Mike Bloom

Bloomerang! - Mike Bloom's SurvivorAU: All-Stars recapsMike Bloom is a television writer, podcaster, and Survivor obsessive. His work around the show can be read at Parade, where he provides exit press and other exclusive nuggets. He can be heard talking way too much about domestic and international Survivor weekly on Rob Has a Podcast, as well as the long-running Survivor Historians podcast. Mike also covers other island-based shenanigans with his LOST rewatch podcast “Down the Hatch” on Post Show Recaps. He feels BrantSteeles are a good way to keep the blood pumping. Banter with him on twitter: @AMikeBloomType

Bloomerang! - Mike Bloom's SurvivorAU: All-Stars recaps

Columns by Survivor season:

  • SAU5 logo SurvivorAU 5: All-Stars
    Not with a bang, but a whimper

    Episodes 22-24: Not with a bang, but a whimper

    Published: April 6, 2020

     

    Australian Survivor All-Stars has crowned its winner, and Mike takes a look back at the final three episodes that led to the (not so) surprising victory. A super-sized season with a strong winner, who was presented in all his oversaturated glory. A strong win, but maybe too much of a good thing?


    Episodes 19-21: Shunned stones, Sharn's swings, and suspect surprises

    Published: March 21, 2020

     

    Mike praises the more balanced editing in the penultimate week of Survivor AU: All-Stars, but scratches his head at the attempted rock draw, faux flip, and curious fire-making twist option, as ultimately, the Vakama underdogs crumbled.


    Episodes 16-18: I TOLD you stop trying to make Exile happen!

    Published: March 13, 2020

     

    After a tragic phone call pulled Lee from the game, SurvivorAU switched over to Exile Beach week for the final nine. Mike evaluates the twist that sent six players to Exile over the three episodes, ultimately eliminating just one of them.


    Episodes 13-15: David & Company

    Published: March 6, 2020

     

    It was a grim week for Survivor AU superfans, as one fan favorite was felled right before the merge, and the underdog alliance fell victim to Pagonging thereafter. Mike recaps the happenings, then looks for signs of hope (or, more likely, there is Mo Hope) in the post-merge.


    Episodes 10-12: Revenge is a dish best served on a cake tray

    Published: February 28, 2020

     

    With three big characters falling just before the All Stars halfway point, Mike is here to assess the fallout, and not just the fragments of cake strewn across the reward site and Nick's pants. Also, a look at who is best positioned heading into the second half of the season.


    Episodes 7-9: Stop trying to make Exile happen

    Published: February 21, 2020

     

    Mike votes himself out of Week Three of SurvivorAU: All-Stars, but don't worry! It was only a trip to Exile. Now a swap and... whoops, now he's voted out again... but wait, he made fire and he's back in! Whew! All these twists upon twists are really opening a Pandora's Box of convoluted game logic. With too few narrators.


    Episodes 4-6: Where have all the puzzles gone?

    Published: February 14, 2020

     

    In his revisiting the three episodes of week 2 of Australian Survivor: All-Stars, Mike tackles the big stories: the prevalence of strength-based challenges and its effects on tribal numbers decisions, the fall of Zen Hen, the big double-boot twist that ended the week, and, oh yeah, Vakama was occasionally shown, too.


    Episodes 1-3: Chimps, cookies, and conspiracies

    Published: February 7, 2020

     

    Mike revisits the first three episodes of SurvivorAU: All-Stars, from the magnificent spectacle of premiere week's third Tribal Council to the more mundane winner disposals preceding it, to the glorious return and intermingling of multiple fan favorites. Grab a cookie and let's dig in.


    Pre-season: Australian Survivor 101

    Published: January 19, 2020

     

    Mike welcomes you to the Bloomerang, with a complete introduction to all things Australian Survivor. All the backstories, backstabbings, and awkward, smiling politely, back-of-the-truck rides you will need to prepare you for the upcoming SurvivorAU: All-Stars.


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