Ep. 2: Game Within the Game
A brand new look for Survivor comes in the form of the “Game Within the Game”. After the inaugural GWtG in episode 1 we’ve learned a few things.
The Game Within the Game is the one stop shop for having some fun with Rebus puzzles, riddles, and thinking about strategy.
GWtG is definitely for young, junior, future Survivors. The Rebus puzzle could be from 8 or 9 years old but add some pressure and competition and you have yourself a high school and older level activity.
The riddle is meant, through one episode, for kids. Young kids. Kids learning about Survivor or the word vote for the first time. Too easy for adults.
It’s fun! Remember, Tribal Council Blog is trying to have some fun with all things Survivor and Amazing Race, so the GWtG is no exception. Have fun with it!
EPISODE 2 - REBUS PUZZLE
CLUE 1 - W + 🌎 = WEARTH
CLUE 2 - PLATE - T = PLAE
CLUE 3 - 💍- R = ING
CLUE 4 - FORK - K = FOR
WEARTH + PLAE + ING + FOR
www.survivorgwg.com
WEARTH (WORTH) + PLAE (PLAY) + ING + FOR = WORTH PLAYING FOR
A classic Jeff Probst catch phrase that has managed to be accepted into season 41 and safe going forward. Reward challenges are always fun and this catch phrase reinforces for viewers that feeling of if I was out there without even rice, then a reward is definitely worth playing for!
2 for 2 on the Rebus puzzles. Fun to figure out again. I even began showing these to my students in class as an opening activity after lunch. They were confused at first about why I was showing them a picture of 👣-T+G, but I think they are getting into it. If nothing else, it calms them down after lunch lol.
EPISODE 2 - WORD PUZZLE
Moving on from the Rebus puzzle. Next up in the GWtG is the WORD SCRAMBLE.
www.survivorgwg.com
www.survivorgwg.com
Through 2 episodes we now have two pieces of the final Survivor riddle.
VOTE
SEE
Still not a ton to work with there, but if I had to guess I’m still inclined to believe that the audience will have some level of a vote in the outcome of something this season. The winner, the fan vote for an additional cash prize, or maybe for a player to play again on a future season. I guess we will have to wait and SEE!
www.survivorgwg.com
EPISODE 3 - STRATEGY TEST
Reminder. The strategy test is designed to give the viewers (especially young fans or budding strategists) a situation directly connected to the next episode for you to ponder and then make a theoretical decision on heading into episode 3.
What is most valuable about this feature of GWtG is directly asking you “What you would do?” Even if people have watched the show for 20 years and thought about how they would act in a situation, the strategy test provides a new experience because we have this information before it happens. Now, we know what is coming, we get to see who is put in the situation, and most fun of all, how they respond.
www.survivorgwg.com
Part 1 - Would you secretly sneak out of camp at night knowing everyone is Survivor 41 is sleeping with one eye open and watching?
If it’s me, the answer is a resounding YES! Advantages and idols can be game changers for anyone who plans out a way to get their hands on them. If that means you haave to stay up all night and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike, then that’s what you do! That doesn’t mean you make it obvious or without taking all necessary precautions you can think of. You have to be careful. You have to be cautious. You have to plan out your moves from beginning to end. One reckless move could spook the tribe and be a one way ticket to a snuffed torch. In the end, sneaking out of camp at night is a risk, but one that needs to be taken, especially in a shortened 26 day format. The chances to change the game are limited and if you don’t strike first, someone else will, even at 3am.
www.survivorgwg.com
Part 2 - If yes, would you confide in somebody or go it alone?
Let’s think about both sides of this shall we?
CONFIDE IN SOMEBODY
PROS - To confide in somebody that you’re going out to look for an advantage
Help search for the advantage.
Help with creating distraction so you can search.
Help strategize how to best use the advantage to advance in the game.
CONS - To confide in somebody that you’re going out to look for an advantage
They screw up the distraction that was supposed to help you.
Get exposed by someone you thought you could trust shares the info to help themself.
YOU GIVE UP THE FULL POWER OF HAVING THE ADVANTAGE ALL TO YOURSELF!
The third con is in all caps for a reason. It really is the most significant piece of confiding in somebody. Ask Xander about taking the power of information in Survivor and giving it up via confiding in somebody. See how he feels about it. My guess, if he could do it again, he would go it alone.
GO IT ALONE
PROS - to go it alone
YOU FIND IT, THE POWER IS ALL YOURS!
You obtain a higher level of control in the game than anyone who doesn’t have an advantage. Even if you misuse it, you at least have the ability to use it.
Increases your chances of making a more compelling case to the jury for why you deserve the million.
CONS - to go it alone
You risk getting caught and targeted at the next Tribal.
You increase your threat level with everyone.
You could alienate yourself from an alliance member who may have thought that they could trust you at a higher level.
When it comes to the pros and cons of going it alone to search for an advantage at night, the PROS outweigh the CONS. The chance to gain power that would be under your sole possession is a risk worth taking. That power can go a long way to how you play the game, approach the social politics before Tribal, and maybe most of all, the power is all yours. You decide how it is used, when it is used, and control a small piece of your destiny in the game. The jury likes someone who makes big moves and advantages are a huge part of the game and necessary game changing moves to see your name on the final vote parchment for the win.
Lastly, it’s exciting to know that somebody is going to be faced with this strategy test in the next episode. Someone is going to make a move, sneak out of camp in the middle of the night, and try to make a potentially game changing move. Will they confide in somebody or go it alone? Who will it be? Will they get away with it scot free or get caught red handed? Excited to see how it all plays out. If they are smart, they’d go it alone, and roll the dice of coming out the other side with an advantage in their pocket and the power of a secret that only they hold.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to outlike, outcomment, and outshare the rest all season long. Enjoy episode 3.
The blog has spoken!
