Ben's Reflection/Rites Of Passage
Wow, it's been an amazing game, and an amazing experience to have played it with everyone. I've always wanted to make it to this point to take part in the 'rites of passage' so it's a massive honour to be able to do this! May I point out that I didn't get the chance to play or meet everyone properly, but I always tried to go out of my way to at least make an effort. So here goes:
SEAN: The first casuality right back when our Sayan group seemed to be losing everything. You seemed like a nice guy but you were never there to talk to and I only got the chance to talk to you once, and at the point of the game inactivity paid the price more than anything. Would've been good to get to know you better
TOM: The only other 'non-american' in the game! I had a few chats with you and you seemed like a cool dude but you were gone too early to really get a good bearing on who you were and what you were in this game. I hope whatever drew you from quitting the game is good now, and it was a shame to see my only non-american friend leave so early!
ANDII: Easily one of, if not the hardest vote in this game and my only real regret from this entire game. You are a great person Andii and a person who I can see myself talking to and getting to know quite a lot and it just sucked that we got rid of you when we did, because in hindsight, it was a stupid move and you should've easily come to the final 4 with us. Looking back the other day at some SLJ history I only realised you were in SLJ14 with me so it just sucks that I realised that too late when we could've bonded over past game times together! You easily deserved to be jury minimum in this game and I hope that we can remain friends once it's over.
MARK: I don't have a whole lot to go on with you Mark as I guess we never really spoke in this game. In the few attempted conversations I made we never got really far and we weren't really on at the same time. I did however single you out as one of the biggest threats in this game from the beginning and I have no doubt in my mind that you could've easily made top 5 had you remained in the game. Given the situation with Rain, you were the obvious choice to go, but you beat Drew & I too it when you asked to be booted. A massive gameplayer and strong player and deserving juror
ROBIN: We had about one conversation in this entire game and from that I can tell what a nice and great person you are, but the fact you left so early didn't really give me a chance to communicate with you more and play the game with you. But that's the game, and people have to leave early, just as people have to make it to the end. Somebody who I would like to get to know more
DIANA: You made it to the merge and were the first person gone, but I don't recall you at all in this game. We didn't have one single conversation or meeting and I really can't say much about you other than the stuff I've already said.
NICK: See my comments for Mark for a real reflection on you Nick, as you are very similar in the fact that we would attempt conversations and they never really got going, so I don't have a whole lot to go on except that I knew you were a big threat for this game and a big gameplayer. You were easily somebody who had the smarts and ability to go far in this game, but in being apart of a group that admitted their alliance in a public space, it was clear you had to go and unfortunately you were the first to take the fall. Could've easily lucked into Bryan's spot in the F2 if things had fallen your way.
MAGGIE: Started to have some great conversations with you Maggie and really began to get to know you which I liked. You had the potential to play along with myself/Donna/KJ/Drew/Jamie and it was good to have that option, however it was clear where your loyalties were. You are a great strategist and a great player who had the potential to easily make top 4, and possibly more, hence the reason for your departure. A great person who I can easily see talking to for long after this game and a deserving Juror.
NICOLLE: Very similar to what I said about Maggie above, except a person who likes to hold their cards close to your chest. I think in all conversations we had, the game was barely talked about, and you easily had the smarts to make the final 4 and even the final 2. You could've easily been where Bryan is sitting now and probably would be more deserving of that position, however the cards fell your way in the split vote as we knew we had to flush the idol (which we thought was found at that point) and you were considered the bigger threat. Somebody who has proven they have got what it takes to get to the end in the last season and a fantastic person. Rightfully deserves back to back jury spots.
DONNA: The first of my alliance to fall in consecutie order. Donna firstly can I point out that you are a fantastic person and I enjoyed spending all the time I did with you. You were one of the first people I spoke to in this game and I definitely value the friendship we have. However at the point you went, it was all about strategy and gameplay and getting that idol flushed. Talks were happening at that point and it was thought that Drew or I would be voted for by Bryan, so it was a case of having to get rid of somebody in order to save ourselves, and unfortunately you took the fall. I just regret the fact you weren't online in the lead up so I could've explained it to you before it went down, and I still stand by my comments when I told you that you could've won this game had you been in the end, hence part of the reason you were booted. An amazing lady and another person I consider a friend at the end of this game.
KJ: What can I say here? I guess I'll start off with saying what a great person you are KJ and easily one of the best players I played with in this game. You came to me early and we hit it off, and you were the reason I ended up on Sayan with Drew which helped me get to the end, so thanks for doing that. I would always look forward to chatting with you and having a laugh with you throughout this game, and strategising with you at every point we could because I easily think you had one of the best strategic minds in this entire game, a point which would've had you sitting her in the final 2 and easily taking the victory. A point that then takes me to your boot, and the fact you are pissed off with how it went down. I can understand that and it's not something I'm going to tell you not to be pissed off over, but I will say at least take into fact that I respected you and our friendship enough to come to you and tell you what happened. That's how much I respect our friendship KJ and I hope that someday you will again too. A massively strong player with the potential to win this game and deserving of a jury spot.
JAMIE: Along with Andii, one of the hardest votes in this game, I hated how it came around and the fact that you went so promptly and suddenly. You are an amazing person and a person I consider a long time friend and it was an utter pleasure to play with you. I can easily say that without you coming to me with Rain and wanting to side with me, I probably wouldn't be sitting her today, so for that I thank you immensly. And you are an amazing gameplayer who did easily deserve a spot in the final 4, despite what other people may say. You had the potential to win this game had you been sitting here in the Final 2 and rightfully so. One of my best friends from this game and somebody who I'll no doubt continue to communicate with. A rightful juror and final 4 finisher
DREW: Well my man, I guess it wasn't to be! After months of working together, strategising, organising our 'Transcontinental Twosome' and working every angle to get to this point of the game, we fell short at the final hurdle. Can I just say that seriously it was a privelidge and honour to play this game with you and an absolute blast in every single aspect of the word. Considering what happened the last time we played together, it's amazing we worked this way right to the end. Early on yeah, I was skeptical and thinking thoughts of you backstabbing me again, but that was soon forgotten and our friendship that had formed out of the game was too strong to try and sideline any other niggling feelings inside of me. Easily deserving of a spot in this final 2 next to me and the right to face down the jury, and would have no qualms in saying as one of the best gameplayers in this entire season. This is our arena buddy, and it just sucks that it got to this point where we couldn't being saying all this together. A true friend for life, somebody i could call my brother and a rightful place on the jury, even though you deserved more than just 3rd place!
Can I just on a side note say to both Ashley and Therese that they too deserve some words of credit for their amazing hosting of this game. I realise this isn't the end and the time will come to thank you guys for everything you have done, but a great job and thanks for an amazing time! Now bring on the final TC, I'm ready to answer and speak my piece!
SEAN: The first casuality right back when our Sayan group seemed to be losing everything. You seemed like a nice guy but you were never there to talk to and I only got the chance to talk to you once, and at the point of the game inactivity paid the price more than anything. Would've been good to get to know you better
TOM: The only other 'non-american' in the game! I had a few chats with you and you seemed like a cool dude but you were gone too early to really get a good bearing on who you were and what you were in this game. I hope whatever drew you from quitting the game is good now, and it was a shame to see my only non-american friend leave so early!
ANDII: Easily one of, if not the hardest vote in this game and my only real regret from this entire game. You are a great person Andii and a person who I can see myself talking to and getting to know quite a lot and it just sucked that we got rid of you when we did, because in hindsight, it was a stupid move and you should've easily come to the final 4 with us. Looking back the other day at some SLJ history I only realised you were in SLJ14 with me so it just sucks that I realised that too late when we could've bonded over past game times together! You easily deserved to be jury minimum in this game and I hope that we can remain friends once it's over.
MARK: I don't have a whole lot to go on with you Mark as I guess we never really spoke in this game. In the few attempted conversations I made we never got really far and we weren't really on at the same time. I did however single you out as one of the biggest threats in this game from the beginning and I have no doubt in my mind that you could've easily made top 5 had you remained in the game. Given the situation with Rain, you were the obvious choice to go, but you beat Drew & I too it when you asked to be booted. A massive gameplayer and strong player and deserving juror
ROBIN: We had about one conversation in this entire game and from that I can tell what a nice and great person you are, but the fact you left so early didn't really give me a chance to communicate with you more and play the game with you. But that's the game, and people have to leave early, just as people have to make it to the end. Somebody who I would like to get to know more
DIANA: You made it to the merge and were the first person gone, but I don't recall you at all in this game. We didn't have one single conversation or meeting and I really can't say much about you other than the stuff I've already said.
NICK: See my comments for Mark for a real reflection on you Nick, as you are very similar in the fact that we would attempt conversations and they never really got going, so I don't have a whole lot to go on except that I knew you were a big threat for this game and a big gameplayer. You were easily somebody who had the smarts and ability to go far in this game, but in being apart of a group that admitted their alliance in a public space, it was clear you had to go and unfortunately you were the first to take the fall. Could've easily lucked into Bryan's spot in the F2 if things had fallen your way.
MAGGIE: Started to have some great conversations with you Maggie and really began to get to know you which I liked. You had the potential to play along with myself/Donna/KJ/Drew/Jamie and it was good to have that option, however it was clear where your loyalties were. You are a great strategist and a great player who had the potential to easily make top 4, and possibly more, hence the reason for your departure. A great person who I can easily see talking to for long after this game and a deserving Juror.
NICOLLE: Very similar to what I said about Maggie above, except a person who likes to hold their cards close to your chest. I think in all conversations we had, the game was barely talked about, and you easily had the smarts to make the final 4 and even the final 2. You could've easily been where Bryan is sitting now and probably would be more deserving of that position, however the cards fell your way in the split vote as we knew we had to flush the idol (which we thought was found at that point) and you were considered the bigger threat. Somebody who has proven they have got what it takes to get to the end in the last season and a fantastic person. Rightfully deserves back to back jury spots.
DONNA: The first of my alliance to fall in consecutie order. Donna firstly can I point out that you are a fantastic person and I enjoyed spending all the time I did with you. You were one of the first people I spoke to in this game and I definitely value the friendship we have. However at the point you went, it was all about strategy and gameplay and getting that idol flushed. Talks were happening at that point and it was thought that Drew or I would be voted for by Bryan, so it was a case of having to get rid of somebody in order to save ourselves, and unfortunately you took the fall. I just regret the fact you weren't online in the lead up so I could've explained it to you before it went down, and I still stand by my comments when I told you that you could've won this game had you been in the end, hence part of the reason you were booted. An amazing lady and another person I consider a friend at the end of this game.
KJ: What can I say here? I guess I'll start off with saying what a great person you are KJ and easily one of the best players I played with in this game. You came to me early and we hit it off, and you were the reason I ended up on Sayan with Drew which helped me get to the end, so thanks for doing that. I would always look forward to chatting with you and having a laugh with you throughout this game, and strategising with you at every point we could because I easily think you had one of the best strategic minds in this entire game, a point which would've had you sitting her in the final 2 and easily taking the victory. A point that then takes me to your boot, and the fact you are pissed off with how it went down. I can understand that and it's not something I'm going to tell you not to be pissed off over, but I will say at least take into fact that I respected you and our friendship enough to come to you and tell you what happened. That's how much I respect our friendship KJ and I hope that someday you will again too. A massively strong player with the potential to win this game and deserving of a jury spot.
JAMIE: Along with Andii, one of the hardest votes in this game, I hated how it came around and the fact that you went so promptly and suddenly. You are an amazing person and a person I consider a long time friend and it was an utter pleasure to play with you. I can easily say that without you coming to me with Rain and wanting to side with me, I probably wouldn't be sitting her today, so for that I thank you immensly. And you are an amazing gameplayer who did easily deserve a spot in the final 4, despite what other people may say. You had the potential to win this game had you been sitting here in the Final 2 and rightfully so. One of my best friends from this game and somebody who I'll no doubt continue to communicate with. A rightful juror and final 4 finisher
DREW: Well my man, I guess it wasn't to be! After months of working together, strategising, organising our 'Transcontinental Twosome' and working every angle to get to this point of the game, we fell short at the final hurdle. Can I just say that seriously it was a privelidge and honour to play this game with you and an absolute blast in every single aspect of the word. Considering what happened the last time we played together, it's amazing we worked this way right to the end. Early on yeah, I was skeptical and thinking thoughts of you backstabbing me again, but that was soon forgotten and our friendship that had formed out of the game was too strong to try and sideline any other niggling feelings inside of me. Easily deserving of a spot in this final 2 next to me and the right to face down the jury, and would have no qualms in saying as one of the best gameplayers in this entire season. This is our arena buddy, and it just sucks that it got to this point where we couldn't being saying all this together. A true friend for life, somebody i could call my brother and a rightful place on the jury, even though you deserved more than just 3rd place!
Can I just on a side note say to both Ashley and Therese that they too deserve some words of credit for their amazing hosting of this game. I realise this isn't the end and the time will come to thank you guys for everything you have done, but a great job and thanks for an amazing time! Now bring on the final TC, I'm ready to answer and speak my piece!