My girl goes down on last episode of Survivor

Dude, I’m tellin’ ya…………

Yup…..my girl Monica actually went down on last Thursday’s episode of Survivor. No, not literally of course.

She was voted off when the course of events—and the odds went against her. She did go out clawing by trying to really stir up trouble for Russell. In doing so, she cemented her ouster by angering him. But it wasn’t exactly a dumb strategy on her part because either way, she was gone. She had the bullseye on her back already. So by whipping Russell into a frenzy and having him angrily confront a number of other players, she almost created a new vibe in camp that could have saved her. In the end, it didn’t happen. But her effort wasn’t a really stupid manuever that put her in Russell’s sights. She was already there.

I’m just gonna miss her prancing around in those tiny little pink shorts—God bless her.

And me and two other guys I know who watch the show are curious to see her all dolled up next week after she refreshes herself at the Ponderosa (where the jury stays sequestered). Every girl that gets voted off and then makes her initial jury appearance looks so much better….as you would expect after a shower and some make-up.

Now all we got left is Natalie.

Oh, and Shambo if you swing that way.

Anyway, the show began with some of the usual strategizing before the next reward challenge. However, when the tribe arrived for the challenge, they found out it was an immunity challenge. They did a Survivor-style bowling challenge and when it was over, Jaison had won immunity again.

At the ensuing Tribal Council, it was rather cut-and-dried as to who was leaving. Russell knew he pretty much had to appease Shambo after not voting Dave off in the last vote. He considered going down a few other paths, but when it came down to it, Dave was history. I actually think everyone voted for Dave. And of course he voted for Shambo. But there wasn’t a whole lot of suspense about that vote.

The players then had to do a second immunity challenge in the same program. I was wondering how they were going to pare a group of eight players down to three by the season finale this Sunday (12/20). I guess this is how. Two players were going to be jettisoned by the end of Thursday’s show. So that brings it down to six. It would seem they’ll have to get rid of at least two more this Thursday. So that they can enter Sunday’s finale with a maximum of four remaining players.

In the second immunity challenge, the players had to swim out to get bags and then swim back and catapult them into a basket by jumping on a leverage spring-board. Seemed a little bit stacked against the petite women. Not Shambo. I said the petite women.

Poor Monica couldn’t get a single bag in there. Brett ended up winning immunity this time.

That’s when the fireworks and the fun started back at camp. Russell had been looking to get Brett voted out because of his friendly nature and youthful strength for physical challenges. But when he won immunity, Monica became the next obvious choice. She recognized that right away. So she decided to toy with Russell’s mind by spilling the beans on the personal info everyone knew about Russell. She told him that it was common knowledge that he had a lot of money.

Russell was furious and went on a mission to find out who had the loose lips.

That whole scenario is entirely his own fault. What possible good was there ever in telling someone about his wealth? I saw him share that secret first on the Thanksgiving day review show. It was among the previously unaired scenes to get you to watch what is essentially a rerun. And yes…..they got me. I watched on Thanksgiving day while my dinner was digesting. OK ? But that was where I saw Russell make what is really a big tactical error.

Season after season when there is a perceived wealthy player, the weak-minded jilted losers who get voted on to the jury in Survivor make a stand that they won’t award the prize to that person because, “they don’t need it like so-and-so does“. I hate that shit. What a bitter mentality. People always seem to forget that this is a game as far as their feelings go. As I’ve mentioned in some previous Survivor posts, sometimes I have to be reminded it’s just a game as far as the brutal tactics I encourage. But the people actually on the show often forget that it is a game and after they get voted off, they aren’t going to win it. But to purposely not vote for the best player in the end….the most deserving as they say……because it is revealed they have money back home, is lame and weak.

Unfortunately for Russell, that is how people on the show consistently think. So he made a huge error when he felt he just had to brag about his personal wealth. Now even if he makes the final 2, I could easily see the jury give the money to a Natalie or a Jaison. Just because they have more pedestrian jobs.

Russell played one of the great mind games in Survivor history when he pulled out the hidden immunity idol and wore it around his neck at the start of the second Tribal Council. I was very nervous for him when he didn’t play it before the votes were read. It was a brash move to wear the idol, and it was a ballsy move not to play it. And it all worked out for him.

Monica went down. But just figuratively. Figuratively.

If I were Russell, I would play the idol at the next Tribal Council no matter what. No matter what ! If he doesn’t win the immunity challenge, he buys himself a spot into the final 5. And he also buys himself a shot at winning the next immunity challenge. But this is it now. Everyone left fears him. Everyone is weary of him. They have all had conversations about ousting him already. They are ready to make their move. So no matter how confident Russell is next week that there is a plan to vote out Brett or Jaison…..he should play that idol.

Now if Natalie gets voted out this Thursday leaving me and the boys with just Shambo……..I’m gonna really be pissed.