There it is

I know the episode just started and I know I will feel the same when it ends. So I can say it with my whole chest, that I can’t staaaaand Patrick!

The way he celebrated him and Cheeneys win last episode deserves a whole eye roll. I can’t remember exactly what was said but it was along his legend slayer crap. Three out of four of the people they won over were man down. To cheer another persons injury is crazy.

She just posted this. Lines up with the previous spoiler thread.

Patrick pisses me off SO much. I thought I hated Jeff, but I think I hate Patrick more. I need him to go home because he’s so insufferable I can’t deal with it. It stresses me out. What a douchebag.

Ok, did that just happen?

Did Matt & Laura really find & yowie nest? WTF!

That whole narrative that they are folding because they won’t be able to beat the male competition, like did they not watch last season with Khy?

Khy was just an arrow away from being LOS.

I haven’t finished the season yet but good on Cheeny for not falling into that mindset.

This last Shelter building challange was a shit show in every way possible.

We ended up with 3 people needing to be tended to by medics, one of which was med-tapped and another presumably on the horizon in the next couple of episodes.

The weather was completely wrong for the type of challange. Scorching hot sun with barely any canopy to provide shade, or wind or breeze to help them keep cool. The basis on fastest wins ensured that someone was going to either wind up dehydrated get heat-stroke. The fact that only Jaime was as severly afflicted by the heat is a major surprise.

The decision to make it a race removed any intriuqe or personalsation that could have been intresting to see. Instead everyone tried to cut corners and just make someting passable at glance.

The challange should have taken 24 hours or so, and be structured in a way that the contestants hat to:

1. gather materials to make a 2 person sun and rain proof shelter

2. Make the shelter

3. Spend the night in that shelter (fire only allowed outside)

4. In the morning take down the shelter and move it to the new location AND reassemble it

That way we get a whole day to see the contestant really put their brains to work and test various methods to get the desired result, and still get a bit of a race on the 2nd day for all the high octane, shaky cam, heavy breathing, confessional about how this has to happen now, stuff that LOS seems to love so much. AND a whole day to work severly brings down the risk of accidents like what happend to Laura and Trish. If either of them had the opportunity to slow down they they wouldn't have been hurt.

(Trish from rushing to cutting vines (for some reason despite needing saplings?) and getting sprayed with toxic tree juices)

(Laura from having to go along with Jermaine in order to have a shot at not coming in last and thus working fast and loose with subpar materials that result in her getting whipped in the noggin)

Rant over, any thoughts?

Who are you looking forward in joining this season?

Jeff!

That dude made the show watchable.

I hope he comes back next year.

Instead we got these people quitting left and right because life's not fair or something.

Bring back Jeff so he can troll these people so bad they HAVE to stay.

Also, much respect to CHEENEY for sticking around even though they tried to gaslight her into tapping with the quitting squad only to win the next challenge.

Ky was incredible and as resourceful as her books to back her reputation up. I haven’t seen many kudos given to her. I was pretty amazed at how practiced and methodical she was. She wasn’t the biggest or strongest but very impressive with her mental toughness and overall physical endurance. She really knew how to manage herself and her skill sets out there.

https://x.com/NakedAndAfraid/status/1809225727457292358

I have always really despised Jeff… Until last night. What is that about?! He has always really annoyed me (the yelling, not sharing, criticizing my fav Matt). But he seems different this season. I like his gameplay and the bromance with Dan. He respects other players’ skills, and he seems more skillful than I thought he was. And he shared his kill! So is Jeff becoming a better human, or has he always been this way and I just didn’t see it? I find myself kind of rooting for him now.😬🤔

Should the show continue, except have the men compete against the men, the women compete against the women, and for the final challenge the LMS and LWS compete against each other in a challenge where both have an equal shot at winning? That really tests their survivalist bonas without one gender having a natural advantage over the other?

I’ve been rewatching the entire LOS series, and some of the comps clearly favor the men.

What’s your opinion?

(Btw, I stopped watching Survivor 15 years ago and had really enjoyed the NAA franchise (except for the dreadful “NAA..of Love”) specifically because it WASN’T like Survivor. I enjoyed that the competition was all in oneself, pushing themselves to the limit, and helping each other get to/through extraction.)

I know this whole season has had its ups and downs but the ending just seemed anticlimactic. We found out the winner but didn't even see the other two leave.

In old seasons of XL, we got to see people take their first shower, eat their first meal, and reunite with family, and I felt like this gave a sense of closure to the season. This season it ended and they instantly tried to push Naked and Afraid Apocalypse on you.

Episode name: Down Under Siege

Alright, alright, alright! It’s Sunday and you know what that means: It’s time for the Naked and Afraid LOS Season 3 Running Diary! Let’s get to it!

–I forgot who went home last week. Jermaine didn’t make much of an impression.

–My winner predictions: Matt or Darrin. Dark horse: Kaiela

–These previews are either ridiculously cut in order to make the episode we’re about to watch seem dramatic or some real shit is about to go down. You can’t say that this LOS is lacking in drama.

–Day 18.

–Kaiela doesn’t like hunting with a bow. You can’t be a legend if you don’t know how to hunt. That’s a rule I just made up.

–Kaiela’s already speaking like a person that knows they’re going to tap soon. I don’t like the vibes.

–Laura’s neck is still messed up. I expect her to pull through though. She’s tough. However! Neck injuries are not to be messed with.

–Here comes that same medic that was Super Duper Concerned about Jamie as he lay dying in the dirt of a heat stroke. I wouldn’t trust her to run a bath, much less run a competent field clinic.

–Cheesy is flying under the radar. Does anyone give her a shot?

–I hope to see as little as possible of Patrick this episode.

–Why do Max and Kaiela have war paint on their faces? This isn’t Predator.

–They are focusing a lot on Kaiela’s issues with her body breaking down. Tap chances: 63%.

–Watching Matt carve up that pig head gives me Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibes.

–Ok, producers, can you get Trish off my screen, please? We get it: it’s a competition. Thanks, Trish.

–Kaiela is talking about her weight again and we’re only ten minutes into the episode. Tap chances are now at 76%.

–Day 19.

–More Trish: “I have value.” Ok, we get it!

–I don’t think I’d eat a pig head that just came out of the sand.

–Back to Kaiela’s body issues. Tap chances: 81%

–”I feel prickly all over my body.” She’s done. Tap chances: 98%

–Here come the medics. Med tap imminent.

–The medic suspects she’s malnourished. Thanks for coming, medic.

–Looks like she’s not getting med tapped (yet), but she’s still talking like she’s about to tap.

–Laura goes searching for berries for Kaiela. How can you not love Laura?

–Matt is making some type of spiritual tool. Is the producer calling it a “bullroarer?”

–I just googled it and that’s exactly what he’s calling the tool.

–”Women were not allowed to hear it (the sound of a bullroarer),” Darrin says. Ok, then.

–The producers cutting to two female contestants as Matt whirls the bullroarer above his head is hilarious. Never change, N&A!

–Trish decides to go and hang out with “the girls.” “Too much testosterone” in the Matt/Darrin camp, she says.

–Looks like Cheeny is joining the female party. Time for some good ol’ gossip!

–I’ve got to pause the video real quick so that I can type this entire thought out: Ok, something’s going on here. My Spidey-sense is tingling. The girls are talking about how they can’t beat the men in individual challenges due to the strength discrepancy. But there’s more here. Something’s coming. After 18 N&A seasons, 10 XL seasons and 3 LOS seasons, I can feel it. Maybe it won’t be a big thing. But it’s definitely a thing.

–Interesting dialogue here. They are not happy with how these challenges are going. They feel that they’re unfairly balanced toward the men. Trish makes a joke about all of them leaving the challenge the next day.

–There’s no way that something major isn’t about to happen.

–Cheeny goes on a hunt so that she can gather her thoughts. Will she catch a pig?

–And Cheeny does not catch a pig. No real surprise there, I guess...

–Nighttime.

–Laura and Kaiela really don’t like this LOS challenge. They use the tree challenge as an example of how the men have an obvious advantage over the women.

–Is there about to be a mutiny? Please let this happen.

–Laura really sounds like she’s about to tap. Kaiela doesn’t sound motivated to stick around either. Max tells them to sleep on it.

–Day 20.

–Max goes hunting.

–Again Kaiela talks about quitting. If she’s going to do it, then do it already.

–Now Trish sounds like she’s about to quit. WTF is going on???

–This is the first time we’ve seen Patrick in this episode. That’s a good thing.

–The guys are beginning to get the feeling that something major is happening.

–Max comes back from hunting and all of the women’s tools are gone.

–This is the perfect time to insert that Michael Scott “It’s happening!” gif.

–The four remaining women set up a camera to discuss whatever they’re about to do. This feels like a full blown mutiny!

–Holy fuck did they all just quit?!

–Cheeny isn’t on board with this plan yet.

–WOW! They did it! I am legitimately shocked!

–This is unbelievable. I’ll save most of my thoughts for the end of this running diary. There’s so much going on here that I can’t process it right now.

–What will Cheeny do? I feel like she’s going to stay. Let’s find out.

–Cheeny believes she’s always been “the only girl.” Sounds like she’s staying in the game.

–Is Cheeny going to win this whole thing now?

–And the trucks take Kaiela, Trish and Laura away. Will we ever see them again? This is a really emotional moment. Holy shit.

–Laura seems totally at peace with her decision. They all do.

–Day 21.

–Max reflects on his past challenges.

–We get a throwback clip to Max’s challenge with Kate. “Get me out!” she screams into the void.

–Scroll time!

–No more camp competitions.

–Time for individual competitions. Let’s go!

–Target practice challenge. Winner gets to butcher an animal.

–Matt should be a huge favorite in this challenge.

–I guess they won’t be having an elimination challenge for three episodes now, right?

–Three fewer contestants means more tv time for Patrick. Ugh.

–Matt is channeling the Force. Is he a Jedi or a Sith Lord?

–And he wins. I’m telling you: He’s going to win LOS.

–I had no idea you could clean out a rabbit by whipping it around like that. The more you know!

–Who will come in second? It’s a close race.

–Looks like it's Patrick. Now he’s got to clean his rabbit. He does it the old fashioned way.

–Cheeny finishes third. Can she catch Patrick?

–Max and Darrin can’t seem to hit the target. I’m surprised that these two are having so much difficulty with this.

–Max is out of the challenge.

–Darrin claims the final rabbit and now must process it.

–Patrick takes second place and screams like an idiot. I can’t stand that guy.

–Cheeny’s “I’m carrying the torch for women” motto is getting old fast. You decided to stick around in a Naked and Afraid reality show. You’re not exactly Amelia Earhart.

–More Cheeny. How many more times are we going to hear about Cheeny’s heroism? Please stop.

–Poor Max gets no food.

–And right on cue, there’s a pig walking through his camp. What a coincidence!

–No way is Max going to catch that pig.

–Day 23.

–Scroll time!

–2 mile migration to an area with lakes and game, etc.

–Something about choosing your own path and joining the others at a camp, etc.

–Do you have what it takes to be The Last One Standing?

–PSR time.

–Cheeny’s PSR is now 8.8. Matt’s PSR is now 9.8. Max’s PSR is now 9.5. Glad we got that out of the way.

–Max stepped on some coals. I doubt it’ll mean much. Oh, no! He’s got the medic Emma treating him! That’s no good. Run, Max, run! Or hop. Or crawl. Whatever you can do.

–Patrick hunts a pig as he gets closer to his new camp. Seems to be lots more game here than at the other camps.

–We went an entire episode without hearing from Patrick about how “tricky” he is. It was good while it lasted.

–The episode ends on a cliffhanger. Max says (as he’s reading the scroll) that he’s got choices: He can travel the road to the left, the road to the right, or he has a third choice, which he doesn’t name because the credits roll.

–Final thoughts on a wild episode:

I predict that most of the sub is not going to like what Laura, Kaiela and Trish did. I don’t like it from the standpoint of a fan wanting to see them compete. However, their reasoning is sound to me. It really wasn’t about whether they could win, but about how skewed the system was toward men and their physical advantages.

Regardless of where you stand on that issue, I think we all can admit that the show is now weaker than it was one episode earlier. In the end, this show is entertainment, and Laura and Kaeila were good TV (Trish was as well, but only because she’s a villain). Now we’re stuck with more Patrick and more Cheeny. While I have nothing against Cheeny, she’s also not very interesting. I could go a lifetime of never seeing Patrick again. Matt, Max and Darrin are good TV, although a little of Matt goes a long way.

This episode ranks high on the list of WTF episodes. Maybe it’s at the top. I still enjoy the “poison fruit” episode the most out of just about any N&A episode ever though.

Lastly, I think production has a crisis on its hands. It could work out for them if Cheeny wins. They can do the whole “See! A woman won LOS! We’re safe!”

Regardless, I think they need to really look at the type of challenges they create for the contestants. I think Laura’s opinion matters a lot on this show. She’s not just a survivalist expert; she’s also the most popular contestant in the history of the show.

Will the producers switch strategies for LOS Season 4? Will there even be a season 4? I don’t know what the ratings are like for this show. We’ll see, I guess.

Thanks for reading the N&A LOS Season 3 Running Diary! See you next week!

Sneak peak clip of S03 just dropped with Matt, Ky and Max!!! And I bet Daddy Gary will be back too

Even he is very conscious of it and trying to figure out how to make it work. Then they leave him behind while he's getting stitches.

I get that he was greedy leading up to the merge but, like, hes not hard to get along with. He's a high-energy hard worker with lots of skill and seems to be friendly and empathetic when its called for. I feel like all these adults should know him well enough to say, "look, I dont trust you but let's try to make this work", which is how it seems Waz approaches the Jeff thing.

I don't know, maybe it's just Sarah and Cheeny who are banding together against him which lends even more to the MeanGirl thing. I'm torn....but not really 😬

Here are all the S2 starting PSRs—Dan is leading the pack. I’d love thoughts on this ranking, and who you think will leave first/win it all.

Too bad there isn’t a fantasy game for us.

Chance admires and respects Laura so much. He is like a kid following his bigger sibling around who happens to be the star player. It's really cute. It doesn't hurt that her reputation precedes her but Laura is kicking ass even with her neck injury. The amount of knowledge and initiative she has is immeasurable. If I was Chance, I'd be the same way.

Kaeila has a lot less experience in the wild but she's got a lot of grit. I felt bad when she kind of broke down at the stream but it must be incredibly intimidating for her to be with such capable people and she probably feels a little left out in her group. Laura is so well respected, everyone can't help just be awed by her. Even Trish was trying to play nice with her. It was such a pleasant surprise to see her there. Damn straight. Finally getting some real cash on NAA for doing something she loves.