After what I thought was, at best, an average premiere, we had a very solid second episode. How often does episode 2 shake up a whole tribe? And how often do we see an alliance of Misfits? Old and young, strong and weak mixing together? That was great! Usually, the 2nd episode just confirms what we saw in episode 1. This shake-up also shakes up my list somewhat.

1- Kim (Previously 1) : We heard that communications skills are what the women need and communication skills are exactly what Kim can provide so, once her voice does get heard, we could expect things to turn around. She seems very at ease during Tribal Council and that could be key. We heard about the importance of calm under pressure and she seems to be a good example of that. Her talk with Colton was interesting as she told him to go but explained why he had to. Diplomatic and firm; a mother to a rebellious child.

2- Sabrina (2): Cirie had to deal with an alliance of nutballs so it was funny to hear that Sabrina called her alliance the air-heads. Another similarity between the two! With the amount of confessionals Sab is receiving we can already say that the game will be decided, one way or another, by her decisions: Colton’s idol and Kat’s save were her decisions and should shape the whole pre-merge.

3- Troyzan (16): This week's biggest gainer award goes to Troy. Will he really prove to be a great player? For now, his “heart pounding” confessional has to be considered as part of a build-up to a big story. He told us what Colton’s revelation would do and how it would impact the game. Getting rid of the muscle would help him, put him among the strongest ones left. If he lets the Tarzan stuff to Greg and aligns with him instead of targeting him then it could be his Island in the end.

4- Jonas (4): Showing him spiking the ring in front of the girls could be a sign of arrogance but it wasn’t that big a deal since no one commented on it. It wasn’t like Mia’s moon dance while winning Vanuatu’s balance beam challenge that irritated the men so much. The important scene for Jonas was the night time formation of the Misfits which should help him greatly. He saw that Colton was smart, not because he had an idol but because he knew how to use it.

5- Chelsea (3): Chelsea wisely nominated someone else as leader but she should know that loyalty is the most important thing in this game. Booting out Nina was a no-brainer, especially since Nina wasn't going to help them win challenges anyway. Thankfully, Kim talked some sense into Chelsea.

6- Monica (10): She did a good job in the challenge and she would be the one that should be in the alliance if the girls had a do-over but, what was disappointing in her episode was her apparent fatalistic view. She was resigned, playing defensively, when she should show a desire to fight. She said she didn’t know how to approach the five and we didn’t see her even making an attempt.

7- Colton (7): It was his show and he should have an important impact on the season. Pathetic, certainly, Asocial, with this group, obviously but he is smart. The idol could have earned him only 3 extra days but he used it to turn the whole tribe around. Maybe he won't even need to play it! It was fun to watch.

8- Kat (8): The dumb blonde is certainly trying. I always enjoy a player that struggles and finds a way to stay. Certainly, the alliance was the deciding factor but she fought for it during TC and I do believe she can learn. At least enough to be a good goat in the end!

9- Micheal (15): He's the only one seen talking to the women even if he has a lot of snark for the other tribe. He’ll probably need the women’s help so he should be more friendly.

10- Alicia (6): She toned it down but she clearly got what she wanted: Her food gathering companion is safe, the bag of rocks is gone and Christina appears to be there only for the experience, so she would make an easy next boot.

11- Leif (11): Still not much happening down there. We should invent a new term: Under-the-camera.

12- Jay (5) : This is mostly for his episode 1 showing because, in this one, he only told us what was happening during the RC.

13- Christina (9): When Kat said that Christina was just there and not really playing the game, she should have said something, Instead, she pretty much confirmed that she was only there for the fun of it.

14- Tarzan (12): Please; Phillip’s underwear was enough. No one wants to see him and his banana hammock.

15- Bill (14): InvisiBill became the local weatherman. Beside being Jeff’s stand-in, all he did was tell us it would soon rain.

16- Matt (17): Going from the arrogant douchebag in epside 1 to total invisibility in the next isn’t good for a character. He slept during the important alliance talk so he’ll probably wake up in Loser Lodge.

Booted – Nina: Good riddance. Bashing Kat for her lack of athletic skills would have been permitted if she had done more to be remembered than a faceplant.