‘Survivor Caramoan: Fans vs. Favorites’ review: The Brandon Hantz chronicles
Sometimes on “Survivor,” there is an episode so insane that you really don’t even know where to start. Ultimately, there really is no better way to explain the new episode that aired Wednesday night. By far, this was the most stunning hour of the season thus far, and it’s surely going to be one that everyone talks about for some time.
Personally, it’s understandable how frustrating it may be that so much of the game so far has revolved around a few people, but let’s face it: how can you focus on anyone other than Brandon Hantz right now? Let’s start with what happened first: him volunteering to be voted out. We’re sorry, but if someone does this, we would be just as interested in wanting them out of the game. It may be painful being out of the game and away from your family, but other people have families, too. Just vote the guy out.
About halfway through this episode, that looked as though it was going to be assured that Brandon was going home, and that was even before the madness really started. Brandon was extremely jealous about the attention Phillip was receiving, and that he was taking credit for all of his moves in the game. The funny thing is that rather than actually deciding to try and fight for his life in the game after catching wind that Phillip still wanted him out, even after the two had tried to talk things through and before the immunity challenge, he decided that it was a better idea to dump the rice out at camp, and then challenge Phillip to a fight. This iis not the logic of someone trying to play the game; this is the logic of someone who cannot control their emotions and has no real business even being on a show like this. We’re not going to call him crazy, but there are clearly some major emotional problems that Brandon has to work through. You don’t come on “Survivor” to find yourself; you should already know who you are before trying to figure out how to play a game like this.
After the meltdown, it was pretty clear that the Favorites were not even interested in going to Tribal Council, and they just wanted someone this horrible wrecking what is at its very core just a game. This is why Jeff Probst made the call to have tribal council immediately, and the Favorites all made the decision to all instantly vote Brandon out of this game. While we would have personally thrown him out of the game the moment we got physical, we do think that Jeff made the right call here in not even forcing the Favorites to go back to camp or to tribal. This was a complete mess that was at times just uncomfortable to watch, but at least Brandon is out of the game and we can get back to talking about “Survivor” the way in which we like to.
What do you think about Brandon’s meltdown, and do you think that production really handled this challenge in the right way? If you want to see more from this Phillip / Brandon fight, you can do so over at the link here.
Photo: CBS
Andrew
March 14, 2013 @ 7:33 pm
Brandon merely wanted to live up to the Hantz name, it’s on record dear uncle Russell was disappointed in his crying and gamemanship in his previous season, hence why he mentioned he had not cried during this season. He’d mentioned ruining the rice etc in an earlier episode, it was pre planned by him to gain credit with his family and prove he is a Hantz.
davey
March 14, 2013 @ 2:45 pm
Skinhead who lost his Ritalin.
Linda
March 14, 2013 @ 12:58 pm
I can only imagin the Hantz family (Uncle Russell, Willy, Brandon) all sitting around watching last nights episode. And Brandon telling them…………wait for it…..wait for it….. And old Uncle Russell saying “that’s my boy – that’s how you play the game”. What a bunch of losers. They love this kind of BS, and it’s all for show. Brandon won’t seek help – because that’s the mentality of that family. They think this is normal.
Jenny
March 14, 2013 @ 11:29 am
Survivor is an awesome show. Brandon’s meltdown was priceless. He evened the score a little by throwing out the rice and beans. The newer contestants are babied these days. I miss real players like Ozzy who actually survived by going out and climbing trees and diving into the water to provide food for his tribe.Phillip knew he was wrong but showed great maturity by letting Brandon fall apart. I hope the fans win as long as it’s not Reynold.
Kel57
March 14, 2013 @ 12:48 am
Brandon blew his top. Meltdown, no. Did he get some things right in his tirade, yes. Philip was dragged along by Boston Rob in an earlier series, and he thought and said essentially what Brandon said, Philip is a dolt; everyone is annoyed by his craziness, but Boston Rob kept him on for that reason, to protect himself from the jury and to garner votes. Brandon called Philip out for the same reasons, but that’s where he erred; Philip had progressed both in the challenges and in his strategy in this series, and Brandon could not handle the over the top manipulation Malcolm did not like it either, and said so early. But like Boston Rob, he ‘s in the game to win. Ok, Brandon’s tirade was maybe a mini meltdown.
survivor fan
March 14, 2013 @ 12:35 am
It was painfully obvious the first time Brandon was on Survivor that he has serious mental health issues. If he does not seek professional help, Brandon will be the first Survivor to either kill himself or be shot by police in a suicide by cop situation.
I love Survivor, but Mark Brunnet or who ever made the call to bring Brandon back to Survivor made a very serious and selfish mistake. One that is likely to cost him his life.
Brandon, if you by chance read this post, please seek professional mental help. There is no shame to admit you have a mental disease. Be a role model for others with mental illnesses. Good luck.
labman57
March 14, 2013 @ 12:06 am
Brandon Hantz is like a deranged neighbor who, because he is pissed off at the guy living next door, goes across the street and burns down that person’s house … and then sings “I did it my way” as he is led off in handcuffs by the police.
Lorna
March 13, 2013 @ 11:16 pm
I think Jeff handled Brandon and the situation perfectly. Brandon needs some help and I hope that the people at Survivor can help him get that. What should happen though, is Jeff should have talked to Philip about his part in this. When someone is ill like Brandon, you do not egg him on as Philip did. Philip is all out for himself and would endanger someone’s already fragile mental state just to make himself look good. I hope Philip is voted off next.
Terry
March 13, 2013 @ 9:55 pm
Brandon Hantz = loser mental case
Terry
March 13, 2013 @ 9:52 pm
Brandon Hantz = mental case
Janet
March 13, 2013 @ 9:27 pm
CBS certainly did handle this situation with great tact. I am sure we did not see everything that went on, but of what we did see, Jeff handled Brandon with great skill. That could have been a very ugly situation. While the show was, at times, difficult to watch, I give CBS thumbs up for letting us see a real thriller of an episode.