I love this recent development of the game where half of the tribe is safe and not voting, forcing six people to fight it out at tribal. First, you can't hide from your vote; it will be apparent whose name you wrote.  More importantly, it opens the door for a game-changing move. Someone who was safe on a tribe of 12 is suddenly in danger when only three votes are needed to get them out.  Throw in the Safety without Power advantage, and this tribal was filled with suspense.  Takeaways It looks like Andy (Not Austin) might actually start playing the game after realizing he is the third wheel with Sam and Sierra: “If they are going to come for me, I need to get them first.”  I am calling the Genevieve-Andy alliance "Andevieve." Let's make this a thing! Another attempt at an all-female alliance takes a hit. While they still have a 6-5 advantage, the twists of this episode lessened the likeliness of them maintaining the lead. I like corn on the cob as much as the next per...

Rome has fallen, and the flames were so satisfying. As a Survivor fan, you must know that if you think you are running the game, you should worry. Instead, we saw some of the worst hubris in the show's history:  "I'm running this game (nope). This is Michael Jordan versus Kirk Hinrich (nope). I'm playing this game on a whole 'nother level (still nope). I'm leading a mastermind vote at a potential historic tribal game (wait for it...nope)." Take care, Rome. Takeaways Rachel realized that she was at the bottom of the tribe, not Andy (Not Austin).  Ouch, that must have hurt. Sue needed to wash off her idol, so she used her canteen. If only there were a large body of water nearby where she could swim and secretly clean the idol below the surface.... I can't believe they found the bloody pot that Sue buried.  It was like an episode of Survivor: CSI. Kyle talking to Rome demonstrated the incredible challenge of needing to build trust but doing so without act...

Another blindside and Anika did not take it well! I feel like she would have stood there forever just staring down the tribe, but production probably intervened and told her to "get to steppin'." I've said this before, I am always surprised and disappointed with players who get angry when they get got. It's a game.  But after watching Anika break down on her way out, I remembered that grief takes on many forms, and I am guessing that was the root cause of Anika's anger. It was a very uncomfortable moment. Great to watch, but uncomfortable. Takeaways Teeney asks Rome if they can hug it out after tribal council. That's what the world needs more of, hugging it out.  Whoever created the new Survivor twist should be the Survivor Employee of the Year (complete with a front-row parking space). Allowing the players to connect with other tribes before the merge is huge. Why didn't they think of this before?? Sam revealed, "Sierra and I have a very secret b...

  I love me a blindside, and this was a good one. In recent years, I think the blindsides have been more about the "victim" being delusional about their position (Jelinsky) than about a strategic move. Genevieve truly flipped the script, and I am surprised that no one spilled the beans before the vote. They should make a new logo with Kishan's face when Rome stole his vote.  Takeaways Sam, please don't rap again. You are not Sam Shady.  I have three brothers, and I was great at standing really close to them with my hand in their faces and saying, "I'm not touching you. I'm not touching you."  I was reminded of this watching Rome follow Sol around the island. Sue's narrative includes the fact that she has overcome a lot of misogyny in her life. Interestingly, she has bonded with Gabe, the guy who came on the show with the intent of pairing up with an older woman/mother. Perhaps I am misreading him, but I feel like he assumed that an older woman wo...

  As I said last week, you never know how players will play, which is what I typically love about Survivor.  This week, however, it made me feel like a fool. I sometimes question if I know anything at all.  Why wouldn't Kyle go for the second shot at the advantage? He knows he is at the bottom of the tribe, so his next tribal council is likely his last, especially since he just lost his vote. Why not risk losing a second vote for a tribal council that he likely won't see? Rome shared his new advantage with Teeny, the person who spilled the beans to Kishan about his immunity idol. Why? Everything in my core says to keep that a secret, and yet it worked for Rome because Teeny felt the need to align with him.  And speaking of the advantage, I get that Rome has some power and is guaranteed to survive the first tribal council, but why does that motivate Teeny to be on his side?  Rome has to play the idol, so why not vote out his only ally (Genevieve) and leave tribal...