The True Dork Times: Survivor stats, stuff

April, 2018

How to change someone's mind - Well, in theory...

Well, in theory... - S36

Episode 10: How to change someone's mind

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: April 29, 2018

In analyzing the possibility of Big Moves actually taking place, Pat talks about the Elaboration Likelihood Model, and the central and peripheral routes to attitude change in the brain, and how this applies to Survivor.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36

Episode 10: Mistakes were made

By Dan Otsuki | Published: April 29, 2018

While Desiree clearly didn't have a perfect run in Episode 10 of Ghost Island, Dan argues that almost every other player also made long-term strategic mistakes this week, mainly by failing to take advantage of a golden opportunity to change the game.

Kaiser Island - S36

Episode 10: The goats are coming together

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: April 29, 2018

Formerly live from Boston, Ryan retraces all the curses reversed, Doms hmmmed, Tribals lit, helicopter highs, and (surprisingly few) Malolo lows of Ghost Island, Episode 10.

Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps

Episode 10: One and done: The sad, unheard lament of Desiree, Libby, et al.

By Jeff Pitman | Published: April 28, 2018

Jeff offers a plea to see jury members for more than one episode, some analysis of how Desiree's boot changes the game strategically, plus continuity errors and looming starvation. Hooray!

Jeff Pitman's Survivor NZ: Thailand recaps

Episode 1: Superfans vs. naiveté

By Jeff Pitman | Published: April 24, 2018

Survivor New Zealand delivered an impressive premiere episode for its new season, set in Thailand. Faster-paced editing, energetic and more Survivor-savvy contestants, and an improved level of challenge quality combined for a highly entertaining debut.

The Baker's Dozen - S36

Episode 9: The little things

By Andy Baker | Published: April 22, 2018

Andy turns his attention to the smaller, less-obvious moments of Ghost Island's most recent episodes, uncovering hints and clues that turn out, in fact, to be quite big in the season's overall story.

Well, in theory... - S36

Episode 9: What the heck was Angela trying to do?

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: April 22, 2018

Pat notes Angela's strategic and challenge-dominating breakout episode, and finds traces of agenda-setting theory in her efforts to target Michael: Not in directly calling for his ouster, but in framing the conversation around him.

Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps

Episode 9: Malolo's abandoned last stand

By Jeff Pitman | Published: April 22, 2018

Although a much-maligned stick finally made good, the underdog Malolos still found a way to lose, mainly by not sticking together. Also, has the edit decided to just abandon strategists that don't hold idols? Spoiler: Yes.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36

Episode 9: Hiding in plain sight

By Dan Otsuki | Published: April 20, 2018

Dan compares the relative strengths of bold, aggressive play with passive, hiding in plain sight, under-the-radar play, praises the new, more visible Angela, the new, less-visible Domenick, and hopes for more age-related diversity going forward.

Kaiser Island - S36

Episode 9: Seize the moment

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: April 19, 2018

It's Episode 9 of Ghost Island: Peel your eyeballs away from the tacos and margaritas and towards Ryan's tale of guts, slugs, tongues, gags, and Game Changing power plays that would impress even Survivor's new marine biology expert. Stick around, something or somebody might get played.

Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps

Episode 8: Cheers to the merge episode

By Jeff Pitman | Published: April 17, 2018

Jeff praises the thoroughly entertaining Ghost Island merge episode's storytelling, explores the new Ghost Island curse, counts the historical happenings in Chris's boot, and looks ahead at future factions.

Well, in theory... - S36

Episode 8: Self-efficacy and the path of least resistance

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: April 17, 2018

Pat looks at the strategic choices made following the Survivor: Ghost Island merge, and uses the concept of self-efficacy and perceived access to power to explain the decision to target Chris.

The Baker's Dozen - S36

Episode 8: Inductive reasoning

By Andy Baker | Published: April 17, 2018

Sifting through the fallout of an explosive Ghost Island merge vote, Andy identifies the clues in the story we've been told so far, and uses them to piece together (maybe) the story remaining for the post-merge game.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36

Episode 8: The Un-Noble One

By Dan Otsuki | Published: April 13, 2018

Following the Ghost Island merge, Dan reviews Chris's role in the season as a whole, proposes an alternate edit possibility, praises time-limited idols, and presents his power rankings for the remaining 12 players.

Kaiser Island - S36

Episode 8: This is a showdown

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: April 12, 2018

Survivor rolls out a rollicking merge episode that brings together 13 people who are content to make the episode entirely about Chris and Domenick. How does Ryan work in three Survivors who aren't actually in the episode? Through the magic of recapping.

Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps

Episode 7: Reversing the cursed Ghost Island

By Jeff Pitman | Published: April 9, 2018

With Ghost Island the season half over, Ghost Island the island has been a bit of a dud. So far, at least. Jeff offers four suggestions to dramatically improve it. Plus a fun dive into the numbers on the gender disparity in idol finds.

The Baker's Dozen - S36

Episode 7: Baker's dozen

By Andy Baker | Published: April 8, 2018

With a Baker's Dozen worth of players remaining, Andy re-projects the boot order of the 13 Ghost Island contestants left. Who will emerge victorious in Domenick vs. Chris, and in the game as a whole?

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S36

Episode 7: Fast takes from an airport in Newark

By Dan Otsuki | Published: April 7, 2018

In an abbreviated Story, Dan dispatches a few swift thoughts on Episode 7 of Ghost Island, ranging from the sudden flood of idols to the changes in the gameplay with the merge approaching.

Well, in theory... - S36

Episode 7: The annual merge-time Power Rankings!

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: April 6, 2018

With seven Ghost Island episodes in the books and the merge approaching, Pat takes a break from the theory and updates his pre-season contestant evaluations. Which player is now the most likely to win?

Kaiser Island - S36

Episode 7: Nasty son of a bitch

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: April 5, 2018

As Ghost Island's pre-merge ends in Episode 7, Ryan tries his best to cope with the sudden loss of Bradley's bitching. Luckily, items have been maturing over the last decade to ease various people's pain. Sadly, none are the Immunity Willard.

Jeff Pitman's Ghost Island recaps

Episode 6: Outhugged, outpuzzled, outnumbered

By Jeff Pitman | Published: April 3, 2018

A random swap placed the six remaining Malolos in the worst position possible on all three new tribes, and unsurpisingly, the Malolo purge continued. Fittingly enough, on the new Malolo tribe. Bradley was right about the squalor!

Well, in theory... - S36

Episode 6: Voting alone? Different types of social capital

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: April 2, 2018

Pat finds support for Robert Putnam's concept of different types of social capital - bonded and bridged - in Angela's big decision between James and Naviti in Episode 6 of Ghost Island.

The Baker's Dozen - S36

Episode 6: The contrarian returns

By Andy Baker | Published: April 1, 2018

Andy offers some alternative takes on Episode 6 of Ghost Island, including criticism both of blindfolded challenges and of mocking Chris, and wait... who does he see as the Colby who could win?

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