Thread:BarBar/@comment-1734566-20151130195227/@comment-1734566-20151204173338

Yeah, Ciera was, once again, a late bloomer in this season; in her last few episodes, she suddenly stepped it up and tried to make big moves, but sadly, it was too little too late, once again. That really crushes me because, as you know, Ciera was one person I was really excited for. :(

I actually think we CAN fairly judge Kimmi from what little screen time she's gotten. Again, from orchestrating the Monica boot to now, when she's proposing an all-women's alliance to Kelley. It's especially ironic, obviously, because she decapitated Monica for making the same suggestion, yet here now SHE'S the one making the same suggestion? I definitely get the feeling that she's doing a bit more behind the scenes that we're not seeing. And as far as Keith goes; in his original season, there was little doubt that he DID have a strategy - again, I called it a cross between Sandra's "anyone but me" game (as was prominent by Keith's actions in the post-swap phase and post-merge), and the Fabio game of "play up my own goofy stereotype so that they love me, but also take me far since they deem me a non-threat." But this season, yeah, it's hard to tell since he gets less focus (probably because there are so many, much bigger personalities with him this time around), but I wouldn't be surprised if he's basically playing the same way again. And yes: Abi is Abi. :P

I still wouldn't say Spencer played "poorly" pre-merge. He did a fantastic job negotiating himself out of elimination in Shirin's boot, and he went right to work forming all the right social bonds post-swap, particularly with Jeremy - which, let's be honest, is the MAIN reason he's still around. So no, I wouldn't say he was bad pre-merge, but he's definiteu improved post-merge. He managed to so perfectly play off his attempted betrayal when Stephen was saved by the idol, only to pull the wool over Jeremy's eyes AGAIN in the NEXT episode by outsmarting him and orchestrating the Stephen boot, EVEN when Joe was VULNERABLE. So yeah, Spencer's doing really well.

Jeremy, I would argue is only good in that he's somehow managed to maintain a strong leadership role or otherwise prominent position all game, and yet somehow his name has still never come up. But let's not overrate him; so far, his only successful moves were booting Kass and idoling Ciera (which you yourself admit isn't necessarily a big move in and of itself; case-in-point, Jenn in WA). But he's made some HORRIBLE blunders this season too, namely NOT splitting the vote when they really should have (and the suggestion was even MADE to do so, and he rejected it), thus causing Savage to go home; and again, being outsmarted TWICE on Stephen. Jeremy's fine, but he's definitely not the best player yet.

And Kelley, yeah, she's probably the best player this season as a total dark horse and underdog. She got Savage out, and then organized both the Wiglesworth and Joe boots, and managed to convince some of the guys to go along BOTH times. My only fear is that, IF she made it to the FTC, she might still lose despite playing the best game. The reason? She's always been in the minority, and thus won't be popular with the rest of the jury - which, sans Ciera, and maybe up to Abi and Kimmi - is basically entirely in the Jeremy/Spencer camp. So that may be a huge hurdle even IF she's the best player.

And Tasha...yeah, she's screwed. It seems pretty obvious that next episode is building up to be one where Tasha is the swing vote between the guys and the girls...but it's honestly a lose-lose for her, since she could easily lose to everyone else except Abi. :P