Survivor: The Amazon - Advice for the Remaining Seven

Yes, it's true. Deena didn't have to go. With proper play, she didn't even need immunity. Still, she failed on both fronts, and lost both immunity and the game entirely due to her own actions. As a trial lawyer, she failed in the most important case of her life when she tried to argue the case to vote out Alex if Matthew won immunity.

It wasn't a BAD argument. But it was premature. If Deena had simply held her tongue and let somebody unimportant to the alliance (and her jury at this stage) be convicted and sentenced, she might have won the battle. Butch or Christy would have been voted out and Deena would have preserved her position in the tribe. However, Deena didn't realize the power of chains... be it of friendship, allies, or just somebody who could yank them...

These are the times the Survivor Advisor just shakes his head in disbelief. The episode contained a power struggle that didn't need to occur. Since the episode was called "The Chain," let's use that analogy to figure out where everybody stands. Who is yanking chains, who was pushing on them, and who are the weak links in the chain at this point of the game?

Alex. Well done for now. You managed to eliminate an alliance partner without fracturing the entire structure of it. Jenna and Heidi made the decision to inform you of Deena's betrayal. So when Deena pulled the chain on Heidi, the effect was to pull Jenna and yourself, and you jerked the chain back harder. In a strange way, you were better off not wearing immunity this time around; it caught a traitor in your midst and you found yourself more popular with the majority of the tribe and the alliance. What you need to do is try to cement a final-three bond with Jenna and Heidi while the momentum burns in your favor. It's you or Rob in that position, and if you wait until later, I think Rob can outplay you. By making this bond sooner, you can ensure your position in the game.

Matthew. I was never sure if it was you or Alex as the fifth member of the Jaburu alliance. Now I know; it was Alex, even though you cast the deciding vote to toss out Shawna a few weeks ago. Here's my idea, since Rob probably fed you the information that Deena was on the line this time, why not try to test his loyalty to you by offering up Alex (or Heidi or Jenna) next time around? Pull the chain away from what might be his allies, and make it PERSONAL. Make it VERY clear that it is PERSONAL. Rob is very adept at controlling the game, but he also has to face a jury if he makes it that far. This forces Rob into balancing his priorities: alliance or jury.

Butch. You wanted to find a weak link in the chain and jump in to reposition yourself? That's exactly what you should be doing, though you'll have to find the weak links yourself instead of relying on the chain of information from Matthew (which means Rob). You are also the only person in the tribe left who can possibly pull the chain of Christy anymore. You won her over once and now that all her allies are gone, she's lost without direction. Suggest to her you can form a faction. If Matthew goes next, then you can offer the two of you up as a united vote to vote out a faction of the alliance with somebody in the core alliance. It's not guaranteed, but you have nothing to lose at this point in the game.