Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X 1x6 "The Truth Works Well" live blogging updates

The Green Tribe becomes the Jay Story once we learn there's more to him than merely the Triforce, including a lot of mommy love.  Plus a hidden immunity idol!  Michaela is less enthusiastic about the turn in his fortunes, however.  That about sums her up.  Less enthusiastic.

Reward challenge!  Figgy is happy Michelle wasn't voted out.  Michelle thinks "the truth works well in this game," which Jeff says is probably the first time that's ever been said in this game.  Blindfold challenge!  Always fun to watch them blunder about.  Food reward.  Don't gorge, you idiots!  Lots of shouted instructions.  I would absolutely hate participating in this challenge, either as the caller or blindfolded saps.  Figgy, one of the callers, laughs when she sees someone run into something.  They probably don't notice, right?  Apparently even the puzzle is solved with instructions from the caller giving instructions to blindfolded saps.  Hannah, who is sitting out the challenge, seems to possibly need medical attention.  Michelle and Zeke win!  Hannah not doing as well.  Jay and Michaela win second place.  Figgy not happy.  Medical called in to look at Hannah.  Sounds like she merely got too caught up in the suspense of the challenge.  That's a first. Figgy feels bad about losing the challenge.

Orange Tribe talks about how much they love Michelle.  Zeke still talks about how she should be voted out, too.  Zeke talks about giving up on the Millennials, which he kind of already did.

Hannah talks about insecurities.  Who does she think she is, David? 

Dorky coconut song singing at Purple Tribe.  Taylor and Figgy still Team Kissy Face.  They believe they have Adam in their pocket.  Jessica totally figure out Figgy and Taylor have a thing going on.  Ken also figured it out.  Figgy may not be the sharpest bamboo on the island. 

Immunity challenge!  Ends with a tilting table maze.  It occurs to me that David really hasn't been featured this episode at all.  This is sad.  If I were a betting man, I would probably put money in Purple Tribe attending tribal council this episode, which makes Figgy's comment about winning first place this challenge all the more ironic.  There's also far too few challenges involving coconuts.  I love random thoughts!  Very difficult tilting table maze portion to do with two people, possibly because they're also balancing on pegs.  Hannah has to contend with a difficult-to-contend-with Michaela.  They still win first place.  Michaela starts giving advice to Michelle and Zeke.  They win second place!  My prediction comes true!  Beware, Figgy!  Your pudding may be cooked!  Jeff asks Michaela why she was supporting Michelle and Zeke.  She says because they're the lone Millennials on that tribe, while there are three in Purple Tribe.  Or maybe she just wants Figgy gone?

Adam talks in near-ALL CAPS, but for him it's still progress.  He wonders if he should side with Gen X or Millennials.  Millennials target Ken.  Taylor suspects Adam may side with Gen X.  Adam is making his conflict too obvious.  Jessica realizes she needs Ken to stay around.  This may not be the smartest tribe.  Ken makes a hard sell for Adam's loyalty.  Adam does not speak in all caps (see? no caps!).  He immediately begins talking louder in his next interview. 

Tribal council!  Jeff asks if Gen X is feeling vulnerable.  Of course they are!  But Figgy wonders if all things are peachy in Millennials.  Adam talks about Team Kissy Face.  Figgy kind of permanently laughs, doesn't she?  Jeff offers to have them married.  Taylor kind of is surprised when Figgy suggests they maybe should.  Taylor goes back to cockiness.  Jeff points out Adam being in the middle.  Taylor suggests him voting against Millennials this time would doom him in the future.  Figgy talks about keeping the numbers in mind.  Adam says he "genuinely" likes who he's voting to eliminate tonight.  Probably doesn't really help to say such things, Adam.  (Who is still refraining from speaking in all caps.)  Ken and Figgy garner votes.  Figgy is voted out.  Nailed it.  Adam whispers (whispers! such range!) to Taylor that he'll explain if he can.  Figgy cries on the way out. 

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X 1x5 "Idol Search Party" live blogging updates

David's paranoia resurfaces, with good reason, because he just made a big move at tribal council and wonders where he stands now.  People try and insist he's fine. Jessica tells Ken, meanwhile, about her future advantage, striking a totally unexpected alliance.  We'll see where this leads...

The title of the episode is spoken by David, who along with everyone else looks for the new hidden immunity idol...which he quickly finds.  He's the good guy version of Russell!

"Everybody...drop your buffs." 

As if that's not enough, there will be three tribes.  Orange, purple, and green buffs.  I stopped remembering tribe names a long time ago.  Anyway, green buffs will start from scratch, while the others inherent existing camps...

~Michaela, Bret, Jay, Hannah, Will, Sunday = green

~Taylor, Figgy, Adam, Jessica, Ken = purple (I'll call this the luckiest tribe allotment)

~CeCe, Chris, David, Zeke, Michelle = orange (I could see David and Zeke working together, and Michelle is one of the smarter players, so this is a fairly decent mix)

Green Tribe looks like the disaster it looked like, right from the start.  Good luck with your cockiness, Jay...

Purple Tribe is full of strategy, which is no surprise.  Figgy is pragmatic, anyway.  Adam STARTS SPEAKING IN CAPS AGAIN.  But only sometimes.  He and Ken talk.  This is another potentially great alliance.  He considers himself the middle man.

Orange Tribe talks about dreaming.  Not Dreamz!  Michelle wonders if she's been screwed in the realignment.  Don't be!  Zeke and Chris bond over being from Oklahoma.  Chris feels more secure in this tribe (maybe because it didn't stab him in the back like the last one did).  Zeke geeks out over Chris.  Fantastic.  But you need more than two people, Zechris.  (Sound too much like Seacrest?) 

Green Tribe continues to freak out.  Again, still not surprising, given the extremely unlucky mix.  Hannah is the one who was really screwed here.  Michaela starts a fire, is immediately fired as a backup singer for Billy Joel.  She talks about family history of failure, and trying to change it. 

Immunity challenge!  CeCe once again called out for being really slow...Yay Orange Tribe!  Not exactly Team Physical Specimens anyway, right?  David also screws up for the team...The good news for Green Tribe is that they suck less at challenges than with luck...Michaela is the standout performer for them...And gets them the win!  Somehow Orange Tribe gets back in it, going neck-and-neck with Purple Tribe...Ken's the one who helps them win second-place, sending Orange Tribe, somewhat predictably, to tribal council...I bet CeCe doesn't survive this episode.

Chris talks about his strategy to the camera, concluding that CeCe is the target.  He discusses things with David.  David says Michelle is also considered part of Team Zechris.  The whole tribe talks about CeCe (she's not present) being the target.  Michelle is skeptical.  She talks to CeCe.  (This is how to throw monkey wrenches into plans plans.)  But she finds out CeCe isn't much of a strategist, either.  But turns out CeCe immediately stabs Michelle in the back.  Stupid worthless CeCe!  So David then becomes paranoid (again!).  He really is the Tai of this season!  Never really sure where to stick his ground, making crazy decisions that apparently keep him out of trouble...

Tribal council!  Zeke talks about him and Michelle starting out on the bottom.  David talks about Gen X being secure.  Zeke makes a case for sticking around as a connection to the Millennials (or, to Zeke, anyway).  Chris explains the Zeke connection.  CeCe is asked about levels of concern.  Someone should really realize Zechris is a dangerous alliance if left unacknowledged by the rest of the tribe.  David once again talks about paranoia.  Chris says David shouldn't think about betraying him again.  Unless he somehow orchestrates a Chris blindside, of course.  Michelle says David should be gone.  Michelle looks glum.  She should.  Like I said, she's really the one who was screwed this episode...Votes: Michelle, CeCe, who is finally voted out!  This does make it seem as if Zechris is in control, at least for now...

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X 1x4 "Who's the Sucker at the Table?" live blogging thoughts

Gen X fallout!  Chris is "pissed off."  He thought about sabotaging rice.  Why do they always think about sabotage?  Lucy wonders if the de facto women's alliance was a good thing or not.  She doesn't trust Jessica.  So, probably no women's alliance going on here.  She thinks Ken & David are basically in her pocket, and says so to Bret and Chris.  This basically means the power really is shifting to Ken & David.

Millennials hunt pig!  Cue Lord of the Flies references!  Also, Adam really has calmed down.  He's no longer habitually SPEAKING IN ALL CAPS.  He also finds a clue for a hidden immunity idol.  He wisely chooses to bide his time.  I'm officially abandoning Zeke as my non-Triforce (read: Michelle) favorite from this tribe in favor of Adam.

Reward challenge!  Millennials surprised Paul was voted out.  They're playing for food.  Interesting to see tiny David walking alongside gigantic Chris at the start of a water keep-away challenge.  These two get to finish the challenge for their team, too.  But Jay and Zeke seem to figure them out, leading to war!  Gen X wins!  Jeff is nearly swept away!  Dramatic! 

Zeke observes that Chris is huge.  He also calls Michaela an Amazon.  It may or may not be worth noting she lost her top during the challenge, was all Rich Hatch about it.  Adam decides he should look for the hidden immunity idol.  He finds it.  Hannah stumbles in on him, or so he certainly fears.  (That makes him sound insane, I realize.)  He talks about his mom's lung cancer.  So now it really seems as if this dude has a shot at the title, given an increasingly sympathetic edit. 

Gen X cooks up their reward challenge bounty.  David speaks with Lucy.  Lucy is far too willing to flip alliances to be trusted far, but she's someone who can be used.  She says the target is Jessica.  She's basically mad at Jessica for trying to do what she's trying to do, which is what they hated about Paul...

Immunity challenge!  Obstacle/word puzzle.  Looking at Figgy getting ready to compete reminds me that we basically have seen nothing from Triforce this episode.  Adam has totally dominated the Millennials edit this week, anyway.  You can probably assume they're winning the challenge, no matter how well Gen X does early in the challenge.  I've also realized this episode that Chris is basically Kevin McKidd (Rome, Grey's Anatomy).  Puzzle portion takes forever.  Zeke helps Figgy and Michelle figure out what they and Michaela were trying to find in the pieces.  Easy win to call, given the edit. 

Chris, who keeps appearing in this episode, despite the fact he has no chance of winning, is flummoxed about what happens to Gen X next.  Lucy, who also has no chance of winning, keeps appearing, too.  Ken & David, who have a future, talk.  They haven't been in enough of this episode.  It's amazing how savvy David has gotten.  He targets Lucy.  Case in point.  She's just not worth the hassle.  Jessica, meanwhile, hasn't been near as half-cocked.  They turn to her.  This is the future of Gen X right here.  As long as Jessica figures out this is in her best interest.  Which of course she doesn't.  This is the future of Gen X: further implosion.  Ken is shocked that stupid people act stupidly.  Ken is starting to act less smartly.  But David is still playing it cool.  Cool Hand David!  Who would've thought?  Don't save Jessica, David!  It's not worth it!  Save your future, wait for tribe shuffles!

Tribal council!  Jeff asks David whether the last one helped the tribe come together.  Of course not, Jeff, of course not!  Chris calls the state of the tribe "complete chaos."  He and Bret just have to sit back and watch the fireworks at this point.  Lucy talks about insecurity, mostly because people won't just shut up and listen to her.  Throws Ken under the bus.  Thinks men will just shut up and appreciate her.  (This is not a criticism of sex.  But certainly she seems to think she will earn respect by behaving as she thinks men want her to act.)  Jessica also throws Ken under the bus.  "It's a live tribal."  David: the philosopher of Gen X!  Chris utters the title of the episode.  The sucker, at the moment, seems to be Ken.  He votes for Jessica.  That seems about right.  Of her and Lucy, she's less predictable.  I realized CeCe hasn't factored into this episode at all.  David plays his hidden immunity idol for Jessica.  Will this pan out???  Chaos!  Chaos!  Jessica is clearly shocked.  Will make things very interesting for this tribe...Tons of votes toward Jessica, that don't count.  CeCe and Lucy get the other votes, with Lucy going home...

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X 1x3 "Your Job is Recon" live blogging

Hannah is feeling a little guilty, over at Camp Millennials, about siding with the Triforce at tribal council.  Zeke is feeling vulnerable, and really doesn't want to talk to Hannah.  Fun TV!  Adam (WHO TYPICALLY TALKS IN ALL CAPS, in case you were wondering who he is) is also feeling vulnerable.  He is not currently speaking in all caps.  Now it certainly looks out of the two of them, Adam has a better shot at getting back into a good position in the game, because he's not merely freaking out like Zeke is...

Over at Camp Gen X, they for some reason chant "red sky at night..."  David talks about "hope for me."  Paul feels really good after his medical scare.  Something horrible is probably going to happen to him again.  "I think I'm really good."  He doesn't catch anything.  That counts as horrible, right?  Ken suggests that Paul is probably an idiot (in so many words).  He doesn't get how people like to make idiotic alliances when good folk like him can't get ahead.

Four members from both tribes get to intermingle with the other tribe.  Will, Jay, Taylor, & Figgy are Millennials spies.  (Will and the Triforce!  Sounds like a CCR song!)  David, Chris, Paul, and CeCe are Gen X spies!  "Clear eyes and a cold heart."  Chris could be another one to watch.  David, don't misplay this.  This would be the classic moment where someone like him would screw it up by suggesting he's open to consider alliances in the other tribe.  Paul is in a rock band!  Actually, he's just about the right age to be in a rock band, isn't he?  By the way, these eight are intermingling with each other.  David predictably suggests he should look for alliances with the Millenials.  Don't screw it up, Dave!  David and the Triforce?  Would Paul be able to vouch for that as a Creedence Clearwater Revival-type song?

So the Gen X spies return.  David really thinks Taylor completes him.  CeCe says she told the Millennials that Ken was humble.  Ken is also told he was referred to as Ken Doll.  He says this wouldn't be the first time.  He is not amused.  He again calls Paul incompetent.  He's fixating.  Fixating isn't good unless you can get the votes.  What happened with the David alliance?  And it's not looking good for Ken.

Triforce!  Adam doesn't agree that Triforce is as awesome as Triforce thinks it is.  He targets Figgy, regardless of whether or not she has her own brand of pudding.  He's going about things smarter than Ken.  He's at least got Michaela willing to listen to him. 

Immunity/reward challenge time!  Lots of camp comforts on the line!  Lots of fun posts to go under/over, a Survivor staple sort of challenge, complete with balance beams.  CeCe has the option to let someone go for her, but decides to stay in the challenge.  Pretty much the opposite of Taylor, who's a "workhorse."  So then it becomes Boom Blox.  Using that description, is it surprising to hear the Millennials are good at this, too?  But Ken is pretty good for Gen X.  Then Zeke & Michelle work on a puzzle.  David & Sunday get to get into it quicker than expected thanks to Ken.  Millennials help their puzzle people.  Gen X believe they'll only screw their people up.  Millennials win!

Millennials want fishing gear instead of camp comforts.  Jeff says he'll discuss it.  Apparently it was a dialogue between tribes.  Michaela refers to Gen X as parent figures.  CeCe is targeted because of her poor, poor performance.  Plus, they were probably going to target her anyway, right?

So they continue talking about CeCe as the target.  It's all about challenge performance, seemingly.  Certainly not because she isn't in the six-person alliance, right?  David talks strategy with Ken, once again targeting Paul.  I mean, he's been talking about it all episode, right?  Classic editing strategy, presenting two seemingly equal targets, planting doubt in the mind of fans.  The Gen X Six is such a boring alliance.  Some of them have to realize they're way down on the bottom, right?  So the girls immediately start talking about that.  Jessica seems to be just below the guys in terms of calling shots.  Get rid of Paul.  It'll keep things interesting!

Tribal council!  Jeff asks David about the spy summit.  David immediately throws himself under the bus, admitting it wasn't such a bad thing talking with the enemy.  CeCe talks about the three people who mathematically cannot be part of the Gen X Six.  Jeff rubs it in that the Millennials sucked a lot less at the challenge.  He's so happy about how well the Millennials did!  Gen X somehow doesn't take it personally.  He then asks about texting.  "You can change with us or you can be an old fogey."  (For the record, I spell everything out in texts.  Am I part of Gen X???)  He asks about paranoia, somehow doesn't immediately address David.  But he does asks Paul.  He absolutely does not see his possible imminent doom coming.  Figures!  Ken talks about being a potential asset.  If Paul knew what Ken was talking about with cameras pointed at him this episode, he'd be paranoid.  Why would they show David with some kind of expectation of using his hidden immunity idol?  Paul and CeCe get votes, obviously.  Paul's gone!  Rock on, Paul!  (Blindside!)  Bret now defaults to meaningless leader of the Gen X Six!