Rewatched episode five of Thailand earlier today. Cast thoughts for this episode:
- I like Brian more than I feel like I should. He has a really awkward way of talking and he does things like compare himself to a shark, so all the ingredients are there for him to be an annoying, cringeworthy strategy bot.. but for some reason it appeals to me. Like, I feel like he doesn't really have the TV charisma to be believable when he says that he plays Survivor like a shark.. but for some reason, that lack of TV charisma actually makes it /more/ appealing and charismatic? I don't get it, really, but I am enjoying him. Also, who's Betsy?
- "Oh, CHILLLLLLDRUNNNNN!!!! We got MAAAAYUL!" Originally, I was gonna write something about how Jan was a surprisingly nice, good sport about Helen switching her vote and how even though she wasn't a huge character she seemed like a nice background one.. but then the camera cut and I heard that line, and I remembered, holy fuck, this is /that episode./ Jan is kind of like Linda Spencer in that a lot of the time she is sort of this nice, unassuming person and I do still like her in that regard... but then she randomly bursts out into this obnoxious trainwreck and it is beautiful. The entire "I BROKE THE BANK!" scene is probably the best tree mail scene ever in Survivor, /ever./ I love this woman.
- And, of course, you have to give credit for that to Clay as well. "No shit, Sherlock." Clay has no time for.. anyone, really, and it is pretty great.
- So far, Jake's role in the season has been that of a low-visibility background character who I can /assume/ is super nice but haven't really had any proof is nice -- but this episode we saw it, when he gave an adorable pep talk to Shii Ann. Ghandia->Jed->Stephanie rather than Tanya->Jed->Ghandia->Stephanie then it probably would have been better for all the storylines, but oh well, it's all resolved now anyway.
This episode was full of fun stuff and definitely balances out the last one. Again we see them continuing to try new things with more mental challenges, a pre-merge auction, and a mutiny -- that didn't go anywhere, to Jeff's visible anger, but still, they tried and you have to give the season credit for that even if nobody took the bait. I also have to point out that "The Ocean's Surprise" is one of my all-time favorite episode titles. And they are continuing to set up Chuay Gahn beating out Sook Jai.. it seems like /every single/ Sook Jai scene focuses on somebody not liking somebody else -- I don't think that's an exaggeration; I honestly cannot think of one Sook Jai scene in which people weren't bickering with or complaining about one another -- and then you immediately cut from that to a scene where CG is singing Christmas carols around the fire, or you get the SJ Tribal opening with Robb talking about how CG seems like a really happy tribe that gets along. The dichotomy is subtle but it is present in pretty much every episode of the season so far if you watch for it.
Comments
zimdelinvasor
I think Brian's lack of charisma absolutely killed him for me. I WANTED the arrogant strategy bot. I just don't care about Brian.
best I don't LOVE him -- I think he will rank one spot above the Spradlinator on my overall cast ranking, maybe? -- but I enjoy him. I's weird but somehow his total lack of TV charisma makes him a more charismatic TV character. I dunno.
I think Brian's lack of charisma absolutely killed him for me. I WANTED the arrogant strategy bot. I just don't care about Brian.