Perception is Not Always Reality
(subtitle: All Kim, All the Time)
I'm just going to say, there seemed to be a lot of filler in the first two hours because there really wasn't anyone interesting left... or was it just me?
After the extendo recap of the women taking out all the men (which I did enjoy) we get down to the final five this evening. Alicia and Christina are aligned and Chelsea and Sabrina are aligned and they all think Kim is on their side (and more importantly, they all still like her.)
Sabrina: teacher from New York who's strategy it was to tone down her natural personality, hang back a bit and now she's ready to go in for the kill.
Kim: bridal shop owner from Texas, she played the ultimate strategic game but she's terrified it will come back to haunt her. She says she's been in the driver's seat the whole time but she feels like the tunnel could be closing in on her (humble-brag - not buying it.)
Christina: career consultant from California, she's been the ultimate underdog the whole time but she's not going to give up now (she'd have us believe this was her game plan - I'm calling bullpucky on that.)
Chelsea: medical sales rep from South Carolina, she believes she's worked for everything she has, she wasn't a kiss ass and the million dollars is going to be on her mind the whole time (I think her perception of herself is different from what I saw.)
Alicia: special education teacher from Chicago, city girl with attitude that no one thought would last - she says she is "one smart, confident woman. Home girl from the city killed it." (No one is a bigger fan of Alicia, than Alicia.)
Tikiano - Night 36
They return to camp from voting out Tarzan and the mood is jubilant.
-Alicia tells the camera she is feeling bitter sweet since she had to get rid of one of her powers (seriously? You have no power.) She says she is confidant that Kim is going to stick to her word and Christina, Alicia and Kim will be in the final. She goes on to say her dream came true to have an all-girl finale and she believes she is there because she played one hell of a game. (She is a legend in her own mind, that's fo sho.)
Tikiano - Day 37
Kim and Sabrina go and get tree mail and talk. Sabrina says she wants to see Alicia be the next to go and Kim says she thinks Chelsea would get more votes at the end... Sabrina is a little floored to hear Kim talking about taking out Chelsea (she's been talking about it for the past couple episodes.)
-Sabrina asks Kim, if they were to take out Chelsea, who else does she see in the final 3 - why Christina - no one will vote for Christina. (Well, that makes me want Christina to win immunity and show those b*tches.)
-Sabrina sees herself as the next most liked person out there so it could easily be her going home next. She's got to get her head in the game for Immunity.
-Alicia sees Chelsea as the hurdle in her way of winning a million dollars and hopes she sucks today.
Immunity Challenge
It's a long tough one. They have to walk a balance beam maze, where, if they fall off they have to go back to the beginning, if they come to a dead end, they have to back track... but when they get through the maze they then have to climb on a net and untie 5 bags of puzzle pieces - once they have all the bags of pieces they have to solve the puzzle (and it's a lot of pieces.) Once they have the puzzle assembled they have to read it; it tells them to count the number of skulls, the number of words and the number of puzzle pieces - once they have all three numbers, they have to climb up to a platform then use the numbers as a combination to release their flag - first person to do that wins immunity. I know, a toughy... I will keep it short and remind you of the subtitle - KIM wins Immunity. (And no one seems overly happy about it.)
Back at camp - Kim & Chelsea go 'fishing' and sit and talk - Chelsea says she wants to take Alicia out tonight and Kim lets her think it's her idea. Kim tells the camera she has two options, take out Alicia or she could take out Chelsea which she thinks is her easier route to the money.
-Chelsea is telling Kim that she knows Kim thinks she [Chelsea] can win, but she sees it opposite, "I think you can win this game, and you're going to." Kim gets all teary and says, "Thanks for just saying that." (Oh she is good. Playing the insecure follower to Chelsea when we all know she's been running the show all along. Kim knows how to work women - owning a bridal salon, she has to know how to deal with women at their best and worst. I bet she's pretty successful in the real world.)
-Chelsea trusts Kim 100% - she jokes that Kim should tell Alicia and Christina to vote for her [Chelsea], then she could play Kim's idol and fireworks would go off. (That would be at least some drama.)
-Kim is regretting telling Chelsea that she found a hidden immunity idol - now that Kim won immunity today, Chelsea expects her to play it for her - she doesn't want to just play all her cards just for the hell of it.
-Kim goes and tells Sabrina that they are voting out Alicia tonight. Alicia watches them talking but she's 100% confidant that Kim will keep her word to her because why would she want to go to the end with Chelsea and Sabrina and have all those votes just split. She tells herself not to over think things, she's got this.
-Kim then goes and tells Alicia and Christina that Chelsea has no idea it's her - so she's not freaking out. Alicia thinks it's funny that Chelsea thinks it's her [Alicia] tonight. Kim tells them to just leave it alone, it's done.
-Kim is in the sweet spot - she reminds us that she could still go either way at this point.
Tribal Council #1
Jeff is trying to draw something out of them but they all say it was quiet at camp today, there was no scrambling. He gets Kim talking about Loyalty which has Kat shaking her head. Kim goes on about it being hard to separate heart and head in playing this game - blah blah blah.
Anyone have anything else to say? Nope, they're all good.
Troyzan can't believe no one is taking the opportunity to speak up.
Jeff seems to be awed by the faith they all seem to have in Kim.
They vote and... ALICIA is voted out. B-bye!
(Oh, and Kim did not give her hidden idol to Chelsea - she knew she wouldn't need it.)
(Kat whispers that Kim back-stabbed her and Alicia - whatever lady, get over it already.)
Alicia says she sees the mistakes she made in this game - definitely giving up her power by voting out Tarzan (uh, no, you had no power). She says she is not a sore loser, she's proud of Kim, she totally fooled her. Also digs at Christina, "I brought you there, every one of those girls wanted you out (no, they didn't care one way or the other) Enjoy it Christina, cause you suck right now. (What was she saying about sore loser?)
Tikiano - Night 37
Kim apologizes for lying to Christina for such a long time. Christina, "It's okay. I know it's a game so..." Kim calls her one of the most resilient people there and genuinely appreciates the fact that she says she knows it's a game. Kim avoided a guilt trip with Christina who seems to have no gumption - do you want to be there?
-Christina tells the camera that she thinks they think that she is still the best bet to take to the final, she's been coat-tailing the whole time - but she never seems to say this to anyone...
-Kim and Chelsea say if Christina wins immunity tomorrow they're going to cry, but then they agree that Sabrina may not be the person to take to the end. Christina is definitely not as well spoken and if she has to explain how she played the game to the jury, "it's gonna be a joke." (Hmm, maybe she doesn't need to say anything.)
Tikiano - Day 38
Christina gets tree mail and realizes she HAS to win immunity tonight - she says she's been mediocre the whole time by design but now it's time to step it up... SERIOUSLY? Too little, too late.
-Then they have to do the walk of shame (NOOOOOoooooo - this show had so much filler it wasn't funny.) I'm not going to subject you to it but they did the walk of remembrance and then burned all their names - you are dead to me :)
Immunity Challenge #2
It was something new they hadn't done before - how exciting!
They used a long pole with a half circle on the end that they had to use to pick up a small bowl and manoeuvre it through a zig-zaggy channel of rebar. Once they successfully get the bowl through the channel, they have to place it on top of the structure, then continue to pile the bowls on top of each other until they have all 10 bowls balanced on the top of the structure. One other thing... it's on a spring, so if they tap the sides of the channel at all, it will sway and could topple all the bowls and make them have to start over. (EEeek, this looks challenging - I can't wait.)
Off they go and it's Kim and Christina neck and neck through this thing. Maybe Christina has been playing possum... down to the 9th bowl and Christina's structure starts swaying so she has to wait it out and Kim's stack is really leaning... but it is (all Kim all the time) KIM that wins final immunity (surprise.)
Back at camp, Kim is relieved she won this immunity especially, she can relax tonight knowing she's made it to the end. Christina approaches her and says she just wants it out in the open if it's her and Kim says yes, it's her, "Sorry." Christina, "Agh, it is what it is." And that's it, no scrambling, no trying to change their mind, Christina says Kim was pretty adamant things weren't going to change (I'm sorry, did I miss you trying to change her mind? She did nothing) She figured she was going to make the day as peaceful and enjoyable as possible - Yup, Christina deserves to go.
Kim tells Chelsea that Christina talked to her and they hugged. Kim was surprised that Christina didn't try to fight for it. It solidified for her that Christina would not get any votes in the end.
Tribal council #2
Jeff again tries to find out if it was a busy afternoon and nope, there was nothing. Christina knew she was going and that was that. (The jury is all just shaking their head.)
Jeff can't believe she didn't try and change anyone's mind. And Christina says her argument against Sabrina is that she sucked at challenges and didn't do anything strategy-wise (so you are the same.)
"Trying to break alliances is really hard." (So, let me get this straight... it seemed too hard, so you didn't bother - yeah, you deserve a million dollars.)
-Sabrina says just because she wasn't scrambling doesn't mean she didn't know what was going on. If she thought her name was on the block she would have done everything in her power to change that.
-Christina tries to say she didn't give up but then goes on again about not knowing how to change their minds... so she admits she sucks at this game - move it along, Probst.
-Kim says Christina is potentially not a bad person to take to the final. She had a lot of arguments today she could have made for herself and she just didn't. You have to weigh your options. Everything is not always what it seems. (Hu-uh? That got Sabrina and Chelsea's attention... What's that now?)
They vote... and it's CHRISTINA who leaves. (Duh - that was a no-brainer - I don't think any of the jury would respect someone who took Christina to the end, especially after that Tribal Council.)
Christina's final words - she's proud she made it as far as she did but she wishes she had played the game differently... and she's still trying to defend her non-action saying she had no idea how to change their minds. (And that is why you are OUT.)
So, we are down to the Final 3: Chelsea, Sabrina and Kim.
Tikiano - Day 39
-Sabrina is sitting on the beach - crying. (Huh?) She says she's a teacher and she was laid off just before coming out there. She wanted to tell the kids of Brooklyn about the sand, the water, the view... and she hopes they aspire to see more than just their block. (She is actually a great teacher role model on this show - finally.)
-The three girls are walking to tree mail and Kim says her plea to the jury is going to be, "I know I've lied to you all and voted you out, but I have no boobs left, so have mercy." (You could argue she didn't have much to begin with... but have you seen those abs? holy...)
-They get food and mimosas... yum.
-Chelsea says her family is proud of her and if you come out here for the adventure, it's worth way more than the million dollars (that's how a loser talks! Haha, but seriously, it did kinda sound like she didn't think she was going to win.)
-Kim tells us this has been a rough year for her, she was recently divorced and this experience has definitely given her some of her confidence back. (It must have been hard for a bridal shop owner to be going through a divorce and still have to go to work with people getting married all day - of course it could have been good training too on hiding her emotions and getting the job done like she did throughout the whole season.)
FINAL TRIBAL COUNCIL - The Jury Speaks
Chelsea gets to go first with her opening remarks and she asks if she can stand, "Is that okay?" (And she's lost right there - just do it if you want to... sheesh.)
Chelsea - everybody knows in Survivor that a pair is very important. It's been no secret that Kim and I have been a pair. Every single tribal we would get together and map out who should stay and who should go (I don't think she's helping her cause here) - that being said, my game changed at the merge. Jonas, you seem like such a good person and I had such a hard time writing your name down. That's when I told myself I was playing the game all wrong and I had to check myself emotionally or I wasn't going to make it in this game. That's when I became the hard-ass, cold-hearted Chelsea. (Was I watching the same game she was on?) She says that's where she and Kim differed - Kim had an emotional connection with them all and Chelsea doesn't - I could be in trouble if that's how you vote but in the end, I trust however you vote. (What?)
Kim - I love this game. I've always seen it as a game. In the beginning I saw it as poker and you do everything you can do to make it to the end. So that's where my head was at coming in, I played with everything I had, I strategized until I was blue in the face and I'm proud of how I played it strategically. I don't know how I could have done it any better. Every time I sent one of you home, that took a toll on me and that's been really, really hard (somehow I don't believe that) but she says she was thinking of her family and what she hoped to do with the money to make their lives better. I hope you can forgive me, I hope you can see it as a game because that's how I saw it and I can't even say I would take it back because my end goal was to be here and I am sitting here tonight. (Usually, the forgive me plea is the kiss of death but she is so believable... she could sell ice to Eskimos that one.)
Sabrina - We all come in here with a strategy but you have to have balance - you take it to far to the extreme one way and you're going to have a target on your back. There were times I had to scale back physically in the challenges and that was part of my strategy. Then when we merged the social game became more evident and that's when she played operation white shield and hid behind Kim & Chelsea. She consciously chose not to step up and go to people face to face, she left that to Kim (so she could take all the blame - nice.) But she realizes that could bite her in the end.
Stepping outside this game I teach inner city children in Brooklyn and I was laid off - I came into this game and it wasn't an option for me, I had to win this game. Me sitting here in the top three is a blessing.
In my estimation - Kim won that round.
Now the Jury:
Jonas: Just want to lay the ground rules for this question. When I say your name, you must answer, "Yes, Master Jona...hahaha" He couldn't keep it together, that broke the tension, got them all laughing. He said he's totally happy for all of them. He tells Sabrina he loves her, if it was the most popular person getting the money I would totally vote for you - I still might - but at challenges it was amazing how badly you sucked. I mean, you were getting whipped by a guy one year short of being a senior citizen (that's Tarzan, hamming it up for the camera).
- Absolutely, on some of those challenges I did suck.
He tells Chelsea she's cute and she blushes (I think she has a a little crush on the chef - aww) he proceeds to tell her that all the guys think she is the hottest chick out there (Kim - gee, thanks) but that is not what his vote is based on. He wanted to know the hugest move she made out there, not something that Kim thought of, but her boldest, game changing move.
- It was my idea to take Kat out. (That's it... okay.)
Kim, you kicked my ass, but that doesn't mean you're getting my vote - I think you played a flawless game up until the last tribal council when you didn't take Christina... I was floored. I'm trying to wrap my head around why you didn't take her.
- Yeah, honestly I got to this place that I thought if everyone absolutely hated me for the decision I'd made, then Christina would beat me. But if everyone votes for the person they think played the best game, then I could sit here with these two guys and I'd win, and it wouldn't matter.
Okay, well, we'll see what happens.
Christina: She asks Kim if she had to take one of the two remaining out who would it be.
- Kim says she thinks she has a better chance of winning against Sabrina so she would take Chelsea out. (They have quite the girl-mance going on those two.)
Chelsea, why do you hate people?
- Oh my... I don't hate people, at all. I think there is a time you have to take your heart out and play with your head. Kim kept reminding me of that. If you knew me outside of this game, I'm not the cold-hearted b*tch. (I never got that impression of her at all.)
Jay: Congratulations, no hard feelings. Sabrina, that whole mentality of taking it easy in challenges, you seemed to take that into camp life as well, no crabbing, gathering wood, you did squat - so, I'm questioning if it really was your strategy [subtext: or are you just lazy?]
- Sometimes in real life I can be overbearing so I knew coming into this bunch of strangers that I had to sit back and [let them wait on me] not bulldoze people. It's a matter of balance. And I just learned to swim before coming out here (I'm leaving that one alone) so I'm not going deep sea fishing.
Fair enough.
Michael: Kim, define a blindside.
- Sending someone home that has no idea they're going home. And convincing them they're not going home so they're shocked.
And with that definition do you feel like you've perfected the art of the blindside?
- I think in this game that blindsides are necessary and at the point when you were still here it was a big deal because you were the only guy that Troy was willing to send home. He disliked you, didn't trust you, so I picked you, not because I wanted to send you home but because he was the only guy he wouldn't think twice about voting out.
There is a whole jury over here and myself that know you missed one key factor, blame. You took all the blame for every single blindside you did, you didn't pass it off on your alliances, you took all that heat and that's the one thing that you missed. (Actually, I would call that taking CREDIT - you all know who outwitted, outlasted and outplayed you - Kim.)
We have to decide if you are smart for doing that or incredibly stupid. That's all I want to say.
Tarzan: I want to thank God for giving me these [big word] moments of adventure near the end of my life. (Is he dying?) So, thank you God. And thank you ladies, for keeping me despite all the [big word] of this game and allowing my wife to actually set foot on this island. I will forever be thankful. And the third statement was [big word, big word, big word] he started getting choked up talking about his wife, embracing her, feeling her heartbeat with his... (Okay, does anyone else think their relationship is a little creepy?)
- Chelsea says his romance with his wife has shown her what she wants in a partner. She will not settle for less because she knows it's real. (Okay, maybe it is just me.)
Leif: Getting voted off is a sore spot and I'm trying to sort out my feelings. How did it come about?
(What I heard was a pouty, 'You hurt my feelings.' - Really? Suck it up, buttercup.)
- Kim tells him she just never knew if she could trust him. His votes never seemed to line up with what he said he was doing. She knew he had voted for her and felt he was going to do it again so she had no problem telling him to vote for Christina that night.
- Sabrina, at that point in the game Kim was the messenger giving the messages (we know she was the brains lady, don't try to confuse things calling her a messenger.) I knew you were going home but I punked out, I couldn't tell you cause that would hurt me. It was just your time to go.
Alicia: Kim, you and I played this game very similar. I was a kingpin. I had my pawns in Tarzan and Christina and you have your pawns in Chelsea and Sabrina (oh, so delusional). Home girl, you know if I was sitting next to you, you'd be bleeping bricks right now. (They all just laugh along, sure you had a chance of winning... uh huh.) Because I would have had more chance of winning than any of yous. And actually, I'm super flattered (everyone's looking at her disbelievingly now) because who would have thought, Miss Peurto Rico over here could have been a threat? (Do you have a question? No? Then sit your ass down.) Kim, you played a hell of a game. I could strangle you. I love you and good luck. (WHAT WAS THAT?)
Troyzan: Nice to see he dressed up in his good pajamas - what were those pants?
Congratulations, I suppose that sounds strange but I don't hate your guts. My main beef is with Kim so I'll focus on her. You did play a great game but so did Chelsea and Sabrina so I'm going to ask you one question and if you answer correctly that will show me if you really are the great player you think you are... So, there was a point in this game when a decision was made against me. Tell me the moment you made the move to totally demolish my chances of winning this game.
- Taking Jonas out of this game.
That's your answer?
- That's my answer.
Okay.
Are you going to tell us if she got it right or not?
No. The Survivor gods have spoken and it's uno, dos, adios.
Kat: (Maybe she'll give us something good? Susan Hawk award worthy?)
Being voted out I was really really upset, all three of you hurt me very very badly. And Kim, I'm just destroyed by you. But I have a secret I want to tell you. I went through two open heart surgeries when I was 12 years old and, in order to have kids in 12 years I'd have to have another so, 22 baby, next year I'll be having another (hold on, let me do the math, 12 plus 12 is 24... Kat is pretty.) Anyway - she says she had to hide that weakness from them but she also doesn't have time to be angry (she has them all tearing up - really? I'm I just a cold-hearted b*tch? Don't answer that :). She says she's going to base her decision on who she felt played the best game. And to the jury she tells them to seize the day (pretty much) and don't base your decision on anger. I wanted this more than anything but it takes a lot more energy to be angry than it does to smile and be happy. So, (back at the final three) I want to say, I forgive you.
TIME TO VOTE:
Oh, Kim must have gotten the answer wrong because Troy voted for Sabrina. (I'm sure he wanted her to say, you were just too strong a player, I could never win against a big, strong man like you.)
Kat voted for Kim, she says she's so upset with her but if she didn't vote for her that means she didn't learn a darn thing in this game.
Jeff gets the votes then keeps on walking to New York City... where he is going to read them:
Tallying the Votes:
Kim - 1
Sabrina - 1
Kim - 2
Sabrina - 2
Kim - 3, 4, 5 - KIM is the winner of Survivor One World. It was All Kim, All the Time - and really, it had to be, it would have been a travesty if anyone else had won (though it might have been more interesting to watch.)
And with Kim winning the game: Susan MacLennan, Fred/Gary Moderow and Nancy Clapham have also won the pool. Congratulations to all.
I'm not going to recap the reunion other than these points:
-Colton assures us he is not a racist and says he did not mean to offend anyone. His mother apologizes for his words and actions. Colton realizes how mean he was... but I never really heard an apology from him.
-Mayim Bialik - TV's Blossom - comes to Colton's defense and says she'd watch him play again.
-Alicia cries about calling Christina 'special needs' and says she is sorry if she offended anyone.
-Jeff was getting people's names wrong and mixing up when people left... has Jeff been drinking?
-Tarzan's wife needs to reduce those boobs - your husband may have some connections.
-Kim also won the Sprint fan favourite prize money ($100,000) over Chelsea, Tarzan and Troyzan.
Next season - Three previous player,s that were medically evacuated from the game when they played before, will each be on one of three tribes in Survivor Philippines. (I have a feeling we will be seeing Colton again.)
SO, there you have it. Have a great Summer everyone. I'll see you all again in the fall.
Coleen
(subtitle: All Kim, All the Time)
I'm just going to say, there seemed to be a lot of filler in the first two hours because there really wasn't anyone interesting left... or was it just me?
After the extendo recap of the women taking out all the men (which I did enjoy) we get down to the final five this evening. Alicia and Christina are aligned and Chelsea and Sabrina are aligned and they all think Kim is on their side (and more importantly, they all still like her.)
Sabrina: teacher from New York who's strategy it was to tone down her natural personality, hang back a bit and now she's ready to go in for the kill.
Kim: bridal shop owner from Texas, she played the ultimate strategic game but she's terrified it will come back to haunt her. She says she's been in the driver's seat the whole time but she feels like the tunnel could be closing in on her (humble-brag - not buying it.)
Christina: career consultant from California, she's been the ultimate underdog the whole time but she's not going to give up now (she'd have us believe this was her game plan - I'm calling bullpucky on that.)
Chelsea: medical sales rep from South Carolina, she believes she's worked for everything she has, she wasn't a kiss ass and the million dollars is going to be on her mind the whole time (I think her perception of herself is different from what I saw.)
Alicia: special education teacher from Chicago, city girl with attitude that no one thought would last - she says she is "one smart, confident woman. Home girl from the city killed it." (No one is a bigger fan of Alicia, than Alicia.)
Tikiano - Night 36
They return to camp from voting out Tarzan and the mood is jubilant.
-Alicia tells the camera she is feeling bitter sweet since she had to get rid of one of her powers (seriously? You have no power.) She says she is confidant that Kim is going to stick to her word and Christina, Alicia and Kim will be in the final. She goes on to say her dream came true to have an all-girl finale and she believes she is there because she played one hell of a game. (She is a legend in her own mind, that's fo sho.)
Tikiano - Day 37
Kim and Sabrina go and get tree mail and talk. Sabrina says she wants to see Alicia be the next to go and Kim says she thinks Chelsea would get more votes at the end... Sabrina is a little floored to hear Kim talking about taking out Chelsea (she's been talking about it for the past couple episodes.)
-Sabrina asks Kim, if they were to take out Chelsea, who else does she see in the final 3 - why Christina - no one will vote for Christina. (Well, that makes me want Christina to win immunity and show those b*tches.)
-Sabrina sees herself as the next most liked person out there so it could easily be her going home next. She's got to get her head in the game for Immunity.
-Alicia sees Chelsea as the hurdle in her way of winning a million dollars and hopes she sucks today.
Immunity Challenge
It's a long tough one. They have to walk a balance beam maze, where, if they fall off they have to go back to the beginning, if they come to a dead end, they have to back track... but when they get through the maze they then have to climb on a net and untie 5 bags of puzzle pieces - once they have all the bags of pieces they have to solve the puzzle (and it's a lot of pieces.) Once they have the puzzle assembled they have to read it; it tells them to count the number of skulls, the number of words and the number of puzzle pieces - once they have all three numbers, they have to climb up to a platform then use the numbers as a combination to release their flag - first person to do that wins immunity. I know, a toughy... I will keep it short and remind you of the subtitle - KIM wins Immunity. (And no one seems overly happy about it.)
Back at camp - Kim & Chelsea go 'fishing' and sit and talk - Chelsea says she wants to take Alicia out tonight and Kim lets her think it's her idea. Kim tells the camera she has two options, take out Alicia or she could take out Chelsea which she thinks is her easier route to the money.
-Chelsea is telling Kim that she knows Kim thinks she [Chelsea] can win, but she sees it opposite, "I think you can win this game, and you're going to." Kim gets all teary and says, "Thanks for just saying that." (Oh she is good. Playing the insecure follower to Chelsea when we all know she's been running the show all along. Kim knows how to work women - owning a bridal salon, she has to know how to deal with women at their best and worst. I bet she's pretty successful in the real world.)
-Chelsea trusts Kim 100% - she jokes that Kim should tell Alicia and Christina to vote for her [Chelsea], then she could play Kim's idol and fireworks would go off. (That would be at least some drama.)
-Kim is regretting telling Chelsea that she found a hidden immunity idol - now that Kim won immunity today, Chelsea expects her to play it for her - she doesn't want to just play all her cards just for the hell of it.
-Kim goes and tells Sabrina that they are voting out Alicia tonight. Alicia watches them talking but she's 100% confidant that Kim will keep her word to her because why would she want to go to the end with Chelsea and Sabrina and have all those votes just split. She tells herself not to over think things, she's got this.
-Kim then goes and tells Alicia and Christina that Chelsea has no idea it's her - so she's not freaking out. Alicia thinks it's funny that Chelsea thinks it's her [Alicia] tonight. Kim tells them to just leave it alone, it's done.
-Kim is in the sweet spot - she reminds us that she could still go either way at this point.
Tribal Council #1
Jeff is trying to draw something out of them but they all say it was quiet at camp today, there was no scrambling. He gets Kim talking about Loyalty which has Kat shaking her head. Kim goes on about it being hard to separate heart and head in playing this game - blah blah blah.
Anyone have anything else to say? Nope, they're all good.
Troyzan can't believe no one is taking the opportunity to speak up.
Jeff seems to be awed by the faith they all seem to have in Kim.
They vote and... ALICIA is voted out. B-bye!
(Oh, and Kim did not give her hidden idol to Chelsea - she knew she wouldn't need it.)
(Kat whispers that Kim back-stabbed her and Alicia - whatever lady, get over it already.)
Alicia says she sees the mistakes she made in this game - definitely giving up her power by voting out Tarzan (uh, no, you had no power). She says she is not a sore loser, she's proud of Kim, she totally fooled her. Also digs at Christina, "I brought you there, every one of those girls wanted you out (no, they didn't care one way or the other) Enjoy it Christina, cause you suck right now. (What was she saying about sore loser?)
Tikiano - Night 37
Kim apologizes for lying to Christina for such a long time. Christina, "It's okay. I know it's a game so..." Kim calls her one of the most resilient people there and genuinely appreciates the fact that she says she knows it's a game. Kim avoided a guilt trip with Christina who seems to have no gumption - do you want to be there?
-Christina tells the camera that she thinks they think that she is still the best bet to take to the final, she's been coat-tailing the whole time - but she never seems to say this to anyone...
-Kim and Chelsea say if Christina wins immunity tomorrow they're going to cry, but then they agree that Sabrina may not be the person to take to the end. Christina is definitely not as well spoken and if she has to explain how she played the game to the jury, "it's gonna be a joke." (Hmm, maybe she doesn't need to say anything.)
Tikiano - Day 38
Christina gets tree mail and realizes she HAS to win immunity tonight - she says she's been mediocre the whole time by design but now it's time to step it up... SERIOUSLY? Too little, too late.
-Then they have to do the walk of shame (NOOOOOoooooo - this show had so much filler it wasn't funny.) I'm not going to subject you to it but they did the walk of remembrance and then burned all their names - you are dead to me :)
Immunity Challenge #2
It was something new they hadn't done before - how exciting!
They used a long pole with a half circle on the end that they had to use to pick up a small bowl and manoeuvre it through a zig-zaggy channel of rebar. Once they successfully get the bowl through the channel, they have to place it on top of the structure, then continue to pile the bowls on top of each other until they have all 10 bowls balanced on the top of the structure. One other thing... it's on a spring, so if they tap the sides of the channel at all, it will sway and could topple all the bowls and make them have to start over. (EEeek, this looks challenging - I can't wait.)
Off they go and it's Kim and Christina neck and neck through this thing. Maybe Christina has been playing possum... down to the 9th bowl and Christina's structure starts swaying so she has to wait it out and Kim's stack is really leaning... but it is (all Kim all the time) KIM that wins final immunity (surprise.)
Back at camp, Kim is relieved she won this immunity especially, she can relax tonight knowing she's made it to the end. Christina approaches her and says she just wants it out in the open if it's her and Kim says yes, it's her, "Sorry." Christina, "Agh, it is what it is." And that's it, no scrambling, no trying to change their mind, Christina says Kim was pretty adamant things weren't going to change (I'm sorry, did I miss you trying to change her mind? She did nothing) She figured she was going to make the day as peaceful and enjoyable as possible - Yup, Christina deserves to go.
Kim tells Chelsea that Christina talked to her and they hugged. Kim was surprised that Christina didn't try to fight for it. It solidified for her that Christina would not get any votes in the end.
Tribal council #2
Jeff again tries to find out if it was a busy afternoon and nope, there was nothing. Christina knew she was going and that was that. (The jury is all just shaking their head.)
Jeff can't believe she didn't try and change anyone's mind. And Christina says her argument against Sabrina is that she sucked at challenges and didn't do anything strategy-wise (so you are the same.)
"Trying to break alliances is really hard." (So, let me get this straight... it seemed too hard, so you didn't bother - yeah, you deserve a million dollars.)
-Sabrina says just because she wasn't scrambling doesn't mean she didn't know what was going on. If she thought her name was on the block she would have done everything in her power to change that.
-Christina tries to say she didn't give up but then goes on again about not knowing how to change their minds... so she admits she sucks at this game - move it along, Probst.
-Kim says Christina is potentially not a bad person to take to the final. She had a lot of arguments today she could have made for herself and she just didn't. You have to weigh your options. Everything is not always what it seems. (Hu-uh? That got Sabrina and Chelsea's attention... What's that now?)
They vote... and it's CHRISTINA who leaves. (Duh - that was a no-brainer - I don't think any of the jury would respect someone who took Christina to the end, especially after that Tribal Council.)
Christina's final words - she's proud she made it as far as she did but she wishes she had played the game differently... and she's still trying to defend her non-action saying she had no idea how to change their minds. (And that is why you are OUT.)
So, we are down to the Final 3: Chelsea, Sabrina and Kim.
Tikiano - Day 39
-Sabrina is sitting on the beach - crying. (Huh?) She says she's a teacher and she was laid off just before coming out there. She wanted to tell the kids of Brooklyn about the sand, the water, the view... and she hopes they aspire to see more than just their block. (She is actually a great teacher role model on this show - finally.)
-The three girls are walking to tree mail and Kim says her plea to the jury is going to be, "I know I've lied to you all and voted you out, but I have no boobs left, so have mercy." (You could argue she didn't have much to begin with... but have you seen those abs? holy...)
-They get food and mimosas... yum.
-Chelsea says her family is proud of her and if you come out here for the adventure, it's worth way more than the million dollars (that's how a loser talks! Haha, but seriously, it did kinda sound like she didn't think she was going to win.)
-Kim tells us this has been a rough year for her, she was recently divorced and this experience has definitely given her some of her confidence back. (It must have been hard for a bridal shop owner to be going through a divorce and still have to go to work with people getting married all day - of course it could have been good training too on hiding her emotions and getting the job done like she did throughout the whole season.)
FINAL TRIBAL COUNCIL - The Jury Speaks
Chelsea gets to go first with her opening remarks and she asks if she can stand, "Is that okay?" (And she's lost right there - just do it if you want to... sheesh.)
Chelsea - everybody knows in Survivor that a pair is very important. It's been no secret that Kim and I have been a pair. Every single tribal we would get together and map out who should stay and who should go (I don't think she's helping her cause here) - that being said, my game changed at the merge. Jonas, you seem like such a good person and I had such a hard time writing your name down. That's when I told myself I was playing the game all wrong and I had to check myself emotionally or I wasn't going to make it in this game. That's when I became the hard-ass, cold-hearted Chelsea. (Was I watching the same game she was on?) She says that's where she and Kim differed - Kim had an emotional connection with them all and Chelsea doesn't - I could be in trouble if that's how you vote but in the end, I trust however you vote. (What?)
Kim - I love this game. I've always seen it as a game. In the beginning I saw it as poker and you do everything you can do to make it to the end. So that's where my head was at coming in, I played with everything I had, I strategized until I was blue in the face and I'm proud of how I played it strategically. I don't know how I could have done it any better. Every time I sent one of you home, that took a toll on me and that's been really, really hard (somehow I don't believe that) but she says she was thinking of her family and what she hoped to do with the money to make their lives better. I hope you can forgive me, I hope you can see it as a game because that's how I saw it and I can't even say I would take it back because my end goal was to be here and I am sitting here tonight. (Usually, the forgive me plea is the kiss of death but she is so believable... she could sell ice to Eskimos that one.)
Sabrina - We all come in here with a strategy but you have to have balance - you take it to far to the extreme one way and you're going to have a target on your back. There were times I had to scale back physically in the challenges and that was part of my strategy. Then when we merged the social game became more evident and that's when she played operation white shield and hid behind Kim & Chelsea. She consciously chose not to step up and go to people face to face, she left that to Kim (so she could take all the blame - nice.) But she realizes that could bite her in the end.
Stepping outside this game I teach inner city children in Brooklyn and I was laid off - I came into this game and it wasn't an option for me, I had to win this game. Me sitting here in the top three is a blessing.
In my estimation - Kim won that round.
Now the Jury:
Jonas: Just want to lay the ground rules for this question. When I say your name, you must answer, "Yes, Master Jona...hahaha" He couldn't keep it together, that broke the tension, got them all laughing. He said he's totally happy for all of them. He tells Sabrina he loves her, if it was the most popular person getting the money I would totally vote for you - I still might - but at challenges it was amazing how badly you sucked. I mean, you were getting whipped by a guy one year short of being a senior citizen (that's Tarzan, hamming it up for the camera).
- Absolutely, on some of those challenges I did suck.
He tells Chelsea she's cute and she blushes (I think she has a a little crush on the chef - aww) he proceeds to tell her that all the guys think she is the hottest chick out there (Kim - gee, thanks) but that is not what his vote is based on. He wanted to know the hugest move she made out there, not something that Kim thought of, but her boldest, game changing move.
- It was my idea to take Kat out. (That's it... okay.)
Kim, you kicked my ass, but that doesn't mean you're getting my vote - I think you played a flawless game up until the last tribal council when you didn't take Christina... I was floored. I'm trying to wrap my head around why you didn't take her.
- Yeah, honestly I got to this place that I thought if everyone absolutely hated me for the decision I'd made, then Christina would beat me. But if everyone votes for the person they think played the best game, then I could sit here with these two guys and I'd win, and it wouldn't matter.
Okay, well, we'll see what happens.
Christina: She asks Kim if she had to take one of the two remaining out who would it be.
- Kim says she thinks she has a better chance of winning against Sabrina so she would take Chelsea out. (They have quite the girl-mance going on those two.)
Chelsea, why do you hate people?
- Oh my... I don't hate people, at all. I think there is a time you have to take your heart out and play with your head. Kim kept reminding me of that. If you knew me outside of this game, I'm not the cold-hearted b*tch. (I never got that impression of her at all.)
Jay: Congratulations, no hard feelings. Sabrina, that whole mentality of taking it easy in challenges, you seemed to take that into camp life as well, no crabbing, gathering wood, you did squat - so, I'm questioning if it really was your strategy [subtext: or are you just lazy?]
- Sometimes in real life I can be overbearing so I knew coming into this bunch of strangers that I had to sit back and [let them wait on me] not bulldoze people. It's a matter of balance. And I just learned to swim before coming out here (I'm leaving that one alone) so I'm not going deep sea fishing.
Fair enough.
Michael: Kim, define a blindside.
- Sending someone home that has no idea they're going home. And convincing them they're not going home so they're shocked.
And with that definition do you feel like you've perfected the art of the blindside?
- I think in this game that blindsides are necessary and at the point when you were still here it was a big deal because you were the only guy that Troy was willing to send home. He disliked you, didn't trust you, so I picked you, not because I wanted to send you home but because he was the only guy he wouldn't think twice about voting out.
There is a whole jury over here and myself that know you missed one key factor, blame. You took all the blame for every single blindside you did, you didn't pass it off on your alliances, you took all that heat and that's the one thing that you missed. (Actually, I would call that taking CREDIT - you all know who outwitted, outlasted and outplayed you - Kim.)
We have to decide if you are smart for doing that or incredibly stupid. That's all I want to say.
Tarzan: I want to thank God for giving me these [big word] moments of adventure near the end of my life. (Is he dying?) So, thank you God. And thank you ladies, for keeping me despite all the [big word] of this game and allowing my wife to actually set foot on this island. I will forever be thankful. And the third statement was [big word, big word, big word] he started getting choked up talking about his wife, embracing her, feeling her heartbeat with his... (Okay, does anyone else think their relationship is a little creepy?)
- Chelsea says his romance with his wife has shown her what she wants in a partner. She will not settle for less because she knows it's real. (Okay, maybe it is just me.)
Leif: Getting voted off is a sore spot and I'm trying to sort out my feelings. How did it come about?
(What I heard was a pouty, 'You hurt my feelings.' - Really? Suck it up, buttercup.)
- Kim tells him she just never knew if she could trust him. His votes never seemed to line up with what he said he was doing. She knew he had voted for her and felt he was going to do it again so she had no problem telling him to vote for Christina that night.
- Sabrina, at that point in the game Kim was the messenger giving the messages (we know she was the brains lady, don't try to confuse things calling her a messenger.) I knew you were going home but I punked out, I couldn't tell you cause that would hurt me. It was just your time to go.
Alicia: Kim, you and I played this game very similar. I was a kingpin. I had my pawns in Tarzan and Christina and you have your pawns in Chelsea and Sabrina (oh, so delusional). Home girl, you know if I was sitting next to you, you'd be bleeping bricks right now. (They all just laugh along, sure you had a chance of winning... uh huh.) Because I would have had more chance of winning than any of yous. And actually, I'm super flattered (everyone's looking at her disbelievingly now) because who would have thought, Miss Peurto Rico over here could have been a threat? (Do you have a question? No? Then sit your ass down.) Kim, you played a hell of a game. I could strangle you. I love you and good luck. (WHAT WAS THAT?)
Troyzan: Nice to see he dressed up in his good pajamas - what were those pants?
Congratulations, I suppose that sounds strange but I don't hate your guts. My main beef is with Kim so I'll focus on her. You did play a great game but so did Chelsea and Sabrina so I'm going to ask you one question and if you answer correctly that will show me if you really are the great player you think you are... So, there was a point in this game when a decision was made against me. Tell me the moment you made the move to totally demolish my chances of winning this game.
- Taking Jonas out of this game.
That's your answer?
- That's my answer.
Okay.
Are you going to tell us if she got it right or not?
No. The Survivor gods have spoken and it's uno, dos, adios.
Kat: (Maybe she'll give us something good? Susan Hawk award worthy?)
Being voted out I was really really upset, all three of you hurt me very very badly. And Kim, I'm just destroyed by you. But I have a secret I want to tell you. I went through two open heart surgeries when I was 12 years old and, in order to have kids in 12 years I'd have to have another so, 22 baby, next year I'll be having another (hold on, let me do the math, 12 plus 12 is 24... Kat is pretty.) Anyway - she says she had to hide that weakness from them but she also doesn't have time to be angry (she has them all tearing up - really? I'm I just a cold-hearted b*tch? Don't answer that :). She says she's going to base her decision on who she felt played the best game. And to the jury she tells them to seize the day (pretty much) and don't base your decision on anger. I wanted this more than anything but it takes a lot more energy to be angry than it does to smile and be happy. So, (back at the final three) I want to say, I forgive you.
TIME TO VOTE:
Oh, Kim must have gotten the answer wrong because Troy voted for Sabrina. (I'm sure he wanted her to say, you were just too strong a player, I could never win against a big, strong man like you.)
Kat voted for Kim, she says she's so upset with her but if she didn't vote for her that means she didn't learn a darn thing in this game.
Jeff gets the votes then keeps on walking to New York City... where he is going to read them:
Tallying the Votes:
Kim - 1
Sabrina - 1
Kim - 2
Sabrina - 2
Kim - 3, 4, 5 - KIM is the winner of Survivor One World. It was All Kim, All the Time - and really, it had to be, it would have been a travesty if anyone else had won (though it might have been more interesting to watch.)
And with Kim winning the game: Susan MacLennan, Fred/Gary Moderow and Nancy Clapham have also won the pool. Congratulations to all.
I'm not going to recap the reunion other than these points:
-Colton assures us he is not a racist and says he did not mean to offend anyone. His mother apologizes for his words and actions. Colton realizes how mean he was... but I never really heard an apology from him.
-Mayim Bialik - TV's Blossom - comes to Colton's defense and says she'd watch him play again.
-Alicia cries about calling Christina 'special needs' and says she is sorry if she offended anyone.
-Jeff was getting people's names wrong and mixing up when people left... has Jeff been drinking?
-Tarzan's wife needs to reduce those boobs - your husband may have some connections.
-Kim also won the Sprint fan favourite prize money ($100,000) over Chelsea, Tarzan and Troyzan.
Next season - Three previous player,s that were medically evacuated from the game when they played before, will each be on one of three tribes in Survivor Philippines. (I have a feeling we will be seeing Colton again.)
SO, there you have it. Have a great Summer everyone. I'll see you all again in the fall.
Coleen
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