The True Dork Times: Survivor stats, stuff

October, 2017

Jeff Pitman's S35 recaps

Episode 5: The mom and pop show

By Jeff Pitman | Published: October 30, 2017

A look at Ben's unexpectedly important moment, Chrissy's unexpectedly manipulative power plays, and where Roark's exit from her first Tribal Council falls on the leaderboard of late early boots. Plus a vidcap gallery!

Well, in theory... - S35

Episode 5: The ego and its utility, a tale of conflicting ethics

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: October 27, 2017

Pat examines Ryan's swing vote decision, and most Survivor gameplay, through the conflicting ethical theories of ethical egoism and utilitarianism, and how the best plays appear to be the latter while actually adhering to the former.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S35

Episode 5: When a bad move looks good

By Dan Otsuki | Published: October 27, 2017

Dan takes a critical eye to Ryan's big move, and posits its long-term significance, and praises Ben's moment, Mike's find, and Chrissy's manipulation. He also holds out hope for an Ali comeback after the fifth episode of Heroes v Healers v Hustlers.

Jeff Pitman's S35 recaps

Episode 4: Resetting the table

By Jeff Pitman | Published: October 25, 2017

Jeff breaks down a highly successful swap episode, looking at couples broken and united, Advantagegeddon redux, Joe's big idol playing game, and Mike's big game-playing streak.

The Golden Ticket - S35

Episode 4: How to recognize advantages

By Ben Martell | Published: October 24, 2017

Ben praises a successful swap, and boldly predicts which tribe might be the big loser from it (hint: anti-Matsing), the fate of an idol mind, and the future success of a dork alliance, a disadvantaged voter, and someone fishing for allies.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S35

Episode 4: A mini moral quandary

By Dan Otsuki | Published: October 20, 2017

Dan finds problems with three key characters, praise for three new couples, and a divided opinion on short-lived but luck-based twists, as in the fourth episode of Heroes v Healers v Hustlers.

Well, in theory... - S35

Episode 4: It's all about cohesion, the cohesion of the group

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: October 20, 2017

Pat evaluates the tribal swap through the lens of group cohesion theory, and finds the new Levu tribe lacking, as seen in Episode 4 of Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers.

The Golden Ticket - S35

Episode 3: Good moves, variable timing

By Ben Martell | Published: October 18, 2017

Ben examines how timing affects the success of Survivor moves, with some good (Ali), and some bad (Cole), and some more good (the upcoming swap) on display in Episode 3 of Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers.

Jeff Pitman's S35 recaps

Episode 3: Three is the tragic number

By Jeff Pitman | Published: October 16, 2017

In an attempt to diagnose the season's underwhelming start, Jeff zeroes in on three problems endemic to the three-tribe format, and offers tweaks to fix them. Also a defense of Patrick, a preview of the swap, and a fashionable vidcap gallery.

Well, in theory... - S35

**Episode 3: His name was Patrick. Now he's Matthew**

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: October 14, 2017

Pat refutes Malcolm Gladwell's outlier hypothesis, instead arguing that Robert Merton's theory of cumulative advantage applies better to Survivor, as seen in Patrick's exit from Episode 3 of Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S35

Episode 3: Stupidity as a plot device

By Dan Otsuki | Published: October 13, 2017

With horror shows on his Friday-the-13th mind, Dan praises the show's focus on ill-advised, bumbling gameplay, plus the surprisingly good showings of two previously overlooked contestants.

The Golden Ticket - S35

Episode 2: Have we found the final two?

By Ben Martell | Published: October 10, 2017

Ben takes a quick look at the departed Simone's game, ponders the significance of the Ben-Chrissy pairing, examines Joe's gameplay, and praises Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers' apparent return to editing form.

Jeff Pitman's S35 recaps

Episode 2: Signs point to the big three (or four)

By Jeff Pitman | Published: October 9, 2017

After just two episodes, Jeff takes a mostly over-extrapolated look at the contenders for winning Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers. Plus a vidcap gallery also about the number two.

Well, in theory... - S35

Episode 2: You're a hustler. A hustler. You are. Yes you.

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: October 6, 2017

Pat looks at identity priming theory, and how this affects Survivor players' early tribal boot decisions, as seen in Episode 2 of Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers.

It's Kind of a Funny Story - S35

Episode 2: Foolish innocence

By Dan Otsuki | Published: October 6, 2017

Dan looks at the importance to the narrative of people playing the roles of literary fools (of various types) in the second episode of Survivor: Heroes v Healers v Hustlers.

Jeff Pitman's S35 recaps

Episode 1: Cramped, rushed, maybe some vomiting

By Jeff Pitman | Published: October 2, 2017

Jeff looks back at the season premiere of Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers, and finds it mostly solid, albeit with an outsized focus on a twist that went nowhere, and a glaring deficit in focus on the booted player. To make up for that: A vidcap gallery.

Well, in theory... - S35

Episode 1: Let's talk some in-group and some out-group

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: October 2, 2017

Pat focuses on a relevant facet of social identity theory, in-group/ out-group bias, to help explain why Katrina was the first person voted out in Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers. Then looks at the tribes in greater depth.

The Golden Ticket - S35

Episode 1: A tale of two people(s)

By Ben Martell | Published: October 1, 2017

Ben takes stock of the state of the strategic metagame entering the season premiere of Survivor: HHH, then looks in-depth at the Heroes, Healers, and Hustlers tribes, and the Super Idol, plus a few odds and ends.

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