Biggest blindside of the season, IMO. Brenda was just HOSED by Sash. Will be interesting if he gets to the finals.

I haven't watched a lot of this season, but I wouldn't really consider what happened to Brenda a "blindside". She knew she was going home. She was just too proud to admit it.

And I'm not so sure she really believed Sash would give her the HII. I think they just edited that scene at tribal council to make it look like Brenda was looking at Sash and counting on him to save her.

I wasn't all that surprised to see Chase vote for her, either. I think he did it to try to save his own ass going into the next few days, because he started turning everyone off after he was telling Brenda everything.

FIFY. :p

Based on Brenda's interview at Reality News Online, she saw it coming, but she found out too late before tribal council, and it came as such a surprise to her that she was, in her words, "paralyzed." And knew Sash wouldn't give her the idol.

RNO: The big question of the day: Why didn’t you use Sash’s idol? Did he refuse to give it to you?

Brenda: Yeah. If I was Sash, I wouldn’t have given it to me either. What people didn’t see is that one reason NaOnka decided I was very dangerous is because I trusted her so much that I trusted her with my plan to take out Sash. When Sash and the guys went out to the reward challenge, I thought, “Sash is probably playing me. If there’s one person who can stop me, it’s him. Maybe I should take him out before he takes me out.” I shared that with NaOnka. I was like, “We have to stick together.” I think that was when she was like, Brenda is [scheming].

One of the first things she said to Sash [on last night’s episode] was Brenda is planning to take him out, so there’s no way he was going to say, “Here you go, girl.” I was going to doing it. The time when I needed his idol or NaOnka’s idol, it didn’t make sense. It was hopeful thinking. You know the song, “All I Need Is a Miracle”? That song was what I was thinking – “All I need is that freaking idol!” But there was no way they were going to give it up.

RNO: We saw Chase and Sash vote against you along with just about everybody else – did you essentially give up and give them permission to do so?

Brenda: We talked and talked about it. I tried to push for Benry and NaOnka and threw out the whole idol thing. In the end, they told me point blank, “We cannot do anything. We have to look out for ourselves in the game.” What do you do when somebody tells you that? I still had hopeful wishful thinking they would somehow be like, “Brenda didn’t scramble because she’s still with us.” I didn’t scramble for a reason! It was not the pride thing. I wanted them to see I’m sticking with you guys ‘til the end. I trust you guys and want to play the game with you guys. That was what I was thinking the whole time and they didn’t [go along with it] – they voted for me. It’s all good and I understand why.

Meanwhile, Purplekelly is clueless, despite her 20 years of wisdom. (Heh.) And old-lady Jane rocked the immunity challenge.

Purplekelly was the one I forgot about this episode. When Jeff called on her at Tribal, I had a "Who?" moment.

I hope Jane wins EVERY challenge to the end and wins it all.


There for a little while I thought Nay was going. Not knowing all of the backstory that Brenda provided to RNO, I thought maybe Sash and Brenda would use the HII to eliminate Nay (and the other idol).

The alliances and pecking order have shifted SOO quickly this season. I haven't read RNO this season, except what MC has posted here, but it's definitely not following their "rules" AT ALL. I wonder if they'll make big adjustments thinking that since the show has been on so long, the traditional strategies are no longer effective, or if they'll just assume this season is a freak of nature.

There's so much we don't see at Tribal. I've read that they go on for a whole lot longer than the three or four minutes we see on the show. Now that I've read some of the subsequent posts, I wonder if Jane doesn't have a fighting chance to take it all.

It's really worth watching the Insider clips at CBS.com, which include what each person said when voting. The clips from last week make clear that someone planted the seed with Sash that Brenda was planning to blindside him, and what he said when he voted for her indicates he believed it. ("I really want to go to the end with you, but you planned to backstab me so I have to strike first.") In another Insider clip, Jud says he planted a seed like that with NaOnka; I wonder if he did with Sash as well. (Jud's comment when voting: "You’re a super-cool girl, Brenda, but this game is not as easy as you think.")

I like Jud more and more each week.

This week is re-cap week, and while I feel that this has been a weak season, I'm actually looking forward to the re-cap because I really think there is A LOT that we'be missed. Normally, I'm not a fan of the re-caps. Such a backwards season.

Ive said all along I think he might just go all the way.

I still have the first episode on DVR, so along with the re-cap, I'm going to watch the first episode for clues, now that I have a better idea of who to pay attention to.

wow, couldn't believe tonight. But I am glad.

Can someone really be as self-centered and delusional as NaOnka? I guess so. I hate that the quitters get to be on the jury.

I really wanted Jeff to say "sorry, but when I 'smuff' your torches, you don't get to be on the jury. Yve and Jill will be brought back in to take your place, because they didn't quit."

But it really did live up to the billing of "most surprising Tribal Council ever." Loved it.


And having watched that first episode again, I'd still put my money on Jud.


ETA: In her interview at Reality News Online, Purplekelly indicates it will be a final three, not a final two. ("Congratulations to everybody who was in Survivor: Nicaragua and to the final three.") And NaOnka's interview is worth reading.

I either wished a) NaOnka chose to stay on the show, and everyone voted her out, or b) that they allowed everyone still left in the game to vote for one of the three people on the jury to come back into the game.

Either way, NaOnka is a horrible person. The end.

Well, I think his point was that it wasn't fair to the remaining players to break the precedent mid-game because they could have relied on the precedent in their jury strategy (if they have one).

He also indicated that the rules may be changed before the next season. I can see the reasoning that if the rules are going to be changed, it has to be before the game starts.

As for a smaller jury, if it's a final three (as Purplekelly indicated) and the quitters aren't on the jury, that would be a jury of just 7. I can see not wanting that.

I finally watched this yesterday. (If it wasn't before) This is officially the most terrible season of Survivor ever, and I think CBS would have done themselves a favor to just choose not to air it and take the loss. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a trainwreck I can't not watch, but still...WTF?

One last thing: Nay totally, utterly, fully and completely looses at life, forever and ever, amen.

I finally watched it in full yesterday too. I disagree though.. I think things like this make it more interesting. They are a pathetic cast, yes, but it sure cast a whole different spell over the alliances, etc. to have these two quit.

I agree about NaOnka though... what a loser.

Anybody watch this week's episode yet? I gotta admit, I was surprised...

This was probably the first episode where I was truly "thrown off" and guessing until the votes were read.

I missed everything before Chase, Holly and Jane went on the reward. I will watch that tonight.

I was truly confused up until I saw who voted for whom. Even then, I didn't see the logic. So you thought you were voting with the majority? Big deal. It's not like they're going to decide "look - they're on our side now, let's not vote them off".

PS...if Dan makes it to the finals because nobody thinks he'd win, I think they're wrong...I think this jury is likely to go with whoever pissed off the least amount of people, rather than who played the best social/strategic game. Dan hasn't really pissed anyone off.... If Dan wins, I'm so done with Survivor... (until I get sucked into next season)

I'll admit it -- I thought it was the most likely outcome, despite Chase's stoopidity in not taking Sash on the reward after he promised. It was clear to me that Benry was going out when he uttered his "Chase has been my boy since Day 1" line right after Chase said he'd never trusted Benry. That's why Chase and Sash wanted Benty out first -- they didn't trust him.

As for Sash feeling like he's King of the World again after winning immunity, I think he'd probably better think again.

And I wish that when Jane talked about not being as strong as the younger guys and Jud/Fabio was asked to react, he had said "Are you kidding me? Did you see Jane in the immunity challenge a few days ago? Did you see Jane when she had already won immunity and kept going just to show how strong she is?" Missed opportunity, that.

What I thought was interesting was the looks on the the non-quitter juror's faces as the votes were read. They did seem to have a "what are you people thinking?" quality. Anyone who takes Jane or Holly to the end is nuts.

So what does anyone thinks Propst meant by "the losers will be executed?"

Apparently hell hath no fury like a Jane scorned, eh?

How does the hidden immunity idol come into play if there was a tie? I have many "rules" questions after this episode in an effort to understand why they didn't fight the "big three" at all.

If they had forced a tie between Jane and Holly and re-voted to get the same tie, then would they bring in the purple rock? Who would have to pick a rock? Would Jud, Chase and Sash all be exempt since they had immunity? Then Jane and Holly would be exempt too because that has been the rule in the past (the people involved in the tie are not supposed to pick a rock). That means Dan would be eliminated, which wouldn't really help Jud or Jane in the long run, except that Jane could still win some immunities and end up in the final three. I initially thought they were stupid to not force a tie situation, but after I went through this scenario, I realized what would happen if they did. Jud and Dan extended their chances by NOT forcing a tie and by letting Jane leave. That is assuming that the people who played HII would be exempt from picking a rock.

If, realizing that the purple rock scenario wouldn't really work in this situation, they went to a fire building tie breaker instead though, Jane would have won for sure.

Interesting episode. I hope Jeff addresses the possible tie scenarios in his blog this week to verify that I'm thinking this through properly.

I agree - the building a fire challenge is always the most interesting (and most fair).

I say, even if the outcome of voting for Holly wasn't a good one for Jane, Fabio and Dan, they should have done it.

However... my honest opinion is that both Fabio and Dan wanted to "show their allegiance" to the other 3. Let's face it - everyone knew that if they took Jane to the final 3, she'd win. They wanted to get her out eventually. I think both Fabio and Dan thought, "If I vote with them, they'll keep me around a little longer."

However, if I were one of them, I would have voted for either Sash or Chase, knowing that they would have used the HII. Jane, being on the jury, would never think that I voted against her, and I would tell Chase and Sash back at camp that I voted for one of them.. just because. I'd say I knew Jane was going home, so I just wrote down whoever's name. You know the alliance of 3 already has a strategy as to who they're going to vote out, so what would I have to lose by saying that to them? And I could possibly solidify Jane's jury vote if I made it that far.

I was surprised at how honest Chase was, however, he still couldn't just man up and say, "Yes, that's what is happening," without turning to Sash and Holly and saying, "Right?" ... both when they were talking to Jane at camp, and while answering Jeff's questions at tribal council. The only chance that 1 of the 3 of them have to win is if Fabio and Dan are voted out.

All I know is.. they better hope Fabio doesn't any more immunity challenges...

That may have been part of it, but I think the real thing is that Fabio wanted Jane gone. If you remember, Fabio was the one who suggested to Chase that Jane should go. Sash, Chase and Holly seemed to be assuming that Dan would be the one to go. Chase said that to Fabio, but Fabio was the one who said "No, it should be Jane" and then the alliance of three decided this was the best time to get Jane out since it had to happen sooner or later.

I had to rewind a few times to catch it, but when Jane puts the fire out and it goes to slo-mo before the commercial, you can see a smile starting on Fabio's face.

Fabio knows his only chance is to win immunity, because Sash, Chase and Holly will stick together. They said so last night. (I just do not understand these people who feel the need to lay it all out at TC.) But he also knows that if he does win immunity and make to it the Final 3, he doesn't want to be there with Jane. She is seen as a bigger Final 3 threat than Holly. So, it's in his best interest to get Jane out, especially if it can be done in a way that assures that she'll never vote for Sash, Chase or Holly. Having her go out before the Final 4 does just that. If he makes it to the Final 3, he has her vote and he might pick up the votes of some others.

There's simply no way that Fabio could come out on top based on strategy, going against the alliance of Chase, Sash and Holly. So the task for him is to (1) win immunity and (2) try and make sure jurors have a reason to vote for him over the other 2 in the Final 3.

I said out the outset I didn't think he was as dumb as he was coming across.

This season is killing me.

Why in the world did Chase, Holly and Sash volunteer their strategy the way they did? At this point, Holly is the only one of the three who seems to have their strategic wits about them, and that's not saying a whole lot.

I'm really pulling for Fabio at this point. I've been silently cheering him on for most of the season, but the exchange between him and his mom clenched it for me. Go, dude! Bring home the million bucks!!!

Now, about Jeff's blog. I usually really enjoy it. I look forward to reading it every week. I was a bit disappointed in this week's, though. I'm wondering if he's through wasting mental energy blogging about this season's idiots.

Because Chase, who plays emotionally (like we were reminded in the "Previously on Survivior" intro this week) can't keep his mouth shut, and he forced Sash and Holly to chime in or sit there and look dumb.

BTW, spoiler-free speculation is that CBS basically telegraphed who is in the Final 3 in the commercial promo this week. I won't say more here, but check it out if you want to.

I haven't seen a commercial promo other than the "Next time... on Survivor" plug at the end of the last episode. I did notice in that, though, that there's a scene of only four survivors carrying their torches. I don't know whether it's accurate to assume the fifth person has been voted out, since s/he could've just been the last person in the line (and simply left out of the shot).

Is there another promo out there? (I looked briefly, but didn't do any in depth hunting.)

Yes, there is another promo -- the one they show as a commercial during other shows. I can't find it online though. PM me if you want info about it.

I finally watched it just now - but it was ruined for me because I checked the Charlotte Observer's website yesterday for a review on our Messiah performance (which I missed this week's episode for) and they had a picture of Jane on the front page. I didn't read the headline, but it was fairly obvious without it.

As for Jane - I really wish they would have let her keep unloading on everyone at TC. Maybe she did, and they didn't show it. Her "jury questions" are going to be interesting. Especially if Chase makes it to the Final 3.

One final thought for now: I've never seen such a gigantic strategic vacuum in my life. I think my 4 year old uses more strategy playing one round of Candyland than these people have used all game.

Bumping just to remind people that the finale is on tonight.

Ok, I'm happy with the outcome.


And Sash got HEF-TAY. WOW.

I'm very happy with the outcome too. Very happy :) I'm not happy with the $100K popular player.

Anxiously awaiting this big announcement. I think I know what it might be... Guessing that Jeff is done and BR is taking over his spot. Just a guess though. They haven't announced anything yet.

And yay, we have a legacy :) Carina!

Love the lighting-- the blue light reflecting off of NaOnkah's forehead.

How can a teacher not think that a rain forest is a RAIN forest?

DaffyKD

She's a GYM teacher....



Not sure if I like the new concept (it might grow on me), but at least it does shake the game up a little more than a "Medallion of Power". Did they say where the location would be and I missed that, or did they only talk about the concept?

NM found on Wiki: It has been confirmed by CBS that the season would be shot at San Juan del Sur Beach in Nicaragua, the same place where the previous season was shot. You know what? In the end, besides Africa (S3, not Gabon), and MAYBE China, it all looks the same.

Also, I guess this has been done internationally: This concept is already in use in at least two foreign versions of the franchise under different names: The Island of the Dead in the Israeli version and Isla Purgatoryo in the Philippine version's second season.

I liked my guess better...lol.

I don't think I like the idea of Redemption Island personally.

Yay for Fabio! I'm very happy with the results. Honestly, when he won that final immunity idol, I felt pretty sure he'd win the whole thing. When he decided to vote off Holly, that's when I knew he had it in the bag. (Not that Holly would've won if she had been in the final 3, but of the four remaining players, it seemed that Fabio and Holly would secure the most jury votes.)

Did I miss the part where they said which jury members voted for which player? Don't they usually include that in the reunion show?

So happy with Jeff's announcement that, from here on out, the producers get to decide what happens (as far as game play is concerned) to any player who quits. Too bad that rule wasn't in place this season.

I like the idea of Redemption Island, too. I can see how that could really alter one's strategy. Clearly, this season wouldn't have been too affected by RI, since strategy was more of an afterthought than an actual part of the game.

Hat's off to Fabio. I hope he has lots of fun with his mil.

ETA: I'm waiting for MC's crow. ;)

Here you go!

I too am very happy with the outcome, especially (here'e my crowing) since I said at episode 2 that Fabio was going deep into the game and just might win, and at the recap I called Fabio to win. :D

I want to know how the votes broke down: We know Marty and Dan voted for Fabio, and I'm guessing Benry and Jane as well. I think Holly probably joined Branda and Alina to vote for Chase, so that would leave NaOnka and Purplekelly (whose hair did not look good last night) as the question marks. I can see either of them going either way.

Meanwhile, Marty is still arrogant and Shannon is as charming as ever.

And I think I like the Redemption Island idea -- at least I'm willing to give it a shot.

^^Wait, how'd my name get there?


I love how there was absolutely no bravado announcing Jane as Player of the Season, and how with that and her 5th place prize money, she actually ended up making out better than Chase (and, well, everyone but Fabio).

I'd honestly be pretty disappointed if I was selected for Survivor and then found out I was going to Canada. It would seem a bit like Survivor: Upstate New York to me. Not that I still wouldn't do it - I'd jump at the chance to be on Survivor, regardless of circumstances...but it wouldn't be the same as a far-off, exotic location.

ETA: Just checked, and In their warmest month, August, the average high is 61. 61 is not conducive to chicks in bikinis. I think that rules that out. I don't think the producers would agree to leave out the bikini factor.

Just to make sure you were paying attention. ;)

(Well, that or bad editing on my part when I redid my post at the last second to respond to SydneyK instead of you. :o)

Well, then I was wrong about Jane. FWIW, The Wiki has the same thing, though I have no idea where they got the info.

I did think last night that after his answer to Quitter NaOnka's question, Jud (I'll go back to that now) just might have wrapped up her vote, despite her attitude toward him most of the time. (At least most of the time that we saw. I saw an interview with him where he said they also had friendlier moments we didn't see -- that it was a love/hate sort of thing.)

And interestingly, in that same interview you quoted, Jud says that it was his understanding that Alina and Brenda both said they voted for Chase because they didn't think he would get any other votes. Brenda certainly did seem to hesitate when she cast her vote.

She sure did! I thought for sure she had voted for Sash, but was wanting to change her vote at the last minute. I wonder when their vote is considered "official". Is it once they've revealed it to the camera? Once they've put it in the voting vessel?

If the interview is correct, I'm surprised that Nay and PurpleKelly voted for Fabio. I guess I should stop being surprised by anything Nay does/did, though. But PurpleKelly? She was such a dingbat, and she seemed to be such a fan of Sash. I really expected that she would throw her vote his way.

So I guess that's sort of like a "I don't want any of you to win, so I'll pick the least likely so I'll be wasting my vote" vote?