Survivor 22 Ep 7 "It Don't Take a Smart One"

[lazarus]

Rob is awesome, and Grant has turned into a challenge machine. That's two challenges in a row that Grant basically won by himself.

Phillip is just more and more fun. I agree with Rob, his problem is a lack of self-awareness.

Zapatera has just fallen completely apart. Not sure I agree with their decision tonight, as I thought it was obvious the merge was next week. With Matt coming back in, that makes twelve, which is a normal number to merge in a larger season.

The challenge was a retread, but it was still fun to watch.

I loved Rob's throwing the clue in the volcano. Why not?

For the merge: Assuming Matt comes back, that puts Rob up 7-5. Phillip may want to flip, but then David wants to flip. If everyone starts gunning for Rob, he just plays the HII and gets the numbers that way. This is shaping up to be a fun season.

Oh, and apparently Jesus really likes Matt, except when Matt decides to cut his foot.

[murielm99]

1. I thought it was a very predictable episode.

I expect more fun next week.

And that preview about Matt and his foot? I don't expect him to lose, despite the foot.

Ralph is still cracking me up: cohesive!!!!

[catchnrelease]

2. Rob is on fire!

I never cared one way or the other about him in past episodes, but am really enjoying watching him this time. It would be fun to see him go all the way to win, but I can't believe the others will let him get too far. Unless he can find another HII/or win a lot of individual immunities to protect himself, as he says, he'll have a BIG target on his back. Grant and Matt could both be real threats if they went to the FTC. They both seem nice so far and certainly are playing hard. All of the girls are just bleah IMO. And no one on Zapatera is appealing so far, at least per the editing that's being done.

Re Philip and self awareness--they need to have a new twist and call it Clueless Island, starring Philip and Coach!

[travelingtypist]

3. Now that would be a returning twosome I could root for.

It would be all kinds of fun. Except I'm really digging Philip's crazy and I couldn't stand Coach from almost day one.

[dr.strangelove]

4. I loved this episode

It showed how you have to play this game for 39 days. say what you will, but I still think the decision to ax Russell so early cost them having numbers at the merge. Three of the Zapatere losses came after physical challenges that he could have helped that team out quite a bit. I still say that you never throw a challenge, you are sure to lose one eventually. Even if having russell only helped them win one of these things, they would still be up 2 people and could chose to sit Sarita or NAtalie in certain challenges. It was a HUGE mistake that will wind up costing them the game.

So finally, after seeing how much the decision to keep weak players in the game hurts, they ditch the bad challenge player in Sarita, only to have it come back and bite them because now its merge time. I would have gotten rid of Serita anyway last night, but now they have a less trustworthy player in Dave sittign around at merge time. I suspect they start to flip on each other to join Rob's team.

Rob and Ometepe are looking good. I suspect Grant, Rob and as long at Matt's foot lets him be strong, him too, will dominate the ICs. Once Ralph and Julie are ousted, whom I suspect Dave will offer up to save his skin, phillip will have to go. But Phillip is not smart enough to flip to give him a chance.

I think Rob has no chance to win this thing. Once its down to his girls and either Matt or Grant left, he will have to get the boot. He needs to win out ICs and sadly, at this age, I don;t know if rob can keep up with Grant and MAtt, who are clearly challenge gods.
I just have to keep reminding myself, Rob’s got the immunity idol and he never had to play with them in his two real seasons. I suspect he never has to play it and he goes home in 4th, after the idol is no good, but we will see.

this has been a very good season and I LOVE redemption island.

One more thing, imagine Matt loses and Sarita come back, then they go in tied 6-6. then Rob's idol is HUGE.

[Phentex]

5. I agree about throwing a challenge...

I don't ever think it's a good idea and to me it diminishes the spirit of the game. You WANT to survive by being strong, not by taking an easier route. But everyone plays differently I guess.

I hope Matt comes back just because he has lasted so long. But you are right that Sarita's return would be veddy veddy interesting!

[lazarus]

6. I don't see how Ressel helps them win these last few challenges

remember, Zap won the next challenge after booting Ressel. He can't solve puzzles better than Rob, and he wasn't about to outdo Grant on the lacrosse challenge. So he'd have been gone before this last challenge.

Plus, how much worse off would Zap have been having to live with Ressel for the intervening days? He was a cancer on the tribe, causing a huge division. The extra time would also have given him a chance to try flipping people people, splitting the six even earlier.

And being up two when those two aren't loyal and are going to flip isn't any good, anyway.

[murielm99]

7. I don't think Russell was ever that good at

challenges.

I don't want to see Matt come back into the game. I am really tired of him talking about God all the time, and I think the other survivors would tire of it quickly, too. Sarita's return would make the game much more interesting. I am sort of resigned to Matt winning, though.