‘Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X’ (CBS)
QUICK NOTE: XFINITYTV.com is the place to be for all of your bug-eatin’, back-stabbin’, “Survivor” coverage. During the season we’ll have insightful weekly Power Rankings, exit interviews, and full episode recaps. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates.
Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X”
Last Week: Taylor vowed to get even, David and Zeke formed a couple that was odd, and Michaela was voted out because we can’t have nice things.
39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor Blog…
Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…
The Ikabula Tribe (wearing green)
Bret – 42, Police Sergeant
Hannah – 24, Barista
Jay – 27, Real Estate Agent
Sunday – 45, Youth Pastor
Will – 18, High School Student
The Takali Tribe (wearing purple)
Adam – 25, Homeless Shelter Manager
Jessica – 37, Assistant District Attorney
Ken – 33, Model
Taylor – 24, Ski Instructor
The Vanua Tribe (wearing orange)
Chris – 38, Trial Lawyer
David – 42, Television Writer
Michelle – 28, Missionary Recruiter
Zeke – 28, Asset Manager
We start off back at Ikabula Beach where Jay is pretty proud of getting rid of one of the game’s fiercest challenge competitors. Hannah swears she would have voted with them if she had known. Or, ya know, if someone had told her in the middle of Tribal with the promise of a good reason to be provided at a later time.
The next morning a boat arrives with news that they have just reached Mergeville, Population 13.
Ikabula and Takali are both taken by boat to Vanua Beach. However, Zeke’s lower third informs us that it is now Vinaka Beach. Vinaka? Still better than Nobag.
While the new tribe goes to town on the merge feast, Jay breaks down his options for us. He has Taylor and Michelle back, Will and Hannah, and hopefully Bret and Sunday. And if all else fails he has an idol.
Eventually, all of the old alliances touch base and wonder how they can make these number schemes work in their favor. You’ve got Bret and Chris, the Tri-force (sans Figgy) and the Millennial AV Club (Adam, Zeke, and Hannah).
Once Zeke has all of the intel about last week’s Ikabula vote, he becomes very wary of Jay. He is determined to break up the bro-liance.
Adam sneaks out during the merge feast and finds a very unique advantage. This new twist will let him steal someone’s reward. Hmm…that seems like it’s just going to annoy potential jurors. That’d have to be some reward. Well, maybe if it was a challenge advantage or something.
Anywho, you have to use it right after the person wins. I’m sure Hillary supporters are wishing something like that existed last night.
(Yeah, probably too soon. Sorry about that.)
At any rate, Adam is very excited to be a part of “Survivor” history. Well, Dan Foley was probably excited to have the first extra vote too…
Later that night, Taylor decides to go all Coconut Bandit on his tribe with the merge feast rations. Unfortunately for him, he forgets the key part of Tyson and Gervase’s brilliance where you don’t let someone see you steal the food.
Bret sees Taylor’s theft and decides to hold onto the info. Adam sees the theft and sees it as an opportunity to build trust with Taylor. That might be the clearest example of passive vs. aggressive strategy I’ve ever seen.
As Taylor is chowing down, Adam lets him know about his reward-theft advantage. Adam also pitches the idea of getting rid of Jay’s new right hand, Will. Taylor pretends to go along with it, but he thinks it’s a dumb move. And he still holds a grudge over Figgy-gate.
Taylor immediately shares this info with Jay and Jay (as you’d imagine) is not pleased. They agree to target Adam. Zeke overhears this and scrambles to find a way to keep Adam safe. If only he had an idol. Ahem…
The next morning Bret outs Taylor as the food thief to the other members of Gen-X. Along with Zeke and David, it looks like Taylor is going to be sent packing.
Immunity Challenge Time: The players will stand on a perch while holding a handle over their heads. The last person left standing will win immunity.
Survivors are ready, and they go. And Crystal Cox is immediately out.
Just kidding.
Sunday is the first to go. She’s followed by Chris and Bret.
Ten minutes pass and Jay, Zeke, Ken, and Hannah are out.
Twenty minutes pass and we lose Michelle, Taylor, David, and Adam.
We’re down to Jessica and Will.
An hour and a half passes and they’re still battling it out. Wow.
Finally, Jessica flinches a bit and loses it. Will wins immunity.
Back at camp, Jay and Will try to rally the Millennials around the idea of getting rid of Adam. Michelle doesn’t think it’s the best course of action.
Zeke and Hannah let Adam know that Jay is on to him. And Zeke is hopeful that they can sway sentiment to get rid of Taylor.
The Gen-Xers seem like they’re into the plan, but David is worried about idols so they can’t decide on who to target.
Soooo…Adam goes back to Taylor to try to cut a deal. Taylor hilariously chastises Adam for targeting Will because information leaks. HE LEAKED IT!
Aaaaand, David sees Adam talking with Taylor and gets nervous. Zeke and Hannah are over Adam’s shenanigans as well.
You know, Shenanigans, that restaurant with all of the goofy (expletive deleted) on the walls and mozzarella sticks.
Oh, and Will and Taylor are convinced Adam doesn’t have an idol because he’s scrambling so hard.
That night at Tribal, David immediately makes a crack about the Millennials eating more food than Gen-X. Give him a break, David. Gen-Xers grew up on Capri-Suns, Millennials have to deal with that Honest Kids organic crap.
Bret doesn’t beat around the bush, he tells everyone it was Taylor. And Taylor doesn’t deny it. He claims it wasn’t stealing because his stomach was messed up.
Probst does a quick poll and everyone is hungry. Hannah even tells J-Pro, “I could eat you.” Of course, he’s full of Pro(bs)tein.
(Wow, that’s a new low in these recaps. And I’ve been doing this for a long time. I apologize.)
Chris thinks this was a selfish move. But Taylor counters that he wasn’t hungry, his stomach was “freaking out.”
Back to the game, Adam doesn’t believe the Millennials are an alliance anymore.
David again tries to coin “the people I trust vs. the people you trust.” Much like “fetch,” it isn’t going to happen.
Michelle wonders if alliances are just who you mesh with best. Whoa…
Will has a clear objective in tonight’s vote.
Chris says lines will be drawn in the sand.
Michelle hints that trust will be broken.
Taylor looks right at Adam and says that there’s nothing that can be done at this point.
Voting Time: Taylor votes for Adam, Zeke votes for someone he has never been able to trust, and the rest of the votes are lost to the magic of editing.
JPro tallies and returns. He asks is anyone wants to play an idol…and nobody does.
We’ve got one vote for Adam, one vote for Michelle, one vote for Adam, one vote for Michelle, one vote for Adam, one vote for Michelle, one vote for Adam, three votes for Michelle, and the eighth person voted out of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” is…Michelle.
Verdict: There are about a dozen different ways this season can go from here. So many fractures, so many strong players. I’m loving it.
Power Rankings Update: Michele Fitzgerald had Michelle in spot 11, Shirin Oskooi had her in spot 8. So, the current score is Team Michele 69, Team Shirin 64.
Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
More Whatnot 