I'm watching with my wife. My wife has seen every season (and has re-watched several seasons multiple times). She's a huge fan. I don't think I have ever watched an entire season. I usually watch the first couple episodes of a season and lose interest and then pick it up toward the end of the season. I enjoy the challenges but don't like all of the blather (i.e., the social aspect of it). I also think Rob Marinara (or whatever his last name is) is a complete tool.
Although I have watched every episode of this season, I find that it's fairly unenjoyable -- especially recent episodes. My wife agrees. The "edge of extinction" seems particularly stupid. It's a rather transparent attempt to keep the most popular contestants on the show (sort of) so that their fans don't tune out. I haven't counted, but it now seems like there are more people on "the edge" than there are people still "in the game." If I recall correctly, only one person has actually been eliminated to this point (and that's only because she quit rather than go to "the edge"). They brought one guy back from "the edge," but he was promptly sent right back. The "challenges" that they do on "the edge" are completely boring. Hey, let's spend 10 minutes watching a dozen people run around and move coconuts from one side of the island to the other! I can't help but think that Michael Jackson's father would really enjoy this, but it's otherwise a complete waste of air time.
And, as my wife noted, they used to do two challenges per episode (reward and immunity), but they've only done one on most episodes this season. And don't even get me started on the last few tribal councils. These people get hours to sit around on the beach and figure out how they're going to vote, but they have to have this last minute, junior high school whisper fest? Even my wife just fast-forwards through it to get to the vote.
I will, however, say that watching that one guy try to extract the fleur-de-lis from the host's podium was quite amusing.
My wife and I started watching on Season 13. I've recently gone back to watch all the old ones I never saw before that and am up to Season 8, the first All-Stars season. I celebrate Survivor. The first Episode of Season 40 was like Christmas morning here.
As far as Rob goes, I will say that I was cheering for him to win Redemption Island. Since then, I've seen Survivor Africa and become a big fan of Lex. Last Season, Rob made mention of what he did to Lex in All Stars and I JUST saw that episode yesterday, while on the treadmill. I don't think I've ever been angrier at a TV show after how Rob fucked Lex in that episode and I hope to God after this season is over, I never see Rob on my TV again.
I hate the EoE "twist", as noted. When EoE showed up in Season 38, I hated it. The winner, Chris, played 13 of 39 days in-game. Yes, he was on EoE, so not technically out of the game, but he didn't have to strategize, he didn't have to belabor who to vote out, he didn't have to suffer the consequences of who he helped vote out, etc. And, with the added twist of the remaining EoE members becoming the jury, they ALL got to bond with one another, so OF COURSE the jury, who consists of almost ALL people who've spent weeks on EoE, are going to vote for the person who was out there with them. I was irritated as hell that Gavin didn't win. Enough people have bitched about it that in an interview with Rob (Cesternino) Has a Podcast, Probst said "I'VE HEARD YOU, IT'S NOT COMING BACK ANYTIME SOON".
Good.
The three people I would most like to see win are Tyson, Yul, and/or Ethan, probably in that order. First season I saw Tyson, I thought he was a dick, but in subsequent seasons, I realized I was wrong. And listening to him on RHAP's News AF podcast each week, I realize that he's sarcastic and hilarious. And Yul was the winner of the first season I watched. Ethan, he's just a great guy.
And yeah, I was REALLY hoping that Adam was right and that the fleur-de-lis WAS an idol. That would've been EPIC.
Although I'm getting tired of the whispering at tribal council, I am enjoying this season.
I really hope someone from Extinction gets back into the game and wins it.
The getting up and running around and whispering is starting to get old. "Live" Tribal Councils like this were exciting and fresh when JT started doing it, but now it's all over the place and it's getting out of hand.