u/Training_Glove_91

I can't claim that I am a reality TV expert, but I do watch a fair amount, especially the survivalist, athletic, and or race reality TV show. And I love a good BTS explanation from the cast. It adds depth and reality to the story.

Nevertheless, I do pause when someone gets a "villanous" edit and they claim it was all a bad edit. That's not really who they are. But is it though?

I think it's crazy to claim that all the negative edits of you are false. There has to be some truth in the edits. Which brings me to Outlast and Ben (I am going to skip Charlie, because there's is obvious).

Ben. Now I can't speak to who Ben is in real life. I am soley focusing on his online and show tendencies. I recently listened to him on a podcast, and from my perspective I see why it may have been easy to give him the edit the show did. Ben uses a lot of "I" statements instead of "we" or "our" statements when describing the team's experiences. Here are a few of his ancedotes:

1. Maddy gets bit by a poisonous caterpillar and after explaining how terrible it was he says - The camera didn't show that I was the one killed them all.

2. Him and Maddy shot a boar - It was the best thing I ever did on the show.

3. Fishing - Yes, I didn't catching anything with the spear, but the next day I caught 7 fish and then I empowered the women by taking them out the next day and showed them how to fish. (side note: Half Maddy's IG is fishing pictures so this is wild)

In a sense, what Ben is saying isn't bad. But it doesn't scream, teamwork. The same podcast interviewed Nikki, and on the caterpillar incident, Nikki brags about Maddy going to scavenge for food even though she is still experiencing side effects from the bite.

When she talks about fishing, she says "Yeah, everyone (Maddy, Halle, Ben) caught fish and gutted them. We were eating well...I was upset about the spearpoint, because no else in the group knew how to spear fish. I wanted us to take the fishing trap because it was easy for everyone in the group to use."

Do you see the difference in language? Again, maybe Ben sucks at communication, but in the same podcast he decides to double down and say that Nikki didn't do anything for the team, and the girls would not have won without his hardwork. This is un-sportsmanlike and egocentric (I made a comment in another thread discussing this) because it discredits everything Maddy and Nikki, while he praises himself. Again, maybe the show did Ben dirty, but if you are saying statements like above, it is easy for the show to twist your words into the egocentric Alpha male.

Leiya - I'll keep this short. Leiya was also interview by the same podcast and at times it's heartbreaking to listen to her share her side of things. Although, I thought she had a beautiful and fair story arc, I guess she wanted the show to portray Maddy and Nikki as villains in her story. Well, sorry Leiya. Outlast: The Jungle doesn't end with you.

And I don't believe, showing a 30 minute argument would have changed anyone's mind. The small contigent of Maddy/Nikki haters would have used it as more fuel to explain how unfair their win was. I think the show does enough to show how competitive and ruthless Maddy and Nikki were on that hike/run (I thought it was an edit, but Leiya said they were actually RUNNING on that terrain and the cameraman couldn't keep up. Damn...) Leiya's Alpha arc also shows that Winning isn't as Clean and Heroic as we might want it to be. Their journey is one of failures, underestimation, a heroic save, near elimination, and then a cut throat game time decision. Personally, I love it. Imperfect Winners.

The Bravo Edit - This teams makes me laugh. I love them, but I think if Charlie's edit didn't exist, they might have gotten the villain's edit. Bravo made the most cut throats moves in the game, and somehow they come out looking like semi-heroes. Half their game actions included rejecting multiple trades from Alpha in hopes that the team would flare out.

Then they try to steal Alpah's bow and arrows and then steal Leiya shoes because of their ill-adviced game plan(s). The show barely does anything with this beyond showing Maddy yelling at them (and she calls Abby a b*tch in a team meeting. Lmaof.) and Nikki making her hero's journey speech about two faced people. The edits also softens the brutality of Pharoah and Abby's two eliminations by showing their conversations about the impossibility of creating a fire. Although Morgan's elimination is interesting. She's an OG Bravo member and their move seems to have completely blindsided her. Too bad they didn't do that trade...Oh, and Sarah steals that Charlies machetes (of that I approved). So yeah, Bravo isn't innocent either, and yet kudos for getting a Fair Edit.

A procrastination ranking post from the real writing I need to do.

16. Braxton - Was giving insecure follower vibes the whole time. Too bad he wasn't on another team so he could have learned the right lessons.

17. Stereotypical  ex-NFL player who gets away with everything because he can play a sport. Would make a great cult leader like Nature Boy.

18. Brett - Middle school boy humor on steroids. Despite being a terrible person, he was useful at fixing things. I did laugh out loud, when he said "My heart sank to my ass." I am glad it did.

19. Mary - Netflix did her dirty.

20. Ben - I am sorry but Ben flexing his abs and talking on and on about his spear and the rest of team looking at him like 🫩 might have been one of the funniest moments of the show. And then him returning with nothing only to say, "I learned a lot about the fish" was probably a turning point for Alpha. Ben's ego got in the way of him being an effective leader. At some point, he should have apologized and asked the rest of the team what they thought was the best move (like Pharaoh in a later challenge). I've seen a few people said the rest of Alpha should have fought him or voted him out but Nikki and Maddy definitely seemed hesitant to make a game move or shake up Alpha. I think everyone realized a little too late the consequences of letting ego rule when Halle flared out and Ben was eliminated.

21. Marshall - Seem like a nice guy but lacked the mental game to stay.

22. Leiya - I would be lying if I didn't say her post show antics effected my rating. I loved when she stood up for herself and moved camps. That final shot of her shooting the flare was beautiful. I just wish she had more self awareness about her abilities in the end. If I had been in her shoes, I would have had an incredible amount of guilt if I couldn't keep up and my performance lost the team a million dollars. Sure I would have sobbed my head off, but I would rather have someone win it over me losing it for the team. 

23. Sean - Great guy. Gone too soon. 

24. Morgan - Her arc from women hater to befriending the outcast of team Charlie was sweet. She would have been lower if she hadn't built a friendship with Sarah. I also thought it was ironic when she said that she will be rooting for Alpha after she stole the shoes. Girl what? Progress I guess.

25. Dave - I love how he got to play his sacrificial role for team Alpha. Honestly, I would do the same.

26. Abby - The strongest strategic player. I wanted to like her more, but sometimes I think she overplayed the game. Her attempted alliance with Morgan was too early and risked exposing that she was it in for the game and not the team. I think her focus eliminating players was too short sighted. I love cut throat moves, but you're goal should also be on making your team stronger. Yes, you strengthen Alpha's position but you also strengthen yours. Her story about wanting to win with an all female team is hilarious considering she eliminated two women from Bravo and tried to steal from the actual all female team. Note to self: Never say anything about women empowerment until the end of show or it's going to be used against you in the edits.

27. Sarah - Ultimate underdog. I love how she was able to shine on Bravo and proved Charlie wrong by staying almost to the end. It was heartbreaking to see her cry when eliminated, but she accepted it with grace.

28. Halle - Shout out to the youngest cast member who had zero survival skills. The fact that she lasted more than 20 days is impressive. I honestly thought she wasn't going to last long after she said she was a model who had no idea what she was doing. I know viewers like to yap about the people who come on the show with no experience when they probably wouldn't last a day themselves. She worked hard and helped win them the first challenge so she should be proud.

29. Nikki - Nikki was who Braxton thought he was. Not necessarily the leader, but definitely the team motivator and emotional support system. Maybe she wasn't accomplishing all these grand tv worthy survival skills but I wonder if Halle last that long without Nikki. She's the one whose fully on board welcoming Leiya and giving her a chance. She's the one keeping Alpha calm and pushing pace on that last day. A winning team doesn't mean you have the best people on your team. It's about having the right people crucial to success. Also I liked her spicy confessionals.

30. Phaoroh - I have mad respect for him. Even though he did mess up the navigation, he was willing to let Abby take over for the team. He was willing to admit mistakes versus half the people on this show. He also didn't seem down for all the stealing his team was doing. He played a solid game and stuck to his principals. I did appreciate when he picks up the snake and let's it go while Maddy is hungry and fuming in the background. Another gold tv moment. 

31. Maddy - Honestly, this is a biased pick because I guess I am sucker for a woman with a bow and arrow. This show knew what it was doing and yes as a Hunger Games Katniss lover, yes I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I may not agree with what she's doing outside the show, but I love when her arrow is what got the Charlie boys eliminated. My second favorite moment was her being a decoy in Operation Save Leiya. TV gold honestly. And lastly, next season, they really need to show more teams catching food. I am not sure which moment was sweeter. Watching Sarah learn how to collect clams or Maddy catching that fish and showing it off to the camera like she won the lottery.

This is just for fun. But this is a dedication to the Charlie defenders who want to believe that Charlie's tactics helped them. As for Bravo and Alpha...Bravo starts out strong, but Alpha slowly gains momentum as the game goes on.

Charlie 1/6 successful strategies.

1. Votes out Sarah and they tell her that they hate her on the way out. Results - Sarah joins Bravo and retaliates by stealing their machetes.
2. Uses intimidation tactics against Bravo members. Results - They gain a bad reputation amongst the other teams.
3. Wins a kayak in the 1st challenge. Results - They easily win the 2nd competition and take away Bravo's fire which weakens that team.
4. Mistreats Leiya and believe that Alpha would fail without a man (apparently this was intentional gameplay on their part) Results - Leiya takes the kayak and joins Alpha. Alpha is relieved at Ben's elimination.
5. Attempt a trade with Alpha for a bow and Braxton lies about earlier trade. Result - Alpha laughs in their faces.
6. Build a makeshift bow instead of eliminating someone from their team. Results - They are eliminated.

Bravo 4/8 successful strategies

1. Choses fire. Result - They are immediately the strongest team because they can boil water, food, and keep warm.
2. Rejects multiple trades with Alpha. Results - Alpha later rejects their trades for a bow.
3. Accepts Sarah as a member. Results - a strong team member who works hard and they gain two machetes.
4. Works with Alpha in 1st swim challenge - Gain valuable fishing equipment.
5. Fails to steal bows, but steals shoes. Results - Leiya is injured.
6. Builds an interesting raft. Results - Nice try. Charlie takes their ferro rods.
7. Eliminates two of their members for supplies. Results - Easily wins semifinal challenge.
8. Early navigation errors. Results - Runner up.

Alpha 5.5/9 successful strategies

1. Chooses hunting materials. Results - Their decision lands them in the worst location that's far from the beach and makes it hard for them to build a successful shelter. Later the bows help them secure their place in the finale. Unlike Charlie, they decide to work together as a team and avoid fighting.
2. Attempt two trades with other teams. Results - The trades reveal how weak the team is and no one wants to trade in hopes that the team will flare out. No one flares out.
3. Dave sacrifices himself for fire. Result - The team gains access to clean water and the ability to cook
4. Works with Bravo during first swim challenge. Result - They gain the ability to fish which provides much needed energy/moral for team.
5. Rejects Leiya and her kayak. Result - Halle flares out due to exhaustion. Ben is eliminated.
6. Creates a plan to distract Charlie so Leiya and her boat can move to Alpha. Result - Charlies loses their bargaining chip and their ego is bruised.
7. They reject all of the other teams' request for a bow. Result - Alpha becomes the strongest team with their delayed advantage.
8. Leiya is entrusted with fire challenge. Result - Team almost loses. Team loses faith in Leiya. Thankfully Maddy saves them from elimination.
9. Solid navigation and eliminating team member who struggled with course. Result - Wins a million dollars. It's not how you start, but how you finish.

This show has me HOOKED and since I'm on summer break as a teacher, I have spent way too much trying to get details. I was looking for some BTS video or podcast reviews, and when I couldn't find any I started to check the players Instagram. And they have not disappointed. Most of them are posting on their stories.

I find it interesting that out of those who had rough edits or less than savory behavior, Maddy and Nikki (as far as I know) are the only ones who haven't blamed the edits for their behavior. I haven't looked at everyone's profile, but yeah...what the camera does or doesn't reveal isn't the be all to everyone's character, BUT I do think these type of shows can EXPOSE and HIGHLIGHT your best and worst attributes.

Ben has been the most active and only regrets the negotiations; he continues to brag about himself and his success in the group, but he's now mad at Nikki for slandering him on the show. At first he said there were no problems in the group, but now he is on the Nikki smear campaign and claims that she won because she relied on everyone else to do the work, which if is true is a great strategy since she won. He had this long explanation (I kind of tuned out) about how the edits made it seemed like he wasn't helping on the second swim challenge with Halle. When he's not talking about himself, he does have great answers to BTS questions.

Dave is giving "I'm just happy to be here" vibes. Congratuluated Nikki and Maddy for winning (unlike Ben) on his stories. Loves that everyone appreciated his sacrifice for the team.

Halle is also giving "I'm just happy to be here" vibes too. Loved everyone in the group, hated the bugs and not having food. Honestly, her responses to questions are funny and sweet, since she talks about being so young and not prepared at all.

Nikki says her face has subtitles and she admitted that she didn't like Ben. She says their personalities didn't mesh well. I like that her answers are honest, but also mature. What you see in the show is what you get on her socials.

Maddy hasn't posted anything beyond reposting stories of support and the Alpha girls together. In an article, she backed up everything Nikki had to say about Ben. Based on her personality in the show, it doesn't surprise that she hasn't posted as much.

Sean. I think Bravo wins if Sean hadn't injured himself. Post a million videos about motivation and fitness.

Leiya. Leiya is INTERESTING. Her situation with Charlie was awful and regardless of her character, what happened to her should have never happened. However, Leiya is on a public smear campaign against Maddy and Nikki. I understand why she's mad at them, but now she's claiming they were mean to her and used her intentionally for the boat and fire. This brings up a lot of questions for me like why didn't you quit?!!! Apparently, she did nothing wrong on the show. Kind of feels like she's a victim of every situation, but I hate that because the Charlie situation was terrible.

Braxton is coping with the fact that most people hate him, so he's trying to lean into the villain arc by posting a bunch of videos of him hanging with young Gen Z girls (sigh). Meanwhile, Wes and Buddy (no surprise) are happy with their 5 minutes of fame and proudly posting their villain moments.