LAST EDITED ON 05-02-08 AT 11:25 PM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON 05-02-08 AT 10:32 PM (EST)

Think Amanda's game play was brilliant for the way she used the situation to her advantage in her dealings with three of her fellow players and for the fact most of her actions worked in several different ways at once.

(1) She chooses Parvati, who appeared to have become marginalized, and so needed a new ally, for her ally. She then praises Parvati to the jury (during TC) for her loyalty, which simultaneously: (1) reminded people why Parvati was viewed as disloyal in the first place; (2) put subtle pressure on Parvati to remain loyal to her new ally and mentor, Amanda; (3) made it clear to Alexis and Natalie that the other vote against Alexis was coming from Parvati, making Parvati a betrayer of yet another alliance; (4) rewarded Parvati for her help with praise that would most likely not help her beat Amanda if both of them are in final three, but could help Parvati gain a vote or two if Amanda is voted out before final TC despite Parvati remaining loyal to her. Amanda appears to have given Parvati good reason to try to keep Amanda around as long as possible even though Parvati is highly unlikely to be able to beat Amanda at final TC.

(2) She gives a loyalty test to Cirie, in the process keeping Cirie confused about whether or not Amanda has the II. (I think Cirie might have suspected Amanda did, but since Amanda and Parvati did not let Cirie know for sure, Cirie saw no better option at TC than to vote with Alexis and Natalie against Amanda.) Now Amanda can try to hold Cirie to her word that Cirie was only voting against her because of fear of a tie vote. If Cirie turns against her Amanda can tell the jury that not only did Cirie betray Amanda but Cirie was actively trying to turn Amanda against Ozzy before Parvati thought to move against Ozzy. Would not be likely to impress James or Ozzy.

(3) Guilted Eric into telling Amanda she was going to be the target at TC. Tried to guilt him into not voting against her, and when he refused (and he did not make the sensible reply that it was Ozzy, not Amanda, that kept Eric in the game) angrily told the jury that Eric was ungrateful, which (1) helped convince Alexis, Natalie etc. that Amanda had not found the idol; (2) planted some doubt in surviving players minds whether Eric could be trusted, (3) gave herself a good reason for helping to vote Eric out at the first opportunity, and (4) diminished Eric in the eyes of at least some members of the jury (again Ozzy, James) making it unlikely he can get their votes if he does make it to final TC.

And with the possible exception of twirling the idol, Amanda did all this in a way that could not be seen by other players as demeaning or mean spirited. For one episode she was as good as it gets as a strategist. As for next week . .