Thanks to Bag & Moon for guest-blogging while I was away! Apart from the necessity of needing guest bloggers I think it was a lot of fun to read other perspectives, get more graphics, etc etc, so if anyone else would like to guest blog, please let me know! I am happy to share.
Really great episode last night!! Lots of intrigue & plotting, lots of last-second vote switches, and plenty of attitude problems. This was actually a great example of why no one should EVER feel safe on this show. As soon as a group that was primarily in the minority becomes the majority they often think they can take a break from all the scheming & maneuvering. "We've got the numbers, nothing can stop us now!" is the death cry of many an alliance that seems incapable of remembering how they were able to have just taken out a majority alliance.
What made Boston Rob & his ilk so brilliant & impressive was their never-failing paranoia that someone on their tribe could be corrupted. They never for a moment took it easy, they always checked in with everyone constantly to make sure they felt that they were respected & an important part of the alliance as well as checking for any signs of cracking & changing sides.
Most impressive contestants so far:
- Trish - everyone underestimates her but she is the one making all the right moves & improving her situation. She's moved from bottom-dweller to one of the chief schemers in the game, with several of the remaining players owing her big-time.
- LJ - LJ is playing a brilliant game, which we all expected. He's humble & is doing a great job of appearing selfless while also crushing most challenges.
- Kass - gets props for staying alive & in power in this game despite her abrasive personality. Also demonstrates a great knack for flexibility in strategy that most people are incapable of.
Biggest disappointments:
- Sarah - seriously, woman you really should have known better. You might as well have fashioned a twig tiara for your head & a coconut bullseye for your back.
- Woo - it was noted last night that Woo and Hodor have a lot in common: they both seem to enjoy saying their own name more than anything else. His only win came with an asterisk since he got to wear those badass clingy shoes when everyone else went barefoot.
Current Standings:
__: 31 points
1. LJ (12 points)
2. Trish (13 points)
3. Cliff (10 points)
4. Lindsey (-4 points)
WooBrr: 31 points
1. Woo (19 points)
2. Brice (0 points)
3. Alexis (2 points)
4. Jefra (10 points)
Sinkers and Floaters: 31 points
1. Sarah (19 points)
2. Morgan (2 points)
3. Tasha (4 points)
4. Spencer (6 points)
J'Tude: 21 points
1. Tony (6 points)
2. Kass (4 points)
3. Jeremiah (8 points)
4. J'Tia (3 points)
Power Rankings:
1. J'Tude - My obvious bias towards this team makes me overrate myself a lot. Still, I think that this is the most dynamic team left -- 1 person getting voted out won't sink this ship. It helps that Tony will do whatever it takes to find immunity idols, Kass is such a dynamic player, and Jeremiah is so low on the power-rankings totem pole that no one's going to bother voting him out for a while.
2. __ - Moon & Melissa's team name was a bit too difficult to communicate, so I've changed it to an underscore, sorry Bag. __ has two very strong competitors left, but they are down to 2 players, both of whom have already been labeled as threats in this game. One wrong move & this team will be in dire straits.
3. Sinkers & Floaters - Wednesday's episode was devastating for Bag & Andrea. Their entire team got backstabbed in one fell swoop with the cherry on top being their best player getting voted out. It's still early, and anything can happen, but the Brain remnants need to get their act together quickly, shore up their defenses, and put together a plan of attack or they will all be in screwed.
4. WooBrr - But not as screwed as Doug & Bri! This team has nothing going for it unless they have a string of balance challenges in the queue for Woo to win using his parkour skills & cheater shoes. On the plus side they are now in the dominant alliance. On the downside that really means very little for your personal safety.
DoW:
Sarah.