Survivor: One World – Ranking the Final 11 Survivors (or, Dirt Happens!)

8: Christina (was 8th)

With the women coming out ahead and Kim wanting to keep women in the game as a back-up plan, Christina’s position is slightly better this week.

It was unfortunate that Christina was able to make some inroads with Jonas, only to see him sent home. Maybe she can develop similar ties with someone more on the inside.

With little power, little influence, and a spotty challenge history, Christina was not a threat to the others at this point. I don’t think she is in danger just yet. She might be a good one to sit next to at the end, because I there don’t seem to be many who like her.

9: “Tarzan” (was 9th)

As if there weren’t enough instances of Jay, Jonas, or Chelsea (or others) bemoaning life with Tarzan in the episode, here’s a collection of thoughts about Tarzan from this week’s Insider:

• “He messes up, he gets in the way of everything you’re trying to do.” (Michael)
• “Tarzan is stubborn.” (Leif)
• “Tarzan loves to bark orders, but he doesn’t like to do a whole lot. He just loves to point out what’s wrong when people do things.” (Jonas)
• “There’s days where he’s a totally different person. You can’t stand him.” (Chelsea)
• “He’s his own species.” (Kat)
• “He’s so random.” (Chelsea)

On Insider clip “Lost My Periscope,” Tarzan explained his frustration with the others. He revealed, “They don’t like to be corrected, or refined, or improved, by anybody but themselves.” He’s right, and predictably, his unsolicited opinions have fallen on deaf ears, and repeated applications have produced resentment. By this point, many of the other players wanted no part of him.

Tarzan seemed to “get it” that the men were no longer a unit after Jay denied him coffee… but then it got lost it again, with him telling Mike that Alicia was the flip vote and the men were solid. He was really out of the loop, and per that same clip, was ready to stop pushing and let others make the decisions. Dude, you never want to put your fate in the hands of people whose aims are in conflict with your own. On the surface, Tarzan was a fish out of water, ready to be gaffed soon. But wait…

At Tribal Council, in her episode-titular “Beauty of a Merge” speech, Kim pointed out that at this stage of the game, “People like Tarzan become an asset.” Kat had a good point of view too – she said, “You kind of want to keep those people around to drive other people crazy because it keeps attention off you.”

But Michael had the best plan for Tarzan… Mike said, “If you take Tarzan to the end, nobody’s going to vote for him, so that’s a safe person to have.” That’s Tarzan’s best hope – like Phillip, get dragged to the end and accept that you’re not going to win.

10: Alicia (was 10th)

Alicia told us her plan was to reunite with the other women. I’m not fully clear if they wanted her back, or not. At this early post-merge stage, Kim has told us that she wants to keep women around for now, in case gender battles resume.

In his “Secret Scene,” Jonas confided, “Alicia seems sneaky to me. She’s always off with some new person, making deals.” If she’s seen as dishonest, others will be reluctant to ally with her.

It’s my feeling that obnoxious Alicia will be the next female voted out.

11: Leif (was 7th)

In the immunity challenge, when Leif dug too small a hole, both “digging himself a deep hole,” and, “getting trapped by his efforts” aspects were symbolic of Leif’s game.

When Leif went out of the immunity challenge, he was quite upset. He knew his time in the game was getting short, and it might even have ended right there.

I have Leif rated last because I believe he’s at greatest risk, but any one of the last five might be the next to get to The Ponderosa.

Eliminated Players:

Juror 1: Jonas (was 5th)

Well, I did not see that coming – even as the episode played out, I thought it would be Tarzan. Instead, they clearly showed us the boot, only to dump a whole truckload of red herrings on us!

Jonas was simply a victim of numbers and situations – of the group being targeted first, he was the closest to what resembled a threat. In my article of two weeks back, I wrote, “Jonas ought to be worried. As arguably the most normal person left on the tribe, he sticks out like a sore thumb!” He was a victim of being the least useless in a group of useless misfits.

In Conclusion:

What do you think, folks? Do you agree with my most recent cut at these rankings? Let me know at the address below, and I’ll answer you back. There’s one rule, though: THIS IS A SPOILER-FREE SERIES! Please do not send me spoilers!!