"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (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 Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.
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Last Week: Rodney did a solid Mike impression, Jenn suffered a bout of depression, and “Joey Amazing” proved to be just an expression…
39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog…
Let’s take a look at the tribe as it currently stands…
The Merica Tribe (wearing purple)
Carolyn – Corporate Executive, 52
Dan – Postal Worker, 47
Jenn – Sailing Instructor, 22
Mike – Oil Driller, 38
Rodney – General Contractor, 24
Shirin – Yahoo Executive, 31
Sierra – Barrel Racer, 27
Tyler – Ex-Talent Agent Assistant, 33
Will – YouTube Sensation, 41
Alright…this is supposed to be an explosive one…
Things start off the morning after Tribal where Rodney is pitching getting rid of Mike to Tyler, Carolyn, and Will. Tyler thinks they should put a pin in it. So White Collar…
Unfortunately for Rodney, Mike totally overhears all of this. What, did he have his own spy shack? A driller’s den?
Reward Challenge Time: Psych, it’s the auction.
The first item is covered, Will wins it for $100. He’s worried it’ll be “grilled ass,” but it’s really a note that says he has to leave the auction and go back to camp.
Man…harsh. That’s way worse than sea slugs…or grilled ass for that matter.
The next item is fried chicken and waffles. Shirin buys it for $300. She says she wasn’t going to wait for an advantage.
Dan, Carolyn, and Mike all admit that they are waiting for the advantage.
Next up we get a montage of Rodney, Sierra, and Jenn all winning random food.
Before we get to the advantage, Probst brings out letters from home. Shirin points out that the winner usually gets to set the price for all of them. Sierra buys hers for $20. This puts the price at $20 for everyone.
Carolyn tries to talk Dan and Mike into buying their letters so the money would be even. They all agree and approach Probst to fork over their money. Poor Dan, he really misses his wife.
However, everyone realizes that Mike didn’t pick up his letter. Holy cow.
Wow, it’s been a long time since something on this show literally put my jaw on the floor…and that did it.
Dan calls Mike out on breaking their trust. Mike eventually folds and goes to pay for his letter. Did Mike just torpedo his whole game? Was it poor form to turn down a letter in front of a postal worker?
Probst brings out the advantage next. Dan, Mike, and Carolyn all bid their $480. They draw rocks to see who gets it…and Dan wins.
Back at the beach, there is a map waiting for Will. He follows the map to a stake in the ground. He digs and finds a large box of rations. He’s given the option of keeping it for himself or sharing it.
When everyone returns to camp, Will shares the food with everyone.
Later on, Mike says that the reason he didn’t go for his letter was because he knew Rodney’s alliance was targeting him. Rodney denies turning on him and is upset that Mike is ruining letter day.
Things eventually calm down and everyone is able to enjoy their letters.
Afterwards, Rodney approaches a very emotional Dan and gives him a big hug in an attempt to win him over.
A while later, Dan cracks open his advantage and learns that he’s won an extra vote at an upcoming Tribal Council. He compares it to the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket. Oh man, whoever ate the chocolate last episode is in trouble.
Thoughts on the Twist: I’m going to wait to see how this plays out. It could be a game-changer or a total dud. Say Dan plays it when they’re at final six and it tilts the scales toward his threesome? Then it’s huge. But, for someone on the bottom this early, it wouldn’t make that much of a difference.
In other news, Mike doesn’t believe Will’s story about the food. He thinks there must’ve been something else in the box. Jenn agrees with him. Tyler tells Will what’s being said about him and he does not like it.
A furious Will singles out Shirin for a pretty intense berating. He tells her that nobody likes her at the camp and that nobody at home likes her either. Yikes.
Shirin points out that it’s odd that Will claims to be a man of God, but he can speak to her in that manner. This does not improve Will’s mood as he just keeps on going.
Shirin is really upset. She goes off with Mike and Jenn and they hug it out.
Immunity Challenge Time: Players will use tongs to pick up a pool ball. They’ll carry the pool ball over a series of balance beams, then place it in a holder. The first person to get all six of their balls into their holder wins immunity.
Before the challenge starts, Will asks if he can step out of the immunity challenge in exchange for his letter. Probst says he’s cool with it if everyone agrees to it. Probst asks if anyone objects, and…SHIRIN DOES!
Two jaw drops in one episode!
Probst says the vote had to be unanimous, so no letter for Will. Oh man…just…wow.
The challenge starts off and there isn’t much to describe except for tongin’ and ball placin’. Mike leads it pretty much the whole way and wins immunity. Jenn and Shirin are psyched for him. Everyone else is quiet.
Before we go to commercial, Will tells Probst to bring popcorn to Tribal because it’s going to be interesting. Yeah, we’ll bring the popcorn when you finally bring those sandwiches you promised on day one.
Back at camp, Mike treats us to a reprise of the happy dance.
Rodney wants to know if they should get rid of Shirin, but Will is cool torturing her for a while. He wants to target Jenn because she’s stronger in challenges.
Oh…and now it looks like Sierra and Dan are totally in Rodney’s camp.
Shirin and Jenn are pretty sure they’re going to split the vote between them. Mike’s hope is that they can get Dan on board and vote for Carolyn. Jenn is not happy that her game is in Dan’s hands.
Mike takes Dan aside and tries to win him back, but it’s not looking good.
Carolyn is starting to get nervous and is prepared to use her idol.
Later on, Tyler tells Dan that everyone is doubting his loyalty and if he flips he can’t win. Dan passionately says it’s his choice and he’ll do what he wants.
That night at Tribal…Probst brought no popcorn.
Will says that Shirin accused him of hiding food. She disagrees with his assessment.
She points out that Will said she has no friends, no soul, and is a loser. Somehow Will doesn’t think these are personal attacks.
Shirin tells Will that she doesn’t have a family due to her abusive father. Will doesn’t let up, saying he didn’t verbally assault her and that she always plays the victim.
Remember “Livin’ on a Prayer” at the gas station? Jay Leno would be so disappointed.
Sierra says they’re “Worlds Apart” because they’re all individuals. Well done.
Dan says you can’t put emotions aside in the game because everyone is too close.
Mike calls out the Rodney, Tyler, Will, and Carolyn alliance.
Rodney erupts, saying that Mike almost made it so Carolyn and Dan couldn’t get their letters.
Dan says he’d be stupid not to listen to all of the pitches.
Voting Time: Carolyn votes for Jenn, Rodney votes for Shirin, and no other votes are shown.
JPro tallies and returns. He asks if anyone wants to play an idol…and nobody does. Ooo…
We’ve got one vote for Jenn, one vote for Shirin, one vote for Jenn, one vote for Shirin, one vote for Jenn, one vote Carolyn, one vote for Shirin, one vote for Jenn, and the tenth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: Worlds Apart” and the third member of the jury is…Jenn.
Verdict: That…that was an all-time crazy episode. And not just crazy, but uncomfortable too. Probably the most uncomfortable episode since Philip Sheppard accused Steve Wright of being a racist in “Redemption Island.”
AND…talk about a ridiculous, bizarre path to an obvious boot. Whew…I need a nap.
Who’s Going to Win? Mike was a good pick to win, but that little letter move could have cost him a ton of jury votes. Other than that; Tyler could win, Carolyn could win…Shirin maybe…Rodney maybe…
Power Rankings Results: Josh had Jenn in spot seven, Reed had her in spot nine, and I had her in spot eight. So, the current score is Team Josh 75, Team Reed 81, Team Gordon 81.
Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
Tags: jeff probst, survivor, survivor worlds apart
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