LadyChatts

For the most part, I am loving the cast this year, especially this self-proclaimed black nerd. He's nothing like I was picturing. I loved him going along with Elizabeth on a pointless idol hunt, but not even letting on he had the idol, his face at TC when everyone was whispering in each other's ears and he was being left out, and just his overall personality. He's a lot of fun, but also seems very smart and strategic about what's going on. I do hope he sticks together with Carl and Elizabeth and picks off Alec/Kara (or at least Kara-the old Goliaths might not have much use for Alec now).

This is my concern. Davie already said he was blindsided at the first TC they went to, which was the result of Elizabeth fixing the flip on Jessica (even if they think/believe it was truly Gabby who led that charge). Despite the blindside, Davie doesn't seem like a dummy, and I think he will definitely weigh his options as to what's better for his game long term: sticking with Elizabeth, who he has no real allegiance too, or Alec who flipped on his very alliance. I forgot about that! That makes her blindside even better. It was Dan/Kara, John/Angelina, Alec/Natalia. So we're down to 15, I wonder if there will be another tribe swap, or if they will directly merge. I'm hopeful that there won't be an alliance dominating the merge half like there was last season. Unlike with Dom and Wendell, so far it's not painfully obvious whose going to be there in the end. Even the invisible Alison (I didn't know we had an Alison this season) could go far and just be that person who pops up out of nowhere when it's her boot episode, or she makes some big move at the merge.

Me too! I loved everything about him this episode. I especially love his relationship with Gabby. He seems to genuinely care about her and I loved his pep talk to her about not giving up in this game and fighting.

This girl is S-M-A-R-T smart. I never in my wildest dreams expected her to be such a gamer. She really played Alec perfectly. My fear is people might come around and realize she's too good at the game and she gets voted off for that. Also, Alec does worry me in that he might be unpredictable, and I don't know if Davie/Carl-who were blindsided by Elizabeth, but thankfully believe it was Gabby's doing-might be David strong in the long term. I don't know, I find that tribe a toss up at this point! I do hope she makes it to the merge at least! I'll think she'll be entertaining at Ponderosa.

I don't know if it was a case of Alec just not liking Natalia, or if Elizabeth's words got to him. She is a gamer and should not be underestimated. She played the whole 'big moves', 'resume', and saying whoever made the moves would be there in the end part perfectly. I did not expect any of this from her. My hope is that with Alec flipping on Goliaths at his new tribe, maybe that'll tempt someone like Mike to side with Lyrsa and Nick and vote off Natalie or Angelina.

I hate 3 tribe swaps! I was down on Natalie this episode-I am totally getting the Phillip vibe some others have mentioned about her. I liked Christian’s explanation of the tribe divisions being gerrymandering. I also liked him trying to BFF John right on the mat. He was all sorts of adorable at his new tribe. They definitely have an advantage in strength and smarts. I did love the reaction from the Davids at the reveal of Jeremy being booted. Notably Gabby with a stunned mouth drop, contrasted to Davie who just did a ‘whatever’ shrug. That is how you hide an idol show! Seriously Dan had the easiest idol find this season so far. I like the advantage, but kind of think it’ll be a waste (like most advantages on this show). Maybe an artifact for Ghost Island 2.0? Here’s something I hate about sending someone to exile and having them join the losing tribe: it would make no sense for a Goliath to flip and lose a numbers advantage. Just let Carl on a tribe and have that tribe have an extra person. Alec himself said as much. I think Mike was a better fit for the Davids. He had no problem selling Dan out. Sadly, I’m not sure if he’ll turn on Angelina or Natalie. But if he does, I’ll finally be a fan! And is Mason/Dixon done, or will it be Rockstar Mason/Dixon if they all make it to the merge together?

I usually hate the game of telephone and the term 'big moves', but damn if I didn't like it tonight! Can not wait to see the reaction next week! Didn’t see Bi dropping out like that-wow! So if she hadn’t dropped out, then what? It would have left the tribe set up even more lopsided. I totally understand and respect her reasons. She only watched what, one season of this show? I'm guessing she had no idea what she signed up for. But she's still got a physically demanding career and I'd hate to see this affect that. Natalia to Davie: “Your with us right? Okay, be quiet and go to sleep.” Seriously?! My TV might have suffered if she didn’t get voted off. I loved Alec’s facial expressions at TC. Natalia pretty much cemented Elizabeth’s argument.

So based on the posters over at Sucks in the MESS thread, the potential tribes splits look to be: Natalie, Natalia, Alec, Elizabeth, Davie (orange tribe) Gabby, Christian on the green tribe, possibly with Dan, Kara, Angelina, and John. There's debate whether Carl is with green or orange. Alec was in a preview wearing an orange buff. That tribe set up could make sense, especially if Natalie flips on her two Goliaths. That would kind of go along with Angelina's comments last week about how harmless Natalie was to keep around, and if Alec is pre merge then he really was a non-entity that they felt they could un-invite from the reunion and no one would notice.

So wait, with 17 people left how would they do 3 tribes?

Seriously?! I hate three tribe swaps.

I think this is the most exciting a 3rd boot has been in a long time. Now I get why Angelina seemed so hell bent on getting him out and not caring what anyone else thought. Maybe a good thing she didn't latch onto Hot Cop, but he would have been easier to Parvati than John.

That guy was also named Jeff, and I thought it was something that Ulong would rather keep a guy who twisted his ankle because they still thought other people were weaker than him. I feel like there have been times Probst has said they'd have medical take a look, but I might be confusing it with something else. Maybe they only showed it this time because Bi's knee was wrapped and needed an explanation? Whatever the case I hope she's okay. If she winds up on a stronger tribe post-swap maybe that will help her out if they can win right off the bat.

So he's saying Angelina is in a showmance with John, but John is doing this just for strategy while she may have real feelings for him, and because she's married and he was making cracks about her looking at John that's why he felt her wrath? I actually find that kind of hilarious, especially because I don't think John is stupid enough to be swayed by Angelina.

I've just never understood the logic with tribe swaps. During Palau, they had to merge Stephenie with Koror because she was the last Ulong standing (though I would have loved to hear Probst say "instead of asking whose sitting out, whose the one person that's going to compete against Stephenie"). And during Philippines, Matsing had nearly decimated itself before a tribe swap. I feel like they pick and choose when they want one. I do worry about the Davids going into this swap. Aside from Natalie the Goliath's seem like a tight bunch, and I can especially see Queen Angelina making sure no one wavers from her side if they get a majority of numbers. The Davids seem tight, too, but a little fractured after the Jessica vote. I'd also like to see a season without a tribe swap, but there's a lot of things I'd like to see changed that ain't gonna happen. It just makes these themes more stupid that they last for a couple of episodes.

The only thing I can think of, is that posters at other forums try to pick out who may have made it far based on weight loss pics and whose following who. The pre-merge Ghost Island cast was pretty much figured out based on followings (including by some of the castaways family members), and pics. Although some believed Stephanie showed quite a bit of weight loss, and she didn't make the merge, but I figure you can't always go based on pics unless it is really, really obvious. I think there's always been some sort of SM posting rule, both before and during the season, but they've gotten pretty lax about it the last few years unless they had a reason to step in. Clearly based on the fact that Kara was in that video, her and Alec were close, and even though they are on the same starting tribe, we haven't seen anything to indicate their bond yet. Based on editing, I think Angelina's words about Natalie are going to come back to bite her or at least her former tribe mates in the swap, if they don't end up on the same tribe. I also agree that John and Dan probably go far.

He wrote N. Cole. I thought he might be making a reference to Natalie Cole, but maybe I'm wrong. When I first saw him write N. I thought he was going to be funny and put something stupid on there that Jeff would have to yell at him about because he didn't understand who he meant. I will cut Jeremy a break, because Natalie could have handled that better. To know she's on the chopping block, and she approaches a group of people but doesn't want you included, I'd be suspicious, too. I'm glad she was at least trying and didn't just take Jeremy's advice that it was an uphill battle to save herself, so she just gave up. She should probably thank her lucky stars that Jeremy made Angelina more paranoid so she decided to target him first, because she assumes Natalie will be an easy boot next. Why no one thought about targeting Angelina for having a 'my way or the highway' attitude over booting Jeremy, I don't know.

Tribe swap next week! Will this be the end of Mason Dixon? Did Angelina foreshadow Natalie turning on Goliath tonight when she forced the tribe to vote for Jeremy over her? Quite honestly, in another season, Angelina's antics in leading the charge to vote Jeremy out probably would have gotten her blindsided in another season.

I loved when Natalie said something to the effect of she'd be surprised if it was a blindside and not her going home, and Jeremy just casually agreed. I also loved when Probst did his standard "if anyone has the hidden immunity idol..." and Dan was just looking around trying not to look suspicious.

The only other Goliath I’m liking is John, but I’m curious where his feelings for Natalie come from. Do they have some UTR alliance going on? Not that I’m objecting, but it seems weird he’s rallying for her to stay when we haven’t really seen anything about them bonding. I still like Christian, but hate the Mason-Dixon alliance. Perhaps Nick needs to brush up on his math skills and realize that they are two people in a tribe of eight. I wonder if he really thinks he can win against Christian in the end? It’s still very early but I have my doubts. Christian seems like the one who may really be the brains in that alliance. And suddenly Gabby is a slayer who orchestrated the Jessica boot. Is Nick a wee bit jealous the other half of Mason/Dixon may have eyes for someone else? I love everything about a Gabby/Christian nerd showmance, especially if Gabby breaks up the Mason/Dixon. So far, I’m enjoying this season, but I also enjoyed the pre-merge portion of last season, too. So we’ll see if it keeps up. I am liking the editing way more this season! I feel like we’re getting a little more camp life, bonds, and strategy. I like that both idols have already been found so there’s not that to deal with. I do wish we had seen Elizabeth and Lyrsa’s reaction to the TC aftermath at camp, but Elizabeth’s smile at the IC when Jeff announced Jessica’s boot was enough, I guess.

Finally a Goliath loss, and Natalie survives. Of course when she steps up in a challenge they lose, but glad Jeremy was paranoid enough and an idol snoop that it cost him. His strategy rantings made no sense. I don’t care if I’m on an island of one, I love Natalie so far! And usually I don’t like her type on here. Natalia and Angelina can go anytime. I think Angelina acting like she’s the sole one in charge may come back to bite her. Hopefully it’s ‘harmless’ Natalie that leads to her downfall. My hope is she merely said that to survive to the next day. Because if there is one thing that will make me stop rooting for her (and hate the Goliaths more), it's that.

Pretty much sums up last season for me.

Assuming the spoiler is true, yes. Many on other sites are speculating Dan, probably because he has an idol and just seems like that hapless type that gets to the final 3 and totally Amanda Kimmel's his FTC speech. And it's being speculated that there is an advantage that cancels out an idol (I'm assuming it would be after its played). I don't know if it's another idol or just some random advantage on a piece of paper. What's interesting to me is Kara and Dan are the ones seen getting close so far, and the fact that it was Kara and Alec who were spotted on Alec's IG the day after the castaways got home. Alec has been barred from attending the reunion for breaking the rule about social media posting, but Kara hasn't. So Alec clearly doesn't win, and may not even make the merge so he's really irrelevant, but he must not have a big impact on the season if they felt okay with him not being at the reunion as a seat filler. So I wonder if Kara makes the merge, or if it would have been too much to explain not having two irrelevant seat fillers at the reunion, or what the deal is there. Clearly the showmance with her and Dan didn't make it off the island! I hope the Davids don't get decimated in a tribe swap by not having numbers. Hopefully Natalie flips on her Goliath's.

Wow, that's interesting. If you want to DM rather than post it here, you can do that. There's really only one person I want to survive on that tribe so hopefully she's not the one getting booted.

So many of the comments above got me thinking about Natalie and the situation she's in. I think a lot of her issue boils down to being a fish out of water on a tribe of younger, more athletic, more take charge tribe mates. The younger girls on Goliath (at least Natalia and Angelina) clearly want to be running things, and whether they'd have any use bringing Natalie into their faux couples fold, I don't know. Reading comments about her being bossy and not seeing the reality around her of the situation she's in takes me back to season 1, and why I think for one reason that season should be mandatory viewing for any future Survivor castaway. One reason because of a quote from one Rudy Boesch about his Tagi tribemates: "I gotta fit in, not them." Good advice to live by on this show, even if it kills you to be nice. Survive to a swap or merge and maybe you'll have better luck letting your true self come out.

What streaming sites? I know one season awhile back had that night's episode uploaded prematurely but I think it was taken down almost immediately. ETA: judging by the episode title and description (as well as last week's preview), I am hoping that all points to a Goliath loss.