This season got off to kind of an iconic start with iSandeh, Gigi10, and Vlad21 going home pre-merge, something I was shook by because I was not expecting at all. Eclipse9 dominated much of the early game and this season, story wise, is very much delineated by the "pre-Ryan" and "post-Ryan" era. I remember the merge of this game being a massive cluster, with a rock draw sending gbpackxlvchamps home in 12th, but then the majority flipping on Eclipse9 the very next round because they were sick of dealing with him (winning the idgaf about the numbers war).
After a ton of 3-4 way split votes, an idol nullifier and 3(0)-2-1 voting sending OhNatalie and Darriusdabest home, a final 3 deal of sjsoccer88, Eoin, and mradamman12 collapsed on call in real time. Scott was voted out and swore revenge on Adam and Eoin after Jimmy won the final 5 immunity, and resident season hero jxhn went home in 4th after receiving 40 million votes total. In the end, Jimmy won following a tense final tribal in 5-3-1 vote.
I liked this season because it was super messy and all over the place, and there were just enough advantages/twists to keep things interesting while not ruining the pacing or storylines. The only thing that hurt it in the rankings was some early-game inactivity and a lack of confessionals.
