Epilogue: What is the moral of our story?

Published: June 5, 2017

Dan looks back at the narrative arcs of the Game Changers final six, evaluates Sarah's winning game and the new jury format, suggests some idol improvements, and looks ahead to next season.

Pre-Ep.14: Jury jeopardy S34

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.

Chapter 11: You can steal a vote, but not an advantage

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.

Chapter 10: Loyalty of the doomed

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.

Chapter 9: Battle of the heavyweights is upon us

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.

Chapter 8: A descent into madness

Published: April 27, 2017

Dan laments Debbie's departure while praising the Pagonging reprieve, and ponders where this leaves Troyzan, Sarah, Sierra, Cirie, Michaela, and the Game Changers season as a whole.

Chapter 7: Stories emerging

Published: April 24, 2017

With two episodes and the merge reducing the cast down to a single tribe, Dan takes stock of where the remaining 11 contestants' stories could be headed in the remainder of the season.

Chapter 6: Intent vs. impact

Published: April 18, 2017

Dan takes a break from the story analysis to briefly touch on the events at Tribal Council, praise Zeke, and take a glimpse at the likely story after the upcoming merge.

Chapter 5: A little Survivor mythos

Published: April 7, 2017

Dan laments the end of the Queen's reign, looks at how lingering Survivor mythology has affected her and other people's games, and digs deep into the Exile winner visit.

Chapter 4: Wretches and queens (and a king)

Published: March 30, 2017

Or more accurately, a wretch, three queens, and a king, as Dan looks at thrones and groans from Episode 5 of Game Changers, "Dirty Deed." Plus a look ahead at the swap and idols galore.

Chapter 3: Why the past matters

Published: March 24, 2017

Dan examines the conflict between prior game reputation and twists that require snap decisions, as in the Malcolm-booting Tribal Council in this week's episode of Game Changers. Then he takes a brief look at a few rising and falling players.

Chapter 2: The old becometh the new

Published: March 17, 2017

Dan explores how some of the old players are finding new life... changing their games, even... in the "Survivor Jackpot" episode of Survivor: Game Changers.

Chapter 1: Change is in the air

Published: March 13, 2017

Dan delves into the first chapter of the contestants' character archetypes, and how they've changed, or not, from their previous form in the premiere of Survivor: Game Changers.

S34 cast: Stories past

Published: February 9, 2017

Leap into the game as Dan examines the character archetypes the Game Changers cast have previously represented, and forecasts their potential success in Season 34.

Pre-S34: Introduction

Published: January 17, 2017

A prologue, of sorts, in which Dan lays out the format and scope of his new column. Dan shares his background in writing and Survivor, and his plans for examining the narrative and characters of the upcoming Survivor season.