Ometepe
We found out definitively last week that Phillip and Andrea are on the outskirts of their tribe. Though Andrea is actually in the five-strong alliance, it's apparent that if it came time to vote off one of their own, she'd be the one forced into doing the most scrambling to save her own butt. It's hard to tell exactly where Phillip sits with Ometepe. He's definitely the outsider, but that makes him a valuable asset to Rob. As long as Phillip is so detested by the female half of the tribe, Rob knows he's always got one extra week to scramble, even if his number does come up. This uncertainty pertaining to his place in the tribe keeps Phillip just crazy enough to continue on as an important asset to Rob's end game.
Zapetera
All is not well. Things were initially on the up and up after throwing a challenge to vote Russell out. Though they won their next immunity challenge, they lost last week's. And that was all this tribe needed to start tearing at the seams. It's unclear what it is exactly about one of the strongest six-person alliances I've ever seen that has made things to volatile. Is it really just the feud between Dave and Sarita? Or does it lie deeper? Regardless, they sent Krista home in spite of the infighting. Stephanie had the world on her shoulders this week if she was going to make any attempt to penetrate this tribe and stay in the game.
Survivor Redemption Island Ep. 06- "Their Red-Headed Stepchild"
Of All the Survivors in All the World...
Steve is hurt. Steve is scared. Why did the village idiot and her lackey vote for him?! It isn't fair! It isn't right. When Stephanie and Krista made the initial decision last week to cast their votes for him, it was with this idea that he was the weak link on their tribe. It sounded bizarre at the time, but in light of the first few minutes of this weeks episode, one can only wonder... Is Steve a sissy? He sure doesn't look like one. But, you have to admit, sometimes he kind of acts like one.
The Damage She Did on Her Way Out
Granted, now that Stephanie is on her own in this game, she can't afford to be as obnoxious, and that made her just a little bit likable this week, in a sort of "pitiful underdog" kind of way. However, she was the last of her three-person alliance to get the boot, so there really isn't much of a reason to dwell too much on all the scrambling she did this week to keep herself in the game, which ultimately was all for naught. Or was it? Stephanie may be on her way to Redemption Island, but she affected some changes that I'm guessing will be long lasting. More on that as the recap unfolds...
Lazy Ometepe
Things could not be more entertaining at Ometepe. This tribe is honestly funnier when they aren't getting ready for a vote. Just leave these people to themselves, and hilarity ensues.
Phillip cannot believe how lazy Natalie and Ashley are. They just sit there, have spa days, pick each other's armpit hair, etc... Phillip has had it. So, he politely requests that the girls check on the fire every thirty minutes or so. Ashley can't believe it though, she tells the cameras that she was a basketball player (High school, I guess?), and not only that...but she did Pageants! She's had a rough, tiring life. And she thinks Survivor is just the place to catch up on some R&R. They're comfortable in an alliance with Rob, and things are good.
Well, like everyone else, they are unknowingly playing right into his hands. "They're 19, 20 year old girls, they're not going to do anything," he tells Grant. And then to the cameras, states that the less they do, the happier he is. He doesn't need reasons for people to write their names down for a million bucks if it comes down to one of them and himself. You get the feeling this guy has such a grip on this game, that absolutely nothing phases him. Like this is just a fun vacation CBS calls him up from time to time to send him on.
So Two Christians Walk into a Duel...
Turns out Krista's born again, which we would have never had a clue about except that her luxury item on Redemption Island ends up being a Bible. Matt is thankful for the Christian fellowship, and you can tell it genuinely does his heart good to have someone to pray with. He even looks a little downtrodden at the prospect of having to compete with his new BFF.
At the challenge, it sincerely looks like Krista is going to pull it out, but Matt hustles. He has a calm and composure that can only come from the familiarity of these duels at this point. Even though they're always different, he's competed in four of them.
He makes up the time he lost collecting the bags, and when Krista's ball falls in one of the maze holes near the end of the track, it seals her fate. Matt is able to very slowly and delicately finish up the maze, and for a fourth time, he wins. It would have been somewhat interesting to see Krista pull this one out, but at this point, Matt's domination at these challenges is great in its own right, even if him being the one to re-enter the game wouldn't be the most exciting because of all the time that has passed at this point. But you can tell he still has a chip on his shoulder just a little bit. And if he were to somehow pull out every single duel... well, that'd be fantastic.
Anyway, at challenges end, Krista hands her Bible over to Matt and tell him that it's his now. It was actually a sweet moment for an otherwise unlikable castaway on this show. Almost like her true "redemption," regardless of her status or non-status in the game. Kudos also to Probst and the show-runners for treating the subject with some respect. Though it's usually pretty easy on reality shows to highlight a contestants shortcomings when they make their faith so blatant, there's no denying that Matt is just a genuinely nice guy. Which leads to my next point...
Matt is Just a Genuinely Nice Guy
Andrea's comments about the duel were misguided and hilarious. She's worried that Matt could be a threat in the game, given how quickly he formed bonds with both Andrea and Krista. Whatever. She just felt a little betrayed. She's on a tribe with airheads, and felt special because of the attention Matt showed her. Hopefully it was just an aside and won't play into her decision making if Matt ends up getting back into the game, and if she's still around to see it. Matt has been crucified over and over for simply being a nice guy. It keeps getting misread as strategy. All we know about Matt's strategy in this game is that he'd like to be in an alliance with Rob and Grant. That's really it. That barely counts. Everyone wants that.
Toothaches and Dave
Stephanie gets the lucky break of her life when Sarita starts walking around camp complaining about a toothache. It doesn't help that she already isn't that strong in challenges. Julie even dubs her a drama queen, and a princess.
Whether Dave really does only care about winning, or if Krista's words at the last tribal council about him having not a real "friend" in the Big Six got to him, he seizes the opportunity to lobby for Stephanie to stay. It's kind of hard to understand exactly why he stuck his neck out for her as much as he did. If Krista is right, and he really doesn't have a real ally in the Big Six, why put himself out there? Is he simply tired of the complacency found in his alliance? The fact that no one is addressing the reality that if all goes according to plan, they'll be eating their own after this week? You can tell he's a thinker and a speaker in a tribe of people content to ride the wave and deal with the future as the future happens. And if nothing else is absolutely clear about his motivations, you can tell that one fact grates on his nerves more than anything else. I really like him, but after this week, he better be praying for some immunity wins, or a merge. And soon.
Credit, Credit, Credit...
Back at Ometepe, Phillip just wants some credit, but he's alienated everyone. Especially the girls. But he does all the work, and the girls get all the spoils. He just wants the credit! Why he's obsessed so much with "credit"... I'm not so sure. But it's funny. So it all culminates in his proclamation that he's the red-headed stepchild. This is the end all. It's time to call the girls out.
He does just that, and it turns into a full-blown argument between Phillip and Ashley and Natalie. It's one of those where both sides are just making the other angrier with each passing sentence spoken. Rob, the benevolent dictator, recognizes this, and once things have calmed, calls Phillip aside and says the most important thing is team unity. Honestly, as much as Phillip talks about wanting to kill the King, it seems that more than "credit," he just wants Rob's attention. anytime Rob calls him aside for a "talking," Phillip is usually good to go for a few days. So we'll see how this one plays out.
Rob's walking a fine line here, and you know he's got to be thinking, "Maybe I should just accept the risk and send this guy packing." Whatever the case, it'll make for an incredible, and probably humorous, tribal council the next time Ometepe graces it with their presence.
Immunity: The Shirts Are Off
Immunity Challenges like this week's are great. When they pit castaways against each other, one-on-one, it creates some great drama. The challenge was to simply launch a ball with an over-sized slingshot and then have your tribe mates catch it with their nets. First tribe to five wins. Ometepe dominated again. But not before Mike ripped off Grant's shirt attempting to slow him down. It was almost poetic, really. Mike states it best, afterwards: "We weren't meant to win." I've watched the challenge twice- it really wasn't anyone's fault that Zapetera lost. They just lost. This is a team without it's mojo. And though they won the challenge immediately following the one they threw to out Russell, you can't help but point to that moment as the one that began this downward spiral.
How Hiding a Clue Disrespects the United States
I could recap what happened at Ometepe's reward lunch, but Phillip just really nailed it already:
Do you see what I mean about Phillip getting attention from Rob? It tides him over, or something. He gets a talking from Rob, about anything really, and it solidifies in his mind that he's on the inside. It's Stealth R Us or bust, baby. But one sign from anyone that he's not in the position wherein he likes to imagine himself, and it's lion and gorilla time.
I’ve been in an alliance with Rob, Grant and myself. In fact, I call ourselves “Stealth R Us.” I’m the specialist. Rob’s the mentalist. And Grant is the assassin. And yet today, when Rob and Grant found the clue for the idol, and they tried to hide it… Well, Hell hath no fury… *Long pause* Like a lion, or a gorilla when he thinks he’s been provoked. If you’re gonna make an alliance with me, you’d better adhere to it, because I’m all about integrity. I served my country for 4 years, 11 months, 13 days for duty, honor, country. That means something to me. And when you try to trash on that, me and the United States got something for you when you try that one, baby.
I'm just hoping Ometepe keeps winning challenges until the merge, because much as I'd like to think Rob would keep him around, I have a sneaking suspicion he'd probably be the next to go.
Trust vs. Strength
At tribal council, the topic of choice is whether to remain loyal to a trusted member, Sarita, or to switch gears and keep someone who is perhaps stronger in challenges, Stephanie. This is where Dave out-and-out looks like he's turned on his alliance. He spars with Steve's assessment of Sarita's strengths, and argues to Probsts that the tribe is too obsessed with trust. "All I care about is winning" is his motto this week, and Stephanie is eating it up. Ultimately, it doesn't matter. With a vote of 5-2, Stephanie is sent packing.
This means that for the first time, someone within the Big Six voted for one of their own. While everyone granted Dave his main point that Sarita is Zapetera's weakest link, he could still find himself in hot water next week for his disloyalty. Somehow I think he'll end up being okay, but we'll have to see.
Last week I ended by saying that no matter who ended up at tribal council, it should make for a good one. I wasn't 100% right because it was pretty obvious for the entire episode that there was no way Zapetera was going to keep Stephanie around. That being said, now that the Big Six is all that's left, and Phillip has insinuated that his lion and gorilla have been provoked, next week's episode should bring the goods.
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