Survivor Recap: This Twist-a-palooza Should’ve Come With a Gift Receipt
Twists in reality television used to be something we, as fans, lived for. But in this new era of Survivor, absurdism, I fear, is running rampant on the islands of Fiji and there seems to be no stopping the madness.
In Wednesday’s episode, seven (!) out of the 11 remaining players won immunity as twists upon twists were unleashed on the castaways during this week’s challenge. Not only did challenge winner Frannie snag immunity for herself and her team (which included Heidi, Danny, Carolyn and Kane), but Jeff Probst couldn’t — and wouldn’t! — stop there! He let Carson (who picked the gray rock and couldn’t play) select a team to back and he picked Frannie’s. Boom — immunity! And Brandon, the player who outlasted everyone on the losing team? You guessed it — immunity!
This all really sucks if your name is Matt, Yam Yam, Lauren or Jaime, especially since the winners (plus Carson) weren’t even allowed to vote at Tribal Council. Is something in the water out there in that Fijian paradise? And a follow-up question: WHY?!
If that wasn’t enough, Jeff had yet another crazy, incredible surprise in store for the four sadsacks vulnerable to the vote. After the winners sucked down a reward of some iced tea and PB&Js, they earned the chance to race around the island in search of the correct key to a new birdcage lock. Heidi found the needle in the haystack which won her the Control a Vote advantage. This allowed her to choose a member of the losing bunch and force him or her to vote however she wanted.
All of this combined is a bit excessive, dontcha think? Pure insanity, even! A gift we didn’t ask for and can’t return. (But hey, if we fans survived the Medallion of Power and the Have/Have-Nots twists, we can survive anything.)
While the show still hasn’t pulled anything as egregious as the hourglass twist in the few seasons since, all of this hullabaloo still feels like… well, hullabaloo. It is simply too. many. twists. But the Man With the Orange Hat already told TVLine that a “back to basics” season is not in the cards any time soon, so like the players themselves, we’ll just have to adapt, friends! (And very possibly/occasionally whine about it in weekly recaps.)
THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN | When Jeff questioned the players, it seemed that Matt and Yam Yam were the only two in jeopardy (despite much gossiping beforehand about Lauren’s extra vote), as Jaime, Brandon and Lauren held the majority as Ratu members. Through tears, Matt told Jeff a bit about why his Survivor experience meant so much to him, while Yam Yam acknowledged that he uses humor as a defense mechanism. I don’t know about you guys, but either way this shook out, it was going to be a brutal loss for the season.
Heidi used her advantage on Lauren, forcing her to vote for Yam Yam. But when all was said and done, Yam Yam and the other two Ratus wrote down Matt’s name and he became the first member of the jury, as poor Frannie could only weep from the sidelines. (Read our Q&A with Matt here.)
So let’s hear it: Was this episode too much? Sad to see the showmance split up? Rooting for Yam Yam? Post all of your comments below!
I thought there where six votes tonight?
Nope, only five. Lauren did not use her extra vote and there were only five people on that team.
If Frannie was smart she would have thrown the challenge; she was already safe and would have ensured Matt’s safety.
If Frannie was smart, she would have suggested uniting Matt and Yam Yam by forcing one of the Ratu to vote for one of the Ratu.
That would have just forced a tie
I don’t think Ratu would be willing to go to drawing rocks.
Heidi should have made Brandon vote for Lauren then Matt and Yam Yam vote for Lauren then it’s a three way tie Then they vote again and we see if anyone switches
Could Heidi have told Jaimie to vote Lauren and Yam Yam & Matt could have voted Lauren as well?
Yes that’s what they should have done
Why did they only read five votes? There should have been six. So did Lauren get to use her two votes? If Brandon, Jamie and Yam Yam voted for Matt and Matt and Lauren voted Yam Yam plus the control vote from Heidi for Yam Yam that would be a tie vote 3 to 3 right
Lauren did not use her second vote and there were only five team members.
Simply too much drama …and these people aren’t out there long enough. Why is the time frame shortened? I have no empathy for anyone because it’s too easy. Remember when Boston Robb was on? Those contestants suffered! This is silly and too many twists makes it seem like the show is trying too hard.
Show was too much, as if the writers and producers were sitting around the tiki hut and got into some fermented Hawaiian punch.
Matt was taken out by his own team. BecausevFrankie. His .lesbain (wanttobe) girlfriend didn’t throw the game. Well Matt no worries we all been there.
The steal a vote advantage was totally wasted. Heidi should have had Lauren vote for Jamie. Then Matt & Yam Yam could follow through and Lauren would have at least had to use her extra vote. It also would gotten Frannie, Carolyn, and Yam Yam to appreciate Heidi and want to work with her. I LOVED the crazy twists. But . . . Wasted.
I thought the fact that it was announced out loud was ridiculous. Heidi should have been able to hand lauren a vote on a parchment that she would have taken and placed in the voting jar. No one else’s votes get read out loud as they happen, so this should have been the same. I feel it forced the others to vote out matt since clearly that’s who the other team was trying to save.
If Lauren had two votes, why were only 5 votes instead of 6 read?
Zhe was doing the math out loud. Saying she had the extra vote. She could play it if someone go the other way or burn vote. And used it on the revote sending .attached home with her extra vote or no extra vote. She chose to trick them. And not use it
I am confused. If Heidi had told Brandon or Jamie to vote for Lauren, which was verbalized to everyone. Then Yam Yam and Matt could have voted for Lauren. Even though Lauren had another vote, why couldn’t it have been a tie breaker. I am not sure whay anyone else hasn’t voiced this…or am I just stupid?