'Survivor: Blood vs. Water' (CBS)
Quick Note: We’re going to be bringing you all kinds of “Survivor” fun this season including episode recaps, exit interviews, and Power Rankings with Malcolm Freberg. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.
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Last Week: Getting rid of Laura B. and Candice was their tribes’ first thought. Laura’s husband saved her, Candice’s did not. Colton cried, yelled, and then he cried again. Brad started an alliance that was made of only men. Gervase nearly drown, then he decided to boast. And thanks to her uncle’s actions, Marissa’s game is toast.
39 Days (well…technically 39.5), 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog
Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…
The Galang Tribe (wearing yellow)
Aras – Musician, 31
Colton – Student Teacher, 22
Gervase – Cigar Lounge Owner, 43
Kat – Full-Time Student/Sales, 23
Laura B. – Merchandiser, 44
Laura M. – Co-Owner of Morett Construction, 43
Monica – Homemaker, 42
Tina – Motivational Speaker, 52
Tyson – Store Manager, 34
The Tadhana Tribe (wearing red)
Brad – Attorney, 44
Caleb – Post Office Manager/Farmer, 26
Ciera – Cosmetology Student, 24
Hayden – Real Estate, 26
John – Physician, 30
Katie – Hedge Fund Support, 25
Rachel – Cocktail Waitress/Graphic Designer, 33
Vytas – Yoga Instructor, 33
The evening’s fun kicks off at Redemption Island where Marissa is greeted by Rupert and Candice. Apparently the former Tadhanian did not appreciate the frowny faces that were put on her votes. That’s why I always draw puppies on mine. Can’t stay mad at a puppy.
Candice thinks Marissa was voted out because she questioned Brad’s tarp comment on Day One. Candice also didn’t see Gervase’s performance in the first immunity challenge.
The next morning we meet up with Galang as they’re doing a massage line. Ten bucks says that was Aras’s idea.
Colton isn’t down with the touchy, feely, friendly tribe dynamic. Well, then just convince them to go to Tribal.
Gervase doesn’t want to talk about strategy until after they lose immunity. He should also suggest not talking about last week’s challenge ever.
At Tadhana they’re busy catching fish with a Hawaiian sling. Wait, how’d they get a Hawaiian sling?! Did they give them WiFi too?!
Rachel realizes that there’s a Dude-Bro alliance going on, so her plan is to make good with the gents. Ciera thinks that’s fishy. Fishy that she’s buddying up to the dominant alliance?
Later we meet up with the tribes at Redemption Island. The Galangians get all emotional when they see their Tadhanian counterparts. Aras consoles Gervase, but he didn’t really look that upset.
Marissa enters the arena and chews out everyone! She yells at Tadhana for voting her out. Then she yells at Gervase for annoying Tadhana with his trash talk. He promises to annoy them more. In other news, Gervase is not good at “Survivor.”
Next up, Probst lets the Redemption Islanders know that they have the opportunity to swap places with their loved ones.
Gervase decides to let Marissa handle her business. (I’m confused, don’t all three competitors get the opportunity to swap?)
Redemption Island Duel (ahem…Truel) Time: The players will use a bendy pole to guide spools through a maze. They’ll then stack those spools on top of the maze. The first two people to stack all ten of their spools are safe. The third place finisher is eliminated.
Also, the first person to finish gets to give an immunity idol clue to anyone they want.
The challenge starts and Rupert learns a quick lesson on how not to place a spool on top of a maze.
Eventually Candice jumps out to a decent lead. Marissa isn’t far behind her. Rupert does a poor job with his stacking and all eight of his fall.
Candice places her tenth spool and is the first to win, she’s followed by Marissa. Rupert is eliminated.
Everyone’s favorite pirate says he has no regrets because he loves his wife more than the game. He drops his buff in the fire and marches back into America’s hearts.
Candice chooses to give the immunity idol clue to her husband. Also, water is wet and grass is green.
Back at camp, Vytas comes up with an interesting strategy where he wants to target Rachel in the hopes that Tyson might switch places with her and make Galang weaker. John doesn’t like this idea because he wants Candice to be surrounded by people who suck at challenges.
At Galang, Laura B. is OK with Rupert leaving because she doesn’t have to worry about him anymore. What was going to happen to him? Well, it’s possible Candice was going to murder him.
Next up, we see Colton pitching everyone’s name to everyone else. So weird. Kat tries to tell him to chill out, but he freaks. He threatens to send her to the next Redemption Island duel.
Colton claims to turn into a raging bitch when he’s angry. So…he’s always angry?
Monica, Tina, Tyson, Gervase, and Aras aren’t thrilled with Mr. Cumbie. Aras even refers to him as “A gay Russell Hantz.” Do yourself a favor and take a second to let that visual run through your head.
Immunity Challenge Time: One member of each tribe will climb into a barrel. The barrel will then be pushed around a course by three players who are all connected at the waist. There are four stations located on the course. At each station the player will pop out of the barrel, climb onto it, then untie a bag of balls. Once all four bags have been retrieved, the four remaining members of the tribe will roll the balls up a skee-ball ramp and into six separate ball holes. First tribe to get all six balls in place wins immunity and fishing gear.
Laura M. and Katie both pull barrel duty for their respective tribes. Vytas, Brad, and John will push for Tadhana while Tyson, Aras, and Monica will push for Galang. Kat will sit out for Galang.
Fun Fact: Those barrels wreaked of glue when the press performed the challenge on Day Two. Being rolled around in one seems like a nightmare.
We start off and the two tribes are relatively close with Galang having a slight lead. Tadhana manages to catch up and hands off their balls first.
Behind-the-Scenes Tidbit: This challenge is all about the skee-ball. When we did it the barrel portion only took a minute or two while the second half took foreeeeever.
Hayden and Gervase are the designated rollers for their tribes. It’s close for a while, but Gervase eventually wins it six balls to four. The O.G. redeems himself! He also proves he hasn’t learned anything by talking more trash.
Back at Tadhana, Brad tells everyone that Gervase has a bodyslam waiting for him the first time there’s a physical challenge.
Later, the five guys (burgers and fries!) are discussing the vote. Everyone except John wants it to be Rachel in the hopes that Tyson will swap with her. John tries to swing the vote another way, but the rest of his alliance knows what he’s up to.
The guys tell Rachel to vote for Ciera to throw Rachel off of the scent, but Ciera is worried that John will give her the idol. So, Ciera and Katie decide to vote for John.
That night at Tribal Council, Hayden says the guys have bonded, but it doesn’t mean they’re an alliance.
Caleb thinks John has a target on his back due to the idol clue.
And…we’re voting? That was quick.
Voting Time: John votes for Rachel, Ciera votes for John, and the rest are secret.
Probst tallies and returns. We’ve got two votes for John, one vote for Ciera, three votes for Rachel, and the fourth person to be sent to Redemption Island is…Rachel.
Verdict: I’ll admit, I didn’t love the twists when I first heard them, but they’re making for some fascinating “Survivor” thus far. This is the second week in a row with a strategy I didn’t expect from the Blood vs. Water twist.
Who’s Going to Win? I’m sticking with Vytas. He’s thinking of all of the angles.
Power Rankings Results: Malcolm had Rachel in spot 13 while I had her in spot 12. We both picked Candice and Rupert to advance at Redemption Island, so we each receive one bonus point. The current score is now Team Malcolm 14, Team Gordon 13.
Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
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