Edge of Extinction: Episode Nine

The Kama Tribe has now fractured fully, or at least to the point where we can disregard tribal affiliation in our evaluations of the remaining castaways. Some bonds remain, but with Kama now having voted out three of its own in consecutive weeks, it's clear players are now fully focused on individual resumé-building. We'll examine each castaway's prospects next week. This week we'll take a snapshot of the teams and recklessly estimate their chances of winning the pool.


Standings:

Baggins "Using My Rage Over Last Season to Draft Like a [redacted]" - 104 pts
Joe - 29
Eric - 23
Lauren - 4
Ron - 13
Julie - 21
Aubry - 14
It looked like a revenge tour season for Baggins, but his prospects have soured. He's down to three players, Lauren isn't doing jack and Ron & Julie were recent victims of a backstabbing. Bag does have hope that one of his players could return from the Edge and garner some late points, but he'll need Team Eric to pop some leaks soon to have any shot.
Chances of winning: 9%

Doug & Bri - "Well, That Sucked" - 99.5 pts
Rick - 6.5
Chris - 13
Chris - 13
Ron - 13
Aurora - 23
Julia - 31
This sad squad drafted two self-destruction artists - one of them twice. Pitiful as Chris's immolation was, Julia's was even more spectacular. Those meltdowns leave Doug & Bri with recently-imploded Rick, uninspiring Ron and abysmal Aurora. Not exactly the Moses this long-suffering duo needs to guide them to the Promised Land.
Chances of winning: 7%

Eric - "Eric" - 90.5 pts
Eric - 23
David - 1.5
Gavin - 13
Wentworth - 9
Julie - 21
Aurora - 23
Big Eric Schwartz is tied for the most players left, has easily the two highest-scoring surviving players and another who's tied for third and sits in third place in the pool behind two teams with three players left. Schwartz is a solid favorite to win the pool right now with four savvy players plus high-scoring Aurora.
Chances of winning: 54%

Michal & Ben - "The Hammer" - 86 pts
Joe - 29
Lauren - 4
Wentworth - 9
Victoria - 8
Julia - 31
Wardog - 5
The loss of Julia leaves the Greenbergs with four single-digit points earners. Victoria is a cold-blooded strategist and Wentworth is playing a gritty game, but Lauren is a passenger and Wardog is woeful. The man is averaging just more than half a point per episode. Victoria may be the best player in the game, but The Hammer may have trouble garnering points around her.
Chances of winning: 14%

MoonBee - "Nerdy White Dudes" - 48 pts
Rick - 6.5
David - 1.5
Gavin - 13
Victoria - 8
Wardog - 5
Aubry - 14
Incorrectly playing an idol calls for a 5 point deduction in our pool. I gave David & Rick -2.5 each for unnecessarily playing their joint idol this week. With so many idols and advantages in play, I don't remember if they were forced to play it this episode. Remind me if they were and comment if you don't think -2.5 is fair. If this is correct, it drops David to a miniscule 1.5 points on the season. This team appears as strong as Eric's, but trails him by 42 points. That's a lot of ground to make up, especially with a couple redundant players.
Chances of winning: 16%

Survivor Extinction: Episodes 7 & 8

For the record, I don't really know how to keep score of this season. I am open to suggestions! Here's what I did: Keith & Wendy lost points for being 1st and 2nd out of the game respectively. Everyone else is now gaining jury points. I intend to take those points away & turn them into negative points should anyone quit at this point. However, I don't see that happening. Not now that they have twice as much of a reason to stay - jury vote plus a chance to get back into the game. but let me know what you think.

Now, back to the show itself - here's some notes from Ep 7:

• The Kama Six decided to vote out Joe perhaps a little prematurely. Maybe they felt safe doing so with the Lesu alliance in apparent shambles. But they cut Aurora out of the decision & now there's a Kama Six and six other players who may or may not band together. That kind of showdown would be a welcome addition to this season.
• Did anyone else get the impression that Joe was (maybe subconsciously) hoping to get voted out? He's been failing at the social game & knew he was on the outs. He might have decided that he'd have an easier time of it living on the Edge instead of in the thick of the strategic & social game. And quite frankly he might be right. Just sit on the sidelines, don't stress about providing for everyone else, and then crush it in one epic challenge & you're back in the game with just a couple challenges to go. He'll probably get less food but he'll also put his body under a lot less stress....
• And finally, Wentworth and David need to recognize that Kama has gone 2 for 2 in targeting & eliminating veteran players. If Wentworth doesn't read the writing on the wall & play an idol next episode (or at minimum seriously consider it) then it's her own fault.

And here's some thoughts on Ep 8:

• Rick thinks he's the shit and he's far from it. No one ever goes around stating blatant hatred for other people in the game & has a chance to win. Last person to do this I think was Abi Maria & we know what kind of player she was. I now want this guy to go down in flames & am extremely grateful I didn't get him on my team.  This last tribal council was a good start.
• Overall I loved the strategy in this episode. The game is afoot! It seems like alliance/voting blocks might be back on the table for the season, which would be an excellent turn of events.
• Obviously I'm highly biased based on my team roster, but I do love watching Wentworth & David converse like the veterans they are, giving an accurate assessment of their situation & coming up with successful strategies to improve their lot. What could be more masterful, really?

The Teams:

Baggins "Using My Rage Over Last Season to Draft Like a Pro" - 104 pts

• Joe (29 pts)
• Eric (23 pts)
• Lauren (4 pts)
• Ron (13 pts)
• Julie (21 pts)
• Aubry (14 pts)

Eric "Eric" - 87 pts

• Eric (23 pts)
• David (4 pts)
• Gavin (7 pts)
• Wentworth (9 pts)
• Julie (21 pts)
• Aurora (23 pts)

Doug & Bri "Well, That Sucked" - 87 pts

• Rick (9 pts)
• Chris (13 pts)
• Chris (13 pts)
• Ron (13 pts)
• Aurora (23 pts)
• Julia (16 pts)

Michal & Ben "The Hammer" - 71 pts

• Joe (16 pts)
• Lauren (4 pts)
• Wentworth (9 pts)
• Victoria (8 pts)
• Julia (16 pts)
• Wardog (5 pts)

MoonBee "Nerdy White Dudes" - 47 pts

• Rick (9 pts)
• David (4 pts)
• Gavin (7 pts)
• Victoria (8 pts)
• Wardog (5 pts)
• Aubry (14 pts)

Power Rankings:

1. Eric - Eric may have lost his namesake (or whatever the opposite version of that is) but this is still a team of players - both strategists & physical threats. I'm a fan.

2. Michal & Ben - I didn't think Julia was going to be a big player, but hopefully this episode is the start of her crafty reign. Great resume builder & hopefully her core 3 stay true to each other moving forward. Wardog is a huge disappointment - I thought he'd be a minimum a physical threat rather than an anchor - but otherwise this crew is doing decently well.

3. Baggins - Baggins lost Joe and Eric in back-to-back episodes & now there's trouble abrewing for this once beastly team. Lauren, Ron, and Julie will not rake in the points while he's stronger players languish on the Edge. He needs a chance for a comeback from one of them soon, but I'm not expecting that will happen until there are maybe 5 people left.

4. MoonBee - I'm struggling to understand how MoonBee's team, with 5 players still in the mix, is scoring so low. But these are just not challenge contenders, and this otherwise solid team will likely pay the price for it. Maybe things will turn around though if the strongest physical players get voted out...

5. Doug & Bri - Rick & Ron are in a precarious position, Chris is in purgatory, and Aurora is a fool. Having Julia, a long shot at this point, is not enough.

DoW:

Joe for Ep 7, Rick for Ep 8. I'm throwing a lot of hate towards the top overall picks this go-round.

Survivor Extinction: Ep 4, 5, and 6

"I go to rocks for my people." - David

With a 2 hr extravaganza & a belated blog there's much to cover! But I'm probably not going to because all I want to talk about is the utter dysfunction that is the Edge of Extinction. I'm fascinated by the bitterness and vile [cit. Battlestar Galactica] combined with the mental... fragility, shall we say? There's a reason that losing chefs castaways have not been invited back before. Previous seasons are the better for not including this twist. All the same, I'm excited to see it in action.

Next week we get to see what happens with these Losers, right? Do you think they'll weed out all the current Losers (I'm seriously just going to call them that from now you. And you can't say I'm wrong....) and then start with a fresh batch & then bring 1 person back one last time maybe when they're down to 4-5 players? How will know the Edge of Extinction exists change the way the merged players will compete?

The Teams:

Baggins "Using My Rage Over Last Season to Draft Like a Pro" - 58 pts

• Joe (16 pts)
• Eric (7 pts)
• Lauren (4 pts)
• Ron (14 pts)
• Julie (15 pts)
• Aubry (2 pts)

Eric "Eric" - 57 pts

• Eric (7 pts)
• David (4 pts)
• Gavin (7 pts)
• Wentworth (9 pts)
• Julie (15 pts)
• Aurora (15 pts)

Michal & Ben "The Hammer" - 53 pts

• Joe (16 pts)
• Lauren (4 pts)
• Wentworth (9 pts)
• Victoria (6 pts)
• Julia (14 pts)
• Wardog (4 pts)

Doug & Bri "Well, That Sucked" - 49 pts

• Rick (2 pts)
• Chris (2 pts)
• Chris (2 pts)
• Ron (14 pts)
• Aurora (15 pts)
• Julia (14 pts)

MoonBee "Nerdy White Dudes" - 25 pts

• Rick (2 pts)
• David (4 pts)
• Gavin (7 pts)
• Victoria (6 pts)
• Wardog (4 pts)
• Aubry (2 pts)

Power Rankings:

1. Eric - David might be literally shaky standing on Wardog's shoulders but I think he's a beast heading into the merge. His quote above gave me shivers. Perfection, man. Lesu members might look like they're in trouble but I have a feeling these veterans have a couple tricks up their sleeves. Gavin & Eric are great competitors too. 

2. Baggins - Losing Aubry early with an idol in her pocket is a big blow to this otherwise beastly team. But could she make it back onto the show? If so will she be able to bring back her idol & extra vote too? A burnt Aubry full of secret advantages could be a dangerous & exciting twist to the game if she can get back into the thick of things.

3. Michal & Ben - Victoria impressed me a lot this episode. She might not have come off like a very nice person, but being able to play Aubry like her own personal fiddle was a huge coup and I think is a testament to her potential to run this game. We've got a lot of Lesu players & veterans, but they've been able to overcome some pretty tough odds up to now, so I think this team still has a good shot. 

4. MoonBee - MoonBee is probably down 2 players & despite having  a team I really like, I think they won't be able to overcome their current point deficit. Too much overlap with Hammer/Eric teams to likely be able to cobble together a winning combo of castaways. 

5. Doug & Bri - If Chris gets back in the game then this team could have a chance. But it looks like Keith will do everything he takes to prevent that from happening, so..... tough luck this season guys.

DoW:

Are Edge of Extinction players eligible? Because it's Reem all the way for me. 

Survivor Extinction: Draft & E3

Survivor Pool Season 38 aka The Edge of Extinction is already being touted as potentially the most well-drafted and competitive season of the pool yet. I'm excited to see how things pan out! Here's some early press/quotes:

"I have no shit to talk." - Moon

"Having fewer blondes this season helped me remember who was who during the draft, and focus on what's really important; drafting players with my name." - Eric

"Seriously? Survivor is still making new seasons?" - Random Co-Worker

"Jeff Probst & I use the same anti-aging hyperbaric chamber company. I highly recommend them to anyone attempting to stop the aging process." - Mike Krzyzskewski

"Wendy is my kind of crazy." - Mark the Chicken

The Teams:

MegaDregs "The Undraftable" - 4 pts

• Keith (0 pts)
• Keith (0 pts)
• Reem (0 pts)
• Reem (0 pts)
• Wendy (2 pts)
• Wendy (2 pts)

Michal & Ben "The Hammer" - 13 pts

• Joe (3 pts)
• Lauren (2 pts)
• Wentworth (2 pts)
• Victoria (2 pts)
• Julia (2 pts)
• Wardog (2 pts)

Doug & Bri "Well, That Sucked" - 13 pts

• Rick (2 pts)
• Chris (2 pts)
• Chris (2 pts)
• Ron (2 pts)
• Aurora (3 pts)
• Julia (2 pts)

Eric "Eric" - 16 pts

• Eric (3 pts)
• David (2 pts)
• Gavin (3 pts)
• Wentworth (2 pts)
• Julie (3 pts)
• Aurora (3 pts)

MoonBee "Nerdy White Dudes" - 18 pts

• Rick (2 pts)
• David (2 pts)
• Gavin (3 pts)
• Victoria (2 pts)
• Wardog (2 pts)
• Aubry (7 pts)

Baggins "Using My Rage Over Last Season to Draft Like a Pro" - 20 pts

• Joe (3 pts)
• Eric (3 pts)
• Lauren (2 pts)
• Ron (2 pts)
• Julie (3 pts)
• Aubry (7 pts)

The Draft:

There's not a lot to criticize, really. The draft was quick, professional, and kind of badass.

• I think Doug & Bri were the only team to double-draft a player, Chris. Survivor Gods insta-punished this decision by ousting Chris & effectively eliminating this team from contention. (Unless this Edge of Extinction twist gets people back in play much faster than I'm anticipating...)
• I'm a little surprised no one drafted Wendy just to go against the chalk (am I using that phrase correctly?). Before last night's episode I was regretting the decision not to do so myself. Then I saw the "next time on Survivor" and slept like a baby.

Power Rankings:

1. MoonBee - I think the nerdy white dudes are in the driver's seat this season. MoonBee stacked the Rick/David duo while I stacked their competition with Wentworth/Lauren. Should be an interesting & exciting show-down!

2. Baggins - I'm also a fan of Bag's draft. Ron & Julie could both go really far - those were savvy late-round pick ups. Aubry coming in strong with an idol find in her dreg position doesn't hurt either.

3. Michal & Ben - We themed toward drafting returning players, which might seem risky but they do tend to last longer than what the early threats against them would indicate. Not sure if it'll pay off, but I like the combo of returnees/muscle & (hopefully) crafty new chicks.

4. Eric - Eric doesn't know who Aurora is, and I don't know who Eric is. I might have been confusing him with Chris? I'm looking at his pic right now & can't remember him, which isn't a great sign. I also think Gavin went a smidge high in the draft (but seriously not by much), which is another reason I'm ranking this team a little lower. Overall still a really strong team.

5. Doug & Bri - Doug & Bri were probably watching last night & feeling pretty great. Chris played the role of Hero in the reward challenge, he's building connections with everyone. The only names being tossed around are Wentworth  & Wendy. And then that dope decides he has to play a game honestly where the entire strategy  is based on deception. They still have a sliver of hope, though - there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of overlap with their remaining team & anyone else's, so you might still have a magic combination of players.


Douche of the Week:

Wendy. I can't even

Survivor DG: Finale

COME ON IN, GUYS! - BEN/PROBST

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! - John Oliver

I'm not sure what's going on? - Paul Wasicka

The finale episode of Survivor's David v. Goliath did not disappoint. Though I realize this blog post might because:

1) it's well after the finale episode actually aired (though that might make it right on time for teh bagginses),

2) Moon's emailed barb did not go unnoticed (email Moon, really? That is soooo early 2000s of you), and

3) I'm attempting to respond within Moon's milieu(s) (hint: ....nah, you don't need it):

Here's a graphic for you, titled "Moon"*

The pool this season looked to be a runaway [citation: Moon's previous blog]. But in a move that can only be qualified as "Classic Bag," team Bagdrea squandered a massive lead to lose to MoonBee after a devastating Monopoly card was played by Nick for (and this is true) "all possible earnable Survivor pool points." (Two sheep for a brick ain't got nothing on buying development cards.)

I've never seen a point-earning sprint like Nick went on, outside of Gendry's improbable run to the Wall.  Nick earned all but 14 of his 91 points in the last episode alone, which I'd hazard to say is some kind of record as far as percentage of points earned within 1 episode [citation: that's 85% but tbh I had to use a calculator to figure that out #mathishard]. And now, this:**

Frequently Asked Questions:
If you're so bad at math, why are you running this very math-based blog?
As with most things on the internet, it's less a matter of "are you the most qualified?" and more a matter of "are you the most motivated?"

How can we better address unexpected twists/advantages ad-libbed by this amazing show?
Well, you could trust the blogmaster to make ad-lib decisions herself, but that seems highly inadvisable given the obviously biased nature of this pool. Instead, I'd propose that any blog commenter could throw out a suggested rule/point allotment for any such unexpected twist/advantage. Should that new rule be approved by a blog quorum (let's say 4 people assuming that I, Phil, Eric, Moon, Doug, Ben, and a Pickett regularly read a blog post within 1 week & we're looking for a majority).

Why is Eric so bad at this pool?
Eric's blatant blondeism kept him out of the hundred club this season, but he would have come in dead last this season whether he'd double-drafted Kara or not. Eric's primary flaws when it comes to the Survivor pools are as follows:

1. Not knowing Survivor history. While I applaud Eric's involvement in the #MeToo movement, knowing that only 15% of hidden idols are found by women might have altered his drafting decision to take only women this season. [Note: not saying that I knew that stat either, but I like to think that I understood it on a subliminal level.]
2. Lack of organization. If you could just list out your thoughts/rankings more cohesively, I think you might be better able to strategize when it comes to the draft. I know that the 8 hr time difference between CO & NJ is brutal, but you have to take that into account if you're committed to this pool 
3. He drank pond water 
4. Math?

If CBS ever tried to pull a 'Great British Baking Show Host Hostile Takeover' of Probst's role in Survivor, how would you respond?
Not well. Worst possible successor would be Carson Daly who would result in me never watching the show again. Probably most anyone else between Probst and Daly would keep me watching the show, but this blog would be heavily laced with bitter diatribe and occasionally open hostility.

Does a Bag comment ever contain more than 3 sentences?
No. No it does not. Sigh.

Why does Moon think I should feel embarrassed?
I get that I panned Moon's team early this season but LONG ago admitted that Mike was one of the players to beat in this season & that John exceeded expectations. I also disagreed with Moon's power rankings in the previous blog post & said that he underrated Nick. Embarrassed? Hardly. Are you?

What did Phil cook for dinner last night?
DraftKings gives it 50% chance that it was a pasta dish, 20% that it contained fish, and 5% that it was vegetarian.

Will next season be as good as this season?
Unlikely. Though I'm always a fan of any season with returning castaways, Malcolm Joe has never been one of my favorites. I'm a fan of Aubry (Aubrey?), but have never learned to spell her name. I remember likely Kelley Wentworth but couldn't say why. And David was great his season but should come in with a massive target on his back. So I guess I'm feeling lukewarm towards last season while still am coming off hot from this last season. High bar here, guys, I hope you vets deliver.



*No, Mom, I am not going to provide a key/legend to the above image. Figure this one out on your own... or ask a GOT friend/fan who is not this here blogmaster/daughter.

**I'm kind of assuming Moon is a John Oliver fan, but couldn't say for sure. I honestly consider any opportunity a good one in which to throw in John Oliver references.

Survivor DG: Episode 12

The epic struggle between Christian and Mike reached its resolution, with the latter winning their war of attrition. The guillotining of Christian illuminated the savvy of the remaining castaways, as they coldly offed their greatest threat the moment the opportunity was presented. This classic season has played out like a George R.R. Martin novel. The most powerful characters have patiently pulled strings from the shadows to topple the world's most featured and charismatic leaders. As in Game of Thrones, the edit has devastatingly misled the audience, endearing us with heroes before stunningly pulling their trapdoors to doom.

We're left with six castaways, perhaps less charming than those they've demolished, but worthy of the final battle. Let's reverse power-rank them in order of their chances of winning.

6. Angelina fancied herself a power player before being humbled into a shapeless burden like the sacks of rice of which she's fashioned her identity. Angelina is a decaf Natalie - disliked and disrespected by all, crippled by undeveloped corporate social skill, abrasiveness and a lack of self-awareness. The difference between Angelina and Natalie is the former lies within three standard deviations of bothersome, so her competitors are willing to tolerate her presence. At this point her competitors all recognize Angelina has no chance of winning at Final Tribal, so each is actually looking to get her there.

5. Kara has a well-rounded resumé including challenge victories, notable moves and backstabs. She's built it without really pissing anyone off except her ex-boyfriend. Yet it's difficult to envision a scenario in which she actually garners the most votes from this jury. It's hard to identify a jury member who would give her the most credit.

4. Nick has been an interesting bob-and-weave player throughout the season, forming corny-nicknamed alliances he appeared to be on the submissive end of but wasn't. At times it appeared his mind was coming unhinged. At times his partnerships seemed to be flagging. He botched his idol in the last episode. He's never dominated, but he does have enough feathers in his cap to convince the Jury of his worth. And convincing juries is what Nick does for a living.

3. Davie has played a world-class game. He's crafted trustworthy relationships without compromising his purpose. He's performed at challenges without attracting a bullseye. He's turned difficult situations on their heads. He's played the short game concurrently with the long. He's a player who could function in any group with any season. Davie is a truly awesome player. His problem is he was on the wrong side of the Christian vote and he's been identified by Lord Varys as next to go.

2. Alison likely hasn't done enough to distinguish herself to the Jury, but there is still time. Could Alison get to Final Tribal as part of a late Female Goliath Alliance and then upend Kara? Absolutely. Could she go on a convincing run of immunities and blindsides down the stretch? Certainly. Does she have the stones to sever the correct throats at the right moment? Without question.

1. Mike is a masterful strategic/social player in the vein of Richard Hatch and Cirie Fields. It takes great finesse to call the shots while letting others think they're calling the shots but still get credit for calling the shots at the end. Mike has been the puppet master throughout. He's disarmed his opponents instead of skirmishing with them. Mike will consider who he should take to Final Tribal more carefully and skillfully than anyone else. But when you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die. Mike's time in the shadows is coming to a close, and he will have difficulty functioning out in the light.

___

A to Z have a humongous lead and I'm not smart enough to figure out if it's prohibitive. I am pretty sure it will be their team or ours, and we'll need Mike to win it. Possibly in a sweep. 

Survivor DG: Eps 11 (or Comcast says it's Eps 12, but whatever). This one -> So smart they're dumb

Guest blogger Doug here. It's late and I am waking up early tomorrow morning for a trip (in about 3 hours), but I had previously been told during a Top Chef fantasy draft dinner that this was a fairly strategically heavy episode, so my enthusiasm is high! Sleep can be sacrificed for good Survivor!

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. ***