ACKKKKKK! Ran out of time this week but I will try to point out a few things... The intro told us: After Josh recruited Jac and Jon there was a new power alliance, and they were targeting Jeremy. But, when Jon was sent to EI, their new alliance showed their true colors. At Exile Island, Jon found a hidden II, and at the IC, Jeremy won an immunity idol of his own. Jac and Jon were second guessing their alliance, and it came back to bite Josh's alliance when Jon and Jac flipped...Josh, bring me your torch...who will be voted out tonight? 10 leftWe get a scene of the majority hugging, and we hear how bad Jon feels....then Reed has a confessional telling us he has to figure out how to move forward in the minority....he tells us he's still with the minority. Then Jon has a good confessional that led to the "right decision"...it really pushed me over the edge was when Jaclyn felt like she was being disrespected by everyone, and my instincts were telling me that that was not the right thing to do...if I have learned one thing from all my years of watching Survivor, it's trust your instincts....
I always think that it's a very positive sign when a major player gives us rationale for an action that seemingly works out for them....this confessional tells us that Jon has paid attention to many years of Survivor.
I agree that Keith's confessional was meaty as well, nodding to Jon and Jac, fed up with Jon, fed up with Missy, maybe next time he can get a heads up and play his idol on one of them....we keep thinking back to give him a few days and he will figure it out. Keith is not quite a player yet, but he could be by the end of this!
From the RC, I took notice of this:
Jiffy: Does mom have anything left in that tank? Missy just looking for that opportunity...Missy loses and daughter defeats mom, yellow wins reward...Keith helps her up...
We all like to see if there is hidden innuendo in Jiffy's statements during challenges...I do think that Missy, Baylor, and Keith could all be there at the end....Will Missy defer to Baylor or be defeated by her in the end...Baylor has now knocked her off in the sumo challenge and knocked her off balance in this challenge. (And, we know that she will later win the IC). Also, I loved that it's Keith that helps her out....still reminded of the old married couple. Keith definitely talks to Missy, as he told us last week as well. These two have a rapport, and they are in the same peer group. When the fight or disagree is it like a married couple?
Baylor told us why they chose Jeremy to go to EI, because it would be better for their alliance if he found the HII.
The losers return to camp, we hear the howler monkey, that reminds us of Jon. And, they talk about Jon...specifically Keith...He is with you for life, Jon was almost crying he was so happy, and Jaclyn too. Wes had another confessional about how it was a move to give up their place in the reward. Then we hear Natalie telling Wes and Keith that they will vote for Reed tonight, and they just want a head's up, they don't want to be blindsided...Keith in conf tells us so Keith can use his idol when he gets wind. He's learning!
Then we hear from Jeremy, why he and Nat gave up the reward, and then we see the people on the yacht...Sure appears to the viewer as the wrong decision.
Jon has a confessional when he gets back to camp: Jon in conf: my cover will be blown if they all think I am lying and have the idol, and I could be in very big trouble...
I think that Jon has been gunning for Jeremy for several weeks now. Ever since the merge, Jon has known that the one to beat here is Jeremy. He was so against Jeremy, he was willing to take on Wes/Keith/Alec/Reed/Josh...felt they would be an easier option to the end. So, last week Jeremy won the IC and was not a boot candidate. Clearly, if Jeremy doesn't win, Jon is going to put him at the top of the list. He will capitalize on the opportunity that presents. When a door opens, you better walk through it when you have the chance.
Cut to IC, Jeremy loses, and Baylor wins. Jeremy gets the confessional of doom....he was just happy that someone in his alliance won.
Then we get the Reed drama when he gets into Keith's bag and takes the idol instructions, tells Missy/Jaclyn. Then Keith gets wind of it...Then Jaclyn tells Jon, now its more complicated
Then we see Jeremy and Natalie talking, Jeremy trusts no one but Nat, and is sure that Jon has the II, he's a terrible liar so let's see what he does....Jon comes and does not tell them he has it.
I thought this was the right move on Jon's part. Some may argue that it was not, certainly Jeremy in his post show interviews thinks it was the wrong move...lol. But, we knew that Jeremy was NEVER with Jon, ever. He dismissed him from the start, and now he wanted to catch him in a lie, what would he have done with that information...he would have wanted Jon out even faster. I felt the time had come....when an opportunity presents, you need to take it, because hesitation will kill you in this game.
I also thought it clearly put Jon in the drivers seat. It was solely his move to make. He used the HII to cement Missy/Baylor with him as well. Missy had to think that she could possibly manipulate Jon far easier than Jeremy. And, I think Jeremy's fault in his game may have been just that. That he was too controlling. Let your alliance mates feel like they have some control too. Perhaps that is what Jon is doing...Regardless, I thought Jon orchestrated the Jeremy boot perfectly.
Missy got a meaty confessional right before cutting to TC: Missy: Jon is super aligned with me...jeremy is a threat...I have watched Jon and Jac barrel through people. since I started this game, I was with Jeremy and Natalie, Jeremy and I were aligned full fledged..now it is a little bit cloudy...maybe a better way to do it is to flush the idol, split the vote between Reed and Keith, if we rock the boat too hard, one of us is gonna fall out...
Again, I note that a major player is giving us rationale for a move of theirs...but there is some room for doubt.
I loved the final scene: Natalie: What the *(&%^, Missy
See Josh laughing, see Reed winks.
Alec smiles, Natalie shakes her head.
Jiffy: Tonights vote is a brutal and beautiful example of why you never give up, anything can happen, good night.
Loved the ending!
Again, I think Jon's move was perfect. Clearly, he will become the number one person to beat moving forward. Let's face it, there is a LONG way to go to the end. I will say, if he makes it, he will win. He will have a jury full of guys, and could have his GF there too. I think the male chauvinists would vote for the guy that made the big move in the end.
If Jon gets out, it is Missy's game. But, there are hints for me that Baylor could one up her possibly. I also think that Keith could pull something out as well.
I also want to note in the clip at the end of Survivor Live, where we are shown them coming back to camp after the Jeremy vote out, we see a sloth, then we hear Keith...then we see this...
If Jon is the howler monkey, Keith is the slow and steady sloth!
Thanks for all the assessments!