A parallel-plotlines approach, akin to the split storylines of the second and third Lord of the Rings books, would have been fascinating.

It seemed like a self-aware bit when the narrator repeatedly said "This went on for hours," but I think we all understood it took a while without it actually taking a while.

Wait, so what was the line? "It looks like the Temple of Doom"?

So, Erik just did an AMA over at r/survivor, and this was one of the more interesting tidbits:

He's one of the best standups around, at least in my opinion. This bit about Law and Order is one of the best tracks on his first album, and a good place to start.

In Cochran's interview at EW, he basically acknowledges that luck played a huge part in his win, and it was either he or Erik who said he simply played a great game of positioning and timing, not necessarily strategy. But hey, that is strategy, and in this case it worked really well. Funny that a guy obsessed with…

It would mostly be little things, such as the slack on the individual ropes. I dunno. I can see it being a factor though.

I got the impression from that set-up that "drawing for spots" was a huge part of that challenge. Just so many variables.

I thought this one was better — a mix of physical endurance and mental aptitude. The FIC should test all your abilities, not just one.

COCHRAN WON! This is the first season since I've started really watching (in Nicaragua) that my absolute favorite won, so I'm finally a super-happy fan. (I liked Kim, but everyone else sucked that season.)

And Andrea's "question" pretty much exemplified Probst's misogynistic attitude. Props to Cochran (during the Walk of Shame) for being the only one to acknowledge how smart Andrea actually was.

Those were tears of humility.

He was the highlight of James and the Giant Peach.

I actually think Romeo + Juliet is a very clever adaptation. I remember Roger Ebert's review couldn't get over Danes and DiCaprio seemed to struggle with the "language," when that was really the whole point — that movie casts them as outsiders in every way. Everyone around them commits cardinal Catholic sins — murder,…

But don't you still want to compete? I would think the best thing to do would go for second place on the chance that you 'earn' a pick to tag along.

Oh man. "I am Cochran's dad, and I am his father, and I'm very proud to be his dad."

I don't think I've even called my dad in, like, 40 days.

She also spent the entire episode bragging about how humble she's been, so it was hard to feel bad for her.

Is the final speech ever a factor? Because I would say Brenda would have an advantage there.

C'mon, Phillip, chew with your mouth closed. Rude.