Survivor
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Well, its time.
In this second installment of the two-part merge episode, Erika has some news to share.
However, Erika was selected by her former tribemates to live alone on Exile Island for two days.
Luckily for her, Probst visited and offered a huge opportunity.
She could metaphorically go back in time by smashing an hourglass (cmon, props!).
This would give her and the losing team immunity this week.
This means the winning team would no longer be safe at tribal.
(Id watch that HGTV show.)
And she is right to do so.
The reactions to Erikas announcement are varied.
Heather appears thankful to now be safe, while Deshawn is ready to compete.
Sure, as Danny later alludes to, its not exactly fair.
ButSurvivorhasnt been played in its purest form in years.
This twist makes the merge even more unpredictable without making the chaos feel unearned.
Those who saw their immunity taken away can still compete for individual immunity.
In fact, individual immunities are a cornerstone of what makesSurvivorso great.
You watch individuals compete all on their own.
Theres rarely anyone to hide behind, and the stakes always feel high.
In the best seasons, an individual immunity challenge isnt even an individual game.
Some players spend the whole challenge negotiating whoshouldwin and if its evenworthwinning.
But were not there yet.
Stack three layers of blocks and plant a flag in the middle using your feet.
Maybe its the intense music or the dramatic start to the episode, but this is agoooooodchallenge.
Evvie, Sydney, and Deshawn go toe-to-toe(-to-toe) the entire challenge.
But Parvati or Boston Rob didnt become icons by emulating former players; they were originals.
The problem here is Liana looks to be taking her cues from Shan instead of working alongside her.
When her advantage becomes public knowledge thanks to Xanders scheming, she goes to Shan for counsel.
Thats Lianas former Yase bestie, but Shan gets her to flip.
Post-merge, Shan is still in control.
Yes, she and Ricard are safe this week.
Shes clearly a threat, but they want to work with her, not against her.
So on one side of the island, the target is Evvie.
Hes too well liked on the island.
Luckily for the Yase trio, they know about Lianas advantage.
Shes a member of Luvu.
But if all goes awry at tribal and Evvie doesnt go home, she could be the next target.
I think part of my worry comes from the fact that Im so self-obsessed, Sydney says.
I simply love this quote.
Tensions are high heading into tribal.
Lianas and Xanders advantages are public knowledge.
Deshawn and Evvie both know theyre targets, and Sydney is worried too.
Jeff stokes the flames of concern, leading to a live tribal council with chaos and many one-liners.
Its show-and-tell night onSurvivor.
Do you have an idol, Xander?
Liana asks him with a grin.
No, but you might have this fake, he responds, handing her afakeidol.
Fake idols have a long history onSurvivor.
Eliza telling Jason inMicronesia, Its a fucking stick is a personal favorite.
But Xander presents us with a new iteration, where its presence is more threatening than its actual use.
Xander fooled everyone including me.
At one point, the tribe huddles into two separate teams, showing where the true alliances lie.
The smaller group is Xander, Evvie, Tiffany, and Sydney.
Sydney is now even more worried, so much so that she pulls her shot-in-the-dark.
Shes the first one to do so all season.
Sadly, her one-in-six chance of safety comes up empty.
This means its her, Evvie, or Deshawn on the line.
Xander talks Tiffany out of playing the idol for Evvie at the last minute, effectively sending Sydney home.
Live tribals are contentious.
SomeSurvivorfans find them chaotic, but I love them.
It keeps the game interesting and shows that, as Probst says, relationships are the essence ofSurvivor.
This is the best episode of the season so far.
Were seeing the payoff of all the advantages and pre-merge alliances come to a head.
