Great season with one of my most favourite winners.
I'm probably the only person to like this season. The pre-merge was ass, the casting was ass (for Fans AND Favorites), but the post merge was really great. A lot of blindsides, a lot of major betrayals. I also really like Cochran and think he's one of the greatest comedians on the show (right below Buis and Rector)
Review by Cory CopelandVIP 5BlockedParent2020-12-08T20:49:08Z
SPOILERS AHEAD
COCHRAN! That is all that really needs said about this season. Similar to the original Fans vs Favorites, the Favorites kinda dominate. The pre merge wasn't too thrilling, but after? Oh my. Three Amigos, Blindside Andrea, Blindside Brenda. The post merge dominance of Cochran led to an EXTREMELY boring final four...but that's the point. He made moves happen! With all that being said, the cast was not that great in that grand scheme of things. They essentially took the greatest hits for tv ratings of a "lackluster" run of seasons and gave them a chance at redemption:
Lackluster "Favorites" Entering the Season:
Francesca is a now a two time first evict
Phillip is great at tv but not an admiral piece in the game and was never gonna win in either season
Brandon Hantz was another person good for tv that stood no chance of winning and was his own demise the first time around
Erik was his own demise his first time around on the first Fans vs Favorites with arguably the worst move ever
Cochran was a weasel the first time around that did nothing that first time to deserve a chance to return
Dawn was screwed by Cochran's flipping the first time around as her most memorable characteristic
Corrine is a middle evict from a forgotten season 17.
Good "Favorites" Entering the Season:
Brenda was blindsided before in her first season
Andrea was overshadowed/blindsided by Rob in 22
Malcolm was a back-to-back competitor that was very welcome.
So 3 of 10 were "All Star" level going in. That's not really an ideal Fans vs Favorites as someone that appreciates good game play. With that being said, Cochran totally redeemed himself and then some. Phillip was also enjoyable and utilized his "B.R." rules pretty well. I think the irony of most going out how they did was rather fitting. Francesca repeated, Erik/Brandon went out again for things not decided by the tribe, Corrine was a middle evict again, Cochran screwed Dawn at the end once again, and Brenda and Andrea were once again blindsided lol. As far as the fans...I basically forget them all already. The member of The Three Amigos were the only two that will stick, and I will refer to them as Malcolm's left and right hand men. As I write this, I honestly forget who the fan was that made the finale, since she was irrelevant entirely.
Anyways, It was an enjoyable season with medical evacs, drama, and a solid winner. Unfortunately, I think the casting could have been better. This is a better "tv season" than "Survivor season" if that makes sense. Still would recommend if you are a fan, especially if you are a sucker for returnees like I am!
Rating: 8.5/10