Survivor Episode 8

[dr.strangelove]

All hail Rob! Greatest player ever. Not much else to talk about.

[Suich]

1. Agreed!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[lazarus]

2. David was right

That was pure genius. A thing of beauty.

For those who didn't get it: An idol was flushed, and a completely wonky player was eliminated, and a strong 6-5 majority was solidified when Andrea agreed to vote out Matt.

I now put Rob third on the all time greatest players list. First is Sandra, second is Brian Heidik. They're only ahead of him because they won.

I think Rob is so far ahead of this game right now, he's just doing stuff to amuse himself.

Good challenge, too. Can't believe they lasted 40 minutes. Kind of a shame to do it this early, it would have been a great F4 challenge.

Edited to add: Murlonio!

[catchnrelease]

3. Wasted Idol

Yes, Ralph's idol was totally wasted, as Mike didn't get one vote. I was actually surprised that he offered it up to save Mike, instead of keeping it himself.

I'm still rooting for Rob, but sometimes he seems to make his decisions based on an affront to his ego, and that makes me worry. (ie his rant after Matt told him about the conversation with Mike) Obviously he's doing ok so far, so I guess I really shouldn't question his methods. He is amazing.

I couldn't believe any of them kept shoes on in that challenge, seems like it would have been so much easier to balance/stick on that log if you were barefoot. In fact I think Natalie was barefoot. I definitely didn't expect her to win!

Philip just seems to get weirder and weirder! The red-headed stepchild secret agent...enough already!!! I keep wondering what his co-workers are thinking as they watch this--have they known all along? Do they put up with that everyday???

And YES-Murlonio. We were cracking up at that one. :rofl:

[Phentex]

5. This is what Russell lacks...the social game...

Rob knows how to use ego to manipulate instead of trying to scare or bully people the way Russell did. I am sure there was much more he said to Matt that they didn't even show.

Even though it would have been smart for Matt and Andrea to hop to the other side, Matt has proven he's too dumb to stay in this game. Andrea is in a better position without him now.

[lazarus]

7. the key difference

Rob said "That's what I would do." Rob assumes his competitors are as smart as he is. Russell assumes he's smarter than everyone else.

[dr.strangelove]

6. I sat there - jaw dropped - as Probt predicted

It was a perfect tribal for Rob. He did everything right. He got the idol flushed and did it in a way that showed the other tribe they never stand a chance to outsmart him. He eliminated the only risk before him. He can control his tribe, at least until a few more Zapheads are eliminated. But he knew that Matt was a wildcard and that Matt might be able to influence Andrea. So cut off the head of the only thing you can not control. Now he knows he gets 5 votes he can't control and 6 he can. He gets to pick off the 5 zapheads, though I'm not sure he will take out Mike first. I think David is a far bigger threat than Mike. I also agree that getting Andrea in-line, and showing the other team that she is in-line, was the cream on top of the hot fudge sunday Rob enjoyed at that tribal.

I put Rob ahead of both Sandra and Brian in terms of gameplay, but you are right, they both won. Rob has not. I don;t think he wins this year either. He has not, or at least they have not yet shown, how he convinces his tribemates to take him to the finals. I say this is Grant's to lose. I think he goes to the final 3 with the two spa girls and gets a unanimous win. But we will see, plenty of season left. rob just needs to keep that idol and only play it when its needed.

[lazarus]

8. if he wins this season

he moves ahead of Brian. Sandra still has two wins. :D But his gameplay right now is spectacular.

What makes his alliance so strong is that it isn't a strong six. It's Rob/Grant, Rob/Natalie, Natalie/Ashley, Andrea/Phillip, Andrea/Natalie/Ashley (sort of). There's no real onion-type hierarchy to leave anyone feeling on the bottom except Phillip. Andrea probably feels like she's fifth at the worst, but that means Phillip leaves, then she can potentially get the two girls to ally with her and boot Rob and Grant. That's the play I'd make if I was Andrea.

Andrea is the most interesting non-Rob player right now. I pick the winner as her, Grant, or Rob.

[dr.strangelove]

9. You are of course right

about the winner. The one that takes the two spa girls to the end has the game locked up. If grant is smart, he will get rid of Rob at about 6, telling everyone that no one can beat Rob and that we have to do it. If not, its Rob's game. I am interested to see how smart Grant really is.

[lazarus]

10. hey, we agreed on something!

:hi:

:D

[dr.strangelove]

11. I think the most important thing we agree on

is that this is a very entertaining game to watch being played. Also, I think Andrea jumped up a few levels in my mind with her move last night. But at the end of the day, Rob put on a display of gamesmanship that everyone had to sit back and enjoy being a part of. It was brilliant and showed that he sees things move differently than the rest of us.

[lazarus]

12. I love the way he's grooming Natalie

“This is like a turning point in the game. You know what’s going down. Can you figure it out?” Let her try to figure it out, instead of just dictating the vote.

That's part of what makes him a master at this game. Even Phillip now feels like an integral part of the alliance. Rob's not a bully (Russell), he doesn't treat people like crap (Russell), and he acknowledges that other people are scheming (Russell), probably overestimating them instead of underestimating them (Russell). :D

[murielm99]

13. Andrea, Grant or Rob deserve to be the final three.

But will that happen?

[lazarus]

14. I think some of them end up in the final three

I don't think Rob wants them near F3. And they shouldn't want each other in F3, either.

Ometepe was blessed with goats aplenty, and I think they'll each try to use Ashley/Natalie/Phillip in some combination to get themselves into F3. That's what I'd do.

[dr.strangelove]

17. I think Rob will get rid of Andra long before the final 3 as she is

too good to keep around, my only question is whether grant and her will get rid of him first. Its clear those three are the best players.

[travelingtypist]

4. What a complete goober.

God this, God that. STFU already.

[Phentex]

15. God didn't look so hot this week...

he willed Matt right back to RI.

I'm sure there's a plan in there somewhere. :evilgrin:

[dr.strangelove]

16. I think Rob got exactly what he wanted

or did your reference to god refer to some "other" deity?