[Mike]

Last season steph and I were on the last merge tribe together before the final merge/start of jury. We both had our own alliances and stories well before we finally met each other, so I think that's a big reason why her and I didn't connect much last season, she always seemed "bleh" and not wanting to talk to me (which is probably the experience James, Michelle, Syd, etc all felt this season). I was nervous to work with her because I voted her out last season, but mike you 100% gave me the push to create a relationship with her. I don't think I would've if you were as close to her as you were. But happy I did for sure!

I made a lot of mental notes before playing, and the picture of Morgan & James was at the top of the list lol. I was building up the courage to bring it up, and that's funny that it was so close to when steph did to you.

Interesting - so would you say it was more you pushing to get that relationship with her than her to get it with you? Just ways to interpret that for her game. If it was you pushing more to create the relationship than her I think it says more about your game all around than it does hers. Gotta play devil's advocate.

So what we've all learned is - the four people here who are active in the server were paying attention to EVERYTHING pre season hahahaha

[James]

Looks like Voce answered all of us. His answers were surprisingly well fleshed out so props to him. Might also slightly like his opening speech more compared to Steph just for the simple fact that she went the sad story route (yes yes get mad, I know how much everyone hates this hot take of mine of not liking sad stories/bringing IRL  pre game events into FTC). Although Steph did a wayyyy better job laying out everything perfectly.

Voce's was better than what I expected it to be but I wouldve liked it more in the style of Steph's where I have a very clear understanding of the peaks and valleys in the game. I also wish he formatted his in a more readable way instead of just a block or text but that doesn't impact how I take it in. Steph's is nice because she even pinpoints the exact moment where things went downhill for her while informing a lot of the answers for questions we were looking for already. Voce's is nice because it tees up some really nice questions to be asked and leaves himself lots of room to deliver the answers he did.

Solid, but very different, opening statements. Nice to see.

To be fair, he's probably on mobile. My original post about my questions was all spaced out properly and then when I posted it the forum had other ideas. Although I don't really see any distinguishable paragraphs in his speech LOL.

[Hali]

I was just going to say that, I love stephs set up. Really understanding her game through her pov. However I am really appreciating Voce's honest and thought out responses as well so far!

[Mike]

Not sure how I'm feeling about Voce's answer to Sydney's question. I think this is one of the answers where leaning in on honestly and his social unawareness is actually hurting him instead of helping him. He didn't really answer the question, just kind of gave us a summary of the Rodney boot from his perspective. Rodney was a name already floating around even back before the James boot. Hali put it really well in saying "I'm not trusting Rodney with my game" shortly before the boot. Voce may take credit for getting Rodney's name out there (which I don't exactly agree with) but it was Steph who said to me that she wanted to split the votes right down the middle, boys on Rodney, girls on Sydney. If Voce could at least claim splitting it was his idea I'd give him more credit here.

[Paul]

Y’all please help. My eyes are permanently stuck looking into the back of my skull. I tried reading James’ questions and I rolled my eyes so hard I’m afraid they’re stuck. 

[Paul]

Nah but for real you all asked some dope questions. I couldn’t have asked any better so I went with a simple one to make them overthink maybe lol. Excited for the finale! 

[Mike]

Nah but for real you all asked some dope questions. I couldn’t have asked any better so I went with a simple one to make them overthink maybe lol. Excited for the finale! 

Man, the simplicity of your question is the fucking beauty of it. I LOVE it. Really curious if they just go with "This is what I think I was because..." and give us a basic answer or if they lean into the roots there and bring out their hero/villain character like James did in his question hahaha

[Paul]

Nah but for real you all asked some dope questions. I couldn’t have asked any better so I went with a simple one to make them overthink maybe lol. Excited for the finale! 

Man, the simplicity of your question is the fucking beauty of it. I LOVE it. Really curious if they just go with "This is what I think I was because..." and give us a basic answer or if they lean into the roots there and bring out their hero/villain character like James did in his question hahaha

Exactly. I kind of want them to think like, “What does he want me to answer?!” But in reality I just want an upfront honest answer. Don’t bullshit. Just say how you think you should be perceived. 

[Sydney]

Not sure how I'm feeling about Voce's answer to Sydney's question. I think this is one of the answers where leaning in on honestly and his social unawareness is actually hurting him instead of helping him. He didn't really answer the question, just kind of gave us a summary of the Rodney boot from his perspective. Rodney was a name already floating around even back before the James boot. Hali put it really well in saying "I'm not trusting Rodney with my game" shortly before the boot. Voce may take credit for getting Rodney's name out there (which I don't exactly agree with) but it was Steph who said to me that she wanted to split the votes right down the middle, boys on Rodney, girls on Sydney. If Voce could at least claim splitting it was his idea I'd give him more credit here.

he straight up barely answered my question. 

[Mike]

Not sure how I'm feeling about Voce's answer to Sydney's question. I think this is one of the answers where leaning in on honestly and his social unawareness is actually hurting him instead of helping him. He didn't really answer the question, just kind of gave us a summary of the Rodney boot from his perspective. Rodney was a name already floating around even back before the James boot. Hali put it really well in saying "I'm not trusting Rodney with my game" shortly before the boot. Voce may take credit for getting Rodney's name out there (which I don't exactly agree with) but it was Steph who said to me that she wanted to split the votes right down the middle, boys on Rodney, girls on Sydney. If Voce could at least claim splitting it was his idea I'd give him more credit here.

he straight up barely answered my question. 

Yeah he completely skipped over the "worst part of the other person's game" question. Which is a shame because I want to hear what he thinks Steph's weakness is and how it lines up with what we think.

[James]

I'm pretty sure you can call him out on unanswered questions I don't think the hosts would mind. Or bring it up during the live round table.

Seems like Voce is really taking some of the stuff that happened in the game to heart.

[Mike]

I'm pretty sure you can call him out on unanswered questions I don't think the hosts would mind. Or bring it up during the live round table.

Seems like Voce is really taking some of the stuff that happened in the game to heart.

And I don't know if playing the card of "I was a weak villain" is good there. I'd rather he say "I was the conflicted hero" because I could see that more but the truth is - he wasn't really a hero or a villain...he was like the pedestrian that watches the heroes and villains fight and then runs for his life at the first sight of danger. 

I'm big on the idea personally of "never compare yourself to other people" but in a game like this you HAVE TO. So I'm comparing Voce as a Villain to people like you as a villain (which you were awesome in that role as) and it just doesn't help his cause at all, especially with the answer he gave.

[Mike]

I realize that you probably mean that more in regards to how he handled Sydney's questions but I just read his Paul answer and didn't like it at all. Felt like a long winded way of him trying to own his game and absolve himself of guilt over bad moves...but it doesn't feel like he's taking ownership of his mistakes in the way he really should.

[Paul]

I realize that you probably mean that more in regards to how he handled Sydney's questions but I just read his Paul answer and didn't like it at all. Felt like a long winded way of him trying to own his game and absolve himself of guilt over bad moves...but it doesn't feel like he's taking ownership of his mistakes in the way he really should.

Yeah I wasn't really feeling that answer. I didn't ask this expecting them to answer either way and also am open to either answer. But what I wanted is a solid choice. "I screwed these people over, so I was a villain. But I did what I had to to get here and I'm here and I just have to hope you respect the gameplay." Something like that would've been much more what I'm looking for. I don't want to vote for the player who fell into their decisions. I want to vote for the player who made them. 

[Mike]

Steph just rolled in and dropped answers on all our asses at the same time. Really curious if she took the time to study Voce's answers and develop her answers around what was said there or not.

Just read her answer to my question and I loved it. She acknowledged her style, owned the Paul move (which is a BIG move and you've all seen me credit her for it already), and then gave us a little extra. I guess some things she said in there put me in the hot seat to either agree or disagree with what she said to you folks here...

So I did tell her about the f5 plan involving her, Hali, Paul Michelle and I. I don't remember when I said it to her exactly but I feel like it might've been the day of the double boot which means she had Paul and Michelle in her sights for awhile beforehand (she has wanted to start targetting Michelle right around the James boot and even tossed her as an option at the Rodney boot if memory serves, which I swiftly shut down). I also did say to her on a few occasions I'd die for her or Hali if it meant either of them won. Lastly, and this is my favorite part that I didn't expect her to bring up at all, I did say (almost verbatim) what she said about planting my flag in support of her if she came to me and was like "this is the move I want NOW". She was insanely nervous (to me) at the Rodney vote but I was confident we'd get it done. I felt guilty about how much I almost brushed off her concerns pre tribal and said that when she said she wanted to split the vote to help calm her down.

Overall, I'm happy with the answers I got from both of them. Great stuff there from both

[Michelle]

So I’ve only read their answers to my question bc I only have a few mins on break… while I do appreciate each of their honesty regarding it I’m not sure who I give the edge to on it lol. They both sorta said they wouldn’t respect the move if it was the other way around and would understand if I didn’t vote for them. lol. 

I totally get WHY they did what they did for their games, so I wouldn’t say I’m bitter. Just gotta figure out who is better …

 

[Michelle]

ALSO I was always very careful w what I said to people and genuinely can’t remember what I specifically said to people lmaoooo. Bc Mike u also said that u felt I wasn’t giving u enough info. Oops teehee 

i just didnt want what I said getting back to the wrong people so I chose my words carefully - totally get why steph would feel distant bc of it. Some people don’t like bullshit convos when u both know u don’t trust each other, and maybe that’s just more who steph is. I still just wanna talk to u even if we’re at odds bc whyy not! 

[Michelle]

To me, Voce has more heart. But Stephanie has more tenacity. 

Very diff players. I know I said I came in w an idea of who I’d vote for between the two but I’m genuinely undecided. I’ll have to really go over their answers here - can’t wait for the finale! 

[Mike]

So I’ve only read their answers to my question bc I only have a few mins on break… while I do appreciate each of their honesty regarding it I’m not sure who I give the edge to on it lol. They both sorta said they wouldn’t respect the move if it was the other way around and would understand if I didn’t vote for them. lol. 

I totally get WHY they did what they did for their games, so I wouldn’t say I’m bitter. Just gotta figure out who is better …


 

Same boat. Read mine, and now yours and I'll come back to the rest later. On yours...

Voce 
Just felt like his guilt kinda consumed his answer. When you take this and combine it with his other answers he's a player with a lot of regrets and a heavy heart. I like honesty but also wished he'd apologize a little less. Like I'm sorry I blindsided you and Paul but I'm also not sorry and did what I thought was best (wrongfully so mind you). I also think he didn't think the goat level through in his answer. Dropping to 60% goat because he won the immunity the round you left? Even though he was guaranteed f2 against either Syd or Steph...and you said you'd take him too. He's a bigger goat that he realizes.

Steph

The thing that works here for me in that answer is she's right about me telling her that I found you difficult to read and communicate with about the game (not in a bad way). I always felt at an information deficit with you, bringing you more than I'd get back...and I loved it? Because it showed me you were a really smart savvy player that was a threat even as early as day 1. I said the same thing to Hali too im pretty sure. 

I think her lack of communication with you made you a bigger target in her mind at the wrong times for her game. She wanted to hit you at the Rodney boot with a blindside but I couldn't go with that because I'd love Paul way too early in the game.

Her goat/threat level answer...I don't know. I don't think the percentages are right but it's hard to say why?

[James]

Interesting answers from both (I'll try and not spill another Hot Take about how much I hate the "wait on the other person's answers" strategy).

I agree with Michelle. Voce seems to have a huge heart and Steph went in way more tenacious. I'm soooo glad that Voce stepped up in this F2 and took the time to give full answers (regardless of what we may think about the content matter).

Stephanie seemed to be taking credit for a bit of everything (which I don't think is true but I only observed things from the Ponderosa lol) meanwhile Voce just seems upset about how he played and has the idol mishap to deal with. 

I don't see in the Tree Mail when the live discussion will happen but I assume it will be tonight? Or maybe right before votes are due on Sunday?