‘Survivor: Game Changers’ (CBS)
QUICK NOTE: XFINITY.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: Game Changers”
The Rules: Each week our two combatants will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the players will earn. For example, if Sierra is voted out this episode, Adam will receive eight points and Gordon will receive nine points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Game Changers” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.
Last Week: Adam Klein had Zeke in spot nine, while Gordon Holmes had him in spot eight. The current score is Team Adam 96, Team Gordon 92.
Quick Note: Rankings are not based on who the player thinks is most likely to win. The smart strategy is to rank the contestants based on who is the most likely to be voted out in the next episode.
Donate to the #LiveLikeSusie Memorial Fund for Lung Cancer Research
 |
 |
|
Adam’s Score = 96 Any questions for Adam? Drop him a line on Twitter: @AdamScottKlein |
Gordon’s Score = 92 Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes |
 |
|
| 1. Troyzan: It should not surprise anyone that Troyzan is, once again, at the top of my power rankings. His idol has not come up at all pretty much since he found it. Does that mean it won’t matter? It sure seems like absolutely no one is coming after Troy, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he went all the way to final 5 without needing to play it. In secret scenes, Sierra talked about how the next person to go would be one of herself, Brad, or Tai, leaving out Troyzan. In Tai’s secret scene, he said the same and went further to say that it looked to him like Troyzan was with the majority. And in Troyzan’s secret scene, he talked once again about intentionally playing under the radar. The one thing that is confusing me is that I’ve been saying that Troyzan is likely to idol out Andrea, but if he never gets targeted and plays the idol, how does that happen? | 1. Troyzan: I don’t remember the last person who has lived at the top of my rankings for soooooo loooooong. I guess that’s what happens when you’re packing…an idol. And when nobody is afraid to take you to the end. |
 |
 |
| 2. Aubry: I think I’ve figured out what’s going to happen to Aubry. We have been seeing so little of her, but we know she gives great confessionals. So what gives? Last season, the penultimate episode got rid of both Will and Sunday in a one-hour episode, and both of them got little focus/content throughout the season. Based on the number of people left and episodes left, the same thing will happen in the same episode, and it would not surprise me at all to see Aubry go then. For now, she is well protected by Andrea and Cirie as bigger targets on one side, and Sierra and Brad on the other. | 2. Michaela: Michaela isn’t making any moves, Michaela isn’t winning any challenges, and Michaela seems to be rubbing jurors the wrong way. There’s no reason to get rid of her. |
|
|
| 3. Michaela: This week looks good for Michaela. Like Aubry, she is shielded by other bigger targets. But on top of that, she is shown in the preview making an alliance with Sierra, Tai, and Troyzan. She is still under the radar physically with great potential to win immunities down the line, so with options on both sides, Michaela could go far. | 3. Aubry: Hey Aubry, you have the numbers, but your numbers are jam-packed with people who will probably beat you at a final Tribal Council. This odd-numbered vote might be your time to make a move. |
 |
|
| 4. Tai: With two idols and with Michaela potentially flipping to his side, Tai theoretically looks poised to take control of this game. And yet, his underwhelming edit makes me think that Tai will never really fulfill that potential. My only worry for Tai in the immediate future is that Michaela makes him think that she is flipping, but then sticks with the numbers and he goes home with the idols in his pocket. | 4. Tai: It blew my mind that Tai didn’t play one of his forty idols last week. He must feel very safe. But, why? Is he secretly working with CirAndrea? And what does he do now that his alliance voted for him last week? I’m betting one of those idols makes its way into Jeff Probst’s hands this week. |
 |
 |
| 5. Sarah: Sarah flipped on her alliance once to vote out Ozzy, then she flipped again to take out Debbie, then she voted out her closest friend and ally in the game. And yet, somehow, people still want to work with her! Sierra is even going to tell her about the legacy advantage!!! What that tells me is Sarah has to be playing one of the best social games in Survivor history. There is no sign whatsoever of any of the other players recognizing Sarah for the threat that she is, or even being angry for flipping. Sarah has blindsided every single person left in the game, so if they wake up to her maneuvering and control over the game, she’ll be seen as a threat and taken out. But I just don’t see that happening. | 5. Cirie: Notice the way they made sure to show us that Cirie was the person who best knew how to pitch ideas to Sarah? Cirie is next-level good and everyone should be scared to death to go to the end with her. If the tide turns and Andrea wins immunity, Cirie could be a big target. |
|
 |
| 6. Cirie: Cirie is playing an incredible game. She entered Game Changers as one of the most threatening social and strategic players in Survivor history, and yet, she has still not been even considered as a target. She now finds herself in a relatively strong 5-person alliance with the potential to make it to the end game. If Cirie makes it to the end, she wins. But can she get there? In a season where just about all of the other pre-game threats were taken out early, it would be a miraculous achievement and amazing television. | 6. Brad: Oh man, we’ve got the loved ones visit this week, don’t we? If Monica advises Brad to be a “neat lady” I will die laughing. Anywho, people want to play with Brad. People want to take Brad to the end. But, I’m not sure there’s anyone Brad can beat at this point. |
|
 |
| 7. Brad: Brad was looking so good before the merge, but he really seems to be in a pickle now. He is down in the numbers, the only one of his minority to not be shown in the preview strategizing with Michaela, and if he goes home in the episode where he finally gets to ask Monica, in person, what she would do, it would seem a fitting end for a man that has been all about family all season long. | 7. Sarah: I really didn’t think Sarah was going to turn on Zeke last week. I wonder if she’s going to start to get a reputation of being too much of a flip-flopper. |
 |
 |
| 8. Sierra: Now that the Zeke/Andrea rift has been decisively settled, the majority’s sights will be set right back onto the minority, and the ‘sheriff’ of that minority is likely to be the first to be targeted. There are some signs of hope, however. In Andrea’s secret scene, she talked about potentially letting Sierra in on the last vote, which suggests some degree of trust. Also, in Sierra’s secret scene, she says she is close with Cirie, Aubry, Sarah, and Andrea. Basically, everyone in the minority except for Michaela. So why, then, is she making a deal with Michaela in the next episode? If Michaela and Sierra truly don’t get along as we have been led to believe, I could see a scenario in which Michaela lulls Sierra into a false sense of security.
Finally, and importantly, is the revelation that Sierra will reveal the legacy advantage to Sarah. This could go one of two ways: it could solidify trust with Sarah, or it could make Sarah want to target Sierra to get the power out of her hands. The former seems more likely to me, which is why, one again…
|
8. Andrea: Alright, Boehlke. I’ve had you in the bottom for a while and you keep managing to stick around. All of your pre-season talk about not being a challenge threat was a joke. I still think you’re a goner if you lose immunity. But, nobody else seems to be stepping up. |
|
|
| 9. Andrea: For the 4th (and probably not final) time, Andrea rounds out my power rankings. She is doing everything right. She is winning immunities, getting out her rivals, and building a strong resume to win this game. And as a result, she is continuing to elevate her threat level in the game. Sooner or later, someone is going to take a shot. If it happens now, it opens the game back up for Brad, Sierra, Tai, and Troyzan, and if it happens in a few votes, Sarah or Cirie could cruise to a win. The timing of this move will be paramount for the others, but I am still confident that at some point, the move will happen. If I am wrong again and again and Andrea ends up winning I am going to look like such a fool… But it would be amazing! | 9. Sierra: Of all of the members of the minority alliance, you’re the last one I’d want to take to the end. You’re likable, you’ve played a much stronger game this time around, and you can probably dunk over me.. Aaaaand, you told Sarah that no matter what, you’ll get immunity at final six. I don’t think you’re going to make it that far. |
Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
Tags: adam klein, survivor, survivor game changers
More Whatnot 