S47.E07: Our Pickle on Blast

[Rodney]

The Immunity Challenge leaves one group of castaways with a much-needed reward and safety in the game.

This is the episode's actual discussion thread for after the episode airs.

[Brown44]

I'm for giveing the middle finger on your way out but damn even that broke me.

Edited October 31 by Brown44

[LadyChatts]

I've said before, there seems to be a theme to this season where decisions made earlier in the game are coming back to bite people.  Kishan paid for voting off Asyah, Rome might still be here if he went after Sol first, and now Tiyana is gone maybe because of her decision to vote off TK.  And Andy may be Sam/Sierra's undoing.  

A very padded episode with an epic finish.  I will say I was expecting something bigger at TC with how much time was devoted to it, but given what happened we got a lot and it was satisfying.  And I don't want to sound heartless because I really did feel for Tiyana.  I can't imagine getting to come out here and experience a lifelong dream, only to get screwed over by a one-off set-up of having a limited number of people to vote off and someone getting an advantage that makes them immune.  But I live for bitter exits.  I hope there's more to come.

I was so happy Sol found the advantage.  I think Rachel may have gotten it regardless of who found it, but I'm happy he got it.  I can't believe everyone was just snoozing and then playing a game of beach baseball (or whatever it was they were doing) without even trying to tear apart their make-shift dining area at the reward.  I mean most of these people are not ready for the big leagues of Survivor.  

[Rodney]

Sad for Tiyana, because that was quite the twist that had to take her out.

Good challenge, and congrats to Genevieve and Teeny for pulling it out for their team.

Poor Rachel.  Stuck with all of the Tukus.  And the Tribal Council scrambling pretty much laid it bare that, yes, she was the target regardless of the initial scrambling before Tribal Council.  But I think that Tiyana legitimately did want to save and work with her before Caroline essentially shot it down.

Glad to that Sol got the advantage, and he used it well by giving it to Rachel.

Stop trying to make Andy happen, Show.  You can't have him be all talk about wanting to change his destiny in the game one minute and then give him buffoon/clown music the next (like his search for the advantage during the reward).

Intense episode, but an emotional one.

[KeithJ]

Can’t help but feel bad for Tiyana but I’m glad to see another person leaving the game not being all happy with a smile on their face.

The advantage seemed to be a little too perfect for me.  I would guess the producers always planned on placing an advantage at the winner’s feast but was it always going to be a give to someone on the other team advantage?

Now, I may be showing my age here but Teeny is non-binary.  I thought non-binary meant that you do not identify as male or female (or am I wrong)?  If that’s the case, why was Teeny talking about an all women’s alliance?

Edited October 31 by KeithJ

[Rodney]

3 minutes ago, KeithJ said:

Now, I may be showing my age here but Teeny is non-binary.  I thought non-binary meant that you do not identify as male or female (or am I wrong)?  If that’s the case, why was Teeny talking about an all women’s alliance?

While nonbinary, Teeny is aware that they're biologically, genetically female, despite not normally identifying as such.  So I can see why they'd feel included in that.

[North of Eden]

How is it possible the producers haven't realized that almost no one likes the episodes where most of the people on the newly merged tribe are safe? Compounded by the random draw turning out like it did. The only thing that saved Jeff and the gang was that advantage being found and it looked like it came close not to be which makes me wonder what they would have done.

Anyway, sorry T but I laughed at you when you were voted out. Her obsession with Gabe was getting trying and veering towards the territory of that woman a couple seasons of ago who would not let go of her fixation on a male member of the tribe she didn't like. (sorry their names are long gone from my head)

For a hot moment before tribal I thought maybe Caroline was going because she e hasn't said two words the whole season and suddenly, she was prominent.

This is the first time in two weeks that I watched my DVR the same night the show aired. I finally figured out what the problem is. Besides the too long length there is no compelling character to follow their transformation like Emily-she was a villain in the season premier but the deeper she went in the game and the more she evolved she had people including me rooting for her to make it to the end. There is no one like that this season. They are making lame attempts I guess with Andy but it's not working.

To end on a positive note...I do like Sol but I fear he's placing himself in danger by trying to throw shade on Sam. Get on Sam's bad side and you could wind up like Anika.

[Michichick]

35 minutes ago, LadyChatts said:

Kishan paid for voting off Asyah

Aysha :)

 

27 minutes ago, Rodney said:

Stop trying to make Andy happen, Show.  You can't have him be all talk about wanting to change his destiny in the game one minute and then give him buffoon/clown music the next (like his search for the advantage during the reward)

Agreed! I don’t like Andy and I was initially hoping today would turn out to be his Rome-style vote out, after all his talk about how he’s gonna be making moves.

 

37 minutes ago, LadyChatts said:

was so happy Sol found the advantage.  I think Rachel may have gotten it regardless of who found it, but I'm happy he got it.  I can't believe everyone was just snoozing

Same here! Don’t these folks want  to win? Looking for advantages is a big part of the game

[astrohip]

10 minutes ago, North of Eden said:

How is it possible the producers haven't realized that almost no one likes the episodes where most of the people on the newly merged tribe are safe?

A thousand times this. Jeff is all "there's nowhere to hide in New Era". But all X million viewers are "no, just give us a 12 person tribal".

I think most of us LIKE having a large vote this early in the merge. It creates split alliances, and helps form new ones. All a five person vote does is create suspense over whether it's A or B, and usually at the mercy of a single person (in this case, Kyle/Caroline).

[Lantern7]

If I cared about the show, I’d probably be shook now. I guess this was a good episode, even with the division of players. I chose to watch The Challenge “live,” and I think I chose wrong two weeks in a row.

Of course Andy would draw equations in the sand. I kinda wish they were highlighted by the editors.

1 hour ago, KeithJ said:

Can’t help but feel bad for Tiyana but I’m glad to see another person leaving the game not being all happy with a smile on their face.

At least she went through the interview tears-free. But damn, she was broken going out.

[dancingdreamer]

That was a good Survivor  tonight, we enjoyed it.  I liked the twist at the start, six safe, six not. 
I loved Sol finding  the advantage,  I told DH, just watch, he'll  save Rachel,  and he did, leaving  the rest in a real pickle. I said Tiyana wanted  Gabe out, I bet he turns that around, and he did, lol. Sorry Tiyana didn't  even  make jury, but it made watching  tonight, very good!! 
I like Andy, and Caroline  is very smart. Kyle won individual  immunity  once again ( yay for the ugly necklace  again) Loved the  wink Gabe gave the camera  cocky? Sure it was, still liked it.

 

[AntFTW]

Tiyana and that look. 😭💔

... and Andy's still surviving.

[TVFan1]

I felt bad for Tiyana, but that's the game.  It seemed to me that her name wasn't being brought up for consideration until Rachel left tribal and when the whispering started. If it wasn't for that advantage, Rachel definitely would have gone out.

I want to see more people being at risk of getting to be voted out than just five or six people. So boring and annoying. It's not a merge if you're doing it in groups. Groups are for reward challenges and the "Tribal Phase" of the game. 

Oh, yeah, Andy and Sam still suck.

[HappyDancex2]

So. So many tears.

Not making the jury on survivor should not be such a heart wrenching loss.  Nothing really that matters in life was lost sweetie.

good episode nonetheless!  Didn’t the planted advantage seem too perfect to get the outcome?!

[Guigoaoshi]

I still think Andy "will happen" at least to take out Sam and/or Sierra. And who knows, If he really team up with smart players and they overlook him, he might not be a target for a while. Another one that might fly under the radar till like final 5 is 45 year old Sue...No one seems to see her as a threat and she has at least three shields with the other three from her tribe. Also shes has the best imunity of the season that can be used until final 5. At other hand, Kyle, Gabe, Sam and Sierra seems like the most possible targets for the next votes.

Edited October 31 by Guigoaoshi

[AntFTW]

14 minutes ago, Guigoaoshi said:

Another one that might fly under the radar till like final 5 is 45 year old Sue...No one seems to see her as a threat and she has at least three shields with the other three from her tribe. Also shes has the best imunity of the season that can be used until final 5.

Tonight's vote worked out for Sue because one of the people that put the clues together to figure out that she has an idol is gone.

[SVNBob]

1 hour ago, AntFTW said:

Tonight's vote worked out for Sue because one of the people that put the clues together to figure out that she has an idol is gone.

And lucky for her that it was the one that she didn't know that knew.  Sue only knows Caroline knows because Caroline told her.  Tiyana kept that information to herself.

Speaking of Caroline, THANK YOU!   I've been talking about Smart Movez over Big Movez on these boards for years.  I'm glad someone playing the game was listening and brought it up on the show itself.   (Or came up with it on her own... parallel thinking works just as well.)

Rachel did two smart things with that advantage.  The first was the obvious choice of taking SWP and noping tf out of TC before getting booted.  The second smart thing is more subtle; she didn't mention there was another option she could have taken.  There's only two people that know that part of the advantage: herself and the person that gave it to her.   So she's got an easy way to fact-check anyone that claims to have sent her the advantage.

[violet and green]

Sol was laying on the acting thick in tribal council! So glad he found the advantage scroll, but slightly bummed it wasn't one for him, or an idol clue.

5 hours ago, AntFTW said:

Tonight's vote worked out for Sue because one of the people that put the clues together to figure out that she has an idol is gone.

Good point! Plus she got to keep her safety triangle together, with Gabe and Caroline still in the game with her. So it was a good result for me.

So good to see Sol making little inroads, a new buddy here, a thankful Rachel there when she finds out...

[Nashville]

3 hours ago, SVNBob said:

Rachel did two smart things with that advantage.  The first was the obvious choice of taking SWP and noping tf out of TC before getting booted.  The second smart thing is more subtle; she didn't mention there was another option she could have taken.  There's only two people that know that part of the advantage: herself and the person that gave it to her.   So she's got an easy way to fact-check anyone that claims to have sent her the advantage.

Are we sure Rachel knew there were two options - or did Sol get to specify not only who got the advantage, but also which advantage they got?

[GenerationX]

Tiyana - I know you are distraught at not making the jury.  And the consequences are that in a couple of weeks, I won't recognize your name or your face.  You can take solace, though, in that after a couple of months I won't recognize the name or face of anyone who made the jury or the goat who gets no votes at the final tribal.  I may remember the winner or runner-up for a year or so, then they're gone, too.  So, in summary, if you bump into me in 2026 and tell me you won S47, I'll just congratulate you on your win.

[Haleth]

I still don’t know half these people but I’m not sure I care. I’m glad Sol found the advantage and used it wisely, causing chaos amongst that smug group. (Good tv). If he’s smart he will go to the end of the season before revealing he was the one who did it. 

[Skooma]

10 hours ago, Rodney said:

Stop trying to make Andy happen, Show.  You can't have him be all talk about wanting to change his destiny in the game one minute and then give him buffoon/clown music the next (like his search for the advantage during the reward).

I really like Andy.  I'm sad he and Sam, who I also like a lot, are now on opposite sides.  Sniff.  But Sol is my favorite so I'm glad he and Andy are working together so it all balances out.

I just don't like Genevieve (sp?) is with them because I don't like big corporations so I absolutely can't stand corporate lawyers doing their dirty work for them.  Also I don't trust her at all in this game.

10 hours ago, KeithJ said:

The advantage seemed to be a little too perfect for me.  I would guess the producers always planned on placing an advantage at the winner’s feast but was it always going to be a give to someone on the other team advantage?

Sure it was.  They used these types of advantages in the past and with only 5 people eligible for being voted out and the tribes being random drawl that could make things unbalanced and almost always does then the advantage from the safe six to effect the unsafe five seems a logic choice from the get go. 

No need to change anything on the fly and I doubt they would do it anyway.  There is a lot of production interference on Survivor obviously but not to that extreme extent.

[JudyObscure]

2 hours ago, violet and green said:

Sol was laying on the acting thick in tribal council!

A little too thick for someone who is usually so quiet. Between his flurry of "What? How does that work?s"  and  Jeff's probing questions that seemed to go on and on, I was holding my breath through most of Tribal, sure someone was going to say, "It was wild, Jeff, I thought it was going to be me before we settled on Rach... oh, oops."

2 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Tiyana - I know you are distraught at not making the jury.  And the consequences are that in a couple of weeks, I won't recognize your name or face.

Really.  She seemed to think that by being a vote at the end she would go down in history as a king maker.

8 hours ago, Guigoaoshi said:

 Another one that might fly under the radar till like final 5 is 45 year old Sue...No one seems to see her as a threat and she has at least three shields with the other three from her tribe. 

Yes, it always bothers me that all the older women on Survivor are seen as harmless mother figures.  Sue doesn't seem the least bit maternal to me or even likeable, I don't think I've ever seen her smile, unless it was one of her bragging moments.  She just keeps pursing her lips and radiating hatred toward Kyle.

[Gummo]

That was fun! Sorry/not sorry for Tiyana - I mean, I liked her well enough but not enough to care, ya know?

But that all worked out a little TOO neatly, didn't it? I get the feeling that, during his confessionals, producers were asking Sol questions like, "Wow, that advantage would work best on Rachel, don't you think?" and "Giving that advantage to Rachel would be a real gamechanger, wouldn't it?"

I can't stand Andy. I can't stand Sue. Which means they're both going to be around for way too long.

[RedbirdNelly]

I hate that we were back to the random split up into groups/half are immune situation. If there was some merit to getting into the safe group (top 6 finishers are immune), that would at least help. 

[Tachi Rocinante]

Jeebus, could they draw out tribal any more?  Just get to the fucking vote already.

Jeffy, ease up on the pointed questions. You are the host, not a player. He stirs shit up and influences votes more than he realizes.

[seacliffsal]

In this 'new era' (I really hate that Jeff [and the players] labels it as such) there doesn't seem to be an emphasis on food gathering as the challenges and rewards are every day or every other day.  In the OG version there would be three days between the elimination challenges and not always a reward challenge, so the players were more desperate to eat.  

While watching Rachel play her advantage at tribal it really did show the futility of strategizing before tribal.  Way too many chance advantages/twists.  I wish Jeff had made them immediately vote without 'whispering' after Rachel used her advantage as that would really disclose alliances within the former tribe.  Caroline made the right choice in voting Tiana as her #1 has been Sue and voting against Sue could have really had a negative impact on Caroline's game.  I like Kyle but, unfortunately, I don't think Sue will let her vendetta against him go.

Gata will regret not getting rid of Andy when they had the chance.

[Gummo]

15 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

I wish Jeff had made them immediately vote without 'whispering' after Rachel used her advantage

Me, too!

[Ellee]

I thought it was one of the ladies that wanted Andy up as backup plan on the Rome vote. Sol told Andy it was Sam. Is that true?

[KeithJ]

32 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

I wish Jeff had made them immediately vote without 'whispering' after Rachel used her advantage as that would really disclose alliances within the former tribe.

I do too.  As soon as she left he should have said "xxx you're up to vote" but I'm sure that wouldn't have made for "great TV".

Edited October 31 by KeithJ

[Skooma]

7 minutes ago, Ellee said:

I thought it was one of the ladies that wanted Andy up as backup plan on the Rome vote. Sol told Andy it was Sam. Is that true?

They asked Sam at that feast if he was good with letting Andy be Plan B and he said yes.  That was what Sol meant.  That Sam said it was okay to make him Plan B. 

Sam also told Sol on that same episode that he would rather work with him then Andy as in Andy had served his purpose with Sam.  So yeah Sam basically threw Andy under the bus.

[Rodney]

3 hours ago, Skooma said:

I really like Andy.  I'm sad he and Sam, who I also like a lot, are now on opposite sides.  Sniff.

Question: Why?  I've seen nothing to like about either.  Not an ounce.  You're definitely alone there.

[iMonrey]

13 hours ago, North of Eden said:

How is it possible the producers haven't realized that almost no one likes the episodes where most of the people on the newly merged tribe are safe? Compounded by the random draw turning out like it did.

Honestly. When they didn't do it last week I thought maybe they heard us. Why do they think it's more interesting if there are only four people eligible to vote out? Does anyone really think it would have been Tiyana if there were eleven possible choices? It probably would have been Kyle because if they weren't split into two groups either Genevieve or Teeny would be wearing that hideous necklace. (That thing looks really uncomfortable, BTW.)

Ugh. I know I'm beating a dead horse here but this just isn't a game anymore. It's a show where production keeps screwing people over and strategy is worthless because production will always step in and make sure all your plans are impossible to put into action due to some last minute twist or advantage. All the chaos and whisper-scrambling at tribal is what drives the show anymore. They don't care about who might be playing the best game, all they care about is shock twists and unpredictability.

[TVbitch]

All of the above. And also, Jeff will pretty much announce to everyone at tribal what all the various scenarios might be and what everyone might possibly be thinking, so it's hard for players to actually play out any potentially secret or clever strategies anymore. 

[Guigoaoshi]

According to Jeff, the split groups are used to avoid a safe/unanimous vote (with usually kinda happened at merge). Odd tho that they let It happen last week . But since they decided do consider last week as a mergatory, despiste they having all players, same beach, only one individual win and everyone voting together 🙄🙃. Anyway, I think is cool to make them have to think fast already. At the end of the day, her elimination wasnt just a random vote. It was the payback for the fact she didnt really became close with the women on her tribe, while with the guys she blindsided Kyle while was so upfront on get Gabe out, the guy that managed to do what she couldnt: be close with Kyle and the other two women.

Edited October 31 by Guigoaoshi

[Jeanclaudvanbuns]

Tiyana should have said, Sue has an immunity idol, so watch out for her, when she brought up her torch.  That would have been so awesome. 

[fishcakes]

Sol, you magnificent bastard. I knew you were a good liar, but you are also a great actor. I don't mean the performance at TC; I mean the way he left the rest of the reward feasters so he could read his advantage clue by walking as though he were about to have a momentous bathroom event. Sol for the win.

But my second choice is Andy for the win because that would be hilarious.

I dislike everyone on Blue except maybe Kyle, but he's probably just a walking target now. Gabe is obnoxious, Sue is ridiculous, and Caroline is a follower. I didn't love Tiyana or anything, but I'd have rather seen Gabe go.

Genevieve is growing on me. When she approached Andy, my first thought was that she certainly has interesting taste in alliance mates, but her TH showed me that she's doing what players should but rarely do: scoop up the people on the bottom to take out the bigger players. I would like to see Sol, Andy, and Kyle team up and take out each of their former tribemates, and I'd like Genevieve to be in on that, but I don't know how willing she is to work with Sol long-term.

Edited October 31 by fishcakes

[bankerchick]

18 hours ago, North of Eden said:

This is the first time in two weeks that I watched my DVR the same night the show aired. I finally figured out what the problem is. Besides the too long length there is no compelling character to follow their transformation like Emily-she was a villain in the season premier but the deeper she went in the game and the more she evolved she had people including me rooting for her to make it to the end. There is no one like that this season. They are making lame attempts I guess with Andy but it's not working.

This is the first time in years I haven't watched my DVR the same night the show aired.  Same reason.

[violet and green]

4 hours ago, Rodney said:

Question: Why?  I've seen nothing to like about either.  Not an ounce.  You're definitely alone there.

I wouldn't say definitely alone. Half alone?! I like watching Andy, and he was excellent as a stunned and pondering vampire in the night vision after learning Sam had chucked his name out, so to speak.

I thought Sol handled being one of those who wrote his name down (guess he is assuming the other was Rome) well in that scene.

I don't like Sam, so he can go at any time, though. Or Sierra, either. Or Genevieve. I could go on...

[Scatterbrained]

I feel like Sue is out there replicating dysfunctional family dynamics.  She’s the “Loyal Wife” who stands by her man (Gabe) no matter what.  Gabe is like the misogynistic, philandering, narcissistic, politician husband, Caroline is like the daughter who has lived in a bubble her whole life, but thinks she knows more than she does.

Sue is intent upon believing in her own fairytale and will blame the other women for going after her man (Tiyanna) and any well-meaning person who tries to inform her of a truth she does not wish to know or acknowledge (Kyle).

That vicious, steely-eyed, pursed lipped, clinched jaw face says it all.

[SVNBob]

12 hours ago, Nashville said:

Are we sure Rachel knew there were two options - or did Sol get to specify not only who got the advantage, but also which advantage they got?

From one of the Parade articles this week (apparently quoting the podcast):
 

Quote

"And then you have the person who gets it, the recipient," [Jeff] continued. "They have a choice. 'Which advantage do I use?'

 

[Scatterbrained]

The interesting thing about half the people being safe and outside the vote, was that they got to watch to proceedings head on.  This allows them to relax and really notice interpersonal dynamics.  Who looks confident, who looks nervous, who whispers to who, who uses body language signals with whom.  There is a lot of information there that most contestants don’t get to observe and digest when they are “in it”.

[srhall79]

What a difference in rewards. Last week, one hot dog each, that you have to cook yourselves, no toppings. This week, ribs with plenty of sides.

I wondered if Rachel might be able to shake out Caroline if she came back, "Gabe was throwing your name out there." And it's interesting how players will see others. Rachel as Gatta's glue, when it really seems like she could be below Andy.

In my memory, Safety without Power has often been a monkey's paw. Yeah, you get out of there safe and sound, but you might have been the vote that forced a tie. So it was neat that it whisked Rachel away and left the five to eat themselves.

Though coming into this, my wife knew it had her least favorite twist, dividing the tribe and only half are at risk. Add in individual immunity and we go from 12 targets to just five.

[Skooma]

15 hours ago, Rodney said:

Question: Why?  I've seen nothing to like about either.  Not an ounce.  You're definitely alone there.

This is about why I like Sam and Andy.

That's easy to answer.  I see nothing to dislike about either of them.  I've liked how Sam played the game up until now and I find Andy good entertainment.

And no I am not alone unless there was some poll taken of all people on the Survivor forum I'm not aware of.

But even if there were and nobody but me liked them, so what.  This is my opinion.  You have yours, I have mine.

[JudyObscure]

5 hours ago, Skooma said:

This is about why I like Sam and Andy.

That's easy to answer.  I see nothing to dislike about either of them.  I've liked how Sam played the game up until now and I find Andy good entertainment.

You do you, Skooma!  I agree that  Andy is entertaining and while I'm not a particular Sam fan I've noticed a bias against young men like Sam for a long time.  I'm still miffed that Xander didn't get a single vote.

[iMonrey]

22 hours ago, Guigoaoshi said:

According to Jeff, the split groups are used to avoid a safe/unanimous vote (with usually kinda happened at merge).

Then by his own admission, the show is forcing an outcome that would not have otherwise happened. They are stepping in to protect a player they think is most likely to go home and making the players pick someone last minute they weren't even considering. 

That's not a game. That's a show that's playing the players. They're not actually letting the players decide how to play, they're making the choices for them.

Edited November 1 by iMonrey

[Nashville]

Anybody else struck by Sue’s resemblance to Steven Tyler?

[DEL901]

2 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Then by his own admission, the show is forcing an outcome that would not have otherwise happened. They are stepping in to protect a player they think is most likely to go home and making the players pick someone last minute they weren't even considering. 

That's not a game. That's a show that's playing the players. They're not actually letting the players decide how to play, they're making the choices for them.

I think that if all the twists are planned in advance, it still counts as a game. 

[JudyObscure]

The one Sue keeps reminding me of is Tuesday Weld.

Well, you have to imagine Tuesday at "45."

Edited November 2 by JudyObscure

[violet and green]

2 hours ago, Nashville said:

Anybody else struck by Sue’s resemblance to Steven Tyler?

She had a cheeky little mo from shadow cast by her lip fillers last night, looked like a thoughtful little pirate.