Survivor: Vanuatu - Shake-Ups and Shipped Out

As always, I watched the episode in its entirety, and then went back to watch it on tape. It's a good thing, because some of the moves that were made were so incredible, I had to watch them again just to make sure I had it right.

Let's start with the obvious: Has there ever been a worse "secret agent" than Bubba? Yes, he was making a strategic move in trying to communicate with his old tribe, but he could've been a lot less obvious (i.e. quiet) about it. As it was, he didn't even try to keep it quiet, and got caught. Hand signals and mouthing the word "merge" I could understand if he thought his new tribemates weren't looking, which he did. But saying it loud enough for both sides to hear? Not exactly a master strategist, that Bubba.

What was with his asking Ami to tell him if he was going? Yes, he didn't want to be blindsided, but hasn't he watched the show enough to realize that the possibility is part of the game? And how big of a blindsiding would it be, anyway? He should've been smart enough to know there was a 50-50 chance it would happen. The sad thing for him is, it didn't HAVE to happen. After all, Ami even said he wasn't their original choice, but his own actions did him in.

Speaking of doing yourself in, how bad was his paddling during the immunity challenge? So bad that host Jeff Probst felt compelled to comment on it, calling it some of the worst he's ever seen. For someone who tried with all his might to win the challenge, Bubba's poor paddling may have made it look like he was trying to throw the challenge, although I don't think that's what happened.

Speaking of which, why was it necessary for Probst to say anything to Yasur after the challenge? When he commented that Rory lost a lot of time on the ropes and pointed out the paddling, it sounded as if he were making arguments on who should go and why. I'm not disagreeing with what he said by any means; it just looked like he might be trying to influence the impending tribal council.

How ironic is it that when Bubba mentions the Yankees might want him at first base giving signals, the Bronx Bombers are leading the American League Championship Series, at least as this was being written? Somehow, I doubt the Yankees will track him down. After all, they might be fearful he'll be giving those signals to the arch-enemy Boston Red Sox.

Had he been in the game too long anyway? Think back to the episode's opening scene, where Lopevi is discussing sleeping arrangements. He claims other tribe members see advantages to certain sleeping spots, but he doesn't buy it. However, he may have known more than he let on, even to the cameras. After all, WAS it just a coincidence that he was the only one hadn't moved, and he had the best spot? And how smart was it of him to tell the others to build a bridge and get over it? By saying that, he came awfully close to BURNING a bridge with some of his then-tribemates. And even if he didn't see the advantages of certain sleeping spots, wouldn't it have been smarter to go along with his tribe's request in the name of unity and keeping in your alliance's good graces?

Just how foreshadowing was it that after the switch, he noted, "One wrong move and you're out?" Well, that's all it took for him to get ousted. He also mentioned that he felt like a prostitute sitting in church. That may explain why he tried to whore himself out to the newly-configured Lopevi tribe. Well, his new tribe "ex-communicated" him.

Having asked these questions, here's a few regarding Ami: Why on Earth did she mention Bubba's actions in tribal council? And was it good strategy? At first, it was easy to wonder what she was thinking. Then again, she DID have the numbers clearly on her side, and Bubba DID mention that if he were going, he at least didn't want to be blindsided.

Why was it necessary for her to mention that Bubba wasn't even their first choice to go? That had to have made Rory feel awfully good. Ami, that's the kind of thing you say in confessionals, not in a live tribal council. Yes, you may think it doesn't matter because Rory may soon be gone anyway, but in this game, never assume ANYTHING. You never know when you might need Rory's vote in final tribal council, after all. And how tense will it be during the next few days with him still in your tribe? Judging by next week's previews, tense enough.