Bravo.
I'm a charter member of the Jon's a Dick club, but even I have to give him props. What he did was brilliant, and you have to wonder that nobody ever thought of it-- or carried through with it-- before. There's always a Loved Ones challenge. Having the forethought to capitalize on that by generating sympathy is not only clever, but a sound tactical move. It bought him the reward challenge (valuable more in its deprivation from other players than in itself) and quite possibly a few days more on the island, at no risk. The players will never discover the big lie until it's too late. Sure, they'll never talk to you again-- but you didn't go there to make friends. You went to make money.
I'll do a little happy dance if he finally gets voted out (at this point it's clear that he's everyone's favorite to go up against in the final two), but he's right-- this'll go down as one of the most memorable events in Survivor history.
But enough about Jon-- let's talk about those he bamboozled. My bile tonight is directed at the players who just threw their game away by ignoring their gut and a) throwing away a golden opportunity to oust the strongest player, and b) tossing a potential ally they worked hard to recruit instead. What the hell were Christa and Sandra thinking? Alliances have shifted so much already that any promises beyond the immediate tribal council aren't worth a damn. And yet these two geniuses happily agree to payment on Tuesday for a hamburger today.
I think this was the first time we've seen Jeff screw up during a challenge. It was an understandable mistake-- I'll bet a lot of people would misspell LIAISON. I wonder exactly how and when it was discovered. I'm sure there was a lot edited out, but it does suggest the kind of stuff that's happening behind the scenes-- producers looking things over and so forth. I wonder if the back-up challenge was in place already or was conceived on the fly. I was crushed to see Burton lose immunity-- with him holding the sword, I thought it extremely likely that Jon was toast.
At this point, the runway has been cleared for Darrah and all she has to do is bring her seat back and tray table upright for landing. Jon and Burton want Sandra and Christa out. Sandra and Christa... I don't know what the hell they want anymore. But nobody feels strongly about axing Darrah, and that can't help but work in her favor.
Note to future Survivor contestants: the biggest threats aren't the strongest players. Aim your radar low, shoot first, and ask questions later.
Posted by Peter at November 26, 2003 06:24 PMYes. Yes! So well put. In an episode truly full of surprises, the biggest one is that any players, let alone two seemingly smart ones, would actually trust the total b.s. coming from Jon at this point. Sandra said it herself, how many times has he betrayed them already? But what Jeff said at the end is also true, you don't have to like someone, you just have to need them. Christa and Sandra are each holding on to a hope that they can get to the final two with Jon. That hope is blinding them. That, or there were other things going on out there that we didn't know about.
As for Jeff's "mistake" in the immunity challenge, he's either a really bad actor or he just isn't trying. But I forgive him anyway, because it was so much fun to see Burton lose the sword for a change. :-) I figured, the man got brought back into the game by an unfair advantage, so he ought to be taken out by an unfair disadvantage.
If I haven't said it before, thanks for the weekly commentary, Peter. It's a pleasure to read.
Posted by: Scott Hardie on November 26, 2003 07:20 PMThat was, without a doubt, the best episode of Survivor I've seen...
Sandra tossing the fish while letting everyone blame Christa...
Jeff screwing up the immunity challenge...
And best of all, Jon *actually* pulling off the greatest deception in Survivor history (for once, the commercials weren't just hype!)
I swear, I laughed so hard I almost lost consciousness. I was dizzy and woozy. I had just said to my wife seconds before -- wouldn't it be great if it was a big lie? I certainly didn't predict it, but it did occur to me that someone could be that sneaky. When it happened, I was delirious with awe. I've gone from hating the guy to pitying the guy to simply ADMIRING the guy.
I guess the Survivors didn't find out the truth until tonight, like the rest of us did. Should make for a memorable reunion show. There'll actually be a reason to watch past the announcement of the winner.
Bravo indeed.
Posted by: Stephen Glenn on November 26, 2003 09:14 PMI wonder if “Jonny Fairplay” got his nickname because he doesn’t play fair. Notice that he crosses his arms just like a kid who crosses his fingers when he lies. I admit that he did a good job of outwitting his opponents, but I believe that he hit below the belt. This episode proved the basic good in humanity and showed the inhumanity in people. I forgot which tribemate said that they pulled for Jon to win the reward so that he can find out more about his grandmother; and the game began again after the reward challenge. I just wonder what would happen in the future if a tribemember finds out that a relative did die while they were on Survivor. Would his/her fellow tribemates disbelieve him/her? I sincerely hope that Jon experiences some repercussions from that lie.
Posted by: Jacqui Bankler on November 27, 2003 05:31 PMI've only started watching Survivor again this season after a handful of seasons away ... so, I do have one question: What exactly do the "jury members" get to see? Only what they see at the tribal councils? Or do they get to see "everything" -- like what the producers are seeing?
If it's the latter, then Jon's well-pulled-off deception might only give him too short of an advantage ...
-Matt
Posted by: MattWorden on December 1, 2003 12:48 PMthe jury can't hear/see what the producers do since the final two often talk about how they duped the others.
i agree about sandra and christa. they blew it.
Posted by: dana on December 2, 2003 10:13 AMI doubt Jon would have been on the chopping block regardless of the immunity challenge result due to his acting performance.
Posted by: Jonathan on December 2, 2003 06:29 PM