Shock Twist

Vox Machina season 4 started off great...and then like season 3, they had to do something to ruin it/throw it off course. I get that Pike needs her time to shine given that Ashley wasn’t originally around much, but she had a subplot with her obnoxious/abusive relatives. Not as exciting, I know, but relatable. They certainly didn’t have to kill off Wilhand and then disintegrate Grog. At this point are they even doing Slayer’s Cake? Pike took her cousin away from her aunt and uncle and gave her a job there. Circling back to season 3, people were glad that it didn’t end with A Bard’s Lament and had a more amicable separation of the group (others, of course, were outraged). But then of course they brought it back in season 4 with everyone at each other’s throats. I did like them adding in Laudna, as well as Braius in The Mighty Nein. Grey Griffin still kills it as Delilah Briarwood.

‭I recently rediscovered The Mr. Potato Head Show on YouTube. I only remembered that the show existed because I still have issues of Fox Kids Magazine that I read over and over as a kid. I didn’t remember all the characters or what exactly they were, but I remembered I liked Potato Bug the best (which may explain why I like Niffty). I showed the theme song to my daughter, who has a Mr. Potato Head and a Mrs. Potato head. Then we watched the thirteen episodes three times. I didn’t foresee bonding with my daughter over an obscure Fox Kids show. My husband hadn’t heard of it. I think the appeal was that Mr. Potato Head can be anything, and making a TV show is hard. They also must’ve thought “What if Timmy the Tooth was made of meat?” The voice of Potato Bug also appears in Sid the Science Kid, which my daughter also watches. Jim Henson puppeteers/voices are everywhere! I also got her into Eureeka's Castle, which was written by R.L. Stine in his Jovial Bob Stine days. What a twist!

Survivor 50 (Spoilers!)

‭In Survivor, they vote people out based on how likable a person is or how likely they are to get jury votes. But what does that say about those that remain? Are they less worthy or less likable? I like tight duos who want to see the other one win if they can’t. I couldn’t stand Christian this season. Mike and Angelina were supposed to be his alliance and his friends but he turned on them. He even admitted Mike was right about Emily but f*ck him anyway I guess. I hoped he wouldn’t turn on Rick next, but apparently they’re the “new age bromance.” Coach devolving back into the haiku-spewing Dragon Slayer was disappointing. The post-merge has been chaotic with so many people. It’s like Ozzy took Rizo out for ice cream and when they came back three people had been voted out and people were fighting. It’s like that Community meme. Coach and Chrissy deserved to go down together. She was basically his keeper. I miss the Coach from Ponderosa who played Rock Band. I didn’t really remember Chrissy. I can’t believe Ozzy didn’t play his idol again. He's one of the people on this season who made the same mistake twice.

‭It’s weird playing seasons back-to-back without anyone having seen them first. Russell Hantz made it to the end and lost both times, and Rizo lost at fire-making both times. “If I had a nickel for every time that happened, I’d have two nickels” and all that. I thought Jonathan was getting the main character edit, but the winner was Aubry. I suppose she’s earned it after all this time. I was rooting for Cirie if it was going to be anyone who’s played multiple times, but at least the fans voted to give her the Sia award. I was rooting for Tiff too out of the newer players who were left. Charlie and Kamilla are going to be on the next season of White Lotus, but like I thought, everyone is welcome.

‭The Late Show is over after tonight, so I would like to boycott CBS. However, season 51 is called “The Open Era” and it looks like it begins with a marooning like the original seasons. I’ll keep watching Survivor, but f*ck the network and its parent company.