About Me & The Blog

I have been watching Survivor religiously since All-Stars and have stayed loyal to the series all along the way. As much as I enjoy watching the show, I get even more pleasure from taking about it with other fans. Tuning in every Wednesday night merely serves as a medium for later discussion. Within the framework of the show, I live for the interpersonal relationships that form and the ways people behave in such an extreme environment. I find it equally enjoyable to watch people who completely fail to understand the game (Russell Hantz) as it is to watch those who meticulously pave their way to the finishline (Brian Heidik). In either case, I prefer watching the social part of the game unfold more than listening to a plethora of strategy talk. I appreciate people who have a mind for the game but the real drama of the show comes when people's idiosyncrasies bubble to the surface. Those who can maintain a level head will always prevail as the ultimate survivor.

Additionally, I am quite a purist when it comes to the structure of the game. I do not sneer at every attempt to change the game because when done correctly they do make the show more interesting and unpredictable. However, I do not condone twists such Redemption Island that fundamentally alter the structure of the game. This kind of twist does nothing to improve the game. It neuters the finality of the torch snuff, it undermines the Survivor spiritualism that "fire represents life," it gives more power to those who are good at challenges rather than those who have the best social skills, it compels players to pursue more conservative game play and it eliminates the possibility for post-merge reward challenges where lots of game-shifting strategy talks often take place.

Despite my originalism, I tend to not disparage the show too much. I am vocal in my disdain for certain twists and ideas but I do not foresee a future where I stop watching the show. However, despite Jeff Probst's urging that "true fans" will embrace all of the changes, I want to use this platform as a way to talk candidly about the show and provide insight throughout each season. As the name of the blog implies, I will try to stay away from parroting what I hear elsewhere and provide my own "factional" viewpoint.

Thank you for reading and stay tuned through the entire Blood vs. Water season!

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