Rewatching E5

[kwdrewfan]

I've noticed in this season more than any other, JD repeatedly says things like "I think I know how this is gonna go", or "I don't even really need to ask" when teams are making decisions like who to send to temple. I think that says a lot.

[runesandribbons]

Okay, I've done it. I finally rewatched this season for the first time since it aired. I think I never wanted to go back and watch this season because I just remember all the drama and how awful people were to each other this season and I just didn't like it. But honestly, I feel after rewatching this season, it wasn't as bad as I remembered. I think one of the reasons the drama and cattiness seemed so much more pronounced when I was younger was because I was watching this after watching Tehachapi where there was hardly any drama that was actually shown, but this time I watched it after watching Fiji, which had a lot more drama shown, and so I think that helped with this rewatch. There is a lot of things that the Purple and Green teams (and to a lesser extent, Red and Orange) did that were pretty callous, especially to Taylor, but there were many times I was like "Girl, stop," and maybe it's because I'm in my 20s now and realize how dumb some of the drama was. Also, the editing in this season was somewhat confusing mainly because they played up this storyline of everyone's against the blue team, and I know Connor got along well with several of the guys and it was really mostly drama between Taylor and the other girls, but there's several shots of Taylor hanging out and playing games with the Green and Purple teams back at camp, and they all look pretty chummy. I really liked Taylor when I was younger, but she really frustrated me this rewatch I think because I saw some of my younger self in her, and it's a bit like watching me back in middle school.

Also, unpopular opinion, but I actually kind of prefer Green winning over Purple. They technically only won one mission before Slingshot Alley, but they technically also were the first team done in Unwind (they got to the line and unclipped themselves slightly before Purple). Even though they didn't win a ton of challenges, they were still consistently in second or third place. They also had a great partnership because they got along pretty well and communicated really well, too. They were definitely shown favoritism by the Purple-Orange-Red superteam in Superboats, but it wouldn't have made a difference whether it was Green or Orange on that superteam since they were all in an alliance. I also think Purple (or at least Dakota) would have sent them to Temple at the Final Four if Red hadn't been last at Create Your Own Game and automatically sent to temple. I also prefer the Green team winning because they seemed to have been humbled a bit in the last two episodes, whereas Purple didn't seem to learn their lesson, but that's just one of my selfish reasons lol.

I had this season ranked really low on my list for a long time because of the "drama," but upon rewatching, this season had so much going for it. The setting? Beautiful. The huts? The best they've ever had. The challenges? Pretty good. I still don't find the cast as likable as some of the other seasons, but I definitely came out enjoying this rewatch a lot more than I thought I did.

Anyway, some random thoughts I had while watching include:

The RTS mission wasn't my favorite, but I do have to give them credit that it wasn't just another RTS where you have to hold on to something until someone falls. On that note, I felt so bad for Martina during RTS. It's painful enough to split a balance beam that's wooden and has padding, but poor Martina did it on a metal beam. I would have quit, too.

I want to know what went down with Garret that so many people didn't like him.

Yellow reminds me a lot of Orange from S1 because they were also considered quiet and were targeted for it.

Max's strategy to get Dakota to lie to Taylor about his Temple strategy is pretty dumb. He should have known that Taylor and Blue weren't likely going to trust Dakota of all people after they had been lied to and manipulated. What he should have done instead was discuss his "strategy" with Kristine or someone where Blue could hear it. That way it makes it seem less obvious that they're lying and also cuts out the middle man.

What was up with the knee-high socks this season? *looks up release year* Ah, everything makes since now.

[multiyapples]

Apr 26, 2020 18:01:25 GMT -5 runesandribbons said:

Okay, I've done it. I finally rewatched this season for the first time since it aired. I think I never wanted to go back and watch this season because I just remember all the drama and how awful people were to each other this season and I just didn't like it. But honestly, I feel after rewatching this season, it wasn't as bad as I remembered. I think one of the reasons the drama and cattiness seemed so much more pronounced when I was younger was because I was watching this after watching Tehachapi where there was hardly any drama that was actually shown, but this time I watched it after watching Fiji, which had a lot more drama shown, and so I think that helped with this rewatch. There is a lot of things that the Purple and Green teams (and to a lesser extent, Red and Orange) did that were pretty callous, especially to Taylor, but there were many times I was like "Girl, stop," and maybe it's because I'm in my 20s now and realize how dumb some of the drama was. Also, the editing in this season was somewhat confusing mainly because they played up this storyline of everyone's against the blue team, and I know Connor got along well with several of the guys and it was really mostly drama between Taylor and the other girls, but there's several shots of Taylor hanging out and playing games with the Green and Purple teams back at camp, and they all look pretty chummy. I really liked Taylor when I was younger, but she really frustrated me this rewatch I think because I saw some of my younger self in her, and it's a bit like watching me back in middle school.

Also, unpopular opinion, but I actually kind of prefer Green winning over Purple. They technically only won one mission before Slingshot Alley, but they technically also were the first team done in Unwind (they got to the line and unclipped themselves slightly before Purple). Even though they didn't win a ton of challenges, they were still consistently in second or third place. They also had a great partnership because they got along pretty well and communicated really well, too. They were definitely shown favoritism by the Purple-Orange-Red superteam in Superboats, but it wouldn't have made a difference whether it was Green or Orange on that superteam since they were all in an alliance. I also think Purple (or at least Dakota) would have sent them to Temple at the Final Four if Red hadn't been last at Create Your Own Game and automatically sent to temple. I also prefer the Green team winning because they seemed to have been humbled a bit in the last two episodes, whereas Purple didn't seem to learn their lesson, but that's just one of my selfish reasons lol.

I had this season ranked really low on my list for a long time because of the "drama," but upon rewatching, this season had so much going for it. The setting? Beautiful. The huts? The best they've ever had. The challenges? Pretty good. I still don't find the cast as likable as some of the other seasons, but I definitely came out enjoying this rewatch a lot more than I thought I did.

Anyway, some random thoughts I had while watching include:

The RTS mission wasn't my favorite, but I do have to give them credit that it wasn't just another RTS where you have to hold on to something until someone falls. On that note, I felt so bad for Martina during RTS. It's painful enough to split a balance beam that's wooden and has padding, but poor Martina did it on a metal beam. I would have quit, too.

I want to know what went down with Garret that so many people didn't like him.

Yellow reminds me a lot of Orange from S1 because they were also considered quiet and were targeted for it.

Max's strategy to get Dakota to lie to Taylor about his Temple strategy is pretty dumb. He should have known that Taylor and Blue weren't likely going to trust Dakota of all people after they had been lied to and manipulated. What he should have done instead was discuss his "strategy" with Kristine or someone where Blue could hear it. That way it makes it seem less obvious that they're lying and also cuts out the middle man.

What was up with the knee-high socks this season? *looks up release year* Ah, everything makes since now.

In the interview I did with Martina she told me she had a fear of water which mad it hard for her to complete the challenge.  I also know Garrett started being annoying which is why no one wanted to be with him.

[amplify26]

Currently going through the first three episodes thanks to Angelcake's reactions, and here are some observations--
(I made some edits on September 3, am now going to rewatch this season for real)

Balance is the Key:
--How do the contestants know where to go? Do the cameramen just guide them to their final destination?
--Alex: "What makes me stand out is my enthusiasm--I kind of like to come out as a leader." Sure Jan...
--J.D.: "This is you vs. nature--and of course the other competitors standing around you." Well, the Hunger Games wouldn't get published for another two years, but there you go.
--What's it with this show and Buddhist concepts? The Samadhi refers to a Buddhist term for "contemplation", and then we have karma too (which is also a concept in Hinduism). It's quite interesting.
--Yes, those treehouses are (in Bill Wurtz's voice) *beautiful*. Can somebody gif that point where Isaac hugs the tree?
----Also yes to "We're in a cabin!"
--Connor: "I can't imagine going home today; hopefully I'll be able to stay here for a long while."
--How did they get into the confessional at five in the morning?
--A part of me thinks that Taylor has more going for her than "the girl who cries a lot". She was involved in putting together the vote for which girl would get the Right to Stay, along with a list for the partner selection (and was a bit snarky in an interview afterward--"Kelsey started crying--she'll be fine, but whatever"). That said, she should've gotten to understand Garret knowing that she might be partnered with him.
--I wonder why the girls voted for whom they ultimately chose? Was there just a short time between the announcement and the mission?
--Aeriel: "You'd better win it too!"
--What's more fair, in the end--a random choice, or a silent vote?
--It's a bit weird seeing Aric and Darci choosing those who will join them in the free ride, knowing what would happen to them later on.
--The RTS this year is actually quite cool! Though how do you continue balancing after you slip in the water?
--It seems like the smaller ones have the advantage in this challenge.
--How long did this challenge last? Because there was a timeskip when Lilly was walking across.

Hanging Around:
--Stefanie: "even though I'm going home early in the game, I've learned to never give up. Just keep going, and don't stop believing that you can do anything." <3
--Not all the girls falling for Dakota. And Taylor was wearing his hat!
--Funny how Cameron and Ike look like total jocks, but really struggle with this challenge.
--Compared to the girls', where it went down to the wire between Anna and Stefanie, Isaac and Cameron had it locked up when it came down to those two, Adrian and Rafael.
----Speaking of which, we hardly get to see much of Rafael, curiously.
--Max (on why Kristine would be his ideal teammate): "She's shorter than me!"
--Most of the focus is on Taylor, Dakota, and Garret in terms on who's partnered with whom. We strangely don't get much of Isaac, Darci, or some others.
--Taylor: "And if not a lot of the boys like him, then if they get control, I'm going to Temple. And I don't want to go home because I don't deserve to go home."
--What did Garret do to make people not like him? Same with Taylor, though she's got more screentime in the premiere.
--Where's Jonna when you need her?
--Garret: "I don't want Cealey as my partner."/Alex: "She doesn't want you."/Garret: "So...?" Wow Garret...
--"No, I do not want Garret, that's it!" Pretty much one of the standout moments from Cealey for me.
--I'm pretty ambiguous on Taylor's pity-seeking. I could see why some of the contestants would be put off by that, but I don't see what makes it more likely that they should be put together. And while I do think Taylor should've chatted with Garret, I don't really see how she's causing drama--she tried to make a list, after all.
----On another note, Taylor and Garret have traits on their own which could help them, but their personalities do get in the way. I remember wavering on where to put Taylor on "if you could have any partner..." for this season, and that's what I remember on her pros and cons.
--Kelsey: "I want a cookie."
--I wonder how many contestants practiced this before the show.

Unwind:
--Had this been the RTS, we would've missed out on Taylor (as Darci and Kelsey, who also dropped out early, had the free ride), which would've been a shame.
--Would've Martina and Adrian did better here?
--Is it just me, or are the partner selections less interesting from e4-e6 compared to the first three seasons?
--"Lilly, Dakota, and Oh!"
--What if Lilly had won the partner selection instead? I'd imagine she'd pair up the two strongest players, but now waver off the list significantly. Alternatively, she could've partnered the quieter ones first (e.g. Connor + Darci). I don't see her causing chaos.
--How many times did that clip of Garret glaring get used in this episode?
--Had Aric and Lilly gone on further, would we have the second coming of Franke and Erika? The problem here is Aric is a bit more out of focus, unlike Franke.
--Did someone go "Sorry Taylor" in the background?
--J.D.'s interaction with Taylor reminds me of Michelle Khare handling the kids in Karma--I wonder when the story producers noted that this could be something good for the show?
--It feels like Taylor is resigned about her fate.
--Connor must have been a saving grace for Taylor--twice!
--What makes Cealey think that Anna wouldn't do well in the challenge?
--Taylor: "I'm really good at puzzles."
--Was Garret trying to form an alliance?
--Garret looks like he is getting lectured when Anna suggests he get along better with the boys.
--"He's very talkative..." Well...we'll see about that. Plus considering how things deteriorated with Taylor and Ike, it's offputting.
--The first three teams are the main ones out of this season, followed by Yellow. ("Lilly's got a color!" Haha)
--Ike and Taylor's fight over which color is a bad omen. (Also strange since they are already wearing blue).
--"Ana: All I remember was hitting the ground at the end of the rope challenge and then waking up in the hospital" from Mitch's "endurance Awful 2", haha.
--Funny enough Luck is Gray's first piece, seeing the lack of it throughout endurance's history (save e3, and even then it was because Bryanah liked Chris, haha)
--Imagine e3's partner selection (Cliffhanger) on e5. The drama levels would go through the roof. especially if Garret caught the #1 ball.

[fanofe2]

Darci was born 20 days after Lindi.

They both wore gray, but had one season between them.

Yet didn't Darci seem much younger than 20 days?

[amplify26]

Jul 19, 2022 22:21:34 GMT -5 fanofe2 said:

Darci was born 20 days after Lindi.

They both wore gray, but had one season between them.

Yet didn't Darci seem much younger than 20 days?

Today I learned...
Come to think of it, Lindi seemed a bit older when they're side by side?

[fanofe2]

Jul 20, 2022 0:15:16 GMT -5 amplify26 said:

Jul 19, 2022 22:21:34 GMT -5 fanofe2 said:

Darci was born 20 days after Lindi.

They both wore gray, but had one season between them.

Yet didn't Darci seem much younger than 20 days?

Today I learned...
Come to think of it, Lindi seemed a bit older when they're side by side?

Well, we know Lindi did 100 pushups before every softball game. I think there was an interview where Chris saw her back muscles before partner selection and knew he wanted her as a partner.

Maybe her muscular development had something to do with it. Maybe Lindi was taller although I'm not sure we know how tall either were.

They were born in February 1991. If Lindi was 13 at the time of Hawaii filming, wouldn't Darci have been 15 at the time of High Sierras filming?

[Cruise meerkat Youssy]

I always thought Lindi was older than 13. In fact I remember arguing with someone on here once that she was 15. She just carried herself more maturely than most 13 year olds. With a lot of the younger contestants, they get an “annoying” edit (Garret, Cinnamon, Chris E4, Trevor, etc). But Lindi obviously didn’t get that - and not every 13 year old does either (Jonna, Rachel, others too probably I can’t remember) so I don’t tend to think of them as that young either

[fanofe2]

Jul 21, 2022 23:52:04 GMT -5 Cruise meerkat Youssy said:

I always thought Lindi was older than 13. In fact I remember arguing with someone on here once that she was 15. She just carried herself more maturely than most 13 year olds. With a lot of the younger contestants, they get an “annoying” edit (Garret, Cinnamon, Chris E4, Trevor, etc). But Lindi obviously didn’t get that - and not every 13 year old does either (Jonna, Rachel, others too probably I can’t remember) so I don’t tend to think of them as that young either

Yet, for various reasons, Lindi also wasn't really well-liked by viewers. (Some of that was undoubtedly the partner game.)

[amplify26]

Jul 22, 2022 0:33:03 GMT -5 fanofe2 said:

Jul 21, 2022 23:52:04 GMT -5 Cruise meerkat Youssy said:

I always thought Lindi was older than 13. In fact I remember arguing with someone on here once that she was 15. She just carried herself more maturely than most 13 year olds. With a lot of the younger contestants, they get an “annoying” edit (Garret, Cinnamon, Chris E4, Trevor, etc). But Lindi obviously didn’t get that - and not every 13 year old does either (Jonna, Rachel, others too probably I can’t remember) so I don’t tend to think of them as that young either

Yet, for various reasons, Lindi also wasn't really well-liked by viewers. (Some of that was undoubtedly the partner game.)

I think Lindi is quite polarizing--she has her fans, as she's one of the strongest girls on this season and is generally personable. The reason people don't like her is how she's complicit in bullying Bryanah, along with Nicole and Sarah. Over time, we saw this shadier side of her more and more, which is less objectionable to Nicole's hijinks.

[amplify26]

Other observations from the first three episodes:
--For a while, I thought Taylor wore the same pink tank top in the first two days. I was wrong.
--It's weird how Taylor and Kelsey mentioned the other one crying a bit in interviews, but they would later become friends and (up to a year ago) still keep in touch. Funny how things work.
--Darci considered creating an alliance with Lilly--could that have made a counteralliance against Purple, Green and co?
--How far did Garret fall--from winning an online poll, to being one of the most hated contestants that season.

Hot Potato:
--carsonvega, is there a reason why you think Anna and Garret giving the Triangle of Immunity to Purple is "enabling" them?
--Dakota: "I don't care about Taylor." Something about it makes me laugh.
--Could've Ike worked out a better strategy rather than showing his cards out on the table? I imagine he wants to get a sense of what people are thinking, but where could it go from here?
--Taylor's biography: "Her winning strategy for Endurance is to befriend the other players and get them to look to her as a leader." She did try at the beginning of the game, but do you think the partner selection drama made her retreat a little bit? kwdrewfan I know you mentioned she seemed domineering early on--not sure how it led to her "drama queen" persona other than trying to make people know she doesn't want Garret.
----Blue needs a better way to communicate, and fast.
--With how much dust is flying around in the challenge, I always assumed that they would be carrying boiling water in their bowls.
--Nothing like a mission win to paper up teamwork problems. I keep rewinding back to Blue Team finding out they won the mission.
----Also, how did they manage to garner more ground? They were a bit slow in the beginning.
--Gray and Yellow celebrate with Blue, whereas Green, Red, and Purple are freaking out. Telling.
--Dakota: "I hung on so I could get with my partner, and I don't want to lose that."
--I didn't notice the part where Taylor decides Purple would not be switched on first viewing! That's actually quite honorable, especially on how she wanted Dakota earlier on.
----On the other side, is it just me, or does Kelsey come off as a bit spoiled at times?
--Dakota: "I feel so guilty..."/Kelsey: "I feel amazing!" What?! And this is coming after Blue leaving them alone (in terms of the team switch).
--Connor: "Did I miss anything?" I remember him saying that this was mis-portrayed in an interview, as he was coming out of a confessional during that moment.
--Taylor: "I never thought that winning would bring about such a problem amongst so many kids." The way she says it, it makes her sound a bit older.
--Alex: "I don't know about you, but I was digging that piece!"
--When you have a problem, distract yourself and run away from it!
--Do you think Taylor would've been better off had she executed the original plan? (putting Cameron with Cealey and Alex with Aeriel) It wouldn't be as dramatic, but she would still be with Ike, and could be a target. Do you think she would've won a few more challenges with him? And how would their teamwork continue on?
--What. A. Blindside.
--Wash your hands out of it Cameron, wash them off...

[carsonvega]

Sept 4, 2022 19:38:55 GMT -5 amplify26 said:

Hot Potato:
--carsonvega , is there a reason why you think Anna and Garret giving the Triangle of Immunity to Purple is "enabling" them?

Not enabling in the self-destructive sense, but enabling in the sense that it helped/encouraged Purple to play more aggressively or even meanly, between the deception regarding the partner switch in the Hot Potato episode, the heavy-handed approach regarding which team would get a free ride in the Superteams mission, the attempts to deceive the Blue team regarding strategy at the temple of fate, and just how they tried to make alliances in general, with Red team apparently believing that they were closer to Purple than Green was.  In some sense, with the Triangle of Immunity, Purple could and did play without worrying too much about who they might be making angry at any particular time, because if a team was angry with them and wanted to send them to the temple of fate, they couldn't - at least not immediately.

(I recognize that the most common definition of enabling refers to self-destructive or addictive behavior, but it can also just refer to negative behavior, which is what I meant when I wrote that earlier.)

Sept 4, 2022 19:38:55 GMT -5 amplify26 said:

----Also, how did they manage to garner more ground? They were a bit slow in the beginning.

I think Ike and Taylor did a better job than all the other teams of making sure their bucket was full on every trip, and then also making sure that they got as much of it as possible into the barrel at the end.  Also, Red (which was portrayed as being the fastest team other than Blue) had that drop near the end of the mission which cost them.

Sept 4, 2022 19:38:55 GMT -5 amplify26 said:

----On the other side, is it just me, or does Kelsey come off as a bit spoiled at times?

Yes, I thought to myself how whiny Kelsey seemed the first time I watched E5, and the flip side of that is that she's also a little too happy with herself in E5 when things are going well for her.

Sept 4, 2022 19:38:55 GMT -5 amplify26 said:

--Do you think Taylor would've been better off had she executed the original plan? (putting Cameron with Cealey and Alex with Aeriel) It wouldn't be as dramatic, but she would still be with Ike, and could be a target. Do you think she would've won a few more challenges with him? And how would their teamwork continue on?

No, I think Taylor would have been worse off.  Ike and Darci were in either last place or second to last place in the next mission (Move It Along).  I don't think Ike balanced particularly well, and Darci was not particularly fast at being able to move the blocks.  So I think if the switch had been Cameron-Cealey and Alex-Aeriel, either Purple or Orange would have won Move It Along and given the Samadhi to Ike and Taylor.  Then Ike and Taylor would likely have been sent to the temple after Walk the Plank, along with Lilly and Aric - and then if they survived, they would continue to be sent to the temple over and over again until they were eliminated.  I don't think Ike would have allowed Taylor to win Fill and Spill, Superboats, or It's a Drag... If Ike-Taylor could survive 3 temples like Connor-Taylor actually did...I'd guess their luck would eventually run out when there were 4 teams left instead of when there were 3 teams left.

[amplify26]

Move it Along:
--How long was this meeting? Cameron started out making the plan, then hesitating, and when this episode started, he goes with Purple's plan.
--The fact this wasn't the biggest twist on endurance was quite surprising. There was so much drama involved, and it did impact what went on with the game. It's probably not the most influential (RTS and Max and Jenna returning), but there was so much gravity to this decision.
--Just the shock on Taylor's face when Dakota admitted to making this plan behind her back. It almost sounded like her heart was about to break.
----On another note, it's too bad Taylor doesn't really talk about endurance anymore, because she would make an interesting interview guest.
--Power doesn't care about your feelings!
--Ike: "Last night was the worst night ever." Mood.
--Connor: "How did I let all that unfold in front of me?" Like a slo-mo car-crash. Yes indeed, Connor.
--Cealey: "Or should you feel really really dumb because everyone was doing it in front of you>"
--What did Connor see in Taylor? That's interesting that he suggested she was a good partner.
--Imagine this in another season--I know it was a possibility on Hawaii.
--Ike: "We just have to win the next four missions in a row." Good luck with that.
--This is probably why Darci has trust issues now.
--The way Alex and Cealey are passing the blocks is risky; they look like a pretzel together.
--J.D. saying "The team that has not worked together is working better than anyone now" just sounds so satisfying!
--Move it Along is one of the better missions this season!
--"Taylor--yesterday I left you in tears, and today, full smiles."
--It's nice to see Taylor be happy about a partner for once.
--Blue's joint confessional is so endearing.
--Hearing Kelsey whisper about Taylor being like "look what y'all done to me" is amusing in 2022, especially because of the song "Look What You Made Me Do".
--Do you guys think Blue merely delayed the inevitable by giving the Samadhi to Gray? I'm thinking about it because Blue theoretically could create a counter-alliance with Gray and Yellow, as Connor hinted at the bigger PROG alliance starting to form up. Giving one of those teams the Samadhi would've shaken up that alliance quite early, but would've been risky later on. Good strategy, or were Connor and Taylor just cowards?
----And another similarity between them and Monroe and Bryanah (which will be a recurring theme)--an early decision would go on to haunt them later on. That said, did Monroe and Bryanah have many opportunities to betray their allies? Hmm...
--Alex: "We all knew, and we just felt really bad." Thanks for your confession, Alex.
--J.D: "And many times, people have overcome the Samadhi to win." Try twice, J.D.
--Seems like Connor and Taylor acted out of fear, rather than love. What would a decision based off of love look like?

[amplify26]

Sept 4, 2022 20:47:16 GMT -5 carsonvega said:

Sept 4, 2022 19:38:55 GMT -5 amplify26 said:

--Do you think Taylor would've been better off had she executed the original plan? (putting Cameron with Cealey and Alex with Aeriel) It wouldn't be as dramatic, but she would still be with Ike, and could be a target. Do you think she would've won a few more challenges with him? And how would their teamwork continue on?

No, I think Taylor would have been worse off.  Ike and Darci were in either last place or second to last place in the next mission (Move It Along).  I don't think Ike balanced particularly well, and Darci was not particularly fast at being able to move the blocks.  So I think if the switch had been Cameron-Cealey and Alex-Aeriel, either Purple or Orange would have won Move It Along and given the Samadhi to Ike and Taylor.  Then Ike and Taylor would likely have been sent to the temple after Walk the Plank, along with Lilly and Aric - and then if they survived, they would continue to be sent to the temple over and over again until they were eliminated.  I don't think Ike would have allowed Taylor to win Fill and Spill, Superboats, or It's a Drag... If Ike-Taylor could survive 3 temples like Connor-Taylor actually did...I'd guess their luck would eventually run out when there were 4 teams left instead of when there were 3 teams left.

So in a mixed-up, perverted, totally dramatic way, Taylor inadvertently improved her game. Kind of impressive looking at it that way.

[amplify26]

Walk the Plank:
--Is there a reason why it immediately cuts into the mission? We never get to see the context of Darci's "Kaarmmaa..." comment. #releasethedeletedscenes.
--Kristine: "Max find your happy place!"
--J.D.: "Max looking awfully confident."
--Taylor: "Be Monroe!!!" Further proof they're Monroe and Bryanah's "spiritual successors"...sort of.
----Speaking of which, Ike and Darci had the same benefit as e3 Yellow, with Darci being smaller than the rest of the girls.
--Cealey: "Think about your family, your animals, your siblings..."/Alex: "I don't have a pet!" Never gets old.
--Maybe Lilly should've held on.
--Max dropping dope rhymes in distress: >>>
--Dakota: "I'm so hungry"/Connor: "I'm hungry for victory!"
--Alex: "Why can't you weigh twenty pounds?"/Cealey: "Be quiet--'let go' isn't even in you vocabulary!"
--I wonder if Gray would've won if they didn't get the Samadhi.
--Did Purple throw that challenge? Kelsey said to at least make it past Gray, and they did just that.
--This wins the title for best in-game banter ever. Cealey has the best quips, followed by Taylor.
--I'm surprised that at 45 minutes, this was the longest competition shown on endurance. I watched the Uncomfortably Numb challenge from Survivor (which looks like they're getting crucified), and that lasted for hours.
--It looks like Blue was trying to get in with the group, but after Gray got eliminated, they were shoved out and became part of the "uncool kids". It seems PROG used Connor's knowledge for their bidding and scrapped them off when they're done.
--Could've Connor said no to Red, or lied about knowing Darci's strategy? I'd imagine Red would still send Yellow, but it could've been quite different.
----kwdrewfan mentioned how Yellow would've made better allies afterward (justifying Connor's decision), but could Blue still work with Gray? I highly doubt it--and if those teammates were to work together, it would be out of convenience, rather than genuinely liking each other.
--I wonder what would've happened if Red had the guts to send Orange.
--"Gray Team--a lot of history!"
--RIP Gray Team
--I remember doing the endurance Rankdown a few years ago, and there was a bit of bewilderment on Darci getting eliminated. Looking back, I could see why people would want to save her then, because she was insightful and knew quite a bit. Realistically, on the other hand, she would've only made it as high as 60-65 if we did. But I kind of like her now on this rewatch.

[amplify26]

Fill n'Spill:
--I love Taylor's striped tank top.
--"Dear everyone who didn't target us..." Mike and Keetin?
--"But Taylor, Isaac thinks you should trade a trip to Hawaii for a trip to the Temple of Fate." This will become prophetic later...and shows how much they didn't like each other.
--I don't blame Connor and Taylor for acting the way they did, but a part of me thinks that they could've had a bit more foresight and took a risk. Still love them, though. <3
--"What we did to the Gray Team wasn't fair, it wasn't right..." Goes on to target all the other teams outside their alliance.
--It's all in the game...
--Dakota: "They obviously don't like you very much!" Thanks for rubbing salt in the wound!
--Connor: "Man, this stinks!" I know...
--When it came down to Purple and Orange, Kristine and Kelsey didn't try to target anymore! I find it quite absurd.
--Max surrendering basically determined who ran the alliance.
--For the last few days, I've been fantasizing what would've happened if Tide Pull from endurance 2 was applied this season. Not only is it a fun challenge, but also because to see how dynamics worked (this is all speculative)
----I could see Cealey and Lilly pulling on the shore, not sure who the third girl would be willing to do so. Kristine, I guess?
----PROG would definitely go after Yellow first. Unless someone smells blood from Taylor, and someone (Cealey) would try to take her out first.
----If Connor and Lilly were strategic, they could cut off Purple as soon as possible (and since Lilly was quite strong!). If they want to get the weakest, then they go for Orange.
--Cealey: "Purple just got a piece because it was given to them. They didn't earn that piece--what did they do to earn that?" I don't think she's helping, however.
--Taylor: "I can't believe we let that happen behind our backs!" Well, you benefited from it, yes?
--Dakota: "Yellow and Blue know that's our plan is to get rid of them." If somebody makes a video edit online, I could imagine this transitioning to Nicole eliminating Yellow in Squaring Off.
--Max has nobody else to blame on not getting the free ride but himself.
--"I deserve it because I threw the game to Purple!" Oh my god...
--Taylor: "I don't trust Cealey because she thinks it's one big popularity contest...and that's not what this game is supposed to be!" It seems like in the odd-numbered seasons, endurance functioned this way (e1 had Red/Yellow/Blue vs everyone else, though I never thought of it as being 'popular' despite Ashley and Sabrina being the desired partners, Hawaii especially with Lindi/Nicole/Sarah vs. Bryanah). e2 had those who supported the Brown Team returning (Green, Yellow, and Christa) vs. those who didn't (Scooter, Purple, Red, Orange); Tehachapi had Purple/Green (marginally Red and Yellow) vs. Gray and Blue, with Orange trying to play both sides.
----Were any of you guys considered 'popular' in school? I wasn't, though I did well enough to get into a private school. There, I wasn't popular, but I was liked. Plus, we focused more on school than petty drama, which is nice.
--Do you think Yellow and Blue could've gone up to the nest and stood up for themselves? Asking for a friend.
--J.D. "Yellow Team seems to be 'the new Gray'."/Taylor: "Not to me."
--Aric: "I like everybody, but honesty should be first in this game."
--"This is endurance, not a popularity contest." Thank. You.
--Press x to doubt on Cealey's comment. runesandribbons mentioned how Aric and Lilly are like Skyler and Chelsea because they were both quiet, but a part of me suggests both were unlucky in terms of missions; had they survived Temple, they would've benefited (I could see Skyler killing it in Dial In or Build a Pyramid, for example). And if that's the case, why target Connor and Taylor also?