Is every Tribal Council a ‘Blindside?’
When is a Tribal Council just an Elimination and not actually a Blindside?
- Published by David Knox
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In early Survivor seasons someone getting voted out was known as an Elimination.
But as seasons pressed on, every elimination has seemingly turned into a ‘Blindside.’
On Australian Survivor contestants constantly talk about who they will Blindside which, to some extent, diffuses the concept entirely if everyone is expecting it.
Sometimes in watching a Tribal Council I mutter to myself, “No you weren’t Blindsided mate, you were just Eliminated.”
It’s a question I recently put to host Jonathan LaPaglia… is the word getting overused?
“If they didn’t know that the vote was coming their way then I guess it’s a Blindside,” he said.
“Even if everyone else knew.”
I’m undecided about whether it’s part of the natural evolution of the game or is being pushed by producers and promos.
“I don’t know if it gets overused, but there are definitely different degrees of Blindside,” LaPaglia acknowledged.
“Sometimes in the promos they might be a little over-enthusiastic in how they describe those blindsides… ‘The Biggest Blindside You’ve Ever Seen!’
“And you’re watching it thinking, ‘Well it’s a Blindside, but it’s not the biggest one I’ve ever seen.'”
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- Tagged with Australian Survivor, Survivor
18 Responses
Definitely agree with these comments. I’m a bit of a Survivor purist and the twists really annoy me. All the clever strategising means nothing if the player voted out gets a free pass. And what’s the go with being able to whisper to each other at Tribal? I’ve seen it a couple of times now. Surely that shouldn’t be allowed.
As for overused terms, “big move” is the one I dislike most.
I wrote a rant (!) on the whispering recently as it has been getting out of hand on the US show. I have another post to come on that soon.
The only real blindside is the twists they play to keep people in the show when they should go home, because nobody sees that coming…
I just wish when someone was voted out they actually go instead of stupid twists that save them, I don’t mind the exile island and then fight to get back in but ones that just save people for stupid reasons really irritates me especially if it was a good blindside.
100% agree it makes me sooo angry!!!
I’m honestly over the terms “blindside” “idols” and “you’re a threat”. It gets old very quickly. I mean so many times now its like you can have an idol, you can have an idol, you can have an idol. Need to switch it up.
The real problem is saving people!! I just finished last nights ep i am close to quitting this now. Im sick to death of the tribal twists! Let these people vote them off naturally. Its so incredibly frustrating that someone can be saved for no reason but to extend the season. I was wild seeing last nights ep they are ruining this show like big brother was ruined. Whats the point in game play and stratergising when these random players get saved anyway by production. I feel robbed of 95 minutes of my life ill never get back! Do better Ten its being ruined. Okay rant over lol
I get tired of hearing the ‘you are a threat’ reason for everyone they eliminate.
I wonder if Khanh played his idol last night if it would have been returned to him since it wasn’t an elimination and the idol is immunity from elimination.
JLP never said the phrase though “if anyone has a….. now would be the time to do so”
I wondered if the show pivoted to Plan B after Nina exit. Rather than lose a second person it was Tribal without an elimination.
Yep, that’s exactly what we thought here. Cant have 2 people leaving on the same night.
That was my thought as well.
@grumpyduke, I’m pretty sure JLP did say “if you have an idol, now would be the time to play it”
I just rewatched the first vote and JLP definitely called for any hidden idols to be played before reading the votes.
This is the 2nd time they have had to go to Plan B this season. If they did the elimination also, they would be 2 eps short already..
I do remember the call for idols being said. It was said at the conclusion of the first vote (before the twist reveal)
Part of the definition of a blindside should be a betrayal from your close alliance. There are no strong alliances this season, i can’t picture any of them being genuinely ‘blindsided’. They are all normal eliminations.
maybe if chrissy or croc turned on each other, that could be the closest thing to a blindside.
Good point. If you’re being voted out and don’t know it, that’s arguably just Survivor. If you’re being betrayed by your alliance that’s a better term as Blindside.