I think this is either a merge or a fake merge where everybody ends up on the same beach.

Three is the perfect number.

After last nights show, ep 7, I question wether the merge will occur in this ep, "Now the Battle Really Begins". I just can't see how Julie would be the first boot after the merge as I think that Ami would take Julie back into the fold...girl power, no girls have stuck together to the end before, blah, blah...

After last night we see a very angry, cornered Rory, who has another trick up his sleeve??? Could there be a battle between him and the Yasurs?

Chad recieved a vote last night, will he cause some kind of battle over at the Lopevi's? Is there a battle between the women and the guys there, we see the girls "corrupting" Sarge, perhaps they are pulling out all of the strings to sway one of the fat5-2 their way???

After last night we see a very angry, cornered Rory, who has another trick up his sleeve??? Could there be a battle between him and the Yasurs?

I was thinking the same thing. The merge is not this episode like everyone believes. Everyone is expecting it, but it does not happen. The battle is between Rory and Ami. Rory tries to take charge of Yasur only to have Ami try and squash him. War breaks out between the two.

JMO!

I'm not sold on a traditional merge either. The title could simply mean, that the last of the none players (JohnK) is gone. The battle really begins, as on either tribe everybody is at least trying to play the game of Survivor. Even Julie surprised me with her move to get info from Twila. We know it won't work for Julie, but at least she gave it a shot. There have been so many castaways who never even tried to play the game, but at least those non-players are gone now.

Coupled with the ep9 title "Gender Wars ... And It's Gettin' Ugly", the real merge might take place in ep9.

forehead

Perhaps, like with the Hog-tied episode, this merely indicates that the IC or RC is a challenge where there is some form of physical confrontation, maybe like the stilts thing that Tammy won in Marquesas or maybe closer to the Thailand melee.

In either case, physical confrontation as one aspect of the challenge and balance as the other, thus keeping both tribes relatively even (one has better strength, the other better balance)


ŠIceCat: the name says it all.

Do you think maybe the tribes switch back to men vs. women again before the merge? It would explain a lot.

Welcome to Blows and the boards litatura! And, I like that idea that perhaps Julie and Twila and Rory are all sent back to their original tribes....sure would be a new twist! A Julie boot would fit this scenario as well! Hmmmmm, hope we get some vidcaps to perhaps confirm!

Great thought!

Or the anticipated merge is simply postponed one week and Lopevi loses another immunity challenge.

Caveman

LAST EDITED ON 10-29-04 AT 09:51 PM (EST)

Disregarding the spoilers that Julie goes this week, I can see Rory campaigning with the men to vote Ami off and Ami campaigning with the women to vote Rory off.

Rory has definitely targeted Ami, but would the men follow his lead on this? This is personal with Rory, and we also know that Sarge has issues with Rory.

Ami doesn't care much what man goes, but does she strongly want Rory out over any of the other males? I can only think that since she knows Rory knows she has targeted him, that she would want him gone so that he doesnt target her! Which my hypothesis.

So, how could a Julie boot fit in with this theory? Could it still be Scout holding the cards? Could she say to the men that she won't cast a vote for Rory or Ami and force the men to pick another? Enter Julie?

ETA: This also supports my theory that Ami doesnt win immunity. If she did, there would be no "battle". See the Vidcap 8 preview pics, entry 20.

A Gothmog Original 2004