|
|
|
|
|
|
Guest Column:
S8 Guest Column: "The Evolution - Part 2"
By
5/7/2004
The second part of Tedhighway's look at Survivor, from past to present. Part 2 of 2.
"Survivor" continued on and more stars were made. "Survivor: The Australian Outback" premiered as the second installment. Tina Wesson, a mother from Knoxville, claimed victory. She was a sweet woman whom the media respected and liked. How did she get to the end? She had an alliance with two other contestants. Slowly the tides turn, or maybe it’s just the character of the person? Is a cocky corporate trainer any more evil than a Tennessee nurse?
"Survivor: Africa" was won by a professional soccer player named Ethan Zohn. He was a Hollywood heartthrob briefly. He was known as the nice guy that everyone wanted to be friends with. How did he get to the end? He had an alliance with three other people.
"Survivor: Marquesas", the fourth installment in the series, saw a shift in the way the game is played. Everyone began to eat themselves internally. Everyone tried to form alliances in order to gain control. Right after the merge when the game was down to nine people, the Rotu tribe
alliance of John Carroll, Tammy Leitner, Robert DeCanio, and Zoe Zanidakis was in firm control.
They had eliminated the competition up this point and
were ready to sail to the end. However, the other five contestants remaining in the game did something unlike any previous season; they became aware of the alliance, and they quickly formed their own.
They may not have respected each other, but they were united in their goal of progressing farther in the game. The Rotu alliance became the next four people booted from the game. Eventually, Vecepia Towery found her way to the finals and claimed victory. She had won her game unlike the other three previous winners. She had managed to slip into the right cracks at the right times.
She was never a threat, thus she was never a target. Did she have an alliance? Of course.
"Survivor: Thailand" produced an evil successor to Richard Hatch. Brian Heidik, a used car saleman, took Rich’s strategy to a new level, and he won the game without ever getting a single vote cast against him. Just like Rich, he formed an alliance of five from his original tribe, yet he also formed sub-alliances.
He formed final two pacts with three of the other four
people within his alliance. They each had no knowledge of the other’s pact. He guaranteed himself a spot in the end. He also gave himself the choice of picking whomever out of his alliance to take to the end. He chose wisely when he selected Clay Jordan, a small man from the south whom had made his fair share of enemies over the course of the game.
Over the course of this time, the general outlook was changing slightly. Richard Hatch was now being praised for the way he had played the game. In discussions over the internet, in interviews, and anywhere else that "Survivor" was the topic of discussion, you could see the changing of
the old guard.
People such as Brian Heidik were now being praised for their gameplay. Their cocky attitudes may have swelled some negativity, but their gameplaying ability wasn’t questionable.
"Survivor: The Amazon" brought the strategy up yet another notch thanks to a man by the name of Rob Cesternino. Rob made it a point in the game to always be in the best position possible in order to win. If he saw that he was a fourth wheel, then he would change it up and join a new alliance. He was never in danger of being voted out because he always made himself that extra vote that was needed in order to succeed.
His strategy got him far, but not far enough. Rob was eliminated at the final three by Jenna Morasca.
Jenna feared Rob at the end. The Amazon was a game filled with people well aware of alliances and the way they worked.
When someone came and took it a step further, like Rob did, they instantly saw his achievement, and unlike Richard Hatch, these people feared and respected him for it. Jenna went on to win the game as she defeated Matthew Von Ertfelda, a man that was devalued for not playing the game enough.
"Survivor: Pearl Islands" was the most cutthroat edition yet. Everyone was clearly out for themselves, and alliances were made and broken on a whim. Jon Dalton, or Jonny Fairplay, made it his mission to become the villain, and he most certainly succeeded. Richard Hatch, Brian Heidik, and
Rob Cesternino did whatever they could to get to the end, but Jon went a step further. He thought outside the box in a move that is still disputed today.
At a certain point in the game, usually around final seven or six, each remaining player is visited by a friend or relative in a very emotional moment. Jon was visited by his good friend Dan, or Thunder D.
At their reunion, in front of the host, Jeff Probst, and the other contestants, Dan informed Jon that his grandmother had passed away while he was gone. Everyone immediately felt sorrow and despair for him.
Little did they all know, but Jon and Dan had planned it all out before he left. "My grandmother is at home watching ‘Jerry Springer’ right now," Jon admitted to the camera with a smile. He had made it all up in order to gain sympathy from his tribe mates.
In my opinion, it was smart move. Of course some would argue that it is below the belt, but like I’ve already pointed out, it’s still within the rules of the game. Sandra Diaz-Twine, a mouthy mom, was the winner of the seventh season. Like everyone else, she had gotten to the end by forming alliances and always getting herself within the best position to win the game.
The eighth installment, which is just now winding down, united eighteen of the most well known survivors.
"Survivor: All-Stars" is played quite a bit different from every other season. Almost everyone on the cast knows each other outside of the game. Charity events and other fan gatherings have given the survivors a chance to meet other survivors from different season, thus, friendships have formed.
All-Stars has been a game filled with tense moments and shattered relationships that may never be reconciled. Oh, and Richard Hatch was eliminated fifth in the game. Why?
Because they feared him.
Hope you enjoyed that.
THE HIGHWAY COUNTDOWN
1. Amber Brkich – Amber is sitting pretty,...and looking pretty. Despite Shii Ann’s Tribal Council comments, Amber will not be hindered by them.
2. Rob Mariano – Rob is the strongest one left in challenges, and he’s also somewhat higher on the intelligence chart compared to some of these people.
3. Jenna Lewis – Jenna looks to be in with "Romber" and she’s with Rupert, too. She should stick around for the final episode.
4. Rupert Boneham – Rupert could be sent home thanks to being a threat.
5. Tom Buchanan – Big Tom is my man...but I don’t think he’s gonna last much longer. He’s my pick to leave before final four. Not too shabby, though. He has made it farther than anyone else that had made the final four previously. That’s quite an accomplishment.
Okay, let’s get some things out of the way before I do some
predictions. Even though I’m not a fan, Shii Ann really entertained the crap out of me these last two episodes. Her immunity victory two weeks ago was unexpected, but it was a welcome surprise. Her diatribe at Tribal Council this last week was something that had me rolling. It’s about time someone left with a bang in this game.
Okay, so who’s gonna win this thing? Let’s see, I think Tom will go at five, Rupert will go at four, Jenna will get third place, and Boston Rob and Amber will battle it out for the win. Just like my countdown, I think little Amber will claim victory. The Robfather has stabbed some people in the back, and they are the type that will not forgive.
Thats right people, if Amber wins, then it’s official...God hates me.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
