True Dork Times - Archives

March, 2018

Dealt some bad hands - Kaiser Island
Kaiser Island - S36
Episode 6: Dealt some bad hands

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 29, 2018

After six episodes of searching, Ryan finally finds his Wanner wannabe, and it was good. Better, at least, than the luck of the Malolos, the fortunes of various blindfolded women, and the ghosts of Ghost Island, who were forced to find new... accommodations.


It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36
Episode 6: Parallels past

By Dan Otsuki | Published: March 29, 2018

As Survivor: Ghost Island swaps from two up to three tribes, Dan looks back at how both the gameplay and editing compares to recent seasons where that happened, and projects the success of the main characters going forward.


The Baker's Dozen - S36
Episode 5: Who knew?

By Andy Baker | Published: March 25, 2018

Andy explores the many different ways his surprise at being surprised by Episode 5 of Ghost Island ended up being a good thing, then looks ahead to how he might not be surprised by the upcoming swap and merge.


Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps
Episode 5: The boring 20s

By Jeff Pitman | Published: March 25, 2018

The Malolo purge and Stephanie's ouster in Episode 5 of Ghost Island showed that if you remove idols from the equation, even superfans will revert to the most basic, boring of strategies. Plus the quest for prior Sebastians.


Well, in theory... - S36
Episode 5: Oh, those disruptive puzzles!

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: March 24, 2018

Pat returns to talk about the theory of disruptive innovation, and how it applies to Survivor: As the formats of challenges have changed, a different kind of player has emerged as a challenge threat. Will the strategy adapt?


It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36
Episode 5: An internal moral dilemma

By Dan Otsuki | Published: March 23, 2018

Dan wrestles with happiness over the relative dearth of idols and advantages at Ghost Island, and sadness that Stephanie had no shot at one. Then delves deeper into the role of idols in modern winning games, and looks ahead to the swap.


Kaiser Island - S36
Episode 5: Soak in the strength

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 23, 2018

Ryan describes both his deep appreciation for and simultaneously being crushed by Ghost Island Episode 5, an episode that dispensed with twists and gimmicks to focus on the characters and their various motivations for playing.


Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps
Episode 4: Idol power has its limits

By Jeff Pitman | Published: March 18, 2018

A dramatic Tribal Council still leaves James Clement's idols' vote-voiding totals at... zero. Even so, solid play, exciting challenges, and a compelling episode, even if the ending was disappointing. Also this week: Less talk, more vidcap gallery.


Kaiser Island - S36
Episode 4: The leader never wins

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 16, 2018

Ryan winds his way through the many impediments of Episode 4 of Ghost Island, from wandering wolves to spooked Kellyns to PB & J that is mostly neither PB nor J, but bread. Oh, and cursed immunity balls.


It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36
Episode 4: False priming

By Dan Otsuki | Published: March 15, 2018

As Dan bids farewell to his winner pick, he examines the many lines of narrative deception in Episode 4 of Ghost Island, both in the player's actions, and the editing of the show itself. Plus Kellyn, Bradley, and a ranking of the seasons.


Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps
Episode 3: Depth perception

By Jeff Pitman | Published: March 13, 2018

Jeff praises Episode 3 of Ghost Island for finally connecting, from its rich collection of Survivor historical items, to its deep set of contestants. Also, an in-depth look at the timing of swaps, and appraisal of contestants' rising or fading chances.


The Golden Ticket - S36
Episode 3: It was a good move, the show told me so

By Ben Martell | Published: March 12, 2018

On the Ticket this week: Ben unearths an overlooked Survivor curse, makes an extended Bold Winner Prediction, and argues firmly that James's move was a good one, finding supporting evidence for all this within the edit itself.


The Baker's Dozen - S36
Episode 3: Beyond the obvious

By Andy Baker | Published: March 11, 2018

Was booting Morgan a bad idea? Did Libby's decision hurt her game? Are there shenanigans to be had with the Ghost Island stationery? Andy Baker tackles these and other questions that go beyond the obvious topics of Ghost Island's third episode.


Well, in theory... - S36
Episode 3: How do we attribute that blindside?

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: March 10, 2018

Pat explains attribution theory, and how internal vs. external attribution comes to bear in carrying out actions that go against one's instincts, such as Libby's decision to blindside her friend, Morgan, in Episode 3 of Survivor: Ghost Island.


Kaiser Island - S36
Episode 3: A broken family

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 9, 2018

Ryan recounts the twisting of the two happy Ghost Island families into two newly dysfunctional families, one of which has someone extremely averse to dirt. But help and/or Laffy Taffy are on the way, more or less. Or lies. Yes, lies are on the way.


It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36
Episode 3: Never trust the cute blondes

By Dan Otsuki | Published: March 8, 2018

As the tribes change up their membership, Dan tracks which players' narratives also changed. The departing Morgan, obviously, and her trusted Libby, but also Chris, Domenick, and others. Plus, what fate has Libby foretold?


The Golden Ticket - S36
Episodes 1-2: The Legacy Advantage redeemed

By Ben Martell | Published: March 7, 2018

Ben weighs in on the Ghost Island premiere, with a look at the fallen, a disparaging view of obvious initial tribe imbalances, praise for pairs, and more praise for both strategic quitting and the Legacy Advantage! And more.


The Baker's Dozen - S36
Episodes 1-2: Middle school for money

By Andy Baker | Published: March 6, 2018

Andy takes a tour through the grown-up version of middle school (Survivor), and revisits the first two boots, what the first three minutes told us, what we can expect from Ghost Island going forward, and assesses the contestants with rising and falling prospects (and those rendered mute and invisible).


Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps
Episodes 1-2: The cursed first excursion (to the Island that is definitely not Exile)

By Jeff Pitman | Published: March 5, 2018

Jeff weighs the fumbles and improvements as Exile Island gets refurbished in more Ghost-ly raiments, laments the loss of a young superfan, praises the success of three older superfans, and ponders how far Donathan's star can rise, after the premiere of Ghost Island.


Kaiser Island - S36
Episodes 1-2: Walking truly into the unknown

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 3, 2018

Ryan recaps the highs and lows, the sighs and 'fros, of Survivor: Ghost Island's first two episodes. Who were the players of the week? Who was terrible, but great TV? Who were the true ghosts?


Well, in theory... - S36
Episodes 1-2: Don't upset the machine, OK?

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: March 2, 2018

Pat reflects on the twin exits from Survivor: Ghost Island's promising premiere. Using Gareth Morgan's metaphor of organizations as machines, both early boots stood apart in their individuality, upset the early tribe machines, and were removed. Plus a look ahead at the remaining contestants' chances.


It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36
Episodes 1-2: That's how you start a season

By Dan Otsuki | Published: March 2, 2018

Dan laments the first two exits, praises the novel first IC, foresees looming doom for one player, a potential new winner pick, and talks alpha males, Domenick and Chris, and gives a tentative initial mixed grade for the Ghost Island twist.


 

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