Survivor – The Apple in the Garden of Eden

by Jason Hughes

CBS

(Season 17, Episode 8)

So we go into tonight’s episode with ten remaining castaways. Sounds like a good time for a merge. Certainly the contestants think so. Don’t you just love it when the players of this game start thinking they know what’s going to happen only to find out things are different this time around? They’ve switched up the formula so many times, how can you possibly strategize as if you know what’s coming?

Kind of makes you wonder if the early elimination of Ace was to have him gone going into a merger. That would certainly strengthen Sugar’s position in the tribe. So everything’s great, right? Kota is six strong and Fang is dwindling in numbers, with only Matty, Sugar, Kenn and Crystal remaining. Not the most formidable bunch to play the game. They thought they had it all figured out. Guess again.

I love it when the game throws things for a loop. I don’t know if this decision was made because Fang has been consistently sucking ass since this whole season began, but once again the tribes were split up and evened out, rather than merged. So how did it go down?

New Fang: Randy (K), Charlie (K), Corinne (K), Matty (F), Sugar (F)
New Kota: Bob (K), Marcus (K), Suzie (K), Crystal (F), Kenny (F)

During the pre-NOT-merger feast, it was pretty interesting the way Randy convinced everyone to throw the new immunity idol into the water. I halfway wonder if he didn’t chuck a bottle instead and pocket the Idol somehow. He did at that point declare himself King of Gabon. Randy is a douchebag, but he might just be the first real dick to win Survivor since Richard Hatch.

Immunity Challenge

What is interesting is that while Randy went into the Immunity Challenge considering throwing it to ensure Susie doesn’t flip on them and get rid of Marcus, instead they fought it out and won. I guess he couldn’t really get Matty on board the plan considering Matty is original Fang.

So here’s the plan: push poles upward with the tops of your hands against boards above your head. Hands lower, poles fall. Our Olympic athlete, Crystal, made it one second. She continues to impress. One by one they dropped, leaving Matty for Fang 3.0 and Bob for Kota 3.0. Really? Bob the last man standing, guys? Matty tried to psyche Bob out by laughing and being obnoxious while his boards were barely holding on. I like Bob and I really thought he was going to pull this one out for his tribe, but alas.

Then, going into Tribal Council, Marcus’ arrogance was just getting ridiculous. He told Crystal it’s Kenny first, then Susie. He then told Susie it’s Kenny first, then Crystal. What a skeezbag. This put Susie in a swing position between the pairings of Marcus & Bob and Crystal & Kenny.

I don’t know how she keeps doing it, but not only does she avoid elimination, but suddenly she was in the most important position in the game. And she may have just turned the tables on Kota 2.0 for good. If they merge next week or before any Fang members go, they’ll have the numbers with Susie. Everybody loves an underdog, and this season they keep surprising.