Ultimate Survivor victory for the girls gets closer!
And Jay and Troyzan are both so dense they deserve every bit of misery they're suffering. Their sudden realisation that they'd weakened the men's alliance by voting out Jonas was soooo pathetic. When the episode started and they mentioned the problems they faced because of voting Jonas off ... it was as if they genuinely hadn't considered it a problem previously. Clearly
not the brightest tools in the shed.
Which is why I was shocked when Jay won that hectic puzzle challenge. It doesn't make any sense that he could be so sharp at the puzzle yet take so long to work out that six girls to five guys is a problem for him.
Still, I don't want to be too hard on him because he was impressive during the immunity challenge and I don't just mean his body. When he said ... "Slow and steady wins the race" - it blew my hair back like you to can't believe.
In this fast-paced world that's so crammed with relentless rush and chaos - Jay revealed that slow and steady can be used as a major weapon. He used all of his mind-power for the puzzle instead of splitting his focus - while everyone else thought of three things at the same time, he only thought of one and won. Inspirational and copy'worthy - I
must remember it. It's the sort of stuff you can know but then forget to do!
As impressive as it was, his win didn't gain him either clout nor perspective. It wasn't nearly as empowering as that tasty 7Up reward challenge. I can't
stand product placement in shows but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the 7Up Oasis because 7Up means so much in the context of the show. It creates a sense of fondness seeing it and the oasis looked wonderful - that pool especially.
7Up used to be on the show a lot previously and then stopped - I don't know when last they were on? - so it was super seeing them back. It always looks like the
exact drink you'd want to have most if you were the survivors.
The crowd who won the reward deserved it big time - how were those slides! It was madness - loads of them must have done damage to their backs. It must be why Leiff went so extra berserk when he called out "Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarbeque" after their win - was obviously the panic at thinking: "What have I done to my coccyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyx?"
Speaking of pain, doctors etc. - what was all that between Tarzan and Chelsea when he accused her of targeting him because he's a plastic surgeon? What was weird was that I wondered whether there was truth to what Tarzan said. He's such a creep and I don't trust him at all but it was Chelsea's response that made me wonder. Maybe she didn't want us to know she'd had surgery and avoids him so he doesn't speak about it?
It was the first hint of scandal to hit Chelsea while Kim, Sabrina and Kat remain scandal-free and at the centre of the power - with Kim continuing her reign. What's so interesting about it is that it seems to be so easy - as if things have just fallen into her lap. We've never seen her suffer a moment's anxiety and she doesn't break a sweat. Her stick insect body often looks as if it could snap apart in challenges but it never stops her from being dominant.
The double-alliance going on between the girls and the Salami's has been stroke of genius and Kim's story to Troyzan was classic. All that shifting of people and conversations she did was strategically perfect - it's too nuts that Troyzan didn't even try to ask Mike if the story was true. The girls have completely and utterly disarmed him, Jay - and all of the guys.
My two concerns are Alicia and Christina though - both of them voted for Tarzan instead of Mike so they clearly weren't in the loop. I'm worried they're going to feel slighted and break the girls alliance. The trailer for next week also suggested there's a shake-up but, as we know, the trailer's often be misleading so I'm hoping it is.
I'm hoping Jay goes next. Last week I wanted Tarzan next but now I want Jay. I like him but he's the biggest threat to the girls right now and him-and-Troyzan spell danger so he needs to go.
Catch my Survivor column every Monday after the show.