Survivor: One World, Ep. 5

Re-mixing tribes is such an accepted part of the game, you can forget how unfair it often is.  A strong player can be in a good position with a winning tribe, and then be completely undercut 48 hours later due to a random draw.  Monica deserved better than that, but this is also a game about adaptation, and no one said you shouldn't target the strong.  There is little sportsmanship in Survivor.

I have a feeling once Salani (the stronger tribe of "Greek gods") sees Monica gone, they will seriously consider throwing a challenge or two down the road to knock out some of the guys pre-merge.  That leaves Mike, Jay and Troy in a very precarious spot.  Either one of them could get squashed at any time.  I usually frown upon throwing challenges, but if I were the girls, I'd consider doing it two immunities from now (however, things could happen that would get me to change my mind on this).

So, fifteen minutes after the re-mix, the guys' camp is now open to the Salani tribe, and Kim finds the guys' hidden immunity idol in nothing flat!  Why is it that Kim could find something in one afternoon what the guys couldn't find in 12 days?  Is it because the only bright person among the men (Colton) couldn't even be bothered to look for it - he'd prefer to have one of the women hand an idol to him?

That doesn't mean Colton is lazy or isn't working - it's just that all his work involves talking.  Building shelter, digging for idols - that's for other people.  He has to come up with multiple plans - one for his primary allies, one for his secondary allies and one for his enemies.  He has to constantly remind Tarzan what's going on ("Just remember: 'Monica' Lewinsky"), he has to find time to praise his own ideas ("I think its pretty brilliant"), and, most importantly, he has to figure out new insults to hurl at his tribemates in confessional and at tribal council.   When it comes to Survivor, Colton's work is never done.  Jonas might ask, "How does he get away with it?"  Jonas, he gets away with it because if you complain - your next.  If you cross Tarzan, he won't even remember your name to tell the others to vote you out (btw, I get the feeling Tarzan took that nickname because he can't remember his own name?).

Other observations:

-  When speaking about the guys giving up immunity last episode, one of the girls said: "they handed us a million dollars."  Uh, no... they didn't.  They might have handed one of you a million dollars, but not all of you.   

-  Sabrina thinks her #1 ally is Kim.  Kim thinks her #1 ally is Chelsea, and also thinks she and Chelsea have to keep it quiet and not be seen as a pair.  Clearly it's working if even Sabrina doesn't know about it.  This could be the source of a lot of conflict late in the game.

-  If someone figures out that Chelsea and Kim are working together, it could turn the whole season.  Otherwise, Kim & Chelsea could dominate the rest of this game.  So, who can sniff out that Chelsea and Kim are working together?  Answer: Colton. 

-  Why is Christina dropping her jaw at tribal?  Is it really that shocking to be betrayed by a woman you told to "shut up"? Moreover, Alicia comes across as one of the most disingeuous persons ever to play the game - can't Christina see this?

-  Losing a chicken because their is a hole in the side of your trap is pretty friggin' pathetic.  Colton was right to give that exhibition a double eyeroll. Geez.

-  I shouldn't say Colton is the only one who can sniff out that Kim and Chelsea are working together.  Others could do it.  But, I think Colton has the best chance.  Within 30 seconds of the re-mix, he already knew Christina was detested. (P.S. I still don't completely understand it, but hatred for Christina seems universal).

Till next week...