RNO Roundtable: Was the Wanda/Jonathan Exit Just Another Twist or Crossing the Line?

The most recent “big twist” on Survivor sent two people packing before they could even join a tribe, let alone get voted out or have their torches snuffed. It has created two very different opinions in Survivor fans, even here at RealityNewsOnline. So what happens when the folks at RNO don’t agree? We sit ‘em all down at a big table and have them talk it out – and then we post the results for you to read! Here are the thoughts of David Bloomberg, Jeffrey Clinard, Paris Cosby, Mike DeGeorge, Ken Kellam III, Phil Kural, Jeffrey Sadow, Sting7, and Betsy Wasser.

Sting7: The reality universe is full of stars and satellites. One of the brightest stars has always been Survivor. Not only because it was one of the first, but it is a game that challenges you mentally and physically, seemingly all of the time. It is a game an academic can watch and place themselves in, just as much as a casual television observer. It's all about group dynamics, testing your limits, your morals, your values – basically, what will you do for a million dollars? That's why this whole episode with picking teams to decide who leaves is so disappointing. Survivor stooped to a level that was well-beneath the standard they have set so far.

There have been plenty of twists on Survivor. And there will be more, we can assume. But all those twists happened within the framework of the game itself. Suddenly someone switching tribes, blending tribes, trading buffs, or even the reappearance of the Outcast Tribe (which was entertaining, but hypocritical in my opinion), all took place within the framework of the game. But, there are basic tenets, basic to rules to this game. You are eliminated by Tribal Council. Wanda and Jonathan weren't eliminated by Tribal Council. Every single Survivor contestant who didn't quit on their own or was deemed medically unable to continue has been eliminated by Tribal Council. That is how you are eliminated – Tribal Council. It has always been that way. Not this time, though. Wanda and Jonathan were eliminated like fourth graders at recess!

You answer in the form of a question on Jeopardy! You have to get through Contestant's Row to get a shot at the car on The Price Is Right. You are eliminated by tribal council on Survivor. So, Survivor has decided to break its own rules for the cheap thrill of alleged good television.

I've heard the argument that it's Mark Burnett's game and he can do what he wants. Yeah, sure. But what happens when no one wants to play his game because they don't really want to be made monkeys of on television? Or no one wants to watch his increasingly mean-spirited game? Or when the chicanery reaches the point where winning this game becomes pure luck? Mark has masters to answer to just like everyone else (CBS, sponsors, etc.). Some of those masters are us. So, he can't just do whatever he wants because his game has to remain credible. What if Jeopardy! decided you don't have to answer in the form of a question? Or if Bob Barker decided a contestant was so darn cute, they could come right out of the audience and join him onstage? That would be a foul, right? This is a foul. Survivor committed this foul for (supposedly) good television, but what it did was show how low it can go.

One of the shows we television viewers voted for in Reality TV Hall of Shame Awards was Forever Eden, primarily because it changed the rules on what seemed like any possible whim. It stunk, and it was rightly cancelled. We've read interviews from Probst and Burnett that have said, in hindsight, the Outcast tribe was a mistake. And, here they are, committing another one. It won't be the last either, I'd bet. If Survivor is willing to stoop this low for ratings, it will go lower. The great respect I had for this show is damaged, and it's really too bad.

David: There are basic tenets to the game of Survivor: Outwit, outplay, outlast. That’s it. Yes, Jonathan and Wanda were booted without the benefit of a Tribal Council. However, drawing the line in the sand at Tribal Council and saying that is where a twist goes too far is only a subjective matter. Let’s look at some other “big twists”:

• Silas was screwed by the first “big twist” in Africa when he and others were forced to switch tribes. That had never happened before. It completely changed the framework of the game.
• Shii Ann was screwed by the “big twist” in Thailand when the two tribes thought they were merged but were not. It completely changed the framework of the game.
• Andrew and others were screwed when a “big twist” in Pearl Islands brought back the Outcast tribe. It completely changed the framework of the game (one of the returning Outcasts made it to second place!).

And those are just a few of the twists!

You might say that every previous person was voted out in Tribal Council. So what? Looking back at the twists I just mentioned: Until Africa, every previous person stayed on a single tribe until it was time for the merge. Until Thailand, when you and the other tribe were sent to live together, it was because you were merged. Until Pearl Islands, when your torch was snuffed, you were done with the game. There are numerous examples of such changes (Thailand’s teams not being picked by producers, Amazon’s teams being split by gender, etc.) as Survivor has continued into now its tenth season. Why pick on this one?

When I heard about this season’s twist, I wondered if I would bother to write “Why [Somebody] Lost” columns about them. However, as soon as I saw the episode I knew they were appropriate. Wanda and Jonathan played Survivor. One of the “rules” that has been a part of those columns for years now is to make allies immediately. Wanda and Jonathan failed at that. Indeed, in an interview with Jonathan that you will see soon here on RNO, he talks about some things he could have done differently and mentions what “the game” is about. If he acknowledges that he played the game, I certainly see no reason to argue.