Purple Pants Podcast | Survivor 50 FINALE Recap | Split the Vote

[00:00:00] It's the Purple Pants, it's the Purple Pants, it's the Purple Pants Podcast, you better get your headphones in, listen up quick, it's the Purple Pants Podcast, you better listen in public, might make your stomach hurt, cash is trying to unwind, you better hurry right back though, it's the Purple Pants, it's the Purple Pants. Split the Vote!

[00:00:32] Welcome back everyone to another episode of Split the Vote, where today we will be wrapping up Season 50 of Survivor, talking about the finale to yet another solid season. I'm your host Rob, and this is the Ultimate Survivor Podcast, a Purple Pants Podcast powered production.

[00:00:50] And as always, I'm joined by the talented, tenacious co-host Tim, and today we welcome back the king of Purple Pants Podcast themselves, our dad, Brice. Thank you for joining and talking Survivor with us again today. Big Zeddy. Yes, now that I got two kids, I'm screaming. Yes, I'm always excited to be here for Split the Vote, and yeah, we got a finale to talk about.

[00:01:18] Listen, and do we got a lot to talk about, because it is so much that happened in this episode, plus the live reunion, we had a fumble, we got a winner for Survivor 50, we got bitter people, it's a lot to get into, and I'm excited to get into it all. Oh yeah. You know, the first thing that I guess I want to do is shout out our winner for Season 50, so congratulations to Aubrey.

[00:01:44] I truly think she played a very standout game, so I kind of want to hear what you guys thought about Aubrey and the game that she played as well. I'm happy for Aubrey, like I really am. I was in this conversation, so I helped host the finale party at this bar in DC, and somebody walks up to me after the votes are revealed, and they're like,

[00:02:05] oh, Aubrey won, but it could have been Jonathan, it could have been Rizzo, and I'm thinking if we're working at a company, and Bryce has been there for 10 years, Rob, you just got there for a year. Who am I giving the promotion to? I'm giving the promotion to somebody who's been there for 10 years, and Aubrey has been at it for a while, so I'm happy for Aubrey.

[00:02:30] I feel like it's a well-deserved win for her, and I'm happy that she has a W behind her. Yes. Now, it's split the vote, and so I love y'all, but I'm going to have to disagree with you, Tim, right? I could be working at the company for 10 years, and Rob could have started last year.

[00:02:48] If I'm lazy, if I'm clocking in late, if I am doing all of the things that don't deserve a promotion, Rob is getting the promotion. And I think that that is kind of some of the arguments that some of the people that didn't win have been using. And so, like, I don't want to say it's because Aubrey played five times.

[00:03:09] I think Aubrey played a very nuanced, new-era game, and I think Ceri said it during when somebody was trying to ask a question. Ceri had chimed in, and Ceri was like, well, actually, no. Playing the middle isn't as easy as it sounds, and to be able to get this far and not lock in and be able to kind of go with the tides speaks to her game.

[00:03:34] Now, yes, Aubrey played four times, and it took her a while to—not a while, but, like, you know, she knew what she wanted to play like this time. So, although she might have been here five times, if somebody else played a better game, then they're going to get it. And so, like, I only interrupt you because I keep hearing that, and I don't necessarily like that rationale, right? Survivor isn't just get to the end.

[00:04:03] Survivor isn't just crack open coconut. Survivor isn't just, you know, ooh, me, all, blah, blah, right? Survivor, you got to make social relationships. You're putting people on the jury, right? How they get there matters. So— Yeah. Especially with the first person on the jury being Dee, and we saw Dee get into it with Jonathan, whose social game I don't think was as big and strong as the muscles on his arms.

[00:04:31] No shade to him, but, you know, I think there was a lot of growth to be had on that social part, for sure. Yeah, when I think about the game that, like, Jonathan played, and Aubrey as well, and, like, maybe why the jury voted the way they do, I kind of go back to the game that Sandra played, like, back in Season 20 in Heroes vs. Villains.

[00:04:51] You know, everyone on the jury in Season 50 and the jury in Season 20, like, everyone, they're getting another chance to play to prove why they are the best Survivor player out of everyone, right? And you're competing against the best, so it means that much more, right? So I think, like, when you consider the hand that, like, Parvati had in the demise of everyone on that jury, and Russell is too, too, right?

[00:05:16] They ruined the other games that they played, and it kind of led to, like, maybe people wanting to vote for, like, Sandra more, right? Like, the heroes, even if they didn't really, like, work with Sandra, they had a better, like, attitude towards her, and they wanted to work with her. So I think there is somewhat of, like, that kind of a comparison to the game that Jonathan played, because I do think he was a decisive player,

[00:05:37] and he made moves to solidify himself and the people he was working with, but he created, like, enemies and people who had, like, a hostile attitude towards him in that process. Whereas Aubrey was able to effectively adapt and continue to make relationships throughout the entire course of the game, and do so in a way where people didn't have that negative attitude towards her, where they saw her at the end as someone that really represented Season 50 and the new era,

[00:06:07] and maybe the open era of how this new game of Survivor is going to play. So I think that is a big piece in why maybe Aubrey had that perspective, like, rooting for her. Don't get started in the open era. Well, child, because I was about to say, because I'm going to get to that later. What is we doing? But no, like, I completely agree with that, Rob, and I think this is Season 50, right? It is the new era. We have new era winners, we have new era players, and we have some older players.

[00:06:36] And again, I think Aubrey adapted this style that maybe to an older Survivor lover or older player, it doesn't look like much. And I will say, because on Survivor news this season, I've been super, super, super, super critical of all of the players, right? Like, it's not Bryce that is podcasting. It is like Survivor fan Bryce, not the Bryce that knows the people.

[00:07:02] And so I always get criticized where if I'm friends with someone, I always have like a butt, right? And so this season, I've tried to be more open and like, you know, just say what I see. And so there definitely has been growth in Jonathan's game. And there's no doubt he got to the end, right? Like, he muscled his way to the end. He had strong alliances. But the thing for me is that Jonathan's game, right? And I think like Stephanie said, like, it looks like an old school player game.

[00:07:31] You're providing, you're doing all of this thing, and you got to the end. But this is the new school, right? This is the new era. And sometimes the new era winners and the gameplay does not look as flashy and as prestigious as what people think it should look like. Ask Erica, right? Where it's like, sometimes when you play under the radar, you know, ask Marianne.

[00:07:58] Sometimes when you get in that final seat, that's when you turn it on. And not turn it on, but like, you know, the story that you tell, how you touch people. And so, again, like, you know, I have fun just talking-ish on Jonathan. But he played a good game. Like, I went out third, okay? Like, there's nothing that, okay? I can't hold a candle to him. However, there are just nuances in how Aubrey navigated.

[00:08:26] How she, like, looked at people's threat level. How she looked at what move makes sense for me to get to the end. And so, I think that it is remarkable for her. And it's also like, you know, who to get to the end with. And I think, y'all know I'm hyped to be on Split the Bowl, so tell me to shut up. But also, I think her recognizing, because the fan in me, I'm like, Aubrey, take Tiffany. I want y'all at the end together, right?

[00:08:54] If it was Aubrey and Tiffany together, that would have made my whole day. Because I was already rooting for Tiff from the start. You know, I love Tiff down. Tiff could be flopping in challenges. Tiff could have the worst social game ever. Unlike you, Bryce. I got to split the vote a little bit here. I'm going to be biased. I will be biased. But I will get flowers where flowers do. Like you said with Jonathan, I will agree. He played a much better game than he did the first time around. He had a lot more control.

[00:09:24] He had a lot more power. A lot more agency. All the bells and whistles. He got it. But he still didn't have those relationships when he needed them. But again, if it was Tiff and Aubrey at the very end, two queens next to each other, that would have made my entire Survivor Week. And maybe then I would have put Survivor 50 in my top 25, top 10, top 5. Because I don't know if y'all feel like it's up there for y'all, but I don't think it's up there for me.

[00:09:51] Well, but I agree with you. And I say all that to say is like Tiffany knew she couldn't sit next to Tiff or it would have been a lot tighter. And she still put Tiff on the jury, but Tiff still voted for her. So it speaks to not only how someone gets voted out, but the relationships throughout the game that matters. When Aubrey was at the bottom, Tiffany was there, right? Other people was coming to Tiffany, telling her what we're doing, right? And so again, all of it matters.

[00:10:21] And so like, I don't know if I would put Survivor 50 in my top 10. But overall, I definitely think it was a very interesting season. I definitely agree. I feel like for the 50th season, it did what it had to do. It was a 50th season of Survivor, that it was. But when it comes to seasons that end with zero for me, I don't think those are my favorites. Like everybody loves Winners at War. And what is it?

[00:10:50] War is one of my least favorite seasons because of the boot order. And Survivor 50, we kind of had a bad boot order in some ways, not all the ways. Sari got to the end. Tiff got to the end. Christian got a little far. Aubrey ended up winning. But I don't know. It's something about the seasons with the zero. But if I'm putting Survivor 50 on a list, maybe it's season 36 out of 50 for me. I don't know. What about you, Rob? You, Bryce? But maybe that's me.

[00:11:18] I think if I'm ranking it, it's probably like a fringe top 10. It's somewhere on that bubble for me because I think what's so difficult about there being a returning season is that there's always high stakes, right? And I think there's also an issue where it's not necessarily like authentic Survivor because everyone is coming into the game, I guess, aside from like players like 49. But like with an idea of like how everyone plays this game, what their game looks like.

[00:11:47] So everyone is somewhat of a shell to themselves. And only once when they like kind of like peek out behind the curtains and like expose like who they are in that true game is like a Rick Devins, right? Like when you fold back into that kind of like person that like you have been that and you show everyone that kind of game that you are. That's when you get popped. Right. So I think you want if you have the ability, if you come in with like this huge stock into

[00:12:13] the game, you want to kind of like diminish yourself and put yourself down as much as possible, which doesn't really bode well for playing. I think like it with this game when there is so much high stakes to it, if that makes sense. It definitely does. Right. And I think I agree with you a little bit, but we might have to split the vote on you. Right. Because I also feel like in returning seasons, like for instance, Rick Devins, right?

[00:12:40] Where cousin Ricky said mid middle of the season, like, okay, y'all want Rick Devins. He's here because of Ricky was playing since day one. Right. It's just he was already Ricky. But I also think that that adds something me as a viewer. What I like about returning seasons is, yeah, you have these players that have big stock and we know what they're playing like. Um, but then we have these other players like a Tiffany, right?

[00:13:06] Like a, um, a Christian I can say for this season where these Emily's where these other players that like, maybe their art wasn't as big. And so for me, I always think the best part of a season is pre jewelry. And so for me, it's like these people that maybe didn't have such a huge art. I'm wondering how they're going to navigate. And I feel like the season sometimes is set up for people like them.

[00:13:31] And so why winners at war, I give it to Tony because Tony was Tony the whole time. And he was able to still kind of navigate that. So I don't think your persona is always such a hindrance, right? It's like how you navigate, how you move. But I always think it gives like an opportunity for other players that maybe we're not as familiar with to kind of move on in. Um, and so, and again, Aubrey, right?

[00:13:59] Where it's like, it kind of was the same Aubrey. She just played a little different, right? Like if you watch her in previous seasons, it's like, that's the same Aubrey. Uh, but I get this go around. Her back was against the wall from day one, right? And so she had to continuously pray to Jesus to make it to the next day and then be very calculating about her moves and who she puts the target on.

[00:14:25] Listen, I feel like the only thing that changed, she's always been a mother to me, but she came back a mother. You get what I'm saying? She, she got kids now. She been had kids in Survivor. Shout out to Mo. Uh, who famously got voted out for being one of Aubrey kids, apparently. Uh, but yeah, like you said, seeing a returning season, uh, seeing players who've played before. Maybe we saw a little bit of, maybe they weren't the big shout out star of their season, but

[00:14:52] seeing them come back again, seeing their arc, seeing how they evolve, seeing how they change. Even players who we know and love, like Sarit, like Ozzie, who we've seen play a bunch of different times before. I will never get tired of seeing them play. Hey, listen, Sari could be at her hundredth birthday party. If she, if she want to step on the beach, I'm going to be rooting for her. I'm going to be like, sit out them challenges, but you can still win. I with you though.

[00:15:20] But again, you know, I love Ozzie Rob, but I'll be honest when the list, when we saw the official list and Ozzie was on it, I was kind of like, Ariana, what are you doing here? Because if you think about the last two times we saw Ozzie, right? Specifically the last time we saw him play, it was not his best performance. And I didn't feel like his game, his head was in the game.

[00:15:45] And so again, not real Bryce, but fan Bryce was like, I don't know if I want to see an Ozzie. However, this season, it was like an insurgence of the Ozzie energy where it was like, oh my God, this is like the new Ozzie that we've been dying for. And so it's hard to kind of gauge when you have these players that have these big legacies. I think one of the beautiful things that I liked about this season was it felt like we

[00:16:14] were retiring some of the, some of the greats and I'm excited for that. Right. Like, because it's like, okay, y'all didn't play it enough except Saree. And it's like, yes, we don't need to see Kobe again. We love him. But like, okay, like, you know, he, he, he got his thing. And so a part of that is like retiring these legends, but also a part of it was like, I feel like from some of the new era people in season 50, right.

[00:16:42] They're going, there are new legends in the making and why maybe like two episodes ago, I was like, at first I was really rooting for Riz guy. Cause I'm like, oh my God, he going to do it. But then at some point I was like, I actually don't want him to win. Obviously I want him to get $2 million, but I'm like, I think his arc is, as a survivor future legend is so much more like delicious and tasty. If he doesn't win this and he comes back. And I don't know.

[00:17:12] I feel like him not winning sets the survivor fans up for us to get to see more Rizzo. So selfishly, I was like, ah, I don't want Riz God to win. I want like, you know, I want this to add to his story kind of sort of light and all. You know, and I think that's pretty great that you bring up Rizzo too. Cause I hadn't honestly thought about that perspective and going into like a future, like returning season.

[00:17:41] Like if, if I see Rizzo playing, like, I'm going to love to see him on my screen. Just like how I love to see like Q play again. Right. Though I would be like concerned about how maybe Rizzo might be perceived by everyone else and be like, I don't think he's going to do it again. Like there is no way he gets all the way back to final four and you know what? Like he could totally go back to the island, play again and prove me wrong. Right. And I think that's like what I would want to see, like out of these like electric players, like a Q, you know? So yeah, I think that's actually, that's a great point.

[00:18:10] Everybody always says, oh, Sandra won. She's never going to get to the end again. Rizzo got to the end, back to back. Everybody wants to say, oh, Tiff is the new Parvati. She's going to be Parvati 2.0. Actually, I think she's Tiff 2.0. And I'm excited to see Tiff 3.0 to 4.0. Unfortunately, I don't think I want to see Joe.0 anymore.

[00:18:33] But I'm excited to see how these new legends continue into this open era that we're headed into, into the future. Who knows? Maybe it's a future where it's a fans versus favorites. It's a chance where I'm on the beach with Rizzo. Well, I'm on the beach with Tiff. You know, it's room for a Tim 1.0. We don't know what the future holds at this point.

[00:19:00] So I'm excited to see these new legends be cemented. And I'm hoping in this open era, we get more opportunities for new legends to rise. Say what y'all want about Joe. But he ain't blocked me, so I'm good. But I think Joe is a very interesting character. I wasn't on the beach. I don't know what necessarily happened.

[00:19:24] But I have always been saying, like, from his first time on 48, I was excited to see his name on the list because I was like, he was so attached to Eva that now this gives him an opportunity in season 50 to play a different game. Right. But we quickly saw that, like, the Joe in 48, that's Joe Hunter. Right. Like, Joe go to work. Joe pack a lunch. Joe put out fires. And Joe go home. That's it. That's all.

[00:19:53] And I think, again, however y'all feel about the edit. But, again, watching some of the exit press, Joe was aware. Joe was like, when he was at Final Tribal, Joe was saying, like, listen, y'all don't even got to ask me questions. Just ask them questions. Right. And for me, that's like, oh, OK. Like, he's aware of what's happening. And so this might be a hot take, but I wouldn't be mad if I saw Joe on my screen for a third time in the sense that I would have such a hope.

[00:20:22] Like, Joe, switch it up. You can lie. Like, I would have to call Joe. And I'd be like, listen, Joe, you can lie. You can steal. You can even set a fire. It's OK. We give you permission for these 26 days. Right. And set Joe free. Because I think there's a lot of good in Joe. And everyone keeps saying, like, Survivor just isn't the game for him.

[00:20:50] But I want to see the switch. I want to see a nasty Joe. Like, I want to see a life. I don't know. That excites me. So. Well, I guess I would say that, like, I remember, like, when the three of us were filming our finale episode for season 48. Like, I had set up the idea that, like, I would love to see Joe play again in a future season because of the very idea that you laid out.

[00:21:14] And I was really hoping to feel and see that switch from him this season because we saw that true, authentic firefighter. Like, I'm the dad, like Joe. Right. And I think we did give him permission to play a more cutthroat game, especially when you're surrounded by past winners and some of the greatest survivor players that we've seen. So I think I think Joe maybe might be a creature of habit, like as humans are. Right.

[00:21:43] And just kind of go back to that mold of the person of who he is. And I think maybe that's why I would be concerned, maybe not concerned, but might not be the most excited about seeing him in a future season. But that doesn't mean that, like, I don't want to be friends with Joe outside of this game because he is such a super thoughtful person with just a huge heart. But when I say that, like, maybe like when you said, like, people are saying that, like, maybe the survivor isn't the game for him. Well, he's super fucking good at the game. Like, let's get that out the door.

[00:22:11] Dude made it to final three two times. He just might not be the kind of person that plays a winning game, but he's very good at the game of survivor. And he might just need to be seated, like seated around the right people at the end of the game for him to win. And now I don't know what kind of qualities in those players it might end up being, but I would be it'd probably be like a bunch of Eva's, you know, which might not be the worst thing in the world.

[00:22:39] But it doesn't sound like the most exciting game from like the survivor community that wouldn't need to be played by Joe for that to happen. And I want to give him his flowers real quick. Joe is one of 10 players who've ever made it to final tribal council more than once. So shout out to him for doing that. You're absolutely right. And that he was able to get to the end twice and get that far and get the chance to face the jury in a way. So who knows?

[00:23:06] Maybe if it's a 3.0 with Joe, we see an entirely different Joe. We don't see the Joe that we got at home. We see, you know, Joe in a different light, in a different vibe, with a different energy. You get what I'm saying? An alter ego of Joe, if you will. Maybe we'll see that. Yeah. I mean, listen, I ain't saying I need to see him next season.

[00:23:31] I'm just saying in general, I think a third time could really work for a Joe. So I thought. Yeah. Go ahead. Yeah. Speaking of third times, I think it was three times that I was cussing out loud when I saw Tiff lose the penultimate immunity challenge when it came to her versus Jonathan in this puzzle.

[00:23:58] Now, whenever Jonathan was already at the end and he started throwing up, I was like, Lord, if you love Tiff, you'll let him throw up for like a good five more minutes just so Tiff could get that final puzzle piece in. And when she fell just short, it was like, ah, you know, she was so close, that close to winning. It's like if I got a lottery ticket, I don't gamble, but my folks gamble. If you got boom, they called a three.

[00:24:28] You got a three. Boom. They called a four. You got a four. They called all the numbers you got. They get to their powerball, Bryce. And they're like, we got a two and you got a one on your paper. It's like heartbreaking. But yeah. How did y'all feel about Tiff coming just that close to winning and Jonathan pulling it out? Oh, I was like you. Yes. Like what's happening? But I also like was like, okay, you you won.

[00:24:57] Jonathan, you're doing a bit much on that. Bam, bam, bam, bam. But again, just last week when they were ganging up on Tiff, Tiff had an emotional win as well. It kind of like it sucked, right? Because I felt like we already knew the future. And I think a part of some of the best survivor episodes or survive episodes are when that Hail Mary happens. When like the person that we're all targeting. So like obviously it's Tiff and I love Tiff, but there's a tip out of it.

[00:25:27] It could just be anyone where the episode is already telling us they're going home. And so when they can pull it out and now the people who thought that they were in control have to look within to figure out who are they going to vote out. That is kind of what I was looking for. So I just hated kind of already knowing the writing was on the wall for Tiff. But I love the fact that Tiffany said, okay, y'all sending me home. Let me take these earrings off.

[00:25:53] Let me put a little Vaseline on my face and let me cuss these hoes out. And so I love the energy because I felt like all season Tiffany has been so composed. She's been like so many times she's had to bite her tongue and just like go along with things. But this was the time that she could let hoes know. And so I love the fact that, and like she said, it's not going to change nothing, but at least I got that off my chest.

[00:26:16] And so her very sad, her losing by that one point and very sad to see that tribal of her going home, but very satisfying cussing them hoes out. Do you guys think that she had a chance of like helping herself? Okay. I was about to be like, huh? Oh, no, no, no. She definitely had a chance to win had she get to the end, but like her, she tried pitching herself against Aubrey. Right.

[00:26:45] Which I do think is like the best idea of strategy wise for her to do at final five. But like, is, was there anything more that she could have done? Maybe that maybe we didn't see in the edit or something, but. Unfortunately, I don't think not just because of the reason, the real reason that she was voted out, uh, according to an interview. Right. Uh, let's talk about it though. Right. Yeah.

[00:27:10] Because, you know, Tiffany said, uh, on the red carpet that one of the reasons like she went to Jonathan and was like, you keep saying these immunity challenges. Joe has four immunity challenges. I have four immunity challenges. What's the difference? And Joe, Jonathan said, but like, you're a girl in the sense. Of the women. In. Who have won. Ah, but statistically it is like, it gives her something. Oh, right. And so.

[00:27:38] People were not happy with that. Right. But again, I think Jonathan, Jonathan made the right decision. And so like, that is what I come to it. And it's like, I feel like Tiffany in this position, she kind of was screwed because everyone else at this point realizes what Tiff is. And so I just don't think there was many other places for her. To go because Tiffany sitting next to anybody, but Aubrey, Tiffany wins. Rizzo.

[00:28:06] I'm again, like his best shot is with Joe and Jonathan. Aubrey's best shot is with any three of the men. And so. It kind of just left her in this place of like, I don't even know a game, but like you play Monopoly and you land on Tim's house that got them condos. And now you got to pay all this rent and now all of your money is gone. And it's like, damn it. Yeah. Yeah. It's like you in first place.

[00:28:35] We're going to hit you with the blue shell. Like, I love Mario Kart. You not winning this race. You've been an elite the whole race. So I understand why Tiff had to go out, why she was this big competitor, especially when I don't think people were expecting her to be so well in these challenges. We're expecting her to have these relationships on the jury that other people have. And it's kind of like for them. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.

[00:29:03] Because Tiff, the social player. Aubrey, this old era player. And I guess they just felt like Tiff was the bigger threat between the two and that she had to go. Because if we're being real, if they were to have voted out Aubrey, it still would have been the same fate. They would have lost to Tiff. So in some ways, they were choosing who I think I could beat and fire if it really come down to fire. And I don't think Aubrey, she didn't win any immunity challenges up to that point.

[00:29:31] So it didn't seem like she was going to win a fire making challenge, even though she did win in the past. But that's just me. The thing, Rob, that pissed me off the most about Tiffany going home was not even the fact that Tiffany went home. Everybody has to go home. It's the fact that, again, after Tiffany going home, we learn so much of her social agency. We learn that if it were Tiffany and not Aubrey, Tiffany would have won.

[00:29:59] And the thing that pisses me off the most as to why I don't rate this season so high is why are we just learning that? Like, why do we have to learn that during Exit Press? Like, where was Tiffany's arc during the season? And it just is interesting just how they edit, right? And I was like, because you know me, I stay on the TikToks. I would love to know y'all thoughts on this, where they feel like in Survivor, and again, I'm paraphrasing, but I'm going to try to get it right.

[00:30:29] Like, where Aubrey, right? I don't feel like, you know, sometimes we watch seasons and you're like, oh, they're getting a winner's edit. Or we like, you know, and a lot of people were saying that this season, it feels like why Jonathan lost. Right? Not, we don't get the, like, when you look back on this season, right, it's not like, this is why Aubrey won, right?

[00:30:59] We're getting it from the perspective of why Jonathan lost. And you can look at, like, the past couple of seasons, and even going back, we don't, we rarely get this, like, strong woman arc of, like, it's her season. It's always, like, why this man lost, right? And so, what do y'all take on that? Because I didn't, again, I'm just watching TikTok 4 o'clock in the morning, and I'm like, wow, that really makes sense.

[00:31:28] Because I feel like, I don't even think Aubrey had such a strong edit, right? Like, we knew who Jonathan was. We knew who Rick Devens was. Obviously, we know who Sari was. But, like, it does feel like the perspective of this season is why Jonathan lost. Mm-hmm.

[00:31:43] I think, so when I've seen those, the one thing that, if I had to put myself in the production of Survivor to showcase the story of the season, we saw Jonathan rise to power earlier in the game than Aubrey did when he had. I'm sorry, sorry. He had a Zoom call. Sorry. Go ahead. Oh, my dude. That's a great point. And those are the same votes that he got at the end.

[00:32:12] But, very true. Maybe the call should have been bigger. But, maybe they should have did a Google meet instead. Okay. But I do think that he, like, snatched a lot of power, like, especially at the Camilla vote, right? And then going into the merge with him and Coach, like, really taking charge at the beginning, we see him in more of, like, this, like, spearing the vote. Like, heading the vote kind of, like, aura that he's giving there.

[00:32:39] And Aubrey's just, like, we're just waiting for her game to rise. So, I don't think it's not necessarily, like, this is why the man lost. But, like, Jonathan, like, was up here. And people, like, had been kind of fluctuating throughout the season. But I think he got to a place of, like, being in a better spot for a longer period of time than Aubrey. And then we see the flip start to happen towards the end of the game as it starts to unravel.

[00:33:02] I feel like when it comes to that perspective, that edit, when something, so say if I've never been stoned, right? But it's one moment I always remember. My mom, she had killed a wasp. It was on the floor. She accidentally stepped on it after she killed it. Javonda? Uh-huh. And we love her to death, but I've never been stoned. And so the pain, the sting is what sticks with you longer than the victory.

[00:33:31] You can eat a million different flavors of ice cream, but that one flavor of ice cream that you don't like, that you was like, yuck, when you tried it, you will never try it again. And that's going to be the one that you remember versus the one that you kind of sort of liked.

[00:33:46] And so us getting this perspective of Jonathan losing at the end, sort of like how we got a Charlie losing at the end, or even, no shade, Aubrey losing to Michelle, even though I definitely believe Michelle deserved to win. And, you know, seeing this person be built up just to fall a little bit short is a story that history has repeated.

[00:34:12] And I do feel like this is Jonathan's seat within that story this time around. Yeah. It's an interesting perspective when you think about it, right? Because, again, like I never thought about it until I heard it. And then, like, reflecting back, I'm like, oh, wow, this really does make a lot of sense. Would y'all be interested in seeing Jonathan play again?

[00:34:39] I think I have mixed feelings about how much I would like to see him play again. I do think he was able to change his game very dramatically from the first time he played. Though I think he can't be changed. Because I have people saying that, and I be saying that, but when I watch 40, I think it's 41. 42. 42.

[00:35:08] Pretty similar game. I guess in terms of, well, what was maybe like what was similar to, I guess, like just like how he would like have like conversations with people or like his perception maybe. Just, he was loyal. He locked in. He had, like, you know, he was a challenge beast. People, like, he, there were one or two votes in which he kind of like had to swing.

[00:35:34] So, like, again, I keep saying he played such a different game. And I don't think he played a different game. I just think he played a better game. But I'm just, again, it split the vote. I'm trying to, I want to, I want to hear what y'all got to say. So, I'm trying to guess. I guess. Yeah, go for it, Rob. I think maybe he was seen more as like a sheep the first time he played. And this time he was more like the yard dog that was like trying to bark the sheep into the direction of the game that he wanted.

[00:36:04] And he was able to successfully do that. So, actually, maybe that's a fair point, Bryce, where it's like he really just played a better game than what he came to do this time around. But I think he did change how he approached people and approached strategic conversations. And I think that's where the biggest aspect of his growth came. Though I think people still had like kind of like preconceived like notions about like who he is and like the kind of person that impacted him in the season too.

[00:36:32] As much as I hate to say this, I wouldn't be mad if he showed up again. Because I think that when it comes to like Survivor as a TV show, I think he is a very dynamic character. He's a character that really splits people up. Like you either hate to root, you love to root against him or you love to root for him. I am in one of those crowds. I think y'all know which one I'm in.

[00:36:58] But I can't knock how like conflict comes around him. How, you know, we see these moments of tension between players. Like we got a D versus him argument, which I would have loved to see at the reunion. You know, so I think this character of Jonathan does do something for Survivor for the entertainment aspect of it. But is he my favorite player? No. But would I be mad if I saw him again?

[00:37:28] Not really. I think he would take some lessons he learned from this time playing though. And if he had maybe like, I think because he approached the game somewhat differently in terms of those strategic conversations, how he navigated like working with others, maybe not go to Boston Rob to figure out how to win Survivor. Because when Rob won, you know, he had a stacked deck of the cast to work with. So maybe he could take some notes from other players, right? To really up his game in other ways.

[00:37:59] Yeah. Well, they did end up getting tiff out. So now we're at final four. And let's talk about this. The immunity challenge, some motion. You know, I'm helping host this watch party. I got me a couple of drinks here. You know, I'm having a good time. You know, they got the theme drinks. I'm getting me a Boston Rob Long Island or it was something along that name, right? You know, it was a good drink. It was a good drink.

[00:38:28] And so we're watching this challenge go on. Boom. We see, I think Rizzo dropped first. Boom. We see Jonathan, I want to say, drop next. So it's Joe versus Aubrey. And when Aubrey pulled off the win, I'm screaming. I'm like yelling in excitement and joy because she ate that. She ate that. When she needed it, she got it. And it was clutch.

[00:38:57] How did y'all feel about her winning? I think what really got me the most excited about her win was when she was in her confessional and saying like, when the fans were voting for which like challenge we were going to compete in. So I went on Etsy and I bought a Samotion. That made me the most excited where it's like, that's the survivor player who wants to win this game so bad that they'll go above and beyond to do anything possible to win this

[00:39:27] game. And that's like, I felt like so much like gratitude and emotion for Aubrey being the player who wins the season because I think she does embody survivor a lot. And I think that dedication to go to that next level really showcases that. Yeah. On the other hand, I feel bad for Rizzo. So I'm watching it. They cut to commercial and I see Rizzo with Jeff. I'm like, wait, y'all what's going on? Is this what I think it is?

[00:39:57] Is Jeff spoiling it? And I'm like, well, no, maybe he's just like, you know, what if you have to go into fire? You know, yada, yada. And then he just straight up says, yeah, the final member of the jury. And I'm shocked. And guess what y'all? They edited it out of. They did? So, yeah, I was trying to rewatch it before we filmed and it's not there. It's not there. So, yeah. I wish they would have kept it in because my DVR still got it.

[00:40:27] But it was interesting. So Rizzo going out of fire is so sad, but it is so weird. I had this theory. What I love about going to a Bryce and one watch party is that I get to watch Survivor with people that know Survivor better than me. And like, I get to like have these conversations and talk to people and like, I'm like, what just happened? What's happening? And I'll never forget.

[00:40:51] I want to say we were in Philadelphia and Rizzo and Kobe, that art was happening. And Kobe was like, he doesn't do anything around camp and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then there was this confessional of Riz God essentially saying like, I come to Survivor to make fire and camp life. I came to Survivor to play the game. And shout out to whoever I was talking to because I didn't remember at this time.

[00:41:17] And they were like, yeah, because Rizzo went out in fire last season. I was like, that's right. And I had this like spidey sense since that episode because I was like, why would they show that? Like, why specifically would they put that in there? And I'm like, Rizzo's going to play fire again. And so like to see Rizzo do fire again, it sucks. But I'm such a Riz God fan and my art and my comic book, right?

[00:41:47] Gee, is it Jean Grey? Is Jean Grey the Phoenix? Yep, that's her. That's her. You know who the Phoenix is, Rob? I know who the Phoenix is, Rob. Mm-mm. I got to be scoring a game. Well, Jean Grey. Well, at one point in time, Jean Grey, she died and go into the ocean. And then she rises back as the Phoenix. And so it was amazing to see. Yeah.

[00:42:15] And so like Rizzo going out at fire, he only had a week home between 49 and 50. So he really didn't have that much time to make fire versus Jonathan, who had since 42 ended. So he had a long time. So I think it was written in concrete for Rizzo. Jonathan ain't playing no games though. Okay. Jonathan. I was like, oh, gee. Again, I talk my issue on Jonathan.

[00:42:43] But Jonathan said, here you go, Mr. Jeff. I was like, but also to like the blunder. I'm mad that they edited out because again, first of all, Jeff, what is you doing? Second of all, I almost again loved it, right? Where it's like, it's not perfect. And I like how, I love how, Jeff, I love how people always, you know how you walk into a room and you be like, oh, I can feel the energy.

[00:43:13] Oh, I don't know if I'm like, oh, I don't know. So, and I loved how when you watch it and like, you can see Jeff like, and we're getting ready. And Jeff's like, what the hell? What's, and he's talking to them 1200 people. They're like, what the hell is wrong with y'all? It's a real life. You spoiled it. And I love how D was like, keep going, Jeff, keep going, keep going. But I love those kinds of moments where it's like, ish isn't perfect. And you got to kind of, and I also saw like a video.

[00:43:39] So, cause again, I don't know about y'all, but my for you and my algorithm has been survivor 50 crazy. I'm like, where have these people been? But there was a video of like Riz got in the press room during the commercial break. And the Riz got essentially was saying like, I didn't even cry. Cause I didn't even get to see it. Cause Jeff messed it up. So like Riz was like, I'm cool. Uh, but it was a crazy blunder. Uh, crazy. Now.

[00:44:09] Okay. I am one who loves conspiracy theories. So I just want to put one out there for you guys. Do we think that this was potentially staged because I haven't seen survivor this much on my feed or on other people's feed sending me videos because they know I love survivor and they don't watch it. But, you know, I, I don't know if we've had this much engagement after survivor finale before. So I just want to put out that idea. Was this a pre plan thing?

[00:44:40] I don't know. I don't think so. Jeff would not play. Jeff do a lot of things. Okay. Jeff told us, okay. He said the season is in the hands of the fans. And then Jeff also told, he said, when the fans criticize us, we don't listen. Right. So one thing is certain Jeff don't play, uh, but similar to your conspiracy theory, Rob, right.

[00:44:59] I think that it adds to the, I got, I got a hot tape. Like I said, I, did I love survivor 50? No. Did I like it? Yes.

[00:45:20] However, was I more interested in like the blunder, the drama, the fight, the all like, yes, I was way more tuned in to that. Then kind of like the rest of the season. And it almost pissed me off. Don't call no shit a reunion. If you only asking three effing questions, Andy Cohen would never. And I said this the other day with Jack.

[00:45:49] I really do think survivor needs to start treating the reunions like housewives. Housewives. I eat. They can be live that you can have a live studio audience, but let's crown the winner one week. And then next week, let's do the live questions because nothing more pisses me off when you just pick and choose. And yeah, I'm better because during my reunion, they didn't ask me shit. I just said, dear.

[00:46:19] And so it's like I wanted to hear from Camilla. I wanted to hear D and Jonathan. I know Tiffany and Aubrey might have had beef. I know Tiffany and Joe had beef. I wanted Jeff to be like, Joe, why are you blocking people? Like, well, like, and so I am with you, Rob. And the blunder that Jeff made, like, bitch, I'm scrolling. He won TMZ with Harvey. I'm like, what is going on?

[00:46:46] And again, it's all of these think pieces. And I think it adds to, like, the flavor. And we haven't had a live reunion in, what, 10 seasons? And I wouldn't even call season 40 a live reunion because that was on Zoom. So it adds so much more. And like it or not, we here for the drama. We really need to peel back the curtain in these reunions 100%. I mean, it's a TV show for entertainment.

[00:47:16] Let us be entertained. Yes. Yeah. But yeah, any other thoughts about season 50? The reunion? Anything else that we might have missed that y'all want to touch on? I would have loved it. Well, first of all, every, again, my For You page, all these influencers, creators, all of these people that are there. Where the fuck was Billie Eilish? Sis, what you doing?

[00:47:45] You got this movie. You couldn't come. You couldn't be dressed as a boomerang. It should have been the Sia idol, right? Like, because Sia's more involved. That's real. That's real. Shout out to Sari for winning a Survivor Award, the $100,000. I love the fact that they brought the car back. I will never forget when Survivor used to be on Thursday nights. And people used to. And I want to say at one point in time, Sari won a minivan.

[00:48:12] And so I loved all of that type of stuff. And so I'm excited. But I think Jeff has said that they're not going to do a live reunion in the other seasons. But again, he also said they would never do a Winners at War season. So Jeffrey can't always be trusted. But I thought it was a great season. I even thought the coverage of Split the Vote was such an amazing coverage. I know, Timmy, you were busy with school. So you had to take a brief hiatus. And shout out to Rob for holding it down.

[00:48:42] Switching out guests week by week. Every week I'm listening. I'm like, Rob, who the hell is this person? Because they pissing me off what they take. Then the next week I'm like, oh, maybe I agree with them. So I think I loved season 50. I liked it. But I loved Split the Vote 50. I thought it was amazing. And I'm just so proud of you two for everything that you guys are doing. Well, it wouldn't be made possible without you, Bryce, at all.

[00:49:09] So truly, thank you for your leadership and for the viewers as well who continue to tune in week in, week out. True. I'll just second that. Nothing else for me to say. So are y'all here for the open era? Can you name an era before the era even starts? That's the issue that Survivor be doing that I don't like. Like, how y'all calling it the open era? And we ain't even see an episode yet. You only filmed one season. How you know what that? Let it evolve. Let it evolve.

[00:50:04] Yeah. I don't care what y'all say. Y'all don't like the hourglass. I like it because, again, you shouldn't have gave the opportunity to vote the person that's on the out. You should vote somebody that you cool with in the event. So I like the hourglass. I don't care what none of y'all say. I think I got to go back and rewatch 41. I really do.

[00:50:28] Actually, I really want to, when you brought up Erica, I was having a conversation the other day where it's like, I don't know how, if I really appreciated the game that she played as much as like everyone from her season, like gives her that respect. So I want to, that is Wednesday. I want to go back and rewatch. And I'll give the hourglass a second chance, you know? Listen, 41 never dissed in my yard. I love the season. So, yeah. I was a Xander fan. I felt like Xander was a, Xander's another person I would love to see play again, right?

[00:50:57] Because I feel like Xander was in such a pickle. And, again, Erica won. But I love Xander. And I would love to see Xander play again. I'd take Xander over, but no. Well, you got it, Tim. Oh, it's been two. It's been Rob. It's been Bryce. It's been Split the Vote. Split the Vote.

[00:51:26] Y'all was going to do it again. I've been excited for this. And I've been loving Rob doing all season with especially his men guests. They be like, it's Ethan. It's Mike. Come on. Well, guys, it's been real. It's been Bryce. It's been Tim. It's been Rob. It's been Split the Vote. Split the Vote. Split the Vote. Peace.

[00:51:56] It's the Purple Pants. It's the Purple Pants. It's the Purple Pants Podcast. You better get your headphones and listen up quick. It's the Purple Pants Podcast. You better listen in public. Might make your stomach hurt. It's the Purple Pants Podcast. You're trying to unwind. You better get that box wine. It's the Purple Pants Podcast. You're trying to get your snack. You better hurry right back. Go. It's the Purple Pants. It's the Purple Pants.