Day 17 at Tadhana and everyone’s consoling Hayden for the events at Redemption Arena. Yeah, yeah, boo-hoo, there’s one less competitor here. That’s how I see it. You’re all one step closer to a million bucks. Just move on with your lives… Hayden is authentically broken up at how it went down, because he knew he could have switched with her and didn’t, but considering that Kat sometimes “doesn’t know which way is up,” he says, it’s probably a good thing he’s still on the beach.
In fact, he thinks this may strengthen his position because he can now play “his game,” be a little more cutthroat, and can align with the other players on Tadhana that have lost a loved one. In a tribe chat to discuss how things will go once they merge, Aras says the one thing that no one wants to hear,
“I know Vytas will come with us. So, let’s ball…”
Yes, let’s ball indeed, Mr. Baskauskas. That’s the last thing you want to be telling the people who already see a very large target on your back. Right now Aras should be talking about just winning the next challenge and not how they’ll bring in Vytas. Did Aras eat some of the Purina Stupid Cat Chow that Kat was eating…? Keep your mouth shut…!
So Aras decides he needs to go meditate to find his path to enlightenment in the game, and no one wants to be a part of that nonsense. He trudges off alone, leaving the other 5 Tadhana to conspire against him. Tyson takes the opportunity to make his pitch that Aras only wants to reconnect with Vytas and take over the game. His proposal is to take out Aras next, and then the five remaining Tadhana (Tyson, Gervase, Hayden, Caleb and Ciera) will be solid to the finish. Sounds good in theory, but when does anything play out as expected on Survivor?
It’s the morning of Day 18 and Vytas just woke up on the beach next to Katie. As we saw last week, Tina seems to have grown fond of Vytas, especially if he can give her “some grandbabies” with Katie. I’m just wondering how Katie is responding to watching this episode at home right now. Isn’t she embarrassed? No one likes hearing their parents describe to the world how to “bag” their daughter. Unless Katie and Vytas are together today and don’t give a s**t about what Tina said 6 months ago. I’m just hoping we’ll get a very probing question by Jeff at the reunion show.
So Vytas tells us again he’s figured out how to win over the women in his tribe by just being honest and playing the “reformed bad boy” that women just love. He’s got it all figured out, so let’s hope that doesn’t end up biting him in the ass. As I mentioned before, he might be on the chopping block tonight so let’s stop with the “I’m okay where I am talk.”
And let’s stop Laura B. from talking altogether. Now she’s revealing her insecurities and how much SHE likes Vytas, and how she needs to keep her heart out of it, and a bunch of other malarkey. Truthfully, I’m not sure where this episode is headed, but this conversation alone makes me think Laura is going to f**k something up and shoot herself in the foot. Let’s see what happens next.
Treemail brings us the information that the Immunity Challenge will involve the team’s being chained together and doing something physical. Vytas (and I’m sure everyone on Galang) knows this doesn’t bode well for them, but they endeavor to still do their best. As Vytas heads off to take a swim, the other ladies reaffirm that he’ll be the next to go. And…Laura B. starts crying about it. Can someone please tell this woman how to play the gosh darn game!? You’re seriously crying because of what MIGHT happen?! And you think this doesn’t put a teensy target on your back? Whatever, she’s dead to me. She was supposed to be gone first (remember Jeff’s predictions), so I can’t be bothered by her stupidity…
The challenge involves 4 players being chained together at the ankles and maneuvering around a course while untying bags. The bags hold chains that will be used to make bolos that have to be thrown. Despite Tadhana’s testosterone advantage (Ciera is sitting out) Galang is actually hanging in there. Shoot, if I was on Galang, I would instruct everyone to just grab and hold onto all the Tadhana players.
Both teams handle the course successfully and the bags are given to Tina and Tyson at about the same time. Tyson lands a quick one but so does Tina, and the challenge is pretty neck and neck with Tyson just a step ahead. Tina actually has a chance to win it on one throw, but fails and Tyson lands his last bolo. Tadhana wins again!
Back at camp, a “Southern picnic” awaits the victors and they dig in as they should. There doesn’t seem to be any clues hidden in the food, but no one seems to be looking anyway. The only thing that stands out to me is that Tyson is starting to come across as kind of a d**k. While he used to be funny, he’s just coming across as arrogant, and being arrogant is not how to win Survivor (unless you’re Richard Hatch). No one in the tribe seems to mind Tyson’s attitude but I’ll keep my eye on that. Typically, the person who wins Survivor is not an a**hole, so methinks Tyson is not entirely aware of how he’s playing.
And neither is Laura B. at Galang who – unbelievably – reveals to Vytas (in front of the entire tribe, mind you) that he’ll be going home tonight. I can’t believe I just wrote that. Someone actually telling a player they’re going home IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. The surprised look on the other ladies faces can only be described as priceless. I just said to keep your mouth shut, and you gone and done that… She needs to not only be voted off the tribe, but helicoptered off the island and sent back to the States. HAS SHE EVER SEEN THE GAME PLAYED?! Do people really come on the show with such s**t in the brains? I’m perplexed…
So Vytas is obviously…displeased…at hearing this. But I think that something else may be brewing at Galang. And according to Laura it’s that by her spilling her guts, she’ll be more respected and viewed as a leader on the tribe.
Uh, yeah. No. That’s not going to happen. When Monica can’t hide the fact that she’s annoyed, you know you’re in trouble.
But Vytas is not sure so he needs to have some conversations with the sane women in his tribe. Tina is the first to hint that it may be Laura B. going home, so that’s all he needs to hear. He knows he’s ingratiated himself with the tribe, so now it’s up to him to play the trust card and have the ladies make the right decision.
Tribal council doesn’t offer a whole lot that we don’t already know. Vytas plays the trust card, “You didn’t trust Kat,” and now “You can’t trust Laura.” And Laura is saying she’s really opening up and coming out of her shell. Great for you, Laura, but this isn’t a company retreat. It’s a game show. And you just played one of the stupidest games in recent history. This may rank up there with the “Erik’s” of the world. Just go vote for Laura B. everyone.
And they do. Goodbye tie-dye shirts! Let’s hope we never see you again on the show… And what’s really annoying is she seems so content with what just happened. Is she so self-unaware she doesn’t realize she just made a BONEHAM-headed play? Whatever, I’m over her. I hope she twists her ankle walking to Redemption Island and has to be medically evac-ed to Manila …
Ah damn, she made it to Redemption and tells John and Laura that the other girls “didn’t go with the plan.” Excuse me, what plan was that? Oh, that was YOUR plan. Ok, now I see why they didn’t go with it.
In the tease for next week we see a glimpse of the challenge and learn that whoever wins will re-enter the game. I guess that means that two people are going home so the stakes are extra high…on a totem pole! And they’re even higher for anyone not named Baskauskas as the tribes are merging next week! Can’t wait to see how big of an a**hole that makes Tyson.
Have a great week everyone!
Fish
bryan.fish.fischer@gmail.com
John missed the perfect comeback line when Kat talked about Hayden breaking up for not making merge. He should have said, “well I’m divorcing Candice for not even making it onto the island so….” Would have been amazing! Lol!