Survivor Tocantins: Episode 12 Discussion Thread

[dr.strangelove]

Wow, that was a GREAT episode. And I'm not just saying that because coach was finally elimiated. To be honest, I am going ot miss coach. The good thing is that we won't really miss him because he will be at the final tribael spewing some poem (I mean how funny was that poem) or some mantra about men in battle, so we will get a little more coach. Then the reunion is going to be great too. I am the most excited I've been about a reunion show since the first all stars.

The episode was great from top to bottom. It was great to see Coach so scared after Debbie was ousted. JT played a great game by telling Coach that Debbie was the one who voted for Coach. Coach was left with saying thanks to Steven and JT. Coach was pretty weak sayign he did not want to go to exhile. I'm glad JT screwed him by sending him there. It helped JT win the immunity.

That maze challenge was awesome. They just keep getting better and better. How amazing is JT. He scoped out the entire path and never made a wrong turn. It was simply awesome. He is getting up there with Ozzy as best ever in teh challenges. On the whole Eriin/coach thing, I thought Coach was really just scared of going to exhile and lookign like an idiot on TV, so he pulled that whole monastic approach to avoid showing his hand that he can't do anything that he says he can do. Then he gets to go on a sunny day and warm night. That really sucked.

The reward was nice for JT and Steven. I'm glad they showered and cleaned up. It must fell amazing to shower after a month of stink on you.

The IC was another great one. I thought it was Erinn's because she seems strong and had little weight, but she had no mental focus and lost it. Coach was overacting a little. I think Erinn and Taj were right, the real reason he could not have medical look at his back was because there is nothing wrong with his back.

How it ended up will be interesting JT planned to go with the man alliance and oust Erinn. Steven, seeing the best chance for himself, went with Coach. I agree. I was doing the math last night, and I think Coach would have gotten Brandon, Tyson and Debbie's votes. If Steven would have stabbed JT in the back, he might have flipped too, handign it to Coach. I think Steven made the best call. Now he has to stab JT in teh back if he wants to win. Because I think he wins against the other two.

I also have to tip my hat to Taj, JT and Steven again for the best team played game ever. They went into the merge down 6-3 after joe left. They should have been picked off. they played the game brilliantly. Mostly because of how they got to Erinn. Erinn was clearly the bottom of the other alliance and they got her to move over, but knew they could not move her up at all. She went for 4th to 4th, yet still moved over. That was some of the best playing ever.

My predictions.
JT or Steven will be the first outsted and the other will win. Erinn comes in 3rd and Taj will be in the final 2.
This is the first time I think I have liked the whole final four. They are all good players and made decisions that got them this far. I think I am pulling for Taj in my heart, because she played so well from day one, but I think she will have a hard time beating the brawn and the brain. If Taj wins that last IC and gets to pick who goes with her to teh final, she should choose Erinn, because then she will win. If she takes Steven or JT, I think she loses.

[Demit]

1. I like to think Steven saw through Coach all along & was just waiting on his chance

JT seemed to actually buy Coach's bullsh*t, although maybe he's just good at keeping a straight face. All through this season, I have been amazed how the guys would just never call Coach on any of his bluster, and would instead turn on any woman who so much as rolled her eyes at it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Coach won exactly ONE challenge. Is this a man solidarity thing, guarding a fellow guy against losing face? Or does Coach really appeal to all men's inner Dragonslayer?

I've enjoyed this season except for one thing—the overt misogyny. There's an undisguised hostility to women for being women that I don't recall in any other season. Coach and Tyson were easy to dislike for it, but JT seems to share it, and that sure takes away from his aw-shucks-aren't-I-adorableness, for me.

Btw, is the Idol still in play? Does Taj still have it? Could be the final game-changer.

[Goblinmonger]

2. I disagree with Steven's decision.

I don't think Coach would get the votes. Remember coach was one of the two "we'd least like to see win the game" when they did the popularity contest. Everyone on the jury was rolling their eyes and laughing when ever coach talked at tribal. I would bring Coach with me to the final because there is no way he beats anyone.

I also thought it was potentially trouble to take Steven on the reward. If Taj and Erinn had any brains, THAT was the time to sort things out and realize they could change the game.

[Phentex]

7. That's what we thought, too!

IF JT and Stephen really are tight, Taj and Erinn should have made a move to break them apart.

But it remains to be seen if Taj and Stephen plan to go to the final themselves. They had the secret alliance from way back so maybe they are playing JT.

Erinn? What is she thinking? That she will go to the end by default? I guess it's a possibility but she has done nothing.

[lpbk2713]

3. I was glad to see Coach finally eliminated.

I picked him to win before this Survivor stated and before I knew anything about him. His bullshit stories were getting more on my nerves with each passing week. I'm really not sure if he's an inept bullshitter or if he actually has serious issues that he need professional counselling with. Whatever the case I'm just glad I don't have to listen to him any more. I'm now torn between JT, Stephen and Taj. They all deserve to win IMO.

[Vinca]

4. What a piece of work that Coach is. I'm glad to see him gone.

I'm amazed my pick, Steven, is still in the running. He turned out to be a much better player than I suspected. Taj, JT and Steven will be in the final.

[Suich]

5. Thank goodness Coach is gone! My ears were starting to bleed.

He's got this hangup about being the "only true warrior." It's like he has Survivor confused with Fear Factor. I agree with Demit about the misogyny; he spent too much energy on two of the youngest females, Sierra and Erinn. Check out this link when he gets to the Ponderosa:

http://forums.jokersupdates.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=Survivor&Number=11208333&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5&o=&rc=&fpart=1

Did JT think Stephen was going to vote Erinn off? If it's a final 2, I think Erinn is the only one Stephen can win against, and he knows it. Taj and JT are both likable and could win on personality alone.

Sunday will be fun because I like 'em all!

[Duer 157099]

6. Coach is like a real world Michael Scott

The resemblance just hit me.

I can totally see Steve Carrell playing Coach. Or Coach playing Michael Scott.

[romana]

8. Great episode

What an absolutely great episode in every way! The challenges were great, the narrative surrounding Coach was great, the strategy was great! I loved everything about it, especially seeing Coach finally go home. Man, what a pretentious asshat. The title for this episode was perfect--Coach was acting like some kind of martyr all the way through, including his totally fake back injury.

While I was kind of surprised to see Stephen vote Coach off over Erinn, in retrospect it makes sense. Remember, he said he wanted someone in the finals he can beat. I think he realized everything Coach was doing was an act, and that Coach figured he could avoid being voted off out of sympathy this week, then come on strong for the remaining challenges to win immunity and keep himself in the game. Erinn just fell off the stands like a rag doll. She has no mental focus, no strength, and no stamina. She is not a physical threat. He couldn't take out JT because JT won immunity, and IS a physical threat.

JT totally bought into Coach's line about the man alliance. I think Stephen even had some sympathy for Coach but he was careful not to show that he also had some doubts. I think when you get down to it, Stephen is probably a really nice guy, but he's also a formidable player in this game, I think. JT did make a good move telling Coach Debbie was the one who voted for him, but overall I think JT has gotten as far as he has because he's physically imposing, and because he was smart enough to ally himself with Stephen and Taj. I also believe which one, Taj or JT, goes into the final two with him is Stephen's choice. I'm not at all sure who he will take, but I predict it won't be both Stephen and JT in the finals. One of them is going to have to go, and the question is going to be how Stephen manages to pull that off without losing JT's vote. ^.^

What an amazing game this has turned out to be. By rights, Stephen, Taj and JT should've been picked off one by one by the other tribe, but they have totally dominated this game. It's amazing.

I can't wait for the finale and reunion tonight. I bet Coach will pull out all the stops!