Survivor: Redemtion Island

I know not many people watch it, but I know that there are at least 2 other Survivor fans on the boards. Anyone else? If so, what did you think of the premeire?

I liked it. I hated that Francesca got tossed so early; I thought she was one of the best of the new people. That Phillip guy is awful and completely full of shit. I wonder how long it will be before his tribe gets wise and cuts him loose along with those baggy ass BVDs (how come they'll fuzz out Russell's not-explicit bulge, but we have to look at Phillip's sack?). (I would love for Phillip to go to Redemption Island and have Francesca beat his dumb ass to come back.)

Lots of eye-candy on Russell's tribe. That lawyer and that ex-army guy are smoking hot. The BF and I have determined that the older guy with the carefully-manscaped body is most likely gay, although metrosexuality throws us off a lot of the time.

Looks like it's going to be a great season. The smart people are really smart, and the dumb people think they're smart.

superdoug wrote:
Lots of eye-candy on Russell's tribe.

I'm partial to Rob's tribe. SHA-WING!

Yeah, she defnitly caught my eye too boobs. I wish the producers of Survivor would just give Phillip a pair of shorts, I dont understand why he feels the need to walk around in his underwear, it's disturbing. They know they are going to be on a island where it is hot, shorts are sold at stores for a reason.

The tribal council was intense, probly the very first time a tribal council has gone like one that normally would happen in the middle of the season as opposed to the first one. The fact that Phillip could not even say her name was priceless, I hope she makes it through redemption just so that he will have to say her name again.

I love that Russell has a major target on his back, and I always have been a Boston Rob fan, he may be cocky but he is one of the best players the game has ever had.

The Israeli version had a version of Redemption Island (here it was called "Island of the Dead") for the first couple of seasons (the fifth season aired two days before the American new season), but I only followed the first season because the producers abused the format to death (and now they pay for it with uninterested crowd and low ratings). Anyway, the island was horrible was part of what ruined the show. However, the contestants didn't know about it until getting voted out. What the producers did was taking one of their favorite contestants (who got voted early on while the producers wanted him to win) and let him beat like 10 others until he was brought back to the game right before the finale. Because they also had the Jury voting after the show aired, they Jury members split their votes between that guy and another female contender (she won) so the third guy - a ruthless jerk on the level of Russell and Richard Hatch combined - who was another pet of the producer, won't win.

Anyway, I trust the American producers to use this gimmick way better. The fact that the survivors already know about it from the beginning should add a new flavor to the strategies (like Kristina not voting against Francesca despite knowing they're about to lose, it was an obvious strategy move on the account of the latter coming back in the future).

So far most of the survivors are nameless nobodies. They keep on with the same personalities: coat-tailing blond you won't remember her name until Top 5 (but she might win, somehow); a supposed bitchy middle-aged lady who goes against the flow; an allegedly dumb redneck; a black female lawyer who won't stick around for long; a strong aging male with a questionable psyche; guy with a long blond hair who got cast by a scouter in the local mall; a former NFL star; a secretly aspiring actress whose homemade porn you'll hear about soon enough; etc.

Phillip is too crazy and too dangerous, but if Rob knows what's right he can use him just like he used Coach. At least he gave us an hilarious Tribe Council to begin with.

From the preview to the next episode, Russell seems to get annoyed at that redneck guy (forgot his name...) just because he can't realize he's looking at the mirror. Perhaps he hates himself just like everyone else can't stand him.

Kristina finding the hidden idol on her own isn't a shock anymore. Not after Russell did it eons ago. I'm surprised, though, that he didn't do just the same. Maybe his tribe's mates all keep their eyes on him so he can't just wander off. But then, on the other one, why don't they just do that? From their testimonials some of them obviously watched the show before.

I seriously thought either Rob or Russell are going to be sent to RI and spend the rest of the game there, until returning. One would control the island over two tribes (and later the merged tribe), while the other would rule RI on his own, proving he's the best there is by defeating the rest of the voted out one-on-one. It would've made much more sense if the show was scripted.

Also, Phillip should have been a character in Burn After Reading.

The second episode also provided another hour of entertainment. While we still don't really know the full cast as they are focusing on Rob, Russell and Crazy Phil I still enjoyed this episode a hell of alot. Hair boy finding the idol on pure luck was a bit irritating though. It's as if they are not even really trying to hide these thigns anymore. I enjoyed how Rob took total control of his tribe and how they all go with him. He has some great leadership skills, and knows how to play the game extremmly well. I still do not predict him to get the million though.

Looking forward on how the Redemption duel will be. I also like how they have given them a journal to write in while they spend a day or two alone out there. I would be intrested in reading that.