Qieän! She actually gets a confessional, saying she doesn’t feel like she has a place in the game. Which unfortunately feels way too accurate, as she hasn’t had a place in the edit. And then, that’s it? It immediately cuts to a completely different, unrelated conversation at camp. It was an odd edit choice, almost as though it was done just to give Qieän some air time, as brief as it may be. This is the first clue that this week could be the beginning of the end for her.
Vuna
Renier and Chappies discuss teaming up, and how they can benefit from working together. It’s a great conversation, as Chappies, a physical threat, tells Renier, a social and strategic threat, that he (Chappies) believes the social aspect is about 80% of the game. Renier in turn says he came into the game thinking the physical part makes up 80% of the game. It’s a great little game of cat and mouse between two strong players.
Immunity Challenge
Each tribe starts on a platform in the water. They jump into the water to swim to shore, collecting three keys along the way. The first key unlocks a staircase puzzle. The second key unlocks a steel ladder which they raise up and lock into place on a structure. Once everyone climbs to the top, the third key unlocks a box of puzzle pieces. One person works to solve the puzzle. They are also playing for reward, in the form of a Mexican feast.
Though both tribes have a chance at the puzzle, Vuna dominates this final part, cruising to victory. Vuna decides to send Anela back to Immunity Island.
Reward
At the reward feast, Vuna receives video messages from home. If you follow my SURVIVOR coverage, you know these kinds of moments, the Loved Ones visits, etc, don’t often do much for me. It’s always cool that the players get to have this part of the experience, but I just find it hard to get invested in these moments. However, I do like how it was done so early in the game, making it more of a surprise to the players. I always like when production teams mix things up, and that includes less direct gameplay aspects like this.
Immunity Island
The Immunity Island note says all Anela has to do to play, is stay and press “Play.” He receives his own feast as well as a message from home. In the video, his brother tells him to “Look behind” and Anela finds a note, which says “The shelter will show you the way.” Inside the shelter he finds another clue. He continues to follow the clues, eventually finding Tribal Insurance, which allows him to claim any other player’s vote as his own. It’s a fancy way of saying it’s a Vote Steal. The advantage is only valid for one of the next to Tribal Councils he attends.
This was a bit much. If the show wants to throw in a freebie on Immunity Island here and there, sure, go for it. But this was too much reward for no effort at all. Immunity plus a reward feast plus a family video plus an advantage. If he had had to win any of these, that might be different. But everything was literally handed to him. While it for sure has provided some intrigue and fun moments – and I’m sure will continue to do so – Immunity Island remains the weakest part of the season for me.
Pre-Tribal
Santoni is very worried she will be the target, but takes some comfort in the fact that Qieän is on the outs. Qieän also realizes she could be a prime target, and talks to Tyson about what she can do. Tyson says to work on Wardah, and he will back whatever decision Wardah makes.
Tribal Council
Qieän focuses on the fact that Anela seems to have strong connections on the other tribe. It’s a fair and valid point, but it doesn’t make sense to spend so much time on it here. Anela is immune and Qieän is on the chopping block. Get through this vote and deal with Anela later. But what she has to do here is put the spotlight on someone else. You know, someone you can actually vote for at this current Tribal Council.
Nico eventually swings the talk to the upcoming vote. Santoni and Tyson both say openly they are voting for Qieän. Another curious decision. While I’m sure Qieän would have played an idol or any other advantage had she possessed anything, but on the island you can never be 100% sure what someone else is thinking. Maybe Qieän had been convinced Santoni was the vote. These kinds of comments the vote, and by extension your game, in danger.
But it doesn’t matter in the end, as Qieän is unanimously voted out. It was incredibly anticlimactic, as Qieän had barely been seen so far. Once she started getting more air time, it became apparent she was the clear target. And when we didn’t see her make any real concerted effort, aside from one conversation with Wardah, there was really no suspense once we got to Tribal Council.
And with that, we’ve got the merge next week! The merge episode is often one of the better episodes of the season, as new and old alliances come together and the game shifts from tribe to individual. And with the players and personalities we have left, I have high hopes for next week. It’s time for this excellent season of Survivor to take it up a notch.
