dex14

Goldberg74

Beef. It's what's for dinner.

brainee

You knew Joe was a goner when we're well into the second half of the episode, and the immunity challenge is nowhere in sight.

Josh-da-man

So does Tai eat his idol now? He had to use it by the final five, didn't he?

DWilson

In the "Next Week On..." Probst specifically says Tai no longer has anything to protect him...

davidh777

I was wondering the same thing. Seems like he can't use it this late.

Too bad for Aubry, but good for everyone else.

AaronHernandez

Really hope Aubry wins it but my gut is saying Michelle will Fabio her way to a win

Jeremy517

I'm almost positive that Michelle will win. Joe's beef cost Aubry the title.

davidh777

Some people avoid watching those so we generally spoiler-tag that info.

And he said he doesn't eat meat! But I can see how it'd be tempting when you don't get much food.

sven

I hope so. Something about her makes my skin crawl.

Spiderbite

That wasn't a spoiler. Tai specifically said in a conversation with Michelle that he couldn't use idol after the upcoming tribal council that never happened.

hdnmickey

Also wasn't the usual next week on bit. It was the actual long Probst narrated setup for the finale.

That was the most expensive steak meal ever. Even if he only made it to the finals, which was all but a lock, he gets far more money than he got otherwise. Cydney (and my wife and I) definitely called it as we watched him chow down. We'll never understand why people do that to themselves on these challenges.

Given how badly Tai has blew it, any of the final 4 could potentially win it all. Michelle is a Klingon, but she may be a jury favorite.

Quack

I'm pretty over this season, already looking forward to the next one, hopefully a gimmick or all star-type season.

DWilson

It's not official, but supposedly casting put together a list of about 30 or so former players that they're looking at for one of the two seasons, a mix of people that have done several seasons already, and a few new returnees. Boston Rob wasn't on the list, but several winners were (including Sandra Diaz-Twine). This season's evacuees were also on the list. I, frankly, was bored and annoyed just reading the list. Mind you, though, it was all pretty vague and may be specious.

davidh777

That's cool, but the point still stands that some people like any future info spoiler-tagged.

hdnmickey

Oh please no. Same with Boston Rob. At least bring a new crop of returnees.

Strapped4Cash

I was surprised when I thought of all the idols this Season.

One went unused when Neal was pulled.
One went unused when Scott was blindsided.
One went unused when Joe was pulled.

creekdipper

Well, it was Mistah Joe's fault, but still kind of ticked at the producers for making it possible.

Couldn't tell if he ate Cydney's portion since she wisely restrained herself or it there was just this huge all-you-can-eat buffet provided, but considering that they'd already had two evacuations (no pun), it seems a little irresponsible to tempt people with that much food...especially when they've been deprived for a while. Sure, they haven't starved like back in the one-cup of rice rationing seasons, but all of us have overdone it at times when we had plenty of access to food.

We've seen contestants get a little loopy from imbibing too much alcohol during reward challenges before but nothing that affected the game like this. Certainly, people have been affected by too little food, but too much? That is partially on the producers.

IMO, they should have offered a nice selection and the possibility for seconds (or even thirds) but controlled the quantities they could have of each item. If a contestant goes out on his own into the jungle and eats 40 mangoes, that's on him/her. But this was just literally sticking a danger in front of someone.

Probably not something they anticipated but hope they'll not repeat it. Although Joe should have known better, hard to say that we would have done better at age 71 after being deprived for 34 days. Joe's mental processes didn't seem as sharp the past few weeks as his stamina declined, too.

Say it ain't so, Joe.

That said, it will make for a more interesting finale. Joe was a lock for Final Three, and unless he had gone on a huge challenge run (not likely), he had almost no argument for winning unless his competition had irked too many jury members. All those remaining have a much better case, and now it's more up for grabs than ever.

hdnmickey

Such a waste given I really liked this three way-super idol concept. Hopefully they keep it around for next season.

The extra vote had no impact as well. Only really good play this season was when Scot, Jason and Tai walked out of tribal (where they should have been the targets) not having to give up either of the two idols. Then they go and screw that up. So lame

davidh777

Yeah, I'm not blaming that one on the producers. We've seen many big feeds before, and people getting various degrees of ill afterward. That's part of the game to know what will help you and what your limits are. This was an unfortunate severe reaction, but I don't think it means that everything should be controlled.

hdnmickey

I'm thinking Jason and/or Scot could have consumed the same meal and came away moving a little slower, but otherwise been just fine.

GuessWho

Since the season that aired before this actually took place after this, we know they didn't bring it the super idol back then.

But what did happen last season was a stronger advantage. Tai's was just an extra vote--and really had no impact. So the previous season, which took place after producers saw what happened with Tai, made the advantage an extra vote AND take away another person's vote--therefore doubling its power.

hdnmickey

I know. The point being? Not everything has to be the same each season.

I liked that at as well. IMO they should use both the 3 idol/super idol and super vote twists for the next season. Especially if it's all returning players.

davidh777

It had no impact for that particular vote, but it could be pivotal in the right circumstances. I would prefer trying it again with the same power rather than keep ratcheting it up until it does work.

Cardsfan111

Just finished watching and that was one bizarre Joe-centric episode.

First the challenge, where it became obvious that Joe was going to pull it out long before his last 2 tosses. Then the meal with Cydney observing that he's going to be in real trouble. And as it's been mentioned already, it seemed like a certainty that he wasn't going to make it, so we were subjected to a long drawn out description of his problem and everyone's reaction to it.

His absence does to seem to hurt Aubry more than anyone else. The only positive spin for her would be that she's getting Joe's jury vote. That's if she makes it that far, of course.