One-post recap. I heard non-specific rumours of a classic; Spoiler or No Spoiler?
It's not a spoiler to suggest that the introduction has a slight pro-gambling spin; it usually does. At least it was only slight, and favoured the player. I half-expected a guilt-trip for her selling the £50k...
OK, we have a market trader (Endemol contestant tickbox #104), who has fought childhood disability (Endemol contestant tickbox #35). No surprise whatsoever she was cast, but how's she going to play the game?
With a sense of fun, it seems, judging by her pre-game remark. Good for her. The first box is ominous; it gets progressively better from there, and it's near enough average all told. The opening offer is a bit better than that, already around the FD, and with the second round being all-blue, the Banker is left with nowhere to go but into the fringes of dealable territory if he wants to be taken seriously.
Crikey, I was expecting to say 'Oh.' after that. But he actually does. Wouldn't take a huge amount more to tempt me here. Alex is already seeking advice; she recognises this game is serious already.
Good third round, and a £20k+ third offer is now inevitable - only just, mind. The banker "doesn't know how to stop Alex", and that offer certainly won't. A board that reminds me strikingly of the player before Lance - Matt, I believe his name. He was offered about £30k in this spot, and I might have taken that, but not this.
Full marks to Noel for letting the contestant act in her own way, and to h2005 for his correct use of the cedilla in the commentary. The two lowest remaining reds go; that's fine, we have five of the top six. More to the point, we have the adbreak called at 16:34, so there really isn't much point in watching the next ten minutes, as this game is going to the end. Note to Channel 4; once you move to hour-long shows, how about straddling contestants? That way, not only will big games like this not feel rushed early doors (and by implication telegraphed as huge from about 14-box), but you won't have to drag out quick games to an hour (or goad players to the end to ensure there are no quick games).
And that's the best possible all-red round. Four of the Power 5 against four blues is about as exciting as this game can get; I'd have expected the Banker to throw his recurring motif into the ring here, but he goes two grand short, and with Noel openly encouraging the chase for the jackpot, it's obvious what's going to happen here.
Blue... £50k we can take... £35k we can take, we've seen £31k offered on a blue/blue/blue/£75k/£250k back on the last day of season 2 if memory serves, and I'd expect that to be at least approached here.
Oh OK, we have a twist in the offers. £29,000 is well-pitched; Bryan has made a tactical mistake by admitting he'd Deal there, but neither decision here is stupid for Alex. I am in a position where I can gamble this; whether I'd be inclined to is another matter, but I think I would. Oh god Alex is inspired by Corinne. I'm not sure who is more scared at this point; the Banker, or me.
Oh of course, 1p is still on the board. And of course we get the Corinne finish. And the Corinne offer. And very nearly the Corinne decision. Thank goodness Noel finally kept his trap shut!
An absolutely spectacular win, and a certain forum member has been utterly silenced... but this is tinged with mildly sad memories for me today, because I had a hand in that Julie record (her eight-box No Deal was assisted by Geordie quoting statistical advice I had initially provided him with, and Geordie has said before to me that I changed her life, which is one of the most humbling things anyone has ever said to me, not least because it's a half-truth at most).
So, with one of the best results of all time, no questions except one; how will the rest react to that?
_________________ Champion of RTaB S6, creator of unorthodox DoND rulesets, and founder member of #teambat. Creator of the first DoND Live offer to be accepted. "Why regret what could not be?" (A Heart Full of Love, from Les Misérables) I introduced utility theory to the forums. Blame me. In your choices, beware of words leading you astray. Think in a balanced way about potential gains and losses.
|