Back at camp, it's the morning of Day 39. They pat themselves on the back repeatedly for completely dominating the entire game, and I don't even begrudge them that; they're one of the most impressive pairings ever. Of course, there is a giant breakfast, and they eat all of the eggs and pancakes and sausage together in celebration. There's a lot of talk about how their first impressions of each other were completely wrong; Stephen thought JT was this biased Southern charmer, and JT thought Stephen was this really religious guy. Why in the world would he think that? Was Stephen dressed like a rabbi in episode one and I just neglected to mention that? Anyway, they could not be more different, yadda yadda, same stuff we've heard twenty times, and yet they work so well together because their mindsets are so similar. I smell sitcom!
They leave camp together for the final tribal council, somehow managing not to burn everything down. Isn't burning the camp to the ground a hallowed final two tradition? I mean, they're in Brazil! Slashing and burning is practically a national pastime there.
Final Tribal Council! Probst calls on them to begin their opening statements, and Stephen's up first, and he argues that while JT was a better woodsman, more charming, and more suited for this game in general, Stephen came from the city, had never been camping before, and was sort of uncomfortable in his own skin and ended up in the same place. "We decided everything together, but the road has been a lot harder for me," he says, "And thank you to all of you for helping me with that." The "thank you" to the jury is never advised. I don't think you can ever thank the jury during a final tribal council without having it seem condescending: "Hey, thanks for suffering defeat at my hands, losers! When I am swimming around in the hundred grand that I'm at least guaranteed to win at this point, I'll be sure to shed a single tear for each of you."
JT's opening statement is more of an emotional appeal: "I'm no Yale grad or English major. In fact, I'm the first person to graduate college in my family, and I've worked hard to get to where I am. All Stephen and I did was get rid of the people that we thought were going to get rid of us." The jury looks incredulous at this point, because what, Sierra was suddenly going to mount an attack against JT? JT points out that he could have gotten rid of Stephen and taken Erinn, but he did not because of his loyalty to Stephen, and he would like them all to reward that loyalty. In short: "Hey, people who I betrayed! Aren't I a stand up guy?"
Time for jury questions: Brendan's up first. Because he is Brendan and this is an athletic competition and he is already going to vote for JT, he tries to poke holes in Stephen's argument by pointing out that they never had an immunity challenge about personal growth, so why should that be rewarded? Brendan is, of course, missing the entire point. There are about nineteen aspects to this game, one of which is winning challenges, the other eighteen of which are the various social aspects that actually keep your ass in the game. When Stephen points out that the challenges are less important than playing the game itself, as is evidenced by the fact that he is, you know, sitting there in the final two, Brendan is still confused.
And what does Brendan do when he's confused? Why, he asks JT what he thinks, because JT is the greatest person ever! "Hey, JT, is growth relevant? You have absolutely no personal stake in this scenario, of course, so I'm sure your answer will be totally objective, right? Oh, and can I give you a hug?"
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Comments (12)
Well, I was really hoping that Stephen could have talked his way into the win, but he just seemed to go limp and let JT have it. I'm guessing they already had an agreement worked out there -- after all, Stephen gets the 100k for second place, right?
And the fact that people were falling all over themselves to lick up JT's droppings was part of his strategy -- which he pulled off really well. So he definitely deserves the win.
For once, I'm not dissatisfied with the winner. Although the whole season seemed kind of limp. Hopefully they'll toughen up the challenges for next season.
1 of 12 | Posted by itchy | Posted on May 20, 2009 5:13 PM
Although Stephen was a very good player in the game, he missed the essential point... you can't go to the end with the most-liked player in the game, whether you're in an alliance or not. And, if you're going to try and sell yourself to the jury, you can't sell yourself as a floater! You have to point out exactly what moves you made... DUH! He should have pointed out that he found the Idol with Taj, brought JT into their alliance, and protected JT from being voted out at certain points in the game.
I do agree that no matter what, what it comes to is that the juries (in the majority of seasons) only value physical brawn, no matter how strategic a game was played. If you're not the physical player, you have to actually make moves within the game that people will recognize as game-changing. Getting the people to vote out Tyson, while still keeping Sierra isolated was a master stroke and Stephen should have taken credit for it (since it WAS HIS IDEA!).
It was almost as if Stephen was playing for second place, which was my main problem with Sugar last season. If you really want to win Survivor, you have to play wire to wire. JT did, Stephen didn't.
2 of 12 | Posted by slutty_whore | Posted on May 20, 2009 5:46 PM
This was the first time in a long time I would have been satisfied with either person winning...until Stephen revealed he wouldn't have kept his word to JT. Then I was firmly in JT's corner.
3 of 12 | Posted by cattyfan | Posted on May 20, 2009 8:37 PM
Cattyfan, I don't think that is what Stephen said. He mostly said he wasn't sure. He only said he would go against JT when pressed because that was clearly the answer that they wanted to hear. I'm not sure why everyone gets down on Stephen for saying he would have to think about whether he would bring JT to the end. JT clearly had to think about whether he would bring Stephen to the end. The only difference is that we got to see what decision JT finally ended with but we will never know what Stephen would have done.
(I've not read the recap yet only the comments. :p)
4 of 12 | Posted by Snootchy Bootches | Posted on May 21, 2009 5:29 AM
Cattyfan, I don't think that is what Stephen said. He mostly said he wasn't sure. He only said he would go against JT when pressed because that was clearly the answer that they wanted to hear. I'm not sure why everyone gets down on Stephen for saying he would have to think about whether he would bring JT to the end. JT clearly had to think about whether he would bring Stephen to the end. The only difference is that we got to see what decision JT finally ended with but we will never know what Stephen would have done.
(I've not read the recap yet only the comments. :p)
5 of 12 | Posted by Snootchy Bootches | Posted on May 21, 2009 5:33 AM
Erm... that was weird.
6 of 12 | Posted by Snootchy Bootches | Posted on May 21, 2009 5:35 AM
congrats JT! and thanks for the recaps!
stephen was really portrayed as a whiney little byatch there at the end, which i'm not sure is off the mark. such a strange relationship he and JT have. bromance, fo sho.
pretty good season. sierra definitely acted like a 12 year-old all the way, proving why they hated her (b/c i had been wondering). coach was fun to watch.
looking forward to the recap of the reunion!
dax
7 of 12 | Posted by idax | Posted on May 21, 2009 9:03 AM
Schoonie - Great Recaps (again) all season. Always made my day.
On the forum side I have been plugging the Ponderosa videos. If you haven't checked it out, they actually did one with Stephen and JT showing up at Ponderosa after the final tribal council. It's worth watching because it gives a different perspective than the editing on the tribal council. Stephen and JT seemed pretty cool about the whole thing - not the drama that you might expect. It was a weird, but satisfying, "conclusion."
Thanks for all the recaps and look forward to next fall.
8 of 12 | Posted by Channel Dasher | Posted on May 21, 2009 9:16 AM
Thanks for the entertaining recaps. I always read them at ew.com and then head over hear for your vastly superior take.
9 of 12 | Posted by Emmyloo | Posted on May 21, 2009 10:07 AM
"The part of Debbie will be played by Paula . . . " BRAVO!
10 of 12 | Posted by willintherace | Posted on May 22, 2009 11:07 AM
Great, spot-on recap. I hope that Debbie and Sierra see this recap and realize how stupid their questions were.
11 of 12 | Posted by tv freak | Posted on May 22, 2009 1:57 PM
I just finished reading this. (I was on vacation.)
okay, okay, I wanted the whole thing to end in a big wedding under a tree. I didn't get that but this was almost as good.
First, Smitten and JT pledge their loyalty to each other. Then they have a fight. Then one feels betrayed. How is it resolved? In the end they end up together, side by side, [one in black and one in white (okay, yellow)]. The two of them looked like the top of a big gay wedding cake.
P.S. uh, the reason why Jeff seemingly hates Stephen is cause Jeff's jealous of Stephen and JT's "relationship."
I really enjoyed your recaps Schoonie and I look forward to the ones in the fall.
12 of 12 | Posted by Mr Dangerous | Posted on June 4, 2009 7:49 AM