The Duel 2: Ep. 2 - Discussion

I never thought I would say this about anyone on these challenges, but some of these people are really thinking [I]too[/I] much. Evan and Paula's alliance is way too large, and for such a complicated strategy, it isn't very effective. I'm glad Kim won the Duel. Robin annoys me to no end -- she always looks like she's on something. Although I would have liked to see MJ go home, seeing Ryan leave was just as nice. I bet he's [I]still [/I]bragging about beating Nick, though!

[quote=V1man;60258]There is an item added in the spoiler discussion thread that responds to your initial point.[/quote] Thanks. I might leave this issue unspoiled, though. Sometimes in my posts I wonder about stuff I'm seeing on the show, but I like to let it unfold on the show. I kind of like to speculate and try to figure out what's going to happen. I am aware of some of the spoilers, though. Just not much about the Evan and Paula running things and being shady. I found the Landon and Evan clip in The Duel 2 trailer to be interesting drama, and I think what's happening now is giving us a glimpse into why Landon was so upset with Evan. So I think I might just let it unfold on the show (and then read spoilers to fill anything in that wasn't addressed).

I don't like the fact that they get to go back to the house to figure out the voting pattern. I liked it better when they just did it right after the mission. There's too much last minute scrambling and it's hard to make sense of it. I don't understand why everyone was upset with Paula? She picked Dunbar.. they're friends..... seems like good logic to me.

I must say I was kinda happy about Mark and Rachel winning. Brings back memories of the old challenges. LOL.

Several people that are linked to the alliance are some of my favorites or people that I like (Landon, Brad, Mark - I think Katie is linked as well somewhere down the line), but I almost wouldn't mind seeing some of the other people working together to save themselves - like Beth/Nehemiah/Anessa/Wes/Svetlana did. I don't think anyone is doing anything wrong by having a friendship alliance (or whatever type of alliance they have) in this format, since you are competing to win yourself and you have no "obligation" to keep a strong teammate since there are no teams. But it kind of makes things a little more interesting when the "outsiders" are striving to save themselves as well. I also agree with everyone who says they should make it so that they pick immediately after the mission. I don't think I want to see another Duel challenge sequel unless the voting rules are completely changed up the next time. [quote=lionheart;60265]Anyone mind telling me who died and made Paula Queen of the Duel? It baffles me that someone like her is running things.[/quote] Apparently there is something in the spoiler thread about it.

[QUOTE=TheQuietOne;60191]I would be dead last in this challenge. Anything below 60 and I'm freezing...[/QUOTE] LMAO I was thinking the same thing but for me it is anything below 80, haha.

There is a video if the Duel 2 on mtv about the second episode. It's kind of like an online aftershow but without a host.

Okay here's what I don't understand. Why are they trying to strategize and have big alliances? There's no point to it because it's not like who they pick is safe from the Duel the ONLY people who are safe is the 2 that WON THE CHALLENGE everyone else is fair game and I don't think these people realize that. I mean isn't everyone going to have to go in at some point anyways? Oh and Paula is a Hypocrite. That is all.

Big alliances are silly to me as well. You will have to end up cutting someone off the chain at some point, when the few people who weren't in your alliance are gone.

Another great episode tonight! IMO Paula did the right thing! She tried to save her friends

I think that everyone is trying to make big alliances because there will be more people that will choose you instead of being last all the time and having to go automatically into the duel. They should've improved this format. It would be more interesting if they made the person that is left-out pick from the last 4 in the line of the same sex to go in the duel with them. This would have been better but that doesn't mean that this challenge isn't good, I thought the edit was great and it kept me at the edge of my seat through the whole hour.

I agree with RMD1....Paula just stood up for her friends. I don't think she was in the wrong. To be honest I would have done the same thing.

The episode today was good, but with wayyyy too many commercials. I love how everything has just crumbled around Paula so easily. I definitely think MJ is more sneaky than I had perceived him to be. Robin losing was really funny, but to be honest she hadn't bothered me on this Challenge at all. But I am glad for Kim! That Challenge looked really fun. Can I just say that Brittni has made all the right moves this season? Aneesa...she made me laugh during that Duel. She was getting serious.

[QUOTE=Dartagnan;60296] That Challenge looked really fun. Can I just say that Brittni has made all the right moves this season?[/QUOTE] If you mean standing next to Landon was a right move, then that is true -- and she didn't fall off the ice block. Other than that, nothing about her is memorable to me.

[quote=V1man;60299]If you mean standing next to Landon was a right move, then that is true -- and she didn't fall off the ice block. Other than that, nothing about her is memorable to me.[/quote] Thats what I was talking about. I think she knew what to do in terms of alliances. But no she hasn't stood out to me either.

Anessa would of murdered me in that duel!! I am 6 foot 2 and 200 lbs. I am scared of her!

[quote=RMD1;60301]Anessa would of murdered me in that duel!! I am 6 foot 2 and 200 lbs. I am scared of her![/quote] Agreed. She was taking no prisoners. Haha. But I like Aneesa for that. She makes me laugh definitely.

[quote=Dartagnan;60303]Agreed. She was taking no prisoners. Haha. But I like Aneesa for that. She makes me laugh definitely.[/quote] I know. I almost died laughing when she said "get the **** outta my house!!".

I still don't understand people who want her in a duel. She won like 4 duels. Good luck calling her out!

[quote=blanky667;60291]I think that everyone is trying to make big alliances because there will be more people that will choose you instead of being last all the time and having to go automatically into the duel. They should've improved this format. It would be more interesting if they made the person that is left-out pick from the last 4 in the line of the same sex to go in the duel with them. This would have been better but that doesn't mean that this challenge isn't good, I thought the edit was great and it kept me at the edge of my seat through the whole hour.[/quote] I agree they really needed to make this format better. It makes it too easy for Alliances to dominate. And I liked your Idea about the Person having to go into the Duel being able to choose certain people. Oh and I LOVED the guys in the speedos (except Eric)

Evan is really white. He needs a tan

Yeah...that intro doesn't get any easier to watch. I'm also really sick of seeing TJ on these challenges. He's so boring! I feel like this editing is so foreshadowed, it's ridiculous. I can already predict 3/4 of the people going into the Duel. ...it's not just your ***** that hates you Dunbar. Mark does still look good in a Speedo! I definitely agree that they should pick right after the challenge to avoid scheming, or at least sequester everyone. TOO MANY ****** COMMERCIALS. Annnnnd of course. Paula picks Dunbar. Of course you put a bullseye on your back! Robin looks creepy. What was she thinking, "do I take out someone easy or do I take out someone..."? She deserved to go home. That duel looked stupid though. And I'm sorry, what was Ryan expecting? He's easily one of the weakest guys left. Ryan looked like he knew he was effed the second MJ picked that card.

I just watched the opening on the replay, and I got goosebumps. I can't tell if it's because I was actually affected by it, or if the freezing temperatures in my apartment have finally gotten to me. I'm gonna go with the latter.

[quote=blanky667;60291]I think that everyone is trying to make big alliances because there will be more people that will choose you instead of being last all the time and having to go automatically into the duel. They should've improved this format. It would be more interesting if they made the person that is left-out pick from the last 4 in the line of the same sex to go in the duel with them. This would have been better but that doesn't mean that this challenge isn't good, I thought the edit was great and it kept me at the edge of my seat through the whole hour.[/quote] Yeah, but after the few people who aren't in the alliance are gone, the alliance will have to turn on each other, and things can get nasty from there. They are already not trusting each other now as it is. As for Brittini making all of the right moves, as referenced in other posts, she is a part of some alliance because Landon picked her both times during the "avoiding elimination" link. I don't think it was a coincidence that she was his partner during the mission as well. She also was hanging with the vet girls. So at least for now she's not the low person on the totem pole.

[QUOTE=V1man;60299]If you mean standing next to Landon was a right move, then that is true -- and she didn't fall off the ice block. Other than that, nothing about her is memorable to me.[/QUOTE] Hi All! Clearly, I'm new here but I figured with this new Challenge it is time to come out of "lurk" mode. I also wanted to comment on this whole Brittini and Landon connection. She is definitely on newbie status and yet, she has managed to align herself with one of the strongest players in this game. In fact, I notice that she is the only newbie to be able to align herself so effectively and so soon - Landon called her name last week as well. Hm, fast friends I suppose... In any event, good episode. Oh, and goodbye, Shauvon. 'Til next week! :)

I really enjoy the opening! It is really cool. The Haka is a very big tradition in NZ! The "players" do it before all their sporting events. It goes back years and years to when they use to go to war and that "dance" struck fear in their opponents! If you know this history, you would appreciate it more!!

[quote=molds13;60311]Yeah...that intro doesn't get any easier to watch.[/quote] Nah, it totally does. Just press mute and don't look directly at it. I used a sidelong glance approach tonight, and I'm considering an eclipse-style shadowbox for next week. Freezing as Puck... There were five possible point circles: 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100. No one made it past 10. Did production not try this out when designing the game, or did the competitors just kind of suck at it? I'm thinking the players shouldn't be in charge of dividing the teams up as they have been these last two challenges. Alliances play a big enough role in the game already. This is overkill. The unhappy reality for Ryan in this game is that he's one of the smallest guys and three of the four duels we've seen favor size. Almost any guy in this line-up would have picked him to go against for that exact reason. All of this makes me wonder how he thought this game was going to go.

[QUOTE=RMD1;60320]I really enjoy the opening! It is really cool. The Haka is a very big tradition in NZ! The "players" do it before all their sporting events. It goes back years and years to when they use to go to war and that "dance" struck fear in their opponents! If you know this history, you would appreciate it more!![/QUOTE] Would it not have been intelligent on the part of Bunim Murray to give us context like that in a clear and understandable way? Just imagine that you were a random viewer tuning in a minute or two late. You might have though you mistakenly tuned to the Discovery channel.

[QUOTE=Cru Jones;60321]Nah, it totally does. Just press mute and don't look directly at it. I used a sidelong glance approach tonight, and I'm considering an eclipse-style shadowbox for next week. Freezing as Puck... There were five possible point circles: 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100. No one made it past 10. Did production not try this out when designing the game, or did the competitors just kind of suck at it? I'm thinking the players shouldn't be in charge of dividing the teams up as they have been these last two challenges. Alliances play a big enough role in the game already. This is overkill. The unhappy reality for Ryan in this game is that he's one of the smallest guys and three of the four duels we've seen favor size. Almost any guy in this line-up would have picked him to go against for that exact reason. All of this makes me wonder how he thought this game was going to go.[/QUOTE] This is like reading my own thoughts! I agree completely! Excellent commentary, CruJones, and welcome to vevmo. BMP would have tested the event, but any of the following variables between the test and the actually event would have affected the distance the ice block traveled for the cast: - the difference in the men's shoes and their ability to grip the ice while pushing - the difference in air temperature affecting the ice surface - the temperature history of the ice (freezing and refreezing can cause bumps and ripples in the surface, slowing down the ice blocks - using different blocks of ice with different smoothness on the bottom - using the same ice blocks whose bottom surface changed due to melting and refreezing - the surface cleanliness of the ice (Anyone familiar with the sport of Curling will understand this) If it were allowed, the teams should have melted the bottom surface of their ice block with their hands just before pushing it. It would have traveled farther due to the change in surface tension.

[quote=tjhallow;60230]Robin looks crazy when she smiles.[/quote] She does [I]now[/I]. What did she do to her face? She looks very plastic. [quote=tjhallow;60247]Did Robin push Tori away when she tried to hug her? And poor Ryan...[/quote] I noticed that also, and it looked like quite a one-armed shove. I don't know what happened between those two, but I'd guess it was inappropriate in any case. There's really no need to push people. Is Robin just angry that Tori has supplanted her in Brad's list of women to save? It seemed like Robin was taking a ride on the delusional train--not that that's surprising after the Island. When she said everyone else cheated her out of what she loves to do, it just seemed ridiculous. It's a game. If you're not willing and ready to play both parts--the alliance part [I]and[/I] the physical part--you're most likely going to go home. Other people trying to win money aren't obligated to keep Robin because she likes sitting on ice blocks and playing rugby so much. The nomination process seemed so complicated. In the first Duel, it seemed pretty straightforward--people picked someone they liked/were in an alliance with who had not yet been picked. This time it seems like it's planned out to the last person so everyone knows who's going in beforehand. You know you've gotten overly scheme-y when Paula throwing out a different name is apparently the worst sin against humanity that can be committed. I don't like Paula, but she was clearly uncomfortable with picking MJ instead of Dunbar the entire time, and Evan and others should have picked up on that and maybe changed things around a bit. On the other hand, since it was clear that MJ was going to pick Ryan if he was last, Paula really screwed over her friend/roommate for no apparent reason, because in my eyes there was zero chance that Dunbar would be the person left at the end. I'm not sure why it was so important to Paula to pick him personally.