Amanda

[5Crocodiles4U]

I am so glad Amanda is back.
 
I hope she makes it to the final and wins this time.
 
Given her strength and ability at challenges she will at least make the merge, my "gut" tells me.
 
My "gut" also makes me wonder if she will be another strong woman Russell will want to get rid of after the merge happens?
 
Time will tell.  What is stacked against her is everyone expect Russell knows she can power her way to the final. They also know she gives awful jury performances so they might want her along for that reason.
 
Amanda is one of my all time favourites and I'm glad she is back.

[Mr. E of Yonago, Japan]

Miss Amanda Montana was a particular favorite of mine as well, but after two shots at the brass ring, I don't know how much change we can expect in her Jury performance, should she even get there. It just seems like too big of a hurdle for her. I don't think she can take the kind of heat that Parvati had to take from James, for instance, that comes from playing the game, and not being "true" to your friends/honor/character/etc..

Of course, this crew should be able to respect good gameplay, but I think Cestriano pointed out that All-Star juries can be especially bitter. (They also don't want to see any crying from the finalists, I would wager.)

[5Crocodiles4U]

(Mr. E of Yonago, Japan @ Feb. 04 2010,13:05)

QUOTE

Miss Amanda Montana was a particular favorite of mine as well, but after two shots at the brass ring, I don't know how much change we can expect in her Jury performance, should she even get there. It just seems like too big of a hurdle for her. I don't think she can take the kind of heat that Parvati had to take from James, for instance, that comes from playing the game, and not being "true" to your friends/honor/character/etc.. Of course, this crew should be able to respect good gameplay, but I think Cestriano pointed out that All-Star juries can be especially bitter. (They also don't want to see any crying from the finalists, I would wager.)

I agree Mr. E.
 
I am rooting for Amanda and want to see her do well.
 
She has a huge hurdle to overcome this time.
 
I think it is a given she will make the merge as she contributes her share in challnges and her tribe will need her for that.
 
If both Amanda and Russell make the merge, I think Russell will see her as a strong woman he needs to get rid of.
 
As much as I want to see her have shot number 3 before the jury my "gut" tells me she'll probably be on the jury this time, partially thanks to Russell, if he makes the merge.

[rose]

Amanda at TC and during her confessionals was absolutely gorgeous.

[Mr. E of Yonago, Japan]

As always, rose!

And yet, I thought I detected that doe-eyed hint of sadness in her eyes as Sugar walked the plank, which would not bode well for Amanda in the finals!

Amanda seems to have a lot of empathy, and it hurts her to have to hurt somebody else.

(One would like to think her wistful look was a result of the missed opportunity to vote out a real threat, like Tom or Stephanie, but that's stretching it a bit, I know.)

[Cestriano]

Side question, did anyone notice Amanda looking kind of annoyed when she realized that her previous "perfect" TC record of not having a vote against her was shattered in the first TC of the season?

[Strategy1st]

I seem to recall Amanda getting a number of votes against her in Micronesia when she played her idol, Cest!

What I noted was that Sugar called Amanda fake, in her vote against her.  Amanda's game history includes issues with socialising, particularly with other females (Peih-Gee, Alexis and Natalie all felt a disconnect with Amanda).  She might have a better TC performance planned this time, but I'm not sure she's addressed that social issue.

Amanda also has a tendency to align with an alpha-male (Aaron in China and Ozzy in Micronesia).  I wouldn't rule JT out of her core alliance just yet, although James might also fill that role--please note, that I'm talking platonic alliance here, despite her showmance with Ozzy!

[Cestriano]

Well, Amanda considered it that she'd never had a vote against her because in Micronesia the Idol made none of those votes cast for her count, so...

[5Crocodiles4U]

Herein lies the problem with Amanda winning. The "doe-eyes".
 
Amanda playes a great game up to the point of the final TC.
 
My assessment is that Amanda is a sweet girl who has all the skills needed to win the game but lacks the killer instinct to seal the deal.  Hope she has some of it this time and wins it.

[silentman]

Yes, Amanda is a sweet little girl..........a little doe girl.......a doe in the headlights of a freight train bearing down on her.  When the flesh meets the metal, it'll be like the meteor that hit Mexico and wiped out the dinosours...........boooommmm!! Amanda needs to develope the hammer ie. "get out of my way, I'm coming through"!!!  Of course she would have to do that in the shadows where the game is really won!!!  This is just my "ASSESSMENT" or............she looks like an elve and gone in twelve. Now what does that tell you???

[truth2u]

Amanda is one of my favorites as well. But her problem is not her doe eyes. Last time, she had all but one male vote but all the women voted against her because they were jealous due to the fact she was a very nice and worthy winner, and she got too much male attention and had way too nice an @$$ for her sisters’ liking. Some tribal juries are real nasty while others are quite merciful. Amanda has had 2 nasty juries. ON the other hand, the last one was decent and let Natalie beat the monster.

Who you get for a jury is a crap shoot. And what you say will make little difference. If they are jealous of you, your doomed. Ozzie ran into jealously. Lil ran into jealousy which enabled Sandra to win. Amanda of Allstars beat her future hubby because they were not jealous and were resentful of Rob. Survivor, if anyone wants to truly admit it, is more of a crap shoot than skill. Luck is always ever present.

[Strategy1st]

Interesting quote from Stephenie in her Reality News Online interview:

QUOTE

Amanda is a good athlete – I definitely underestimated her. But it was so weird. It was her and James, and James did everything for her. She’s one of those girls that needed a guy to cater to her. Whereas me and Cirie and Candice would go out and do our own thing and not be like, “Tom can you crack this coconut open for me?” It made her seem really weak as an individual. Maybe Cirie is not the most athletic, but she’s bigger so she has strength behind her. It’s obvious that Candice is more phys athletic than Amanda and she’s self-sufficient. Amanda got really whiny and girly and we were all saying it. We were like, “Amanda, we’re not out here modeling, stop trying to look pretty. Stop putting your hand on your hip every time the camera comes around. It’s not America’s Next Top Model.”

[truth2u]

This is exactly why Amanda does not win. Other women are so damn jealous of her. Maybe she does overplay the feminine rule but she does have a way with guys. I have yet to see Candice equal Amanda athletically. But coming from Steph, I would not believe a word she says. Steph has an ugly personality and is way too assertive and overt. Amanda takes the opposite approach and it has gotten her to the finals, not once but twice. She lies guys and guys like her and that is why women hate her so much. Not one woman voted for her last time in final. That says it all. Women can be so catty and jealous and more than a bit spiteful.

For her own good, Amanda maybe ought to not be quite so appealing to the men. Tone it down a little. But recall that Amanda were suits that really showed off a damn nice @$$ and don’t think that didn’t anger a few girls who don’t have anywhere near the same Assets ;-) And that she is one of the best female athletes only invites more reason to hate her. She is just too good for her own good. Spite cost her both finals. I have no doubt.

[Jasen777]

Her jury performance cost her both seasons.  

Anyways, I do wonder why Stephanie was gunning for Amanda so much.  I'd think a better strategy for her group would be going after Rupert who is probably the actual weakest link because of his toe, and not after Amanda who they knew was well connected with some other players.  they'd still be outnumbered on their tribe but it gets them through a vote and gets the time to scramble.

[Strategy1st]

(truth2u @ Feb. 19 2010,23:37)

QUOTE

This is exactly why Amanda does not win. Other women are so damn jealous of her. Maybe she does overplay the feminine rule but she does have a way with guys. I have yet to see Candice equal Amanda athletically. But coming from Steph, I would not believe a word she says. Steph has an ugly personality and is way too assertive and  But recall that Amanda were suits that really showed off a damn nice @$$ and don’t think that didn’t anger a few girls who don’t have anywhere near the same Assets ;-) And that she is one of the best female athletes only invites more reason to hate her. She is just too good for her own good. Spite cost her both finals. I have no doubt.

Erm, wow.  I think Amanda's problems with other women are due to a little more than jealousy.  I'm not going to take Stephenie's words at face value since she obviously is prejudiced against Amanda, but I can say, as a woman, that if Amanda was asking guys to do everything for her all the time, that would have driven me potty.  

I really like the way Amanda played in China - I thought she had the game in the bag until the final tribal council played out.  She was pretty meh in Micronesia, but I gave her a pass due to back-to-back seasons.  However, every time she's played, she's failed to make a social connection with at least one woman on her tribe.  Peih-Gee did end up liking Amanda, but only after the two were left alone at the camp while the others were on the reward.  Before that, Amanda had apparently barely talked to Peih-Gee.

Let's look at the votes Amanda did receive in her two seasons.  In China, it was Erik--who she had flirted with before voting out, but he was also the player most likely to reward 'goodness' over strategy.  In Micronesia, it was James (her fellow China tribemate who had been betrayed by Parvati), Ozzy (her showmance who had been betrayed by Parvati) and Erik (who was quite possibly influenced by Ozzy).  I very much doubt that everybody else chose not to vote for her out of jealousy.  The fact that she hid her strategy cost her, and perhaps even more importantly, the fact that she tried to present the nice card at tribal but failed to make emotional connections in the game cost her.