Survivor: China – Advice For The Remaining 6

The regular writer of this column, Jeffrey Clinard, is unavailable this week so I have stepped in to advise our China vacationers how they ought to negotiate these final, deepest waters.

But first, a trivia question… because I know you expect it. Alas, I don’t have anything about taking multiple immunity idols home, so let’s focus in a different direction. Who on the merged tribe has not participated in a post-merge reward? Drag your cursor between the square brackets to see the answer. [After just three challenges, we’ve had a varied group of winners: only Jaime has missed celebrating a reward since the tribes merged. One must admit she was at rather a strong disadvantage… she was eliminated before the first one was held!]

But now, it’s time to set the trivia aside and talk game play. It’s not as easy to make a move with six players in the game as it is with five, and this group doesn’t seem ready to accept radical suggestions. That’s good news for Amanda and Todd, as the rest seem to be accepting jury duty. Hopefully I’m wrong, and the previews do indicate that Amanda, of all people, is considering making a move. So let’s take a look at what each player should be doing in order to advance in the game. It’s advice for the remaining six!

Courtney: I’m going to start with the easiest one. Were you a more strategic player, I’d suggest teaming up with the outsiders to get rid of Amanda or Todd… but I don’t think that’s going to happen. In fact, it doesn’t seem to matter what you do – you are destined to appear in front of the jury, because every other player feels they can beat you (they’re right). So since you are essentially invulnerable to elimination and probably can’t (or won’t) change your image in the time remaining, my sole recommendation is to just continue being you… because it makes more entertaining TV for me!

Amanda: According to previews, you are thinking of stirring up the game this week. Lord, why? Is the heat getting to you? Despite a serious dearth of screen time, you are in the best position of anyone! Even if the others tire of the existing power structure, Todd is surely the one to take the hit. So my advice is to simply keep a low profile for three days, then vote Erik out (or, if he wins immunity, Peih-Gee). And please, keep Denise in the loop so that she feels like an important part of the operation and not just an easily disposable spare part.

Todd: In almost every season, the power player(s) come under attack. Sometimes it can be fended off (example: Tom Westman eliminating Gregg in Survivor: Palau,), and sometimes the uprising is successful (such as Nurse John Carroll in Survivor: Marquesas). This week, Todd, you are probably in the most danger of elimination that you’ve ever been in. You don’t know that Amanda seems to be tiring of the excessive plotting, and to not be blindsided is your first item of business. Unlike James, you do have semi-secret allies in the game, and I think you need one of them to step up and spoil her surprise. After dealing with the threat of James, your voting targets are now reduced to Pagonging the Zhan Hus, because they are certainly a threat to steal it all if they stay in the game much longer.

Peih-Gee: If Amanda is indeed planning a coup, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that you want to jump on board. Then, work to get rid of Amanda so you can take the most credit for changing up the game. Keep working on Denise by showing her she’s at the bottom of the pecking order in her alliance. Remind her what a wonderful favor you did for her last episode when you selected her to accompany you on the niftiest reward of the season to date.

Erik: Erik, I don’t get the sense that you have had much luck at all when trying to find a friendly ear among the former Fei Longs, so your future in the game is probably dependant on the machinations of others. You either need Amanda’s plan to work, have Peih-Gee attract Denise to your cause, or win immunity. You are in the most trouble, as being more physical than Peih-Gee probably makes you the bigger target. Now, we are overdue for a physical immunity challenge, but if not, it’s not going to be easy for you. Good luck!

Denise: By far, you are in the most interesting position this week, and perhaps in your best position since the game started. As far as the game’s primary objective (winning) goes, you may have trouble winning over the jury because you have yet to make a significant impact on the final outcome. So, if you harbor any hope of winning, it’s time for a bold move that could earn the respect of that jury! I think it’s time to (as Jean-Robert might say) put in all your chips. Align with Peih-Gee and Erik, hoping to tie the vote, and then pray for the best in the tiebreakers. If it goes wrong, you’re probably going home in fifth place, but if it works, you just might win it all.

James: What went wrong? You’re kidding, right? Dude, you were blindsided in legendary fashion!

First off, by treating Erik with disdain and Peih-Gee with disrespect, you had turned your back on two potential jury votes. More importantly, no one left in the game was watching your back. But the elephants in the room are definitely that pair of immunity idols you took home. The good news on that front is that I’m sure they’ll fetch a nice price at one of the charity auctions that Survivor alumni often attend! Maybe you’ll bring one to Project Cool next summer?

Next week… advice for the final five!

Brian can be reached at uncle_bto@rogers.com. He’d like to hear your opinions and promises to respond to all serious email!