Dang, Abi won that immunity challenge. I’m guessing I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t expecting that – but sitting out the first two rounds probably helped quite a bit.
Wonder what the other two questions were? I’m guessing they were just cut for time, but I always enjoy seeing how hard they are and who does well with them.
Do you think anyone’s going to buy Abi’s “I’ve got another HII” ruse?
What was Blair referring to at tribal? The only falling out I recall from her, on her show was when she walked off over the depiction of premarital sex.
I forget exactly how the question was phrased, but I assumed she was talking about the end of her marriage.
Thank God, Jonathan is gone. Now, don’t fucking bring that guy back again!!
I was thinking that Malcolm should have given Denise the HII. If she got voted out, he’d be a goner.
As much as I hate to say it, Abi made a wise move in holding out for the advantage. And of course her sitting out most of the elimination challenge gave her an additional advantage.
I honestly don’t think anybody will believe her HII ruse. What was it that Malcom said about her being likened to an ex who doesn’t the hint? 
I don’t know if I truly believe Lisa is as conflicted as she says she is.
I’m sad Penner is gone. He annoyed me at the beginning, but he was starting to grow on me.
OK, I’ll give the producers props – they couldn’t know that Abi would be in this position or would buy that item AND win the challenge, but they set it up so it could happen, and bam – it did. That girl is going to be insufferable, not that she wasn’t already.
Also: not much suspense at the food auction – every item was a payoff, no goat items, unlike previous versions. I’m trying to remember if this is the first time one of those “food auction buy this and it gives you an advantage in the game” items paid off for someone. I have a vague recollection that someone managed to get one and go much further than expected, but I can’t recall who or when. It was probably Stephanie or Yul. Anyone?
I’ll miss Penner, but this is the third time so I’ll get over it pretty quickly.
And they tied Abi’s knots Much, MUCH looser than the other competitors. It seemed very rigged watching it…
What the heck was with not showing the second two questions in the immunity challenge? I have trouble believing they had to cut that for time. Sheesh.
The third leg of the challenge was definitely the easiest; I wonder how Abi would’ve done on the other two (even with the advantage of being rested). I agree with D-bear her knots look suspiciously looser.
Penner obviously missed his shot big time last episode by not taking Skupin/Lisa up on their alliance offer. I think they don’t stand much of a chance against Malcolm and/or Denise in a final, but maybe they figure they’re still ahead 4-2 with Abi and Carter, so there’s time to vote them off.
I thought Malcolm should’ve given Denise the HII too, especially since Penner shouted out who he was voting for; but maybe they cut some extra lines at the TC that made it clear Skupin/Lisa would stick with them.
Don’t the usually do a random draw to decide the placing of contestants?
I, too, was getting to like Penner and was sorry to see him go. But better him than Denise, who is all kinds of awesome. It was actually quite refreshing that he recognized and admitted the flaw in his own strategy, and his parting remarks were very gracious (his weird little dance down the walkway notwithstanding!). Props to him.
Having said that, his last-ditch appeal to save himself actually made a lot of sense. Nobody should want to sit next to Malcolm and/or Denise at the Final. But minds seem to be made up. Therefore, Abi winning (or being handed) immunity didn’t really change anything. The Six were going to have to vote against each other at some point; it just happened one Tribal Council sooner. Nobody is going to buy Abi’s HII ruse, and she’ll go next time she’s not immune.
Here’s an interesting thing I noticed about the Denise/Malcolm pair: although they’re tightly aligned (and have been for some time now), it appears to me they have different methodologies or tactics in mind for the end game. Remember last episode when Denise went on at length about Abi and said something to the effect of playing the game with the people you want to be with, as opposed to keeping someone around who would be easy to vote against? This episode, Malcolm said something (in a confessional, not at Tribal Council) about secretly being happy Abi won immunity because it gave him a chance to get rid of a “real threat” in the game (Penner). Now, that in and of itself doesn’t indicate that he’d rather have Abi around for Final, but I think it does indicate he’s thinking more along those lines than Denise is. I wonder if that’s going to be a source of conflict for those two.
I liked Penner and I’m sad to see him go, but I like Denise better. It’s fun to watch a season with good players (mostly) instead of one of the seasons filled with dim witted eye candy. Lisa is really starting to annoy me, I think her whole emotional struggle and going to Penner was just mugging for camera time.
The two remaining questions were revealed in behind the scenes videos
Round two question was - What items does the Phillipines import more of than any other country in the world. Options were corn,rice, coffee and sugar. Answer was Rice, Penner and Malcolm got it, other two chose sugar.
Round three question - Which of the following is the most venomous. Scorpion, King Cobra, tarantula, tree frog. Penner and Abi got it right with King Cobra, Carter went for tree frog.
I think that they should have been thinking a little more, particularly everyone but Malcolm who actually seemed to want Abi to win. They were going all out on the first two rounds while she was resting, All they needed to do was wait til they were close to the end and agree that they would all rest when say Lisa (out in round 1) yelled break and then move again when she yelled go. Do it close to the end and those finishers are in a better position for the final round.
Penner’s day after interview was the best I’ve ever seen. I didn’t come into the season liking him but he’s definitely grown on me.
I’ve been a Penner fan in all three seasons because of his intelligent commentary and willingness to challenge Jeff (Shut up, Probst), but he makes some really bone-headed moves when he doesn’t have time to plan things in advance, such as bailing on Yul to stick with an alliance mate who didn’t want him and not committing immediately to Skupin and Lisa. Fatal mistakes. At least he has the self-awareness to own it and exit gracefully. As much as I enjoy Penner, losing Denise would have killed the season for me.
In Guatamala, Dani parlayed her advantage into an unexpected immunity challenge win to stave off elimination, and then went on to win the season. Of course, that was a complete opposite from the current season in that Dani as the last person left from her alliance was also the last likeable Survivor, and the alliance in power was a bunch of obnoxious bullies who had no idea how badly they were coming off to a national TV audience.
ETA: favorite moment in a great season for tribal councils - no hug for you, Abi
Malcolm has a twitter account which is pretty funny. Here is recent tweet with an picture picture of Crabbi.
Finally caught up. Sorry to see Penner go. He was always entertaining, and seems like a nice guy and a good (not great) player. I think it’s Malcolm’s game to lose at this point, which I’m OK with. (unless the preview isn’t as misleading as they typically are. I didn’t get what his brother said in the preview that was supposedly so bad. Anyone catch it?)
Malcolm said it best: Abi has no self-awareness and you kind of have to pity her for it. Despite Probst’s assertions, I don’t think it’s a cultural thing at all. They may have been “brutal” to her for 1 day, but she’s been brutal to nearly everyone for what, 27 days or so? What goes around comes around, reap what you sow, etc. She seems like a no-brainer to take to the final, which is sad because I really am tired of seeing/hearing her.
(Another in Abi’s long line of goofs: She didn’t need to bid $500. Everyone had already spent some money. She just needed to bid $500-(least amount anyone had spent), and could have kept $80 or $100 (I forget exactly how much) for some food. )
No one will believe her HII story, especially cuz she wasn’t a very convincing actress with the “2 part” clue. I’ll admit, a halfway clever ploy, but not pulled off well.
I imagined this thread would be filled with conspiracy accusations, but just a little so far. Hmph. Seriously? Untie knots??? There could not be an easier challenge for Abi to win, and not an easier one to rig. This wreaks of producer intervention. I know, it’s a reality TV show and not a game show, but that was brutal. If the third round was consistent with the other two she would have hung herself. I honestly think a producer pulled Abi asade, told her to throw her $500 at that auction item and told her it could save her. As I recall, that’s the first time they’ve ever had an ending auction item where everyone got to eat from one person’s win, also. Coincidence? :dubious:
That said, I’m glad Penner got booted. He was starting to come off too self-entitled, like he thought he had a golden ticket to the finals. I know part of it is gamesmanship… but not all of it. (Aside: I did meet him once, briefly; pretty likable guy.)
I’ve about had it with Lisa. Pathetic!
The producers seem to think that at least some viewers out there find her Survivor journey to be enthralling and good drama, given how much time they’ve spent on her confessionals and Probst’s questions of her. Me, I can’t stand it and find it all extremely boring and wish she was gone since I really don’t get the impression she’s 100% playing the game anymore.
I think Penner still had $400 left, so she could’ve bid $420 and kept the $80. But eh, it’s been a long time on the island, keeping track of people’s money can be hard, so I don’t blame her. (Though it’s quite possible as Moonchild points out the producers told her what to do).
I don’t buy the producer conspiracy theory. There’s real prize money on the line here. Don’t they have to abide by game-show fairness standards?
Unfortunately, I agree with you. She seems to be very earnest and a genuinely kind person, which makes it hard not to like her in general. Her problem is that she has confused the game of Survivor with real life.
I know it happens all the time, and the fact that they’re immersed in the game 24/7 for over a month makes such a conflation inevitable, but Lisa seems to be taking it to a new level. Play the game, for cryin’ out loud! Or else why are you even there? You won’t go to Hell for it, I promise.