I'll address Jay first.When a majority of a tribe congregates and you are not part of that congregation, wandering over toward the group is more satisfying one's curiousity as opposed to "strategy." It's a common occurance in Survivor and in an overwhelming majority of the time the group either changes the subject or scatters to resume the discussion at another time when the non-alliance tribemate is gone.
This didn't happen when Jay approached the Misfits. So, in my opinion, there's no "strategy" to "admire." I'm just surprised at the Misfit's easy acceptance of someone who was a solid member of the Frat Pack and it would suggest Jay appears to be an approachable individual that most people are comfortable with. That's what I'm crediting him for in my ranking.
In this episode I would consider that more of a recruitment by the Misfits as opposed to Jay riding coattails. In fairness, I'll have to watch Jay for a few more episodes before I put that tag on him.
My appreciation of Troy is in the final words of my assessment of him: "He came to play the game." That's the main reason I ranked him high for this week.
After explaining my feelings on the subject of "lying" you might not be as surprised as you originally thought.
Not only in Survivor, but also in life, I feel there are two types of lying. 1) There's the lying that someone initiates with the sole intent for deception/backstabbing. 2) There's lying as a "defensive mechanism" when someone is pressed between a rock and a hard place and lies to get out of a jam.
Clearly Troy made Matt feel safer than he should have thinking Troy was with him which resulted in a blindside;, but I don't know as a bonafide fact how that came about? Did Troy, TOTALLY on his own, approach Matt and tell him he was on his side for the sole reason to fatten him for the kill at TC? Or did Matt, realizing before TC he did not have the numbers, approach Troy for his support? If it's the latter, Troy would have two choices: 1) Tell Matt, "I'm already in an alliance with the Misfits, so sorry dude...you're dead meat." Or tell Matt he's with him to get Matt off his back and not put a target on himself.
Because I don't use Spoliers to be a "smartypants" my rankings and assessments on players are based on what I know. And when you don't know, it's only natural to give the benefit of the doubt to people you like and not to those who have shown a history of having characteristics you dislike. I know that's not always "fair," but it's human-nature.
So I hope you still "like it" with much of the "surprise" factor now removed. lol