エピソード

  • The Central Importance of Narrative in Survivor: A Case Study
    2021/09/20

    In this episode of Never Draw Rocks, Khendall does a case study on this question: can new Survivors ascend to that renowned position of Survivor legend? Khendall considers this question in some depth, arriving at a final answering following discussion of gamifying Survivor, personality and style, old school versus new school, the Survivor fandom, and much more. He considers the question in great depth, expanding upon the final result of New School gameplay before finally arriving at these ideas of narrative in Survivor. Survivors can be either heroes or villains, but they can also be side characters, and it is upon this idea that the whole question hinges.

    Disclaimer: Spoilers

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    1 時間 9 分
  • What Makes a Survivor Legend: Examining the Characteristics of the Game's Best
    2021/08/17

    In this episode of Never Draw Rocks, Khendall examines the traits that make a Survivor a legend. Not all Survivor winners are legends, a fact which should make everybody question what exactly is it that makes a typical Survivor different from a fan favorite. Khendall discusses the intangibles of the legends of Survivors, considering how this changes the game, who people are drawn to, and who we want to see return. There are more intangibles to this game than mere ruthlessness and strategy, but what is it that makes those legends particularly memorable to Survivor fans? Khendall discusses this and more, considering in depth the idea of what turns a Survivor into a legend.

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    1 時間 7 分
  • The 15 Essential Survivor Seasons
    2021/07/28

    In this episode of Never Draw Rocks, Khendall discusses his personal list of the most essential seasons for Survivor fans both new and old. For those looking for where to start, this list will provide fans with all the seasons they need to gain a comprehensive understanding of the game, its most iconic moments, and its biggest players in a spoiler-free manner. For those who want a more in depth discussion on why each season was selected, the second half of the discussion contains spoiler commentary on why each of these seasons separates itself from the rest. Who makes these seasons great? Why are they special? Who are the important players in Survivor lore? Khendall discusses this and more!

    EDIT: Apologies for the reverb in the recording, as it couldn't be removed in post-processing.

    List of Essential Seasons:

    Season 1 – Borneo, Season 7 – Pearl Islands, Season 8 – All-Stars, Season 10 – Palau, Season 13 – Cook Islands, Season 16 – Micronesia, Season 18 – Tocantins, Season 19 – Samoa, Season 20 – Heroes vs. Villains, Season 22 – Redemption Island, Season 26 – Caramoan, Season 28 – Cagayan, Season 31 – Cambodia, Season 34 – Game Changers, Season 40 – Winners at War

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    1 時間 9 分
  • Survivor 2.0: What Does This Mean for the Game?
    2021/07/13

    In this episode of Never Draw Rocks, Khendall talks about the latest video by Jeff Probst, touting Survivor 41 as the most dangerous Survivor ever while even going so far as to calling it Survivor 2.0. What does this mean for Survivor? Is this good for the game, or bad? Will this be the change necessary to recapture some of Survivor's greatest moments? What can we expect from Survivor 41 and what are the possibilities that this change will be permanent? Khendall discusses these questions and more as he ponders the upcoming and highly anticipated seasons of Survivor.

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    48 分
  • The Legend of Kelley Wentworth
    2021/04/07

    In this episode of Never Draw Rocks, Khendall talks about perhaps the game's most talked-about female player that hasn't attained the title of Sole Survivor. She is Kelley Wentworth. Known for her daring strategic play and strong usage of the hidden immunity idol, Kelley has occupied the conversations of Survivor fans for years. Whether that was of disdain regarding her character and those within her famed alliances, or of admiration of the sheer skill and audacity of playing while the underdog, Wentworth is among the game's most talked about Survivors. Khendall discusses who Wentworth is, her biggest mistakes, why she never won, what makes her a legend among Survivor fans, and more as we take a deep dive into one of the games most proud Survivors.

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    1 時間 7 分
  • The Tragedy of Russell Hantz: A Lesson in Social Politics
    2021/03/20

    In this episode, Host Khendall talks about one of his personal favorite players and a living legend in the game of Survivor, for good or ill: Russell Hantz. Russell is infamous for his strategy, paranoia, underhanded tactics, and ability to control the game. He came into most games as a dominant and controlling force, and in spite of making it to Final Tribal twice, he never attained the title of Sole Survivor. Why was this? Why does the name, Russell Hantz, synonymous with "villain", lack the title of Sole Survivor? In this deep dive into Russell, Khendall discusses why Russell lost, what his game was missing, why other players won in spite of themselves, and how this can inform our understanding of the how the game of Survivor works in a more civilized age. 

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    1 時間 6 分
  • The Good and the Bad: The Survivor Jury System
    2021/03/06

    In this episode, Khendall thinks in depth on Survivors' most important twist: the jury system. What are the merits of the jury system? How does the jury system help the game? Are there ways that the jury system damages the game? How do jurors affect this system? Are modern players or fans better at fulfilling their jury duties than previous seasons? Khendall will discuss this and more as he takes a deep dive into these questions, examining the twist that brings new generations into the game of Survivor.

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    1 時間 9 分
  • The Greatest Showman, Rick Devens
    2021/02/06

    In this episode of Never Draw Rocks, host Khendall talks about a more recent season of Survivor history: Edge of Extinction. In this he covers one of the most exciting and special Survivor players in recent memory, focusing on this person's time in the game, what he embodies about the game, the other players reaction to him, and how all that serves as a commentary on where and why the game of Survivor is moving in the direction it is. The name of this player was the morning report, Rick Devens. He was exciting and dynamic, and although he didn't attain the tile of Sole Survivor, he was among the most popular and exciting players in the season. Khendall will talk about why fans love the game of Survivor, who deserved to win season 38, and more!

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    1 時間 11 分