I've been lurking for way too long! Just thought I'd add my two cents into the speculation... I've got 4 points to this thread...

1)I think that one thing that we HAVE to remember is that the editing is there FOR A REASON. There are a TON of stuff that we are NOT shown that could be shown FOR A REASON. The fact that Jenna talked about open conflict at camp and us not actually seeing footage of this is significant, I think. Why did we only see the conflict between Lex, Rob and Kathy?? Why were we not shown the other conflicts?

2)Another thing to remember is that all of these survivors have previous relationships with each other that is almost impossible for us to decipher. For example, I don't know if all of you saw it, but it you guys see Shii Ann hug Alicia at camp fire? It happened really fast so I'm not 100% sure it happened... but there is a perfect example of a relationship that MUST have been developed outside of this survivor series. Why else would Shii be that comfortable in hugging Alicia when they've only merged for a day or two?

One way that we can try to assess previous relationships is where people are sitting during tribal council.

3) I really don't understand why everyone here is sooooo negative towards shii ann??? Just because she has disappeared for a few episodes doesn't mean that she is doing nothing. I don't know if you all remember she from thailand, but she was a FIGHTER. She clawed and dug her way OUT of getting voted out early on in the game. She had to fight a majority that disliked her and she still lasted until right before the merge. She would have lasted longer if it had not been for that stupid non-merge. Way to kill the drama from that series.

She has never really been threatened here and so she has never had to fight for her position. She was a bit with colby and so we saw a storyline develop between her and colby. We know who got voted out and who didn't. Some people say she had nothing to do with it... when there are only 5 people in a tribe, every vote counts! Just because she is not visible now doesn't mean she isn't going to come out sooner or later.

I think she is invisible now because the drama between Lex, Kathy and Rob is the most interesting storyline. Also, that is being played to the most dramatic effect so that we don't have to worry about the dynamics that will be played out once kathy and lex are gone.

4)I don't know about everyone else, but I feel like this has become the ROB show. He may be okay in bits and chunks... but this is tooooo much! I know that some of the most dramatic storylines are with him (his conflict with kathy, lex and his relationship with amber), but come on! Ugh... It also makes me feel that the more in the spotlight he is, the less shot he has at making final 4. It's just too much time in the spotlight.

One interesting thing is how shii ann (until lex and kathy this episode) and rupert have been the only people to talk negatively about Rob. I wonder if Burnett is slowly setting up a possible encounter of shii vs rob. I think that if shii wants to survive in this game, she may very well have to go up against rob.

there is just alot that is being hidden. I know that the spoilers say that it's a jenna, rupert, rob and amber final... but this alliance (with tom) has been pounded into us from the beginning of the show. If this was the actual final four, burnett should have tried to hide it just a bit more... or at least shown us an alternative. I have a feeling that it may be 2 or 3 out of this four that make it, but not all four. I think that shii may just work her way into the final four.

just some thought from a student that is not studying when he should be! lol