Episode 14: Big moves, big characters, big juries

Published: December 23, 2018

Jeff celebrates the successes of the David vs. Goliath season, then looks ahead to see how to replicate that triumph: examining new trends in jury voting patterns, the role of luck in the success of a Survivor season, some good international twists to add to the whiteboard, some new-ish twists to avoid Pagonging, and uh ... well, it's a lot.

Pre-Episode 14: Jury Jeopardy - David vs. Goliath

Published: December 17, 2018

With six players remaining, three True Dork Times writers (Pat Ferrucci, Ryan Kaiser, and Jeff Pitman) unite to forecast the outcome of the Survivor: David vs. Goliath jury's vote on the final three. Who will win the million? And more importantly, will we out-predict Survivor scribes from other sites?

Episode 13: Can a David finally topple the Goliaths?

Published: December 16, 2018

As the sun sets on the scrappy little season that overcame the oversized skepticism surrounding its theme, Jeff ponders which of the six remaining Survivor: David vs. Goliath contestants has the best chance to win, now that Christian has joined the jury.

Episode 12: How 'too soon' is now?

Published: December 10, 2018

Jeff looks at how, idols and immunities aside, a constantly shifting jury size and final vote schedule makes discerning the correct time to make a move nearly impossible, even for the most game-aware players. Plus the role of idol plays in jury votes, and strategy vs. emotion.

Episodes 10-11: Christian, marytr?

Published: December 3, 2018

Survivor's two-hour double episode didn't really have a unifying theme, apart from a whole lot of focus on Christian. Which is fine, we'll run with that: Is Christian winning this season, or will he be the tragic hero who falls just short?

Episode 9: Victory or null

Published: November 26, 2018

The perfectly executed play of an idol nullifier was a fun twist, making the Davids underdogs no more in Episode 9 of Survivor: David vs. Goliath. But what cost will attempts at recapturing that magic in future seasons extract from the franchise?

Episode 8: The giving season

Published: November 20, 2018

Episode 8's dramatic Tribal Council double-idol play (and split vote) was one of the best idol-era Survivor Tribals in memory. But did it also finally signal the evolution of idol play in favor of playing idols for others, instead of the holder? Plus a Brochacho physical threat level assessment.

Episode 7: Changing fortunes at the merge

Published: November 12, 2018

A complicated web of interlocking machinations led to a surprisingly lopsided David vs. Goliath merge vote. Despite the outcome, that seems like a good sign, as Jeff looks at how short-term prospects shift for a number of contestants.

Episode 6: The magic of misdirection

Published: November 5, 2018

Wrapping up the pre-merge portion of the season, Jeff takes a deep dive into the ice-blue eyes and icier heart of Nick Wilson's gameplay. Plus shelter suggestions and clothes bartering strategic pondering.

Episode 5: Two if by string

Published: October 30, 2018

As a second string-wrapped idol (clue) is found, Jeff questions the wisdom and fairness of themed idol hiding. Plus with the merge imminent, a sneak peek at how sub-alliances and power players may assemble themselves in the post-merge.

Episode 4: A momentary glimpse of light

Published: October 23, 2018

While David vs. Goliath has at times teetered on a flimsy barrow, carried by blindfolded drivers, through moments of darkness and misery in its first four episodes, there have also been flashes of brilliance, of lightness, of fun. Those were thankfully more abundant in Episode 4, as Jeff celebrates them.

Episode 3: New recipe: Less napalm, more Machiavelli

Published: October 16, 2018

Jeff didn't love the personal attacks that were presented as entertainment in Episode 3 of David vs. Goliath, especially since they seemed like a reboot of a past season's conflict. Plus a look at who the swap is most likely to reward or put at risk.

Episode 2: In praise of faking it

Published: October 9, 2018

Jeff exalts the opportunities that could arise from having easily fake-able idols this season, one player who seems to be faking everyone out, (and another who clearly is not), and other late-forming takes on Episode 2 of David vs. Goliath.

Episode 1: The promise, the grimace, and the peril in a Goliath premiere

Published: October 2, 2018

Jeff finds there was a lot to like, and a fair amount to lament, in the Survivor: David vs. Goliath season premiere. An interesting new cast, and more time to meet them, but also some darkness.

Pre-season: The TDT DvG contestant draft

Published: September 22, 2018

The True Dork Times writers (Ben Martell, Pat Ferrucci, Ryan Kaiser, and Jeff Pitman) come together to draft fantasy teams of David vs. Goliath contestants, in an attempt to win eternal* glory by having the team containing the winner. (*Offer expires roughly one month after the season ends.)

Pre-season: DvsG contestant projections

Published: September 20, 2018

Jeff Pitman sifts through the bios and the FOOs (and little else) to try to project which of the David vs. Goliath contestants have winning chances that are Likely, Possible, Unlikely, and Impossible.