Survivor China - Episode 10 Discussion Thread

[dr.strangelove]

Well, I'm out of the contest. I can't believe James did not play his idol at tribal. He has two idols, with four ICs left to win. Even if he uses one, he has the chance to win one and keep the last. HE has to play the idol last night. Even if its just to keep his friends honest with the last idol. Also, Todd was a fool. He should have asked Amanda to vote for PG too. Then you would have had two votes for PG, two votes for Todd and three for James. so even if he played the idol, it would have been a tie and revote where he had the numbers even after losing James. My respect for Todd has gone all the way down and my love for Am,anda is growing. BEsides being a total babe, she is smart, strong and really good at reading people. I love how she responded to PG's comments about James. Plus, her going out to meet the group when they arrived back at camp may have shored up Eric's vote for her in the end. She is gonna win this thing. James gets props for nto being mad at the end. He did roll the dice too many times.

The challange at tribal was boring. Not excitign at all. I will say that the trip to the Shaolin Temple was one of the best survivor rewards ever, maybe the best. Courtney did nothing to piss me off for the first time, I loved her in the little cave. I think she is solidizing her role with Todd and Amanda and will join them in teh final three. Amanda has shown her power over courtney and Todd with teh plan to oust James. She still lets Todd talk, whcih turns even her own aliance against him a little. She is playing this game better then anyone since Hatch or Brian H.

Overall, a weak, but good episode. It showed who deserves to win this year (amanda) and showed the player who could have won it all get ousted because of a stupid mistake.

[Demit]

1. Absolutely unbelievable that James didn't play an idol.

The editors made a tease, showing him shift in his seat just before the reading of the votes, as if he was going to do something, and he LOOKED like he was realizing he might not be able to trust his teammates, but... Boy, by that time I was ready to see him go. That was the chink in his armor, the overconfidence. And the self-delusion—how he thought he was the one 'holding the pieces together'. I'm glad he acknowledged his fatal error, and sucked it up at the end.

I've really really come to like Denise. It was nice to see her shine at the Temple. As Eric said, Who knew? Yes, Todd's power is ebbing, and Amanda is in cool control, as long as she doesn't overplay her hand, which I think is very possible (I thought that was unnecessarily aggressive, how she responded to PG...not that I care for PG too much but I'd rather see Amanda's game exercised with smoothness instead of intimidation) but mainly I'm hoping Denise hangs tough. She's my new sentimental favorite.

[dr.strangelove]

2. I think the PG comment was something personal for her

I assume you are talking abut how she jumped down PG's throat and said, I'm not stupid. I first thought that was a bit much. Then my wife reminded me that girls who look like Amanda ore often thought to be idiots. Amanda is a smart young woman. She might jump to that I'm not dumb defense too fast because she has had to raise it frequently. I don't think PG was saying that at all.

I am SO pissed at James. He could have been in teh final three, and he would have won if he got that far. He made the worst move ever. Who has two idols and does not play them. He had to know they were gonna come after him./

[qanda]

3. Of course I'm pulling for Eric to pull out a come-from-behind win

Although I seriously doubt it. I think Todd is now in the place of James with being a little too overconfident. I keep saying to myself, "James is so stupid!" I really wish he would have played that idol and sent Todd home-- that would have been sweet. There was no benefit to James holding onto that Idol for another week-- NONE AT ALL! I'm glad he admitted his mistake, but I would have much rather seen Todd with egg on his face.