Know-It-Alls LIVE 12e/9p Ep 4 Survivor 46 

Stephen calling Rob handsome was so wholesome. Love this know-it-alls bromance.

Stephen is right about the no-vote. They risk unintentionally bringing in doubt of whether there’s going to be a vote at all as an element in the game that players have to consider.

The fact that Jeff hugged Bhanu is telling on how much he liked him. We’ve never seen that before

Bhanu comes from poverty-stricken rural India. His background is "village". Everything is known, everything is shared, everyone is observed. If you are asked, "Does X do this?" and you know, "Yes, X does this", that is your response. You do not lie in the village or there will be rapid and painful consquequences. There is a headman/village elder to whom one defers as law. Bhanu sinking to his knees and prostrating himself before another villager, asking for mercy, is absolutely part of his home culture. His prayers to God are genuine; he does see God in all things, in every particum of Nature and in every moment of his experience. There is no chance: there is only karma ... and what you do with it. Where he lost his way was the disconnect between the television "Survivor" and the real game Survivor. His team mates want the $1 million: Bhanu wanted the experience. Bhanu, the tribe did not know how to listen to you and you did not know how to hear them. But they spoke ... and you are gone.

The entire problem with the New Era boils down to the tiny starting tribes completely strangling gameplay. A 4-person tribe that has Bhanu on it CAN'T try to play around and blindside someone else, because there *is no one else*. With a larger tribe, there is room for someone like Q to convince to Tiff to keep around Bhanu as a pocket vote because maybe they need to focus on taking out some other big threat. But if Q wants to keep Bhanu as a pocket vote on a tribe that's going down to three people, that immediately becomes a very dangerous position for Tiff.

As someone who has ALWAYS, ALWAYS liked every show without being asked. I have one small request. Play the theme song please. What are you doing? Trying to phase it out!? I need the song Rob!

I don't believe that Bhanu is a super fan, it seemed like he hasn't even seen a single episode. lol

Rob, when you inevitably speak with Q, unless he wins, you HAVE to ask him if he regrets voting Jess out instead of Kenzie. He could’ve just ran with Jess and Bhanu and possibly controlled them the entire time

A little annoyed that Jeff hasn’t read a piece of parchment in 2 weeks

I feel like Jem causing her “fun” weakens her tribe come merge. They were so solid and united and this caused distrust between them. For no reason!

I feel Sia giving Bhanu money could be setting another bad precedent going forward.

I tried watching the Bahnu interview, but I just couldn’t. I blame this on casting. Their obsession with “stories” and not on people who want to play a game for $1M. I think his edit was more frustrating than the quits in 45.

I feel like Bhanu having the exit he did helped honour his honesty. That his tribe was so honest with him back to the point that there was not even a reason to vote. And that that’s how he was able to have some influence. I thought it was a beautiful “tie the bow” moment. - although also totally agree with Stephen that it sets a bad precedent.

Nothing says “he was lying about Kenzie being a mastermind and Tiffany & Q being tight” than showing up to merge with only Kenzie, Tiffany, and Q

Thanks for what you do and creating a forum to share. I'm a rare commentor on social media, but felt compelled in this case to agree with much of what you've discussed here. As Hubicki and others have noted, the three tribe format with only 6 people is a disaster. Then combine it with no flint for one team and it's really starting to be scary - medically scary and why should one bother even applying if they are going to be subjected to that type of torture (sleep and food deprivation is serious - like people will go on hunger strikes and societies use methods to deter sleep as weapons). With all the times that Jeff tells people they should apply, all the efforts they do in casting, all the work someone does to prepare, the time they have to give up jobs or time with family to participate in this (in secret), and then they basically set up 6 people for serious health issues and no true ability to play the game. It is NOT fun to watch one team starve and be forced to slowly cut their weakest links. From Jess wandering around aimlessly because she couldn't sleep or eat and Bhanu having massive emotional outbursts in front of us, while the other two teams are so freaking bored that Jem is now ruining her own game by planting the beware clue (and doing it in a very dangerous way by putting it where ants are getting them - omg! she didn't even tell her allies and that's going to bite her the way those ants could have really caused a medical scare for someone). There were several secret scenes that were much more interesting than the Bhanu show, no offense to him at all. The secret scenes of the rain storm would have helped provide so much more context. They had the footage and decided to air the meltdown of one person who they know gets cut. For the extreme fan who sometimes ponders maybe putting a video application together, the new era was enticing with the great characters and new casting, but now seeing enough seasons to realize that there are some basic things that Survivor as a brand and producer of this content could do to still make a very interesting game to watch on tv and not force viewers to endure the insanity that literally happens without basic stuff for more than a week. So yes Rob, I agree - give them flint!!!

What happened to the Know-it-Alls theme song? Just doesn’t feel like a Know-it-alls without the theme.

Hoping this season picks up...

Bhanu reminded me of my Indian Uncle, A nice guy whose clueless all the God-Damn time!

Secretly hoping Sia is such a fan that she will not reward him with the Sia award. (How crazy we call it the Sia award….)

Maybe others like the jump start, but I miss the theme song, it's always fun singing along to for reasons I don't fully understand 😂

Really enjoyed your guys takes on many of the topics. I wish Jeff would rope in ex-players that are truly passionate about the show before the next season and have a little workshopping for how to carry out the following seasons.

The no vote thing is spot on

Play with the cards your dealt. Unfortunately Bhanu was an UNO card in a game of poker.

I miss Stephen/the no it alls being right after Survivor. (Although thankful for it at any time I prefer it right after the show.)

Two weeks in a row with no theme song?? Outrageous

Rob was extra cute with Maryanne today. I noticed that! : ) AND Stephen is absolutely glowing 2nite! All the butters: shea butter, cocoa butter.... great!

Bhanu pointing at the sky and blaming God for letting him get voted out is an incredible survivor moment

I hate the no vote, as it seems to be easily influenced by the person who was going to be voted out, in this case, the person with NO Vote. It also gives peer pressure a chance to influence your vote because you are agreeing publicly to a vote that should be your private decision.

i also can't not think of seven now when i see the word several, jelinsky has altered my brain chemistry. Legend.

I'll say this... if I have an idol that is alive, and a scenario like this arises where it is supposedly a foregone conclusion, and Jeff says "it's time to vote" because an ulterior plan is in motion that I don't know about, I'm playing my idol! 🤷‍♂️

And no matter what the circumstance they need to have a tribal vote at the end of an episode !! that is the show. Put pen to paper People

Bhanu disturbed my Wednesday vibe. U know the video of the baby crying when her mother sang? Just screwed up my mood during my joyous Wednesday routine. 🎶nah nah nah Goodbye!

tori in 42 was technically sent out without a vote, although she did get to play her shot in the dark

I'm glad to see this because there is No Way I could hear Bhanu speak another word. Yep, I'd throw myself in the ocean.

If they go back and forth between Final 2 and 3, i think it is important to let the players know beforehand

We’re three minutes in and you two are being so cute to each other 🥰

Bhanu is on the short list with Wendy Jo as the potential worst player of all time

I believe the winner is on team Nami. This ep of survivor was really funny to me def the funniest of the season. Jem watching everyone dig was hilarious 🤣🤣🤣 I feel like the merge portion is gonna be insane. Lets go team Yanu can win a immunity!

They’re definitely setting it up to have Jem go home next week, I like the play to replant the beware advantage but the execution was HORRIBLE, that play ONLY works if you plant a real looking decoy and even still is ill advised to do so on your original tribe All she did was cause uncontrollable chaos, and raise the suspicions of everyone else on the tribe That mixed with the fact the few strategy talks she had from the first 3 episodes were all cut for secret scenes and the scene of her finding the idol being packaged as a throwback to 4 days earlier, imo she is not long for this game

Bhanu cried more then Hannah did during her “nicotine” withdrawals

Does anybody know who the 3 silhouettes on the logo are supposed to be?

People are too harsh on this season for 4 episodes, Redemption Island had 3 really good episodes and then the rest of the season flops. Medical evacuations mess crap up too, like they already did the immunity challenge and now they have to weigh up a double elimination ruining the schedules so we ended up with an extended cut of the last episode when the same tribe lost again

I am here for the cinnamon diatribe! HAHAHAHA! LOVE CINNAMON! Worth the risk of lead poisoning! hahahahah!

We all clowned on Jelinsky in the premiere. In retrospect, he’s easily the best player who’s been voted out so far. Survivor man, u never know what’s gonna happen

I like all of the Yanu players individually, but they never came together as a tribe to be rootable underdogs despite their bad start. Bhanu’s story was very inspiring, but it also felt disconnected from the rest of the show. I prefer it when players share their story and then frame it with how they are using that to approach the game, even if it’s just giving them the motivation to continue on. Siga is definitely the most cohesive tribe, but I didn’t like Jem’s “fun” move because it sows distrust and just felt really sloppy. As a Venus fan, I’m happy that Nami is looking to target Soda first, but I don’t think it’s a good move for Tevin at all to get her out this early. The other weird thing about what we saw here is that he’s not even using this to try to bring Venus in closer. I agree with Rob, I like the variation between 2 tribes and 3 tribes, and also Final 2s and Final 3s with the caveat that they are told at the beginning of the season (or at least the merge) which it is going to be - because that really informs gameplay decisions.

The problem is, I really don't like anyone on the Yanu tribe, unlike recent seasons where you root for the tribe down in numbers...that's definitely not happening for me this season with or without Bhanu.

Did anyone else catch the Van Halen song references during the challenge? Reminiscent of the Foo Fighters’ song references in Season 35, ep 4. 🤘🏼🎸

had a feeling, but i am happy they won reaward

Love love love the discussion🎉

I am really enjoying the villainy of Kenzie which is making me enjoy the yanu tribe. I get bhanu took up a bunch of time but honestly to me it was great tv watching someone unravel like that in a funny comedic way. I actually feel like a TON of this cast is getting dunked on like any chance they can with this season they are dunking on the players

I've loved so much of the New Era so far, but this has been the weakest season of the bunch (at least for now.) The pacing feels a little bit slow, and while I have nothing against Bhanu, he's just received so much airtime and I just don't know enough about the other two tribes, 4 episodes in. Hoping for some more exciting episodes but these last two have been pretty tame and lacking.

Please add the theme song back!

ROB WE LOVE THE THEME SONG PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!! Love rhap know-it-alls 🥹

Yanu played too hard too fast. Jess was the safe vote for first out. Jelinksy could have been what Q was looking for in Bhanu as a pocket ally.

It's pronounced IG-no-min-y.

Not a lot of upside to Jem's move, So I don't see the point In it.. why not just find the Idol and keep it secret.. Seems like a better strategy Than stirring up suspicion. No 1 suspects her of anything to begin with!!

I honestly think that this (no tribal) was requested by Bhanu to have some speech (which I skipped), , when he knew there is simply no chance.

There should always be a vote unless the person quits!

Maybe the players could vote each season at beginning whether to have two or three final players

Ever since Jelinsky I been hearing people use the word several way too much and it makes me think of jelinsky every time

Banhu said he was a super fan.

The player had no vote and no shot in the dark, so the other players announcing it is no different than Tom not going to an urn to remove Ian in Palau, or polling the players in their seats for Varner in Game Changers. This is a continuation of that. If Bhanu had a chance to survive, there would have been a vote. None was needed here.

Brad Reese in 41 when home without a vote

I think whats missed in the final 2 discussion is the threats stick together more in f2 seasons so they don’t go out one by one. In 43 Jesse probably wouldn’t touch Cody until Final 4 at the earliest. My other reason for f2 is nearly anyone can win as long as you maneuver there with someone less likable than you (ofc the downside is a boring ftc). And also the jury members can vote for either person without doing calculations about voting for the 3rd place person, leading to more surprise “quirky” winners like S1 of survivorau

It's kinda like when Tori was like, well I'm gonna use my shot in the dark in 42. They made her speak up about it instead of just doing a vote where she could play it in secret.

Hey Steven, Send my love to JT ❤

It’s def way too early to declare this the worst season of survivor ever when we’re only 4 episodes in. I will say there are a lot of unlikeable ppl on this cast. They’re either boring, annoying, or completely lacking self awareness. I actually really like Tiff, Kenzie, Ben, and Hunter. Hunter should be everyone’s target though; he is a major challenge threat.

I feel like Jeff always gives a hint to his true his feelings about a season. When Rob interviewed him and asked what his thoughts were on the upcoming season/cast, he said it was an “eclectic” group. Not exactly a winning endorsement of the season and gameplay. I’ll always take bad survivor over no survivor. But this is a bit rough so far and the 90 minute episodes are exposing the lack of quality content.

Hey Stephen, what’s up??

What is "Rush hour"?

Honestly I'm much higher on the season than 45. It feels like we have some real people, real emotions.

Bhanu is a freaking annoying.

Final Tribal Council primary! Sometimes that third person is a waste of time and conversation.

But what are we going to do about all of the lead in our children's cinnamon?

Fishbach IS looking extra supple today

17:34 Unless you quit the game, which is something Jeff hates.

Just let people vote and write a name down

look, i didn't dislike bhanu. he seems like a sweet guy who may be really great in small doses. but i was not sad to see him go and i feel like people may romanticize the idea of wanting to see him back again. he was bad at the game and there were real reasons why he was bad at the game. we were also glad that david got another chance on BB all-stars before it was like "oh right, he's bad at the game." but anyway, not my favorite episode, though i think this season has been good and has great potential post-merge.

I would have voted for Dom over Wendell

Is there some reason Yanu isn’t trying to make fire even without a flint? Maybe I missed it but there have been several tribes that created fire without flint through sheer hard work. Have they even tried?

Bhani that was horrible time on the camera

Can you discuss how some in the Australian Survivor community are using this season's start as evidence that the US franchise has become 2nd rate. My own view is that sometimes casting mistakes happen. Thanks in advance from one happy to be a patron.

Polarizing player Bhanu is. Going be discussed a lot in the years to come.

This was the worst episode in Survivor history

Tribe swap coming next show. Two tribes of 7.

Yanu prob has the worst position of any decimated tribe going towards the merge because the 3 left have the worst Survivor reputations you can have--a mastermind and a power duo. Most tiny teams are underestimated (a la Matsing or Tika) but I wouldn't surprise me to see them continue to become extinct in the individual game. There seems to be a reality tv trend starting up of throwing your side under the bus on your way out whomp whomp🤦🏾‍♀️

I think Venus & Maria are both Lebanese. I definitely see her flipping & trying to work with Siga. Also, purple may link up with orange, since Q & Hunter will connect. I also see Tevin working well with them

This season is shockingly bad. Horrible casting. Bhanu is probably one of the worst players to ever play.

Two seasons where the first 4-5 episodes are kinda boring and weak. Is that the casting looking for more diversity rather than who is actually a game player ?! So much wasting time , and long episodes for such boring ends.

The heart of the show is now gone 😭 😢

Embarrassing casting moment

Stephen wont play with Abbi Maria What makes stephen think he is going to play again?

Season 46 worst Survivor season ever no doubt

I’m not a Survivor purist by any means and I don’t dislike Bhanu but Jeff’s reasoning for the no vote is odd. Why does Bhanu get to go out on his own terms? Most people don’t which is how the game goes.

Three tribe format also showing its faults with the way they cast Siga. The chemistry between them is horrible television.