I always find it fascinating that people like Reynold can be completely out there bang his chest arrogant and yet the guys love him, but as soon as someone like Cochran starts talking smack because he's doing well - you start to dislike him as if he forgot his place and needs to be put back in it.
I am SO glad Reynold is gone. He was annoying, full of himself and really just not a very good player. Same as Eddie. They are strong and good looking but no real brains or guts to scheme - not the way Malcolm did. It is sort of funny that Eddie is still there when it was Andrea bringing him along because he was cute... And for that alone, she deserved to go. I liked her a lot, she was mostly very smart, but Eddie was her weak spot. But I have to say, she kept the good sportsmanship attitude all the way to the end. She was shocked, but not mad, rather, impressed. I love it when people play that way. It makes the game so much more enjoyable to watch than when people take it all so personally and get vicious.
I'm still routing for Cochran - he's smart, funny and he is getting more confidence and I think will hurt him that he's showing it, but I don't mind seeing it at all.
This week I have to say I was proud of Dawn for not telling Andrea the plan. haha! And of Erik for sticking to the plan... I thought for sure he was going to flip again.
I do like Brenda a lot more now that she's started playing. I never disliked her in the other game, she just seemed like she didn't fit in very well with those who were paranoid and complaining about people behind their backs. I don't think she did much except be 'dangerous' in the eyes of people who got a lot of interview time. That always bugs me when people say, 'you are dangerous, so you have to go.' what they really mean is what Cochran honestly said, 'if I am not in your longterm plan, than you are not in mine."
Julia, I agree with you that neither Reynold nor Eddie were/are very good players. Sure, they were physical threats in challenges--although, neither won much--but I didn't ever really see a lot of impressive strategery out of them. Malcolm was the mastermind behind the 3 Amigos, and even he was undisciplined in his thinking and actions. For example, taking the beer and peanuts instead of saving all $500 for an advantage in the game. He lucked out no one outbid him for the advantage at $480. But Reynold or Eddie should've saved their $500 for the second advantage offered, which went to Cochran instead, assuring him an easy IC victory, and a trip to the Jury for Malcolm. And we've already talked about Malcolm's other fatal mistake, of not digging for the HII, in spite of his little sister tagging along. Did not notice where Erick found the Idol??? It was, as far as I could tell, right where Malcolm was looking, but was too afraid to dig. Oy vey. Malcolm never impressed me much in his first season, and he showed major flaws in his gameplay again this season.
But back to Reynold and Eddie. I've not been rooting for them so much based on their own merits or likability, but rather because they were underdogs, and I am not very fond of any members of Specialists-R-Us, some of whom I downright hate. (Hate's a strong word, but you know what I mean.) And honestly, I can't recall a single thing Reynold said or did that came off (to me) as arrogant. I know, in the beginning he and Eddie talked about the good-looking alliance, or whatever they called it. But that bit of labeling struck me as harmless and light-hearted. If you (or anyone) can provide me with any examples of Reynold's hubris, I'd like to hear what you heard from him that was so objectionable.
If Reynold was arrogant, he didn't come off that way to me. I'll admit he had an air of self-assuredness about him, but quite frankly, as a young, buff guy who did much better than average in challenges, it became him. Because he could walk the walk. But Cochran, when he talks the talk, it comes off as laughable--and I mean laughing at him, not with him--because his two IC wins notwithstanding, he can't walk the walk. Neither of his IC wins have been especially impressive. One was the gross food eating contest. I suppose some props are due there. But his second IC win comes with a definite asterisk, given the huge advantage he'd purchased at the food auction. And yet, after those wins, he boasts in his confessionals about being the biggest IC threat on the island. Perhaps it's been tongue-in-cheek, but I've not perceived it that way. His cockiness seems real, and he's coming off a bit delusional.
I've not been especially impressed with Cochran's strategic game, either. He hasn't made any grave mistakes, but he's been sitting safely in the majority alliance virtually all season long, and so I've not seen any master strokes of genius on display from him. Not his fault, given his position in the majority, but I'm just sayin'.
Bottom line, we fell in love with Cochran as the hapless bookworm, too pasty white and embarrassed to take his shirt off, but always dependable for a funny quip about the game or other castaways in his confessionals. And yes, more than that, he does have a much better than average understanding of the game. Or maybe it's not all that much better than average, but his ability to articulate that understanding is superior to most castaways. Whatever the case, arrogance does not become him.
Let's see how Cochran does now that it's money time. Can he maneuver his way into the final 3, or now that the heat is on, will the others, some of whom seem far more cutthroat than him, send him packing to the Jury? I suspect the latter.
And Julia, if we're gonna give props to Andrea for her light-hearted and graceful exit, we should do the same for Reynold. He turned to the other castaways and said with a huge, genuine and joyful smile,
"It's been a blast you guys. I can't wait to see what happens.". He only had one ally sitting there, yet his words and smile were for everyone. Reynold and Andrea both had classy exits.
The Wook
