Rewatching Endurance: Hawaii

[Cruise meerkat Youssy]

Reece was legit in love with Chris... wtf

[Cruise meerkat Youssy]

Does Chris have emotions?? Like y'all noticed that? Does he feel empathy for people? He literally just doesn't have emotions to me

[runesandribbons]

I think one reason I didn't like Hawaii and High Sierras much is because the teams that made it to the final two were just unlikable compared to some of the other teams competing. I really want to know what happened off-camera that Alex and Bryanah were called mean and that they lie by Nicole, Sarah, Rachel, and Lindi other than the fact that Bryanah and Alex hung out with the boys more than the girls (reminds me of the Annie/Calley-Keetin-Jenna drama from E2 but like x50).

[amplify26]

Apr 30, 2017 1:58:40 GMT -5 runesandribbons said:

I think one reason I didn't like Hawaii and High Sierras much is because the teams that made it to the final two were just unlikable compared to some of the other teams competing. I really want to know what happened off-camera that Alex and Bryanah were called mean and that they lie by Nicole, Sarah, Rachel, and Lindi other than the fact that Bryanah and Alex hung out with the boys more than the girls (reminds me of the Annie/Calley-Keetin-Jenna drama from E2 but like x50).

Hmm, interesting. I've also noticed that E3 and E5 were the most popular seasons, but had the least popular winners.

I have yet to watch from "The Arrival", but once I do, I'll tell about it.

[Cruise meerkat Youssy]

Lol just realized that I never finished this rewatch... I stopped on the episode Yellow left and forgot to watch the rest LOL. The season was basically over after that, right?

[Cruise meerkat Youssy]

I FORGOT HOW TERRIBLE ORANGE TEAM WAS IN THE BATTLE FOR PIECES MISSION LMAO

[Mister Ham]

^^^ this was one of my favorite scenes from the season lol

[kwdrewfan]

Tom: If I lose tomorrow's Temple and I go to the Temple of Fate and then I go lose, I'm blaming you. And you're not getting our piece.
Tom: Why are you disowning your only friend?
Tom: Hey, I got a problem. Do you mind taking this knife out of my back?
Tom: The Yellow team did leave us out in the cold.
Tom: Bryanah came up to me and said she was the only person trying to tell everyone to keep the Brown team, but obviously that didn't work. So. Whatever.

Me: .........

[Cruise meerkat Youssy]

Jul 12, 2017 11:51:56 GMT -5 kwdrewfan said:

Tom: If I lose tomorrow's Temple and I go to the Temple of Fate and then I go lose, I'm blaming you. And you're not getting our piece.
Tom: Why are you disowning your only friend?
Tom: Hey, I got a problem. Do you mind taking this knife out of my back?
Tom: The Yellow team did leave us out in the cold.
Tom: Bryanah came up to me and said she was the only person trying to tell everyone to keep the Brown team, but obviously that didn't work. So. Whatever.

Me: .........

IM SCREAMING

[amplify26]

It's been a while since I posted on the Casting Special, but time to rewatch the rest of the season!

The Arrival:

--That was a good introduction to the setting of this season; it made it so amazing!
--"But they'll soon realize this won't be another day at the beach." Especially considering the first two seasons took place at a beach of some sort.
--Bjorn: "I'm used to roughing it up in Montana, so this should be a piece of cake." Really? While that's good experience to have, it differs on region.
--Haha on Tom saying his strategy was to "make friends with the guys and flirt with the ladies". Still thinking of how Sabrina said she would manipulate people on E1.
--Demian: "This will be an adventure for my life, because it's nothing like Las Vegas."
--Nicole: "People get a very bad first impression of me; I don't know why, but they always think I'm conceited, when I'm really not." In hindsight, this is quite the quote. Is it something that reflects back to the audience after watching the show, especially because we don't see Nicole in real life, other than in modeling shoots? Or is it something that three weeks cannot be completely shaken off by the other competitors?
--Lindi: "I think if I stay focused, stay determined, and be myself, then I could win."
--Demian giving J.D. a hug, haha.
--J.D. "I bet some of you would like a free ride, huh?" Oh my, everyone would do anything to get one.
--Okay, having contestants of the opposite gender decide who gets the free ride? In hindsight, that looks like a disaster waiting to happen, not only with partners, but maybe with who people see as "hot". I prefer having ones of the same gender do so, just like in E5 ("Let's pull names out of a hat!")
--Alex suggesting Tom? I wonder how the game would have changed...
--"It's not that I don't like Monroe, but they're making it look like he's not equipped for the stunt, and we don't know what the stunt is!" Do you agree with their logic? It kind of reminds me of Adrian's case on E5.
--Oh, Nicole--saying she wants to protect Kareem, and then did the same with two other guys.
--Oh Monroe: "Somebody's going to get hit in the head and pass out." when everyone else was playing with coconuts in the rain.
--Bryanah on how everyone was not sure they should go for Monroe anymore: Was it a result of him not playing in the rain? Or something else? Another person mentioned some behind-the-scenes stuff, who knows?
--"Would you want him for a partner?"/"Not really..." That must be a stab in the heart for Monroe.
--Reece sounded quite random for a decision. They must have thought of it at the last moment.
--Demian: "I think the girls are being kind of shallow, because they are not looking at any other factors besides how cute a guy is."
--I think the guys made a better choice with whom to choose in the "free ride" than with the girls, but it's only in hindsight because *spoiler alert*, Lindi was a major force on E3. Strangely enough, however, they gave more focus to the girls choosing which guy to stay, rather than the other way around.
--Oh Eleanor...
--Nicole: "Vanetta, don't let go." The beginning of a friendship right here.
--Did Vanetta just slip like that? I wonder what made her interesting to cast.
--Before Taylor fell, it looked like any girl could've fell at that point.
--Vanetta: "But everything happens for a reason." And the reason was you couldn't lock your legs?
--"And here comes the rain..." a running gag this season.

[amplify26]

First Elimination:

--This is basically a three-part episode with the previous one and the next one, because it shows the beginning of the partner selection..
--Chris mentions how he wants to survive because his main goal is to become an official Endurance contestant: I was a bit put off because that can't be his only goal...
--Monroe: "I had a chance to get into the final, and now it's being ripped away from me." Sounds like something you say when you get a bad partner, lose an alliance member, or make a silly mistake in the final three Temple Mission.
--What was the use in Demian's strategy? If you've got a good grip, and lock your legs together, then it would have no impact.
--"STOP IT!" Such a classic moment, I had to turn it into a GIF.

gifs.com/gif/stop-it-AnB91j


--The first time everyone underestimated Monroe.
--Demian: "I know I've affected some people, but I'm staying here, and that's all that matters." Basically the motto of every strategist on Endurance, to some extent.
--I wouldn't wish this Right to Stay on anyone. Especially in the rain.
--Lindi: "Oh...they're all pretty good" (when saying about which one would be good as a partner). A part of me wants her to be honest and say what they want, just so they could get it a la Shea and Amelia on E4.
--Nicole: "The only I don't want is Monroe." I could see why a lot of us don't like her. I could understand why she might, but it only shows how...mean she was. Not to mention, the type to underestimate people. 
--Antonio (to Willa): "So if you pick somebody bad, it might be...horrifying for you?" Haha, and look how that turned out.
--pre-crazy Willa: She doesn't explicitly mention how she doesn't want Antonio, but in the interviews, she mentions how their personalities might clash. For some reason, I think she should've said it straight to Antonio she doesn't want him, so the mayhem that ensued afterwards could've been avoided. Willa seemed cool, not to mention she's the only person from my hometown (Seattle) to be on the show.
--Monroe: "Lindi, Reece, Bryanah, and Chris they're all going to be an alliance." Oh, such interesting days.
--Bryanah "stalking" Chris? Wow, there's a bunch behind the scenes we don't know about! Is that the reason the other girls didn't like her, as they were put off? (By "the other girls", I meant Nicole and Sarah to start with, extending to Lindi and Rachel later on).
--Bryanah: "I think it would be easier to know who we want, so that when we get into the challenge, they'll just pick on who we've all decided." Anyone want to create a list? *crickets* Anyone? On the other hand, even if somebody did, one or more people would stand up against it, because it pairs the strong with the strong and the weak with the weak.
--Demian: "I got Lindi, Sarah, and Nicole." Wow...if he chose one of the other two...
--Lindi is the new Jacquelynn, only to a smaller extent. And I don't think it's because of her looks.
--Did Chris just give up there?
--Wow, Bryanah could've had ball #2! Imagine how the entire game would've changed...
--Nicole: "Monroe was pretty aggressive there!" Are you having any second thoughts there?
--Oh man, this partner selection was intense! I love it, and it keeps the drama rolling. In terms of drama factor, all of the partner selections have it, to some extent...

Fate Falls: the drama laid with whether or not the contestants will follow through with The List (Sabrina: "Ashley, do it!")
Wash Out: It was just with the sheer fact the contestant wasn't sure who was going to get whom, especially with a curtain dividing them. (kwdrewfan: )

E4-E6 became more predictable with these, as one person would have some responsibility with choosing the teams.

...but Cliffhanger takes the cake here.

[Cruise meerkat Youssy]

--Did Vanetta just slip like that? I wonder what made her interesting to cast.
--Vanetta: "But everything happens for a reason." And the reason was you couldn't lock your legs?

LMAO THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT VANETTA LIKE HOW DID SHE GET ON THE SHOW?

[amplify26]

Pick Your Partner:

--No, I'm actually surprised it took Alex that long to catch a ball. She seems like a tough chick.
--The slo-mo when Monroe got that ball, haha.
--The first three colors: Blue, Yellow, Red. I got E1 vibes from that.
--Sarah: "I'm going to pick Pink." Why did they change the purple to a hot pink there?
--Based on this scene, I like Alex and Bjorn's chemistry. They are nice people and look like they could do well.
--J.D.: "And even though they're hugging, it doesn't mean they're actually going to be teammates." *whistles*
--And Gray was the last color chosen...yep, that curse.
--Did J.D. just call Bryanah hot shot? I know it's innocent but it's simultaneously funny and off putting.
--Chris: "What do you think is going to happen?" Hmm...
--Had Bryanah and Chris remained partners, would they have broken the Curse of the Gray Team?
--Why didn't anyone want Rachel as a partner?
--"Chris..." And at that moment, the whole game shook apart. And the shock value of that scene went through the roof. Was it even worse that Chris and Lindi had that planned all along?
--While others noted how Chris and Lindi strategised from the beginning, why did I have the impression that Chris used Bryanah's "crush" on him to get his way, or at the least wash his hands off of any deceit? It seems similar to what Sabrina did to Aaron on Endurance 1, except Chris was significantly less upfront about lying and manipulation.
--Of all the girls avaliable, he chose Nicole. What was Demian's logic back then?
--J.D.: "I hope you guys are happy with your partners..." *shows clip of an upset Bryanah*
--Alex: "What Lindi did showed bad character."
--Lindi: "I don't want her to be mad at me." Too late.
--Bryanah: "I will be her worst enemy." Do you think she should've talked it out with Lindi afterwards, so they could leave it out on good terms?
--I think my respect for Chris tanked for a moment after he said he didn't want to look like the bad guy.
--Wow Nicole, really? I'm not sure how the rest of you took it after watching it the first time, maybe because Bryanah made a big fuss afterward, but this reaffirmed any negative beliefs I had about Nicole. Of course, everybody wants to win, but to enjoy other people suffering that way? Wow.
--Nothing like a good mud fight to get rid of negative vibes on the island.
--Orange Team and Leadership? Haha.
--Drink every time J.D. goes "and here comes the rain".

[kwdrewfan]

Aug 4, 2017 1:21:12 GMT -5 amplify26 said:

--While others noted how Chris and Lindi strategised from the beginning, why did I have the impression that Chris used Bryanah's "crush" on him to get his way, or at the least wash his hands off of any deceit? It seems similar to what Sabrina did to Aaron on Endurance 1, except Chris was significantly less upfront about lying and manipulation.

Because that is exactly what happened, haha. Chris's manipulation tactics, especially at the beginning with the partner selection, were incredibly underhanded and snake-like. But also, admittedly, very subtle and very, very smart.

Aug 4, 2017 1:21:12 GMT -5 amplify26 said:

--Of all the girls avaliable, he chose Nicole. What was Demian's logic back then?

He actually confesses in one of the final episodes that choosing Nicole was a "shallow choice" that he wishes he hadn't made, so I'd say he simply thought she was pretty.

[amplify26]

kwdrewfan: Yeah, they are obvious now, but it was less obvious earlier on. It's different to read about how the rest of you watched the season and what you've noticed, versus watching it all again for myself.

Based on his comments at the end, Demian didn't utilize his #1 ball very well, haha.

Headstrong:

--Demian really misses Tom, haha.
--I wonder if this conversation was pre-planned, or if the editors had decided to use this clip randomly at the beginning of the episode to hint at the twist.
--That beach was the "expectations" the contestants had when they were cast onto this season, haha.
--J.D.: "But the best part is, you gave it all you had." Hmm...not everyone...
--"I'm bringing the dental floss!" Do you guys know who said this? That was amusing.
--Tom: "We're going to lose anyways." Hehe at that quote; I didn't think he would know about the teams in advance.
--Marshall: "I was the first one to slip!"/Eleanor: "Me too, all right!"
--Tom: "...just as long it's not holding on to a big pole while it's raining."
--Alex: "...but, whatever, as long as they play their cards right."
--Monroe knows what's coming...
--"We're soulmates." Man, Monroe and Taylor's friendship warmed my little heart up. I wonder what would've happened had she stayed.
--"I wish I was you!" I don't know who said that, but I think it was Lindi. However, I would err with surviving the Right to Stay in the first place.
--Why are the other seven teams watching this?
--Whereas all the other contestants' legs are horizontally separated, Eleanor's legs are positionally vertical. I wonder why...
--Oh, Eleanor! Not again...I liked you, really really liked you!
--Tom: "Aw, the cerebral cortex..."
--Don't you think that the contestants could've survived longer if they adjusted a little bit more?
--I would honestly have a hard time choosing whom to pick as my teammate: while I do like Eleanor, she fell first in both RTSs. I'm not sure about Vanetta, and Taylor looks like the second coming of Calley (if she survived). There's more episodes to watch, so...
--I didn't know this all happened in one day!
--We didn't see much of the Kareem-Tom friendship at the beginning; I wonder how it all plays out?
--Tom suggests an alliance, and then Kareem points out they need to see who's strong and who's weak.
--Ouch from Monroe! How did they end up with an alliance with Brown?

[amplify26]

Ring of Fire:

--Bjorn: "That's teamwork!"/Alex: "Nice teamwork."
--Monroe: "If I could switch partners, I would, because no one likes Bryanah..." This is interesting, considering a few episodes later...
--"It's just that...Nicole doesn't like you, and the two other girls don't want to stick up for you." I wonder why the other girls don't want to stand up for Bryanah. What have they got to lose? Also, it makes me baffle on why they hate her even more.
--Willa: "I told Antonio that a lot things about him bother me. It went right over his head." Wow, that was...blunt. And with those pointed comments, like the "your hair...it's so looooooooooooong, it makes you look like a horse with a mane!", it's not going to help with the game. I want to like Willa, but, oh my.
--For some reason, I like Antonio now. He seems determined and was willing to work with Willa.
--Why weren't Kareem and Rachel focused on a lot?
--Vanetta: "Well, you are my friend, I'm rooting for you all the way." (to Nicole)
--Demian: "Nicole, she's gonna do anything to win, I'm scared because she's not doing it on the down low." Wow. Do you think Nicole was a strategist? Or did she make her alliances out of convenience? Because she was friends with Lindi, Sarah, and Vanetta before this episode, they were just there, rather than they were the strongest teams. On the Endurance Rankdown, kwdrewfan commented how "she made friends with people who happened to make up the strong teams and targeted the ones she didn't like/wasn't close with...", so that may have a clue? If that's the case, then we saw very little actual strategizing (a la Sabrina/Max [E1/E2]) from her.
--Nicole: "I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to win." Classic reality TV line, but wasn't that clip from "Out on a Limb"?
--Based on the title, it sounded like they could mention the actual "Ring of Fire" around the Pacific, making it another history lesson.
--Bjorn: "Ah, nine fingers."
--Why wasn't Monroe resting then? And I'm concerned about Alex taking breaks--wouldn't that be considered cheating?
--"Is it just me, or does it always start raining when we're doing something?" Do you know who said this? This basically sums up E3 in a nutshell.
--Yellow was so close to hitting multiple times...and then they did. It was so scary to watch.
--"What?" Monroe was surprised when they hit.
--Kareem: "This is bad!"
--Antonio: "How long we've been?" Did you have to ask?
--Man, Bjorn's tough!
--Antonio: "Looks like you're getting tired, you tired?" (to Chris) Haha, nice trash talk.
--Just the look on Lindi's face when they've hit their ring.
--Blue had a few teamwork problems when they've hit...
--Reece: "Man, you're strong." (to Sarah)
--I wonder what would've happened if Green won...
--This is one of my favorite missions--and not only because of the "ring of fire". It's also because of the teamwork necessary to hold on to the bar.
--Chris: "Why was Willa yelling at you."/Antonio: "Who cares?"
--Willa: "I'm going to go confess!" To whom? HAHAHAHAHA!
--*screaming* "Was that Willa?" This is so funny!
--Five years ago, I watched this episode, and I commented on the forum on how negative Willa was due to her rudeness towards Antonio. I still think it was rude and condescending of Willa to treat Antonio this way (especially because Antonio looks like a good guy to be with), but this feels like it has taken a dark comedic turn. It's even worse because the Blue Team could've done really well on this season! I just feel bad for them both.
--Wait, even with their performance on "Ring of Fire", I'm not sure why Reece and Sarah consider Yellow to be weak. Didn't Brown go out first? Though they might have considered how Yellow nearly touched the pole a few times and the fact Tom and Vanetta's teamwork > Monroe and Bryanah's as of the time.
--"the blue couple" haha
--"A four team alliance right now would be pretty strong." Once upon a time, I thought they would last forever, but there was the Brotherhood...
--Monroe: "I don't think there's any way to break this alliance, they will have to self-destruct."
--Hypocrisy by Reece: Says he wants to compete against a weak team--gives the Samadhi to Yellow. Then again, it's something which happened in the first two seasons: with Blue giving the Samadhi to Orange, and Purple doing the same on E2.