No Collars...no common sense. Let's dive into Episode 2!!!

Blue Collar Manties

We open with poor Dan losing his...manties? You can tell that Dan is fighting HARD for that #manties. This really just shows how socially out of it Dan is with the rest of his tribe. They are really fueling this Dan/Lindsey rivalry which is pretty much just Lindsey complaining about Dan every minute. I'll talk about Dan more during the challenge and the preview for next week, but this segment just reassures the viewers that Dan is in deep trouble. 

White Collar Nudies

Max and Shirin decide to get naked this episode and I guess it's an interesting strategy? Max reminds me of Ian from BB14, soaking up everything that comes with the experience of playing the game...and getting naked. I might be a little harsh on Max because I still think he's a little self absorbed. He wants to do something that will ensure people don't talk to him but I think that's risky because you're allowing other people to socialize and connect while you play with your beach balls. 

Joaquin doesn't seem to be alienated from the tribe, which makes the White Collar dynamic very interesting. I'm worried that Tyler's mannerisms and reactions to people like Shirin and Max will make him a target at the next tribal. Him saying "at least someone has pride on this tribe" reflects Tyler's critical behavior that could land him a target. At this point, I'd really like to see Tyler and Joaquin team up and attempt to grab Carolyn but I'm not sure if that's going to work given Carolyn's bond with Shirin.

No Collar/No Coddling 

Nina gets very upset with Hali and Jenn ignoring her and excluding her from activities. Don't Hali and Jenn know that deaf people like to be naked too! I sympathize with Nina but I don't think the way she handled it was the way to go. You never want to try and cause conflict and Will was correct in saying that she earned herself a target. I will say that I think Jenn's stock lowered for me in this segment. She scoffs at Nina's attitude, saying that you need to have thicker skin in this game. Jenn should know how important it is to socialize with EVERYONE on your tribe. If someone needs coddling, them coddling the hell out of them, it might get you a jury vote! Will has the right mindset with Nina and comforts her, which is exactly how you need to treat a player like Nina in this scenario. 

Major Mike

Back at the Blue Collar camp, we start to see a slow shift of who is the tribe outcast. The whole tribe socializes by playing basketball while Mike decides to bust everyone else's balls on firewood. It's great to see Dan do the right thing for a change and play with all of the other tribemates. Mike comes across as a very restless, always have to do something, type of player so his constant nagging of chores isn't surprising. You can tell Rodney catches on to it quick and isn't a big fan. This could be the break that Dan needs.

I Need You To Admit That You Suck

Buy your tickets to another round of Vince vs. Joe. I don't really see the point in this conversation for Vince. If someone is steamrolling and taking control then by all means let them have it! Vince's ego really gets in the way of his entire game when he could just very well let Joe be the tribe leader and use that as a shield. We quickly see a 3/3 split in the works of Vince, Nina, Will vs Joe, Hali, Jenn which is very exciting. This once cohesive tribe is now anything but cohesive. 

Immunity Challenge

This challenge was a lot of fun to watch. Blue Collar and No Collar were neck and neck for first place while White Collar was lagging behind. Dan absolutely crushed this first part of the challenge which is another good point for him becoming more useful to the team. Eventually No Collar completely loses their lead because of Will struggling in the water. When they get to the shooting portion of the challenge, Joaquin destroys it. I was surprised Blue Collar didn't get first, I mean they spent the whole day shooting baskets! No Collar trying to land a basket is pretty hard to watch. Vince and Joe can't make a shot to save their life and lose the challenge for the No Collars. 

No Collars Scramble

The most interesting tribe goes to tribal and I was so excited to see how this vote would go down. Will is the easy target because of his challenge performance but Nina and Vince decide that if they don't make a move against the other three, then they're just going to get picked off. I'm not sure if this is the smartest move for Vince and Nina because going to rocks this early isn't the greatest idea. It might be more beneficial to just go with the majority and keep the tribe strong. It'd be one thing if they had the votes but unfortunately those three kids aren't dumb enough to split the vote...right...right?

After talking to Will, Joe and co. decide that they should split the votes in case of an idol. This is absolutely a horrible decision. For those three to make themselves that vulnerable when they haven't gone to a single tribal yet is insane. You need to go to tribal and test the waters so that you can trust the people you're aligned with. Joe even admits that he isn't sure about Will! The plan to split the vote on Nina and Vince is dumb because you're telling the person that stays that he's on the outs. After hearing this plan, I wanted nothing more then for Will, Nina, and Vince to blindside and take advantage of Joe's stupidity. 

Vince really surprised me in this segment because of his choice to target Jenn instead of Joe. It shows that he is willing to think about the tribe's challenge performance before his own personal vendetta. At this point, I'm ready for Vince to take on a power roll in this game...until Nina happens.

Nina has one more conversation with Will before tribal, asking if everything is alright with him physically. Nina makes a huge mistake and reveals that Vince was worried about keeping him around because of his performance of the challenge. This makes Will extremely paranoid about Vince and want to take him out. All Nina had to do was ask if Will was feeling okay. She didn't have to name drop Vince what so ever. I think Will gets a little overly paranoid here but I'm putting most of the blame on Nina for creating that paranoia. 

Tribal Council

We walk into tribal council and I have no idea what to expect. Jenn comes across very overconfident in this tribal so I start preparing myself for the Jenn blindside. She basically calls out her alliance with Hali and Joe and even mentions that challenge performance is very important, which is not good for Will. The votes are revealed and its 3-2-1 and Vince is blindsided. Will is the only person without his jaw on his floor because he not only goes against Nina and Vince's plan but as well as the split vote plan as well. This is a very big mistake on Will's part. He completely passes up a chance to put himself and Nina in a majority and he pisses off Joe and co. by voting out the stronger option in Vince instead of the weaker option in Nina. Will might have saved Nina's life this time but he will be powerless the next vote with Joe, Jenn, and Hali in control.

Good/Bad Decision?

At the end of the day, I don't think this was a great move for anyone. The tribe loses a strong competitor and Will and Nina become the obviously minority. Joe, Jenn, and Hali benefit the most though because now they have the votes to keep them safe. This is also good for Joe because he just lost his greatest opposition in the game. 

Preview

It seems like Mike is definitely in trouble next week. His constant demand for work seems to push people way too far and it causes a breaking point. This is perfect for Dan. If he can just let Mike bury himself, he should be able to survive a tribal council.

Survivor 30 Worlds Apart Episode 1: It's Survivor Warfare

The 30th season of Survivor premiered last night and I could hardly my excitement. It felt like a lifetime since the end of season 29, and to finally have Words Apart begin is fantastic. This season has received a lot of hype from CBS and the big dog Probst. If the first episode is any indicator on how the whole season will be...I think I'm going to buy into that hype.

So the show kicks off with the reveal that it's going to be white collar/blue collar/no collar tribes. I think this is a pretty interesting divide and the cast seems to fit it pretty well. I love when Probst asks a few of the players if they feel like they're on the right tribe, like anyone is going to say no to Jeff in front of everyone.

"EHHH SORRY, JEFF! I'm actually a homeless person so I'm not sure why I'm on the white collar tribe???"

Everyone gives the typical answer of how much they love their tribe and how much they belong together. My favorite was Dan, who basically gave a Captain America speech about working hard and calluses, it was very touching.  I also really liked what Joaquin had to say, "my nine to five doesn't define who I am." It was a great line from him that made a lot of sense. I'm glad that I really soaked it in since it was the last good thing that Joaquin did all episode.

Jeff reveals that each tribe would need to select someone to make a big decision, which is basically asking...who wants a target??? Anyone??? There's beans involved!"

No one seems jumping to take the leadership role, which is good to see. It's interesting to see the position universally accepted as a trap, which means everyone is thinking about the game. Will seems to take it the best, taking the opportunity to debate with Jeff about the potential to make island sandwiches. As a superfan, I think Dan did not want to take the role but unfortunately was pushed. I think that if the position is pushed towards you then it's better to just accept it and smile then show any resistance.

The three leaders then have to pick a partner to help them with the decision. I think in this scenario that it's best to avoid being one of these two people. In a tribe of six, you want to do as little as possible to avoid being seen as a target. Paranoia sets in fast and people won't be able to stop themselves from thinking that the two people set to make a decision are going to form some sort of bond. As one of the two people selected, your goal should be to try and prevent any sort of ostracization. I have to harp on Will for a bit for going out of his way to explain that he picked Jenn because he felt she would do what was best for the "team". Tribal unity is very important at this point and props to Will for supporting that.

The tribes finally split and the game begins!!! Nina reveals to her tribe that she is deaf. There didn't seem to be any reason to hide it since her earing aids are very visible. Since no one had a confessional reacting to it, I'm going to assume that no one really cares.

And neither do I so lets get to the big decision!!!

Each pair has to decide whether to be honest and select a big bag of beans for the tribe or to be deceitful and select a small bag and a clue to the idol.  I think this decision is a lot easier than the players suggest. You take the big bag of beans...always take the big bag of beans. It's important to start this game on the right foot and you know what makes a great first impression? Bring a big bag of beans to camp. You're going to get idol clues...there's no need to worry about it on the first day. Also, if you do decide to take the clue, you're automatically aligning with the other person with you. You don't know a single thing about this person so it's very risky to lock yourself down with them that quick. Let's see who passed the test...

Will and Jenn hit it out of the park. They don't even hesitate to take the big bag. The mindset that Jenn offers is perfect. They are no where near the individual game and if you need to be looking for an immunity idol this early, you're in a lot of trouble.

Dan and Mike do make the right decision. Mike isn't the smartest to be super resistant with Dan on picking the honest option. I think it's a little red flag for Dan to see someone so willing to be a villain that early. Dan is smart about the choice to be honest because it's too early to be a villain. Although, I think he messes up on how he talks to the group about it. He basically gives them the same speech that he just confessed to us. I don't think it was necessarily a terrible way to tell them about it but I think Dan's mistake is that he just talks too much and overanalyzes everything. We see this a lot in the episode, where he basically blows up on the girls about the shelter. I get that you're concerned about your weight on the bamboo, but there are better ways to get your point across. Dan's heart is in the right place, but I think it's too much for the girls that he is with. It's not his fault that Sierra was expecting an actually beanbag of beans instead of a regular bag of beans. Whoops!!!

enjoy those beans, Sierra

Joaquin and So...oh So and Joaquin. I really feel bad for So this episode. I think if she was with anyone else, that she would have been down to take the honest route. Instead, she gets stuck with the biggest bonehead in the game who declares that being honest is a silly decision. Now So is already thrown into a position where she's lying to the tribe and is aligned with someone who obviously has no concept on what it takes to be a good player. So refers to the situation as making a deal with the devil...but didn't she call herself the devil in the beginning of the episode? I'm confused!!!

Choosing the idol isn't that bad of a decision if the lie that accompanies it is believable. Maybe say...that there were three boxes that were marked food, advantage, idol clue and you decided to choose the food in order to keep the tribe strong? That would be a good lie right? Well unfortunately So and Joaquin go for the "neutral lie" which gets sniffed out by everyone immediately. I'm really surprised that so many of the white collar people admitted that they would have done the same thing. Really? The white collar tribe seems to be playing way too hard in the individual game and I think it's going to hurt a lot of their chances. The game is only 39 days but there's no need to run right out of the gate. Lying on top of other lives and searching for the idol is only going to hinder you from creating the important bonds that you'll need later in the game. Shirin and Carolyn have the right mindset, they agree to an alliance but only after they've felt each other out. It's funny that So's and Joaquin's dishonesty was the factor that connected everyone else on the tribe.

We're taken back to the blue collar tribe and introduced to Rodney's strategy. Rodney is a mix of Tony and Russell with a Boston accent and some really....REALLY bad hair. As much of a tool as he is, he does seem to have a solid strategy and is connecting with the girls really well, while Dan is yelling at people separating himself completely from the group and Mike is eating scorpions (I think Mike is related to Fabio). Wow...who would have thought that Rodney would be the smartest guy on the blue collar tribe?

Finally, we have the no collar tribe or the hippies. Vince is fascinated with Jenn and her big "eyes" and immediately offers to work with her. I think this is a testament to how great of a social player Jenn is going to be. Having the ability to draw people to you is very important in Survivor. Too bad that in this case, Jenn attracted the guy who was an extra in the Pirates of the Caribbean. She handles his crazy personality very well, knowing that she should get close but not too close.

The other big star on the no collar tribe is Joe. Joe quickly becomes the "guy" for the no collars which is extremely risky. He is playing into the leadership role extremely quickly and I think he's going to earn himself a target way faster than he wants too. It's bad enough that Vince already sees him as a threat to his blonde beauty. Joe should be safe for the time being, but he could be in a pickle if he doesn't tone down his game.

Right before the challenge, we get a important scene back at the white collar camp where Carolyn finds the idol. I swear, those things having giants signs above them nowadays. That's the thing about idols...you don't need clues to find them. This discovery makes So and Joaquin's decision that more hindering.

CHALLENGE TIME!!!

So the big twist of the challenge is having to choose between a 5,10, or 50 piece puzzle. Of course hindsight is twenty-twenty but I think 10 is the way to go. 50 is such a huge drop off from ten, and no matter how easy it might be, it's still going to take a lot of time. The 10 piece puzzle might be more difficult but it's only 10 pieces!? Trial and error is going to make it easy!

It's tough watching white collar lose after having such a big lead. Shirin definitely was the losing factor. The puzzle looked super time consuming by itself, so her sucking at it really put the nail in the coffin. The easy vote would be to take out Shirin in the hopes that it makes the team stronger but we're dealing with the white collar tribe...so it's about to get nuts.

Judging by the conversation that So has with Max, I think she would have been safe with just going with Shirin. So really hurt herself by pushing the vote on Carolyn which forced her to just actively campaign. At this point, So really should have tried to go with the flow instead of gunning for someone in particular. Her reasoning for targeting Carolyn made absolutely not sense. You're worried about someone late game? Focus on the now or else you're not going to experience a late game. A mix of campaigning, the lie, and Carolyn having the idol is what ultimately led to her demise.

The tribal council is absolutely insane. I'm surprised at how willing everyone is to just spout out their feelings. Max saying that he would have taken the idol and came up with a better lie came across as super arrogant to me. It might sound critical, but I think Max is going to have a big head (and beard) in this game.

Props to Carolyn for laying it out how it is. She realized that she was in danger and made it her mission to discredit So and Joaquin during tribal. So and Joaquin didn't do much to help their case either. I was very shocked that Carolyn didn't use the idol. It shows an outstanding amount of loyalty, trust, and faith that the other tribemates are not going to ignore.

Was this the best decision for the tribe?

Other than Joaquin, voting for So was for the best. So made it known extremely quickly that she had no problem lying and playing hard right out of the gate. Challenge performance is important but in the three tribe format, it isn't totally necessary. It's better to keep someone they know will be loyal 100% for the eventually shuffle and/or twist. I just hope that they don't wear themselves thin from losing too many people. They need to start winning.


POWER RANKINGS!!!

Okay, so every week I'm going to post my power rankings. This list doesn't necessarily reflect who I feel is playing the best game but rather who I think is the least likely to go home. It's all about safety!!!

(From most safe to most likely to leave)






1. Kelly- A weird choice for number one but I think Kelly is well respected by the young and old people of the tribe. I see her as the swing vote if blue collar goes to tribal.

2. Hali

3. Rodney- Hate him but can't deny he's put himself in a good position. He's with the girls and isn't likely going to be targeted by the guys. Good for you Rod!

4. Will

5. Jenn

6. Carolyn

7. Max

8. Tyler

9. Lindsey

10. Sierra

11. Joe- He had a great episode but the reason I have him ranked a little low is because he's playing a bit too hard on the leader role. The potential of a blindside is there.

12. Mike

13. Shirin

14. Vince

15. Nina- I would have Nina ranked a little higher if it wasn't for the preview of next week. Girl is going to have a meltdown and the chill no collar tribe is most likely going to band together and remove the discomfort.

16. Joaquin

17. Dan- Let's be real, if blue collar loses...Dan is done. The only thing that can save him is immunity or an idol. I'm willing to bet on neither.

Survivor Worlds Apart First Impressions

The cast of Survivor 30 has finally been revealed! Eighteen new castaways, separated by working class,  will battle it out to earn the title of sole Survivor. I think this cast seems like it's full of quirky characters and savvy players, which should make for a eventful season. Here are my first impressions on cast and each tribe...

WHITE COLLAR

Max Dawson, 37- Max was the first person that stood out to me as a potential mastermind of the season. He seems to know how to deal with different types of people and what it takes to influence them within Survivor. Superfans are usually hit or miss on the show, they either understand the importance of patience and what to do in the early game or they go right out of the gate strategizing and end up crashing and burning. I think Max will be just fine as long as he lets the bigger personalities take control early while he focuses on individual relationships needed to navigate throughout the game.

Joaquin Souberbielle, 27- Speaking of bigger personalities...Joaquin (Dolph Ziggler's twin) seems like the perfect meatshield (and meathead) for the white collar tribe. I hate to say that there is a 0% chance for someone to win...but there is a 0% chance for Joaquin to win. He's cocky, arrogant, and narcissistic and he seems to be proud of it! The only thing that might save him is challenge ability and how much he contributes to the team. Other than that, this guy is on borrowed time already.

Shirin Oskool, 31- At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Shirin. She definitely comes across as a corky and fun woman but I wasn't sure how she would deal with the survival elements and the game itself. After watching her intro video a few times, I found that she really began to grow on me. I think she will have this effect on her tribemates and if she gets in with the right people early, she could be a player that goes a long way. I also enjoy that she's a huge super fan, so I am confident that she'll make the right moves that will put her in the position to win.

Tyler Fredrickson, 33- Tyler comes across as a little soft spoken, but much like Shirin, I believe he will grow on his tribe and make strong connections early. Tyler looks very easy going yet calculated in his strategies and overall game plan. His bio sounds like he is very eager to play, so as long as he can contain that eagerness and focus on the small elements needed to put him in a strong position, I think he has a great chance at making it to the end. In a cast that has many big personalities, Tyler is a very low key player that can make an impact in the late game. My prediction is that Tyler is the dark horse of the season.

So Kim, 31- So is very hit or miss for me. I just get this feeling that she's going to go in, immediately pull the flirt card, and rub certain people the wrong way. If she can at least make an effort to help around camp and in challenges instead of just batting her eyes to Joaquin, then I think she can a very cunning player. I'm just not seeing much here.

Carolyn Rivers, 52- I get a Trish vibe from Carolyn, someone who is kind of a loud mouth and confrontational. The tribe she is on seems to be filled with mostly calm and goofy people (minus Joaquin), so I see Carolyn as more of an annoyance than an entertainer to her team. If the white collars do visit tribal council early, I think Carolyn will be in serious trouble.

White Collar Tribe- Overall, I think this tribe has a lot of strategic threats. My worry for them though is that they might be weaker in the challenges compared to the other two tribes. Their communication and level of teamwork is going to make or break this tribe in the early stages of the game.

Blue Collar

Dan Foley, 47- Dan sounds lovable, passionate, and hilarious BUT I don't think he's going to be playing for a long time. On a tribe of six, challenge performance is going to be critical and I'm not sure if he's going to be able to keep up to the physical performance of his other tribemates. I think that he can integrate himself well socially if the Blue collar tribe can go on a immunity run but if the numbers start to dwindle, he might find himself an early target.

Sierra Dawn Thomas, 27- She sounds like a very sweet girl, but I just don't see her winning this game. Sierra gives off a very Jeffra vibe, southern and cute, but in no way a schemer or manipulator. Her personality will help her get far in the game but I think jury is going to be as good as it gets for her.

Kelly Remington, 44- I'm not really a big fan of Kelly. I think she's a little bit of a try hard and I doubt she can form enough social connections in order to survive the first phase of the game. I also don't get too much from her bio, which is kind of a bad sign. I can see her going in and playing super hard, which will earn her an early boot in the first few rounds.

Rodney Lavoie Jr., 24- Rodney comes across as a very passionate player. His great physical shape and social ability should help him win challenges for his tribe early one, but individually it isn't going to help him in the long run. His loud personality might not mesh well with a majority of the players and will most likely be his undoing. If Rodney makes the merge, I could easily see him as one of the first boots.

Mike Halloway, 38-Mike was easily one of my favorites after watching his intro video. Then I started to read his bio and came to the conclusion that he has tribe leader written all over him. I think Mike will try and lead the tribe as soon as the game begins which is never a good idea! Being pegged the leader is like a death sentence in Survivor and unfortunately I think that will be the outcome for Mike. I predict that he'll be one of the last prejury players.

Lindsay Cascaddan, 24- Nope! Not a fan! I'm not sure where to start but I just don't like Lindsay at all (from a player standpoint of course). Comparing yourself to Ciera because of her "big moves" just sounds silly. I mean sure, vote your mom ally out and then go to rocks at six, BOOM! She said that she's going to flirt her way into blindsides but I think she's more likely to just be blindsided.

Blue Collar Tribe- This tribe might do well in challenges but I don't think anyone in this tribe has a chance at winning the whole thing. All the great social players will likely get picked off early due to challenge performance and then the rest of them will either get dragged as goats or slaughtered by the more fine tuned players. Unity and numbers could be the only thing that keeps this group in the game.

No Collar

Hali Ford, 25- Hali is one of my favorite girls in the cast. She is extremely ambitious, determined, funny and cute. I think she understands how to socially connect with all different types of people but won't be steam rolled into submission by other players. Hali will most likely be underrated which is going to work out great for her if she can still maintain strong relationships and make the big moves needed to win the game.

Jenn Brown, 22- I really like Jenn! Her intro video was very bubbly and quirky and I think her type of personality is perfect for the tribe she's on. Her skills in cooking should keep her around during the early stages of the game and create a roll within the tribe. She seems like a player who will put forth a lot of effort in challenges and social interaction, so I can see her going very far. The only thing that might screw her over is if the No Collars can't seem to grab a win, and have to start picking off multiple members before a swap/twist.

Joe Anglim, 25- He definitely gives off a Malcolm/Josh mix for me. I hope he's not too much like Josh and overplays his hand because I see a lot of potential in Joe. Joe seems like a natural competitor and extremely easy going but I don't think he's going to win and will most likely be first or second juror because of his great social game and athletic ability. I'm really hoping he proves me wrong.

Will Sims II, 41- If there was a Survivor award for nice guy, he would get it in a heart beat. He sounds like he's incredibly grateful to be there and is very determined to make an impact. Unfortunately, I think Will is going to be the first boot of the No Collar tribe because of his lack of physical ability (of course that is just by assumption). Will is going to be a prime example of nice guys finish last...

Vince Sly, 32- Anyone else think Sly isn't really his last name? This guy is so weird! All I could think about while watching his intro video was "where did they find this guy?!" Even though he might freak people out, he seems to have a good grasp of what is needed to be successful in the game. I think his glaring personality is going to be a hinderance for him when it comes to late game but all in all I would say that I am very interested to see exactly what his plans are.

Nina Poersch, 51- I was really happy to see that she compares herself to Tina (Nina Tina!) because she definitely comes across as a strong social player that can keep up with the rest of them in challenges. Her view that you need to be able to sell yourself in Survivor is very accurate and insightful. I think Nina will be a player that will easily maneuver herself from alliance to alliance when needed and be able to create a strong case for herself in the end.

No Collar Tribe- I will admit that there are some oddballs on this tribe but overall I think they are a strong force! They seem ver balanced in challenge ability and social interaction which is going to be key for any of them to have a shot at winning Survivor. I'm not sure who I'd put my money on but I think the winner of Survivor Worlds Apart is somewhere on this tribe.


Make sure to tune in February 25th 8pm est for the 90 minute premiere of Survivor Worlds Apart and don't forget to follow me on twitter Jacob Harpel so you can catch show updates and future blog posts!

Love Will Keep Us Together! Big Brother Showmances

Some would say that love is the greatest power in the universe, but what about in the Big Brother house? Over the years, we've seen all different types of couples hook up and take a run at the $500,000 prize. This intimate strategy has become so popular that Big Brother alumni Dr. Will coined it the term "showmance" during season seven. We've seen cast demographics shift to a younger age over the years in what I believe is an attempt to encourage showmances or just romantic activity so CBS can throw in a #showmance every other episode. Showmances come in all different shapes and sizes, each relationship consisting of two different individuals, but the question remains...are showmances a viable strategy or a death sentence?

Dan Gheesling, winner of BB10 and BB14 runner up, would suggest the later. He has always made it known that his stance on showmances is that they are a distraction for competitors. This is a viable point because Big Brother is a mental game where you should be focusing on the social dynamics of the entire house. To be surrendering all if not most of your time on learning what a cute girl's first pet was called, isn't the smartest idea. You need five votes to win, not just one!

Another argument for anti-showmances is the lack of secrecy it brings. It's always nice to keep your hand close in the game, never letting people know exactly where your loyalties lie. A showmance is like sticking up a giant sign that says "HEY, JORDAN AND I ARE PLAYING THIS GAME TOGETHER!" Of course, a player can have more than one interaction a day, but players will always know that x will come before y when the time comes to choose...well...sometimes.

This brings me to an interesting point, because even if players but their relationships first throughout the game, how many times have we've seen one of the partners cut ties at the bitter end in order to win? In BB5 Drew cut Diane at the final three because he felt that there was no way he could defeat her in the end. This was the girl that he had been hooking up with for the last three months, the person that protected him when his alliance fell to pieces. Jon and Neda from BB Can2 could be seen as another example, although I'm not going to count them as a showmance since there wasn't any real romantic interaction in the house and I believe that classifying them as a showmance just because its a woman and a man isn't fair. Jon cut Neda at the final HOH for a lot of the same reasons Drew cut Diane, he took his personal feelings out of the equation and did what was best for his own chances. Does this mean that showmances or an alliance is effective as long as you are aware enough to realize when the time to actually cut the cord is? I think so. Lisa Donahue from season three is a perfect example of this mindset. She had the ability to vote her showmance back into the house but chose not to because she knew it was better for her game to keep the target off her back and prevent a distraction from entering the house.

                                                                         Sorry Eric!

Let's give showmances the benefit of the doubt for a moment because it's hard to ignore the track record. Below I have listed every winner from BB2-BB16 and the two BBCAN seasons that had a showmance or any romantic involvement. There are quite a few...

Big Brother 2-Dr. Will
Big Brother 3-Lisa Donahue
Big Brother 5-Drew Daniel
Big Brother 7-Mike Boogie
Big Brother 11-Jordan Lloyd
Big Brother 12-Hayden Moss
Big Brother 13-Rachel Reilly
Big Brother Canada 1- Jillian Maclaughlin

That's eight out of seventeen winners, a little less than half. Of course there are some exceptions to this list. Hayden won his season due to the brigade, not the fling he had in week three with Kristen. Also, we all know about the Jillian vote controversy and could argue that she wasn't going to win in the first place.  Either way, it's hard to ignore statistics like this. Showmances have proven to be helpful in a lot of ways. One argument is that you're creating an aura of intimidation, no one wants to get rid of someone while knowing there's someone who's going to go after you 100% because of it. This strategy worked for McCranda for a long time in BB15. It's also great knowing that someone is always going to be on your side, and have a vote that you can control or count on.

To be honest though, everything positive that I said about showmances could be said about strong alliances as well. Take the romantic interest out of any showmance and you'll get a loyal alliance like Chilltown, the Brigade, or the Shield and vice versa. If Will and Boogie were in love with each other, which could be debated in all honesty, then they'd be marked the greatest showmance of all time. Take a look at the two most talked about showmances to play, Jeff/Jordan and Brenchel. It wasn't the sex or marriage plans that made Rachel and Brendon huge forces, it was their challenge ability. Jeff and Jordan were cute together but I think they're talk about bugs and spelling didn't do much for their game, the coup d'etat did that for them.  There were other elements to their gameplay that made them successful, not the relationship itself.

There's nothing wrong with having a relationship within the Big Brother house. You're in there for three months, a long time to go without any physical activity. In the end though, I think we can all agree that showmances have their perks and their disadvantages. What really matters is that you know how it effects your game. If you're not willing to cut your better half when the time comes, you might just be cutting your chances to win instead.


Agree or disagree with my view? Let me know! Comment below or tweet jacobharpel!