The following morning (Day 22), Michaela approaches Cirie to let her know she wants to work with her. Cirie informs her the only way that’ll work is if Michaela keeps her mouth closed that Cirie had anything to do with her still being here. But, considering Cirie VOTED FOR MICHAELA, I’m not sure I buy anything Cirie is selling. But Michaela is, and confesses that the fact they’re both African-American women means they have a connection that transcends the game. So…you go with that, girl. I’d like to see a white player say they’re working with someone else “because they’re white” and see what kind of reaction that would get…
Cirie, Zeke and Aubry go for a walk to discuss what’s the next move, and it seems they’re going to point their next arrow at Sierra or Brad, but since Sierra seems to be the “godfather” of that alliance, maybe she should go next. Zeke is down with that, and when asked, Aubry claims to also be down with it. But first, Aubry realizes she’s in between two warring Italian families, and is not sure which side will produce the most casualties. For the moment, she’ll side with Cirie, because she’s standing right next to her.
Zeke takes a hammock break with Andrea to feel her out. Stop it, pervs! They discuss the strength of Brad and Sierra in the game. And as the conversation progresses, Zeke confesses to us he may be more interested in taking out Cirie or Andrea, because they’re the ones playing the hardest. And he ponders, “what do strong players really want to do?” Regret not making a move, or regret making a big move and failing? He’s more interested in making a big move, regardless of the outcome. It’s that Devil-May-Care attitude that’s earning Zeke a pretty healthy Survivor resume…
We’re off to a Reward Challenge that’ll require two teams to retrieve puzzle pieces in the ocean, haul them to shore, untie & hook them, bring them to a puzzle table, and then build a puzzle. First team to finish will get a spa day at the Happy Ending Spa, which is probably what Troyzan and Brad need right now. Hell, I could go for that…
A schoolyard pick produces:
Orange Team
Sarah
Brad
Aubry
Michaela
Cirie
Sierra
Blue Team
Andrea
Tai
Ozzy
Troyzan
Debbie
Zeke
Right off the bat I must say I like Blue, but that’s purely based on testosterone levels. However, with Tai, Zeke and Troyzan on Blue, not sure those numbers are significantly higher than Orange. Let’s just see what happens…
Orange takes a small lead, but that evaporates when one of their fish tries to swim away in the ocean. Sarah has to go retrieve it, forcing Brad to struggle with the other fish/net all alone, which allows the Blue team to take the lead. But when Andrea and Tai forget to hook one of their pieces, Orange takes the lead back and can start assembling the puzzle first.
A mistake like that, on a puzzle challenge, could be catastrophic, or not a big deal at all, depending on who’s assembling the puzzle. It’s Sierra/Cirie vs. Debbie/Zeke, so let’s see who’s still in charge of their cognitive abilities.
Orange has their first puzzle complete but is encountering some challenges on the second. This opens the door for Blue, who’s steady – and successful – approach is keeping them in it. And when a couple pieces don’t fit right for Orange, Zeke and Debbie complete the comeback and get their last piece to squeeze in. Not sure who’s going to be massaging Zeke, but methinks they’re going to have to sign an NDA before they grab the oil…
And as we head to commercial, Sarah confesses she’s cool with how this played out, because it means one of the two groups can now vote out who she wants to vote out. And we’ll just have to find out who that is later… And why is she talking about this after a REWARD challenge?
Back at camp, the losers are feeling like losers, and Cirie is reminding us how bare this game can make you feel. But who cares about that, let’s go see how the winners are doing!
They’re having a ball! Actually, two balls, as Tai goes streaking around the spa. While everyone wants to just sit back and relish this reward, Zeke is still in game mode, and divulges his plan to Debbie and Tai to take out Cirie or Andrea next. But Debbie is skeptical of Zeke’s plan, and wants to conduct her own stealth mission. We’ll see what that means, as everyone heads back to camp smelling a lot nicer…
On an island I don’t recall seeing before, we’re in for our next Immunity Challenge. And it’s an old classic where players have to hold onto a pole. That’s it. You may remember it’s the challenge where Jenn Brown got stung by a bee near her pu*sy, but that may just be how I remember it. In truth, Ozzy has done this one before, and is probably the most suited to win today. Let’s see what transpires…
And sure enough, Jeff reminds us that Sierra has done this challenge, and lost, and Ozzy has done it twice, and won both times. Boy, that seems a little unfair, don’t cha think?
Rather than detailing the whole challenge, here’s the order of removals:
Cirie
Brad
Aubry
Debbie
Zeke
Sierra
Troyzan
Sarah
After 20 minutes, there’s only 4 left, and quickly, we’re down to 3 as Michaela claims she stepped off “because Ozzy ain’t…” Soon, Andrea falls off, and we’re down to Tai vs. Ozzy. After an hour, they’re still up there, and if Jeff would stop talking, maybe the guys could concentrate on what they’re doing.
After a few minor adjustments, Ozzy suddenly slides down the pole and falls to the ground. That comes as a surprise to many of us, I’m sure, considering his success in this challenge, but has he ever faced the Tree Whisperer? Tai slides down his pole and heads over to Ozzy to congratulate him, and hug him, and kiss him, and I’m compelled to say something to all the gay men out there (or maybe just Tai).
Dudes. We know you’re gay. We know you like men. But please stop thinking that straight guys enjoy hugging and kissing you just because you enjoy it. There’s something creepy – not cute – about the way Tai is always crushing on the guys in his tribe – ask Caleb – and it’s getting a little unsettling to us viewers. If my softball team wins a tournament, or my basketball team wins a game, I don’t wanna go hug and kiss every frickin’ player on my team. That’d be gay. We may do a high five, or bash knuckles, or smack each other’s ass, but that’s because we’re dudes just being dudes. Okay, maybe we shouldn’t smack each other’s assess as much as we do… But Tai…little hombre, stop acting like such a pervert all the time…
Even when he’s called over to receive his Immunity Necklace, he mistakenly refers to Ozzy as “The Queen” of this challenge, and again, how many gay references do we need to have in one season? Didn’t we satisfy our LGBTQ quota last week? Sheesh…
And as players all head off, Brad provides the recipe for the rest of the episode,
“Sides are being taken, and [players] need to get on one or the other, or else you’re gonna be on the small side. And it’s going to be a crazy Tribal, because it could dictate the rest of the season.”
Great. Another crazy Tribal. Seems like that should have been the theme for this season rather than Game Changers. Is it too late to order new stationery? Ah hell, we can’t get new buffs made, let’s just stick with what we got…
Upon returning to Maku Maku (Day 24), Zeke tells us he’s happy Andrea didn’t win, because she’s his target tonight. However, he then shares a conversation with Sierra, where he reveals it’s her name being mentioned by his side of the merged tribe…but he tells her he’d rather see Andrea go home. Sierra calls him out for being kind of shifty all the time, but he replies he’s not as “deceptive” as he’s been accused of lately. Sierra figures she just needs to work some magic to make sure she’s not going home tonight. But why is it she doesn’t believe one thing Zeke says but then believes the other? She’s making my head hurt…
Slightly miffed, Sierra heads over to Cirie and tells her Zeke said Sierra was mentioned as a target…by Cirie. So, the Former Couch Potato (who seems heavier this week, huh?) heads back to camp to tell Andrea (and for some reason, Ozzy’s there?) that Zeke revealed the plan to vote out Sierra to Sierra. This pisses Maria von Trapp off, because not only has she been working with Zeke since Day 1, she thought they were friends.
On Survivor…?
But this opportunity means more to Ozzy, who recognizes the timing of this rift, and wonders if he can take advantage of the chaos to get Zeke out next, with Cirie’s help. She and Andrea then head over to have a chat with Sarah to alert her to Zeke’s folly, and what was I saying earlier about Zeke winning this season? What happened to that plan? This whole thing might be a huge misdirect for what’s really going to happen, right? Let’s see…
Sierra and Debbie share a little hammock time and discuss what to do. Sierra says her gut is telling her to vote out Zeke and use Aubry as a cover to tell Mr. Folly. But Debbie is feeling a little big for her britches right now and suggests it’s time to make a Big Move: vote out Ozzy. Hmm, I’m not a fan of that plan… And even though Sierra would consider it, she’s afraid they wouldn’t be able to herd enough cats to make that happen. And btw, the cutaways to the “idiot cats” (Troyzan, Brad, Tai) is a not-so-subtle jab by the show’s editors at the guys’ intelligence…
Debbie initiates Operation: Anne Boleyn as she’s going after Queen #2 (Ozzy). She whispers the plan in Troyzan’s ear, then Tai’s, and if she can pull in Brad and Sierra – and most importantly, do it all quietly – then she’ll be the biggest Game Changer this season (according to her). And hopefully, she won’t have to use the extra vote she received from Cockring, because she’d prefer to hold onto it.
She walks past Sarah and whispers in her ear as well, and sticks her tongue in it, and reveals Op: AB, to which the cop says “perfect,” and, “does anyone have a Q-tip?”
Sarah once again confesses she’s now in the middle of the two groups. We’ll call them Maku Major and Maku Minor:
Maku Major – Brad, Sierra, Troyzan, Tai, Debbie
Maku Minor – Cirie, Andrea, Michaela, Aubry (nice hair!), Ozzy
I guess Zeke and Sarah are the Maku Nots…
Sarah tells us this vote is going to define a lot, as it’s either a huge social/challenge player or a very conniving player going home. And with all these idols, extra votes, and Tribal Drama lately, I still don’t think it’s one of those two going home. Players grab their torches and head to Tribal…
Any male to male contact during a sporting event or competition out side of handshakes and high fives must be qualified with the words good game . That includes chest bumps , bro hugs and ass slaps ! Not my rules just the rules . KISSING is not EVER ALLOWED ! I was shocked Brad and Troyzan didn’t want to save Ozzy . First off a buffer . Secondly the ratio is getting estrogen heavy . The women have a big numbers advantage and could decide to use it ! Debbie s Woodstock flashback ( she had to have done drugs in the day right ) made me entirely revamp my Survivor viewing plans . It was currently get home from volleyball eat AND watch Survivor . After getting sick to my stomach watching her gyrate then drop trough ( throwing away 3/4 s of a damn good roast beef sandwich ) it will be watch Survivor or eat then do the other but NEVER both at same time ! Zeke is making the same mistake he made last season . Get himself to a good spot and then seriously overplay his position . I don’t want him to win or lose the game because he is transgender . I wanted him to win because he was playing a solid game . I am now starting to want him to lose because he isn’t anymore . I assume the guy that called you racist wont respond to Michaela s comment . Funny how one sided some people see the world !
Looks like everyone is still shocked / pissed about Ozzy or still physically ill over seeing Debbie take off her clothes and twerk !
Dude, I was wondering the same thing. Are we the only ones here? I guess there’s more beer for us then… Maybe the subject of what’s “acceptable gayness” is too much for some? For the record, I love the gays, but that doesn’t mean every episode of every frickin’ show on TV needs to have a gay character, storyline, subplot, theme, or joke? It’s like a few years ago, it was decided that everyone has to love EVERYONE equally, and you were wrong if you didn’t abide by that. I can be tolerant of everyone, but that doesn’t mean I have to love everything about everyone. Hello, is this thing on?! I think I found the problem, Rick, our mic has been turned off this whole time… See ya in a few days, partner…
Agree 1000 % . I in my heart dont think homosexuality was part of God s plan . Same with gender re assignment . However its not my place to tell someone how to live . I have never nor will ever treat anyone who chooses that lifestyle as anything less than equal . My biggest issue is when people say treat me the same but in the very next breath ask for different rules . Not that I believe Zeke to be like that . Funny how some people only accept your opinion if it matches theirs .
Hey. I did not get to read this until today. I already forgot it was a two-hour episode. I agree with a lot of what you said, and yes, you made me lol yet again … several times. My family would tell you that I am naive. I say a little – they would laugh me out of the family with that. However, you all stunned me last week with suggesting that the Zeke moment might have been staged. The word was METAMORPHOSIS. I never gave that two thoughts. I do not watch a lot of reality TV, but I just never thought of this situation in that light. That makes me even more angry, I think.
Cirie is playing a pretty good game MOST of the time. I really liked how she handled the Michaela discussion, and it was in a nonjudgmental/helpful sort of way. I hope Michaela can take something away from that. Maybe not right now in the heat of this game, but perhaps in the future.
I agree with your assessment of Zeke 100%. He was at a good spot in the game and had sympathy on his side. I agree, he makes it to the end and he wins and not necessarily because he deserves to at that point. Which is sad, but there may have been some sympathy votes out there. Now he really did overplay his hand, and he has those women peeved.
Totally agree with the actions of Debbie and Tai. Send those two home and do not bring them back.
I have never liked Debbie and I cannot believe that weird woman just orchestrated the outing of Ozzy. I have said before that I wanted the strong to survive, and I wanted an Ozzy win from the beginning. Maybe they could do some kind of friggin’ fan vote like they did with Rupert so we can get the right winner for a change.
Sigh – I hope you get to see this before the next episode. Sorry I was so late to the party …