Erik's torch is fitfully snuffed, and he wholly deserves it. I'm sure he's a really nice guy, but this whole thing is clearly not in his skill set. While this episode (and the past few) have all been awesome, and I've enjoyed each and every one, I have a question for you: Has the latter half of this season been so awesome because the level of the game has been raised, or because the people that have been cast this season as the "fans" have been almost uniformly idiotic and unfit? While this has been awesome entertainment and I'm glad to have watched it, I would have preferred that the casting people had chosen someone who was actually capable of scheming and thinking logically, given them Erik's (or Jason's, or Kathy's, or Chet's...) spot, and put some people on this show that could actually go up against the likes of Cirie. These blindsides are not the result of people getting smarter; it's because the people on the receiving end are getting dumber. If they had cast people who could actually handle this as the "superfans", this season would have been twenty times better as a result. Chet wouldn't have quit, Kathy wouldn't have quit, Tracy (as the only person really worthy, I think) would have been able to work with people who can actually think strategically. Think about the clash of the titans we could have seen, a battle we have been promised by All-Star seasons past, on nearly every reality show, that has not been delivered. This was a great premise, one that had promise. But it's not enough to have seen all the episodes; while that makes you a "superfan" in one sense, that doesn't mean that you have the capacity to be interesting on this show, or the ability to think critically that is required to win. Frankly, I found Erik and the rest quite boring, the entire time they were present. If you're going to put Cirie and Yau-Man and Ozzy and Jonathan and Amanda in the same place, please producers, put some worthy people on this show, seriously. Otherwise, it's just a turkey shoot.
On Sunday: the finale!
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Comments (19)
I do agree that it was the dumbest move ever, but, as I was watching Tribal, I was thinking, there is no way Erik can win. The four remaining women would not give him the vote, and the other Favs in the jury would not as well. When James said "I've lost my reign as dumbest Survivor ever" phrase, maybe he can keep the title. After all, he did have 2 idols and did not play them, basically having immunity 2 times. Erik gave it away 1 time.
1 of 19 | Posted by Fourteen Forty | Posted on May 9, 2008 8:05 PM
Oh Erik. You stupid, naive idiot.
I loved him and his cutesiness and I was actually yelling "Don't do it, you idiot! Don't do it!" at the TV. And then he did and the girls started laughing and I just knew it was all over, despite his intense finger crossing.
I loved the jury's reactions - priceless.
2 of 19 | Posted by georgiababe | Posted on May 9, 2008 8:40 PM
Posting in an epic recap lol.
I was dying at the end of this show. I was torn between feeling bad for Erik, and not feeling bad because of how dumb he was. It amazes me that there is still someone left in this world that has that much blind trust in people.
The really sucky thing about him doing that though is we are left with Nat, who I really can't stand.
I do agree that the cast of Fans pretty much sucked. There had to have been Fans out there smarter than the ones they got.
3 of 19 | Posted by pixi-stix | Posted on May 9, 2008 9:04 PM
God, that was amazing, and Schoonie rocked the recap (in record time, too.)
But did anyone else see Natalie totally catch Alexis' eye while they were all getting seated? The look on Natalie's face was a clear, "Girl, you don't even know what you're about to see."
4 of 19 | Posted by Anonymous | Posted on May 9, 2008 9:07 PM
If ever there was proof that a "superfan" who has seen all the episodes does not necessarily translate into a good player, Eric is it. I don't think you can predict how anyone will play the game once it starts but these fans were terrible! They had chances earlier in the game if they stuck together but I think they were so in awe of their idols that they had absolutely no game. And did no one remember how well Cerie played the game the first time around? She deserves the win, but I doubt the dummies on the jury will see it.
5 of 19 | Posted by Annieo | Posted on May 9, 2008 10:13 PM
Schoonie - wow, fast recap! My husband kept saying there was no way Erik would fall for that scheme, but he was getting too much air time for my comfort. Couple that with comments made from Probst that James's move was no longer the dumbest and Eliza's comment that there was a big blunder coming, and I was afraid he was buying into it. Even knowing it was coming, I still had to watch - it was like a train wreck! I'm not a Cirie fan, but she really has pulled off the best plans and strategies here - and made other people think it was their ideas - so she should be able to pull off the win.
Oh - and Schoonie - I, too, refuse to think Rupert is awesome! Could.not.stand.him!
6 of 19 | Posted by kdfinjpn | Posted on May 9, 2008 11:38 PM
I started this seaon with high hopes for James (Lovely Mandigo Man) but I was asigned Amanda (not bad) in our seasonal Surivior Pool.
But I must say...at this point...Cirie deserves the win...no question. Survivor Genious. Richard Hatch ea your heart out. He WAS a total genius in this game,,he figured it out for many.... (due to his briliant forfiture of the final challange0 but, of course, except for his idiotic refusal to pay taxes.
7 of 19 | Posted by Carawatches2muchTV | Posted on May 10, 2008 12:50 AM
This will go down as THE dumbest move in all of reality TV unseating James and his TWO idols and Marcellas on Big Brother NOT using the Veto on himself and thus getting voted out.
As far as the "super fans" they made critical mistakes in the beginning getting rid of a lot of the "power hitters". I can't even remember their names. The weakest players banded together and got rid of so many stronger players from the beginning, that they had no power to assist them in getting any farther. And perhaps some of those heavy hitters were the more interesting players but we never got a chance to know them.
I think Cirie is a genius. She has orchestrated the ouster of every jury member while making them think it was someone else's idea. Even the "someone else" ended up thinking it was their idea. I haven't always liked Cirie, but you have admire her mind. I hope she wins. She sucks at challenges but she is a mastermind.
8 of 19 | Posted by tracyintpa | Posted on May 10, 2008 5:53 AM
Wanted to add one more thing:
In his exit interview Erik said he was around his "heroes"....Really??? I mean they are just regular people on tv, and generally are either annoying or completely brain dead. It's not like they're the Dali Lama or anything.
That boy needs to get out more.
9 of 19 | Posted by pixi-stix | Posted on May 10, 2008 7:54 AM
I think that mankind everywhere let out a massive collective sob for our gender at the complete idiocy of Erik. The fact that he could not clearly see the disdain eminating from every female in the camp like my grandmother's cheap pharmacy perfume, and allowed himself to believe that Natalie (who I'm sure would eat her young) would look out for him clearly shows that he needed to get the hell off the island and maybe hook up with Jason Castro for bong hits (I hear he has free time now). I know that scheming is part of the game, but there's something entirely unholy about the way Nat and Parvati do it. Or is it just me?
-JC
10 of 19 | Posted by timberwolf | Posted on May 10, 2008 10:01 AM
Mandingo Man? Oy! I don't know if you can use that phrase in 2008.
The reason why I like this website is because of people like TRACYINTPA.
I was thinking of Marcellas too! I think this is comparable.
James is still dumber than Erik. James had TWO idols.
Yet, James is cuter than Erik. Translation: James is cute AND dumb.
GREAT EPISODE! CIRIE, AMANDA or PARVATI deserve to win. Give a million dollars to each one.
11 of 19 | Posted by weasel dearest | Posted on May 10, 2008 2:54 PM
So nobody is going to attack "timberwolf" for alluding to the fact that Jason Castro isn't on American Idol anymore? But what about all the people who come to this recap just for the Survivor show? What if you haven't watched American Idol yet and he just ruined it for you? Come on...I know this sounds ridiculous, but so did the majority of the whiners in the last Survivor recap. Here's a tip for you, maybe you just shouldn't read the comments at all. Then a TV SHOW wouldn't have gotten ruined for you.
12 of 19 | Posted by JustJesse | Posted on May 10, 2008 4:11 PM
Hey weasel dearest, James did have two idols, but they were both the hidden idols. Erik's idol was the one that is visible at all times to everyone.
13 of 19 | Posted by nerrawllehctim | Posted on May 10, 2008 5:02 PM
wow. that episode was amazing. i knew the plan was going to work once Cirie started working her magic. she has been running things since she got them to vote out Yau-Man. at the time i thought it was a dumb move because she was so obvious about what she was doing, but no one seems to notice that she is in complete control.
i almost felt sorry for poor Erik. i understand him thinking that he needed to make a big move, and i don't think anyone is immune to Cirie's mind control, but seriously, after the last 3 people were blindsided it is amazing that he was so trusting.
i do think that this was a little worse than James because James basically trusted his alliance and didn't use the idols when he had the chance. plus i don't think James is a good player to begin with (at all). Erik didn't have an alliance and he knew that he was the target before he won immunity, so he doesn't really have any excuse.
i just hope that Cirie can use her mind control on the jury.
14 of 19 | Posted by p.q. | Posted on May 10, 2008 6:06 PM
Jason Castro was eliminated on Wednesday and Timberwolf commented about it on Saturday....I don't think it's a spoiler when its 4 days after the fact. But that's just me...
Back to Survivor: DUMBEST MOVE EVER! Definitely beat out James' dumbest move. WOW. I was shocked that he gave it up to Natalie. Just WOW.
If you watch the clip from Ponderosa once he goes to the Jury House, he is so in love with the Survivors that it makes him not think clearly. He even said that getting to hang out with James and Ozzy was worth more than the million dollars. WHAT?! WHY?!! They are just random guys that got picked to go on a reality show- JUST LIKE YOU.
I'm proud of the girls for making it Final 4. I'm sure Natalie will be saying bye-bye soon enough. Cirie is AMAZING, I loved her quote at the end. She truly is an amazing strategic player.
15 of 19 | Posted by serjen | Posted on May 10, 2008 9:48 PM
JustJesse, I just read the other comments so now I get that you are being sarcastic. lol. Um, yah, if you didn't watch a show and it's already aired, than it's your OWN DAMN FAULT if it gets spoiled, people. I understand if you are on another coast and don't want to be spoiled before it airs, but I for one am not going to be concerned if people wait 10 days before watching a show and don't want to be 'spoiled'. F that. Than don't read comments or recaps or whatnot. Stupid.
16 of 19 | Posted by serjen | Posted on May 10, 2008 9:54 PM
Cirie rocks. No question. She comes up with this cockamamy (sp?) plan but seriously, who else would have ever in a million years have thought of that? I LOVED it.
The way the chips fell this season it just continually allowed her to work her ninja mind games. Which was so fun. The only survivor I felt deprived of...yauman. I missed getting to have him on the show longer--because he rocked in so many capacities.
Can't wait for the finale recap :)
17 of 19 | Posted by lawyerjenn | Posted on May 12, 2008 7:48 AM
Glad the plan to get out Erik out worked. Had the season ended with an F3 instead of an F3, I'm pretty sure Cirie would've won for that move alone.
18 of 19 | Posted by Dale | Posted on May 22, 2008 11:38 PM
Glad the plan to get Erik out worked. Had the season ended with an F3 instead of an F2, no doubt Cirie would've won for that plan ALONE.
19 of 19 | Posted by Dale | Posted on May 22, 2008 11:40 PM