Episode 8: Evaluating a big move

Published: April 8, 2019

Ben sifts through the episode's plethora of gameplay, finds which contestants played well or poorly, then tackles the larger question of when it's ideal for a member of a large group to make a move against their allies, with historical precedents.

Episodes 5-7: Why the Edge of Exinction is rigged against Joe

Published: April 2, 2019

Analyzing the happenings of Episodes 5-7, Ben Martell questions the continued use of the two-to-three tribes expansion swap, argues that Joe's early dismissal to the Edge will actually work against his chances of returning, and picks his potential winner for the season.

Episode 4: Wardog in trouble

Published: March 18, 2019

Ben argues against the perception that Edge of Extinction is failing, highlighting four key points in which he feels the season is a success. Among them: It will be new and interesting to see how Wardog's strategic machinations will fare following the looming return from Extinction.

Episode 2: Cliffhanger edition

Published: March 2, 2019

Ben Martell asks if Edge of Extinction's Episode 2 cliffhanger was really a cliffhanger, if the women-and-idols narrative is perhaps a multi-season storytelling arc, and if the Wardog is actually playing the Warthog... and more.

Episode 1: Editing for Extinction

Published: February 24, 2019

After the premiere, Ben runs through the surprises of the first episode: From David Wright's solid debut as a returnee, to the Wardog's fulfilling his as-advertised restraint, to the underdog edits on Manu (and the relationship to Extinction), and the challenge beastliness on Kama.

Pre-season: The TDT EoE contestant draft

Published: February 17, 2019

As the new season nears the True Dork Times writers (Ben Martell, Dan Otsuki, Pat Ferrucci, Ryan Kaiser, and Jeff Pitman) gather to draft fantasy teams of three players. Whose prediction skills will drive their team to extinction? Whose prognostication will give them an edge and a victory?

Pre-season: Incentivising failure

Published: February 4, 2019

Ben weighs in on the Edge of Extinction central twist, and argues that, if played optimally, it creates an incentive for someone to deliberately be voted out early post-merge, return, then reap the jury rewards. Which really would reinvent how the game is played, since it's the opposite of the concept for the first 37 seasons.