'“Spencer is a huge Survivor fan,” he says. “I think he was presented with a choice: Should I go with Vytas and the old school alliance, or should I go with the new school players? I think he realized that maybe he would be higher up in the food chain in that alliance, and in ours he would be toward the bottom — which…

Or because it is a VERY good season?

This interview is great, and it really points out the fact that one of the main things that screwed Vytas was his pre-game alliances. The reason pre-game alliances are bad (besides putting a target on your back) is because it is not obvious beforehand who you should align to. Although being friendly to all is always…

Well, to be fair, the person knows beforehand that they might get an idol during the challenge, so they can dress appropriately. There is still the problem of justifying this new dress code, but I don't think it would be that big an issue.

Did you see him trying to chop that log? The best thing he could do for all people involved was staying the hell away from the shelter being built.

"Cierra is delusional if she thinks voting out her mother was at all a defining vote for her. She must have bought into the editing. That was a meaningless vote."

Well, in the episode itself, when asked how often she relived that FTC, she answered, "Everyday." It might have been just for the drama, however.

I didn't watch China yet, but I would imagine that Stephen had fully realized by the time of the FTC that he had no chance of winning. So he did well not to feud with JT and keep their friendship (which I heard continues until this date).

Pearl Islands is my favorite season, Amazon 3rd best.

It just looked so green, something you would expect from a first time player (or Russel), not a guy that comments on Survivor for years. And it looked especially shameful when compared to Kelley, who got the idol without anyone as much as suspecting she did anything.

I really believe Abi was a good "cast" (quoted as she wasn't exactly cast) for this season, because it serves to point out how hard it is to change one's nature. She knows her problem, she is trying very hard to change it, yet her improvement is so small. It is actually a bit sad, and her comments in tribal council…

I think it is hard to tell. Mike himself had a pretty awkward first episode edit, and he went on to win in a very dominating fashion. But I wouldn't be at all surprised if he were to leave next episode, that would totally be consistent with this edit.

I don't think that is over-correcting. As far as I recall one of the big issues that Shirin's tribe-mates had with her is that she was playing way too hard, strategizing with Max all the time.

Awesome episode.

I am very pumped about this new season, everyone is fantastic. But on the other hand, I'm very pessimistic about it, because all the people I want the most to do well, like Savage, Kass, and Fishbach, are likely going to go out very early.

I will. Let me know when the draft starts!

Cagayan is my 2nd favorite season (behind only the unsurpassable Pearl Islands).

Wow, I just saw I made to Champions League! I thought for some reason only the winner would get it. I guess not such a loser after all!

Second place is just the first place loser…

Yes, I doubt that huge maze was prepared very quickly, the same with the huge stairs-and-slide thing.