There's a New Sheriff in Town
It was two episodes back to back so I'm going to go through it quickly.
Nuku - Day 19
We start with a little bit of fallout still from the Varner outing Zeke debacle. Sarah is still angry with Varner and Tai is still raw. Zeke feels very touched by the strong reaction of his tribe mates and their total support... but his mind is already back in the game, he's there to win a million dollars so let's get back to it.
MERGE
So both tribes get to their mats and they see this long banquet table laden with food - they are starving there is no mistaking that - but there is also another smaller table that is covered and this makes everyone nervous... what is going on?
They don't have to wait long, Jeff tells them this is indeed the merge but before they become one and can partake of the feast, they have one more separate tribe decision to make... They will only be able to eat the merge feast IF one person from each tribe volunteers to sit out. (Oh come on, that's just mean.) Jeff says if they don't get volunteers the banquet goes away and each person will get one cracker (with cheese) and a single swig of ice tea (I think some of them looked okay with that, something is better than nothing.) But it didn't come to that:
Relatively quickly Brad Culpepper agrees to sit out, the quarterback is going to take one for his team - and there was some scoffing from the other tribe about how he was willing to fall on his sword to garner favour, how he didn't like how he was portrayed the last time he played (is that a bad thing? Maybe it made him more mindful of his actions... not necessarily bad.) Then he says, "It's what Monica would do." (Ugh, I did roll my eyes at that, don't deify your wife dude, that's creepy.)
So then all eyes shift to Nuku and there is some shifting around, Ozzy says he doesn't think he can do it and then Tai steps up, he's already made up his mind, he's going to do it - they'll enjoy it more than he does. (Hey, this is the guy who sacrifices his own food to feed the chickens back at camp, of course he'll do it.)
With a quick thank you guys - Jeff has Brad and Tai move down the beach so they don't have to witness it - but everyone falls on the food and there was no holding back their baccanalian glee... literally in Debbie's case - she starts imbibing and acting all crazy, even mooning Tai who looked like he wanted to wash his eyeballs with bleach (can you really blame him, lady, put your pants on!)
-But then Debbie tells the camera that she wasn't actually drunk, she didn't touch the alcohol, it was just an act. What? Why? (Oh who cares...) okay, she says she was trying to make everyone comfortable with her because she knows it's going to be pandemonium with all thirteen of them back at camp.
-Over on their log, Tai & Brad are reconnecting, Brad tells him that he has Sierra and Troyzan with him and Michaela & Hali are on the bottom so he wants to still target those two. Tai is all good with that, he's sure Brad will have his back and he's joining a large number, no worries.
-Oh yeah, Sierra also reminded us that she has the Legacy advantage which she can only use when there are thirteen or six people left... there are now thirteen, but she'd rather hold on to it until there are six (and that makes me a horrible person because I hope she doesn't make it to six.)
Merge Tribe - Day 19
They get back to their shared camp and the first thing we see is Debbie apologizing to Brad about her blow up - she tells us she swallowed her pride because Cochrane told her to... (huh, maybe it did do her some good after all.) So now Brad thinks he has Debbie in his back pocket.
Next they want to hear the Jeff story and Zeke steps up to tell it - how Jeff in order to show his ability for deception asked why he had not told anyone he was transgender - and there were gasps all around...(even though Debbie tried to step on his moment, just shut up lady) Aubry has more respect for Zeke in telling his story than she does for a handful of these jokers after knowing them for twenty days (ha, tell us how you really feel.)
Now people are breaking off into little groups trying to figure out where they fit in - Ozzy's talking to Brad & Troyzan, Brad & Ozzy of course think that they have everyone with them and they can do whatever they want - so Brad floats Michaela and Hali, especially Michaela to be the next to go. That's fine with Ozzy, they're not his people and he takes the plan to vote out Michaela first to Zeke who also agrees.
Troy tells Tai, Ozzy tells Sara, Tai tells Hali (hmm, she says), Brad tells Sierra, Sierra tells Cirie and Aubry.
We see the girls painting the new tribe flag - new name is Maku Maku (sure, why not.)
Sarah confirms with Sierra that they are thinking Michaela first... and we find out that Sierra just can't stand Michaela, she thinks she's shifty and always skulking around, coming up on conversations (how dare she try to find out what you're whispering about when you're not talking to her... Sierra needs a reality check.)
-Zeke talks to Cirie and Andrea and they may not want to take Michaela out just yet, she could be a number they can use against Brad and Sierra before it's too late. (Oh ho, not everyone's down for the plan.) And the chicken laid an egg on the roof... How far will that go to feed 13? (actually, how are there chickens left alive, that Tai is magic.)
-Hali is feeling like she needs to do something to keep Michaela there since she seems to be the only person playing with her right now - so she tells her that her name is being thrown out there and Michaela does not like that but she does something smart - she seeks out Cirie. And Cirie recognizes her younger self in Michaela, she gives her some really good advice - like controller her temper and be mindful of the resting b!tch-face - you do not want to push people away in this game. Michaela actually listens to her and will now do whatever Cirie says - so now Cirie has a reason to keep Michaela around and she starts working to get the vote switched to Hali (oops... Hali may have just set in motion her own demise.)
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
This is the first individual immunity challenge and it's an ankle/toe killer.
They will have to stand on their toes with a block wedged between their head and the top of the frame. When they can not remain on their toes, the block will drop and they are out (I would last two seconds, maybe.)
Immediately people start dropping like flies - before Jeff even finishes all the explanation, Hali, Troyzan and Zeke are out... and they aren't allowed to touch the frame or the block. Ha!
-Our final two duking it out are Tai and Andrea, when Jeff says a woman has never won the challenge she steeled herself a little bit more and broke that record - ANDREA won the first individual immunity (Yay, she's mine in the pool.)
Maku Maku - Day 21
Sierra tells us she feels like she's in charge and she loves having control (oh come on Survivor Karma, I'm ready for Sierra to go.) But Sierra is worried that Hali has a hidden idol and she's thinking that they should split the votes between Michaela & Hali, more to Michaela so she'll go home but she's hoping to flush this supposed idol Hali has because she's acting so much more confidently this time. (Oh honey, you're not that smart, Hali is more confident just because she's played before, she has no idol.)
- They decide to tell Michaela & Hali that they are voting for Zeke tonight because, as Debbie says, he has the absolute best story - they don't want him going to the end (ah, I knew that would occur to someone.) Hali has no other play but to go with the Zeke vote.
-Cirie sees her opportunity to get the vote count switched to Hali and appeals to Zeke who goes to Sierra who is not happy to have her plan questioned - She's the new sheriff in town, but whatever, either one doesn't matter.
-Cirie gives Michaela the heads up on the sly that they are lying about voting Zeke but she just needs to go ahead and vote that way, she's got her back... and Michaela listens. (Yup, Cirie is the Michaela whisperer.)
TRIBAL COUNCIL
Cirie is the last person that had not been to Tribal yet, so she got her torch lit finally. (Huh? It just goes to show how much they've switched things up this season, I had no idea anyone hadn't been to Tribal yet.)
Not much surprising happened at this tribal council, they are still feeling each other out - Hali and Michaela feel like they are on the chopping block - yada yada.
Then the talk turned to hidden immunity idols and how you can suspect but you're not going to come out and ask or accuse. Hali volunteers to shake down right now - strip and dump out her bag to prove she does not have an idol... but she's not going to actually do it unless someone asks her to... and no one asks. That was very telling.
Time to Vote:
Hali votes Zeke
Cirie votes Michaela (to keep with the number plan but she knows it won't mean anything.)
No one plays a hidden idol (only Tai and Troyzan have one so of course no one played one.)
Tallying the Votes:
Zeke - 1, 2
Michaela - 1
Hali - 1
Michaela - 2
Hali - 2
Michaela - 3
Hali - 3
Michaela - 4
Hali - 4
Hali - 5, 6... and the first member of the jury is HALI! Which takes Kevin C., Carol-Anne D. and Sunnie C. out of the pool.
Hali just thinks these people are all dumb. She is just glad she made it to the jury.
Maku Maku - Day 22
Cirie is quietly amassing her army - she tells Michaela to keep their relationship on the down-low, no one needs to know about it - Michaela will do anything for Cirie at this point. Cirie goes and talks to Zeke & Aubry on their way to get water and she wants to make a move on Sierra or Brad... the way she sees it, Sierra is the godfather controlling Brad who is controlling Troy... she says it's like a chain and if they take out the top it will all shatter (nooo, it's "cut the head off the snake", she's got to learn her Survivor tropes.) Cirie thinks she could get Sierra out - Zeke is willing, Andrea is down, she trusts Sarah and she knows Michaela will go with it, she's got Aubry on board and she's sure Ozzy will vote with them - they are ready for war, she's all soldiered up.
-Andrea is also trying to gather her numbers to take over and she can't wait to get Sierra or Brad out - she's talking to Zeke and says she doesn't think they can tell Debbie or Tai what they're up to - Debbie is playing really hard right now... and as she goes on Zeke is realizing that Andrea and Cirie are the ones playing really hard right now, harder than he is - and he doesn't want to just follow in this game. He sees that Sierra & Brad are sort of threats, but he thinks that Andrea & Cirie being so strategic and quieter about it, are really his main competition.
-Last time he played he was voted out because he shot for the moon too early, but do you want to regret making the move too soon, or waiting too long and not being able to make the move at all (uh oh) Zeke wants to take out Cirie or Andrea next - why wait?
REWARD CHALLENGE
They will be divided into two teams of six. On Jeff's go, two tribe members will race out into the water and have to untie a series of knots to free a net with 14 wooden fish attached. Once they get it to shore, the next two team members will have to untie the fish and hang them on hooks on a pole, then transport the pole up to the next two tribe members who will have to arrange the fish so they fit together as a puzzle. First team to finish correctly will win a day of pampering at the Marshalls lounge - shower, soaps, fluffy robes.. then the food, burgers and apple pie.
Teams are: Sarah, Culpepper, Aubry, Michaela, Cirie and Sierra
Vs: Andrea, Tai, Ozzy, Troyzan, Debbie and Zeke
Pretty evenly picked I thought... and it was a close challenge - until Andrea & Tai missed one fish on the pole and had to go back, giving the other team a leg up, but then Zeke & Debbie rocked the puzzle and won the reward.
The fallout from the Reward loss - Cirie felt like she had failed her family, couldn't feed her kids, and it hit her hard.
On the Marshalls Reward, everyone was just so happy with the nice smelling soaps and lotions - feeling human again was so nice and they thanked Marshalls (gee, I wonder if Marshalls is a new sponsor of Survivor). Tai even decided to streak since he had heard about it in the 60's and 70's... it was pretty funny but I'm sure none of them really wanted to see him running around naked - put on the robe already buddy.
-Zeke loves the Reward but is worried about getting too outside the game - so he takes it right back by pulling Debbie & Tai aside to propose his idea of taking Andrea or Cirie out of the game instead of Sierra or Brad.
-Debbie is showing off her food baby - once you get that skinny out there, a big meal really does show (was that mean?) Anyway, she is telling Zeke everything he wants to hear, "let's vote out Andrea then." "I'm ready to make a big move." But then she tells us that she is ready to make a big move but she doesn't need Zeke to do it.
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Uh oh, it's the telephone pole with the small toehold grooves in it... we've all seen this challenge before. They will start at the top of the pole and they just have to be the last person still holding on to win immunity. Ozzy has played this one twice before and he's won both times... until today. It was almost sad, taking away Ozzy's crowing achievement was TAI - they were up there 1hr 35mins and Tai could have stayed up there even longer I think. At one point Ozzy said if he won he would go fishing later, if not, they would be hungry another day - but that doesn't mean anything to Tai, he's okay with hungry, he just wanted to beat Ozzy - and he did it.
Maku Maku - Day 24
-Zeke is ready to make his move to take out Andrea so he approaches Sierra and tells her that Cirie and Andrea are targeting her to go home but Zeke doesn't want to do that, he'd rather work with them to take out Andrea.
-Sierra doesn't trust what she's sees as Zeke's abrupt turn around - she thought he was tight with Andrea and she also doesn't like how he is condescending to her - she feels like Zeke thinks she's stupid and she doesn't trust him... but now she knows her name has come up.
-So Sierra goes and tells Cirie that Zeke told her that her name had come up for elimination. Cirie immediately tells Andrea and Ozzy and they are flummoxed. Andrea is furious and they are now thinking it's Zeke tonight.
-Andrea & Cirie tell Sarah that Zeke told Sierra it was her tonight so they are thinking Zeke now - Sarah's like, wait, what? Is that what we're doing?
-Then we see Sierra in the hammock with her new minion, Debbie and Debbie puts the bug in her ear, "If you really want to blow them out of the water, we take out Ozzy." Sierra is worried about "these idiots" (they show Tai, Brad & Troyzan) It's like herding cats. Debbie says we make the decision and dictate to them this time... They are doing it.
-Debbie goes and tells Troyzan in Debbie fashion, "if you stick with us and keep your mouth shut, we're taking out Ozzy." Troyzan looks shocked but he's down (I think most of them, if it's not them, they'll do whatever.) Debbie tells the camera if they listen to her, Brad, Sierra, Sarah, Troyzan, Tai, they will be massive game changers, largely thanks to her... and she has an extra vote, which she doesn't want to use this early but she's not sure if she has the numbers.
-Sarah is one of the reasons why, she's not sure if she wants to take out Ozzy or Zeke tonight, either way, a line will be drawn in the sand (whatever, they said that about the last vote and it didn't really change much.)
TRIBAL COUNCIL
-Ozzy says this season seems like the stakes are higher, there seems to be espionage behind every coconut tree and it's much more cut-throat.
-Sarah agrees with Jeff that there have been so many switches that it is hard to know who is with who - it's like we're all just a bunch of single people waiting to hook up.
-Ozzy's only argument to keep him is that there is nothing to eat back at camp and he's the provider bringing in fish to keep them all fed - it's a big thing when there are 15 days left (but I often wonder, would other people step up if Ozzy wasn't there to rely on, I think they would.)
-Aubry agrees this time has been way harder, there is no food unless Ozzy brings it in but it's also been more emotional, it affects morale, it's everything.
-Zeke does his own who's on first explanation of trying to figure out who to vote for - Do I think I can beat that person and do they think they can beat me - and if I think they think they can't beat me, how do I make them think they can beat me so that I'm safe. (Say what now?)
-Tai says it makes perfect sense...(sure) but Tai says Zeke is incredible, it would never even occur to Tai to think about it that way (I'm thinking Tai doesn't play chess, there is no subtlety in his game, but if he can keep winning immunity, he could make it to the end again, and lose when he can't articulate his case.)
-No one else really revealed anything - Debbie talked about the Air Force reserves... yeah we get it.
Time to Vote:
Sierra votes Ozzy
Andrea votes Zeke - terrible game move, you suck at this game (wow, way to take it personally)
Cirie says her vote is just to spice it up a little bit - but they don't show who she voted for.
As Jeff says he's going to go tally the votes, Debbie stops him and says she wants to play her advantage she got on Exile by giving up the necessities of life (oh you liar) - she gets to go cast another vote.
Tallying the Votes for real:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol.
Votes:
Ozzy - 1
Zeke - 1
Sierra - 1 (?) (This was Cirie)
Aubry - 1 (?) (This was Zeke)
Zeke - 2
Ozzy - 2
Zeke - 3
Ozzy - 3
Zeke - 4
Ozzy - 4, 5...6 - and it's OZZY joining the jury (wow, that vote changed quickly from Sierra or Zeke to Ozzy going home - crazy.) And with Ozzy leaving, that takes Ethan G., Shira C., and Drew C. out of the pool.
Next time: The gloves are off, Andrea will not trust Zeke again, Debbie feels like her alliance is set in concrete but Sarah is willing to make a move with Zeke. It seems like the fur is going to continue to fly on Game Changers.
Ozzy's final thoughts: He didn't see it coming but it was inevitable. He over-estimated his worth but if you don't win immunity or have an idol, you're sitting where he is sitting. Survivor has changed him in ways he'll never forget and he's grateful.
Woof! That was a long one. And Amazing Race is two hours tomorrow too - yikes.
Have a great rest of the week,
Coleen
It was two episodes back to back so I'm going to go through it quickly.
Nuku - Day 19
We start with a little bit of fallout still from the Varner outing Zeke debacle. Sarah is still angry with Varner and Tai is still raw. Zeke feels very touched by the strong reaction of his tribe mates and their total support... but his mind is already back in the game, he's there to win a million dollars so let's get back to it.
MERGE
So both tribes get to their mats and they see this long banquet table laden with food - they are starving there is no mistaking that - but there is also another smaller table that is covered and this makes everyone nervous... what is going on?
They don't have to wait long, Jeff tells them this is indeed the merge but before they become one and can partake of the feast, they have one more separate tribe decision to make... They will only be able to eat the merge feast IF one person from each tribe volunteers to sit out. (Oh come on, that's just mean.) Jeff says if they don't get volunteers the banquet goes away and each person will get one cracker (with cheese) and a single swig of ice tea (I think some of them looked okay with that, something is better than nothing.) But it didn't come to that:
Relatively quickly Brad Culpepper agrees to sit out, the quarterback is going to take one for his team - and there was some scoffing from the other tribe about how he was willing to fall on his sword to garner favour, how he didn't like how he was portrayed the last time he played (is that a bad thing? Maybe it made him more mindful of his actions... not necessarily bad.) Then he says, "It's what Monica would do." (Ugh, I did roll my eyes at that, don't deify your wife dude, that's creepy.)
So then all eyes shift to Nuku and there is some shifting around, Ozzy says he doesn't think he can do it and then Tai steps up, he's already made up his mind, he's going to do it - they'll enjoy it more than he does. (Hey, this is the guy who sacrifices his own food to feed the chickens back at camp, of course he'll do it.)
With a quick thank you guys - Jeff has Brad and Tai move down the beach so they don't have to witness it - but everyone falls on the food and there was no holding back their baccanalian glee... literally in Debbie's case - she starts imbibing and acting all crazy, even mooning Tai who looked like he wanted to wash his eyeballs with bleach (can you really blame him, lady, put your pants on!)
-But then Debbie tells the camera that she wasn't actually drunk, she didn't touch the alcohol, it was just an act. What? Why? (Oh who cares...) okay, she says she was trying to make everyone comfortable with her because she knows it's going to be pandemonium with all thirteen of them back at camp.
-Over on their log, Tai & Brad are reconnecting, Brad tells him that he has Sierra and Troyzan with him and Michaela & Hali are on the bottom so he wants to still target those two. Tai is all good with that, he's sure Brad will have his back and he's joining a large number, no worries.
-Oh yeah, Sierra also reminded us that she has the Legacy advantage which she can only use when there are thirteen or six people left... there are now thirteen, but she'd rather hold on to it until there are six (and that makes me a horrible person because I hope she doesn't make it to six.)
Merge Tribe - Day 19
They get back to their shared camp and the first thing we see is Debbie apologizing to Brad about her blow up - she tells us she swallowed her pride because Cochrane told her to... (huh, maybe it did do her some good after all.) So now Brad thinks he has Debbie in his back pocket.
Next they want to hear the Jeff story and Zeke steps up to tell it - how Jeff in order to show his ability for deception asked why he had not told anyone he was transgender - and there were gasps all around...(even though Debbie tried to step on his moment, just shut up lady) Aubry has more respect for Zeke in telling his story than she does for a handful of these jokers after knowing them for twenty days (ha, tell us how you really feel.)
Now people are breaking off into little groups trying to figure out where they fit in - Ozzy's talking to Brad & Troyzan, Brad & Ozzy of course think that they have everyone with them and they can do whatever they want - so Brad floats Michaela and Hali, especially Michaela to be the next to go. That's fine with Ozzy, they're not his people and he takes the plan to vote out Michaela first to Zeke who also agrees.
Troy tells Tai, Ozzy tells Sara, Tai tells Hali (hmm, she says), Brad tells Sierra, Sierra tells Cirie and Aubry.
We see the girls painting the new tribe flag - new name is Maku Maku (sure, why not.)
Sarah confirms with Sierra that they are thinking Michaela first... and we find out that Sierra just can't stand Michaela, she thinks she's shifty and always skulking around, coming up on conversations (how dare she try to find out what you're whispering about when you're not talking to her... Sierra needs a reality check.)
-Zeke talks to Cirie and Andrea and they may not want to take Michaela out just yet, she could be a number they can use against Brad and Sierra before it's too late. (Oh ho, not everyone's down for the plan.) And the chicken laid an egg on the roof... How far will that go to feed 13? (actually, how are there chickens left alive, that Tai is magic.)
-Hali is feeling like she needs to do something to keep Michaela there since she seems to be the only person playing with her right now - so she tells her that her name is being thrown out there and Michaela does not like that but she does something smart - she seeks out Cirie. And Cirie recognizes her younger self in Michaela, she gives her some really good advice - like controller her temper and be mindful of the resting b!tch-face - you do not want to push people away in this game. Michaela actually listens to her and will now do whatever Cirie says - so now Cirie has a reason to keep Michaela around and she starts working to get the vote switched to Hali (oops... Hali may have just set in motion her own demise.)
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
This is the first individual immunity challenge and it's an ankle/toe killer.
They will have to stand on their toes with a block wedged between their head and the top of the frame. When they can not remain on their toes, the block will drop and they are out (I would last two seconds, maybe.)
Immediately people start dropping like flies - before Jeff even finishes all the explanation, Hali, Troyzan and Zeke are out... and they aren't allowed to touch the frame or the block. Ha!
-Our final two duking it out are Tai and Andrea, when Jeff says a woman has never won the challenge she steeled herself a little bit more and broke that record - ANDREA won the first individual immunity (Yay, she's mine in the pool.)
Maku Maku - Day 21
Sierra tells us she feels like she's in charge and she loves having control (oh come on Survivor Karma, I'm ready for Sierra to go.) But Sierra is worried that Hali has a hidden idol and she's thinking that they should split the votes between Michaela & Hali, more to Michaela so she'll go home but she's hoping to flush this supposed idol Hali has because she's acting so much more confidently this time. (Oh honey, you're not that smart, Hali is more confident just because she's played before, she has no idol.)
- They decide to tell Michaela & Hali that they are voting for Zeke tonight because, as Debbie says, he has the absolute best story - they don't want him going to the end (ah, I knew that would occur to someone.) Hali has no other play but to go with the Zeke vote.
-Cirie sees her opportunity to get the vote count switched to Hali and appeals to Zeke who goes to Sierra who is not happy to have her plan questioned - She's the new sheriff in town, but whatever, either one doesn't matter.
-Cirie gives Michaela the heads up on the sly that they are lying about voting Zeke but she just needs to go ahead and vote that way, she's got her back... and Michaela listens. (Yup, Cirie is the Michaela whisperer.)
TRIBAL COUNCIL
Cirie is the last person that had not been to Tribal yet, so she got her torch lit finally. (Huh? It just goes to show how much they've switched things up this season, I had no idea anyone hadn't been to Tribal yet.)
Not much surprising happened at this tribal council, they are still feeling each other out - Hali and Michaela feel like they are on the chopping block - yada yada.
Then the talk turned to hidden immunity idols and how you can suspect but you're not going to come out and ask or accuse. Hali volunteers to shake down right now - strip and dump out her bag to prove she does not have an idol... but she's not going to actually do it unless someone asks her to... and no one asks. That was very telling.
Time to Vote:
Hali votes Zeke
Cirie votes Michaela (to keep with the number plan but she knows it won't mean anything.)
No one plays a hidden idol (only Tai and Troyzan have one so of course no one played one.)
Tallying the Votes:
Zeke - 1, 2
Michaela - 1
Hali - 1
Michaela - 2
Hali - 2
Michaela - 3
Hali - 3
Michaela - 4
Hali - 4
Hali - 5, 6... and the first member of the jury is HALI! Which takes Kevin C., Carol-Anne D. and Sunnie C. out of the pool.
Hali just thinks these people are all dumb. She is just glad she made it to the jury.
Maku Maku - Day 22
Cirie is quietly amassing her army - she tells Michaela to keep their relationship on the down-low, no one needs to know about it - Michaela will do anything for Cirie at this point. Cirie goes and talks to Zeke & Aubry on their way to get water and she wants to make a move on Sierra or Brad... the way she sees it, Sierra is the godfather controlling Brad who is controlling Troy... she says it's like a chain and if they take out the top it will all shatter (nooo, it's "cut the head off the snake", she's got to learn her Survivor tropes.) Cirie thinks she could get Sierra out - Zeke is willing, Andrea is down, she trusts Sarah and she knows Michaela will go with it, she's got Aubry on board and she's sure Ozzy will vote with them - they are ready for war, she's all soldiered up.
-Andrea is also trying to gather her numbers to take over and she can't wait to get Sierra or Brad out - she's talking to Zeke and says she doesn't think they can tell Debbie or Tai what they're up to - Debbie is playing really hard right now... and as she goes on Zeke is realizing that Andrea and Cirie are the ones playing really hard right now, harder than he is - and he doesn't want to just follow in this game. He sees that Sierra & Brad are sort of threats, but he thinks that Andrea & Cirie being so strategic and quieter about it, are really his main competition.
-Last time he played he was voted out because he shot for the moon too early, but do you want to regret making the move too soon, or waiting too long and not being able to make the move at all (uh oh) Zeke wants to take out Cirie or Andrea next - why wait?
REWARD CHALLENGE
They will be divided into two teams of six. On Jeff's go, two tribe members will race out into the water and have to untie a series of knots to free a net with 14 wooden fish attached. Once they get it to shore, the next two team members will have to untie the fish and hang them on hooks on a pole, then transport the pole up to the next two tribe members who will have to arrange the fish so they fit together as a puzzle. First team to finish correctly will win a day of pampering at the Marshalls lounge - shower, soaps, fluffy robes.. then the food, burgers and apple pie.
Teams are: Sarah, Culpepper, Aubry, Michaela, Cirie and Sierra
Vs: Andrea, Tai, Ozzy, Troyzan, Debbie and Zeke
Pretty evenly picked I thought... and it was a close challenge - until Andrea & Tai missed one fish on the pole and had to go back, giving the other team a leg up, but then Zeke & Debbie rocked the puzzle and won the reward.
The fallout from the Reward loss - Cirie felt like she had failed her family, couldn't feed her kids, and it hit her hard.
On the Marshalls Reward, everyone was just so happy with the nice smelling soaps and lotions - feeling human again was so nice and they thanked Marshalls (gee, I wonder if Marshalls is a new sponsor of Survivor). Tai even decided to streak since he had heard about it in the 60's and 70's... it was pretty funny but I'm sure none of them really wanted to see him running around naked - put on the robe already buddy.
-Zeke loves the Reward but is worried about getting too outside the game - so he takes it right back by pulling Debbie & Tai aside to propose his idea of taking Andrea or Cirie out of the game instead of Sierra or Brad.
-Debbie is showing off her food baby - once you get that skinny out there, a big meal really does show (was that mean?) Anyway, she is telling Zeke everything he wants to hear, "let's vote out Andrea then." "I'm ready to make a big move." But then she tells us that she is ready to make a big move but she doesn't need Zeke to do it.
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Uh oh, it's the telephone pole with the small toehold grooves in it... we've all seen this challenge before. They will start at the top of the pole and they just have to be the last person still holding on to win immunity. Ozzy has played this one twice before and he's won both times... until today. It was almost sad, taking away Ozzy's crowing achievement was TAI - they were up there 1hr 35mins and Tai could have stayed up there even longer I think. At one point Ozzy said if he won he would go fishing later, if not, they would be hungry another day - but that doesn't mean anything to Tai, he's okay with hungry, he just wanted to beat Ozzy - and he did it.
Maku Maku - Day 24
-Zeke is ready to make his move to take out Andrea so he approaches Sierra and tells her that Cirie and Andrea are targeting her to go home but Zeke doesn't want to do that, he'd rather work with them to take out Andrea.
-Sierra doesn't trust what she's sees as Zeke's abrupt turn around - she thought he was tight with Andrea and she also doesn't like how he is condescending to her - she feels like Zeke thinks she's stupid and she doesn't trust him... but now she knows her name has come up.
-So Sierra goes and tells Cirie that Zeke told her that her name had come up for elimination. Cirie immediately tells Andrea and Ozzy and they are flummoxed. Andrea is furious and they are now thinking it's Zeke tonight.
-Andrea & Cirie tell Sarah that Zeke told Sierra it was her tonight so they are thinking Zeke now - Sarah's like, wait, what? Is that what we're doing?
-Then we see Sierra in the hammock with her new minion, Debbie and Debbie puts the bug in her ear, "If you really want to blow them out of the water, we take out Ozzy." Sierra is worried about "these idiots" (they show Tai, Brad & Troyzan) It's like herding cats. Debbie says we make the decision and dictate to them this time... They are doing it.
-Debbie goes and tells Troyzan in Debbie fashion, "if you stick with us and keep your mouth shut, we're taking out Ozzy." Troyzan looks shocked but he's down (I think most of them, if it's not them, they'll do whatever.) Debbie tells the camera if they listen to her, Brad, Sierra, Sarah, Troyzan, Tai, they will be massive game changers, largely thanks to her... and she has an extra vote, which she doesn't want to use this early but she's not sure if she has the numbers.
-Sarah is one of the reasons why, she's not sure if she wants to take out Ozzy or Zeke tonight, either way, a line will be drawn in the sand (whatever, they said that about the last vote and it didn't really change much.)
TRIBAL COUNCIL
-Ozzy says this season seems like the stakes are higher, there seems to be espionage behind every coconut tree and it's much more cut-throat.
-Sarah agrees with Jeff that there have been so many switches that it is hard to know who is with who - it's like we're all just a bunch of single people waiting to hook up.
-Ozzy's only argument to keep him is that there is nothing to eat back at camp and he's the provider bringing in fish to keep them all fed - it's a big thing when there are 15 days left (but I often wonder, would other people step up if Ozzy wasn't there to rely on, I think they would.)
-Aubry agrees this time has been way harder, there is no food unless Ozzy brings it in but it's also been more emotional, it affects morale, it's everything.
-Zeke does his own who's on first explanation of trying to figure out who to vote for - Do I think I can beat that person and do they think they can beat me - and if I think they think they can't beat me, how do I make them think they can beat me so that I'm safe. (Say what now?)
-Tai says it makes perfect sense...(sure) but Tai says Zeke is incredible, it would never even occur to Tai to think about it that way (I'm thinking Tai doesn't play chess, there is no subtlety in his game, but if he can keep winning immunity, he could make it to the end again, and lose when he can't articulate his case.)
-No one else really revealed anything - Debbie talked about the Air Force reserves... yeah we get it.
Time to Vote:
Sierra votes Ozzy
Andrea votes Zeke - terrible game move, you suck at this game (wow, way to take it personally)
Cirie says her vote is just to spice it up a little bit - but they don't show who she voted for.
As Jeff says he's going to go tally the votes, Debbie stops him and says she wants to play her advantage she got on Exile by giving up the necessities of life (oh you liar) - she gets to go cast another vote.
Tallying the Votes for real:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol.
Votes:
Ozzy - 1
Zeke - 1
Sierra - 1 (?) (This was Cirie)
Aubry - 1 (?) (This was Zeke)
Zeke - 2
Ozzy - 2
Zeke - 3
Ozzy - 3
Zeke - 4
Ozzy - 4, 5...6 - and it's OZZY joining the jury (wow, that vote changed quickly from Sierra or Zeke to Ozzy going home - crazy.) And with Ozzy leaving, that takes Ethan G., Shira C., and Drew C. out of the pool.
Next time: The gloves are off, Andrea will not trust Zeke again, Debbie feels like her alliance is set in concrete but Sarah is willing to make a move with Zeke. It seems like the fur is going to continue to fly on Game Changers.
Ozzy's final thoughts: He didn't see it coming but it was inevitable. He over-estimated his worth but if you don't win immunity or have an idol, you're sitting where he is sitting. Survivor has changed him in ways he'll never forget and he's grateful.
Woof! That was a long one. And Amazing Race is two hours tomorrow too - yikes.
Have a great rest of the week,
Coleen
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