Survivor: Thailand – More Questions about the Final Five

First of all, is Brian overplaying? Or is he really as smart as he thinks he is? He may have everyone's head that's left in the game, but does he have everyone's head in the jury? Mind games can only get you so far and then it boils down to politics.

Did he deliberately throw the reward challenge to stay back and strategize, or was he honestly trying to win? And did he REALLY expect Ted to thank him for blurting out the answer? My hunch is, if Ted HAD thanked Brian without taking him along, it would've looked like Ted was taunting him. Plus, if the situation were reversed, would Brian take Ted along, or even bother to thank him? To the contrary, we'd probably see more of Brian's self-assured smirking to the camera. And exactly why DOES he want to keep Clay around? Is it because Clay is a "good friend," or because he knows Clay is unpopular and thus unlikely to win?

Is Brian really this season's Rich Hatch? Or is he just a Hatch wannabe? And in case you've been living in a cave of your own the past few days, it turns out that Brian called 911 after his wife awoke him from a drunken stupor by punching him in the nose. Now granted, he was asleep at the time (supposedly), but c'mon. The guy's a former college football player. Was he THAT unable to send off his former partner in slime? And is it ironic, or maybe just fitting, that the former porn star has turned out to be a big weenie?

Now for Ted. Did he overplot in discussing strategy with Helen? Not necessarily. He knew that he was perceived as a threat and needed to do something. It just didn't quite work out. Could he have done anything differently? Other than throwing the reward challenge, probably not, and even that may not have made a difference.

Another question about Ted: Which is he more embarrassed by, the Ghandia incident, or getting drunk after winning the reward challenge? And what does he now think of the following statement he made during the reward, presumably while under the influence: "My body is drunk, but my mind is clear"? Was anyone else buying that, and did Ted actually believe it? It sounded to me like he was simply making excuses for his behavior, which some would contend started in the incident with Ghandia.

When shouting out, "I love you," to Helen while showering, what was he thinking? Or better yet, WAS he thinking? Did he so quickly forget the Ghandia incident? Probably at the moment he did, due to alcohol. I just hope he didn't drive his new vehicle back the next day. And when he and Helen finally called it a night, was anyone besides me saying to the screen, "Careful how close you sleep to him, Helen"?

Is Jan playing the game better than anyone realized, and not just floating along? In talking to the cameras, she reveals traces of a strategic mind and an acute sense of how the game is at this point. Could she pull off the win? But there's another question: Why on earth did she take the bottle of wine Ted gave her and put it down the front of her bathing suit? Probably to ensure that no one else would touch it. Or was she as out there as some seem to sink? Yes, the pet cemetery raised some questions. Should the bottle of wine raise more?

And one more question regarding the tribal grandma: At tribal council, she told Jeff Probst that there was very little difference between herself and the five left. First of all, does she honestly believe that, or is she strictly playing the game? I'm guessing the latter. After all, she has expressed displeasure over Clay's behavior, so she knows everyone is not equal. I don't think she believes it, nor really expected anyone else to.

Is Helen playing the game well, or what? She admitted to the camera that she was playing both sides of the fence, and said everyone else is probably doing the same thing. Also, regarding her comment to the jury about voting for the person who was fun to be with and pulled their weight, was that a subtle hint that they shouldn't vote for Clay?

Finally, Clay: How could his stock in the game have dropped more drastically than that of Enron? At one point, he seemed to be playing brilliantly, but since telling Jake off, he seems to be going downhill, strategy wise. Does he honestly believe that barking out orders without doing much himself will win him the million?

These questions and more will be answered on the next "exciting" episode of Survivor Place.

Ken can be reached with any comments, criticisms, or money orders at YourNextOfKen@aol.com.

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