Survivor: China - Episode 8

Survivor: China Blog
8th Elimination: Jean-Robert

It's been an insane week for me.  Since the last blog post, I've been on four residency interviews and put together a major presentation for school.  As a result, the Survivor: China Blog has definitely been put on the backburner.  I'll never get a legit post done before the next show airs, so a single observation and the power poll will have to do. 

1. Well, there goes you chance to knock off James!

I honestly have no idea what Todd was thinking this past episode.  James by far the strongest remaining player and he has two, I repeat, TWO hidden immunity idols.  I don't think there has ever been a bigger threat in Survivor history.  You absolutely had to blindside him as soon as possible.  Last episode would've been the ideal time as he was lulled into a false sense of security by thinking Erik and Peih-Gee were next on the chopping block.

It was the perfect opportunity, and Todd's brain just spazzed out on him.  Why try to be cute and blindside Jean-Robert?  What's the point? He's not a threat at all to win the game!  If anything, he should've been trying to string Jean-Robert and Courtney along for the guaranteed victory at the end. And if nothing else, Jean-Robert at least provides some semblance of strength that might be able to upset James in a physical challenge.  With him gone, James is going to run wild with immunity.  There's no other way to describe this move than just plain stupid.  I can't believe that someone who was playing so intelligently up to this point could formulate such a horrible plan. 

Personally, if I were James and knew that it was public knowledge that I had two idols, I would've played them right away.  I wouldn't have given them the chance to surprise me. One, the rest of the people would have to be idiots to not try and knock me out of the game.  Two, by shedding at least one idol, you make the target on your back that much smaller.  But James decided to stubbornly hold onto them for later use - which in itself is pretty surprising since there were rumblings about people trying to take him out.  With the atmosphere at camp being what it was James' not playing the idol can be considered either very bold or very stupid.  I think it was a little of both, but fortunately for him, it worked out.

The real kicker is that James still saw his name written down a couple of times.  This means he'll be on guard from now on and will be next to impossible to take out. He'll either win immunity or use the idols the rest of the way.  And with things getting down to the wire, by the time he's forced to use up those idols, he'll have very few competitors left.  In all likelihood, he could be matching up against Todd, Amanda, and Courtney.  Unless it's a lame challenge that requires you to be short or anorexic, James is walking away immunity in that situation.  After having my pick beaten by the fiancé's pick for three straight seasons, it was extremely frustrating to watch this perfect scenario to eliminate James fall apart.  To think that is was my pick, Todd, who orchestrated the plan to keep him around just adds insult to injury.  We had him and we let him slip through our fingers!  What's worse is that I now have a sinking feeling the fiancé may indeed make it four in a row...

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