LadyChatts

If Angelina doesn't have a big break out episode in the next couple of weeks, then I'm going to believe Nick wins. So far, he's the only one of the final 3 that seems like he could win.

I am not looking forward to a Probst casted returning player season, but am curious how he’ll do casting a newbie season. S38 was Lynne’s last season, but I think our current season has one of the better casts in a long time. Also excited to see Canadians in the cast. If S40 is a returning player season of some form, I really hope there’s a good variety. Not just contestants in the last 10 seasons (or the bulk being from post HvsV), and that we aren’t seeing people for the fifth and sixth time.

This is a theme for a future season. In Alec's case, I can see where he can make the argument that he didn't have a choice but to go back on his word to the Davids. I really believe he wanted to work with them, but didn't have the numbers to do so once Mike bailed. After this week, it'll be interesting. Kara kinda, sorta seems like she's playing the game, but I don't know that it'll be enough at this point. Probably her biggest move was trying to get Dan out/voting Angelina. What exact good that did her game, I don't know, but it seems like there's a lot of bonds being made and alliances that we aren't being shown. I don't believe Gabby or Carl have anything. Alison could be viewed as wishy washy, but she could try to make the same case as Alec-wanted to work with the Davids, but didn't have the numbers. At this point, I think Nick and Christian still stand the best chance of winning, maybe Angelina. Davey I'd love but I just don't think his edit supports it. Nick winning would be amazing-from a guy who was supposed to be the first boot to being one of the best game players this season and taking the whole thing. I will be curious next week if anyone has a huge break out episode.

Awww, I don't want Davie to go. Next week is two hours, so a double boot. Hopefully if a David goes a Goliath goes, too. I'd hate to think two Davids go back to back, just because I don't trust the stupid Goliaths to not go Goliath strong again. ETA: they seem to be speculating if it is the same jacket Davie was wearing at camp. Also, there's a screen shot of Christian holding what looks like a folded up piece of paper. Maybe he gets an advantage?

In thinking about it, is it possible Strike Force could shape up again-but without Alec? Alison/Mike are supposedly close, Gabby wanted to work with Alison and may get drawn back in, but I don't see her betraying Christian. And Alison and Angelina may decide to make big moves that means moving on from the Goliaths, especially since she didn't seem too happy about Kara and Alec voting for her (not sure what role she'll feel Alison had since Alison didn't vote). Christian obviously will still have his alliance with Nick, so I'm wondering if that's how Angelina/Mike make their way to the final 3 with whatever David is sitting beside them. It would probably be one of the more dysfunctional groups to work together and making it to the end, but then again, the Goliaths didn't like each other but went all Goliath Strong, and the Davids didn't have a choice but to band together. So maybe that'ls an underlying theme of the season-work with the people you don't like and trust the least. Since Alison was talking about resume building, the Davids kind of have a one up on the remaining Goliaths if the game came down to that, so next week might be where everything descends into chaos. And Christian/Nick/Gabby might insist that they if they were to team back up with any Goliaths, to gain their trust, they would need to vote a Goliath off first before they'd want to work with them (meaning Kara or Alec could get it). Obviously this is pure speculation. I just don't want Christian or Nick having some huge underdog triumph to the final 3, where they have to win immunities and find convenient idols when they need them because they are being targeted. And I don't want 2 Goliaths in the finale to mean they gain the upper hand and pick the Davids off.

Is there a spoiler about the David having worked with the Goliaths making the final 3? I think there are several ways Christian can make it. He could still end up working with Angelina and Mike, despite Mike's betrayal and Angelina wanting him gone. If Angelina wants to turn on the Goliaths at the next vote, she would need the Davids (including Christian) for that. He has an idol, and there's always a chance he could win immunity when he needs it. At this point, I think it'll be Christian or Nick, but I suppose anything is possible. As long as the David wins I'm happy. The only Goliath that I'd be happy to see win is Alec, but clearly that isn't happening. Disappointing that he had to go screw up after the show, because I'd love to see him return in another season, but that seems unlikely. In the one preview posted, Gabby is seen asking Christian if people think she's stupid (and it was just a clip, but her tone made me think she was surprised by that). So there's always a chance she could make a move, especially if she gets pulled in by Alison. Carl and Davey never really had ties with Christian/Nick/Gabby, so whose to say they don't go rogue. I still think it'll be Nick and Christian based on edit, but who knows. I'm more curious how Mike makes it, unless he really is just getting dragged along. Since he's a friend of Probst, I wonder if he's disappointed that Mike is basically the worst game player left.

Pre-jurors don't have their own Ponderosa series, which I think is disappointing. Especially this season-would have loved to have seen the looks on everyone' s faces when Natalie showed up. Once the merge happens, the pre-jurors are sent off on a vacation somewhere. I don't know if they stay right in Fiji or go out of the country (it has varied in other seasons-I know during Worlds Apart, which filmed in Nicaragua, the pre-jurors were sent to Costa Rica). As a rule, the pre-jurors aren't supposed to leave before the game has finished filming, but there have been times it has happened. However, they aren't supposed to make it obvious they are home.

I went back and watched, and you are right, they were talking (or giving each other head nods). I had missed that the first time (way too much going on). So here again, they wanted Dan gone but were they hoping he'd play his idol, and this is how they'd get rid of Angelina? Or Angelina was just the second choice if he did play his idol. I mean Dan really would have been an idiot to not play his idol after the vote steal. This vote left me more curious where everyone's head was at, and this is why we need a longer reunion show this season. Cut the finale down to 1 hour and give us a 2 hour reunion because I have way too many questions to get answered! I had to go back and watch the Davids on the beach right before TC because I loved that moment almost as much as TC. Nick: "I have a secret advantage." Carl: "I have a secret advantage". Christian: "I have an idol." You could almost feel the excitement getting bigger and bigger.

Wow, a preview already? I do think next week will be a big turning point. I am impressed by how practically everyone is playing the game, and now that they are even along old tribal lines, if this means a lot more scrambling, stategizing, deal making, and alliance forming. Mike may find himself very, very sorry for bailing on Strike Force, because why would any of the Davids have use for him (especially Christian/Nick/Gabby), and Alec/Alison/Kara may be doing some thinking of their own. But again, even those who've gotten quiet edits seem to have some sort of strategy. I'm not saying everyone's edit is screaming winner or that the right moves have been made by certain people, but glad that no one is just happy to be in an alliance and get carried.

Dan's in very good spirits. I love when he says 'this wasn't in the rule book.; I will miss the guy. I don't mind the Goliaths getting voted off, but I really liked John and Dan, so too bad it was them. It was a smart decision on the part of the Davids, though, to get rid of two physical threats. John could probably win for being a very likable guy, too. I loved when he went to Elizabeth to talk about missing his kids back home, since she would know the feeling. This was probably my favorite Ponderosa so far. And, in general, this has been my favorite Ponderosa series in a very long time. Hope the rest of the castoffs who make it are as pleasant!

Well, Angelina is friends with Klein, and she has a husband in the military so perhaps she learned something from her friend, and will milk that. It's been such a great season that every week I'm expecting something to go wrong and ruin it. Mike getting to the final 3 is bad enough, and I wonder if he's delusional enough to think he can win. But Angelina winning would be my luck. This season has surprised me, Christian or Nick seem like such obvious winners. I believe the finale is the 19th, so that's 4 episodes for her to pull something big off and turn her edit around. I've been thinking the same thing, but considering the reunion show started at 10:30 the last two seasons, Alec could make it to the finale and probably still not get any airtime. It's too bad, too, because he's been such an amazing character and game player this season. This whole season deserves a full reunion because of all the stuff that has happened. In addition, who knows if Sia has favorite and will crash the stage this year.

Me too. Let them get through a couple more votes as a unit at least. I think Christian is smart and will talk Gabby down, but Carl I'm more nervous about. He refused to spare Elizabeth because he was mad about the Jessica vote, so if he and Gabby go at it enough, he might throw the Goliaths a life line to get rid of Gabby. I hope it is Angelina voting against her old tribe. My guess is she'll go after Kara/Alec/Alison because they voted against her, and Alison said something in the preview about it being a contingency plan. Truthfully Alison is golden because she didn't vote, so Angelina has nothing to be angry at her about if Alison says she knew nothing. But we saw during the Jeremy vote that when she has her mind made up she doesn't like to budge. She almost killed her own game during the Elizabeth vote because she got mad over them not wanting to vote out Christian. I can't even believe I am putting all my hopes on Angelina of all people next week! Alec and Kara may be in her sights.

It's funny because I was just thinking of this idol play last week, but forgot no one knew about it! Savage and his gang made the same mistake Goliath did last week, by putting all the votes on Wentworth and not splitting the vote. And IIRC, Joe was the one who told Wentworth about the plan to vote her off, just like Alec told Nick about the plan to vote off Christian. So maybe there's something else that can be learned here lol

Since I definitely do not see Mike winning, and have a hard time seeing Angelina win (unless something changes in the next few episodes), then I think the David has this. I'm going with Nick or Christian, because based on edits and game play, they seem the most likely. Davey possibly, but I'm doubtful. I do believe we have a jury that is going to vote based on game play, and some of the Goliaths are all about resume and big moves, so Nick and Christian have those. I am very curious what happens the next few weeks, but I hope 2 Goliaths in the finale doesn't mean the Goliaths somehow take control and pick off the Davids. Mike seems tailor made as a goat, because the Goliaths are probably pissed at him, and he betrayed the Davids. Angelina is more of a wild card, but she hasn't done too much to solidify a win, and her edit hasn't been that great. However, she seemed pretty pissed at Kara and Alec in the preview, and she said 'the Goliaths don't know how vindictive I can be', so maybe something else happens where she turns on them? Finds out she's been on the bottom this whole time? So maybe she starts having a break out episode next week. Hey, we saw nothing of Natalie White's game thanks to Russell, and Natalie Anderson didn't get too visible until after the merge. I don't want Angelina to win by any stretch, but not completely ruling it out.

So that brings up a more interesting question, but did Alison truly bail or did she change her mind again and go back to splitting the vote? Clearly we don't know since she didn't vote, but that has me intrigued. In addition, Kara and Alec were sitting no where near each other at TC so they couldn't have talked to each other, but I had wondered if they decided to go back to Angelina to simply to show loyalty to the Davids. But your comment would make more sense. Maybe they assumed Dan would be safe because of his idol so they didn't feel any guilt about ratting him out. Idols have been around since Guatemala, and they've been played the current way since Fiji (not counting super idols). Maybe we'll finally get a season where the idol is an absolute surprise because whoever has it told no one?

So was Nick stealing Alison's vote personal, random, or strategic to make it look like they were voting for her? I'm starting to second guess throwing support behind Alison after tonight. I don't get why the Goliaths give up so easy. Did Kara even try to fight to blindside Dan after Alison and Alec told her they changed their mind?

I'm guessing it might have been Alec who told them. I think Alec is still trying to stay in the good graces of the Davids, just in case, and again, I think he's trying for jury management. Tonight at TC he was all 'oh yeah, the Davids have a point about being down and getting picked off' and played a more sympathetic angle. Honestly I think the Davids are justified to be a little cocky. They've been down in numbers and the Goliaths are throwing them a line but then reeling it in. The Goliaths were just going to pick them off, and instead, the Davids have managed to even out the game. Maybe they got help, but they still have played a good strategic game. I know the nullifier is new, but the Goliaths clearly are not thinking ahead or learning from the last TC. And we saw a team effort idol hunt on the part of the Davids while the Goliaths were still snoozing. All I kept saying was 'do not be an idiot and split the two votes.' *Sigh* Silas, my first Survivor crush. I'm still bitter over that one.

The preview made me nervous, because the Davids can not afford to vote one of their own members right now. I hope this is just Gabby being overly emotional, and Carl just being a jackass over something stupid. Angelina sure didn't seem too happy when she realized Alec and Kara wrote her name down. She really doesn't get that she was at the bottom.

If the Goliaths had any smarts, they would have realized that the David tribe was as fractured as their own, and used that as an opportunity. As of now they have nothing on their side, whereas Christian at least has an idol for the Davids, and the Davids have good reason not to trust them. We saw it last week, and we saw it tonight. All because the Davids (down in numbers still) responded too quickly to Alison about voting Dan off, she thought that meant they were hiding something from her. She was right, but you then don't go segregate yourself in plain of view of the other tribe and the people you were just trying to align with, with the majority alliance that has been picking them off. Again, the Goliaths are way too worried about big moves and resumes, whereas the Davids are beating them with a far more strategic, methodical game. Forgot to add, but it is fantastic that we had two advantages this season, and both were used correctly. The Davids made the right call voting off Dan, but it would have been even more humorous if he used his idol to save himself, and then they voted for someone else-essentially wasting both his idols. I hope next week if Mike is still talking about Goliath strong they all tell him to shut up.

I kind of felt sorry for Dan during his final words, because he's right. He played an idol thinking it meant guaranteed safety, and said 'whoever heard of an idol nullifier.' I do think he's going to be bitter. At least he and his bro are reunited.

Angelina is the cockroach that won’t die. Very interesting vote break down at TC. Alec and Kara voted for Angelina-but why? Alec is so trying for jury management. My cat’s going to stop sitting on my lap Wednesday night. I got too excited for him when Gabby was talking about Alison and I yelled “yes, go the good side!” Then Alec won immunity, so I was hopeful that meant he'd go with the Davids. Then TC happened. Usually it’s excitement or rage, but either way, he doesn’t stay in my lap for the long the last couple of minutes. I won't lie though, I'll miss doofy Dan. Clearly the rocks hate anyone named Carl out there. I’d be terrified doing a rock draw at TC the way things are going. A small piece of Christian looked like he died when he didn’t get the puzzle. Mike continues to be terrible at this game. Does he really think he’s safe sticking with the Goliaths? I was disappointed in Alec and Alison tonight. Hopefully after tonight there's no more tribal lines, even if I want the Davids to stick together.

The Davids rock. They are amazing at this game. New school meets old school. They deserve to carry this to the end. TC started (according to my clock) at 8:46. I knew something was going down. The Goliaths looked pretty damn pissy at TC tonight. Not so much fun when you aren’t in control. Christian about gave me a heart attack not playing his idol.

I'm not sure what rules apply to the vote steal and if it could be used on a re-vote, but the nullifier has to be used during the vote and before the idol is applied. Again, not sure if it can be used on a re-vote but I don't see why not as long as the idol hasn't been played. I don't see there being a tie vote unless something really screwy happens with vote splits, or someone goes rogue and forces a tie. I'm trying to think if this will work, but maybe the Goliaths figure force a possible tie, and get a David out on the re-vote since they'd still have numbers? I can't believe they would actually do that and take a risk, but who knows. That tribe seems more like the big moves tribe that underestimates the Davids. As long as it's a Goliath going home I'm good. I hope the Davids don't misfire with their advantages. Nick should remember Fishbach arrogantly splitting his steal a vote between Joe and Abi and that leading to his ouster.

I'd be fine with a Christian victory. Frankly as long as its anyone but the Goliaths I'm good (I'd be fine with an Alec or Allison win, but since Alec isn't attending the reunion, clearly it isn't him). Normally I absolutely hate when someone is dragged to the final 3 as a goat (especially if its 2 goats getting dragged), but since it could very well be Angelina, I'm fine with that. I'm sure she'll be livid if she discovers she's only sitting there because that's how she's viewed. Mike definitely seems like a goat: voted against Natalie (a Goliath), only voted against Lyrsa because he felt he had to, made a side alliance, then betrayed the Davids for petty reasons. I can't see Dan winning, either. My worst nightmare is Angelina will take it, but as of now, I can't see her winning with her edit. I only thought Christian was the David because of his edit. It could very well be Nick, who is playing a strong, strategic game. Though Davie has had a quiet edit he also seems to be playing a strong game, but not sure yet if he screams 'winner.'

Since we have the final 4 fire making challenge, and someone getting picked to go to the final 3, I can see Angelina waving her arms frantically and saying "pick me, pick me, PICK ME! Okay, good. Wait, you told Jeff it was me, right?"