JT, shockingly, says that while it's nice to grow, it doesn't really matter. In fact, he is the main reason for Stephen's change, because he had to psych Stephen up before some of the challenges, so he can take credit for that, too. Stephen wants a rebuttal and says that hiding in the shadows is a legitimate strategy, which seems a little out of context for this scenario. Also, JT is talking! Can you not tell by how all the ladies and some gentlemen are currently being charmed? "Well, I think sticking your neck out deserves a little more respect." JT says, which is not incorrect. JT's being smart here by painting himself as the guy who made all the decisions, when we know that most (but not all) of the time, it was largely Stephen who made them.
Erinn's turn. She asks Stephen how he played three very specific alliances (the Jalapao Three, The Exile, and Warrior) all at the same time. Stephen answers best he can, which is to tell her that the game is largely social and he just formed some structures and then worked within them, just like anyone else would. Stephen says that he played aggressively and worked those relationships to his benefit, which is why he should win. Pretty straightforward, right?
Erinn's question for JT is, of course, why take Stephen over Erinn? JT says that Stephen was more loyal to him and for longer than Erinn was. I'm not sure what exactly she was expecting out of that. An apology? Some insurmountable evidence that does not exist?
Debbie's turn. Oh, lord. She tells them both that she legitimately hasn't decided for whom to vote. Her question for JT is "JT, when we first met, I was very drawn to you. I think I may have misjudged you. Was his first instinct right or is lying and deception your MO?" I love how Debbie still has no idea how this game is played like two weeks after she's been voted out.
JT's answer is hilarious: "My mom told him he had to lie." Awesome. When your mom tells you to do something? You do it. He also mentions that he's not the only one in this conversation that lied, since she tried to vote Coach out and all. This shuts Debbie up quick, because oops!
Debbie then asks Stephen if he'd have done the same thing JT did had he won the final immunity. He tells her that he seriously doesn't know (which I think is his honest answer, because he knows that he'd be very tempted), and Debbie stops him. "I want an answer, and I think you know it. I think I know it too," she says.
This is ridiculous. Why badger him into answering a question in exactly the way you want him to? That doesn't make the answer you're looking for true, it makes it the only answer you're willing to take. How does that help to make a decision? He already gave you the honest answer. Here are the options you have left him: if he says that he would have taken JT, you think he's a liar and you vote for JT to win. If he says he would have taken Erinn, you think he's dishonest and you vote for JT. I suppose I don't need to point out that Debbie's agenda here is actually pretty dishonest in and of itself, since she just said she didn't know who she was going to vote for, when she very plainly does.
So anyway, Stephen tells her that he probably would have chosen Erinn, because that's what she wants to hear and that's the only option she's leaving him. Now, that's not to say he wouldn't have actually taken her, but I'm pretty sure that he really, seriously doesn't know. "My hope is that I would have taken JT, but my fear is that I would have chosen Erinn." I mean, can you get more honest than that? JT immediately looks like a broken man, putting his head into his hands. Based on the information we have from the reunion, which one of these people is the honest one? Not that it's not a good move on JT's part, of course, I'm just trying to point out that this whole situation is pretty much the opposite of what everyone seems to think it is.
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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