Survivor Gabon: Week 12 - Finale

Congrats to Ty (my Dad) winning Survivor: Gabon! I taught him everything I know. Ha ha... Actually, here's a bit of trivia for you, my parents introduced me to Survivor after college when I started to watch Survivor: Vanuatu with them. So, you can blame them for all these emails!

So we return to camp with Kenny still fuming over the fact that Bob wouldn't give him the necklace even though he was going to take him out if he did. Yeah, sounds fair to me. Then Sugar makes a huge move by immediately going to Kenny, before the challenge, and talking to him as if he's the leader and Bob is the next to go, not Kenny. Kenny felt secure from that point and all was undone. The challenge was quite elaborate, as the next-to-last ones usually are. Although it didn't seem quite as tough to me. And once again Bob won it! It was a bit closer this time, but still, pretty amazing that he tied the record for the most consecutive wins.

You knew something was going to happen with Susie getting so much air time, but the producers fooled me when tribal council came around. I thought they really were going to vote Susie off because I think we saw more of Kenny's strategy on interviews than his real persona around camp. Don't get me wrong here, I was really glad to see him go! I'm all for strategic players to win the game, but when they are cocky and refer to themselves in the third person, I can't stand it. I thought he once again unraveled at tribal council by calling Bob again. He really didn't need to do that, plus Bob exposed his plan! He was really dead then. My hate almost dissolved as he graciously left the game and seemed like a good sport in his confessional. Then I turned again at the last tribal council and then turned again during the reunion (more on that later).

So then there was a final four that I would have never, ever predicted. And as Susie got more and more interview time, you knew something was going to happen. I thought this was a great challenge. I personally like to see them sweat it out, but I think they assumed Matty would win quickly. I thought Susie was brilliant for just stopping while the others panicked. She played it very, very well. We finally got to see more air time of her as they headed back to camp, and trust me, I'm glad they didn't focus on her the whole season. They showed Bob getting real upset, and I was just as annoyed as he was, and we only saw 5 minutes of it! I'm totally with Susie that it was a huge shock, but honestly, ease it down a bit.

Then Sugar once again throws her wits up in the air and sees where it lands and basically gives Bob a million dollars. Now, if I was her and I wanted to win a million dollars, it would be a predicament of who to vote for as well, so I thought her choice would've been noble if she hadn't told Bob about it. Basically blindsiding Matty. How relieved was Bob? He knew he had it, and how smart of him to go practice. So we had to say goodbye to Matty. His game this season was... interesting... I would like to say he made some power moves, but he really didn't. He did great of not getting voted out, but he lacked a solid friendship and alliance with anybody, except Susie (which we never really saw). But it looks like that if he had won that fire challenge, he would have won a million. Now that would have been something.

Which then led to the final tribal council where Bob pretty much dominated by answering straight and letting the other two girls bury themselves. I'm sorry Susie, just trying to prove something to your family isn't going to do it. Why didn't she mention turning the game on its heels by voting Marcus out? Winning two immunity challenges, especially the last one! I know I don't have any children, but I think there are better ways to prove to them that trying is valuable asset than going on Survivor. If I'm going on Survivor, I want to win a million dollars! If I wanted to prove to people that I can try or do something, I'm going to do a marathon or go on a diet. Not go across the world away from all my close ones!

And as far as Sugar goes... this is why I couldn't take her as a viable strong player. You can't make all those moves and then just not even try to get a million dollars. Her moves were totally to just do what Sugar wanted to do, not to win a game. As I mentioned earlier, she basically gave Bob a million dollars. The last two votes I was really gaining respect for her and then she flushed all down in the toilet. It boggles my mind that there's been 17 seasons of Survivor and people still blow it at these tribal councils. I'm sure it is really stressful, but I think the key is to just be upfront and honest about your game, whether you have been the nicest guy ever or malicious. Bob obviously has watched Survivor before and I loved is answer to Matty's question, "Why do these girls deserve a million dollars?" Bob: "They don't."

This was a relatively boring last council save Corinne's comments. I just don't understand when people consciously decide to be that mean. I think Corinne just loves to have attention on her and I think she was on the show to become a famous actress. Why else would you act like that? And the way she referred to "the edit" at the reunion show was just a gesture to all the producers out there in L.A.

I thought it was funny that nobody answered Randy the way he wanted to. Matty did not need to wear that tank-top. Kenny once again pouted way too much and was a drama king with his pacing. Marcus didn't look too smart with his boring questions. I completely forgot what Crystal asked. And Charlie is as nice as ever.

Which thankfully led to a victory by Bob! Such a deserved win. And Susie with three votes? Can you imagined if she had won? Bob probably could've been a bit more aggressive in his answers at the last tribal council and gotten one more vote or so, but thankfully he won. He did great at staying in the middle and playing hard when it counted. I think he made some wrong moves here and there, but he never lingered on them. You always like it when these type of people win Survivor. He played a pretty honest game and at the end, I think everybody still likes him, even Randy.

The reunion show really just kind of reflected the season. It was good, but not great. Way too much attention on Corinne for my taste. Randy came off a bit odd, but he does have a biting humor. I loved his response about cheating in school. I was really glad to see Kenny admit that he got way too cocky. This is where I forgave him once again. You could tell he was in a totally different mode out there, just like we are between our homes and work. He saw it as work, which he should have, but it actually seems that he's going to take away a life lesson from this game.

Oh, and Michelle is really one weird girl. Termites beware!

I have to admit, the past couple of episodes have been really good. They really saved this season. It didn't stay predictable and I guess that's what happens when an strong alliance of four gets broken up. Somebody won that totally deserved to win, and I'm usually always happy at that. But if you like this show as much as me, I'm really wanting to see something fresh this coming season in Brazil. This was the first time I really started to get bogged down by the cliches of the show. I mean, I know it's going to be there after 8 years of being on T.V., but I think that this season proved that by having too many contestants that are generally mean-natured doesn't necessarily mean a compelling season. Nastiness doesn't always collide with strategy. This season went a step back towards it's usual formula, so we'll see if Brazil has some new tricks up its sleeve.

What changes would you like to see? Do you think there are way too many hidden immunity idols? Should Exile Island be done away with?

Were you happy that Bob won? How would you rank the show?

As always, it's been fun and we'll gear up for next season! We can't let Ty enjoy that trophy too much!

Survivor Gabon: Week 11

This is a first... me writing the recap the day after the episode! I bet you are pretty excited.

So, I really, really can't stand Kenny now. What a cry baby. He's a strong player, I can admit that, but you don't have to keep on referring to yourself as a mastermind. And how did he turn the fact that he betrayed everybody to, "Whoa is me, I exposed myself, so you should feel sorry for me because I messed up my game." I thought he really hurt himself in this episode. Yes, he is still in the game, but he got desperate and by doing so, he really exposed his position. The way he panicked proved to me that he isn't really a "mastermind."

Bob once again dominated in the challenges. I think this is great by the way. He always takes his time and he seems to win every one. Now, when Matty and Kenny are your only true competitors, it evens the odds some, but nobody would have predicted this. Now, finding a connection with the gorillas was a little strange. I thought they were going to this exotic location with waterfalls surrounding all the gorillas, instead they were next to them by a fence. Are you sure they didn't film that segment at the San Diego Zoo?

He was smart to take Ken & Crystal with him, but not smart to promise Ken the necklace, but then was smart to renegotiate the terms by, "If I think you are leaving I'll give it to you," and leaving Matty and Sugar at camp to bond, and then not to confuse things, let's just send Susie to exile island so at least you can justify her not saying anything at camp.

Matty then threw a pity party when everybody got back. I don't blame him too much, but he did sway a bit too much to make him an individual in the game. Thankfully hot-headed Crystal was there to save the day! Her rant pretty much changed the game. It finally caught up to her because Sugar finally felt convicted. And as we have learned in this season, when Sugar gets convicted about things, the game changes. I can't really dog her game play much anymore because she made one heck of a move. I think it's too bad that she has made most of the jury mad, so she still won't have a chance of winning, but she did good here, real good.

I know I'm going back and forth with the timeline of things, but this is how this episode was. So, Bob wins immunity, AGAIN, while Crystal and Susie decided to tour the African landscape blindfolded. I thought the openness of everybody talking about who they were going to vote for was pretty hilarious. It's as if they said, "I'm tired of having to get up and go into the woods to strategize." I'm going to come back to Kenny here and say that he got way too cocky and vulnerable by deciding to turn on Bob, and THEN LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW HIS PLAN.

So, Crystal got sent home. A great move by Sugar and soooo smart of Bob to not give away his necklace. Kenny can't get mad because he didn't get voted out, and Susie sat there wondering how in the world she is in the final 5. Crystal took the oust like a true Olympic champion (despite never winning a Survivor challenge, how ironic) and realizing she and Kenny became their own worst enemy.

So, the finale is Sunday and as of now, it looks like it will be a final three with nobody really promising one another that they will take each other to the final three. I think it really is a free for all on this one. How cool would it be to see a final three possibility with the final competitors minus Susie. I think she will somehow squeak in there because somebody would be dumb not to take her to the final, but we''ll see.

Maybe it's better that I don't write these right after the episode. I go on for way too long.

Who do you think will win? Who do you think should win? Was Sugar's move big enough to win her a million? Will Kenny become humble at all?

Until the finale!

Survivor Gabon: Week 10

Can you believe that this season is almost over? Thursday night's episode and then Sunday's finale, and that's it! So sad, or is it? Are you ready for a new start? Let's hope the cast is a bit better than this one this year. One thing I can guess is that they won't let them pick their own tribes this time :)

This episode comforted me in knowing that Bob's move last tribal council was better thought out. I thought it was good of him to call them out on making a mockery of Randy. Yes, yes, I know Randy probably had it coming, but I would've been mad if I were Bob too. It possibly cost him a vote if he makes the final three. I'm pretty sure the rant was sincere, but at least Corinne can come back now and vouch for Bob's strategy.

This "loved ones" reunion wasn't quite up to par either. I like it when they are involved in the challenge, it makes the stakes so much harder and usually all the competitors play full out. In fact, as I type this, I can't recall what the actual challenge was. I saw it this past weekend...am I getting old or was it that unmemorable? Of course you knew Bob's wife was going to pop out somewhere, but it was still sweet to see them reunite, as well as the others. Even as disconnected I am with this year's players, it got dusty. Of course this is coming from me, so that shouldn't be a big surprise.

By the way, what did you think of Matty's proposal? I know most would see it as sweet, but I wonder how she felt. In a way it felt a little too spontaneous, especially if even Matty described himself as uncommitted, but it just felt a bit strange to me for some reason. Maybe because it was the fact that he made her a necklace instead of a ring! Ha ha.

The immunity challenge was a good one as luck is pretty much the determination of who wins, and once again Bob the Skeleton proves that he is dominate in challenges. I think Survivor has done a great job of making challenges not so physical dominate so others have a chance, so it's a bit more unpredictable. But I do miss them as the days progress because I think the physical side of survival should still play a big part, and that goes missing some seasons.

Which now leads to Bob's plan which ALMOST worked. I thought it was pretty ingenious, what do you think? I don't think there was much more that Corinne and him could have done, except for what I suggested in the last email, go after Susie, Matty and Sugar. Kenny's cockiness finally bit him in the butt though. I don't blame Crystal for not going along totally because like her and Ken talked about, they were risking a lot by voting the way they were, but as the teaser suggests, Ken will really have a target on him now. I wonder how much of a riff it will create between the odd duo? Regardless, this may have played out better for Bob that Corinne got voted out. Ken is now the target, which will be followed by Crystal. And if that happens, your final four is Matty, Sugar, Susie and Bob. Matty might be Bob's competition, but I see most of the votes going Bob's way. Especially with all the fake, convincing fake idols. (I bet Ozzy is crying in shame).

So, as you can tell, I'm rooting for Bob as I'm sure most of you are. How about you? Despite what happens, will there be any drama to the next couple of episodes? Are proposals on Survivor growing weary? Or is Nathan just too cynical?

I'll try to write a review before Sunday, but don't hold it to me too much!