Talk:Extinction/@comment-9258976-20191121193317/@comment-9949103-20191122000925

Wafflez, you have definitely outdone yourself with this season.

I mentioned it before, but before the merge, the pre-merge was definitely not exactly my favorite of what you've written xD Lots of screentime dominated by characters who were either unlikable, boring, or both, and ultimately a lack of fun or intrigue that we saw from the pre-merge of last season. Before the merge, Hashima was probably on its way to number 6 or 7 in my rankings of your seasons, hovering around Myanmar and Darien Gap. Luckily though, we got this glorious epic that was the Hashima merge which completely changed my feelings on the season. I absolutely loved it through and through, and I'm so surprised that your writing, twists, and stories that you come up with can still shock, surprise, and endear me still, but you managed to really captivate me from episode 5 on and I think it's that ability that really helped make this season shine.

Starting off, BIG congratulations to Adrienne, who I think is one of my favorite winners of yours to date (Which is saying a lot considering your current pool of winners). She wasn't the best player or anything of that nature, but her growth arc from a panicked, out of her element, young kid to a mature, calculated, woman was really something that I enjoyed from beginning to end. Even though her game was not as "flashy" as Sterling's, I think she was right in saying that her overall product was stronger than Sterling, who really didn't start playing hard until the last possible second. While I do still love him too, Adrienne as a winner is much more satisfying as a reader, especially since she was one of my faves from episode 1<3

Sterling, like Betty from last season, was definitely the character that MADE this finale. He was all over this episode and I was totally here for it as always. From his overly fake conversations with Kevin, to intentionally gaslighting the boys for really no good reason at all, to then GETTING ELLIOT TO GIVE HIM THE IDOL!!! Lest we forget him trying to get Gemini to broadcast her turning on Adrienne to Adrienne herself, but then basically exposing himself in the process<3 I get that he isn't everyone's cup of tea, but given all the boring bitches that we had during the pre-merge, Sterling's bitchy personality was something I always reveled in. Was he annoying at times? For sure. Way too over the top in his moves? Definitely. Entertaining as all hell? No doubt. He is, by far, one of the standouts from this season.

Gemini, as well, was another huge standout. I was not surprised to see Gemini's "powers" come back into play one more time to fortell her own doom, but it was still another compelling part of this episode, as well as a compelling part of the season as a whole. Gemini, as a player and as a character, I feel like is a very clever response to the immense amount of advantage-hoarders that we've gotten in modern Survivor (Russell, Ben, Rick Devons to name a few, Derek from last season as well). She found three immunity idols and directed Adrienne to a fourth! And yet she was still a character through and through, super mysterious, yet also incredibly witty, intelligent, and someone who I felt was also able to come out of her shell in the later episodes of the game. I was super confused and put-off by her edit at first, but with the season coming to a close, I can say I am quite satisfied with the role that she had to play here.

Alright, and now we're going to get to some of the bad parts of the finale, otherwise known as Kevin. I'm gonna go ahead and say that I don't think that this finale was as strong as last season's and a lot of that stems from the incredibly overblown amount of screentime that Kevin got this episode. I hated him before this episode, but I can confidently claim that he is down with Farrah and Lakynn as my least favorites of this season after the shitshow that he put on here.

I am actually impressed with Kevin. I'm impressed someone can actually go and make the amount of dumbass moves and decisions in a single season of Survivor that he made. Like, let's go down the list: Turned on Jack at the final 8 over Gemini, someone who had intention of working with him in the future? Dumb. Proceeding to sever any bond with Gemini the first chance he got by writing her name down at the final 6? Check. Thinking he can trust Sterling to vote with him and the boys after Sterling had made it clear ALL SEASON that he didn't want to work with the boys? Dumb. Thinking he can trust Sterling at the VERY NEXT VOTE after Sterling had just so ungracefully gotten him put back on the bottom? Dumb as fuck. Kevin criticized both Adrienne and Sterling at the "weaker" players of the game, but I fail to see where he's coming from given that he's played one of the most atrociously stupid games I've seen in a long time. Clearly just bitter that all his constant bitching and crying about those kids of his was all for nothing and that him and his giant ass unibrow get to go back to living amongst the filth and trash that we all know him to be.

Basically, this finale would've been great if Kevin and his unlikable self would've been put on mute for the episode (As Elliot had been), but I guess I can only dream at this point. Whatever, Kevin can sit with Michelle, Brandon, and Dorothy at the table of all the biggest monstrosities in Wafflefreak history because he has damn sure earned his place there after this shoddy performance.

As a whole though, this season did really impress me. The location was bomb and SUPER fucking unique with the whole urban abandoned city thing going on, and I REALLY fell in love with the apocalypse theme. It was great from the get-go, and looking back I think it might rival Nikumaroro for your best theme. I just loved it!

For All-Stars, I'd say Adrienne, Sterling, Gemini, Jack, Marc, and Rianne are all worthy candidates to return while Kristine could be a potential second-chancer (Cuz God knows none of the other pre-mergers deserve to be back for another season).

So excited for Tundra<3 I'm expecting another super unique location and, though very nervous and anxious about all these apparent format changes, and looking forward to what you have in store for us next. When do you plan on releasing new cast members for that btw?