‘Survivor: Game Changers’ Episode 10 Recap: Tai-m for a Change?

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‘Survivor: Game Changers’ (CBS)

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Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Game Changers”

Last Week: Eleven letters took several hours, Sarah revealed her vote-theft powers, and the eliminated player wore lots of flowers.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog…

Alright, let’s take a look at the tribe as it currently stands…

The Maku Maku Tribe (wearing yellow)

Andrea, 27
Aubry, 30
Brad, 47
Cirie, 45
Michaela, 25
Sarah, 32
Sierra, 29
Tai, 52
Troyzan, 54

Tai is looking for answers after his name popped up on a few votes, but Andrea and the rest aren’t providing any answers. Brad and Sierra, however, fess up to the betrayal. That can’t be awesome to think you’re about be Clemented and go home with two idols in your pocket.

Cirie sees this as an opportunity to bring Tai on board and break up the Sierra/Brad couple.

Sierra refers to Sarah as her closest friend in the game and even though she worked against her in the last vote, she hopes to get her back on her side. She tells Sarah about her legacy advantage and promises to will it to her if she is voted out.

“Hey…person who I’m not really voting with…if I get voted out of the game, you’ll be safe at the final six Tribal Council.”

What could possibly go wrong?

Reward Challenge Time: The tribe will be divided into three teams of three. They’ll be tethered together and race through an obstacle course. They’ll release a key from a table maze, then use that key to retrieve sandbags. The first team to use the sand bags to knock blocks off of a table will win a barbecue with their loves ones.

Oh boy…here we go. It’s loved ones time. Immediately Sarah breaks down…as in…curled up in the fetal position and bawling.

(Not gonna cry, not gonna cry, not gonna cry…)

Sarah’s partner Wyatt is the first one out. He tells her that their son is doing well.

Andrea’s mother is out next. As they’re talking, she mentions that Andrea lost her sister when she was growing up. I did not know that. And, there go my tears. Two people in and I’m already reaching for the tissues.

Aubry’s sister joins us. Then we get to meet Sierra’s father who is taller than she is. He is so proud that she’s competing against a high level of competition. Wait, is that a shot at Dan Foley?

Michaela’s mom hits the beach and she’s shocked to see her daughter cry. Ha! We all are.

From there we meet Troyzan’s brother and Tai’s partner Mark. Unfortunately, it’s Mark the real guy, not Mark the chicken from Kaoh Rong. That aside, those two are so friggin’ cute.

Culpepper’s wife Monica is brought out next. She looks familiar.

And finally, Cirie’s son Jared comes out. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping for H.B.

The teams are Brad, Aubry, and Andrea vs. Cirie, Troyzan, and Sierra vs. Tai, Sarah, and Michaela.

The Survivors are ready…and they go.

Brad, Andrea, and Aubry are the first through the course and the puzzle. The other teams are waaaay behind. Culpepper destroys the sandbag portion to take the win easily.

Oooo…and Michaela freaks out a little bit. But it’s nothing too major. I’d give it a 3 on the 10-point Ozzy scale.

The winners are allowed to invite two people to join them. Everyone begs for it to be them. This is tough to watch.

They ultimately decide on Cirie and Sarah. Michaela is not pleased, but Andrea is sure she’ll get over it.

Famous last words?

Monica and Brad talk strategy at the barbecue. She smartly points out that Michaela’s reaction to the challenge snub might mean that she’s ready to flip. She also tells him to not trust Colton.

Back at camp, Tai and Michaela bond over what happened at the challenge. They agree to work together.

Meanwhile, Troyzan and Sierra plot to get Tai back into their good graces and Michaela on their side.

Immunity Challenge Time: The players will stand on a perch while using two handles to hold a ball up in the air. The last person standing will win immunity.

Aubry is the first one out, she’s followed by Sierra, Andrea, and Sarah.

Cirie is the next to go, then Troyzan.

We’re down to Michaela, Brad, and Tai. They battle it out with Brad eventually claiming the win. What a neat guy!

Back at camp, Andrea is frustrated that Brad won immunity because he was the most likely target. But, Sierra is a nice back up.

Meanwhile, Troyzan, Sierra, and Brad want to target Andrea.

It looks like Michaela and Tai are the swing votes.

Or…maybe they aren’t, because they immediately tell Sierra that her name is on the chopping block. This worries Sierra because Andrea is the biggest threat. Yeah, but you’re the tallest threat.

Sierra scrambles, and Sarah assures her that they’re partners. Buuuuut…she does want Sierra to go home so she can get the legacy advantage. So, Sarah shares that info with Michaela.

That night at Tribal, Sierra points out that the people who didn’t get to spend time with their loves ones are the same people who didn’t go on the last reward.

Culpepper considers his immunity win to be his first big win on the show, but it doesn’t protect all of his people.

Sierra didn’t care who won if it wasn’t her. She also thinks there are bigger threats than her…you know…like Andrea.

Andrea gets it, but she makes an excellent point that if any of the underdogs makes a comeback, they’ll look really good in front of the jury.

Sarah thinks they have a solid group and she hopes they all stick together.

Michaela says that the people who claim to have a solid group are the people who feel like they’re on the top of that group.

Sierra is sticking to the people who talked to her that day. Andrea thinks the same people talked to her.

Voting Time: Andrea votes for Sierra, Sierra votes for Andrea, and the rest of the votes are secret.

Probst tallies and returns. He asks if anyone wants to play an idol…and nobody does.

We’ve got one vote for Sierra, one vote for Andrea, one vote for Sierra, two votes for Andrea, two votes for Sierra, and the twelfth person voted out of “Survivor: Game Changers” and the fifth member of the jury is…Sierra.

During her exit interview, Sierra wills her advantage to Sarah. Doh…

Verdict: Very interesting that Tai voted out someone that he saved earlier in the season.

That aside, I’m getting kind of bored. I don’t know what it is, but the second half of this season hasn’t been clicking for me. It’s like all the air was sucked out during the Varner/Zeke Tribal.

Hopefully it’ll pick up when folks are betrayed and idols be played.

Power Rankings Results: Adam Klein had Sierra in spot eight, while I had her in spot nine. The current score is Team Adam 104, Team Gordon 101.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

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