LadyChatts

Wardog is like some bumbling villain getting outsmarted by a bunch of kids. I don't even consider him a real villain, just a funny one.

The big reveal! I wonder if anyone thought for a split second they were getting the loved ones visit this early.

There is going to be a separate challenge for the EOE person to come back in, then a regular IC. There's debate whether the EOE returnee will get automatic immunity (like the Outcast Tribe returnees did). I think why it's supposed to be controversial is because the person is voted out of the game, and merely hangs with who will make up the jury that ends up voting for them. The jury sees the other final 2 like any other jury word, at the various TC and only hears what they have to say there and then to whatever bitter betty is voted off that night. So they are basically getting to know who they end up voting for more one on one. I haven't seen this rumored, but maybe a pact is made that they will vote for whoever returns no matter what and that's why it's deemed controversial. I also heard that TPTB expected more people to quit, and that other castoffs would try and force people into quitting to increase their odds of returning. And that didn't happen. But again, that's all rumors. It could even be TPTB don't like who won or (if you're Probst) Wentworth got beat in the final 3 so he's steamed about that. Next week's episode title is called "I'm the Puppet Master." Right away I thought of Wardog saying that.

Reem may not have wanted the mom label, but that’s exactly what she reminded me of this week. But with her asking if Keith ran off, saying she was so disappointed in him, chasing after him like he’s snuck out of the house, then getting into a fight with Chris over him questioning her about giving the advantage to Keith...I just got mom vibes. In fact, the quartet of her, Keith, Rick, and Chris seemed like some bad reboot of Swiss Family Robinson.

Worth noting that another spoiler was Kellye lost in the fire making challenge. Maybe it's that that takes her out, and it's because the person who comes back from EOE wins final immunity and screws up a sure thing for her to make the final 3.

If this is all true, I think the controversial part is that whoever is voted out is out there with the other castoffs-who are going to make up the jury. So the winner has time to bond outside of the game and talk to the jury one on one. So those who actually managed to stay in the game are at a disadvantage because the jury just sees them normally, whereas with the eventual winner they get to know. I do remember there being a rumor or Wentworth making the final 3, but losing to the EOE castaway.

I had heard that, and then that Kelley was idoled out but they didn’t know by whom. It’s believed she went deep because she had chipped nail polish and wanted to eat when she got home. There was a rumor Eric was going to be the other EOE returnee but not sure what’s true anymore. I can believe Wendy quit EOE and that someone from there wins, though. But people assumed Joe was an early boot because he looked like he lost zero weight. That’s not to say Joe still couldn’t be an early merge boot, but it would be the most shocking thing ever for him to quit EOE prematurely and go to Ponderosa to scarf burgers.

I can see it going one of two ways for Victoria based on her edit so far. Either she gets way too overconfident and gets blindsided out, or does the backstabbing and blindsiding of her allies and makes enemies. Her edit right now is kinda of puzzling lol I’m still going to believe that the eventual winner is from EOE and that the ending is controversial because of that. Considering how the first part of EOE went, I can see others sticking it out knowing what the rules are now.

I know what you mean. I get why people would want Joe gone, but he's such an obvious and boring boot that I hope there's a true Kama blindside. Or any blindside. Preferably Wardog. Also, if EOE is still going to be in play, I wonder if that'll effect how the castaways vote going forward. Someone like Joe could have an easy time making his way back. ' FWIW, here's the episode description for this week. It's interesting they don't even mention the player from EOE coming back: I don't know why, but I feel like this is going to be a boring, anti climactic merge boot. Maybe Wardog flips on Kelley/Lauren, or Victoria on Gavin/Eric, but I'm thinking Joe's a goner if he loses. If not him it'll probably be someone like David or Kelley, with the anti-returning player mentality out there. And Wentworth has an idol so she could play it. He did pretty good getting in Julia's head and making her worry that she could be seen as a threat. However, I'm guessing he didn't do that on purpose and it was more 'us targets have to stick together' type of talk. Who knows, Joe may find himself in a situation like he did in S31 when Stephen got blindsided over him. Someone might want to use the diversion to get rid of another person and has the votes to do it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that'll be the case this time. I'm not quite sure what to make of the editing this season, and last night had me more confused. Part of me thinks that this is leading up to a Joe boot next week (especially with the tears), or it's giving him and the other Kamas a story and someone else gets blindsided.

So now along with the Sia prize castaways can battle for free ice cream.

I’m gonna miss Big Wendy. That 2nd TC was a dud. All that build up, suspense, and god awful whispering amongst players, only for Wendy’s nine lives to finally run out. I did think it was adorable how she looked when she was spared the first vote. She really wasn’t that good at the game, from a social or strategic point (I thought she doomed herself to Victoria and Aubry when she wouldn’t commit to voting off Eric). But I enjoyed her energetic presence while she was there. Old Manu is just a miserable bunch so she was a bright spot. I’m glad Jeff at least gave her a Big Wendy for the road. I laughed when the chicken emancipator then said she was gonna go eat a cheeseburger.

So if Wardog makes it to the final 3, he realizes he can't just tell people to vote for him. 'You want to vote for Joe? Sorry, you're voting for me because I said so.' I'm praying for a hilarious reunion show montage of his calling David weak and saying he's strong, and then watching him fail in the challenges and try to get out of working at camp. What did he say tonight, something about his shoes needing to dry out so he couldn't help gather wood? I just don't get why they've kept him around. He's terrible at this game in every way except setting himself up as being fodder in the final 3. It's an insult to compare him to Tony.

I keep forgetting that two players are coming back. Someone at Sucks just had an interesting theory as well. That Chris maybe returns to EOE after losing the first re-entry challenge, still loses the second re-entry challenge, but he's still counted as making the merge so that could be why he gets a buff. At this point I'd say he or Aubry are the two strongest contenders to return. Wendy is pretty strong in challenges, too.

Yeah, I kind of felt that way about Eric/Gavin, too-just a little too smug. Something about Gavin just bugs the hell out of me, and I can't figure out what it is. And now I'm questioning whether this was even Victoria's idea or if it was the boys who made her be the trojan horse. I still can't get over last week with Joe being behind her, as she's talking about voting him out. I guess I'm just not on the "they already played and don't deserve to be here again" mentality that some of the newbies have. I know anytime there've been a mix of vets/newbies in the past we all talk about how stupid they are for letting the vets get far. But I don't know, this group just seems kind of entitled about it. And like it's a big move. Aubry's come back three times. The way this season is going I'd say 1, maybe 2 players, would be asked back. If it's a newbie/vet season hopefully they have the same attitude of the newbies wanting them off.

Funny thing is, I don't like any of Manu (except David) so as much as I dread a predictable pick off, I wouldn't care at the same time. Then again, from what I've seen of Kama, I'm not exactly jumping for joy at that tribe, either. One advantage Manu has is that Kelley/Lauren have idols. Those two (and unfortunately Wardog) might be in a good spot, being in the minority, and possibly having a returning player coming after them, to try and align with some Kama members. We saw Victoria tonight say she wasn't willing to go to rocks for her tribe members, and that people shouldn't trust her. She could end up flipping on Kama. As I said, I think David will go with a majority because he really has no loyalty to the Lesu 3. I feel like if he knew there was a merge coming up he might have voted out Lauren. I think Wardog and his big mouth is going to get it sooner rather than later. Or at least I hope. He's playing too hard, too fast, and has D/K/L annoyed at him. What I've seen from Kama, they don't strike me as the type that will follow his orders. Of course, he may seem like perfect final 3 goat fodder, too. If he's gotta stick around, I hope he hilariously loses some IC.

I think it'll be interesting. I have to believe Joe/Aurora know they're on the bottom of Kama (especially after Aubry getting voted out by NuMana). So they might try to pick up any bottom feeders they can find. Tonight's editing was interesting, with so much focus on Joe and Kama. It makes me wonder if Joe could be a surprise merge boot. Of course, they may just be trying to show us what's going on over there before the merge.

Ha, I just realized that about the EOE misfits. That's a good question about Aubry. I was wondering if she'd will the advantage to someone, but maybe she does get to hang onto them. If I were NuMana I would eat all the chickens just so I didn't have to share them. They were all talking merge tonight so they must assume it's coming up soon. Actually, I wish they could go eat the last of the chickens in front of Lesu and tell Lauren how good they were. ETA: Just read an interview with Jeff over at EW, and he said Aubry's idol and advantage are no good, even if she re-enters the game.

I kind of rolled me eyes because Wentworth would be over the moon if she had Joe on her tribe. Maybe they need to take a good hard look around and realize that maybe it's all them, those strong athletes that they are. And Chris was called out by Probst as being the hero in the challenges before he got booted. Not Wardog, Wentworth, or Lauren.

Next week is the big reveal! I just realized that NuOld Kama is pretty golden, as they haven't voted out anyone. And the only people NuMana voted out was Aubry and Wendy (in a joint effort). Hoping the merge is more exciting than the first half of the season. I think Wardog, Wentworth, and Lauren will be the most vulnerable if whoever returns is out for blood and side with Kama. Who may abandon their plans to vote out Joe at first, assuming he actually loses early challenges. David would probably flip in a heart beat. Too much too hope for for a Wardog blindside next week?

There’s way too much with 3 tribes and EOE. But I actually found EOE the most exciting thing of the season tonight. Who knew Keith was such a sneak? However, I don’t understand why they just didn’t go together right away. You think they would have been dying to find out. I’m also stunned no one has quit. Couldn’t believe that Kama didn’t go to TC, with all the focus on their tribe and voting off Joe. When it was Julie/Julia on the puzzle I thought for sure they were going to throw the challenge. Then Joey Amazing stepped in. Speaking of being sneaky, where did Victoria come from? Quite the little gamer. Poor Aubry, but at least it qualified as a blindside. I about had a heart attack when she didn’t play her idol. Is she allowed to will her advantage to someone else? Also, two advantages and an idol have already gone to waste. New record? And good old JT, forever and rightfully a Survivor punchline.

After tonight I’m rooting for Manu’s chickens as the final 3. This was almost a great episode, until the combined TC (still bitter over what that did to Malcolm!) and the stupid whispering at TC. I miss last season so much. And of course, Aubry gets blindsided, but ControlFreak-LazyDog or Lauren couldn’t? Wendy was too easy of a vote off. I can’t tell if these newbies are stupid or smart at the game. I’m at a loss who I want to see lose more among them. Lauren is just a whiner, Wentworth I can't stand, and Wardog definitely thinks he’s way better at this game than he is. Disappointed Wentworth found the idol, but glad it wasn’t him. Eric/Gavin are no Mason/Dixon. I think Victoria is going to overplay her hand, but she is a dark horse for me. David will probably just go along with the crowd. Joe will immunity his way to the half way point, and either lose or pass out in a challenge again and get voted out. Don't know what to make of the rest of Kama yet.

Aubry was rumored to have made the merge, so any spoilers that were out there got blown up tonight. Unless Chris in the red buff really is misdirect and he doesn't come back from EOE, but that seems to be the only solid one so far. And he does seem the most likely to return of the group out there. Wendy was supposed to be a pre-merge boot/EOE quit. We'll see if that holds up. I think Kama's sit out bench was near Manu's flag and that's why it was thought Kama lost the first IC.

I think JP, Chelsea, and Jenna from GI went until the merge without a confessional? I can't remember with JP, other than he didn't get much airtime. But I remember nothing of the other two. Jenna didn't seem to get any airtime until her boot episode. Her and Seabass were mad that their relationship wasn't showcased more. As for Julia-I do think valid points are made about representation and airtime. The podcast made a good point that Probst went to Ron for his reaction to Chris over the two girls. Now it's editing, but why show him being asked and not the two who gave the biggest surprised faces? And that Reem seems like a typical overbearing older woman mom type that we've seen many times before. However, I agree that going on a show like Survivor to be a role model, and everyone falling back on you being a med school student doesn't mean you deserve airtime (or means you'll make good airtime). Julia wound up on a tribe that hasn't lost, a tribe that seems boring (at least compared to Manu), and in a boring majority alliance where they decided the two returning players and their one ally is going first. And even now with the tribe split, it seems it's 3 against 2. Lesu at least is dysfunctional. And NuManu has Wendy, and they might try and shake things up rather than get rid of her as an easy vote off. So if/when Kama finally loses, we'll see what (if anything) they give her. We already saw Ron talking about targeting Joe while playing both sides, so my guess is he'll be seen as the mastermind and Julie/Julia his followers. I'm wondering if, because last season was better balanced with editing and story lines, that this seasons cast is disappointed their season isn't more like that. That could be what they were expecting.

So the theory on Sucks this week is that NuKama loses the first IC. They are shown being behind in the challenge, although where they are behind is a part where the tribes are stacking balls on top of each other, so it's possible any tribe could almost have it and then their stack falls. For the second RC, NuManu is the only tribe shown having a sit out bench, which would mean Kama would have lost a member in the first IC. Given what we saw with Ron/Joe last week, I can believe Kama loses at least one IC this week, and it's likely one of the guys going. Who goes between Ron and Joe I don't know. Ron would be a bigger blindside than Joe, imo, since he was the one shown saying that he wanted Joe to think they were working together but he planned to vote him out. Also, there was a secret scene of Ron talking about his now-useless advantage and that he might pretend it's still good, to either get people to work with him, or bury it and have someone find it. They could have showed that on the show, but didn't, so I'm guessing it doesn't happen, which could also be leading to a Ron boot.

Sneak peek for this week (this is the Wardog plotting against Lauren scene). Sounds like Wentworth might actually be in Wardog's corner on this.