SURVIVOR 41 (Episode 5)

…And just when we thought we might be in the clear of all these new advantages (and disadvantages) CBS brings ‘em back for episode 5! I’d be lying if I said I’m not a little bummed because I thought we’d finally get to see these players play the GAME instead of watching them react to twists that are planted by the producers. Either way, it was another crazy episode…would you have gone strategist or loyalist?? LET’S GO!

• The episode kicks off at UA beach, following JD’s elimination. And it’s starting to feel like this tribe is clicking and I can actually see this trio going deep in the game (TG because selfishly they’re all on my drafted tribe!), but nice moments like this are few and fleeting in the game of Survivor. Genie goes off and finds the re-hidden, BEWARE ADVANTAGE IDOL and shares this info (will they ever learn??) with Shan and Ricard, knowing that opening it will cause whoever to lose their vote until all 3 phrases are said.

• The three agree to keep the advantage unopened until they know for certain the other two tribes have found theirs to prevent any of the three UA members from losing their vote at tribal. Although this is a very nice thought, Shan wants that immunity idol for herself. Shan gives Ricard her extra vote from JD to hold onto as a symbol of loyalty to help her putting a decoy idol in the parchment and then tricking Genie into thinking that when Shan says the phrase at the next immunity challenge that it’s to “see” if the other tribes have found the idol. Genie buys it.

• Give Ms. Tiffany an award… her eye-rolling is seriously next level iconic. What a ham! She’s so erratic! How long is she going to be in this game??

• As Jeff is introducing the immunity challenge, we get Shan dropping her broccoli line, which then prompts Xander for a third time to talk about his dead relatives as butterflies…and just when we think the idol is going to remain unlocked…..

• The star of this episode, NASEER whips out a perfect delivery about goats on astroturf!! Wow! Who’d a thunk he’d be the one to not only find the BEWARE ADVANTAGE, but do so with no one on his tribe knowing about it!? The backstory they cut to with his daughter hiding idols in his backyard was a classic Survivor ~•~FEELS~*~ moment! Maybe homie has some game in him after all!

• UA didn’t stand a chance at this challenge, even with the potential of LUVU throwing the challenge (Nasser ain’t letting that happen!) YASE comes in first and must send a player of their choice to the Survivor summit. They pick Shan, and Liana volunteers to join her.

• This pair hits it OFF immediately. And honestly, Liana and Shan feel endgame to me. Shan pretty much gave Liana an advantage (we’ll talk about how RIDICULOUS said advantage is in a minute…) and Shan divulges to Liana that if she doesn’t survive the UA tribal, Ricard cannot be trusted. This scene was emotional and really great to see.

• Now about that mystery advantage…Liana gets it the following day and it’s to steal anyone’s advantage by asking the correct question? …are they kidding me? WHY CBS?? Lying is such a critical piece to this game and they’re a) taking that power away and b) allowing a player (in this case, Liana) to take any advantage she wants… Where’s the risk…ESPECIALLY in a season where all of these advantages are pretty much out and in the open!? Does this seem ridiculously unfair/way too powerful? Am I crazy??

• While Shan was away on her summit, it gave Ricard and Genie time to possibly pull a blindside on Shan. Ricard haaaas the extra vote and this could have been done to help flush out an idol, but it seems like Genie is loyal to Shan 100% - which puts Shan, once again in the middle.

• We’ll see how this all plays out, but Shan voting Genie out seemed like her first major fumble. Why would you want to move forward in the game with someone who is equally diabolical/strategic as you vs someone who has clearly expressed full loyalty? Having two cutthroat players like Shan and Ricard in the game is only going to end messy. Who cuts who first!?

• Either way, it was a real bummer to see Genie go. I feel like she was playing as well as she could given the cards she was dealt. She seemed to fill her roll as the provider and overall good viber. I wish we had more screen time with her!

ONTO THE LEAGUE:

NASEER! NASEER! NASEER!!! He really shook things up this week earning not only advantages, idols and challenge wins but rewarding his tribe drafts a massive 24 points! Trailing Naseer were Shantel and Liana with 21 and 20 points respectively. We also gotta take a moment of silence for tribe members, Bri, Jill, Olivia and Tori who all lost their sole survivor this week, Genie.

Based on my experience as a Survivor super-fan, we're starting to see some serious threats in our league emerge. Matt R. tops this week earning 52 points bringing his total to 196 points (although should be mentioned, this week's top earner was Amy with a massive 62 points!) Angela is trailing Matt with a total of 186 points, and our league leader up until this point, Brendan drops to third place with 179 total points. Petra remains in last place for a 4th week in a row with 76 total points.

TOMORROW!

Your tribemasters,

Liv + Brian