I had intended to do a more thorough write-up for each player based on video chats and confessionals, but honestly it's content overload (and I'm not complaining) so for now we are going to just cover some general thoughts on all the tribes and if I don't mention you much, I probably just haven't gotten around to your content.
Maraamu
1. At this point, we already know their in trouble based on tribal results. They don't know because of the twist
2. Let's talk twist. It has gotten players being more strategic and forming alliances right out the gate, so it is interesting in that sense; but on the other side of the coin, I think it makes it harder to climb out of the bottom if you are left out of first alliances. If you have 1st, 2nd, 3rd back-ups, why change that up and try to reach out to those people on the bottom when you have a safety majority. I don't think we will see much shake-up in the pre-merge unless we have a swap.
3. Back to Maraamu, Let's talk Robert. It is interesting that he is planning to align with a player like Niki who he identifies as a ‘hero’ type and Angelica who gives me ‘villain’ vibes. I ranked Robert lowest on my pre-season excitement mainly because he was a math teacher and that was not my favorite subject, but he is fun so far and so I believe he will move up soon.
4. Angelica, I know I didn't have thought pre-season because of her tech issues in getting the video in, but I did go back to watch and I thought "She will be a fun character while she lasts". I did not expect her to be in such a good spot, so color surprised.
5. Niki time. She wanted a group with the last four people on the night one call. Angelica, Robert, and Willow. Listening to her call with Robert, Niki is more savvy than I originally thought from the pre-season. Another surprise from my pre-season expectations.
6. Willow! She's so sweet! Thankfully she’s being included in a four person alliance with Robert, Angelica, and Niki...but I am hoping she learned from HAVOC she needs to be quick on those 1 on 1 calls. In the last game, she was in a solid alliance and mostly talked there, plus they kept winning. Now she is going to have to play sooner, which should help her out more.
7. Joe. He wasn’t happy to see Brady on the cast, but I don't think he will have to worry about that. He was on a date when the tribe call started, so he was already behind socially. He thinks he can trust Angelica even though she’s a gamer. Looks like he shouldn't trust her after all.
8. I haven't caught up with Genki and his stuff, but I hope that Robert and Angelica and him as a trio has real potential and is not just to ease him into filling falsely safe in the next few rounds.
9. Rocky, I heard he was dying in the challenge. Poor guy, let's all agree that the physical portion was All Out of Control!
Koror
1. My favorite tribe, I really need them to not lose at all...but I know that will make them targets later...so conflicted!
2. Bridget's first confessional of her laying down after an allergic reaction to an apple...is EVERYTHING! So glad to have Bridget back on the screen...now let's form a prayer circle because let's be honest, she's not safe in the slightest.
3. More Bridget because you got to while you have her. She thinks Trey is sketch because he reminds her of a player from HAVOC and also a dirtbag ex boyfriend of a roommate...so you would assume that's her target...nope, she thinks they could be ride or dies...Kevin is in her sights (called it, pre-season!) but Kevin actually liked Bridget from the night one call. Bridget, I love you, but oh my goodness, being a Bridget stan is not good for the blood pressure.
4. Jessica!!! Listen, she’s getting a lot of flack about starting alliances night one...but look, this momma is busy. She has to do things on her time when the baby is sleeping. I found her so entertaining and if I was not fully backing Bridget, I would be fully on board the Jessica train which is looking like it might derail soon...But I will admire from the distance this beautiful disaster that is happening before us.
5. Another thing about Jessica, I definitely had her pegged as working with the guys in my pre-season speculation, now let’s see if she pretends to work with the women or just straight up isolates some of them. Imagine the calamity that Jessica and Bridget could cause together...such a shame.
6. Robbie is the MVP of the game right now. His tribe loves him, the viewer's love him, he is just so good! I hope this doesn't hurt him later in the game when he has to ultimately turn on all these people who feel loyalty to him.
7. I love the Kevin and Robbie duo the most, I am rooting for these two to stick it out together for the long game.
8. Also Robbie has the idol!!! First to find it on any tribe! Let's go, can we pencil him into merge now?
9. The look on Olivia’s face when she is on call with Robbie and learns about the twist of the season is EVERYTHING! She did not sign up to go to tribal every night. She came to win, make friends, and chill out for a bit. Now she is realizing just how much effort she is going to need to put into this game. Also major credit to her for getting to the end of the idol hunt. She did enlist both Chris and Robbie separately, so we will see if she suspects they have it.
10. So Chris and Olivia say they know of each other, but they don't know each other well. But it's enough to have some initial trust and a working relationship...ok, so I'll stay tuned to learn more I guess.
11. Molly is in a great spot too I hear, I need to catch up more on her stuff. Bridget likes her, but feels they can't work together because they are too similar...Bridget! You can separate yourself later, now you need numbers!
Aparri
1. Samantha! I love that she speaks her mind, even if it gets her in trouble. Logan can get over it, communications majors are the worst communicators. I agree with Sam, he’ll figure out something better.
2. Kyle had the best about me video out of the entire cast. I think his comedian style works much better on video than stand-up.
3. Jordan was either not around for the initial call or had some issues coming and going and then apparently was really quiet there. He knows Suzi’s reputation from sequester and has hosted Michael Brady in a mini, so he might gravitate towards these players and sounds like he gets good vibes from Kaitlyn too. If only he knew she was bashing him on call with Logan and Nikki night one. Yikes.
4. Kaitlyn is being a social queen. I think they teach a class on that at University of Maryland. I'm glad these players are eating it up, if I was in this game I would not trust her at all. She's new? I doubt it. Friends who played before? What did they tell her?
5. It's interesting that Kaitlyn and Logan seem so tight. I would not have seen this pairing coming.
6. The Yetti call with Logan, Kaitlyn, and Nikki made me uncomfortable. Very villainous, mean girl vibes...and not in the fun way. I normally love Yeti's, but much like the elusive yeti, this alliance might not be a real thing either...Hurrah!
7. Double K threw Samantha's name out and it got back to the Queen of Staten Island...oopsie daisy
8. I love that Sam and Suzi could be a real thing...don't love that people are thinking of targeting Suzi though
Sir this is 2020
Sir this is 2020
