True Dork Times - Archives

December, 2019

The ending was a good start
Jeff Pitman's Survivor: Island of the Idols recaps
Episode 14: The ending was a good start

By Jeff Pitman | Published: December 26, 2019

After a troubling season produced hopefully helpful new procedures, Jeff takes a close look at what's working (and a lot of what's not) with Survivor's core game, which mostly boils down to: Too much heavy handed production in some areas, too little in others.


It's Kind of a Funny Story - Island of the Idols
Episode 14: Silver linings?

By Dan Otsuki | Published: December 20, 2019

Dan weighs in on the Island of the Idols finale and reunion, and looks for silver linings in the season as a whole, and the show's response to its own mishandling of the harassment that overshadowed the post-merge.


Kaiser Island - Island of the Idols
Episode 14: The prize isn't only in the million dollars

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: December 20, 2019

Ryan takes stock of the Island of the Idols winner, the finale and reunion show, passes a final judgment on the season's story, cast, and final five, then looks ahead excitedly to Season 40: Winners at War.


Jeff Pitman's Survivor: Island of the Idols recaps
Episode 13: Stumbling to a muted finish

By Jeff Pitman | Published: December 16, 2019

One. More. Episode.


Kaiser Island - Island of the Idols
Episode 13: Where are we in the game?

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: December 14, 2019

After Elaine's heartbreaking boot and the dark cloud of another dispiriting Dan card, Ryan tries to take a fresh look at the remaining five Island of the Idols players, and assess their standing heading into the finale.


Jeff Pitman's Survivor: Island of the Idols recaps
Episode 12: Laissez fail

By Jeff Pitman | Published: December 9, 2019

Jeff makes the case that this episode's chaotic, largely rudderless Tribal Council was emblematic of the season as a whole: seemed fun at first, but ultimately a letdown, with no discernible guidance from production.


Kaiser Island - Island of the Idols
Episode 12: Wrecking ball

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: December 6, 2019

Loved ones visit Fiji, but only for the powerful. Noura gives a rant for the ages. An underdog alliance goes up in flames as Dean leaks the plan, and Karishma's ninth life is finally snuffed. And Ryan Kaiser attempts to sift through the wreckage for signs of life.


Jeff Pitman's Survivor: Island of the Idols recaps
Episode 11: Karishma and the power of negative thinking

By Jeff Pitman | Published: December 4, 2019

As we grasp for positives in the closing episodes of Island of the Idols, one standout has been Karishma's gravity-defying rise in prominence, despite having seen her name written down so many times. Is her path to the end sustainable?


Well, in theory... - Island of the Idols
Episode 11: Social capital, power rankings, and some relief

By Pat Ferrucci | Published: December 3, 2019

With talk of social capital rising in the Survivor commentariat, Pat offers a more complete explanation of the concept in its original academic form, and talks about how the different kinds of social capital - bonded and bridged - contribute to Survivor success.


 

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