The episode starts with Nick pissed and regretting saving Christian in previous tribals. This is short-lived as the producers want to go straight to a family love reward challenge. Jeff says 5 words and we are there.
My take on the family interactions:
- Davie's mom is awesome and their relationship seems awesome, but her other kids have to be a bit hurt by her calling out Davie as her favorite awesome kid on national television. I have been liking Davie more and more each episode and wish I would have taken him in the draft because he is mostly awesome. Like his mom. And their awesome relationship.
- Alison and her mom look nothing alike. We get no further details about their deal.
- Kara's brother shows. She tells the plain truth that she would like to consider some contestants as real friends, but you never know who is faking it. This is a core Survivor trait that really messes some contestants up. She concludes that the best part about family is you know they are really on your side. True story.
- Nick's dad seems cool. Proclaims it's "What you give, not what you have." I like it, but we'll see if it helps Nick in the game at all.
- Gabby's mom arrives. Nothing of note there, except she confirms how much reassurance Gabby constantly needs.
- Angelina's mom clears the bushes. Starts off normal enough. Then there is a political call-out/reminder from Angelina that she sacrificed "her life" for rice for the good of the tribe. As if they had pre-practiced, her mom politician-ed for her right after this to the group. Quite a weird interaction given they haven't seen each other in however long.
- Mike's boyfriend Josh arrives. They give each other a friend-hug that didn't look like they had been together for 6 years. Their choice? CBS? A mix? Seemed VERY restrained and a bit odd.
- Christian's GF comes out next. He very awkwardly proclaims something about his beard's presence. Then awkwardly introduces her to Jeff. Then they took way too long to hug. Christian apologizes for how long the game is. He is lovingly awkward and gets emotional when she starts to walk away from him. Then he explains why and nails it. Guy is crushing this season and has to be a lock for Fan Favorite.
Jeff pushes forward to the challenge like these family members didn't just get done with 19+ hours of travel. He antagonizes Angelina about not winning a challenge and starting in last place, again.
Angelina and Nick end up coming from dead last to "win" the chance to alienate some alliance members by choosing (1) person to join them in the family love reward. An easy choice of Davie is made. Then just like my and Zack's childhood soccer coach telling the team to take "1 more lap" around the field (over and over again, damn liar), Jeff tells the winning pair that they get to choose (1) more person (again) and kinda surprisingly another seemingly easy choice of Mike is made. Angelina says she "loves" Mike as he accepts the reward. No one believes her. Christian legitimately tells everyone to have a great time in the reward as the "losers" family members vanish and the barge feast begins. Everyone believes him.
Barg feast - Lots of final 4 talk. Davie doesn't buy it and immediately identifies himself as #4 of the "final four". Back at camp, Gabby thinks Christian is playing her, based off his interaction with his GF. Gabby starts talking about bouncing Christian to "Slay her #1 ally" and make a big move solely for herself.
Immunitty challenge time - balance on beam with a pole / bucket of water overhead, etc.
- Mike out first
- Angelina doing some weird breathing
- After Angelina is out she starts helping Nick
- Christian awesomely calls Angelina and posse out and gets no help
- Davie gets beat by a damn fly (probably paid off by Angelina somehow)
- Kara wins and is astoundingly good at challenges that she doesn't have to move much
Now the post immunity challenge scramble:
- Alison calls out how hard it is to get Christian out
- Gabby correctly says shes needs to get Christian out
- Nick is pissed about Christian betraying him and says he needs to get Christian out because he is "dead to him"
- Davie is the spoiler. Wants Christian as a sheild.
- I love that Davie is playing his own game, but he is drawing dead against Christian and this strategy only makes sense if he plans to eliminate Christian later in the game
- Christian pretends to repair the relationship with Nick
And immediately to Tribal and more bullet points as I realize how little sleep I will be getting tonight:
- Standard Jeff questions
- Nothing super important except pretty much every jury member confirms that they are voting for Christian for the win
- Christian stares down his competitors after the vote and plays his idol. Boss move.
- The jury again confirms he is crushing (and they are right)
Gabby goes home after the correct idol play. Mike and Angelina's votes against Gabby win out over Christian's vote against Alison. Alison survives another tribal where she gets the 2nd most votes needed to send someone home. 7 left.
The "So smart they're dumb" episode title aptly applies to one of the people it was placed upon, but not the other. "Awkward" wins out over "only recently found confidence".
I'd give my analysis of the final 7 but it is time to go to bed. I will end this blog with 2 things (and more bullets):
- The previews for next episode now have me worried about Christian actually getting voted out because they showed everyone else BUT him getting their name thrown out
- Potential props to Mike for telling Nick TO HIS FACE that he has to go home next
- My DoW vote goes to:
- Anyone that influenced Mike and his BF's interaction negatively
- Carl's glare
- But for the actual points, Angelina. Because. She. Sucks.
I'm out. Viva Mexico. Thomas, kill the next blog post!
***Reminder to Michal to double check the Dan idol play points and make sure they weren't double counted. ***
10 comments:
I got up early to just to read your blog post. Well done!
So smart he's dumb could apply to my drafting strategy
I often fall asleep at night wondering how different my life would be if I drafted Kara twice instead of that other blonde. It's very possible I would no longer be in last place but yet my life wouldn't pretty much still be the same.
Why did they vote out Gabby? Despite what Gabby says she has a crush on Christian.
Christian does an awesome job imitating Hank Azaria playing geeky scientist David on Friends. Dead ringer.
This is pure domination by Zack and Andrea.
I don't see Mike as a strong contender to win and his boyfriend interaction was odd.
Angelina DOW
Sleepless Doug - great job!
Angelina for DOW. This can be a permanent award for her in my mind.
I love Davie, and have for a long time. So maybe I'm especially attuned to what's going on with him, or maybe the film editor was making a silent point, but it was quite remarkable that no one (including Probst) spoke to or about him at tribal. No wonder he's playing his own game!
Good blog Douglito! Angelina for DOW. I agree with Mark. I don't see anyone being douchier no matter what happens.
^All this! Plus:
- Angelina's breathing at the immunity challenge was sooooo weird & made me uncomfortable for some reason. Glad it earned it's own bullet point in the blog.
- It felt 100% to me that Gabby was lashing out at Christian for having a gf. #jealousy
- Odds on Mike + bf being broken up by the finale reunion?
Are there any other good TV shows on now? I've got nothing else to watch.
Does anyone else have thoughts on whether voting out Gabby was smart?
Angelina - DOW, I think she has it on lock!
Awesome job Doug, enjoy Mexico!
Nick had a really strong point that they used all those advantages to get the numbers and then Christian and Gabby blindsided him. The David’s are in real trouble if the Goliath’s can come together.
Alison is a strong favorite, she’s playing tough and seems to have good relationships with everyone.
Christian is such a huge favorite to win that he will have to be eliminated soon.
Davie’s play has been great. He’s playing his own game and creating a resume. If he makes the final he has a strong case that he kept the bigger targets around, while finding and correctly playing advantages. No one wins against Christian except for maybe Alison. I don’t see Kara or Angelina winning and while Mike is a nice guy his one big move against Christian didn’t work, a weak resume.
Besides, Mike already played the Amazing Race, no one is giving him money.
Overall a very strong season and much better than the last one.
Any chance I can get in on the Top Chef Pool? It’s my wife and my favorite.
The spellbinding season continues with another riveting episode.
I've found Davie's play this season and this episode quite interesting. He bailed Christian out for a second time, which I think is a clear mistake as Christian would beat him at Final Tribal. But Davie also noted he did it because he views Christian as his shield, and he did actually vote for him. These aren't the actions of a worshipful minion. These are the actions of a crafty contender, which Davie has shown himself to be all season. He's carefully considered all of this and must have a plan to oust Christian later on. Time is running out and Christian could win immunities, but I think Davie does plan to make The Big Move eventually.
Those who are discounting Mike's chances must not be watching closely. Note how craftily he engineered Gabby's demise. Note how subtly he influences decisions, and note how he only does it when he deems it necessary. He's a deep thinker who contemplates every decision from a micro and macro perspective. Many more decisions are still to be made, and he usually rests upon the correct one.
There seems to be near-consensual recognition that Christian is a giant threat who will win the game if he reaches Final Tribal. This is very bad news for Christian. I don't know if he'll pull this off. If he does, he'll go down as a GOAT. Actually, he's already earned GOAT status.
Team Slamtown has now lost two players without having one actually voted for. Both were victims of correctly-played immunity idols. Tilt.
Angelina DoW.
I had to say more after reading Michal's post about the girlfriend and boyfriend. Both reunions were extremely awkward, but I thought Christian's attitude toward his gf was especially uncomfortable and beyond awkward. Even his explanation was so patronizing that I really feel sorry for that young woman. I also agree that seeing her turned Gabby dark green with jealousy which fueled her ineffective "big move."
Maybe Mike has spent most of a lifetime being discreet/secretive about his sexual identity and so he is still uncomfortable with pdas?
Eric, have you tried Counterpoint on Starz?
Post a Comment