Shawna's Sweet Statements

[Shawna Mitchell]

Congrats to all three of you for making it here. You outwitted, outplayed and outlasted 32 other people, so good job!

Up until now I wasn't really sure what I was going to say or if I was going to ask any questions at all. I'm going to just start with my perspective on each of you.

Miki, after you and Vee went against Colby, Chase, Kim and I to vote DD off I obviously wasn't happy but I was willing to buy the excuse that DD was seen as a threat but you still wanted to work with us/me. Of course, I did have some doubts at that point. During the live IC/TC; however, those doubts turned into a huge red flag and told me there was no way I could trust that you were going to continue work with me.

I know you say this was my fault because I "didn't want anything to do with," you and Vee but I believe that is BS. What was I supposed to think when you were obviously working with everyone else (sans Kim & I) to take us out of the challenge? And then, when you voted Colby it was obvious, as if it hadn't already been made clear up to that point.

I know you and I weren't really close pre-merge but we did end up bonding (or so I thought) over having the common goal of wanting Sean out, and I thought we would really be able to work together. I understand that was late in the game and you already had a bunch of friends in the game, so I do get it.

But to tell me you were willing to work with me "to an extent" and it was really my own fault I was voted off is a huge insult to my intelligence. "To an extent" really sums it up, though. You wanted to work with me for what? For 1 more round, for 2? It doesn't really matter because you had already proven I couldn't trust you and I wasn't really willing to trust you again just to get voted off by you anyway. And no, I didn't "throw in the towel," although my options were a bit limited at that point and yes, when I didn't win immunity the next round it was obvious nothing I did was going to save me. But I still made my lame attempts, short of begging, lol.

You chose to go to the end with Sydney and Vee, two very strong players. I could say I think you are completely overshadowed (no pun intended) and are sitting at the end with two players who are going to wipe the floor with you, but that's not really for me to say. I really don't care what the other jury members think of your game. To me, it only matters what I think of your game..and I see you as being carried to the end by Vee and Sydney.

This game was about having fun for me, for playing with the people I enjoyed, and there were definitely many high points among the few low points. I do have you to thank for one of the lowest points I've experienced, though. That was the night I watched you help ensure my elimination from a challenge, then vote off my closest ally while I couldn't do a thing about it, after you had just gotten done telling me the round before that you were still working me. Thank you for that memory because you get all the credit. I may have thought once or twice since that happened about how I can repay you.

Vee, you are in the same boat for me as Miki as far as trying to say I should've trusted you even though you voted off DD, then Colby. The F4 was Chase's idea but I agree it shouldn't have been proposed to you without Miki, and I would have had no intention of including you in it anyway..so it is what it is. Either way, you say you still wanted to work with me until you heard I wanted to vote you out, lol. Again, I call bullshit on this because I believe it wouldn't have mattered and that was just a convenient excuse for you.

I guess I let you off the hook on this more than Miki because I really do feel that you lived up to your nickname "Snakecepia."

I'm sure you've heard the fable "The Frog and the Crocodile." If not, look it up because you are exactly like the crocodile and that's how I feel you played the game. That, in its own right, is a strategy I can actually admire. I can enjoy a good villain who snakes their way to the end.

My only issue with your game is the fact that you stopped just one person short of making your villainous game complete...and that's by not voting Sydney out. Had you brought Miki/Sean with you to the end I think you would've ensured your victory by a landslide. Right or wrong, that's how I personally view your game.

Sydney, while I do think you made a lot of good moves in this game I do have some issues with you and I guess I'd like to explain why you were not getting the full-on "I want to go to the end with you!" from me. It's because I didn't want to, lol. But, I didn't always feel that way.

In the very beginning, when you, DD, Kourtney and I formed KISS, I was super excited to be working with you and I planned on being loyal. I had no pre-games and I really wanted to play this game with new people who I'd never worked with before. I was really happy about working with you and DD moreso than Kourtney, but she did end up growing on me after a while...but she is a whole other story.

Of course, I knew you and DD were both big threats and I also knew you most likely had a lot of other connections. This became very clear during the Puppet Masters challenge and apparently this was where "Ropes" was formed? IDK the exact timeline since I was not included in it, of course. But, it was painfully obvious to me during that challenge, as well as after, when Kourtney and I were banished to Baci while you and DD were set up with your BFFs on Gwad. How could it not be?

Anyway, I became closer to Colby and re-united with Chase, tribes switched again, and my relationship with DD did grow, despite some rocky points. I'm not trying to recap the whole season or anything but, certain things happened which made me become more and more distant from you during the game. Such as getting upset with people for competing in challenges where your tribe was losing, and then not even congratulating the winning tribe. I just could not believe your poor sportsmanship...but it all came to a head the round you got people on Qaawan to throw a challenge so Kraken would win. Yes, you are very good at challenges and you usually win, but when you lose, you can be so bitter. And, if you were set up so well on Kraken (as you have said and as I did believe you were), why did you need another tribe to throw challenges? This attitude drove me crazy.

There was also the incident of running to Sean with news of people wanting to vote him off. We already discussed this but it was probably the straw that ended up breaking the camel's back for me. All these things added to the growing divide between us, and at some point I just got tired of it.

During the round after Alexis was voted off by the 8-person voting block, I was just over it and wanted to work with other people who weren't included in the 8-person block, but who I had trust with, like Colby and Chase. So I did. It didn't get me to the end obviously, but I'm happy with my game.

I'm not in any way saying you didn't play a great game, I just don't happen to feel like being the big cheerleader Ted has been for you. Things you did along the road and how you treated people count for me, not just the fact that you got there. So, although we did have some close moments, and some amount of trust in each other, I just wanted to tell you what actually caused my change of heart.

*****

So, there it is ladies. I'm sorry if some of this sounds bitter because I didn't necessarily want that, but I'm sure some of it does. I just wanted to be very honest here and call it like I saw it. I welcome any comments you'd like to make. I will tell you that my vote is probably hovering between two of you right now and I welcome any insight or rebuttal you'd like to give in response to what I've said.


I will also ask a question of you all if you'd like to answer. I'd like you to post the 3 biggest strengths, as you saw them, for each of the final 16, including yourselves. If you can't come up with 3, then whatever you can come up with.

Thanks for reading and good luck!

[Sydney Wheeler]

Sydney, while I do think you made a lot of good moves in this game I do have some issues with you and I guess I'd like to explain why you were not getting the full-on "I want to go to the end with you!" from me. It's because I didn't want to, lol. But, I didn't always feel that way.

In the very beginning, when you, DD, Kourtney and I formed KISS, I was super excited to be working with you and I planned on being loyal. I had no pre-games and I really wanted to play this game with new people who I'd never worked with before. I was really happy about working with you and DD moreso than Kourtney, but she did end up growing on me after a while...but she is a whole other story.

Of course, I knew you and DD were both big threats and I also knew you most likely had a lot of other connections. This became very clear during the Puppet Masters challenge and apparently this was where "Ropes" was formed? IDK the exact timeline since I was not included in it, of course. But, it was painfully obvious to me during that challenge, as well as after, when Kourtney and I were banished to Baci while you and DD were set up with your BFFs on Gwad. How could it not be?

Anyway, I became closer to Colby and re-united with Chase, tribes switched again, and my relationship with DD did grow, despite some rocky points. I'm not trying to recap the whole season or anything but, certain things happened which made me become more and more distant from you during the game. Such as getting upset with people for competing in challenges where your tribe was losing, and then not even congratulating the winning tribe. I just could not believe your poor sportsmanship...but it all came to a head the round you got people on Qaawan to throw a challenge so Kraken would win. Yes, you are very good at challenges and you usually win, but when you lose, you can be so bitter. And, if you were set up so well on Kraken (as you have said and as I did believe you were), why did you need another tribe to throw challenges? This attitude drove me crazy.

There was also the incident of running to Sean with news of people wanting to vote him off. We already discussed this but it was probably the straw that ended up breaking the camel's back for me. All these things added to the growing divide between us, and at some point I just got tired of it.

During the round after Alexis was voted off by the 8-person voting block, I was just over it and wanted to work with other people who weren't included in the 8-person block, but who I had trust with, like Colby and Chase. So I did. It didn't get me to the end obviously, but I'm happy with my game.

I'm not in any way saying you didn't play a great game, I just don't happen to feel like being the big cheerleader Ted has been for you. Things you did along the road and how you treated people count for me, not just the fact that you got there. So, although we did have some close moments, and some amount of trust in each other, I just wanted to tell you what actually caused my change of heart.

Hey Shawna, thanks for the congrats - I just wanted to respond to the comments first and I'll answer your other question later on.

I can see how it's my fault for not informing you about Ropes. It wasn't something I felt comfortable doing at the time, and I'm sure in me not doing so and you hearing about it caused much doubt with me. My intention and priority was actually KISS over Ropes initially. During the puppets challenge, despite being part of the plan, I really was new to working with these people. I heard they were all talking on Skype from Wanda (I think it was). (Vee/Kim/Alexis/DD) I was not apart of that and did not know most of them as intimately as they knew eachother. I actually really wanted to be on Baci with you or Kourtney, because at the time, it looked so much more comfortable than Gwad. My alliance to those women was very new at that point. I feel like if I pushed for Baci than it showed them all I wasn't trusting of them. I was trying to get on it but in the end I stopped pushing because either should have been survivable to me.

Eventually though, I started to talk with Ropes much more and I started to trust the girls a lot as individuals. Then the final 20 swap happened and ALL of them but me were put on the other tribe - including yourself - someone who I still looked at as a top ally. I was really upset about this and I felt doomed. But just prior to the tribe revelation - the girls in Ropes promised that whichever one of us landed on Kraken, the rest would throw challenges to ensure that person's survival. When they initially didn't hold up to this agreement, I felt thrown to the wolves. I didn't feel like they cared much about me. Because at the time I felt we were very solid and that a ton of people knew about us and associated us together, so it was imperative that we all stay in the game together or none of us stood a chance. (That was my mindset before things changed) I realize it was selfish to want them to throw for me, but it's because they said they would do it that made me upset in the first place. I'm not really sure how you heard because I never asked you to throw. But as far as not posting in results and stuff I sometimes don't do it for Tribal challenges or Tribal Council and I'm not meaning anything by it. I was more so upset with the women of Ropes I was supposed to be aligned with. (I came to see it was a deal agreed upon in the event it was one of them who was in my spot) Yes, eventually I felt better about my position on Kraken but I was always in the mindset of why aren't these people voting me out, especially when they know I was close to people from the other side. Eventually I came to trust some people on Kraken a lot more. And in hindsight I'm glad it was only one challenge they threw, which ironically resulted in Ropes turning on eachother lol. Kraken was one of my favorite times in the game because I adapted to a horrible situation for myself and met some great people.

It sucks that we drifted apart and I'll take a good dose of responsibility for that as well. Thanks for the words and I'll answer your other question later on.

[Shawna Mitchell]

Thanks for the reply, Syd. The person who told me you were upset and basically having a tantrum about losing, etc was DD. This was for two challenges: Lava Launch & Kuialua. (tbh, looking back, your whole tribe were poor sports after the latter one lol.) As far as knowing people were throwing Blind Bluffs..it was pretty obvious. Alexis and I were the only ones who obviously tried to win. It's funny what people bond over and that's what fueled the Kim vote for me. Vee denied throwing (I think), and DD admitted it to me afterwards, but I already knew. She also told me you asked everyone to do it but, of course didn't fill me in on Ropes or the deal you say you all had. Judd denied and Kim denied (throwing) but I know Judd was lying through his teeth and pretty sure Kim didn't just fall asleep on her keyboard. That's why it was so fun voting her off.

[Kim Powers]

My brother actually took a picture of me sleeping with my computer open that night if you'd like to see.

[Shawna Mitchell]

Aug 15, 2013 10:32:57 GMT -5 Kim Powers said:

My brother actually took a picture of me sleeping with my computer open that night if you'd like to see.

Yes, please post it here.

Kim, I know you told me this, and you might have fallen asleep at some point...but are you saying that you really didn't throw it? You tried to win?

[Kim Powers]

I will when I get out of class.

And we never came to a clear decision on if we were going to throw or not. I knew Judd and DD had already thrown it so I may have also, but also knew if I didn't we'd still probably lose.

[Shawna Mitchell]

Oops, I do have an add-on question which I forgot about until now.

Sydney, after the Judd/Kourtney boot we had a conversation in which you told me you had wanted F3 to be You/Me/Judd. Was this truth or not truth?

[Sydney Wheeler]

Aug 15, 2013 12:53:10 GMT -5 Shawna Mitchell said:

Oops, I do have an add-on question which I forgot about until now.

Sydney, after the Judd/Kourtney boot we had a conversation in which you told me you had wanted F3 to be You/Me/Judd. Was this truth or not truth?

Partially true...but partially not. As stated in Kim's questions, I mentioned that my ideal final 3 at that point in time based on all I knew was probably myself/Judd/Kourtney. But you were also the only other main ally that I didn't have evidence was plotting to get me out. I felt like I may of had some trust with you still because I was literally just trying to save you, fearing you were at risk in the double Tribal Council. (Obviously I was not aware of you-Colby at this time but I thought it was apparent I was working to protect you since your name was brought up) Although I could sense you were not enthusiastic about going to the end with me, it was right after I lost two people who I felt WOULD go with me - and I wanted to make you see that I would stick by you. So when I said that to you it "wasn't true" because I never was actually planning my final 3 the way I made it sound, but it was "true" in that I was basically trying to affirm a finals deal with you right then and there. Obviously that never happened and you were holding your cards, so in the meantime I looked elsewhere.

[Shawna Mitchell]

The thing is, I knew you spilled information to others all the time so I wasn't going to tell you something you could use against me. It's also why you never heard I wanted you gone, because I never said it outside of my DR. Also, I know you can be vengeful so I never believed you wanted to work with me at that point, plus I wasn't going to screw over Colby/DD/Chase. In hindsight I could possibly see you may have meant it, unless and until you got a better offer, which was possible. I don't understand why people were lining up to work with you, lol.

(I think I just described you as Amanda BB15 apart from comp ability...sorry lol)

Anyway, thanks for the answer.

[Saint Miki Wingle]

Miki, after you and Vee went against Colby, Chase, Kim and I to vote DD off I obviously wasn't happy but I was willing to buy the excuse that DD was seen as a threat but you still wanted to work with us/me. Of course, I did have some doubts at that point. During the live IC/TC; however, those doubts turned into a huge red flag and told me there was no way I could trust that you were going to continue work with me.

I know you say this was my fault because I "didn't want anything to do with," you and Vee but I believe that is BS. What was I supposed to think when you were obviously working with everyone else (sans Kim & I) to take us out of the challenge? And then, when you voted Colby it was obvious, as if it hadn't already been made clear up to that point.

I know you and I weren't really close pre-merge but we did end up bonding (or so I thought) over having the common goal of wanting Sean out, and I thought we would really be able to work together. I understand that was late in the game and you already had a bunch of friends in the game, so I do get it.

But to tell me you were willing to work with me "to an extent" and it was really my own fault I was voted off is a huge insult to my intelligence. "To an extent" really sums it up, though. You wanted to work with me for what? For 1 more round, for 2? It doesn't really matter because you had already proven I couldn't trust you and I wasn't really willing to trust you again just to get voted off by you anyway. And no, I didn't "throw in the towel," although my options were a bit limited at that point and yes, when I didn't win immunity the next round it was obvious nothing I did was going to save me. But I still made my lame attempts, short of begging, lol.

You chose to go to the end with Sydney and Vee, two very strong players. I could say I think you are completely overshadowed (no pun intended) and are sitting at the end with two players who are going to wipe the floor with you, but that's not really for me to say. I really don't care what the other jury members think of your game. To me, it only matters what I think of your game..and I see you as being carried to the end by Vee and Sydney.

This game was about having fun for me, for playing with the people I enjoyed, and there were definitely many high points among the few low points. I do have you to thank for one of the lowest points I've experienced, though. That was the night I watched you help ensure my elimination from a challenge, then vote off my closest ally while I couldn't do a thing about it, after you had just gotten done telling me the round before that you were still working me. Thank you for that memory because you get all the credit. I may have thought once or twice since that happened about how I can repay you.

Orgs are supposed to be fun I agree and ill admit the fun was sucked out of this game not just for you. It was sucked out of the game for me as well some of that was my doing ill admit. I'm so terribly sorry I was the cause of such a low point in the game for you because as a person I find you wonderful and amazing! I really did want to work with you enjoyed it when we did work together. Did I want to go to the end with you? No I didn't I will admit that. I could of handled a lot of what went down in this game 10x better then I did and I am paying for it now. I regret how I handled a lot of things in the game but I can't change them now so I'm dealing with it.

Ted: he was cunning, spontaneous and funny. Three things I feel can help a player win or lose a game depending on how you use those gifts.

Alexis: funny, blunt and charismatic. These are key social skills to have in a game to be successful socially at least I think. Though being blunt is a double edged sword. It can hurt or help.

Wanda: loyal, entertaining and lucky. Wanda is great when she is in character it helps people to not take you seriously which is why I found her entertaining. She is lucky cause she really should of gone pre merge had she not being loyal to her allies she prolly would of left sooner

Judd: Social, smart and blunt. Judd and I have had plenty of awkward encounters in games he never holds back how he feels and that isn't always a bad thing. It can be used to sway people to his side if used correctly. He is a very smart player though sometimes to smart for his own good. Being social is a double edged sword in orgs. You develop a lot of relationships and you are caused to make choices as to who you are loyal to. Sometimes like in this case picking the wrong side hurts you

Kourtney: sweet, likable and naive. Being naive is not a bad thing in some cases. It keeps you from having to make hard choices and keeps you looking innocent. On another note it can also get you voted out. She was easily one of the more likable players in the game and had she used that more I think she would of made it much further. Being sweet goes hand in hand with likable IMO. She really should of played up those two skills more

DD: determined, aggressive and charming. She is a very engaging person and draws you in with amazing social skill. She is aggressive strategically socially and physically. A skill needed in survivor. She is also very determined and not afraid to speak up for what she wants

Colby: Strategic, reserved and loyal. Going back to season 2 Colby was so loyal to his friends it cost him the game. Being loyal I feel is a great skill to have regardless if it's a pre game or someone you instantly clicked with having someone you are 100% committed to helps in the long run. He is also a strategic player up till f11 I thought he was just another vote in Kim's pocket. He proved me wrong when he came out of left field with this f4 of you, him, chase and Vee. I was impressed. I also found him reserved which isn't a bad thing he hid his cards well. It just didn't work in his favor

Shawna: Charming, strong and clever. You were a very clever player IMO. You seemed to be very dialed into the game and well connected. You were strong mentally, physically and socially. And to say you didn't have me completely engaged when we talked would be doing a great injustice to you cause you did I enjoyed our conversations

Kim: Strategic, cunning and aggressive. She has skills to be a strategic master mind if she uses them correctly like she did in s1. Being cunning helps her make hard choices and be the aggressive strategic player she is in this series. And being aggressive and cunning can be a double edged sword which in this case didn't help her.

Candice: Smart, funny and blunt. For her being blunt and funny kind of go hand in hand. Idol if she realizes but her bluntness is a riot and at least kept me laughing all season long. It can help make people want to keep you around. Her being smart helped her get to the f7 but that is where her bluntness hurt her. She was so smart she became a big threat to Sydney's and bit the dust because of it.

Alex: surprising, social and witty. He has the element of surprise on his side which helped him both seasons he played though it also cost him both games. Being witty and social are great skills to possess in orgs. They can be used to manipulate others in the game and at the end of the game he was definitely using those skills to try and over throw Vee, Sydney and I

Chase: likable, charming and smart. He has all the skills of an amazing social player. It is hard not to like chase because he is very charming and likable. Having conversations with him were awesome and just talking to him made me not want to vote him out. He was also very smart and let people come to him rather then be aggressive and approach others to make moves he let others do that part.

Sean: sweet, funny and clever. Sean was a very clever player towards the end of this game despite what people may say I think he could of easily won this game. He managed to keep his hands relatively clean for the majority of this game. He was funny and I often went to him to escape from the game for a few minutes of the day. His being sweet made me feel very comfortable with him on a personal level and helped me trust him

Sydney: patient, strategic, physical. Sydney's physical ability in challenges I think leaves us all in awe. It made me compete more fiercely then I normally do in certain challenges and I am happy to have someone make me more competitive cause I can be a lazy player. She is arguably one of the better strategic players in orgs and I for one wanted her on my side for that very reason going against her isn't always the most pleasant experience. She was patient in the fact she laid low most of this game and let others do things the way they wanted. She waited till the right moments to make her moves

Vee: strategic, charming and serious. Vee took this game very serious she came in here on a mission and succeeded at it IMO. She came in here wanting to go to the end and managed to do so. To say she's charming is an understatement. Talking to her I found myself absorbed in her every word. She was very strategic and thought out every move she made to get herself to the end.

Me: likable, clever and cold. I'll admit I am a cold person. Sometimes that is a bad thing and sometimes it's not. I'm cold because I find it easy to separate real life friendship and game play in most cases. Though I will admit it gets me in a lot of trouble at times. It helps me make critical decisions to further myself in games and outside of them. I tend to be viewed as a likable person and most of the time it helps me survive in games though it helped me pre merge at the merge it hurt me cause I screwed over a lot of people who liked and trusted me. I was clever in the fact I used information to my advantage to further myself in the game. People trusted me and I used it to get here

[Sydney Wheeler]

I will take that Amanda remark as a compliment, lmao

I will also ask a question of you all if you'd like to answer. I'd like you to post the 3 biggest strengths, as you saw them, for each of the final 16, including yourselves. If you can't come up with 3, then whatever you can come up with.

• Analytic
  
• Strong-Minded
  
• Eccentric
  

Ted was analytic in that he planned far ahead and tried to deduce relationships that posed a threat to his game. He looked for pairs and alliances that he needed to break up to better his chance of survival. He was strong-minded in that once he was sure of something, he stuck to his guns about it and was not easily manipulated to think otherwise. He was eccentric in his ~grinding~ and humor that made for some friends/allies who found him entertaining.

• Stubborn
  
• Silly
  
• Caring
  

Alexis was stubborn in her opinions which I feel can be an asset in this game. She formed her own conclusion regarding Danielle and no matter what ally tried of Danielle's that tried to get her to lay off, she wasn't diverting from her belief that Danielle was a threat. She was silly/fun during some conversations which was a non-serious side to her. (A nice balance to have) Finally, she was caring about her allies. She showed undying loyalty to players like Vee and Carter and it seemed apparent that once you had her at that height of a relationship, she'd be very faithful.

• Easy to talk with
  
• Not intimidating
  
• Likeable
  

A strength for Wanda was that she had a hyper and entertaining personality. She was easy to talk with in that you could tell she wasn't boring. Her next strength that worked for her is that she was not intimidating. Before she fell "inactive" she had a good under the radar game even at regular level of activity. Finally she was likeable. There really was no reason not to like her on a personal level and had she been on more I thought she could have made friends fast.

• Not controllable
  
• Loyal and devoted
  
• Good social game/Information gatherer
  

Even though this first strength contributed to his downfall, I found it admirable that Judd wasn't always "controllable". Sometimes players cater to the known power players for safe rounds, but Judd would refuse to vote for certain people and do what he wanted. If he made the end of the game, he had argument to say he listened to himself and his own personal desires. The next strength for Judd is that if he was telling you end game, he was likely telling you end game. I came to see in this game that once you formed a real friendship in him he is probably the least likely to turn on you. Finally, Judd had a very good social game. He was able to retrieve so much information and people told him things with ease. If used right, Judd would have went far.

• Looked nonthreatening
  
• Sensitive
  
• Youthful Persona
  

The first strength for Kourtney is that she was viewed nonthreatening, when she was probably threatening to a lot of other's games. Had her blindside not occurred when it did (a compromise), Kourtney could have coasted far. It didn't seem like she was going anywhere fast because she had strong ties to some power players in the game. Her next strength was that she was sensitive. It's good to be sensitive at times, and it's not always bad as she showed revulsion or excitement to certain game moves or people. It's part of the reason she seemed nonthreatening - you knew her feelings on matters. The last strength would be her youthful persona, as it could make you care about her on a personal level.

• Intelligent / socially ept
  
• Destructive yet calm
  
• Calculative
  

Danielle was without a doubt one of the biggest threats in the game. She was very smart and strategic, combined with that was her social game, which was one of the strongest of the season. She had so many people looking out for her for a long time. Her next strength is that she was destructive yet calm. She would tear apart the dynamic game with some moves, but did so in a calm manner when approached. Her moves = destructive. Her personality when doing so = calm. Lastly, she was calculative. She knew who needed to be eliminated for her own benefit. She recognized a threat and what they posed for her down the line, so she sought our their snuffing.

• Friendly
  
• Sly
  
• Surprising
  

Colby was very friendly when we first interacted and never made conversations awkward. (Which is sometimes hard to do when you first are meeting someone from the ORG world) I came to find Colby to be very sly in the game. I found him to be cunning and crafty - and I feel as though I'm one of the only few who saw this about him. He kept his nice guy personality as a blanket to his more sly game. Finally, the last strength to point out is he was surprising. People often thought Colby's loyalty was firmly with a certain person (Such as Kim) but he was unexpectedly closer to other people than thought. So he kept his close alliances well hidden for a long time.

• Careful
  
• Sweet but deadly
  
• Alluring personality
  

Shawna's first notable strength was that she was careful. She was careful with what she said and she was careful with her game decisions. She really thought everything out opposed to being impulsive. She kept things to herself and I feel this brought her a long way in the game. Next, Shawna was deemed the Sausage Sweetheart. Typically when someone is labeled a sweetheart in a game, they aren't looked at as a power player or huge contender to win. Shawna was different from that standard in that she was easily a dangerous player for the ultimate win. Finally, I was really drawn to her personality. When interacting with her, you could tell she was a smart person. You could really get a sense that she was an ally you wanted to have. Even by the way she typed, she was someone you felt you could be safe with. (Even if that wasn't the case)

• Threatening yet untouchable
  
• Manipulative
  
• Never gave up
  

Kim's first strength in that she was threatening but untouchable. For the most part of this game, you knew that if Kim touched finals, she'd win the game. Everyone recognized her as this huge threat to win but she was hard to eliminate because of all her friendships. Even after it caught up to her the first time, she came back into the game a target and worked her social game to decrease it. Next, she was very manipulative. She could talk players into doing moves and get things done. People were always afraid of her having the power to flip the script. Kim never once gave up in this game and fought tooth and nail to stay. Even though she was a threat to go out she made it hard for people to want to vote her. It was very difficult to get her out because of how hard she fought back.

• Feisty / Opinionated / blunt
  
• Underestimated
  
• Impossible to hate once you get to know her
  

If Candice didn't like something, you were going to know..because she'd fiercely tell you so. She was blunt in her opinions and she always wanted to get her way in the game. She strategically had to roll over at times but it did not stop her from trying. This ties into her next strength, which was that she was very underestimated. I know that people looked at Candice as a follower, but I played alongside her from the Final 20 and I knew it to not be the case, personally. In my eyes she was a contender to win for her story in this game and a lot of people didn't get to see her thought process on things. Finally, she is impossible to hate once you get to know her. Basically, her last strength is that she is loveable. You did not want to upset her. After making a move she was not involved with, it felt like crap because of how quick and fast you could see her as a friend.

• Hilarious
  
• Nonthreatening
  
• Strong competitor but kept it fairly hidden
  

Alex is fucking funny. His first strength is that he was hilarious. I pretty much always smiled when I talked with him, because he was so quick on his feet and humorous. The next strength to Alex in this game is he was nonthreatening. Aside from myself, Alex was the last person of the merge to receive a vote during it. (He received votes Pre-Merge but not until his boot post merge) What got him so far was the fact nobody felt he was an immediate threat to go. What separated him from Wanda is he made himself seem less of a wild card. While it wasn't going to get him the win, it got him to final 6 in a 35 person cast. I don't think many people saw Alex's dominance in challenges, but he was very strong. He single handily helped secure Tribal challenge wins for Gwad in the tribal stages. I think people thought he was easily beatable in a tiebreaker due to his activity, but I think they may have been surprised.

• Honest
  
• Funny/Enjoyable
  
• Charismatic
  

Chase's best strength in this game was his honesty. It's what made it so easy for me to trust him. You always knew where he stood and once he said he'd do something, chances are he was doing it. It is what made Chase the last member standing of his alliance. Next strength: Chase was funny. He'd often come home inebriated and say the strangest things. This is a strength because it made him enjoyable to talk with, and once you have fun with someone like Chase, you really don't want them to go. Lastly, he was Charismatic. The way he played this game was a way that attracted people to his side. I originally did not see the magnitude of people who he had on his side and it was definitely in part to his charismatic personality.

• Metamorphic gameplay
  
• Straight shooter
  
• Survivability
  

Sean's drastic gameplay from the last season was pretty jarring. Everyone kept waiting for Sean to flip and make waves - so it was impressive how he turned his game around from season 5. Therefore his first strength is his metamorphic way of playing - it got him extremely far in a game where nobody should have trusted him coming in. Next, Sean was a straight shooter. Looking back, I can't think of any poignant times Sean lied about his intentions with a vote. This is definitely a strength and contributing factor as to why Sean lasted as long as he did. Lastly, he had a strength of survivability. Sean was a target for a good portion of the merge, probably more than half of it. Maybe even the whole merge. If not for his social game and the connections he made, there is no way he would not be sitting in that Jury much much earlier.

• Lamb exterior, Lion interior
  
• Well connected and safe
  
• Shields
  

Miki's first strength is that she looked trustworthy and friendly. But on the inside was sinister and ready to strike. Therefore, she has a strength of making people trust her when they shouldn't. Next, Miki was hard to vote off. It seemed as though she was the safest person at the start of the merge and was very well protected. Nobody wanted her out, which in part is due to the relationships that she made. Finally, she used shields and bigger targets to hide behind in the game. While it appears as though she shouldn't have gone with two people viewed as power players, it was definitely a smart game decision to last in this long 35 person game.

• Strategic
  
• Cut-throat
  
• Dedication & Determination
  

Vee's first strength to admire is her strategy. She executed moves at certain points of time that helped her way to the end of the game. She thought about how to secure herself rounds ahead of time and worried about certain players aligning to other certain players. Next, she was a very cut-throat player. When you are the cut-throat player in a game you get blood on your hands. This can sometimes be looked at as a good thing, depending on who she faces at the end. It's always good to have some blood because it can merit some credit. Finally, she had dedication and determination. She showed a ton of fight in the final challenge, showing determination and proving dedication.

• Adaptability to hard times
  
• Inviting and Socially dominant
  
• Challenge prowess & Determination
  

I hate tooting my own horn, but that is what Final Tribal Council is all about! Anyways, I found myself to be a very adaptable in the game. I came in with a gigantic target and a ton of haters and I worked around that, making allies in places I never expected. I survived every swap by recruiting new allies in each, propelling me further into the game. The reason I was called the Siren (Charmed and lured the sailors to their deaths) is that I was very inviting, drawing people in so that they trust me. I used my honest approach to get people on my side and help sway them to do things I preferred. My social game was dominant in that respect, because I made people trust me fast which helped gather me information and provide me protection. Lastly, can't be ignored, my challenge prowess was a huge strength and it showed my determination to win this game. I put a ton of effort into the game was a force to be reckoned with because of that. I feel I showed just how much I want to win.




Thanks Shawna!

[Snakecepia "Judas" Towery]

Aug 14, 2013 23:11:58 GMT -5 Shawna Mitchell said:

Vee, you are in the same boat for me as Miki as far as trying to say I should've trusted you even though you voted off DD, then Colby. The F4 was Chase's idea but I agree it shouldn't have been proposed to you without Miki, and I would have had no intention of including you in it anyway..so it is what it is. Either way, you say you still wanted to work with me until you heard I wanted to vote you out, lol. Again, I call bullshit on this because I believe it wouldn't have mattered and that was just a convenient excuse for you.

I guess I let you off the hook on this more than Miki because I really do feel that you lived up to your nickname "Snakecepia."

I'm sure you've heard the fable "The Frog and the Crocodile." If not, look it up because you are exactly like the crocodile and that's how I feel you played the game. That, in its own right, is a strategy I can actually admire. I can enjoy a good villain who snakes their way to the end.

My only issue with your game is the fact that you stopped just one person short of making your villainous game complete...and that's by not voting Sydney out. Had you brought Miki/Sean with you to the end I think you would've ensured your victory by a landslide. Right or wrong, that's how I personally view your game.

Thanks for reading and good luck!

I will admit, long term for you it wouldn’t have mattered. My intention was to utilize our relationship to take out Alex/Kim, and then go forward from there with what I felt was best long term. As far as not taking out Sydney goes, as I’ve already said in other Jury questions, it wasn’t necessarily about stopping one person short. It was about setting myself up to ensure I was going to make it to the end. Had I taken Sydney out, and it tied the next round, it’s possible I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. Leaving Chase in at the F4 was limiting my options, the one thing I wanted to ensure I had each round. Options equated to me holding the power when it came to decision making, and holding the power and fate in your hands is how you control the game, something I feel I did.

I will say, I went back and looked at your reasoning behind voting for Chelsea in season 3, and I did see some of your criterion involved her being viewed as the person making the moves, as well as someone who was strong in challenges, already two things that I feel are similar to my gameplay. Sydney did call me her Chelsea many a time throughout the season, so in that respect I hope history repeats itself when it comes to your vote. I do want to thank you for your comments! I went and read the crocodile fable and loved it! Now onto your question!



I will also ask a question of you all if you'd like to answer. I'd like you to post the 3 biggest strengths, as you saw them, for each of the final 16, including yourselves. If you can't come up with 3, then whatever you can come up with.

*Exuberant
*Fearless
*Humorous

Ted's all star name was the grinder, and boy do I think all of three of his strengths fall in line with that title. I'd say Ted was one of the biggest characters out here, which contributed to his likeability. The energy he brought to the table made others gravitate toward him. He was fearless in the sense that he wasn't afraid to play the game and make moves, even when they were viewed as against the grain, or against what others approved of. Last but not least he was humorous. Every time I walked away from a conversation with Ted, I was laughing, once again a prime contribution to his overall likeability.



*Straight-forward
*Sensible
*Reliable

One of my favorite things about Alexis is the fact she isn't afraid to get to the point. She doesn't like to beat around the bush, or drag things out. When it came to my relationship with her, she was always straight forward and honest with me, and I know she was with other players as well. (Danielle comes to mind) I feel Alexis's sensibility is also another contributing factor to her overall ability as a player. Whenever she saw something that she deemed shady or suspicious, she would think of ways to potentially counter-act the situation. I also found her to be extremely reliable. Whenever I needed her, she was there for me, and anyone else she was aligned with. She wasn't afraid to have her allies backs, which is an essential trait when it comes to looking for allies in games. Everyone wants an ally they can deem as reliable.



*Amusing
*Convivial
*Easy-going

Wanda, is no doubt the funniest person in the cast. Whenever you needed a laugh, you could go to her for it. Whether she was drunk, high, or just plan out goofy, you'd always leave the convo having a smile on your face. Wanda was convivial in the sense she was very lively and gave off a very cheery/friendly atmosphere that made her extremely likeable, and added a light-hearted tone to the game. Finally she was easy-going in the sense it was difficult to really upset her or create any dissension with her, making her good ally material.



*Big-hearted
*Charismatic
*Keen

Judd is probably one of the nicest players I've ever met in an ORG. Even if he never intended to go far with you, you could tell he had a big heart and actually seemed to care about the person he was talking to, making him appear very trustworthy. Judd's second strength is his charismatic ability. I don't think there's a single person in this game, who didn't like Judd. He's just an great guy, and you can't help but like him. The last strength I gave Judd is his keenness. He always seemed to be ready, willing, and joyful to talk to you, all contributing to a strong likeability and trust in the game.



*Clever
*Eccentric
*Eclectic

Kourtney's first strength is her ability to be clever. You could tell the gears in her brain were always turning and that she had ideas in her head she was just waiting to put to use. She was very eccentric in the sense some of the unusual ways she acted contributed to her likeability. Finally I'd say Kourtney is very eclectic in the sense that she doesn't have a set or obvious playing style. In her original season she was considered snakey, and this time around she seemed to be a lot more cheery and approachable. Being able to play different ways is a very good strategy, and keeps people guessing what your true intentions or motives might be.



*Dynamic/Pro-active
*Friendly
*Intelligent

Danielle was the most dynamic player in the game. No matter what the situation was, she was always willing to set things in motion whether it came to blindsides or alliances. Without this trait, we don't get to see strong alliances or big games moves occur. Danielle was also very friendly and used this trait to work with other players as well as build relationships and trust with other players. Finally she was intelligent in the sense she always had a plan, and a back-up plan in case something went wrong. Without her wit, there would have been no game behind the gameplayer, all three traits contributing to the Golith that is Danielle.



*Kind
*Polite
*Placid

Colby was one of the kindest players in the cast. He would always ask how you were and it really gave him a strong sense of likeability. He was also polite, and never tried to overstep boundaries, or treat others without respect, which helped in making him appear trustworthy. Finally he was placid in the sense that when something didn't go his way, he never really threw a fit or showed any anger. He just went with the flow and it made others feel comfortable around him.



*Astute
*Affable
*Conscientious

Shawna coming in was certainly one of the best players in the cast. She was astute in the sense she had a good habit of observing what happened, or how others acted as a way to figure out what her next move was going to be, and played everything off cool until it was time for her to execute a move. Alexis is a prime example of this. She worked with Alexis to help take out Kim, knowing Alexis wasn't happy with Kim, and then helped take Alexis out when she didn't need her anymore. Shawna was also very affable. She was someone you could stay up talking to for hours, contributing to her strong social game. Finally I'd say she was conscientious in the sense she wanted to play a strong game, but do so in a manner that was cautious, and thought out by what her instincts told her.



*Determined
*Cunning
*Leadership ability

Kim was arguably the biggest fighter in the cast. She was always very determined to do what was best for her game and giving it her all, making her a strong and threatening player. She was very cunning in the sense that she had many allies who felt very close to her, yet didn't realize how many allies she truly had. She in turn utilized all these close bonds to get her way when she wanted to. Finally I'd say Kim's best trait involved her being able to be a leader and take charge when she needed to. This made her the person viewed at the head of decision making, creating a strong case for someone who could win the game.



*Frank
*Planner
*Versatile

Candice was the realest player in this cast. You knew if she liked you. You knew if she hated you. You knew if she had absolutely no idea who you were. Her frankness made her appear very trustworthy since you always had some sort of idea where she stood. She was also a planner that was always thinking of the best time to execute a game move, and who needed to go when. Her other asset was her versatility. I'm pretty sure Candice went to tribal council more than anybody else pre-merge, (of everyone who made the merge) and still managed to make it all the way to the F7. There was no way she could have done that if she wasn't able to change the way she played and adapt to each situation she was placed in.



*Whimsical
*Alluring
*Underestimated

I'll definitely remember one of my favorite things about Alex, was how he was the funny guy. He always had a playful demeanor about him, that made me like him. He was alluring in the sense it didn't matter what you'd talk to him about, but that he'd just seem charming in the process, allowing others to want to work with him despite his UTR gameplay. I'd also say he was underestimated in the sense a lot of players didn't really see him having that much game, but he was definitely a thinker who knew what classified a threat, and who he needed to go to the end with.



*Radiant
*Candid
*Adaptable

Chase had a very radiant personality to me. Whenever we talked he always seemed like a ray of light, and excited to be talking to me, a factor that contributed to his strong social game. He was also known for being very candid and upfront about what he was doing most of the time. If Chase said he was going to vote a certain way, 99% of the time he did, and he really tried to lie as little as necessary, translating as good ally material. His adaptability to his surroundings also got him out of a lot of jams. There were many instances where Chase was in a bad position. He was targeted on the nuPoseidon tribe, while we were on two tribes, early on in the merge, and then managed to make it all the way to the final five after his alliance was decimated. That doesn't happen unless someone is very good at being able to adapt to their surroundings.




*Persistent
*Clearheaded/Sharp
*Nice

Sean to me was one of the most persistent players all season. There were several rounds where he didn't necessarily get his way, or didn't like what was going on, but he never wavered away from what he really wanted and kept his cool until he could eventually get his way. I also felt Sean was very sharp and level headed, in the sense he always had an idea of what he wanted to do, and knew a smart plan of action to take. Lastly, he was a nice guy! My opinion of Sean has changed completely following this season, and I can really tell he's a great guy on the inside, which was something that allowed others to gravitate towards him.



*Sociability
*Maskability
*Discreet

Miki was voted as the player who made the most friends during majority rules, all stemming from her sociability. She used this trait as a way to make friends and keep herself abreast of what was going on in the game. For lack of a better word, Miki also used maskability to further herself. On the outside, she looked like someone that was your best friend, but she always had a plan for what she actually wanted to do and was able to mask her true intentions behind her sweet demeanor. Last but not least, she was discreet. Miki and I always talked about what we didn't like in ropes, and even when she voiced her opinions to others, she did so in a very careful manner as to not arouse suspicion that she would eventually go against the grain of the alliance.



*Strong
*Genial
*Understanding

Sydney was by far the strongest competitor all season, she won challenges left and right whenever she needed to, and as a way to build her game resume. I'd also say Sydney was very genial in the sense that she treated people with kindness and respect allowing them to like her, even if they had heard she was a threat that needed to go. Sydney's third strength was her ability to understand other players, and capitalized on this as a way to build trust with them.



*Strong-minded
*Approachable
*Self-disciplined

When it comes to me, I feel like strong-minded is a good place to start. On most occasions I was relatively set on what I wanted to do, and I didn't easily allow others to try and affect my thoughts, or try to steer me off course of what I wanted to do. My approachability was key, since it allowed me to work with almost everyone, and decide the best route of action to take for my long term game. Finally I'd say my self discipline was something that's key in me sitting here right now. Sometimes I was angry with people, but I utilized this trait to make it appear as if I wasn't. There were also times I utilized it to do well in a competition, telling myself I could do it, even if it didn't seem like I could. Ultimately my self discipline was my gameface, and without that, I don't think I would have ever made it this far.

Thanks for your questions Shawna! Once again, if you have any follow ups feel free to shoot them my way!

[Sydney Wheeler]

Not that this is super relevant but

Sydney did call me her Chelsea many a time throughout the season

You definitely weren't really my "Chelsea" since I never would have considered Chelsea to vote me out
I think I just compared it to me bringing Chelsea to the end in season 3 because I was loyal (and didn't mind going against a worthy adversary), trying to convey to you that I would do the same with you. (So you wouldn't vote me out) I would argue that I was actually the Chelsea in this scenario - Having an opportunity to send out Chelsea in season 3 at final 5 and not taking it.

[Shawna Mitchell]

Aug 18, 2013 6:37:59 GMT -5 Snakecepia "Judas" Towery said:

I will admit, long term for you it wouldn’t have mattered. My intention was to utilize our relationship to take out Alex/Kim, and then go forward from there with what I felt was best long term. As far as not taking out Sydney goes, as I’ve already said in other Jury questions, it wasn’t necessarily about stopping one person short. It was about setting myself up to ensure I was going to make it to the end. Had I taken Sydney out, and it tied the next round, it’s possible I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. Leaving Chase in at the F4 was limiting my options, the one thing I wanted to ensure I had each round. Options equated to me holding the power when it came to decision making, and holding the power and fate in your hands is how you control the game, something I feel I did.

I will say, I went back and looked at your reasoning behind voting for Chelsea in season 3, and I did see some of your criterion involved her being viewed as the person making the moves, as well as someone who was strong in challenges, already two things that I feel are similar to my gameplay. Sydney did call me her Chelsea many a time throughout the season, so in that respect I hope history repeats itself when it comes to your vote. I do want to thank you for your comments! I went and read the crocodile fable and loved it! Now onto your question!

Thanks, Vee! Would you mind clarifying a couple of points?

Since you wanted me to help take out Kim/Alex, and Kim had immunity the round I left, are you saying you would have targeted Alex if not for hearing I wanted you out?

I'm kind of impressed you went back and researched my Season 3 winner vote. When did you do this? Did you research all the other juror's previous season votes/reasoning?

At this point, who do you think each juror is voting for and why? Actually, Miki/Sydney can you both answer this too?

[Sydney Wheeler]

Aug 18, 2013 13:42:11 GMT -5 Shawna Mitchell said:

At this point, who do you think each juror is voting for and why? Actually, Miki/Sydney can you both answer this too?

Ted: Myself with the advantage over Vecepia - Based on the way he addressed us both. Coming in I would have never predicted Ted's vote, but he complimented me so if he sticks to what he felt, I would get the edge over Vee here for his vote since he said Vee was 2nd overall to me.

Alexis: Vecepia - Is grass green?

Wanda: Vecepia - Another given and close friend of Vee's

Judd: Sydney - My close ally, the Alexis to Vee

Kourtney: Sydney - Another close ally, the Wanda to Vee

Danielle: She said she was leaning towards voting me in her speech. So I would hope for me here.

Colby: Given his Jury thread was mostly directed towards me, I would hope for his vote as well. (Can only predict with what I see)

Shawna: A pendulum going back and forth between Vee & Myself? Of all Jury threads so far I can read the least into yours. I remember fighting for your vote last time and it didn't end up in my favor. Ultimately you will do what your guts telling you and it's impossible for me to know. Because like in the game, you keep a lot of it to yourself!

Kim: Well I definitely don't think she is voting for Miki. So that would leave Vee and myself, which is probably up in the air. While I know she is mad at Vee I still have a hard time imagining her voting me to win based on our ups and downs.

Candice: I would guess Miki if she voted personally because I think they are personally the closest, but the vibe is that she is out of contention. I actually think she should personally vote for me considering how big a threat she saw me in the game - and she mentioned it was stupid for whomever told me about her wanting me out. (Which was Vee) But yeah this is a huge toss up for me to guess because she was close to us all

Alex: He hasn't given any indication on anything, but of all finalists I have the best relationship to him. Definitely not obvious to pick who he'd vote though, because Alex loves surprises.

Chase: Same case with Danielle. He wrote in his Jury statements that he was leaning towards voting me so I can only predict on what has been said, and hold onto that hope.

Sean: Vecepia for the fact he told me he was going to vote for her when I didn't want to tie it.


Ultimately, it's never easy to predict what a Juror will ultimately do unless it is a blatantly obvious case. This is just my assessment based on what you guys have said so far and I realize anything can change. But for those who've given the impression they were leaning my way they should kindly not change.