Survivor: Vanuatu – Advice for the Remaining Six

Leann made a very interesting remark in the most recent episode of Survivor. She felt Chris was more "deserving" to stay over Eliza. I have no idea what her definition of "deserving" is, but I'll give mine – anybody who avoids getting their torch snuffed. Perhaps it's through the right alliance, or by winning immunity, or by taking advantage of another player's mistakes. Similarly, when a player does something so stupid as to destroy their own position in the game, that player deserves exactly what he or she gets.

Indeed, one of the worst mistakes Survivors can make is weakening their power base by targeting them prematurely. The Ogakors got away with it in Australia when they sent Jerri home before they should have; Deena and Alex didn't in the Amazon when both independently revealed their positions too soon (indeed, Alex even ended up with a Reality TV Hall of Shame Moment). Even worse, such a ploy puts them squarely in the enemy camp. Not only does the faction lose a vote, the opposition gains one!

On the other side of the coin, one of the best things a Survivor can do is realize they don't have to like somebody to work with them. In Africa, Brandon refused to ally with Frank, because he didn't like him. It was foolish decision because it undermined his own position in the game (and again, a Hall of Shame Moment came out of it). However, Paschal and Neleh didn't particularly care for Sean in the Marquesas, but it didn't stop them from banding together in a self-preservation move (which, on the flip-side, earned them a Reality TV Hall of Fame Moment). I've said it before, but I'll say it again: An alliance can only exist as long as every member in it believes it will get them to the end. Ami's woman power alliance failed when three members (Twila, Scout, and Eliza) decided it wouldn't take them that far.

While the previous week was the coup that wasn't, this past week it happened, but only because of the bizarre reversal of positions of several players. Ami didn't stick to her game plan of getting rid of the men. Leann, who opposed ejecting Eliza last week, was suddenly the prime mover and shaker to get rid of her this week. And Scout, who attempted to get rid of Eliza last week, was suddenly willing to ally with her.

The combination of factors created the conditions for the overthrow of Queen Ami of Vanuatu. Sure, she wasn't hit directly (due to the fact that she was wearing immunity), but hitting her power base was just as effective. She really lost two allies: Eliza through arrogance (figuring she could be tossed while still preserving their power), and Leann by the vote.

Finally, Leann's last words and interviews show she was completely blindsided by the vote. Still, Survivors should have learned by now that blindsiding is the most effective way to topple a power structure.

Eliza had three courses of action once Chris told her she was being targeted (blindsided by her own allies). First, she could have ignored it. There may have been some good reason to do that, since Chris had a bad position and could say or do anything to change the game. Second, she could have gone back to her so-called allies with news of the plot. Once out in the open, the vote might have swung back to Chris. The third option (which she went with) was to jump ship and blindside her supposed ally. In a situation like that, Eliza made the correct decision and joined up with people who needed her vote. She took a chance, but it paid off when she saw three pieces of paper with her name on it.

Still, the new government is an uneasy coalition which includes two desperate people. Are there ways for it to crumble? It's advice for the remaining six.

Ami: You have a few options, and you'll have to read the other players in order to figure out which path you need to take. First, you and Julie can approach Scout and Twila and offer up either of the two original deals again – getting rid of Eliza (because she's annoying), or getting rid of Chris (because he's a man). The other approach is to treat Julie as your main enemy in surviving the next vote, and offer up a final-five deal with either Scout and Twila, or Eliza and Chris. The logic behind that is that three votes will be needed to control the game at that point, and you will provide that vote. If you win immunity, you need to cement the deal. Good luck.