I'm not rewatching the fucking episode... Even w/ Coronavirus, and even w/ this season being mostly fantastic, I got better things to do. So here's a very hasty, probably very inaccurate Edgic based on a single viewing I did half a week ago. Half of episode 10 was devoted to an epic-length Loved Ones Visit. It was delightful. It didn't tell us much about strategy, though I think it wrapped up at least one of this season's smaller storylines.
Merged Tribe
Michele- MOR2 - We keep checking in with Michele, but maybe not enough? I'm pretty sure she was the one who flipped against the Kim alliance, thereby sending Tyson home... But we didn't get any insight as to why Michele might have done this. She's got a great underdog story going, but it does seem to have enough "oomph."
Nick - UTR2- Nick is kinda like Michele but without the personality. He's sorta like mediocre gamebot this time. That's all I'm gonna say for now, whoops.
Kim - CP3- Kim's idol play was curious, and she was given a line about playing idols for others that was not undermined as foolish. We're supposed to view Kim as a dynamic, capable player. Her gambit didn't work out this time, but she is nevertheless building a resume. She'll be considered a threat sooner than not.
Denise- UTR2- Denise's edit seems to be petering out, too. Sad! Her alliance with Adam is done, and while her partnership with Kim seems to be substantial, Kim is increasingly the dominant force in it. Ever since her big play against Sandra, Denise has lingered in the background. She could roar back for a dramatic finish... But I'm skeptical.
Jeremy- MOR3- Jeremy got another decent episode, but nothing great. His edit seems like a milder, less human, less nuanced version of Tony's: a big threat playing down his ability, making semi-good moves, but never really seeming in control of the game. Now that he's played his advantage (and thereby turned his alliance members against him?) I can't imagine his plot extends much further into this season.
Tony- CPP3- Wild, wacky Tony again portrayed as a smart, reasonable player. The "advice" he gives to other players (she is talk with Sarah this ep, and his talk with Sarah last ep) never seems condescending, and he always make an effort to be polite and respectful, even as he develops a cunning strategy. His Loved Ones visit seemed notable to me and to Probst, who claimed to see "another side" of Tony: the human side. Tony is re-inventing himself this season and it's led to Edgic dominance thus far. I still think he's got a good chance to win this thing.
Sarah- MORN2- Weird things are happening with Sarah's edit. Her threat level has increased, meaning other players are less likely to work with her... And the producers are backing up these other players' decisions. She's increasingly coming off as a rash, sort of heedless person, being contrasted every step of the way with her cop partner Tony.
Sophie- UTR2- Sophie seems to be getting a "Victoria edit" (s38). She appears to command respects from her tribemates, just not from the camera. She's not getting the testimonials she needs to make a deep run, even if her game is strategically sound (I think she's always on the right side of votes?). I think she'll be one of the first boots in the final episode.
Ben- CP2- Ben again with another visible, notable performance, but it's tough to gauge... to what purpose? The only consistent threads I'm seeing with Ben's play are (1) his efforts to better his social game (though we haven't seem him mention that in at least four episodes) and (2) frantic paranoia. #2 doesn't usually mean Edgic success.
Tyson- MORP3- Tyson had the cutest and most heartbreaking Loved Ones visit, as we might have expected give the amount of content this season has reserved for talk about Tyson's Loved Ones. Now that that subplot is done, is it really a surprise that he was voted out this episode, and with such little strategic fanfare (at least from him)? It sucks because he rules, but I think it's fair to say that Tyson's finished for good this time.
EOE
Natalie, Amber, Danni, Ethan, Rob, Parvati, Yul, Wendell, Adam
Good to see the Loved Ones Visit here. There was something especially powerful about Adam's testimonial... And while it seems improbable that he will be able to claw his way back into the game, he still seems like he'll be playing a role in the rest of the season. Highly doubtful the next EOE-returnee gets to FTC, ala Chris in season 38.
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