Talk:Playing Mom/@comment-26485526-20190922220019

Okay, so I was going to be disappointed with who was going home regardless since Nigel jut HAD to fucking win immunity. Deidre is clearly a goat being dragged to the end kicking and screaming at this point, so there was no way she was going anywhere, leaving only people I actually liked to fight to stay in the game.

I'm glad Winter survived over Heather, I'll say it. I've been hard on you about how I feel about the development of Winter's character recently (or lack thereof), but I did really like that whole scene with the family visit, and it was nice to get a glance at who she actually is outside the game with her family. I like that Calvin stuck his neck out to save her, so I am interested to see where her character goes, and suddenly more invested in her than I was at the start of the last two episodes.

For me, the star of the episode was Calvin, no question. Was he the best player? No, far from it. But I do really like where his story is going, and I'm glad he stood up to Nigel, who was essentially trying to bully him into doing what was best for Nigel's personal game. I'm honestly beginning to despise Nigel because he's coming off like such a gamebotty, condescending asshole when it comes to how he talks to Calvin, and I really appreciate how Calvin just had enough.

I also think it was magnificent storytelling on your part to put this development between Nigel and Calvin in the same episode as the family visit, because it's crystal clear to me that Calvin is drawing a parallel between how Nigel treats him, and how he's treated by his own parents, even if he didn't explicitly say it. The fact he was labelled as a follower is eating him up, he doesn't think his parents respect him, and Nigel pushing Calvin into doing what's best for Nigel (including implying that he felt he had equal access to Calvin's advantage) tipped him over the edge. I love that Calvin finally turned on Nigel, and given that he has that extra vote, I feel like if he survives the next Tribal Council, he's set up to go to the end.

What Calvin needs to do next episode is secure an alliance with Winter & Sadie, and use his extra vote, so he has the numbers, and it gets rid of the threat of his advantage. I think if he holds onto it any longer, he's signing his own death warrant, but we'll see what happens.

I'm sad to see Heather go because she was another icon this episode, just for the fact she was done with Deidre's shit. Since the rest of the people eligible to go were people I liked, and even Leilani realistically wasn't going anywhere, I think I'm okay with it.

Leilani played her relationships this episode beautifully, though people are seeing that she is running the game right now. With all of the drama between Calvin & Nigel, plus being in Winter's & Deidre's good books, she's set up realy well. Leilani leaving in my opinion would take everyone people putting their drama aside to get rid of the person running things, and though that's not impossible, I think it's highly unlikely, so I feel semi-confident in saying that I think she's our winner.

Can't wait to see how this ends up, Matt. Keep up the great work!

CAST RANKINGS:
 * 1) Kurtis Hansen
 * 2) Winter Alan
 * 3) Heather Clarke
 * 4) Calvin Huang
 * 5) Sadie Collins
 * 6) Logan Simmons
 * 7) Tyrone Laurence
 * 8) Leilani Arthur
 * 9)  Jason Sanders 
 * 10)  Isaiah Peterson 
 * 11) Naomi Davidson
 * 12)  Inez Montero 
 * 13) Deidre Ryans
 * 14)  August Brown 
 * 15) Nigel Jackson
 * 16)  Adrian Morris 
 * 17) Elaine Nguyen
 * 18) Chris Taylor
 * 19) Gabby Ellis
 * 20) Rachel Berry