'Survivor: Blood vs. Water' (CBS)
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Last Week: Monica’s ability to follow a plan was lacking, Caleb proved he wasn’t good at tracking, and Vytas and Tina were both sent packing.
39 Days (well…technically 39.5), 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog
Let’s take a look at the tribe as it currently stands…
The Kasama Tribe (wearing purple)
Caleb – Post Office Manager/Farmer, 26
Ciera – Cosmetology Student, 24
Gervase – Cigar Lounge Owner, 43
Hayden – Real Estate, 26
Katie – Hedge Fund Support, 25
Laura M. – Co-Owner of Morett Construction, 43
Monica – Homemaker, 42
Tyson – Store Manager, 34
We meet up with our merry band of Survivors after Tribal Council, and everyone is offering condolence hugs to Katie. She accepts them, but lets us know that the seven-person alliance is uncrackable. Wrong attitude, every alliance that big is in danger
The next morning, Ciera takes her mother for a walk and again tells her to keep her head down and avoid strategy talks. Ciera thinks her stronger place in the game makes her a better player than her mother. Well…that’s like comparing cute apples to hot oranges. Ciera is playing under-the-radar while Laura is more of a leader.
Ciera then sets the tone for the night saying that her mother may have to go. I’m sensing some awkwardness at the Morett family Thanksgiving.
Redemption Island Time: Players will use a grappling hook to retrieve three bags of balls. Then they’ll have to maneuver one of those balls through a table maze. The first two people to get their ball to the end get to stay. The loser will become the first member of the jury. The winner will also get to watch whoever they give the immunity idol clue to chuck it into the fire.
The challenge starts off and apparently Tina is some kind of grappling savant. She quickly nabs all three bags. Vytas and Aras eventually join her at the table maze.
There’s not much to describe in the final stage except for some shaky ball maneuvering. (Grow up.)
Tina gets super close, but loses it at the last possible moment. Vytas is the first to complete the maze; that means one former champ is going home.
Tina gets to the end again and wins it. It wasn’t close. Aras is eliminated. Someone get that man a cheeseburger.
Before Aras is allowed to burn his buff, Probst makes the brothers talk about their feelings.
After that mushiness, Vytas gives the clue to Katie. She smartly keeps it.
Back at Kasama beach, Katie goes idol huntin’. Unfortunately, she’s several episodes too late.
Tyson approaches Hayden and some guy in a red baseball cap with the idea of getting rid of Laura. Tyson even has the math figured out so Ciera doesn’t have to stab the woman who brought her into this world in the back.
Later, Ciera tells Laura that having her mother around is hurting her chances. She thinks if Laura goes before the final six, that she’ll have a clear path to the final three. Laura admires Ciera for her courage even if she doesn’t like all of this talk of her making a return visit to Redemption Island.
In unrelated news, someone is chopping onions in the Holmes household.
The next morning, Katie sets off bright and early to continue her idol hunt. Laura, realizing that an idol-less Katie is the only thing keeping her around, follows her and digs with her. Boehlke Block!
Then, Tyson takes Ciera aside to let her in on the Laura elimination strategy. She pretends to be cool with it even though she isn’t sure what she’s going to do. Smart.
Immunity Challenge Time: Players will hold onto a rope and lean over a pier. At certain times they’ll have to move further down the rope. Last person standing wins immunity, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and soda.
Round One: Hayden’s the first out, he’s followed by the guy in the red hat.
Round Two: Gervase goes immediately. Next we lose Ciera and Katie.
Probst: “You want immunity tonight.” Well, he’s got a point.
Laura drops next and we’re down to Tyson and Monica. They battle it out (well, as much as you can battle while you’re holding a rope over a pier) and Monica wins her second straight immunity.
Monica is allowed to choose a lunch date. Instead, she asks to give the food to the others. Probst is cool with this decision and everyone except for Monica chows down. Hmmm…I don’t like those moves. It tends to come back to bite people.
Back at camp, Ciera tells Katie that she’s going to tell her something, but she can’t turn on her. Well, that’s a unique strategy. They pinky swear, and Ciera lets Katie know that Laura is on the chopping block.
Katie says she’s going to play her idol anyway. Ciera calls Katie’s bluff, saying that she already found it. Katie immediately folds. Are we sure she’s Tina Wesson’s daughter?
Ciera goes back to Tyson and tells him that she tricked Katie. This worries Tyson because he hadn’t been giving Ciera much credit as far as being a game player.
That night at Tribal Council, Tyson thinks having a pair of loved ones around is dangerous.
Red hat doesn’t think Laura will lay down for Ciera the way Tina was willing to lay down for Katie.
Hayden believes that Ciera and Laura are both competitive and are willing to take each other out, but their bond is stronger than any other bond out there.
Laura thinks it’s an asset to keep them around because if you’re in an alliance with them, you have two votes. Laura also says it’s good to align with a pair because the other people won’t have a loved one on the jury. Ooo…smart.
Voting Time: No votes are shown. Drama!
We’ve got one vote for Laura, one vote for Katie, three votes for Laura, and the thirteenth person to be sent to Redemption Island is…Laura.
Oh man, the last vote said “Mom” in parenthesis. Ciera’s a cold-hearted snake.
Laura and Ciera hug it out. Laura says, “I’ll come back for you” which is exactly the opposite of what Ciera wants.
Verdict: I never, ever thought there would be a situation where loved ones would vote each other out. I assumed it was a lock that the major alliance would be made up of pairs of loved ones. This season is a kick-posterior mess of unpredictability.
Seriously, this has to be the best season since “Heroes vs. Villains,” right?
As for Ciera, she made the right choice. If I’m Caleb and Hayden or Gervase and Tyson, I’m looking to make her my third. While Monica’s lack of a loved one on the jury might make her an attractive choice, I wouldn’t be able to look past her unpredictable behavior with the Vytas vote.
Who’s Going to Win? Tyson’s clearly in the driver’s seat, but can he win a jury? I’d like to think his backstabbing is earning more respect than bitterness, but you never know.
Power Rankings Results: Malcolm and I both had Laura in spot eight. We also both had Vytas winning at Redemption Island. So, the score for this round is Team Glamour and Glitter, Fashion and Fame 9, Team Real American Heroes 9. The current total score is Team Glamour and Glitter, Fashion and Fame 117, Team Real American Heroes 125.
Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
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