“It was kind of cult-like.” – Jeff Probst to Rob on the unity of his alliance
The Survivor: Redemption Island reunion show kicked off with the most important event of the season: the selection of the winner (read all about Rob Mariano’s dominating performance and selection as the season’s “Sole Survivor”).
With the vote dispatched with – a nifty if transparent gimmick to get viewers to march onto a third hour of CBS viewing for the evening – we move into reminiscing, interviews, and a few other odds and ends to round out the hour. Getting host Jeff Probst’s read on the season is always interesting, and it was clear that he was as impressed with Boston Rob’s feat as anyone. “It was kind of cult-like,” he added with regard to Rob’s control over his alliance, and particularly the way in which he prevented his fellow competitors from discussing strategy with one another when he was not present. And this came from the man who presided over 22 seasons of Survivor: “That’s as close to a perfect game as I’ve ever seen.”
I enjoyed hearing more from Rob as well. His take on Phillip (“Phillip is a lovable guy”) showed off his ability to be empathetic and masterfully skillful in dealing with people. Nice to see too that he could add, laughing, “There were times where you weren’t a picnic.” Grant – one of Rob’s tightest allies until he got deep sixed – is not cool at all with Rob for his part. Rob the goes on to giving the best explanation I’ve ever heard for why anything goes in the game of Survivor. In essence it boils down to the fact that if you have “a line” that you won’t cross, you’ll constantly be flirting with that line and whether or not you should cross it, versus going out and playing the game and simply doing what you need to do to win. But he also acknowledges – and this is a guy who has played the game four times – that there are real people and real emotions involved at the same time.
Other odds and ends:
* Jeff Probst to Russell Hantz, the other all-star who got knocked off early: “Do you want us to keep your number or dump it?” Russell demurs but says yes.
* We learn that Phillip “The Specialist” Sheppard is in actuality a federal agent.
* Rob Mariano tacks on another $100,000 to his prize winnings by being voted by fans as the Sprint Player of the Season.
* Ralph Kiser’s beard is looking longer and crazier than ever, whereas Grant looks completely different without his dreads.
* Weird moment when David proposes to former Survivor cast member Carolina Eastwood (Survivor: Tocantins), and… she doesn’t have a storybook reaction.
* Season 23 of Survivor — dubbed as Survivor: South Pacific as it will be filmed in Samoa where past seasons have already taken place – will maintain the Redemption Island wrinkle along with two people who have appeared on the show previously.
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.