OnlyTheHunter wrote:Michael, you mentioned that, after rewatching, you changed your mind somewhat about how team-oriented Matty had been portrayed. And that, to your surprise, Matty appeared not so team-oriented, at least not relative to Ken.
And note, Matty has betrayed Fang's move all along, ratting them out to Jacquie, bonding with Ace and Sugar, then targeting Sugar, then voting Crystal. He's been spared somewhat from Fang lasting as well as they have. They have moved on in spite of him at times.
Whilst I can see that he's undermined Fang on a number of occasions, most people's impression is that he's a team player and it's because of the importance of the first episode. How many times have we, in the past, returned to the first episode seeking to identify many of the threads that will be ultimately untangled at the Final TC? The reality is that Matty was characterised overwhelmingly in one direction in that first challenge; unless something fundamental happens to change that impression, that is his lot. In reverse, it's a little like Courtney's goose being cooked in the first episode when she disprespected the local Chinese culture. We looked in vain for a redemptive episode but it didn't happen. CL won't agree with this, but she couldn't win. Had she won, either the disrespect would not have been shown or she would've been shown to have seen the error of her ways.
As things stand, I feel Matty is ahead in the unselfishness/team orientation department. Of course, things may change. More thinking to be done.
And, Darius, I'm surprised at your interpretation of the snake challenge. My take on it was that Matty was portrayed as single-handledly fighting a losing cause. A classic tragic hero's edit. How did others perceive this?
