Did I miss something a few weeks ago?
Actually, before I begin, let me catch you up to speed. First off, my vacation to California was awesome, and I hope everyone gets a chance to go there some time in their lives. While there, make sure you go see the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz. If you’ve never been or never heard of such a place, go to mysteryspot.com, and check it out for yourself. Maybe I’m amused too easily, but this was the highlight of my trip.
In case you forgot, there is still a show called Survivor, and it will resume at it normal time this coming Thursday. The last episode of this show was held three weeks ago. CBS had offered some shocking twist, but instead, like always, hyped it up too much.
Did anyone else miss the shocking twist? I mean sure, there was Sally being sent to Exile Island, but I found nothing jaw-dropping about the episode. Yeah, it was a little kink in the game, which resulted in someone being booted that I never expected pre-show. But kinks happen all the time. I guess I don’t see what makes this one so special.
What a tough episode it was to watch too. I knew from the very beginning that Dan was toast. Dan’s been in the shadows to a certain extent all season, and all of a sudden, at the beginning of the episode, we learn all this stuff about Dan. Then we learn about how his tribe absolutely adores him. Survivor is known for this tactic. If someone goes a while without being in the spotlight, CBS will often show more of that person, just so we get to know him/her before he/she gets booted. This always pisses me off, because it’s usually involving someone likeable, and it makes the episode so depressing, because you know way too far in advance the outcome. CBS might as well put up a disclaimer that says ‘Dan will be voted out tonight. Cherish this episode. It will be his last.’
In other news, Shane had some cigarettes. And I’m aware that he is a douchebag (I haven’t used that one in a while), but you could tell it was killing him. I’m really glad that he was happy for that 12 minute stretch of episode. I was so delighted for him, that I kicked back and had a drink in his honor. True, I had been drinking before then, but I had an excuse.
It’s been so long since the last episode, that I don’t know what else to write about it. So let’s look beyond our difficult past, and onto the bright future. That’s right, I’m going to speculate (or at least educatedly guess) about the next episode. Why, you ask? Because I like getting emails, and even if I get some that say ‘ha, you’re wrong Dora!’ then I consider it a success.
I’m going to go out on a limb, and predict merge. As always, this is guess is spoiler free, so if it’s right, then it’s by my pure skills. I base this on a number of factors, mostly tradition, as well as a few others. If you’re interested, I’ll share these thoughts over email form with you. But the traditional number is ten (exceptions: Palau and All Stars, at 9, and Thailand where they officially merged -unlike that fake one- at 8), and that’s what I’m using to go off.
So what’s this all mean? Obviously La Mina is down 4-6, so is a Pagonging in store for the next few weeks? I’m going to say yes, and end the column right now, saying the final six will be all Casaya.
So that closes this column. Until next time, when we discuss the benefits of elbow macaroni, stay cool.
~Dora
(the producer whispers something into Dora’s ear. She nods in acknowledgement)
Okay, so apparently, I can’t lie just to get out writing the rest of this column.
Yes, I was lying. Personally, I don’t think that a Pagonging is in store for La Mina. First off, that’s boring television, which results in boring columns. I’m not a fan of boring columns (at least I attempt to prevent this phenomenon). So maybe for nothing else than interesting writing, I’m going to say that Thursday’s episode will be really cool. Obviously La Mina is going to stick together as a foursome, which could result in one of them going home soon, just to break up the group. But then you have to look at Casaya. Those Casaya girls are all ACHING to get rid of one of their own (especially Shane, but perhaps even Aras as well). Always beware a group of fierce girls with ambition to do damage. And where’s that leave our pal Bruce?
You also have to look at original tribes. Right now, three original members each from older men, younger men, and younger women remain (leaving Cirie as the sole older woman). Aras tried really hard to oust Bruce (so as to keep Bobby), so that the younger men’s alliance could rejoin post-merge. But then there’s the younger women. Sally is in good with La Mina now, but she’s most likely to be booted by the guys if La Mina is the final four (unless Terry realizes how necessary she is to break up Nick/Austin). Sally could jump ship, and join the women, and maybe we’d FINALLY have an all female final four. I honestly don’t see the older men getting back together. Shane is a young guy in an older guy’s body, and was thrown on the old guy’s tribe. Also, Terry and Bruce never really bonded, so even IF Shane wanted back in, it’d be pointless.
So what’s going to happen? I’m still clueless. I’m guessing one of the following scenarios. 1) Casaya sticks together, and gets rid of wither Austin or Nick, with the ‘coup’ coming in a few episodes. 2) The Casaya women hook up with La Mina now to boot the Casaya men. The latter option would be awesome, because at seven, Sally could stick with her tribe, or go all girls.
Honestly, I don’t see any of the girls going this week. The one exception to this is if there is no merge, and La Mina loses. In such a case, see ya Sally (unless Terry sees her aforementioned value). But looking at how all four remaining girls are faring, how could anyone in the right mind expect to see any of them go home Thursday? Hopefully the universe will balance out, and another man will be sent packing.
I hope my psychic powers are correct.
Now that I’ve got your brain juices flowing, it’s time for the rundown. As usual, the rundown disclaimer states that each player’s rank indicates their likelihood of winning ti all, relative to the other players, based on current level of gameplay.
Loser’s Lounge:
16- Tina Scheer
15- Melinda Hyder
14- Misty Giles
13- Ruth Marie Milliman
12- Bobby Mason
11- Dan Berry (6). What to say about Connecticut’s seventh most populated city? He was toast from the very beginning of the episode. After Dan blew the challenge for La Mina, and after Sally was exiled, Dan’s coffin was sealed. I don’t really know what, if anything, Dan could have done after the challenge to save himself. His was one of the saddest departures in Survivor history, simply because he was a downright awesome guy. It’s good to see someone like him keep his head up, and accept his unfortunate fate with character and class. Dan, you will be missed much.
*Loser’s Lounge Update* Did you all see that special clips episode? What was up with Tina’s oyster hunting? No wonder she got booted; she spent so much time on the beach eating. All that being said, Tina entered an oyster eating competition against the others. Dan ended up winning, because La Mina had no food, but Tina got all riled up once she lost. Luckily Bobby played the bouncer, and order was restored to the lounge.
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10- Shane Powers (9). Back to the bottom, Shane. Half your tribe wants you gone, and I’m sure so does the entire other tribe. You have a high amount of skills in this game, but I’m sure La Mina knows this (if they don’t already know about your badditude), and if they really want you gone, there’s three other girls who will be willing to join them.
9- Aras Baskauskas (8). I have a feeling the Casaya girls will just as readily dump Aras as they would with Shane. Well, maybe slightly less readily as Shane, but comparable nonetheless. That being said, in addition to the fact that the merge (pending, of course) is now individual, the strong are harder to survive.
8- Bruce Kanegai (11). As I said earlier with him, who knows where to place him? He’s not in nearly the amount of danger as Aras or Shane, but the other seven show more promise/potential to me right now. So #8 is the right fit for him this week, until we see more of him.
7- Courtney Marit (7). She’s at the bottom of the seven (Casaya girls plus La Mina), who I feel are going to make the power play. But Courtney does continue to piss some people off, so she’s at the bottom of the seven. However, don’t think to seriously about seeing her on the Early Show Friday morning.
6- Sally Schumann (10). Player of the week honors, folks! Way to do nothing, yet rise incredibly, Sally. Well done. As I said earlier, you’re now an integral member of the attrition-plagued La Mina. She is very valuable to that foursome. Also, if La Mina does get Pagonged, I’d say one of the guys goes before she’s even mentioned. Of coure, there is the high possibility of her switching sides to create havoc. Any which way, she’s got a myriad of options right now, and combined with her good position in La Mina, expect to see her around for at least a few more weeks. Way to eek it out and hang in there, girl.
5- Austin Carty (3)
4- Nick Stanbury (5)
Terry’s immunity aside, these guys are less likely than Terry to be a target in case of a Pagonging. However, things can happen (Terry wins individual immunity or Casaya just dislikes one of these guys), where these guys could be the target of a Pagonging. They’re still in a good position, but there’s a possibility for danger here, considering they both are virile young bucks. I had to put Austin below his counterpart Nick this week, because I’ve been saying all along that Austin is the brains of this duo. If the other tribe catches on to this, he’s in slightly more danger than Nick.
3- Cirie Fields (4). Did Cirie apply for the Real World but instead got on Survivor? This cat is awesome! She loves drama, and loves mixing it up. She was PRAYING that Casaya would lose, just to vote out Shane. And she’s so damn funny too! I love Cirie, and hoe she does well in this game. About her game, she’s in very little danger (perhaps even the least of anyone) this week. She’s got a good plan if a merge does not happen, and if it does, she certainly is no physical threat. Also, she’s tight with the other girls, so I’d say she’s sitting pretty.
2- Danielle DiLorenzo (2). No reason to drop her. Danielle was a key player (perhaps even the instigator) to try to get rid of Shane. She knows what’s going on. I’ve said over and over she’s the brains of Casaya, and will continue to say that until proven otherwise. Watch out for her, because she knows several plans of attack, to get her further into the game.
1- Terry Deitz (1). Last column, I said (this is copied/pasted) ‘Terry … will continue to be at #1 until someone comes along and really proves why they deserve to be #1.’ Terry has proven no reason why he should be dropped, and no one is even close to the level he is right now in the game. To quote Shania Twain, Terry, “you’re still the one.”
Let the eye rolls and groans commence!
And with that folks, it’s time to close this chapter of my column. As always, there is an open invitation to email me and we’ll talk.
So until next time, when we discuss the benefits of antacids, stay cool.
~Dora
