Ep.14: Natalie Wins? You Don't Say...

Published: December 20, 2014

In which Jeff recaps the San Juan del Sur finale and reunion show, praises the winner, and re-evaluates the two major twists of the season, neither of which he hopes to see again any time soon.

Ep.13: A move, singular

Published: December 12, 2014

Oh, San Juan del Sur. We can't stay mad at you. Not when you have a delectable actual blindside that makes you temporarily exciting!

Ep.11-12: The Little Engine that Couldn't

Published: December 6, 2014

Jeff looks back at the double episode of San Juan del Sur, and finds something decidedly lacking: Successful, interesting strategy. But hey, lots of idols, though.

Ep.10: Second-string showdown? Not so fast...

Published: November 29, 2014

In which we praise the performance of the former lieutenants (Reed and Natalie), while lamenting Reed's great plan was surrounded and drowned by a flood of heavily prompted idols.

Ep.9: The Reed wedding

Published: November 21, 2014

In which we appreciate Survivor's pulling off a shocking boot, with another power shift, yet mourn the strategic (and narrative) consequences.

Ep.8: A herd of goats

Published: November 15, 2014

As the showdown between Josh and Jeremy claims the former as its victim, Jeff looks ahead and sees naught but a sea of caprine mediocrity (plus Jeremy). Probably.

Ep.7: Great expectorations

Published: November 7, 2014

It's the merge episode! Where Survivor finally starts being Survivor! Except that didn't happen, obviously. Oh well. So uh, what other exciting events can we look forward to over the next six weeks?

Ep.6: Everything's coming up Missy

Published: November 1, 2014

As we bid good riddance to the Coyopa tribe and look ahead to the merge, we take a moment to note the almost complete reversal Missy's edit took this week. While, as usual, complaining about Probst.

Ep.5: Fans vs. emotion

Published: October 27, 2014

In which we try to make sense of a somewhat muddled, emotion-filled, strategically suspect vote that followed a tribal swap that seemed exciting at first, but progressively less so as the episode wore on.

Ep.4: Strategy vs. comedy

Published: October 17, 2014

Sure, this episode was a laff-fest, but did it have to be just that? We (try to) argue that Survivor is better when it aims for three dimensions to its characters instead of just two.

Ep.3: Whitewash

Published: October 12, 2014

John Rocker is gone, but not without a hero/martyr edit that belies his middling-at-best gameplay and CBS's own pre-season ads. Eh, we'll still take it.

Ep.2: A melodramatic lose-fest

Published: October 5, 2014

It's still early, and there's still time to recover, but we're already worried that San Juan del Sur may have some serious structural problems. Our diagnosis and suggested remedies... after the jump.

Ep.1: The reset button

Published: September 26, 2014

Did we say there were no likely winners in our pre-season cast assessment? How silly of us. Can we have a do-over? No? Well, tough. You're getting one, anyway. You're welcome.

Preseason: San Juan del Sur cast analysis

Published: September 12, 2014

An in-depth evaluation of each contestant's chances of winning Survivor: San Juan del Sur, in which players are sorted into four tiers of descending probability (Likely, Possible, Unlikely, Impossible). Spoiler alert: There are no Likelies.