Nice to see a relatively normal episode of Survivor that wasn't wrecked by quitters, and featuring a 2v2 with a swing vote making a tough game altering decision. Did feel the episode was a little spoiled by the episode title saying something about worms - soon as I saw that, then the worm eating scene, I was pretty sure Blue was going to go to tribal.

Sandwich question is tough - 100% J Maya just wanted to do something interesting, rather than what's best for her game. I don't think she really thought through the implications of this kind of amulet, and how it doesn't mean you work together, but rather than opposite. It's a public target on your back, and the three people who have it are incentivized to kill each other as fast as possible, and then whoever is left probably has an idol that everyone knows about and wants gone.

I never really blame people on taking it anyways, it's clear that even though Jeff/Production want people to have to think about the advantages, they also show the people who take them more, give them more confessionals, and have slightly better returning player equity.

She's a simplistic strategic thinker. The whole "get Sifu out now" was awful.

Other than perhaps not playing under the radar enough, Kaleb has to be one of the most naturally good players ever. He's very perceptive with his passive appraisals of tribe dynamics, he has the social skills to then leverage those dynamics in his favor (bringing Emily and Katturah into his orbit while they're seemingly on the outs with the rest of the tribe, biting his tongue with Bruce, etc.), and he's a challenge beast. And given that it seems we're headed for a Reba vs. Belo post merge showdown, him and Emily are both in a very good spot to go deep. It'll just be a matter of keeping the spotlight off himself for as long as possible along with a few timely immunity wins and he could quickly enter GOAT tier player rankings.

Kaleb is very good, but even though it seems natural for him, his over-the-top gregariousness can't be missed by others when he's making his connections with everyone. It could end up as the old "no one can beat him at FTC so we need to get him out now".


Also, his 1978 tube socks tilt the hell out of me.

Wonder if you can pass that amulet to someone else, because it seems nothing but trouble. With 3 people able to leak information you got to imagine most people will know about it within 2-3 days. I'm not even sure you're supposed to go after the other 2. Only if you were guaranteed for it to stay a secret would that make sense, but right now already 5 people know about it that we know of.

Kaleb is being edited very similar to Malcolm his first season and also Devon. They both finished 4th. Can he avoid that fate also, we shall see.

Delighted Brando went over Kendra. The most boring male character on the cast who offered nothing other than being a totally run of the mill game bot nerd which are a dime a dozen these days vs the most fun quirky ott female character on the cast


Not sure I agree with this personally. I always say the perfect Survivor player is Kim Spradlin because she hits the sweet spot of being an 8/10 on all three facets of the game. Kaleb just feels 'too perfect' which makes me think he will always struggle to see the end game on any given season. But happy to be proven wrong

Correct play for the amulet is for 2 of the people to burn the amulet, so there's only 1 left and it's an immunity idol that they can use together (but really whoever has it just uses it for themself)

I'm not sure Drew is so good at the game. He seems really bad at lying. And even seems like he could be lying when he's telling the truth. I feel like that's a big handicap to have.

I think drew's game is to be as upfront as possible. He seems to have been in two solid majorities on two tribes so I'd say he's good enough.

Season is keeping me engaged, I wish we had this 90 minute episodes for a season like Winners at War.

I bet Emily was strong the whole time and all of that was for television.

They probably had this one misunderstanding.

They should have taken Kendra out. Brando at least showed a willingness to work with them

Dont forget that Kendra went to Lulu (off sceen) in epsiode 1 and allegedly had a good raport with Emily.

If i was in Drews shoes, the second Brando proposes to throw his original tribe mate under the bus at the first given opportunity, I am taking him out over Kendra who still has potential to be brought in as a loyal number.

Merge next week could be interesting if its a traditional vote (which I doubt it as its new era Survivor)

Austin, Julie, Dee, Drew as a solid four with J Maya on the fringes

Jake and Bruce as a tight duo

Kaleb, Kellie and Emily could very well lock in as a trio

Then you have Katurah, Kendra and Sifu who need to find a home somewhere

I honestly would have taken the food over the amulet. Don't see that as much of an advantage TBH and it's far too reliant on other people's play.

Happy Brando is gone, completely boring and not good at any facet of the game.

Merge next week will likely be a "split with one person sitting out" challenge where one side gets immunity if history holds true.

If Dee, Julie, Drew and Austin lock in together they could be dangerous to make a long run to the end. I think Dee will do very well in individual comps.

It will be all people voting, but they can only vote out someone from the losing tribe.

My personal Power rankings thru the latest episode:

Serious contenders
1. Kaleb
2. Kellie
3. Austin

Maybe
4. Emily
5. Dee
6. Jake
7. Drew

Meh but maybe
8. J Maya
9. Julie
10. Kendra

Would be shocked if they won
11. Katurah
12. Bruce

Lol
13. Sifu

I dont have too much change from mine last week;

Contenders
1. Dee
2. Kellie
3. Emily

Middle fodder
4. Julie
5. Austin
6. Drew
7. Kendra
8. Kaleb
9 Jake

Depends who wins the war

10= Bruce & Katurah

No chance
12. J Maya
13. Sifu

Lol at fish for a reward, after fruit earlier? I wonder if players are telling production that the decadent stuff, as enticing as it is, might not be the best idea due to the inevitable GI issues it causes, which thankfully we're been pretty much spared all on camera details if indeed it has happened.

Would like to update this comment to first five episodes. Especially with the personal content segement all about how she could never fathom quitting tying back to her parents

dee might be getting a great edit, but she is too selfish to build good alliances. she wrote down sifu's name, she let j maya take the blame, and then backstabbed j maya.

her only alliance is with the two other women, and she talked with one woman about betraying the other woman, after she already betrayed sifu

Yeah, I don’t really understand why she didn’t just admit to writing down Sifu’s name. Especially when J Maya and Julie get thrown under the bus.

Not like Dee trying to work with him and he is solo in that tribe.

Dee also could have had her entire story frontloaded and is the dramatic merge boot

Sorry for your bad stomach. Not sure everyone else has fruit -> fish issues.

Quite a few survivor players have alluded to the fact that the big food rewards after you've subsisted on papaya or coconut for a week or two have an unpleasant after effect on their stomachs and express regret that they ate so much.

It wouldn't surprise me if survivor has brought in some nutritionists who said "you give them no food for 10 days, then feed them outback steakhouse and chocolate cake? what the hell" and received a little bit more thoughtful suggestion on how to not destroy their innards.

Just ask Joe Del Campo.

Ask Aubry