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Hi.

I came back for this post because I PM'd trixie (and a bunch of others) asking them to scrub the shitspoilers from here. Trix said she did, and to be careful because the driveby asswipes may still be out there, so I recommend to many of you to look ONLY at the name of the poster first, and if it is someone you trust or know, read it, and ignore all posts from ghosties or fly-by-nights. It worked for me, at least for the last six pages or so.

I'm with MDN, even though we picked different players. This was a shit season for edgic and for editing. For the finale I was with several people who love survivor and know squat about edgic, and none of them were pleased - not necessarily with Natalie (she is sweet and all, and cleaned up very nicely... liked the hair bump, Nat) - but with the overall tone of the season. Someone said, "Okay, they hate Russell. Big whoop" or some such. Several basically said, "Glad THAT season is over - no way I'm gonna save that on my Tivo..."

It was clearly a "why RH lost," and like someone earlier said (and someone in our party here also said): Nat was Amber, Russell was Rob M. Yeah, that's the closest in terms of general tone of the overall edit: Why Russell lost. But Amber was a much bigger presence in a season where she was probably the least significant All-Star. So why not give Natalie more? Why not see that she is worthy other than being someone other than RH? I have absolutely no idea how to fix edgic to find Natalie and not keep 80% of the players as possible winners. Frankly, I pray that no one ever gets the screen time that RH did - mainly because he simply wasn't that compelling a personality to me. It was just the same crap, week after week. I am personally glad this season is over.

Re those who picked Nat: Congrats to gr - I understand he did, I assume she/he is someone of integrity, so well done. But anyone who picked her after the spoilers, notably the fly-by-nights and ghosties, I simply don't care. That's like secretly going to a Matinee of a new movie, then going with friends to the same movie in the evening, and whispering to them you think you know how it's going to turn out. That is sheer pat-on-the-back onanism.

I don't know about others, but there is a lot of vitriole and near-hate here tonight. Astro, calm down. Please. I have trusted Blake for many seasons, and it sounds like people are trying to shove spoiler stuff at him and he's deflecting it, and you are either part of it or cognizant of those who are doing so. I've also known you for years, we've even PM'd each other. He got under your skin. Okay. But I would suspect that in a few months you'll look at some of your recent posts and shake your head.

I suppose it doesn't matter, since I won't be around for S20, except maybe in the PaluaTiga location that is supposedly unspoiled. One thing that this season of edgic taught me - unlike many prior seasons that were somewhat spoiled, I got the strong sense that edgic this season was completely ruined by the spoilers, both from regulars who were spoiled and the ghosties. I will say right now I'm totally relieved I picked Mick in ep3, before any spoilershit came into edgic, but then came murmurs of spoilers. And within a week of people saying here, "Oh, BTW, this season just got huge spoilers" I figured that Mick and Nat were in the final 3, and assumed RH was there too because of the change in tone and analysis here. Those who thought they were being subtle, nope. When tons o' people are suddenly "subtle" in the same direction it's like inkstains on a wedding dress. They stand out. So in a sense, the BS here spoiled me after I made my pick, and frankly it steamed me. The interest in a person who by any reasonable standard was not viable edgically was a huge red flag.

Would I have changed later if it wasn't spoiled? Perhaps, to Jaison, or even Russell. But sorry, even now based on my loosest interpretation of the edgic guidelines Nat didn't fit in the top 3. Yet she won. I don't think it's helpful to try and rationalize the win into edgic. Edgic failed, and let's be clear on that.

Let's review the ep.

RH was a shit. Oh, he played strategically and all, but it was like he was a compulsive dickhead. His behavior on the final day in camp was astonishing in his contempt for the others. And they were not flustered, just astonished. His behavior at the Reunion indicated to me that he really is a dick. He was pathetic. His offer to buy the title of sole survivor for ten grand and then 100 grand was probably the most single embarrassing moment in survivor history. He lost, and had absolutely no way of placing that into his world view. That probably explains his utter lack of grace in defeat. My gosh, he was almost crying. He ultimately lost because he had no concept of the social game, and if he was really that much of a student of the game he would have known how important intepersonal relations are. The prior "evil" people who won - Brian and Richard, were brilliant at the social game and saved their snideness for the confessionals. I cannot recall many (or any) moments where RH was not in full strategery mode. I feel almost sorry for him, which I doubt is something he wants anyone to feel about him. It was like he was so incapable of relating to people as people that the only way he could communicate was by lying, promising, or strategizing. It was his downfall.

Mick - I would honestly give him a UTR for the finale. It reminded me somewhat of Scout (although Scout didn't utter a single word for the first 28 minutes of their finale.) Mick was essentially ignored. Yes, if I was the sort to change my vote in the last couple weeks I would have -but not to Natalie! Heh.

Natalie - this finale was basically a distillation of the modest amount of info we already knew about her. She was MOR. And RH was OTT... think of it - none of the people who met the jury were a solid, no-holds barred, CPP or even super CP. What an awful edit for a finale!

The FC: A snorefest. Some of the oddest questions imaginable, but at least set the tone for Mick getting zip - hey, Stephen (wizard), you got company! - and for RH losing. But the fireworks simply weren't there.

JP forgot John at the reunion!!! Notice how as soon as it was over he went over and shook John's hand? I think JP felt bad. Also, I really wanted to hear more about why people voted for Natalie over RH. It was like the producers simply couldn't believe it.

Final thought: This was an edgic bust, in one of my least favorite seasons. I hope people who are not spoiled (or try their very best to avoid bringing their spoiler info into edgic) can improve edgic's guidelines. Right now, I will concede that they are very good at finding end-game players. But not winners. So have at it, y'all, if you can improve edgic in a toally spoiled season.