The True Dork Times: Survivor stats, stuff

May, 2017

Breaking Brad

By Jeff Pitman | Published: May 30, 2017

In his final look back at the season Jeff questions the uneven narrative of the season, praises Sarah's win, laments Cirie's ridiculous expulsion, evaluates the new jury format, and offers suggestions for future improvement.

The Golden Ticket - SNZ1

Episodes 5-6: The good, the interesting, and the ugly

By Ben Martell | Published: May 24, 2017

Survivor NZ loses two players in week three, via Redemption (the good) and medevac (the ugly), but several contestants gain new life via the tribe swap, while one notably does not. Ben looks ahead at how this sets up the looming merge.

Pitman recaps - S34

Jury jeopardy - S34

By Ben Martell, Dan Otsuki, Pat Ferrucci, and Jeff Pitman | Published: May 23, 2017

The True Dork Times writers (Ben, Dan, Pat, Jeff) combine their prognosticatory powers to predict the outcome of the Game Changers jury vote. And beat RHAP, Inside Survivor, and Reality Blurred, of course.

Well, in theory... - S34

Episode 13: Where do we stand? (A look at the Final 6)

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: May 22, 2017

Pat dispenses with the theory, looks back at this week's two boots, then takes a final look ahead, ranking the remaining six Game Changers by order of likelihood to win.

Pitman recaps - S34

Episode 13: Compressed days, compressed plays

By Jeff Pitman | Published: May 22, 2017

As the Survivor: Game Changers finale approaches, a look back at the pre-finale episode's tumultous advantage play and misplay, and how backloading most of the season's action into the final seven days limits strategic gameplay.

The Golden Ticket - S34

Episode 13: Three stories broken

By Ben Martell | Published: May 19, 2017

Heading into the finale, Ben reflects on the two bootees, evaluates Cirie's attempted move (and the heavy hand of the rules), and revisits the three key stories, at least two of which now seem broken.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S34

Episode 13: You can steal a vote, but not an advantage

By Dan Otsuki | Published: May 18, 2017

Dan reviews the games of the two departed, tries to divine the impact of the chaotic second Tribal, then examines the expected fates of Tai's idols and the remaining six contestants..

The Golden Ticket - SNZ1

Episodes 3-4: Hero immunity

By Ben Martell | Published: May 16, 2017

Ben ponders the significance of Nate's emergence from an otherwise one-dimensional Hermosa, and Shay's status as a strategic player, then praises the hero immunity challenge concept and the surprizing vote outcome.

Pitman recaps - S34

Episode 12: Back from the brink, maybe?

By Jeff Pitman | Published: May 15, 2017

With the finale two episodes away, Jeff questions the emerging Hero vs. Criminal narrative, whether the Legacy Advantage actually hurt Sierra, the Michaela/Tai new power couple, and the worst-case scenario for Game Changers.

The Golden Ticket - S34

Episode 12: Three stories

By Ben Martell | Published: May 14, 2017

Marking his path to the end, Ben looks back briefly at Sierra, the Legacy advantage, and the five stories he sees as secondary, then dives deep into the three stories of potential winners.

Well, in theory... - S34

Episode 12: Do it and do it swiftly

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: May 13, 2017

Pat examines Swift Trust Theory, and whether the short-term trust established by sharing a secret Advantage is enough to build a bond in Survivor. The answer? Not in Sierra's case, apparently.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S34

Episode 12: Loyalty of the doomed

By Dan Otsuki | Published: May 11, 2017

Dan finds Sierra's loyalty ultimately led to her downfall, previews the three players he sees as most likely to depart in the next episode's double boot, and someone whose winner chances are rising.

Pitman recaps - S34

Episode 11: Why is this season so depressing?

By Jeff Pitman | Published: May 9, 2017

Jeff explores mutually assured strategist destruction, the numbers, and Sarah's army vs. Brad's army. If that's not depressing enough, there's also a vidcap gallery.

The Golden Ticket - SNZ1

Episodes 1-2: Wand vs. Megatron

By Ben Martell | Published: May 8, 2017

Covering the first two episodes of SurvivorNZ: Nicaragua, Ben explains his connection to Avi, asks if Dee's exit was one of the cruelest in Survivor history, then explores the Mogotón, er, 'Megatron' tribe in-depth.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S34

Episode 11: Battle of the heavyweights is upon us

By Dan Otsuki | Published: May 8, 2017

Dan examines Zeke's fall, Sierra's safety, Andrea's rise, and the looming battle for Final Tribal Council supremacy as the end of Game Changers draws ever closer.

Well, in theory... - S34

Episode 11: Don't rock the boat - we like it stable

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: May 7, 2017

Pat applies the concept of social stability to explain the (non-Andrea) majority alliance members' willingness to go along with booting Zeke, and other observations from Episode 11 of Game Changers.

The Golden Ticket - S34

Episode 11: A strategic caterpillar

By Ben Martell | Published: May 7, 2017

Ben reflects on the two-season evolution of Zeke's game, whether his boot was made by 'idiots,' the passive minority alliance voting, and the Game Changers season as a whole (thus far).

The Golden Ticket - SNZ1

Pre-Ep1: We are the wilderpeople

By Ben Martell | Published: May 3, 2017

By way of introduction, Ben lists some common themes and social differences that might be expected to arise in a season of Survivor played by New Zealanders. And roots for Avi, of course.

The Golden Ticket - S34

Episodes 8-10: A question of timing

By Ben Martell | Published: May 2, 2017

Ben catches up on the past three episodes, acknowledges the departed, then evaluates the remaining ten contestants' positions in depth, heading into the final four episodes of Game Changers.

Well, in theory... - S34

Episode 10: Sarah revolts against dominance

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: May 1, 2017

Pat describes how social dominance theory (SDT) applies to Survivor, specifically Sarah's perception that she was at the bottom of the six-person alliance's hierarchy, and how it induced her move to change the game.

Pitman recaps - S34

Episode 10: Playing like a Tony

By Jeff Pitman | Published: May 1, 2017

Jeff takes a deeper look at Sarah's game-changing decision, Debbie's exit, and Cirie's rewarding (sort of) moment in Episode 10, " A Line Drawn in Concrete," of Game Changers.

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