Survivor Recap: Lord of the Flies

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It’s particularly disappointing during the early rounds of ‘Survivor‘ to consistently witness the same tribe losing each week. This implies that the strategic discussions among all tribes at the beginning of each episode hold little significance, and we primarily get insights into the characters and gameplay style of a limited number of players. In this specific episode, there was an unexpected twist, a true blindside that even the audience didn’t foresee (which is positive), but this twist also left certain decisions inexplicable (negative).

As a movie critic, I must say that the extended episodes offer a glimpse into the campers’ daily lives, revealing intriguing details. For instance, the inhabitants of Vulu seem to be in a constant battle against pesky flies, making one wonder if they should consider relocating their latrine. On Civa, Charity delves into the concept of ‘humble traits,’ which often refer to peculiar or unattractive physical characteristics that serve as reminders of one’s humility. For example, David, more a product of an imaginative gay AI program than a man in his own right, shares his unusual factoid about four nipples, although he had them removed. This is less a humble trait and more a vestige of his past. Charity herself flaunts her unsightly foot, while Chrissy’s deep belly button raises concerns about potential hidden idols. Mitch finds amusement in people asking about his unique feature, whereas Kyle claims to have a disgusting callus, which his campmates insist is actually a wart. Perhaps they could arrange for surgeon Cedrek to perform a procedure on Kyle at Vulu beach? Although our healthcare system may be flawed, Survivor at least provides an opportunity for diagnosis and treatment.

Apart from the initial instance, Civa only makes an appearance when we begin watching our least preferred show titled Idol Hunting With Jeffrey Lee Probst. The duo is on a quest to discover their idol, and Kyle utilizes his unsightly growth (wart/callus) for tracking down the ‘beware advantage’. Since they had already deciphered the letters linked with the animal symbols around camp, there’s not much mental effort involved. He hands over the artifact to Kamilla and instructs her to solve the puzzle. She scratches the combinations onto her thigh using a stick. Interestingly, sand is another material that can be drawn on without causing marks, calluses or scars. But where would they find sand on a desert island? That’s a thought… Nevertheless, she deciphers it successfully, and now Kyle possesses the idol.

At the bizarre land of Lagi (home to the one-eyed, one-horned, flying creatures with purple skin and a penchant for eating people), Star finds herself at a low point. In search of a solution, she embarks on a quest for the hidden idol. She unearths an idol bearing a piece of paper adorned with the shapes of anima symbols. When arranged correctly, these symbols form letters that leave her puzzled. Unable to decipher them, she confides in Joe who shares the secret with Shouhin. Star also informs Thomas and Bianca. As it stands, only Eva remains unaware of this idol’s existence, but fear not, as Joe ensures she is brought up to speed on the matter.

With everyone panicking over Star’s idol, Thomas suggests to Shouhin that maybe he should discard the paper. If Star doesn’t have an idol, she can’t use it and won’t be able to cast a vote. This way, they all seem to be in a favorable position. Although Shouhin isn’t fond of this idea, it is indeed a clever strategy. This season, I am particularly cheering for Thomas because we share similar characteristics: we are both mustached middle-aged men who identify as homosexual, possess intelligence over agility, and prefer to keep our shirts on, even in water. Like myself, Thomas is likable, has a bit of a sassy side, and frequently uses the phrase “easy, breezy, beautiful” due to our mutual fondness for America’s Next Top Model during high school when we didn’t have many friends. Though Thomas may not say “CoverGirl,” he likely avoids it because Survivor is trying to secure its sponsorship for the sanctuary (where good things take place), but the sentiment remains the same.

As a fervent admirer, I concur with Thomas’ wisdom on utilizing power or advantage wisely when acquired. It’s like finding a secret key to a treasure chest at each of the camps, but instead, it’s a math-intensive game akin to “rock, paper, scissors.” Thomas, Mary from Vulu, and Mitch from Civa were chosen for this numerical challenge. We had to solve a complex puzzle within a set timeframe; if we failed, our vote was at risk; but if we succeeded, we’d be granted an advantage. In the end, Thomas and Mitch triumphed, leaving Mary doubtful about her camp’s fate.

Mary and Mitch openly share with their entire community the details of recent events, and Mitch admits to using his “Block a Vote” privilege. However, cunning Thomas, who was raised by Tyra Banks and knows how to be sly, reveals that he actually lost his vote when he should have won, instead opting for a “Steal a Vote.” Indeed, Thomas is correct: An advantage becomes useless if everyone is aware of it, as it then makes one a more prominent target.

The task involves navigating through an obstacle course using buoys, which must then be tossed into a basket at the end. During this task, Thomas receives a pole to the face – a mishap that I’m familiar he’s faced before. [Snaps in amusement.] Unfortunately, Vulu falls short again as Cedrek fails to cross a balance beam. Fear not, Dr. C., they won’t be eliminating you; instead, they’ve got some scores to even out.

Immediately following the challenge, Sai asserts it will be a straightforward vote to eliminate Mary. However, viewers familiar with the show understand that is definitely not what they’ll do, given the information we’ve received earlier. Subsequently, alternative strategies are devised. Kevin approaches Cedrek and Justin, suggesting they target Sai because she possesses an idol and has been playing aggressively. Yet, Cedrek dislikes this idea since he trusts Sai more than Mary or even Kevin. He advises Sai that Kevin is after her and encourages her to use her idol to send Mary home. Cedrek aims to preserve Sai, nullify her idol, expel Mary, and maintain the boys as allies. It seems Cedrek may be unaware of the intricacies of this game, as there’s no way that plan will materialize.

It turns out that Justin, whom I initially thought was not very bright, has proposed the most effective strategy. He suggests that if Sai votes for Mary and Kevin votes for Sai, then each can freely choose another contestant to eliminate. Justin believes it would be wise to send Kevin home because he thinks Kevin is playing too aggressively, and it seems no one trusts him. This is how you calculate the odds, folks!

In the tribal setting, it’s a showdown between Mary and Sai as Mary believes she’ll be leaving the group. Sai, on the other hand, wishes to keep her “core four” nearby, which places Mary at the bottom. This situation leaves Kevin disheartened as he sees Mary revealing their alliance. Sai prides herself on being open and honest, both in the game and outside of it. In a heated debate with Mary, Mary argues that since the game inherently involves dishonesty, Sai is not being truthful when she promises to play an honest game. While Mary’s assertion holds some merit, Sai demonstrates remarkable frankness at tribal council. She openly declares that she won’t vote for Mary, a statement that appears deceptive until the votes are revealed. Sai hints that she intends to mend fences with Mary, which Mary interprets as an eviction plan, but in reality, she aims to build a foundation of trust between them.

As a passionate film buff, let me express my bafflement over Sai’s decision. In light of the final tally showing all votes going to Kevin, it’s puzzling why Sai would play her idol. If she believed the men were voting for Mary instead, then her move against Kevin could be seen as a preemptive strike. However, this theory doesn’t hold water since it puts her at odds with Kevin, who knows she voted for him, and without an idol, they’d be each other’s targets. The only plausible explanation is that Sai thought the men were voting for her alongside Kevin, planning to use her idol to oust Kevin instead of Mary. A clever move, but unfortunately, it seems she didn’t execute this plan. Now, we’re left with a fractured tribe, shattered alliances, a wary Mary, and an idol potentially in hiding – setting us up for another loss next week and more dramatic twists by Jeff’s fire.

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2025-03-06 05:54