Before we get started, a reminder of who has whom:
Second, 5 bonus points each to Carol for knowing Kevin Costner’s “I did not come here to lay up” was from Tin Cup! Also, 5 bonus points for Carol from last week. She did get “Fucking Brilliant.” I just didn’t see it.
On to the update!
Mitch thinks now is finally the time to make a move. Now? NOW? Not two weeks ago when you had the numbers and Joe was just sitting there to be had. FFS Mitch!
Pretend Points Rule #3 - Play to win: Mid-to-late game opportunities to dismiss a stronger player shall not be passed up, even if allied with that player. There’s only one winner.
Eva correctly believes she’s the only one with an advantage, and that it doesn’t matter who wins immunity – either Mitch or Kamila is going home. Shauhin wonders - does to go after Joe and Eva or is he delusional? Well, he DOES think he’s played a better game than Joe so…let’s be generous and say, “jury is still out”. Kyle tells Kamila Shauhin may be making a play and it might be time to leverage this “secret #1 relationship” we’ve been hearing so much about.
At the Reward challenge, it’s pouring but Shauhin doesn’t care if it’s uncomfortable. They suffer every day. This is just another thing on the pile.
The challenge is to hold themselves on a steep ramp over the water with ever-smaller handholds. The last person on their ramp wins letters from home and one night at the Sanctuary.
They all last through the first two handholds, and Eva’s stomach is growling. I can understand why – the other’s stomachs have grown accustomed to no food while Eva was chosen to go on reward three times!
When we get to the final handhold, Kamila drops (3 points for “First out in a challenge” [Kamila] to Brian!). Mitch follows her. Joe, Eva, Kyle, and Shauhin remain. They’re not called the Strong 4 for nothing! Eva is called out for using her feet and Joe drops soon after. Kyle struggles and falls meaning Shauhin wins reward! (8 points for “Win individual reward” [Shauhin] to Lia!).
He gets to choose two people to join him at the Sanctuary. As he’s considering voting Joe out, you’d think “Not Joe” is obvious…. but that’s who he picks, along with Kyle. (3 points each for “Chosen to go on reward by someone else” [Joe, Kyle] to Carol and Iyasah !). If THAT doesn’t send a message to Mitch that he’s not in the club, I don’t know what will.
At the Sanctuary, Shauhin thinks he’d have turned into Liz begging for Applebee’s if he didn’t win (5 points for “Reference a previous season’s player” [Shauhin] to Lia!)
Letters from home hit hard, as always as Joe, Shauhin and Kyle all cry hearing what their families sent. With Kyle away, Shauhin and Joe talk about getting rid of him. Joe doesn’t think either of them lose to him, and that it’s them + Eva at the end. Sahuhin seems hesitant here, breaking Rule #7
Pretend Points Rule #7 - Always say yes: If approached to join an Alliance, Final Three, Final Two, say yes. Saying no is like saying "Please target me!". Say yes, and then do whatever you want.
Shauhin tells us he’s been incredibly patient getting to this point, but it may be Icarus Time, all gas, no breaks and to throw caution to the wind. (1 point for “Mention ‘in this game’” [Shauhin] to Lia!), (5 points for “Say the title of the episode” [Shauhin] to Lia!).
With Joe gone, Shauhin thinks he and Kyle make perfect allies. Kyle agrees but has never truly trusted Shauhin ever since he went through Kyle’s bag. Shauhin thinks Joe or Eva on the jury means they’d advocate for each other, but Kyle thinks it’s Shauhin’s time instead.
Back at camp, Mitch and Kamila think Shauhin made a million-dollar mistake. Mitch thinks he’s a knucklehead and it’s all I can do to not shout “YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE AND WERE TOO AFRAID TO DO ANYTHING” at the TV.
Kamila, who also didn’t do anything, thinks feeding the enemy doesn’t help vote him off tomorrow and if Joe wins immunity, she’s targeting Shauhin. Eva is upset that she didn’t get chosen to go. She shows so much entitlement here – she’s ALWAYS chosen to go!
At the immunity challenge, they have to knock a rope off a pillar using a sandbag, then use the rope for balance while walking on a barrel down the course. Once complete, they crawl under a heavy net to get a bag of balls. Finally, they have to maneuver the balls through a snake trap maze.
I’m exhausted just typing that.
Shauhin, Joe and Mitch take the lead while Eva can’t get the rope to drop. Joe has a lead on the barrel, but Shauhin blows past him, making it look easy and takes the lead into Stage 3. He’s racing Joe on the snake trap, but Joe isn’t playing around. He shows why he’s the ultimate target by blitzing the maze and taking home individual immunity for the 4th time! (8 points for “Win individual immunity” [Joe] to Carol!). In delicious foreshadowing, Kamila reminds us that if Shauhin goes home tonight, it’s because he fed Joe.
Back at camp, chaos starts.
Kyle and Kamila enact their plan to frame Shauhin. Since no one knows they are working together, Kyle tells Joe about Shauhin flipping on the fireman, which is true. He also told Joe that Kamila said Shauhin showed her an idol, which is not.
Joe tries to put it together, thinking Shauhin is trying to knock off him or Eva. He considers that Kyle could be lying, displaying a level of skepticism we haven’t seen all season. He talks it over with Eva who feels like she was punched in the gut. They don’t know who to believe, so Joe confirms the story with Kamila.
Pretend Points Rule #2 – Trust but verify: When a player is told information counter to that players knowledge, trust the source but verify its truth with other players.
Kamila “verifies” the story, of course (meaning I should update the rule) and Joe is stunned that Shauhin didn’t show him the idol! Since Shauhin doesn’t actually have an idol, asking him about it does nothing but further convince him Shauhin is lying. (1 point for “Mention ‘in this game’” [Joe] to Carol!). Joe hoped Shauhin would come clean, while Shauhin wonders if something else is going on. The frame-job is complete when Shauhin tells Kyle, Kamila and Eva how bothered Joe was. They see themselves as a better duo than Joe and Eva, who consider whether Kyle and Kamila cooked this whole story up but dismiss it.
This raises a philosophical question for me: Joe and Eva are clearly better at Outplay – the competitions. Kyle and Kamila are better at Outwit – the devious gameplay. Which duo is actually better?
At tribal council, Mitch’s game hasn’t gone how he wanted but Eva says she’s surprised her trusting nature hasn’t been abused. Interesting point. Let's hold that thought. The others talk about trust and emotional connection as well, which makes me think they’re all kowtowing to Joe’s ego. Chrissy, Charity, Sai, Mary…they all wanted to play the Survivor we are used to seeing. Joe, Eva and David didn’t…and their stamp is on the season.
As Kyle talks, Joe stares holes through Kyle as he goes into “The Zone” where time slows. Is Kyle lying? Yes, but Joe doesn’t know better. He re-enters The Zone as Shauhin talks. Is Shauhin lying? No. Can Joe figure it out? Well….
In an effort to spot the lies, Joe thinks he’s gotta think 2-3 steps ahead as he asks people to walk him through their thoughts. His bullshit meter isn’t good enough, however. Kyle and Kamila have played him to perfection, as evidenced by the struggle he faces when deciding who to vote for.
Mitch is chosen to vote first (3 points for “Chosen to vote first” [Mitch] to Sheila!). and no idols or advantages are played.
Remember in EVERY OTHER SEASON OF SURVIVOR when they’d all be concerned about flushing an idol, and getting rid of its holder? Eva got that Idol from Star PRE-MERGE. Everyone knows she has it and it’s never even been a conversation point!
Remember in EVERY OTHER SEASON OF SURVIVOR when there was an obvious duo and everyone worked and worked to find a way to break them up? Eva’s breakdown moment when Joe hugged her in front of everyone was WEEK 5! Again, it’s never even been a conversation point!
Every one of these people has played their game scared of Joe. None of them deserves to win over him, and they’re fools if they let him sit at final tribal.
Ok, rant over.
At the vote, Mitch picks up 2 votes. Shauhin is one…but who is the other? Shauhin picks up the other 4 and is voted out, becoming Juror #6. Kyle and Kamila’s plan worked perfectly. How's Eva's trusting nature looking now? They knocked out one of Joe’s main allies but let his main ally keep her idol…. again…thus guaranteeing herself Final 4.
Insanity? Stupidity? You decide. Anyway, we’ve got points!
(2 points for “Received vote against” [Mitch] to Sheila!)
(4 points for “Received vote against” [Shauhin] to Lia!)
(-1 point for “The tribe has spoken” [Shauhin] against Lia!)
(1 point for “Jury member” [Shauhin] to Lia!)
In the end, Kamila voted for Mitch. I’m going to need to hear why next week!
Ok, so what does that mean for our scores?
Carol maintains her lead, but with Kamila, 2nd place Brian is not out of it yet! Angela remains in 3rd despite Mary’s jury member status. Lia had a big week, moving from 6th to 4th, but it’s for naught as Shauhin was voted off. Iyasah and Dylan were tied for 4th coming into this week. Despite Kyle only scoring 5 points, Iyasah pulls ahead of him as Eva did nothing but whine about not going on reward. Unfortunately for Dylan, that’s not a scoring category. He drops into a tie for 7th with Sheila who’s still got a shot to move up if Mitch can get off his ass and DO SOMETHING!
|
1. Carol |
195 |
|
2. Brian |
158 |
|
3. Angela |
144 |
|
4. Lia |
133 |
|
5. Iyasah |
116 |
|
6. Dylan |
112 |
|
7. Sheila |
112 |
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