Excellent points, Gothmog.

The teasers were arguably all about Matt, but there was no video of what Matt was doing during the post-duel time. We got the handshake, but couldn't be allowed to see Mike talking to Matt. FlowerPower guessed that Rob spoke of Matt as the person playing both sides. Phillip could have fit that though, or David.

Basically we had three storylines set up for someone to flip. Matt seemed like the most trustworthy of the three, and Rob needed six votes. My reasoning was that Matt was more reliable if he gave his word than Phillip or David. Who could know that Matt had serious talks with Zapatera?

I agree that it was hidden from us that Mike was the type to really negotiate with Matt, as we hadn't seen that side of him.

One thing not mentioned about Mike is that on top of Marine, combat veteran and football player and Naval Academy grad, Mike has an advanced degree in economics and has taught college level econ before becoming a high end realtor.

Econ was not my top subject at school, but I did take it, and I think it's as hard as law or more so. (My one grandfather was a Wharton School grad and had a long career as a professor of economics and I know he was brilliant.)

So the "upstairs" part of Mike had been back-burnered by the editing. As an economist, he surely understands trade-offs and odds and dynamics of supply and demand. As a realtor he deals in wish fulfillment, sales, negotiating. I personally did not expect him to go quietly. That's why I voted for "dense as a log" Ralph.

However, I also though Rob might aim for Steve or Julie.
I did not foresee Mike aiming at Grant, but I did see that Rob couldn't afford to assume he could bounce the Zap vote with his own idol and split his votes -- because then all the Zapatera had to do was all five vote Grant. Which they did. It was also not shown why Mike didn't aim for Rob, but perhaps he guessed Rob would have the idol.

Then we also could not know what Phillip would do. If Phillip made a "big move" as Rob said he might, then Rob would have no choice but to use Matt's vote. He couldn't have afforded to misdirect that vote if he were dubious about Phillip.

My regret for last week was all the energy spent on the double boot spec, Maybe we can remember for next time -- they always promote that, and here it is this week.

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