10 Thoughts On… Survivor Caramoan: Fans vs Favorites 2 – Episode 1 Review

10 Thoughts, Features, Reviews, Top Story

1. For a long time, I have said that this season will redefine what the show is and have been asked to explain the opinion. Really, tonight’s episode is the first indication that this season is not your granddaddy’s Survivor. While my love for the show’s premise initially developed because of the way it forged unlikely alliances between people who would otherwise never meet (ie. Richard Hatch and Rudy Boesch), that has changed into appreciating what the show truly is. An embodiment of how tough life is and an enhanced depiction of the cruelty of mankind. While Cochran talked about his morality and the struggles he was having with his decision, he still made the best choice for his game. And that is what I love the most about this show.

2. What I loved the most about this episode was seeing how my favorite players have grown. I especially enjoyed seeing Corinne, Brenda, and Malcolm. Corinne was smiling the entire time and even delivered a wet buff to Cochran to sooth his seemingly omnipresent sunburn. Was this the same Kaplan who literally tore Sugar to shreds in the Gabon final tribal council? While she always got along with her alliance (Charlie, Randy, Marcus), she definitely had a hard time hiding who she didn’t like the last time she played. The improvement in her social game after one episode was incredible. I also liked how Brenda kept her head down. Brenda will be the first to tell you that her ego was the only reason why she didn’t win Nicaragua and I like the way she kept her head down this time and let the others pick themselves apart. Malcolm also showed steady improvement. I thought he came off a little smarmy last time, but this time around, he clearly recognized that he was the odd man out and did his best to adapt and focus on his strengths. It may have taken me a season, but I saw shades of the hype that he received last season.

3. The Boston Rob references were spectacular. Phillip saying that he is playing according to the “BR Rules” was undoubtedly my favorite part of the episode. Say what you will about him, but the Specialist respects the king and for that, he will always be one of my favorite players. He’s kind of like Tierra on The Bachelor. Can you imagine this season without him? I also really liked Cochran also praising Rob telling his tribe how to vote for by putting his hand on their shoulder and then Malcolm immediately doing it to him. The subtleties on this program is what make it the best show on TV.

4. While we only saw glimpses of it tonight, the relationship between Cochran and Phillip will be fascinating this season. Their solitary scene tonight electrified the entire episode.

5. Speaking of Cochran, I think you all remember how tough I was on him when he last played. I still believe his flip was the worst move in Survivor history and that includes Erik giving his idol to Natalie on Micronesia. With that being said, I genuinely see no way he can be voted off this time around unless the Favorites go on a major losing streak. He is a threat to no one and is aligned with all. He has three people from his original season still there, but a very close relationship with Andrea. There is no doubt in my mind that he made the right decision tonight because it has not set him up for the rest of the game. While one could make an argument that he should have gotten rid of Malcolm (since the sole Philippines representative is the unknown variable, at this point the Favorites need his strength more than anything else. While I rooted against him the last time, this time, I will have a hard time rooting for anyone other than the recent Harvard Law School grad. I love Cochran for the same reasons I hate him. He reminds me of myself and how I would fare and that’s why I examine his moves so harshly.

6. Okay, over to the Fans. First, let’s credit casting. I thought that these Fans were incredibly memorable and that the casting team did a great job with finding them. They seem like they all know how to play the game and I am excited because that will make this season even better.

7. The standout to me was Reynold. While he obviously single-handedly won immunity for his team, I also liked the strategic glimmer in his eye. He came to play and those are the types of players that I immediately gravitate toward. With that being said, he did make a lot of rookie mistakes. The “cool kids” alliance was not the way to go. In my opinion, it’s better to be the leader of the undesirable than on par with the other cool guy (like Eddie). He would have been better off rounding up Michael who seems like he has a very good read on the game. With that being said, Reynold is clearly the best player on the Fans. That is without doubt.

8. I really liked Michael as well. He was sharp, intuitive, committed but non-committal. A very strong showing from the New York event planner. Really liked Allie as well. My dream alliance at this point would be Reynold, Michael and Allie. I am hoping they get together because I can see that being a very powerful trio. Unfortunately, since the lines have basically already been drawn, I don’t know how likely it is.

9. I really thought that tonight’s premiere was flawless. It moved along at a great pace, we saw a lot of strategy develop and it served as a wonderful introduction to what I know will be the best reality show season of all-time. By casting so many misfits, the strategy will be all over the place and that will be quite fun to watch.

10. Tonight, Survivor history was made with that vote. If we are to analyze if it was the right move, I certainly believe that it was. It split up the Redemption Island trio. It immediately bought Phillip’s loyalty. It set-up a nice pecking order. Most importantly, the reason you have to keep Phillip in the game is because it is unlikely he will win a jury vote and you can always tell which way he will vote. It was a fact that Rob recognized immediately and it’s clear that this Favorites tribe does as well.

Murtz Jaffer is the world's foremost reality television expert and was the host of Reality Obsessed which aired on the TVTropolis and Global Reality Channels in Canada. He has professional writing experience at the Toronto Sun, National Post, TV Guide Canada, TOROMagazine.com and was a former producer at Entertainment Tonight Canada. He was also the editor at Weekendtrips.com.