Friday, November 23, 2012

Survivor Philippines Episode 10: “That’s What Happens When You Fall Asleep at the Wheel”


When Artis was blindsided last week, I applauded Skupin for finally coming to play. In one of his pre-season interviews, I heard him say that playing under the radar just isn’t his thing and that he would never follow that path. This was evidenced by the big move that he made, which also allowed him to control his fate in the game. Another thing of note was that I previously mentioned how the editing is setting up Pete to fail, and it seems that that is precisely what transpired here.

Image: CBS
Abi and Pete returned to camp from the previous tribal council realizing that all of a sudden it’s two versus six. I am appalled at the way Abi looks at things as if she did nothing wrong. Here’s the thing Ms. Abi – if you are rude to people and you treat them with disrespect, you cannot expect them to be nice all the time. Even sweet old Lisa can reach her toll. And while she did clarify that she has forgiven you, there has to be a tipping point somewhere.

The rest of the tribe has laid out their plans saying that it would be them in the Final Six and after that it’s “game on”. I like how that looks like because majority of the people within that six are likable and root-able. But there’s a part of me that is saying that something is up. For now, though, that six will be intact and that means they are one step closer from successfully decimating the Axis of Evil.

Image: CBS

Quickly, we’re headed to the first challenge of the episode. This looks like a fun and simple challenge. And once again, I had to congratulate the challenge producers for coming up with yet another unique concept. It was easy by design yet very challenging to earn a point as you have to be agile and quick witted to succeed in this. The teams looked mismatched as the young and agile castaways were on the Red Team and the old ones were on the Yellow Team. You can watch the entire reward challenge here.

Image: CBS
Eventually, Carter’s track coaching experience helped him here as he dominated this challenge with his speed and quick wittedness. Not saying that the Yellow team were not witty, it’s just that they had it in the bag before it even started. With the exception, of course, of Abi who clearly sucked at the challenge. It seemed like the perfect reward with lots of food, a great scenery, and a relaxing massage. My favorite scene of this episode happened when Carter was feeding Malcolm grapes while he was bathing and getting scrubbed on. Such a comic relief!

Image: CBS

It wasn’t all fun and smiles, though, when the youngsters returned to camp from the reward. Malcom said it best. “Abi has the social grace of a Mac Truck.” After personally attacking Lisa during the last tribal council, Abi continues on her ways after returning from the reward. She couldn’t quit jabbering about how great the reward was. To endlessly talk about how delicious the food was when the rest were eating unflavored beans and rice was a clear indication that she had no social sensitivity and understanding at all.

A funny thing to note, though, was when everybody else was clearly sick of her incessant talk about the food at the reward, they wanted to divert the attention to Carter. When asked to share about his experience, no sooner than Abi chimed in and continued on with her talk. This girl just doesn’t know when to shut up! I mean, c’mon, it’s not like Carter got the chance to talk much and she steals his airtime. How funny and annoying was that?

Carter Dominates the IC

Image: CBS
For the second time, Carter wins the immunity necklace. Again, another impressive challenge concept that looked simple but very challenging in execution, as Jeff noted. 

Right now, Carter is a force to be reckoned with. He didn’t need it yet but it was crucial to keep Pete or Abi from winning – they didn’t even come close! See how the immunity challenge played out here.


Final Four Locked In

This is the first time that an alliance ever locked into a final four agreement. Some might criticize Malcolm’s decision to lock into this alliance this early, but he clearly said it in his confessional that he has to start planning ahead. Both Skupin and Lisa has many options at this point so by securing that, you have at least a shot at making it happen.

Image: CBS
On the other end of the spectrum, Penner did a terrible job at rejecting Lisa’s offer to the Final 3 with her and Skupin. Let’s just say he might not be interested in cementing that yet, he could have easily agreed to it just so he can keep his options open. And when you do as he did, you lost an opportunity. If you are not willing to commit and you get wishy-washy, people will become suspicious and they will look for somewhere else that offers more security.

As for the tribal council, it becomes the climax to what would’ve been a predictable episode. With Abi’s immunity idol still in play, they are trying to cause some chaos to the six-person alliance’s plan to get rid of Pete and flush her idol. Her confrontation with Denise at tribal council was a rude awakening for Abi. I find it surprising that she does not even get that she’s perceived as unlikeable. And while some might think that Denise laying it out for her during tribal council is crossing the line, I think she needed that to put her in her spot. Yes, Abi, karma is a bitch sometimes.

Bye, Pete!
And with that, bye Pete! I heaved a sigh of relief just as Malcolm did. But you gotta put your faith on the people with whom you’ve aligned with. With his idol being the only one left in the game, that is some major leverage for him coming into the next two episodes. It is, therefore, important that he win immunity next so that he can preserve that and deflect votes his way because he is now the number one threat in the game.

Next week, it will be Abi versus the remaining six. Will she survive without the idol? Or is something going to shake up soon? Stay tuned!

9 comments:

  1. I really don't think Abi is as dumb as people think she may be, sure she has zero social likability and very selfish and rude but her crocodile tears at TC is for pity and she's also playing Artis, now Pete and maybe Jeff. Not that it will do much good though.

    The Penner rejection of a final 4 with Lisa & Skupin is a bit of a mystery, does he not want to go that far with Lisa or Skupin, maybe he feels comfortable until the final 6 arrive at the "Game On" point of the game. Does not sound like Penner at all.

    Another great episode, great TC, this season just gets better and better and to make it all the better all remaining players I like (yes even Abi) and am looking forward to see how it all plays out.

    Great recap once again, enjoyed reading.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Rob, I agree. I am not particularly rooting for Abi but she's fun to have on the show either. Exciting how it plays out with Malcolm the only one left with the idol.

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  2. That was Penner's first big error. As you almost said, he could have accepted the deal and bailed out of it later if need be. But, now he has nowwhere to go. Malcom and Denise don't really need him. He already rejected Skupin and Lisa. Where'e he gonna go? I think he should win Fans Favorite for his overall play, but this slip up will be a fatal one.

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    Replies
    1. Agreed on that. You have to keep your options open and the more options you have, the better. I did not get why he had to shut it down like that. He did not have to commit with passion, just don't shut it down.

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  3. HI EVERYBODY I AM "GLO"...This weeks episode was rocking the waves of much laughter for fans or at least thats my feel on it!

    Abi brought nothing new to the screen to surprise me whatsoever. I was not alarmed that she played the I am dumb to why everybody thinks she is so evil role. Her crocodile tears were not a surprise to me either, I felt in due time she would try to bring out the punching bag called sympathy note! Unfortunaltely having dreamed of this game for over 12 years now and wanting to be on survivor myself as a contestant I am always open to the ploys players bring to the screen when they feel the need. I actually got a kick out of Denise pleading her case to Abi and my ears were ringing for mor speech from Denise and smore laughter as I sat in my seat observing lol!

    Penner not accepting the final 3 spot allliance offered by Lisa and Skupin didn't surprise me about Penner either. Penner has something up his sleeve and I am not falling for that lets fight it out at fnal 6 deal he threw out to them LOL! Penner is no ones fool but I think he should have at least faked the idea of final 3 with them as a great thought lol So they are moving on to other bgrounds as we see,

    I don't trust Lisa to stick to her word of anything she does from this point on. She is flippy floppy, plays indecisive but if you dig deeper I feel a lot of acting to catch fans for herself this season and she has succeeed but I did not fall for the honesty bit at all!

    I like Skupin and am tired of many people commenting that he has does nothing. He has done exactly what he had had to do to succeed with the players in this game this season and has somehow done it rather low key and I like it. He is coming out of the box now and I hjope he wins the SOLE SURVIVOR spot.

    I predict Skupin, Denise and Lisa to be final 3!

    I feel that Abi will go soon and that Malcolm's gonna be big threat and will be gone sooner than folks give credit of thought to cause he is so dang loveable and likeable!

    Fan favorites will probably go to someone undeserving this season but I am considering that Penner, Malcolm and isa will be in running for that!

    Loved your blog and Happy Holidays from GLO!!!

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  4. First off. I want Penner, Skupin, and Lisa in the final three. Only because then I think all three have an equal chance of winning. I fully believe Denise can beat anyone left if she is in the final 3. She is a therapist, is very smart and we'll spoken, and hasn't passed anyone off. If Denise isn't in the final 3 and Malcolm is, he will hands down win against anyone except maybe Carter. If Carter can make it to the final 3 without Denise and Malcolm he can beat the rest. Therefore for skupin, Penner or Lisa to win they'd need each other in the final three. Anyone else will auto win. Plus I want Penner to win. :)

    Now about tonight. Abi truly seems clueless to why people don't see things her way. At first it thought Jeff was just being mean, but I think he noticed that and tried to get her to realize it. She is dumb tho. If you are gonna go on strike from something, just stop doing it, don't announce it.

    Pete was even funnier still Ponderosa. He wanted people to get rid of Malcolm, yet when Lisa gave him the chance, he didn't comprehend what was going on. Oh well.

    Penner's plan is simple. He doesn't want anyone to flop from the six. He wants to try and play with honor unlike when he betrayed Aiku and Raro back on his first season. However, it does shape up to make for an interesting final six. He might be non the outside but he has bonded with everyone. And not choosing sides and playing as an alliance will only further his jury voted, if he makes it to the end.

    The reward challenge was crazy. I thought people were dumb for flipping the wrong ones over, but I guess with the heat of the sun, the lack of proper food, and the lack of restful sleep, somethings start to go.

    Immunity, it was carters challenge. He had it won't from the moment he stayed on the boat and just moved his buoy. He might need to go on an immunity run. People will target him just cause he's not in the final four that got made. Plus he keeps winning.

    I love this season

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  5. First off. I want Penner, Skupin, and Lisa in the final three. Only because then I think all three have an equal chance of winning. I fully believe Denise can beat anyone left if she is in the final 3. She is a therapist, is very smart and we'll spoken, and hasn't passed anyone off. If Denise isn't in the final 3 and Malcolm is, he will hands down win against anyone except maybe Carter. If Carter can make it to the final 3 without Denise and Malcolm he can beat the rest. Therefore for skupin, Penner or Lisa to win they'd need each other in the final three. Anyone else will auto win. Plus I want Penner to win. :)

    Now about tonight. Abi truly seems clueless to why people don't see things her way. At first it thought Jeff was just being mean, but I think he noticed that and tried to get her to realize it. She is dumb tho. If you are gonna go on strike from something, just stop doing it, don't announce it.

    Pete was even funnier still Ponderosa. He wanted people to get rid of Malcolm, yet when Lisa gave him the chance, he didn't comprehend what was going on. Oh well.

    Penner's plan is simple. He doesn't want anyone to flop from the six. He wants to try and play with honor unlike when he betrayed Aiku and Raro back on his first season. However, it does shape up to make for an interesting final six. He might be non the outside but he has bonded with everyone. And not choosing sides and playing as an alliance will only further his jury voted, if he makes it to the end.

    The reward challenge was crazy. I thought people were dumb for flipping the wrong ones over, but I guess with the heat of the sun, the lack of proper food, and the lack of restful sleep, somethings start to go.

    Immunity, it was carters challenge. He had it won't from the moment he stayed on the boat and just moved his buoy. He might need to go on an immunity run. People will target him just cause he's not in the final four that got made. Plus he keeps winning.

    I love this season

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't feel comfortable with what Malcolm did. He became too confident, too cocky and too risky. If he failed to control even one of them, he may not make the final three.

    If the strategy works for him, then that's good. I want to be wrong yet, I still don't feel comfortable and I sense some trouble.

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    ReplyDelete

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