After the compelled break-up of everyone’s favourite nerd-couple, Matt Blankinship and Frannie Marin final week, there was barely sufficient time to wipe away the tears. Survivor churned ahead, and a significant power-play evened the enjoying area.
Despite the chances, it was the self-proclaimed “Three Stooges” – YamYam Arocho, Carolyn Wiger and Carson Garrett – who ended up within the energy place this week. Even if on the floor it might need appeared like Danny Massa was the one who executed the sport’s greatest blindside but.
Sick To Your Stomach
While Frannie ( and the viewers) needed to take care of Matt’s early departure, Carson was dealing not with heartache, however with a nasty stomachache. The present took time to focus on Carson’s struggles, so you realize it needed to have been fairly unhealthy. After profitable the PB&J problem final episode, one thing didn’t sit proper, which led Carson to the bushes the place he spent a lot of the episode puking his guts out.
The sickness might have slowed Carson down bodily, however strategically he was as soon as once more on the heart of issues this week. His unimaginable likability, matched together with his strategic information of the sport has me considering that Carson could make a deep run this season. He has choices, however the fan in me would LOVE to see The Stooges take management of this recreation. It’s all the time enjoyable to root for the underdogs, proper?
Best Of Intentions
I cherished how Kane Fritzler framed his vote throughout Tribal Council: That each vote holds with it a transparent “intention.” Sometimes, that intention is perhaps to weaken an opposing alliance, typically the vote is perhaps meant merely to realize belief together with his allies. But there may be all the time an intention behind each vote.
As we all know from watching Survivor over time, it’s by no means an excellent omen to really feel snug within the recreation. Or to be proven on-air feeling like issues are simply swell. Kane was admittedly a bit cocky, going as far as to say that if his present alliance doesn’t produce this season’s winner, they will need to have made a significant blunder someplace alongside the way in which. What he forgot to think about was that making it to the tip isn’t all about having one of the best technique. Survivor is far more complicated than chess. There aren’t any hidden Immunity Idols in chess. And what ended up taking place to Kane’s alliance might or might not have been avoidable.
A Near Blunder
Having taken out Matt, the alliance of Kane, Brandon Cottom, Jaime Lynn Ruiz, and Lauren Harpe had the numbers benefit. With 4 sturdy – and over-looking “The Three Stooges,” YamYam, Carolyn, and Carson – they’d their sights set on weakening the opposite sturdy alliance, consisting of Frannie, Danny, and Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt. As if Frannie hadn’t been by sufficient previously few days, she turned their goal. And who can blame them? Frannie has confirmed to be an enormous bodily risk, in addition to a social and strategic risk.
With YamYam, Carolyn, and Carson within the center and listening to technique from each side, Danny knew that Frannie was the goal. Up till this episode, Danny has been portrayed as a stable strategic participant however not essentially a “team” participant. Not that Danny isn’t loyal, however that he’s decidedly in-it-to-win-it for himself, as he ought to be. It got here as a shock to me then, when he not solely revealed his hidden Idol to Heidi, however then supplied to play it for Frannie and never himself. It’s a severe leap of religion to do what Danny did. He might have stored the Idol for himself regardless of his alliance being in a weaker place had Frannie gone to the jury. Time will inform if this was one of the best transfer for Danny’s recreation, nevertheless it was unquestionably a daring one.
But telling Heidi about his Idol practically blew up in Danny‘s face. Word spreads quickly on Survivor. Heidi spilled the beans. And the knowledge of Danny’s Idol made The Three Stooges (sure I plan to proceed referring to them as such) rethink what they need to do.
Brandon Blindsided
I believe The Three Stooges made the precise play. They not solely took out the sport’s greatest bodily risk in Brandon, however they flushed Danny‘s Idol in the process. Had they chosen to blindside Danny, Brandon’s four-person alliance would have nonetheless been within the majority. And Danny’s allies – Frannie and Heidi – would now not need to work with them or belief them. The time was now. Brandon was blindsided, and Lauren, Kane, and Jaime are left to scramble with out their chief. Next week ought to show extremely essential to the sport’s final result once we are mainly left with a 3-3-3 showdown. Lauren nonetheless has that further vote (and sure saved herself from getting blindsided by profitable Immunity), which can for positive come into play.
But who’s left with the sport’s solely recognized Immunity Idol? That could be Carolyn. It’s a secret that not even Moe and Curly learn about. Carolyn’s energy grows the longer she stays within the recreation, however will she find yourself being “splashy” sufficient to really win?
Kudos to all although, for pulling off this huge blindside. Virtually each episode of each season is spent discussing blindsides like this one, however hardly ever are they pulled off efficiently. It was a masterful play. One that I’m positive has stored Brandon up late at evening fascinated with, and questioning what might have been carried out in another way to keep away from such a harsh destiny.
Episode Take-Away
The blindside was epic. The characters are rising on me. I completely adore Carolyn and YamYam. Is Survivor 44 turning right into a good-to-great season?
And how cute was it that Matt and Frannie – now separated with one within the recreation and one within the jury – are nonetheless unavoidably lovely? Watching Matt root for Frannie every week makes all of us root for Frannie, with the comfort prize being that we all know they shall be lastly reunited ought to Frannie ever get voted out. Be nonetheless my coronary heart.
In attempting to see the place issues steer from right here, keep in mind that Jaime nonetheless possesses a faux Idol. She had the possibility to play it after Danny‘s Idol play however determined to not. Hmmmm. Carolyn was one of many 4 that voted for Brandon, almost definitely to stop a 3-3 tie-vote state of affairs had issues gone a special manner. Meanwhile, Carson and YamYam put their votes on Frannie, almost definitely to remain within the good graces of Jaime, Kane, and Lauren. Keep your folks shut and your enemies nearer. And most of all, by no means get cocky.
The Survivor Official Podcast that adopted this week’s present took a deep dive into the enhancing course of. Again, it is a must-listen for die-hard Survivor followers and informal followers alike. You can discover the podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.
RELATED: Survivor 44 Premiere Recap: Blood, Sweat, Tears, And Injuries
Erik Reichenbach DabuDoodles Art
Former Survivor, Erik Reichenbach, honors us every week together with his unique paintings! He is an incredible artist along with being a Survivor legend. Sharing his skills each week in my column and with my viewers is a big honor and thrill. If you don’t see his artwork beneath, that signifies that it isn’t prepared but (one doesn’t rush an art-eest). But it would seem as soon as prepared, so verify again in the event you don’t in truth see it.
DabuDoodles.com is the place you need to go to seek out all of Erik’s work. I urge you to help this fantastically expert former Survivor participant!
Final Episode Tallies
Out this week: Brandon
Won Immunity: Lauren (1)
Vote Result: Danny performed his Idol for Frannie, and all votes for Frannie had been nullified. 4 – Brandon (Danny, Heidi, Carolyn, Frannie), 0 – Frannie (Carson, YamYam, Brandon, Jaime, Kane, Lauren)
Current Advantage/Disadvantage List:
- Lauren – Extra Vote
- Jaime – Possesses a Fake Idol
- Carolyn – Immunity Idol
Next Week’s Episode: Kane is “woken up” by the Brandon blindside. Danny wastes no time searching for one other Idol. And there’s one other sickness on the horizon, of a special variety, when Carolyn confesses she is getting sick…of Danny.
Quick Note! I respect that you’re studying this recap! I’m additionally a TV character and Film Critic within the Detroit space and a RottenTomatoes-approved movie critic. Check out my previous film opinions and my film present (episodes are additionally obtainable on-line on the web site, www.MovieShowPlus.com.) Follow me on Twitter – @tomsantilli – or on Facebook.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS EPISODE? WAS BLINDSIDING BRANDON THE BEST PLAY? AND WHO DO YOU PREDICT WILL WIN SOLE SURVIVOR?
[Photo Credit: CBS/Monty Brinton/Robert Voets/Timothy Kuratek/Jeffrey Neira/Michele Crowe/David M. Russell]