This episode's immunity challenge presented an example of another advantage the Favorites have over the Fans - personnel management.
The Favorites have seen each other play before (except for Malcolm), and know everyone's strengths and weaknesses (which might explain why Malcolm is still closing - his tribemates haven't seen his season yet, so they are just learning that he can't close). Anyhow, it didn't matter. In addition to the inherent disadvantage of not yet knowing their tribemates' strengths and weaknesses, the Fans do not know how to communicate, Shamar threw a tantrum during the discussion regarding assignments, so they wound up with the wrong people on the wrong tasks. They had three men pulling the raft (Shamar could have pulled the raft single-handedly), which was the least important leg of the challenge (something the Favorites knew, which is why they hid Cochrane there). Instead, they should
have included at least one of their top male athletes on the diving team (the Favorites wisely chose Erik). Men have up to 50%
more lung capacity than women and can hold their breath much longer,
which is why men have dominated diving throughout the history of
Survivor. (Has any of these so-called Fans seen the show before?). Of the three women they did send diving - only Sherri showed any effort. I'm not sure the other two could swim. It was a complete disaster.
As for the vote, the cool kids seemed overly nonchalant about the strength of their alliance outside of their core four. They
knew they were alienating themselves with their cliquish behavior, so
you'd think they would try to work more angles then they did. Eddie
looked generally surprised by the vote - did he really think their strategy was a slam dunk because Shamar misbehaved in camp? Why would someone agree to be the 5th or 6th wheel to an ultra-tight four-person alliance?
Allie might have spoken fewer words on air than anyone ever to play Survivor. She had some spirited closing remarks after getting booted, but before that we hardly saw her say anything. Reynold told her Matt's voting with them, and I guess she thought it was enough. Passive.
Laura called the four-person alliance the "pretty people". There was real contempt in her voice, as if they were making her feel like she was in the loser clique in high school. Laura is attractive and bright, therefore, if the core four was making her feel that alienated, they
must have been sending out horrible vibes. Of course, Laura might also
have a chip on her shoulder, but I'm guessing this was more of the
alliance's fault seeing as Laura wasn't the only one complaining.
All tolled, outside of the core four, this tribe is not communicating well.
Shamar is not a leader and can't be lead. They are making horrible
assignments at challenges. There is a distinct mistrust and anger
within the tribe, and a lot of this can be attributed to the main alliance. And, I'm not sure the problem can be fixed.
The bottom line is this: Survivor is a social game, and every member of that four-person alliance is guilty of atrocious game play. They are also guilty of atrocious arithmetic. When you have ten people in your tribe, you need SIX people in your alliance. Four people and two afterthoughts do not equal six. The afterthoughts (if they know they are afterthoughts, which this group made clear) will not be loyal. A four-person alliance with two afterthoughts is still a four-person alliance.
Allie, we hardly knew you, but you deserved to go.
Other thoughts:
- Laura calling out Reynold's idol helps Reynold - no? Isn't Reynold better off now that everyone knows he has it without announcing it himself, which could sound like bragging?
- Brandon, calm down. You're acting like a friggin'
lunatic. You're only 21. You have your whole working life ahead of
you, and you're making yourself unemployable. Who the heck would ever
hire you after the way you've been acting? Shamar has been a loudmouth,
but it's partly for show. You're serious. You're not acting. That's what's scary about it.
- Two people this episode (Brandon and Michael) made the argument that it was
somehow cruel to vote Francesca out first. I don't buy it for one
second. I'm not saying there aren't any ethics in Survivor, I just
don't think they include giving Francesca a free pass the first vote. No one owed her anything. The people who suggest they did owe her something are asserting a false moral superiority. I was not impressed by it.
This was a pretty good episode when you consider there was only one challenge. I'm enjoying the season thus far.
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