Nobody’s doing the math
Shes a fraud.
A total, absolute, and complete fraud.
That can be the only takeaway from tonightsSurvivor.
Credit: CBS
She analyzed contestants like data when deciding early on which Hero to align with.
But it was all a show a dance, if you will.
No decimal points required.
Just 11 minus 1.
You take one down, pass it around, and now what are you left with?
Doesnt seem very sanitary.
Why not just take five bottles down at once so everybody gets their own?
Oh, and ensure to check the bottom of the bottle for a secret clue!)
That was the apparently unsolvable math riddle placed before contestants this week.
So again, how could nobody notice that unaccounted-for vote?)
And yet nobody said a word.
Which means one of three things happened.
When you are playingSurvivor, you are constantly doing the math and crunching the numbers.
It seems practically impossible that not a single person would notice a missing vote.
It certainly is possible that a few other people found out about it, but not everybody.
So what the hell happened here?
Did everybody already know?
Was something said that did not make the show?
Or was it something else?
So we can take that third option off the board right now.
While were on the subject of the advantage, I may as well share my thoughts about it here.
You all know my feelings on advantages: I like them.
But I also think they are becoming way too frequent.
That is at a rate of almost one advantage every two episodes.
(Note: I asked Chrissy to calculate that for me.)
Im sorry, but I just think that is way too much.
(Thanks, Chrissy!)
What do I think of that, independent of my feelings about the overabundance of advantages as a whole?
I think its a really smart addition.
Thats because its not just something for free.
You have to lose something to gain something.
That also then has the effect of encouraging more strategic thinking.Is it worth it?
Do I risk not casting a key vote this time to gain power later?
How do I go about making sure Im covered now?
Whom do I tell to ensure we covered on what we want to do here?
So credit to the producers for also still finding inventive new ways to impact the game.
Lets just hope that they have the willpower to limit that impact.
Okay, heres the other important stuff worth breaking down from this episode.
(Recap continues on page 2)
Slingshot SpecialIt cant just be me.
It wasnt a thought so much as a vision.
Oh, wait, I can!
The gift that just keeps on giving.
Unfortunately, nobody hit the wrong target this time, but it was interesting watching the two different strategies.
Also, after you hit one, you had to sub out for someone else.
Cole also only shot a few times and he left.
So that meant it was all JP and Devon who ended up going tag-team back-and-forth style.
When Ashley took forever to hit her target for red, blue took the lead and eventually won.
And the interesting choices were only beginning.
Are they not quite up to Outback SteakhouseTM standards?
I was so looking forward to Sex Doctor waxing poetic on the succulent Meatball Stuffed Pizza Fritta.)
Ah, but it was not that simple.
The food would be served family style, but everyone would eat individually in private in a specific order.
So you have two interesting things at play here.
First off, how would Joe set the order that people would eat?
Or would Joe play more political and put himself last?
Essentially, he had to choose whether to play a physical or social game and Joe chose the latter.
While I tend to think that is generally the right move, there was another factor to consider.
Birthday boy Devon went first and didnt really eat enough to see it.
JPdideat enough to see, but hes JP so it wasnt like he was going to figure it out.
Then it was Coles turn.
Ill give Colesomepoints for putting the apron over the plate to cover the clue, but DUDE!
GET RID OF THE PLATE!!!
This seemed so obvious to me.
Suffice it to say it was not obvious to Cole.
This happens a lot onSurvivor.
But not unlike Frank Stallone, the idol drama was far from over.
(Maybe he thought itwasOlive Garden and he was contractually obligated to do so?)
(Recap continues on page 3)
WrestlemaniaI have a rule.
I wont drink anything for an hour before seeing any movie at a theater.
If the film starts at 7:15, I stop any and all liquid consumption at 6:15.
The anticipation of monitoring whether I may possiblyneedto pee is oddly worse than actually needing to pee.
because Ryan retrieved it pretty quickly.
But then the real fun began.
The dude did not even break stride!
How can you not see that?!?
It was happening right in front of your face!
But then Ryan asked Chrissy to cover up the area where he was digging.
The freshly relieved Cole saw this and practically knocked the mathlete over as he tried to get it.
Then Ben muscled in.
Then Joe joined the party.
and Cole seemed a little unsure as well.
Honestly, I think Cole confusedhimselfas to whether he had the idol or not.
Hold on to Your PoleWeve seen this immunity challenge before.
Everyone had to stand on a narrow beam while balancing a statue with a long pole.
(Probsts words, not mine.)
Every 10 minutes, the players had to move back farther from the statue.
(Thank God there were no balls in this one.)
Joes Hail MarySo it was not looking good for the outnumbered Healers.
With that in mind, Joe decided to reach into his bag of tricks.
His target: Ben.
But what we saw from Joe before Tribal Council was neither of those things.
Instead, we saw him accusing Ben to his face of swearing on the Marines to three different people.
Whether Ben did this or not (and Joe admitted that he made it up) is somewhat moot.
This just isnt the best strategy for Joe to get rid of Ben.
And at this point in the game, a direct confrontation with Ben is counterproductive.
Work the edges of the alliance, not the heart of it.
and just being an all-around lunatic.
Yet Joe isnotthe one they vote out.
With no idol played, I figured Joe was a goner on the revote.
Instead it was Desi who was voted out and became the first member of the jury.
Should it have been Joe?
My gut says so.
Bottom line: Hes a more dangerous player.
Because again, he is a lot more likely to find the next one in play than Desi is.
(See: Vlachos, Tony.)
When you have an opportunity to take out someone like that, you do it.
And for moreSurvivorscoop delivered right to your digital doorstep, you might follow me on Twitter@DaltonRoss.
Do you like the latest advantage twist?
Are there too many advantages and idols in the game?
And did they make the right move in ousting Desi instead of Joe?
Hit the message boards to weigh in and Ill be back next week with another scoop of the crispy!
