Survivor Redemption Island - Week 5 - You've Got To Hustle to Make a Buck!

Another good episode tonight.  


Starting with Redemption Island, this challenge favored Matt due to his strength, because the longer Kristina went, the more tired she got.  I do love how Matt engaged Rob on why he was voted out, during the challenge.  Rob gave a diplomatic answer, but I really don't see the harm in telling him the truth.  Matt's chances of running the table are slim.  Sure it could happen, but I would have to say unlikely.  I also like how Stephanie used that as a segue to offer her and Krista's votes to their side. Little good that may do now, but it was a bold move and one that was smart.


Phillip and Andrea bonded a little, not like I think that will help either of them at this point, but you never know.  It does give Phillip a little more stability, should they both make it to a merge.  Phillip once again provided some great one liners.  "I would give up half a donut for a massage" to be returned with "I wouldn't give him a massage for a dozen donuts".  


The challenge was made for Rob, as he is a great leader and great at puzzles. Could David had won it for Zapatera, we will never know, but I think Stephanie did a pretty good job directing them.  She wasn't that far off on the puzzle, but would David have been as good of a caller.  I'm not sure.  So Omatepe wins their first challenge (Yes they did win when Russell was voted out, but does that really count).  


Upon returning to camp and feasting on donuts, Grant first discovers the clue to the idol and then Rob sees it and they do a nice little maneuver to get the clue away from the tribe.  Rob then digs up the previous clue and swaps them.  What I couldn't tell is if the idol was with the old clue.  If so, that begs the question, why would you hide the idol, once you have found it?  To me there is absolutely no logic to doing so, because if the circumstances aren't right, you may not be able to get away to get it, or worse case, someone else could stumble upon it.  To me, you keep it on you at all times, especially when wearing nice baggy shorts with lots of pockets like Rob has. 


The previews made it look like Stephanie and Krista were going to take a page out of Russell's play book and cause some mischief in camp, but that turned out to be a fake out.  Instead they didn't do anything. They knew it was one of them and Krista let it rip at Tribal Council.  Surprising that Stephanie was relatively quiet at TC.


Let's step back a minute and analyze the conversation at Zapatera before Tribal where David and Sarita butt heads.  I can see that tribe starting to crumble and going on a losing streak.  I'm not saying throwing the challenge put them in the spiral, because they won the next challenge and I don't buy the whole Karma thing like Julie does.  They are just going to have a rude awakening in front of them.  


Personally I hope Stephanie can survive for a while, but the odds are against her.  


At Tribal Council, I found it interesting how Krista paired everyone up:


Ralph and Sarita
Steve and Julie
Steve and Mike
I don't know where that leaves David
And the obvious that Krista and Stephanie could make a solid 4.


It seems like Steve is in the best position, having Mike and Julie on his side, but if Stephanie can work on David and if David and Sarita can put their past behind them, I could see a powerful foursome in David, Sarita, Ralph and Stephanie.  Will it happen, probably not.


So now Krista gets to face off with Matt at Redemption Island and from the preview, it looks as if Matt is in trouble.  Is it a trick or will Matt finally lose?  This time I think Matt will lose.


So let's analyze the tribes a little:


Ometepe, seems that Rob and Grant are pretty solid and Ashley and Natalie are close to them.  Andrea doesn't really want to be part of them, but realizes she has to be.  Phillip is on his own, with Andrea secretly on his side, at least partially.  If Rob doesn't screw it up and especially if they can go on a winning streak, they should be good and Rob will have a strong group going into the Merge. If Stephanie can survive until the merge, Rob has got a solid 5.  What I can see is that Rob will want to get rid of Grant, once the merge comes, because he is a physical threat.  If Phillip wasn't such a wild card, I would agree that Rob should keep him around, but he can't be trusted, so Phillip needs to go next.  Although the show won't be as good without him.


Zapatera I have already discussed a little, based on Krista's observations.  I don't really have anything else to add at this point.


5 people have been voted out, 3 of which are completely gone, that leaves 13 in the game.  The Merge usually happens around 9 or 10 remaining and of course we will have someone reentering the game.  My guess is that with 9 remaining, the person who remains on Redemption Island will return to the game and will go back to camp with the 4 people that come to watch, the rest of the two tribes will be informed to meet at either a neutral location or to one of the camps, due to the merge.  If they do a final 3, then the first person voted out will be a jury member, which is unlikely since they usually have more than 7 jury members with a final 3, which makes me think they will do a final 2 and the first jury member won't happen until the episode following the one where the person re-enters the game.


So that would only leave two to four more Redemption Island challenges before the merge.


That's a lot to think about and I look forward to seeing how it plays out.  So until next week... the Tribe has spoken.