Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
11-05-14 | 07:24 PM
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Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
THE PRESSURE OF THE GAME FORCES ONE CASTAWAY TO CONTEMPLATE THROWING IN THE TOWEL, ON "SURVIVOR" WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5
"Million Dollar Decision" - The pressure of the game forces one castaway to contemplate throwing in the towel. Also, alliances start to crumble with the impending merge and one castaway commits the ultimate sin, on SURVIVOR, Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
CASTAWAYS:
COYOPA TRIBE HUNAHPU TRIBE
Jon Misch Natalie Anderson
Keith Nale Josh Canfield
Missy Payne Alec Christy
Jaclyn Schultz Jeremy Collins
Baylor Wilson Reed Kelly
Baylor Wilson Julie McGee
Wes Nale
Read more: Listings - SURVIVOR on CBS | TheFutonCritic.com http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listin...#ixzz3IFOgpDV1
"Million Dollar Decision" - The pressure of the game forces one castaway to contemplate throwing in the towel. Also, alliances start to crumble with the impending merge and one castaway commits the ultimate sin, on SURVIVOR, Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
CASTAWAYS:
COYOPA TRIBE HUNAHPU TRIBE
Jon Misch Natalie Anderson
Keith Nale Josh Canfield
Missy Payne Alec Christy
Jaclyn Schultz Jeremy Collins
Baylor Wilson Reed Kelly
Baylor Wilson Julie McGee
Wes Nale
Read more: Listings - SURVIVOR on CBS | TheFutonCritic.com http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listin...#ixzz3IFOgpDV1
Episode 7 of 14
11-05-14 | 08:27 PM
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
I bet she was never really all that interested in being on the show in the first place. Seems more like something that Rocker wanted to do, and she went along for the ride.
11-05-14 | 08:53 PM
#4
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
Is it just in my head that more people seem to quit than ever before?
I just can't stand quitters and she has NO right to be on the reunion show.
I just can't stand quitters and she has NO right to be on the reunion show.
11-05-14 | 09:01 PM
#5
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
Not that losing Julie was any big loss or surprise. But something clicked with me while watching this episode ... I don't really like watching these people. #trailmixscandal? Jesus 
All this outrage over some squirreled away food. Maybe part of the reason these people are hungry is that just about every moment we see them outside of challenges they are either: 1) lying around or sitting on their asses, 2) frolicking in the water, or 3) "strategizing". A couple of episodes ago I saw Keith actually trying to catch fish. But that was only because he wasn't really part of any tight alliance. That's how low "find food your own damn self" is on the totem pole of things to do for these people.
All this outrage over some squirreled away food. Maybe part of the reason these people are hungry is that just about every moment we see them outside of challenges they are either: 1) lying around or sitting on their asses, 2) frolicking in the water, or 3) "strategizing". A couple of episodes ago I saw Keith actually trying to catch fish. But that was only because he wasn't really part of any tight alliance. That's how low "find food your own damn self" is on the totem pole of things to do for these people.
11-05-14 | 11:00 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
So how do they fix this problem with people quitting? Is it possible to weed these people out before getting on the show? I'm tired of it as well. As it's been stated before, there are people who would give anything to be on the show and yet, you have people walking away from it.
11-05-14 | 11:09 PM
#7
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
So how do they fix this problem with people quitting? Is it possible to weed these people out before getting on the show? I'm tired of it as well. As it's been stated before, there are people who would give anything to be on the show and yet, you have people walking away from it.
11-05-14 | 11:18 PM
#8
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
So how do they fix this problem with people quitting? Is it possible to weed these people out before getting on the show? I'm tired of it as well. As it's been stated before, there are people who would give anything to be on the show and yet, you have people walking away from it.
I think the producers could easily cast the show to screen out most of these quitters. It would mean limiting casting to people who are emotionally stable, rational, and responsible. But they'd lose out on potential "drama" doing things that way. And for them, that rates higher than casting people who would be better players.
11-05-14 | 11:36 PM
#9
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
I think the producers could easily cast the show to screen out most of these quitters. It would mean limiting casting to people who are emotionally stable, rational, and responsible. But they'd lose out on potential "drama" doing things that way. And for them, that rates higher than casting people who would be better players.
11-05-14 | 11:57 PM
#10
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
11-06-14 | 12:46 AM
#11
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Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
11-06-14 | 01:36 AM
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Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
I think the problem with the show now is that it is over produced. They leave out conversation to be more dramatic. They are obviously heavily coaching people to say what they want. The players are not random enough. I know it can't be completely random but the way it is now is bad.
11-06-14 | 02:25 AM
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Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
So wait. did they not get to keep that new bag of rice that they gave up comfort for last week? I don't see how fucking trail mix, when you were just eating fucking lobster and what not, is such a big deal.
11-06-14 | 02:54 AM
#14
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
I liked how after the challenge the one guy talks about how he wished they had some trail mix. Julie should have told him they would have some trail mix now had they not taken the little she put in her bag and eaten it.
11-06-14 | 07:42 AM
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
Probst on ew.com:
I just don't see Julie as being that smart about how things are going to work. Seems to me that they might be feeding this kind of info to the contestants. Similar to what Jackskeleton just mentioned as well. I wonder if folks were asked about the trail mix in order to stir things up? Seemed like a silly thing that everyone got worked up about.
Another Probst quote:
I think the answer to why Julie quit might be directly related to what she and her boyfriend John said on day one - “We have never been apart longer than four days.” Based on that fact, I am guessing that the minute John was voted out of the game Julie began to ponder whether she wanted to stay in the game or join John in the non-jury group. Then when she got caught stealing the trail mix and the tribe ostracized her I think the decision became very easy: I’m done. Get me out of here.
Now you might be asking, “Okay, so why not just tell the tribe to vote her out?” To answer that you have to now make another assumption: Julie had a pretty good idea that the next person voted out would not be on the jury but anybody voted out from that point forward would be on the jury. This is key in my hypothesis because I think Julie wanted to be reunited with John, so it was mandatory that she was the next to go home. [ED NOTE: People voted out pre-jury do not see nor stay with those in the jury.] And despite stealing the trail mix there was still no guarantee she would be voted out next because the battle of alliances was very strong. Turns out, she would have been right in her concern as it appears Jeremy was going to be blindsided. Had Julie not quit she would have made the jury and would not have seen John until the end of the game. That’s the only reason I can think of to explain her quit. She wasn’t in bad shape physically or emotionally, there didn’t appear to be any urgency, so why not just let it take care of itself at tribal with no stigma.
Now you might be asking, “Okay, so why not just tell the tribe to vote her out?” To answer that you have to now make another assumption: Julie had a pretty good idea that the next person voted out would not be on the jury but anybody voted out from that point forward would be on the jury. This is key in my hypothesis because I think Julie wanted to be reunited with John, so it was mandatory that she was the next to go home. [ED NOTE: People voted out pre-jury do not see nor stay with those in the jury.] And despite stealing the trail mix there was still no guarantee she would be voted out next because the battle of alliances was very strong. Turns out, she would have been right in her concern as it appears Jeremy was going to be blindsided. Had Julie not quit she would have made the jury and would not have seen John until the end of the game. That’s the only reason I can think of to explain her quit. She wasn’t in bad shape physically or emotionally, there didn’t appear to be any urgency, so why not just let it take care of itself at tribal with no stigma.
Another Probst quote:
We are the ones who put the contestants on the show. We test them, we talk to them, we study their psych reports and then we make a decision to give them one of our very valuable spots. If they quit, it’s on us. We either missed it, or in the case of Julie we anticipated it but put them on anyway.
11-06-14 | 08:20 AM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
The trail mix was beyond stupid. It's called survivor, and she kept some food for herself. Grow the fuck up people. Horrible cast and season.
But lets be honest, usually the girl with the big boobs is first to go. Surprised she lasted as long as she did.
But lets be honest, usually the girl with the big boobs is first to go. Surprised she lasted as long as she did.
11-06-14 | 09:16 AM
#17
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
I'm really surprised this season seems so lackluster to me, too, especially when the first Blood vs Water was a great season.
I thought Jeff was soft on Julie's quitting, and his quotes to EW sure confirm why.
I thought Jeff was soft on Julie's quitting, and his quotes to EW sure confirm why.
11-06-14 | 10:00 AM
#18
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
Yeah, that was the most laid back I remember Jeff being about a quit, he either usually tries to talk them out of it or if he doesn't like them he berates them. This time he was pretty much "Cool, see ya."
11-06-14 | 01:04 PM
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Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
The psych test thing that Probst mentioned sounds nice until one remembers that the nutjob Hantz (Brandon?) seemed to get through that 'vigorous' screening. Jtia also did not seem to be the most stable of individuals. I assume those screenings are largely CYA for legal purposes and maybe to identify the nutballs to cast a few on the show (and the cynic in me thinks it could be a way to create future drama in the game by knowing what might set them off). But with Julie, did Probst really say they ANTICIPATED her quitting, and cast her anyway? That's kind of ridiculous.
I wonder given how lame this season has been if they will go back to a returning player season or one of the bad hybrid approaches or co-star seasons. I don't want that, but they seem to be trying gimmicks (blood vs water, exile island, redemption island, muiltple immunity idols handed out like candy) to create drama and that seems more miss than hit.
It's almost like they should go back to basics... cast players who will play the game hard, eliminate the superfluous/gimmicky stuff and the #drama_storyline manipulations
I wonder given how lame this season has been if they will go back to a returning player season or one of the bad hybrid approaches or co-star seasons. I don't want that, but they seem to be trying gimmicks (blood vs water, exile island, redemption island, muiltple immunity idols handed out like candy) to create drama and that seems more miss than hit.
It's almost like they should go back to basics... cast players who will play the game hard, eliminate the superfluous/gimmicky stuff and the #drama_storyline manipulations
11-06-14 | 01:50 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
Does the guy (forget his name) get to keep his immunity for another week? I'd be pretty ticked if I won immunity, there was no tribal, and I had to give it back. You'd think they'd let TWO people have the immunity necklace next week.
11-06-14 | 01:52 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
I wonder given how lame this season has been if they will go back to a returning player season or one of the bad hybrid approaches or co-star seasons. I don't want that, but they seem to be trying gimmicks (blood vs water, exile island, redemption island, muiltple immunity idols handed out like candy) to create drama and that seems more miss than hit.
11-06-14 | 02:18 PM
#22
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
Last edited by brainee; 11-06-14 at 02:50 PM.
11-06-14 | 03:55 PM
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
Same thing with Brandon Hantz. Sure, he was unstable. But they knew he'd make for great TV (in their opinion), so they risked it.
11-06-14 | 06:06 PM
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
I'm wondering how many of these pairs initially applied for the Amazing Race and got steered to Survivor instead.
11-07-14 | 11:41 AM
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Re: Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (S29E07) -- "Million Dollar Decision" -- 11/5/14
Natalie is a lot less annoying when there's only one of her, and when she doesn't get much screen time. 
I was unclear whether she knew that the trail mix had been taken. She probably did, but they didn't show it.
Girlfriend, technically, but yeah. If they wanted him, they needed her, or his mother or something. "I raised John to be a nice boy!"
It is, but I do get it. Essentially, they wanted John, her boyfriend. He's high profile (for Survivor) with a controversial past, plus he's a hothead who swears he's changed and wants redemption. Perfect for the show. But knowing they're doing a Blood vs Water edition, they needed to put his wife through, too, or risk losing him. For the producers, it's worth the risk. Plus, his wife is attractive, and they do like to have lots of...enhancements...on the show.
