Yeah, that’s fair—although one could argue that playing to get viewer popularity could win a lesser cash prize in some seasons (hard to predict) and to get invited back, which is worth something.
I also think for instance that Cochrane’s flip the first time he played, which was so roundly criticized by Survivor strategists, was absolutely the right thing to do and I would have been very disappointed had he done otherwise.
Lisa, I agree that it seemed like Gabby was jealous. And then it all came back to bite her.
Does anyone think there was any chance of Christian not playing his idol? Did he really suss out people’s reactions, or was that just for show? And how close did he come to being too late?
Whatever the case, he’s really going to have to win immunities and find idols now.
I do wonder if the remaining Goliaths might just band together and retake control of the game. I’m sympathetic to Nick’s point that they fought so hard to get on top, and have now given away their numbers immediately after acquiring them.
ETA: Rough Draft, that was so cringey when Angelina awkwardly brought up her “sacrifice” again. :rolleyes:
I’m pretty sure it was an act. Once he made the confessional saying he knew he was going to get votes it was clear he would play his idol - he’s way too smart and too much of a fan to keep an idol in his pocket if he knew votes were coming his way.
The big question I’m still trying to work out is what was Davie’s angle here? He voted for Christian, not Gabby. But he told Christian the plan. So, was he hoping Christian went home but he got some jury points for telling him? Or did he hope Christian would play his idol and Alison would go home? I guess it’s probably the latter, with maybe some residual effect of also getting in Christian’s good graces for a potential jury vote.
Christian isn’t long for the game though, I’m afraid. Pretty clearly setting him up for a return stint at some point, and has literally no allies left anymore.
No one seems to be talking about Kara - has anyone even written her name down?
I know the majority will say “she’s irrelevant; she hasn’t made any moves, etc etc” but I do think this is a valid strategy. Is there anyone on the jury that dislikes her?
Davie, Nick and Christian are all playing good games, but I think Christian made a mistake with Carl and it’s why he had to play his idol. My bet is that Nick and Davie are up before dawn looking for that idol. All the threats are on the Davids right now.
As you said, that’s hard to predict. Some people get invited back when many of us think they don’t deserve it. Others never get invited back even though many think they should. The only way for us to judge is by the game they’re playing at the moment.
She was definitely not jealous. She knew about Christian’s girlfriend and they never had a romantic thing going on.
I thought he really was trying to figure it out, but a lot of people (now including Gabby, per her interviews) think it was mostly for show. So I dunno.
IMO both Christian’s Girlfriend and Mike’s Boyfriend were distant, and not into the family visit.
Angelina just had to her Mom how she negotiated for the rice. (SMH) I wonder how many more times we are going to hear about that (Possible Drinking Game??)
BTW, last night there was (to me) a gratuitous shot of Alison (easily) making fire in last night’s episode. Earlier in the season, IIRC, there was another gratuitous scene where Angelina made fire. I think it was the episode where Natalie got voted out. I wonder if that is foreshadowing on who is in the final four fire making challenge.
I agree that she knew about Christian’s girlfriend and that she and Christian never had a romantic thing going on. I disagree that that means she wasn’t jealous, or that either of those things are even relevant in terms of whether she was jealous or not. I think she was jealous. Up until now she was basically Christian’s “work wife.”
Good call. I noticed the Alison shot last night and thought the same thing, but hadn’t noticed the Angelina shot earlier this season.
I agree with Ellis Dee. I don’t think you can say with such certainty what was in Gabby’s heart and mind. She’s not going to admit it openly for the sake of her own pride, and out of respect for Christian and his girlfriend.
I just mentioned her last night, I think they should be looking at her. She doesn’t seem to piss anyone off and imo, she’s been playing a decent game. She’s like a silent threat, and I could see her easily making final three if someone doesn’t realize she’s there playing the game.
In case you didn’t see the web confessional, Angelina’s husband was supposed to be there (and she was disappointed he wasn’t) but he’s in the military and couldn’t get the time off.
I think Christian’s girlfriend is just very shy and not used to being the center of attention. So it’s not that she wasn’t into it, it’s more that she wasn’t into being there in front with EVERYONE looking at her.
I subsequently heard Rob declare by fiat, in an unusually and IMO unnecessarily dismissive way, that the “Gabby is jealous” take is ruled completely out of order in RHAP land. Ok then.
(Sorry to post three in a row – I don’t know how to do the bit of quoting different people in the same message.)
There is a difference between the two situations. But yes, you are right, some people fall into the camp of criticizing both. Personally, I defended Laurel (and still would today) and say that Gabby moved too soon.
I just recorded Why Gabby Lost and did something similar.