1. The exchange between Russell Swan and Jeff Probst after the challenge, was without a doubt one of the most fascinating things that I have ever seen on the show. While I was never a big advocate for Jeff’s hosting abilities, this was the first time that he proved something to me when he called Russell out for his reaction to losing another immunity challenge. Particularly, the line about ‘you aren’t a superhero’ was absolutely hysterical. In fact, the only time I have been more glued to someone’s reaction to a challenge was in South Pacific when Coach demanded everyone to get on their knees after winning the critical final tribal immunity.
2. Russell’s edit has fascinated me all season. While most returning players are usually painted in a positive light, I feel like the producers made him look bad all season. I am sure that it was hard for him to keep his need to lead in check, but surely he couldn’t have been that unaware. While Skupin’s edit has diminished since a strong first episode, he has never looked bad. Penner is being edited like a god. So why wasn’t Russell presented to us in the same way? Was it because he was really like that or because he finished so poorly. I am not sure but I know that I will be analyzing the way he was presented this season for a long time to come.
3. Pete did his best Russell Hantz impression this week by creating chaos. By planting the immunity challenge clue with RC’s stuff, he has pretty much sealed her fate. I just really don’t see why it was necessary. RC is not a threat to Pete. She is in his alliance and was not going to vote against him. The move would make sense to me if they were in the final four and he wanted to ensure he had Abi’s loyalty, but at this point in the game, it makes no sense to do it. Especially when he has more than enough votes to get rid of RC (with Lisa and Artis). I think he did it to get some more TV time as this season’s villain and that’s totally acceptable. I just don’t think it was great strategy.
4. I believe that the gender split on Kalabaw is forced as well. I don’t think their first vote will be split between Penner/Carter/Jeff and Dawson/Katie/Dana at all. I am sure at least one or two of the girls are with the guys.
5. I wish we could see more of Katie and Dawson especially. They are being completely hidden behind the amount of screentime Jeff Kent is getting. Personally, I don’t think Jeff is the best strategist there but that producers have to make him a big deal because of who he is.
6. I am still on the fence about Malcolm. Everyone I talk to tells me that he is one of the best players ever, but I really don’t see the hype yet. I will give him sometime but he reminds me a lot of Kim Spradlin from last season. Clearly a good player but when you are playing next to buffoons, can it be qualified as great? I am not sure.
7. Russell’s comments about Denise winning against anyone at tribal council seemed like heavy foreshadowing to me.
8. I waited all season for Carter’s first confessional and apparently he had one in this episode. Could have fooled me.
9. RC is still my favorite player in the game. Unfortunately, she only has one way of saving herself at this point and that is for her tribe to keep winning. Otherwise, she is a dead duck. I also believe she is loyal and while I love that, the problem is that I don’t see her flipping even though that is her only move at this point. I just hope she knows that Abi and Pete now have an army so it isn’t just her BFF who is against her at this point.
10. Abi reminds me a lot of Cochran from South Pacific. Not in terms of personality but just in the sense that I feel like she is using her first turn at Survivor as being an audition to get to play again.
Bonus thought: The beauty of Survivor is having a guy with dreadlocks confide in a sex therapist about how he punched a kid in the face and how it changed his life.
