IM SO CONFUSED!!!!
Someone just wonSurvivorafter playing only 13 days ofSurvivor.
Someone just wonSurvivorafter brilliantly convincing someone to do something completely against her best interest to save him.
Credit: CBS
The aforementioned biggest threat in the game hadalsoalready been voted out of the game.
The other finalists whohadntbeen voted out didnt exactly inspire a whole lot of excitement or respect from their peers.
SOMEONE TELL ME HOW I AM SUPPOSED TO FEEL?!?
Its like movie and television shows that bring characters back from the dead.
Thats my issue with the Outcasts, Redemption Island, and Edge of Extinction.
You care less about the weekly vote-offs because they matter less.
(Just look at Reem clapping and rooting for Chris at the finale.
You think that happens if they dont make-up at EOE?
Remember how pissed she was at him when he first arrived?)
So I could never, ever see myself voting for someone who had already been voted out.
I mean, thats really what it boils down to, isnt it?
Sure, Senator Palpatine proved to be a positivelyterriblechoice to lead the Republic.
READ THE ROOM, DUDE!
You have to note all of those things in the negative column when assessing the choice to promote Palpatine.
But Jesus Christ, Valorum wassoooooooboring.
Look, nobody likes to diss a jury decision more than I do.
But did they make the wrong choice here?
Im not so sure.
An idol that would have saved her at the next vote.
And the fact that Chris pulled it off is, therefore, all the more impressive.
He needed all the ammunition imaginable to counter the argument that he hadnt done enough to deserve the win.
The jurywantedto vote for Chris because they bonded with him on Extinction Island in a stress-free setting.
Now he just had to give them a reason to justify it.
This will no doubt go down as one of the most fiercely debated jury decisions inSurvivorhistory.
Thats not the case this time.
I think there is a solid argument to vote both for and against Chris.
You say that somebody who only played 13 out of 39 days should not be allowed to win?
So it seems were back where we started, and I have no idea what to think.
I suppose it may come down to a question of quality vs. quantity.
If its quantity of days actually in the game, then you have to vote Gavin or Julie.
If its quality of gameplay in the days played, then you have to heavily consider Chris.
Dont make me pull a negative reverse to get you to keep reading!
The episode begins with the Extinction Island folks competing to get back in the game.
Whats cool about having so many stages is that the lead keeps changing.
just dont let Eric or Aurora win.
yo dont let Eric or Aurora win.
(Hi, Im Chris.
Im just going to play 4 days and then take all your money.
That cool by you?
So, hey, wheres that water well at anyway?)
I mean, in itself, thats not all that interesting, I suppose.
Chris, man, I dont know what youre doing, exclaims Devens.
No doubt this was a tightrope Chris walked.
Ive gone to bat for Julie a number of times, says Devens.
Shes never gone to bat for me.
And Lauren and her have had more rewards than anyone out here so Im disappointed.
(Im not saying Rick Devens picks his nose on television.
Im not saying hesnotpicking his nose on television either.
Now, why the hell would you go and tell someone something like that?
This was the one bum note Chris played after returning to the game.
Okay, lets get into the idol.
I get why producers do this.
But I dont like it.
Itshouldbe harder for someone who was already voted out to win the game.
So to give them another advantage over that?
Thats the worstSurvivorhair situation I have ever seen, and I lived through Randy Baileys mohawk inGabon.
Honestly, I dont even know what you call that facial hair.
That little soul patch in the middle?
Vote this entirelookoff the island.
Sorry, where were we again?
- Should want Chris out.
And 3) Now doesnt have it to save herself next vote.
Just a colossal mistake of epic proportions.
But this would be the first time his carefully crafted words of wisdom would make it to air.
No doubt he is ready to unleash some serious Sun TzuArt of Warlevel musings.
Lets all turn up the volume and watch Jeff Probst BLOW OUR MINDS!
Well, you made it to the final 5.
Ill see you tomorrow for your next immunity challenge.
What… thats it?
Those are the final words of wisdom?
Pointing out the obvious in how many of them are left and that hell see them again tomorrow?
Thats what we waited all season for?
I think I know whats going on here: JEFF PROBST IS SABOTAGING THE FINAL WORDS OF WISDOM!
All the evidence is there.
I would send those final words of wisdom to Extinction Island, but they would just come back anyway.
First off, like a record skipping over and over again, Devens finds yetanother hidden immunity idol.
For season 40 they should just put Rick Devens and Ben Driebergen on a huge island with one idol.
First one to find it wins the million dollars.
The problem is, the season would be over in about 7 minutes.
But were not done with the idols, folks.
Not by a long shot.
So now Julie and Lauren find idols they think are real but arent.
(Hey, has anyone seen Cirie?)
Just look at it!
How cool is that?
But doing it all out in the water over the ocean backdrop is just an incredible visual.
I cant express how into this final 5 challenge I am.
I mean, Im trying but Im not sure it is coming through.
Are you getting that I dig this?
And if challenge producer John Kirhoffer is reading this, a tip of the cap to you, sir.
(Note: I dont actually wear hats when I write my recap.
But the point stands.
I guess I should mention who wins it.
But the stage is set for yet more Tribal Council theater.
Then he saunters up to play his idol for Gavin as Chris attempts to act, I guess?
At least I think that is supposed to be acting.
(Sorry, everybody, but YOU GOT REEMED!)
Rough way to go.
But now instead of spelling immunity, they need to spell final 3.
Thats the good stuff right there.
Damn you for your smart and calculated approach, Chris!
But what to do next?
Clearly, Chris is not going to bring Rick to the end because Chris name is not Woo.
But whom does he pit against Devens in the final four fire-making?
I dont want to be chosen, Gavin says at Tribal Council.
I want to earn it so dont pick me.
I want to go against Devens.
You bet he was.
Heres what Chris told me the day before the game began:
Heres the thing.
Were at the point of this game where theres been 36 seasons.
In Doms situation, Doms kicking himself because Dom shouldve gone up against Wendell in that fire making challenge.
Dom might be a little butthurt because his vote, his split, it came down to Laurel.
Its a chance, but winners take those types of chances, I think.
That was a million dollar answer right there, ladies and gentlemen.
But dont cry for Rick Devens.
And you know hell be back on the island soon enough.
Jeez, cant you at least go burn the camp down or something?
(Gotta admit, I kind of miss the massive fire hazard that would close every season.
I could just picture junior producers running in with fire extinguishers after they scored the rad aerial shot.)
Anyhoodle, lets get to final Tribal.
Im just going to hit on the biggest or most interesting moments, bullet-point style.
Thats the jurys job to determine whether Gavin is a goat, not yours.
And that is certainly not a way to score points with said jury.
Kelley and Lauren said they were offended and called Chris tactics rude.
Not a great start for Chris.
Gavin said his big move was getting Aubry and Joe out.
Sorry, but wasnt thateverybodysmove?
Admitting you didnt work hard is never a good look.
He didnt win, but Gavin never had his name written down once.
Even if that is because he was not deemed a threat, thats still impressive.
I generally thought the open discussion Tribal format worked really well this season.
What did you do with those 39 days?
Both good points from both sides.
Perhaps the most interesting comment came from The Wardog.
The game is not on trial here.
You three are on trial.
Ah, but can you separate the two?
But these were the rules they were handed.
He didnt cut corners.
He got to day 39 through the rules of the game that were put before him.
He had only a 9% chance of getting back in at the EOE rope challenge.
Im not defending the concept of voted out people getting back in because you know I dont like it.
I hate it, actually.
But Chris wasnt just handed the title either.
His road was different from Gavin and Julies, but it wasnt easy by any means.
Whether you would have voted for him or not, you have to respect the game he played.
As for the reunion aspect of the finale, well, there wasnt much of it.
Yes, I want four hours of finale/reunion.
Thats how crazy I am.
But I do think this is a good solution.
In any event, we didnt get much from the reunion.
We did have a few live hits before and during the finale.
The live look-in to kick off the season is always fun.
The Devens interview was a bit smoother.
Not surprising seeing as how he works in TV and knows how to deliver a short and sweet soundbite.
Jeff asking him about a new job was a nice, respectful move by the host.
The fact that Jeff actively tries to assist these people in their careers post-Survivoris admirable.
(Id like to also point out that I also got Cochran a gig recappingBig Brotherfor EW.com afterCaramoan.
Slightly less commendable, I suppose.
Incidentally, I also got Aubry a job recappingBig Brother.
She hasnt called me back since, and I cant say I blame her.)
As for the actual reunion, the most jaw-dropping moment had to be Rick winning the Sia award.
No chickens will ever be eaten onSurvivorever again!
Just follow me on Twitter@DaltonRossfor updates as to when all that stuff is live.
