Post by Brian SmithPost by Brian SmithTonight's episode is titled "Loyal to the Soil." The sneak peeks for
this episode are very interesting. In one of them, Andy's given what
might be the most blatant winner's edit ever. It's so over the top
that I can only come to two possible conclusions: 1) he dominates the
rest of the season and wins in a landslide or 2) the show is setting
him up for a dramatic downfall and ouster.
Gen does not come across well in the sneak peeks. She did not factor
in how badly Teeny would take Sol's boot and now feels guilty. It's
the first time we've seen Gen let her emotions get to her.
And there's going to be a new (different?) type of rice negotiation.
Wonder if this will tie in to Rachel's earlier attempt to take rice
during an IC?
This was a great episode IMO. I had no idea who was going home until the
votes were read.
I was pretty sure it had to be Gabe. Tuku was the only tribe who still
had four members (the others had two and three), which means they were
getting close to being able to run the table if they could stay together
and continue to vote together as a bloc for another vote or two. I
think it was clear to the others that either Kyle or Gabe - whoever
didn't win immunity - would have to be voted out.
In contrast, while Genevieve was disliked and perceived as manipulative,
she was essentially on a tribe of one, having alienated Teeny, and she
was not a threat to win immunities. Unlike Gabe, who was always an
immunity threat, the others perceived they could take out Genevieve
whenever they wanted.
Post by Brian SmithTeeny and Gen got a lot of story time tonight. I had no idea that Teeny
was so emotionally attached to Sol. She also seemed to be emotionally
attached to Gen which surprised me. She was clearly hurt by Gen
orchestrating Sol's boot and it looked like she was ready seek revenge.
The scene where her bag caught on fire and she talked about her identity
struggles was well done.
I don't think this was directly referenced, but did you notice at about
the 1:08:28 moment of the CBS telecast when Rachel was talking with
Andy, Rachel appeared to be sewing up Teeny's damaged backpack? I
thought that was really interesting and showed either great kindness or
perhaps just strategy on Rachel's part in trying to stay close with
Teeny. Wonder if there is a secret scene on this?
Post by Brian SmithTonight was the first time since early on in the season where Gen did
not come across as being in control of things. She miscalculated big
time on taking out Sol. She put a huge target on herself with that move.
Why was taking Sol out so important to her? I don't recall Sol saying he
wanted to get rid of her.
I think she was just mad because Sol had orchestrated the Rome vote out.
She admitted she was just being petty about it, and I think she
regretted it once she saw what it did to Teeny.
I'm pretty sure Genevieve is toast and will be leaving soon - if not
next week, then the week after.
Post by Brian SmithReward Challenge
Another random draw to split the players into three teams of three
people each. This ended up being pretty lopsided as one team was Sue,
Teeny, and Gen. I thought Kyle's team cheated. Did Jeff not say they had
to use their heads to move the ball through the sand? Sam was using his
shoulders 90%+ of the time and then Kyle and Rachel copied him. No
wonder they won so easily and got to go to The Sanctuary for some food.
I initially thought it was cheating too. Perhaps Jeff may have overly
simplified the rules on this, Perhaps the rule wasn't that you had to
use your head but that you simply couldn't use your hands or arms, and
Jeff simplified this to say you had to use your head. It's also
possible that you could use your shoulders as long as the ball touched
the side of your head.
By the way, was I imagining things or did it look like Andy was
literally biting the ball and tossing it forward using his teeth as a
dog would shake something out of its mouth?
Post by Brian SmithThe Sanctuary
We got some good game talk at the Sanctuary. Sam pitched for Gabe to be
the target and they quickly settled on Gen as the backup. Sam and Rachel
had a chance to talk alone and it sounds like they had it out. Rachel
told us that she basically doesn't trust Sam because he keeps screwing
her over.
I was a little surprised there were no apparent hidden idols or
advantages at the sanctuary, unless the players just never saw it. I
suppose it could also be that since no idols were used lately, none had
to be replaced.
Post by Brian SmithImmunity Challenge
After explaining the challenge to them, Jeff says it's time for them to
finally get some rice but that they have to strike a deal with him in
order to get it. He says he wants four of them to volunteer to sit out
of the challenge. Someone asks if he'll accept three. He says no.
Caroline asks if he'll give them the bag of rice if two people give up
their SITDs. Jeff says no. Kyle says "what about if we all give up our
Shots in the Dark?" Jeff says okay. Not everyone is on board at first
but after Gabe convinces Sam to give up his SITD it's a done deal. Jeff
is surprised. I thought it was a stupid move. If they made it to Day 18
with no rice what's another eight days?
I thought it was a brilliant move. The SITD is essentially worthless.
It almost never works, and the one time it finally did, the player just
got voted out the following week. I would much rather get some food and
protein for fuel in the challenges than to hold onto a one in six chance
for an immunity that actually has a 5/6 chance of not only not working,
but also losing your vote.
Post by Brian SmithOnce again, the challenge came down to Sue vs. Kyle with Kyle winning
his fourth immunity. IIRC, Jeff said the record is five. According to
Mike Bloom, Kyle's only lost three challenges the entire season.
Very good chance Kyle goes home if he loses the next immunity.
Otherwise, good chance it will be Gen
Post by Brian SmithBack at Camp
At first it looked like Gabe would be the target but people quickly
started having other priorities. Rachel wanted to go after Gen and take
out Gabe later. Teeny agreed.
Andy at one point went to Sue and said he wants to work with her and go
to the end with her. Is there anyone Andy who has not had this talk
with? And why are these people not comparing notes? Andy also told Sue
that Kyle refers to her and Caroline as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb.
This led to a lot of bad words from Sue that had to be censored.
A lot of people seem to think Andy is going to win, but everything I see
in his edit reeks of him being taken to the finals and being the
zero-vote third place finisher. I've mentioned before I think he is
getting a dodo edit, and tonight they actually played the dodo music
during one of his scenes.
Post by Brian SmithA pivotal scene was when Caroline told Andy she wanted to take out Gabe
and that Sue would never go for it. She seemed worried even mentioning this.
Tribal Council
This was well-edited tonight. Gen appeared to be very concerned and just
about resigned that she would be going home. Lots of good facial
expressions from her that were helped out by the cold rain during TC.
Gabe, on the other hand, didn't seem to be all that concerned. I thought
Gen was a goner until Kyle went to vote. After they showed him writing a
"G," I could tell the next letter was going to be an "a" by the position
of his hand. That had me thinking Gen might have a shot to stay. In the
end, the vote was 7–2 with Gabe and Sue voting to boot Gen. Now we need
to wait and see if Sue was blindsided and if she was, how mad is she
going to be at Caroline. After what just happened to Gen, I hope
Caroline was smart enough to give Sue a heads up before the vote.
When Gabe left, did he say to Caroline "So you've got a little snake in
you, huh?" I thought it was her but then someone asked Kyle if Gabe
called him a snake.
I'm pretty sure Gabe said that to Caroline. Since only two Genevieve
votes were read, Gabe probably figured that was his vote and Sue's,
which meant both Caroline and Kyle had to have voted for him. I'm sure
he assumed Kyle just had to go with the crowd because everyone was
voting that way, but he know Caroline was strategic enough that she
might have led the vote.
It will be interesting to see what Sue does now. She already hates Kyle
and she must know that Caroline voted for Gabe. So I wonder if she will
weirdly join up with Genevieve, since she is also on the outs now with
everyone
Post by Brian SmithI had to laugh when Gabe said to Jeff "I'll be back." Jeff should have
said to him, "Gabe, you're not Season 50 material!"
This is part of the reason so many fans dislike Gabe. He really acts
entitled and full of himself, and a remark like that will not endear him
to Jeff.
Post by Brian SmithAt the very end of TC they put up a black screen with a tribute to Barb,
the biggest Survivor fan ever.
That would be Jeff's mom Barbara Probst, who recently passed away.
Post by Brian SmithNext Episode
Looks like more Andy escapades.
Can't wait.
(Yes, I can.)