It should work to his advantage that the teams are going to be rearranged.

The tribe shuffle might have been planed from the start, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did it so soon because they didn't want a runaway. It's not fun when one team keeps losing and picking off members on a list everyone, including the viewers, knows is set in stone. Soooo funny about Spencer and Shirin both showing the same faults to their gameplay. :)

I think it doesn't matter what you think you should do, but rather who you really are. Boston Rob, the year he won, is the only one I remember, at least since Richard Hatch in the first season when things were so much looser, who was strong minded enough to make a plan that made up for his faults, sell the plan, stick to the plan, and take it to the end. And it took 'till his fourth try. Cochran played very strategically in his win, but it was just a refinement of his whole mastery of the game concept--a who you are thing--rather than a top down plan in spite of who he was, and just being older and a known player made up for a lot of his social awkwardness.

A lot of people don't like returning players (but they bring in good ratings, which is why they do it). I think having this whole group of returnees, chosen for true popularity rather than what the producers think, and playing the regular game, rather than a bunch of gimmicks, is wonderfully entertaining.

One of the interviews with Jeff said that the shake up was planned in advance, after the first two players went home, and they could divide up 18 people into 3 tribes. Stated that the producers like having three tribes for the way the play goes.

And I'm one who likes the returning players, one reason because I already know them (or at least the ones I really remember) and I don't have the long learning curve figuring out who's who. But last season with all new people was really a good one.

Thanks, Sushipup! That makes sense. I knew they liked three tribes, but I guess they wanted more than 18 and fewer than 21. I like the tribe shuffles because it forces them to keep playing rather than just riding it out. :)

Did they send the wrong one home?

And here's the recap.

http://www.ew.com/recap/survivor-season-31-episode-3

What do you mean? Do you mean do we agree with the tribe's vote? I do. Peih-Gee was complaining about Abi's disloyal behavior, but then did the same thing! Tasha had a point that her old tribe has the numbers at the other tribes, but that same argument could be used to turn them, because they're going to be at the bottom come the merge if there's four strong on both the other teams. Or something. I mean, work it! Or pull a fake on them. Or take it to a tie. Or have the guys make kissy kissy to Abi. They leave Woo out. What kind of alliance is that? The number one rule for controlling the game is keep your alliance strong. The number two rule is keep your enemies closer. If Peih-Gee were actually any good at this, she would have made friends with Abi instead of going at her. If she were any good at it, she'd have had at least a suspicion that she was being played. She could have turned Abi back if she'd worked hard at it, but it was so clear to Abi that she was only valued for her vote, not for any alliance going forward to the end, that I can't blame her for jumping. Abi may be playing for the "villain" role, but at least she's consistent.

I wasn't too sad with the vote. I'm kind of rooting for Abi, lol. I guess having her show her "human side" last week won me over. Plus, it's fun having a wild card like her around. Woo is so clueless. He takes laid back to a new level. Varner is lucky his stupidity didn't cost him his game. Joe is still my rock star, hope he goes far but he is such a big threat. That kid is good at everything.

damn, I haven't watched it yet but so far people have been careful not to give much away in these threads....until now. I shouldnt have checked this thread since someone gave tmi. :(

I wasn't sad to see that person go. While I was never a fan of Abi, I do enjoy the drama that she creates. She makes for good tv.

I love Woo's expressions as the votes are being read. He is so darn clueless.

Joe continues to be my favorite for a variety of reasons ;)

Oh, crap! I'm so sorry Trancegemini! I thought these were spoilers threads.

I don't know how we discuss the results without saying, so I hope someone will lay out the rules for when one can say names.

I think that you can safely say that after a show airs coast to coast, there will be spoilers. Never expect a spoiler-free thread.

Thanks for the clarification, Sushipup. I did think I posted well after Hawaii time showing, but I'm still sorry to have spoiled it for Trancegemini. :(

I wouldn't read the thread until after I watched the episode, Plllog. I don't think you did anything wrong, but it's nice of you to apologize.

And I wasn't even thinking of Hawaii, either. Actually, if one wants to avoid spoilers, one should avoid the thread period.

Thanks, both. But I also don't mind that Trancegemini expressed her/his disappointment. It was said politely, and admitted responsibility for opening the thread. This is only my second round of Survivor threads here (barring a possibly fly by, years ago), however, so I wanted to make sure what the rules were. I'm glad that's been aired, and hope Trancegemini comes back after watching the episode.

There was the third installment of a popular movie series that everybody was waiting for, before "spoilers" was even a common word. I walked out of rooms not to hear, and avoided all the press and hype, and went to see it the first weekend. I thought it was great! Most of the reviews said it was middling, and most of the people thought it was weak. Spoilerproofing it was definitely the way to go. I didn't know what was going to happen, so the plotting of the chase scene was exciting, for instance. It was all new to me, so the story held together much better, and I could enjoy the visuals so much more. I have sympathy for not wanting spoilers. :)

SO, what did you all think of the game last night?

What do you think of them giving so much good stuff to two tribes, and marooning the third one? That's Survivor, but is it fair? Are they allowed to raid each others' camps? They did way early on and I haven't seen it since, so I'm guessing (but don't know the backstories like Sushipup) that it's against the rules. I get it that they're already tired, but why didn't they make a decent camp? Surely they must know that fed, watered, and dry are the most important things for winning challenges? Keeping the rain off is vital!

What do you think about repeating classic challenges? I wonder if down the road it's going to be a test of not who can come up with a winning strategy on exhaustion and hunger, but who can remember one. :)

I missed a great deal of last nights episode so will probably watch it again this weekend. For some reason it seems like I miss a lot of what goes on during the 8:00 time slot. Don't know why, since I am retired and there is only me and the DH at home, and never anything special going on.

On the subject of spoilers... DH missed the 1st round of the Presidents Cup last night and planned to watch the re-run today. First thing this morning he turns on the Golf Channel. How did he not know they would be recapping the event? Well, he DID know they would. lol

I'm not setting any rules, just stating common sense.