Note: I think maybe Episode 11 was the 2nd half of episode 10? Otherwise my tracking is somehow off....
Episode 12
Ryan and Chrissy realize that Ben betrayed them and
Chrissy loses her shit again. There's definitely a pot/kettle scenario between Ben & Chrissy where they both deride the other for taking things too personally. Meanwhile, Lauren is as cool as a cucumber with her moves, though maybe a little too comfortable with her position.
The new Survivor reward challenge includes loved
ones, which means Probst gets to do what he loves most: talk about love, trust, and relationships. Lauren’s sister hugs Probst and #Blindside. Then Chrissy talks
about giving up her job & devoting her life to her family and I’m wondering
if anyone wants to take a bet on that actually happening?
The reward challenge itself is based entirely on luck if not completed rigged and I got to say that this is a bunch of BS. Chrissy is
super predictable in her vindictive selection of loved ones sharing the reward.
“Like an assassin” Probst quips as she disses half the castaways. Assassin? Really?
As I’m updating the scores I realize that Eric is in
the spreadsheet too. Perhaps eagerly awaiting score updates? Sorry Eric, I’m still an episode behind! But keep on creepin' on, I'll get there eventually.
Meanwhile back at camp Ben is making a fake idol.
YES!! I so love it when I get to use our fake idol rules! Lauren aka Blog Crush #2 is playing a
professional game, and finds an immunity clue. Love that she called her
alliance over when she found the marker. No need to lose trust at this time by trying to grab it before they notice.
The immunity challenge is the iron cross and Ryan’s boogie
to keep his plates up is anti-sexy. Devon’s hula is more attractive, but
his decision to lose the challenge is a frustrating swing for the teams already
in last place. Can’t you give us even a little hope, Devon?
While Lauren, Devon, and Ashley consider Ben v.
Chrissy, Ben tries to make a move by turning folks against Lauren. Chrissy’s
immaturity opens the door for Dr. Mike to make a big move and he chooses to... burn half of Lauren’s idol. Huh? How can that ever possibly make sense, especially considering that Dr. Mike essentially has no alliance?
The whole “let’s put everything on the table”
infosplosion that happens during this tribal really helps no one. But it makes
more sense to me than Lauren handing half an idol to Dr. Mike. I really don’t
understand that. When is that ever a good move? This whole storyline of her handing him half an idol so casually that there wasn't even a conversation included with the hand-off, followed by Dr. Mike burning it just straight-up boggles my mind. Anyone want to fill me in on what they think happened here? Is Dr. Mike just straight up pooky dooks? Note: this link may make no sense, but I couldn't find the right one, and at least this was at least from the right movie.
In the end, everyone votes for Ben and he plays the
one idol no one actually knew about. Play on, playa. Gnight Lauren, and Blog
Crush #2 gets to join Blog Crush #1 among the mass of men’s tank tops that seem
to be infecting the jury.
Note: not really sure how to award/dock points for Dr.
Mike burning the idol. Lauren got sent home with half an idol in her pocket,
but since that’s pretty much useless, I didn’t dock her points.
Episode 13
The episode starts with Ben acting high off his
fabulous play at last tribal. He does a pretty good job of coming back to
reality and realizing he doesn’t have any alliance to protect him now. They are all-in on the Ben hate train, including Devon making bold claims that he can take Ben down in challenges, which is clearly not backed-up by his poor score in this fantasy pool.
The reward challenge includes 2 strong teams, and then
Ryan & Mike who are playing on the JV team. Devon & Chrissy end up
winning, but I gotta question the ring toss technique. It was like watching a
child at a bowling alley, Devon.
And speaking of children, Ashley & Dr. Mike both
bitch and whine at camp and generally act like sulky brats. Still, neither one is willing to work with Ben, and that’s a tough spot. Being stuck at camp with a couple of babies and not even being able to play the game while there? Not a fun day. Meanwhile, Devon considers a new alliance at a gorgeous resort hotel. #Jealous.
The immunity challenge results in Chrissy winning.
Apparently she’s the only one who can do puzzles.
At tribal I feel like everyone is just being petty.
Thank goodness Devon calls out Ben on maybe not playing the idol because that
was gonna really bug me. Nice rebuttal from Ben when he insta-plays it.
Ashley ends up going home as someone who is clearly the bigger threat compared
to Dr. Mike or Ryan. And in keeping with the theme of the episode, she acts like a
giant baby on the way out.
This takes me back a few episodes to the moment when
Ashley first thinks they should vote out Ben. And they never really explained
why that alliance wussed out on that one, because that truly was the moment that they should have gone for it. That was Ashley's chance to
determine her own fate & it just didn’t work out. I just wish I knew why. She was a solid player late in the game, and I think the finale will be less exciting with her not there.
And now there are 5 castaways left and really only one
question left – how could Ryan have possibly made it to the final 5 and only
earned 6 points!??! I have never seen such a pathetic performance in Survivor
history!! Devon is only barely doing better at 12 points. Seriously, this is a
weak point-earning field outside of Chrissy’s puzzle prowess and Ben’s
idol-hunting instincts.
What can we expect next week? Well, there's a good chance that Ben will be underestimated again & he'll find an idol. Again. Everyone will want to take Ryan & Dr. Mike to the Final 3 unless they're stupid. Those guys have no chance of winning and are huge disappointments. The bring down the good name of geeky but good-hearted contestants a la Cochran & David. Chrissy is going to be unbearably cocky since she's been gunning for Ashley and probably will somehow take the credit for what happened at last tribal. And Devon will think he's all that + a bag of chips, but I certainly wouldn't vote for him over Ben & I'm not sure these guys can take him out. Should be fun!!
The Teams:
Moon & Melissa "2 Cups of Joe" - 160 points
- Ryan (6 pts)
- Cole (37 pts)
- Joe (38 pts)
- Joe (38 pts)
- Ashley (41 pts)
Eric "Two Laurens Don't Make a Right" - 149 points
- Ben (44 pts)
- Lauren (39 pts)
- JP (26 pts)
- Lauren (39 pts)
- Alan (1 pt)
Doug & Bri "Cowboys & Estrogen" - 142 points
- Ben (44 pts)
- Ali (2 pts)
- Chrissy (30 pts)
- Desi (25 pts)
- Ashley (41 pts)
Phil "Scrub Island Featuring Superscrub Roark" - 103 points
- Mike (20 pts)
- Chrissy (30 pts)
- Roark (2 pts)
- JP (26 pts)
- Desi (25 pts)
Michal & Ben "The Candlestick Makers" - 72 points
- Ryan (6 pts)
- Cole (37 pts)
- Devon (12 pts)
- Jessica (15 pts)
- Roark (2 pts)
Bagdrea "Surfing with Chick Hicks" - 50points
- Devon (12 pts)
- Mike (20 pts)
- Ali (2 pts)
- Jessica (15 pts)
- Alan (1 pt)
Power Rankings:
- Cowboys: this one is Doug & Bri's to lose. I just don't see how it could happen unless Ryan turns out to be a brilliant orator and sweeps the vote at final tribal. Unlikely.
- Cuppa: I mean I guess it could happen....? At least this time has any chance to win, unlike Candlesticks, Chick hicks & 2 Laurens who literally can't beat them.
- Scrub Island: a Dr. Mike vote sweep would also do the trick I think...
- 2 Laurens: Good run Eric, a solid performance from both the n00b teams, both in competing in the pool as well as in comments & commitment. I don't know that I loved having each castaway get drafted twice, but I did like the new blood that got added this season.
- Candlesticks: Such a disappointing season for the reigning champs. With 2 players left this late in the game we should still be in competition. But this group of under-performers proves that there's more to the pool than picking castaways that will go deep in the game. They actually have to do stuff too. And that stuff can't be eating the entire tribe's food, damnit Cole!
- Chick Hicks: Fortunately Bag is here to save us from making the next addition to the trophy. Bag, do not mess this up.
DoW:
Chrissy for me on both episodes. So infuriating, especially when she tells her own alliance that she might just change her vote at the last minute at tribal council & seems to assume they'll be okay with that. What is wrong with you woman!?
5 comments:
"Keep on, creepin'on" might be my favorite thing you've said this season and there have been some gems.
I think it's kooky dooks, not pooky dooks but given that both are made up sayings... Who really knows.
Didn't they have a chance to vote out Chrissy and they choose JP instead? JP couldn't win a challenge and his lifetime winning percentage at checkers is 32%. If so, that was a major blunder.
Almost as dumb as Lauren blowing going on tilt and blowing herself up on her final episode.
Does Ben have any idea that friendships are important in this game?
Could you imagine if someone drafted a team that included all three of these people?
How soon does Bachelor resume?
This finale could surprise. Ben has upset a lot of jury members, as has Chrissy. Ryan hasn’t done anything and Mike and Joe made it their game to annoy the entire tribe for a few weeks. That leaves Devon who hasn’t made any enemies.
Your blog has been fantastic and I look forward to another season with a better understanding of the point system. The shock of the season for me was Lauren, I had her very low on my board and she turned out to be a cool, calm, and strategic player.
Ben just rubs me the wrong way (don’t ask about the right way) so he gets DoW.
Who is Roark?
I check the scoresheet every 10 minutes so you should only be surprised when I'm not there. This is even though I have no idea how the scoring works. The swamp water thing still has me totally confused.
Pond water, E.
Post a Comment