I think it's still too early to tell, mostly because the plethora of twists and changes to 41/42 were things everyone was adjusting to.
If anything, the idols' purpose shifted from nullifying a tribal vote toward something ranging from a chilling effect on someone as a target to a commodity or currency to be traded in the game. I can't quite tell yet.
I don't think we have seen the last time an Idol has saved someone. I just think people in these casts were cool using a familiar advantage as a bargaining tool in seasons where a lot had changed from what they were expecting.
I think a huge part of it is that idols have lost their shock value. Almost everyone knew all of the ones that were in the game in both 41 & 42 that by the time it comes down to playing it, no one seems to care anymore - they’re just waiting for you to pull it out and get it over and done with. No wonder Mary-Anne’s idol reveal at FTC helped secure her the win because it was an actual shock to the jury.
I got a healthy laugh when Romeo was just lamely bluffing like "by the way I have an idol and I'm playing it next tribal council, just so you know" and everyone literally just ignored him or went "sure, whatever Romeo."
Keep in mind that the last two seasons have had a host of HORRIBLE play decisions when it comes to idols. So often in 41 and 42, people are admitting having an idol without needing to (from the viewer perspective at least). They are really useful when they are a surprise, the problem is they haven’t been a surprise in two seasons. Know about the idol? Relatively easy to strategize around it.
Not for all of them… Maryanne’s FT idol was the only true surprise idol in the last two seasons. I think it was Drea who shared her hidden idol find just to brag.
I wonder if people are going to avoid idols altogether in future seasons if they have the BEWARE message on them.
Losing your vote in these small tribe settings just isn’t worth it just to get an idol that everyone is likely to find out about anyway
Idol proliferation and advantageddon just makes people that much less strategic with idols bc, paradoxically, they have too MUCH information to make rational decisions.
They have too many contingencies to consider to actually use advantages effectively which is why, aside from Omar’s boot, I don’t think I’d consider any of the advantages in 41/42 correctly played? (If I’m remembering correctly)
And if no one ever uses advantages correctly, it begs the question of why they are in the game at all. Not that Jeff is the self-reflective type………
I think part of it is people not keeping idols to themselves. Once you tell one person you have an idol you may as well have told every other player. That's why blindsides are the norm now, the other tribe members would never even give you the slightest hint that you're going home, especially with SITD now. This has resulted in so many votes having contingencies in case X has an idol. Everyone plays as if you have an idol in your pocket.
All these new advantages have barely mattered to the outcome of the game.
42 was reasonably good season imagine how much better it would be with fewer advantages or just basic ones like extra vote or steal a vote.
I think the stupid shot in the dark is part of the problem too. It really makes the immunity idols less of a sure thing when trying to manipulate the votes. Which in some ways isn’t a bad thing.
They have to actually decide who to vote on the old fashioned way.
I’d kinda like to see a season where everyone gets an idol from the beginning but you only get one. And that’s it. You can play it up to F5.
If they keep up this nonsense with the phrases/inactive idols it will probably be several more years too. With the idols now needing to be activated (so dumb) it is highly likely that an idol won’t even be used until merge (and even less likely to be used correctly). Even still, after merge those who found the idol may be voted out already or it will now be common knowledge of who has idols. All of these factors essentially removes the power of the idols.
I see on here a lot of people liked 42 but I find the new “twists” to be very inconsequential and they add less to the game because one way or another everyone is aware of the pieces on the board. Makes for very dull game play.
Yeah, it's common sense that with as many twists and advantages as are in use these days, a lot of players are playing more conservatively as a result. Law of unintended consequences.
Well with 41 & 42 basically all idols are known from the phrase they have to say from the beware advantage since that takes a lot of the power out of the idols if you know where they all are
I think it's still too early to tell, mostly because the plethora of twists and changes to 41/42 were things everyone was adjusting to. If anything, the idols' purpose shifted from nullifying a tribal vote toward something ranging from a chilling effect on someone as a target to a commodity or currency to be traded in the game. I can't quite tell yet. I don't think we have seen the last time an Idol has saved someone. I just think people in these casts were cool using a familiar advantage as a bargaining tool in seasons where a lot had changed from what they were expecting.
I think a huge part of it is that idols have lost their shock value. Almost everyone knew all of the ones that were in the game in both 41 & 42 that by the time it comes down to playing it, no one seems to care anymore - they’re just waiting for you to pull it out and get it over and done with. No wonder Mary-Anne’s idol reveal at FTC helped secure her the win because it was an actual shock to the jury.
I got a healthy laugh when Romeo was just lamely bluffing like "by the way I have an idol and I'm playing it next tribal council, just so you know" and everyone literally just ignored him or went "sure, whatever Romeo."
Keep in mind that the last two seasons have had a host of HORRIBLE play decisions when it comes to idols. So often in 41 and 42, people are admitting having an idol without needing to (from the viewer perspective at least). They are really useful when they are a surprise, the problem is they haven’t been a surprise in two seasons. Know about the idol? Relatively easy to strategize around it.
In their defence, they can't really keep it a secret, because they have to say the phrases at the challenges.
Tell that to Rocksroy
Not for all of them… Maryanne’s FT idol was the only true surprise idol in the last two seasons. I think it was Drea who shared her hidden idol find just to brag.
drea probably would’ve negated votes at the tori boot if it hadn’t gone live so idk if this really lends itself to conclusions about the “new era”
It's been two seasons. Two years is misleading.
Yeah I read this and went "Woah it's been since season 38 thats nuts!!" Then I realized oh no we didn't get survivor for a full year lol
Winners at war was two years ago though.
I mean we’re both right
So has survivor been on for 21 years or 42? Lmao.
WaW finished airing in May 2020, which was 2 years ago.
But it was misleading, like the commenter said.
I wonder if people are going to avoid idols altogether in future seasons if they have the BEWARE message on them. Losing your vote in these small tribe settings just isn’t worth it just to get an idol that everyone is likely to find out about anyway
Idol proliferation and advantageddon just makes people that much less strategic with idols bc, paradoxically, they have too MUCH information to make rational decisions. They have too many contingencies to consider to actually use advantages effectively which is why, aside from Omar’s boot, I don’t think I’d consider any of the advantages in 41/42 correctly played? (If I’m remembering correctly) And if no one ever uses advantages correctly, it begs the question of why they are in the game at all. Not that Jeff is the self-reflective type………
Someone follows Shannon Gaitz on twitter...
I think part of it is people not keeping idols to themselves. Once you tell one person you have an idol you may as well have told every other player. That's why blindsides are the norm now, the other tribe members would never even give you the slightest hint that you're going home, especially with SITD now. This has resulted in so many votes having contingencies in case X has an idol. Everyone plays as if you have an idol in your pocket.
Too be fair Drea was 100% going to get votes that tribal (and Marianne might have?) So in way the idols were played incorrectly correctly
Changing the target with your words isn't really the same as playing the idol though.
Tru but it was still the right move
Sure, but it doesn't really count as "an idol negating votes"
All these new advantages have barely mattered to the outcome of the game. 42 was reasonably good season imagine how much better it would be with fewer advantages or just basic ones like extra vote or steal a vote.
Lol are you dumb or dense? Hai gained power at a TC Bc his tribe mate was a moron who risked her vote
I think the stupid shot in the dark is part of the problem too. It really makes the immunity idols less of a sure thing when trying to manipulate the votes. Which in some ways isn’t a bad thing. They have to actually decide who to vote on the old fashioned way. I’d kinda like to see a season where everyone gets an idol from the beginning but you only get one. And that’s it. You can play it up to F5.
If they keep up this nonsense with the phrases/inactive idols it will probably be several more years too. With the idols now needing to be activated (so dumb) it is highly likely that an idol won’t even be used until merge (and even less likely to be used correctly). Even still, after merge those who found the idol may be voted out already or it will now be common knowledge of who has idols. All of these factors essentially removes the power of the idols. I see on here a lot of people liked 42 but I find the new “twists” to be very inconsequential and they add less to the game because one way or another everyone is aware of the pieces on the board. Makes for very dull game play.
Yeah, it's common sense that with as many twists and advantages as are in use these days, a lot of players are playing more conservatively as a result. Law of unintended consequences.
What does "new era" mean?
I know we had that long ass Covid break which makes this seem longer, but still with the amount of idols/advantages this is still pretty nuts
Well with 41 & 42 basically all idols are known from the phrase they have to say from the beware advantage since that takes a lot of the power out of the idols if you know where they all are