Survivor 44, Ep. 7: Let's Not Be Cute About It
🔥 BURNING QUESTIONS HEADED INTO EPISODE 7 🔥
Will the individual immunity necklace be a winner or a loser?
I think fans of the show actually care about the individual immunity necklace. Hell, I do. It’s one of the marque icons of every season with the best ones forever living on and the duds doing the same too. The tribe immunity sword and shield was top shelf, so I’m betting the necklace will follow suit.
What direction will the second half of the season take?
A macro level burning question but on my mind for sure. Will it be filled with more twists and turns? Will luck be the single biggest factor? Can a single player take control of the game and steer the game? I guess that was a few more burning questions but now that we’ve merged, the real game begins.
Now, onto the episode.
MERGE TRIBE - Day 14
Matt and Frannie’s relationship is back. Matt finally has a vote again and he thinks he has an idol until Brandon comes to the rescue. Brandon BLOWS UP Danny’s evil plan big time by telling Kane, Yam Yam, and Matt that the birdcage at RATU had a fake idol and real idol in it. Matt’s ear to ear smile instantly vanishes because he knows that his idol is fake and Danny played him.
So, the birdcage lost its luster at RATU because everyone searched for the key, Brandon and Maddy found it and the tribe opened the cage all together. This resulted in everyone there knowing that there was a fake idol. Now, the VA VA tribe (4-4 in Fijian) is spoiling Danny’s masterplan but spurring a new plan to blindside Danny with knowing what he did. Add to it that Danny wants to take control and target Lauren and her extra vote and voila, once again, knowledge is power.
I have to admit it totally sucks that the birdcage fake idols are now all out of the game. To recap, RATU’s was outed immediately, TIKA’s went home with Sarah, and Matt knows his is fake. If Danny gets blindsided this vote, that of course will be great, but I do think we lost out on the birdcage fake idol “humiliation” at Tribal and the fallout it would cause. Well, there’s still Jaime’s via Matthew so 🤞.
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE - Day 14
Stand on narrow beam while balancing a ball on a long stick above your head.
TWIST - tribe split in 2 teams to compete. Last standing from each team wins immunity.
TWIST - Player who lasts the longest earns immunity for their entire team.
TWIST - Winning team get safety without power - aka they can’t vote.
REWARD - PB & J, Potato Chips, Iced Tea
We are not messing around in Survivor 44 to start the individual part of the game.
As far as the twists heading into this challenge, they were not underwhelming. Splitting the large group into 2 and then giving the winning tribe safety without power will shrink the number of votes and keep the vibe and voting more like the tribe stage we thought we just exited. I like that. Nowhere to hide in 44.
ORANGE - Carolyn, Frannie, Danny, Heidi, Kane
PURPLE - Lauren, Matt, Jaime, Brandon, Yam Yam
Carson was left out, drawing the gray rock. He chose the orange team to decide his fate. At first, his choice looked like the wrong one. Carolyn, Heidi, and Kane don’t last through the first transition and Danny quickly joins orange in failing. Frannie wins individual immunity but was up against Yam Yam, Matt, Jaime, and Brandon. Uphill battle for Frannie and Carson.
Frannie was up against the wall despite winning individual immunity. Then, one by one, they all dropped out leaving Brandon, the NFL player, professional athlete, mono y mono against Frannie, the lenky, nerdy, non-athlete. Guess what happened? Of course, Brandon Frannie outlasts Brandon to win safety without power for the orange team and Carson, (Sidenote for my rooting interests - Carolyn is safe!) and the reward.
Finally, the losing purple tribe - Lauren, Matt, Jaime, Brandon, and Yam Yam will not even go back to VA VA beach but instead are separated from the rest, sent back to old SOKA beach, and will meet back at Tribal. Note to self, when I get on Survivor, carry all your important stuff with you ALWAYS!
INDIVIDUAL IMMUNITY NECKLACE
A quick nugget on this season’s individual immunity necklace aka burning question 1. Overall, it’s underwhelming. I like that they kept the shield as the focal point as it keeps with the theme, but I wish the shield was more Flava Flav like. I think I wanted a little more WOW and gaudiness with the individual immunity necklace but instead we got a tight and clean look. Underwhelming, but not bad.
VA VA Beach - Day 14
The major dilemma for the winning tribe is having no power or say in the upcoming vote. Matt is separated from Frannie and Yam Yam is separated from Carolyn. Despite the delicious food and sense of security, a note is left to be opened together. AKA, a twist is headed toward the winning tribe upon the conclusion of their feist that is likely the true reward.
OLD SOKA Tribe
Matt or Yam Yam? With only 5 people - Yam Yam, Matt, Brandon, Lauren, and Jaime - going to Tribal, there isn’t much wiggle room at all. The RATU roots of Brandon, Lauren, and Jaime boils the vote down to Yam Yam or Matt. The other interesting takeaway is Lauren’s first confessional in a month (Yay Lauren!). She wants to break up the Matt and Frannie pairing and sees this as the opportunity to do it. Thank you Lauren for having this strategic standpoint. Plus, Lauren has an extra vote to sway the votes her way even more. I think if you’re Lauren, use the extra vote, get your way, and oust a player you think is a major threat going forward. Not a bad start to a winning resume.
THE BIRDCAGE RETURNS!
They open the note and an advantage is back in the birdcage setting off a wild goose chase. Ya gotta love the “GO!” being written on the note and Frannie’s delivery. Great moment. There are keys hanging throughout camp and players must try them one at a time. It’s always fun to set off this type of hysteria in the game.
The winner is…
Heidi! Remember her? She’s had about 2 confessionals in 7 episodes and was even more invisible thus far because she was a “squatter” (see previous blog final thoughts) and had no opportunity at winning an advantage, until now.
“CONTROL A VOTE” ADVANTAGE
Heidi wins the “Control a Vote” advantage. She now has the ability to control one of the five votes at Tribal. HUGE! When Jeff initiates the voting at Tribal, Heidi gets to stop Matt, Brandon, Yam Yam, Jaime or Lauren and tell them who to vote for. I like that she has to say it out loud for all to hear and that it’s a one time only advantage which fits beautifully into the design of this Tribal and vote at 11. Well done game designers.
Heidi’s vote will do one of 3 things.
Vote out Yam Yam - Heidi seems to want to keep Yam Yam.
Vote out Matt - Heidi wants to keep Matt and SOKA strong.
Miss the target - If Heidi forces a vote for Jaime or Lauren, it will likely cause either Matt or Yam Yam to be out of the game.
The best outcome is behind door number 4 and back at SOKA.
BACK AT OLD SOKA
Matt and Yam Yam are talking and Yam Yam figures out that if him and Matt vote together and sway the other 3 to split their 3 votes, then their two votes will tie. Lauren, Brandon, and Jaime seem to fall right into Matt and Yam Yam’s evil plan. This is going to be good. Long shot they will pull the trigger though.
BACK AT VA VA
Heidi is doing the work to figure out who’s vote she should control and who she should cast a vote on. Heidi has power and “has to use power to gain friends, not enemies”. Going back to the 3 outcomes, if Heidi controls a vote to vote Yam Yam, she upsets Carolyn, but loses further potential ally of Yam Yam. If she controls a vote to vote Matt, she upsets Frannie and maybe more of SOKA, but eliminates the threat/likeability of Matt and the power of Matt and Frannie together. If she controls a vote, to vote Lauren, she gets out the only person with two votes, follows Danny’s plan, keeps SOKA strong and the pair of Frannie and Matt together.
PREDICTION: Based on what I saw, I think she will use the advantage to cast a vote on Matt, and make a big move. I hope that all works out. Let’s GOOOOO!
TRIBAL COUNCIL
The VA VA tribe may be merged but the unexpected has happened and only Lauren, Brandon, Jaime, Yam Yam, and Matt are at Tribal and voting. Matt is so awkward. I appreciate his version of “fighting” for himself in the game. Yam Yam does the same.
Jeff makes Tribal about what Matt has learned and what Yam Yam has learned. Matt’s social anxiety. Yam Yam’s use of humor as a deflection. They both have an impactful message which makes Tribal and the whole show so great. The emotion and communication of Matt and Yam Yam is raw and through the TV you can see these two be stripped down to their core and it makes for great television, drama, and storytelling. The argument is vote for Matt because he has more friends or vote for Yam Yam because of his winning personality.
Heidi springs up like a she just heard her winning BINGO number to control Lauren’s one vote and vote for Yam Yam. Welp, another prediction was wrong.
VOTES
Matt 3
Yam Yam 2
HUGE!!! Matt gets voted out by Yam Yam, Brandon, and Jaime despite Heidi controlling Lauren’s one vote for Yam Yam. In the end, Matt and his relationship with Frannie were the impetus behind Brandon and Jaime voting him out and Yam Yam abandoning the idea of voting with Matt to tie the vote.
Matt being voted out means the “showmance” is over, but to be honest, the most intriguing part of this vote is what it means for Frannie. Frannie’s game is shattered like a car windshield in a major accident. She’s losing her biggest ally and now we can see what she’s really made of. I’m more interested in shattered Frannie on the rebuild 100/100 times than the awkward love connection between her and Matt. I think that Frannie has shown enough to put her high on the winner watchlist later in the blog. I have high hopes for Frannie to use this moment as a turning point in her game to propel it going forward.
Also, Yam Yam is a more valuable character to 44 BY A LANDSLIDE then Matt. Yam Yam also is an ally of Carolyn who I’m clearly rooting for at this point, so anything to help Carolyn is good in my book.
I hope Matt enjoys his papaya at Ponderosa and is proud of what the Survivor 44 experience has done for him. He made the jury and should be proud of that, especially in a season where 2 people were taken out of the game for medical reasons. Lastly, Survivor has clearly challenged him to work through his social anxieties and literally be in a budding relationship on national television. I don’t think he will be hanging his head low when he reflects on his Survivor experience.
WINNER RANKINGS WATCHLIST
I know that is’ still suuuuper early to make winner predictions but let’s highlight some people on my watchlist for a potential deep run in this game. Since we are now down to 10 players remaining, I think it’s time to start thinking ahead to Final Tribal Council and who’s got a chance to win the whole damn thing.
Carolyn - Has Immunity Idol via birdcage, survived TIKA, underdog, underestimated, and capable of making game changing/winning moves.
Frannie - Now has the “I lost Matt’ angle, plus if she gets to the end, Matt is 100% voting for her. She can win.
Danny - Proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Don’t like that Brandon let the bird out of the cage about the fake idol, but Matt went home anyway. Danny isn’t afraid to make moves, definite physical threat, and he has an immunity idol.
Jaime/Brandon - Being on the right side of votes seems to matter. They also have the numbers of RATU on their side. Brandon used an idol successfully. Jaime has a fake idol that could blow up in her face, make her look uniquely stupid, but also could be part of her winning the game narrative.
Thanks for reading this week. Appreciate the support. Be sure to outlike, outcomment, and outshare the rest all season long. I will be writing about each episode all the way through to the announcement of the winner of Survivor 44. See you next week.
The blog has spoken!!!
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