Survivor: Cook Islands – Who Will Go in Episode 6?

Well, you can’t blame me for faulty analysis. Cristina was up for elimination, just as I thought she would be (and for the very reasons I cited as well). However, I did not have the clairvoyance to foresee Stephannie’s rambling mouth. You wanna play under the radar? Then for heaven’s sake, don’t talk, woman!

Which leads us to this week’s double elimination. We knew it would happen sooner or later; 20 people in a season is just begging for a double-elimination episode (perhaps two)! But will there be any twists in this double-elimination episode? That’s the real question. In the past we’ve seen a number of twists, most of them involving one member (or all members) of a tribe sitting in on the other’s Tribal Council and offering one of them immunity before the former tribe goes to Tribal Council itself. It’s still unclear whether we’ll see anything similar, but once again I find myself hoping for a huge change in gameplay.

I’ve mentioned several times before that I feel it would be brilliant if the producers of this show started thinking more creatively during the voting. Sure, they’ve thrown some extra immunities into the mix, but nothing truly innovative. Nothing that would actually change the fundamental dynamics of the game. The solution is quite simple, so I’m going to post it again for Mark Burnett’s benefit:

The… more interesting option is a possibility that I raised a year ago during Palau. I suggested at the time that if the tribe that won immunity were given the option to vote out somebody from the opposing tribe, it could quite literally turn this game on its head (in a good way). Imagine if you’re the leader of your tribe. You’re well-liked by your tribe, and you do excellently in challenges. Then all of a sudden, along comes a challenge that you lose by a scant two seconds. Nevertheless, you’re headed to Tribal Council. But when you arrive, you don’t get to vote. The other tribe votes, and instead of the alliance-less misfit on your tribe going home, it ends up being you. Wouldn’t that bring a whole slew (yes, that’s right, slew) of strategies into play for the pre-merge game of Survivor?… Still, it’s nice to think of what this show could be if Burnett just put a little more thought into the twists that he introduces each year. Unfortunately it’s becoming all too predictable how to play the game. A twist like the aforementioned would actually force all the Survivors to think on their feet each day rather than hooking into an alliance and coasting to the final four.

Of course, that’s not the only way they could shake up the game. How about bringing a person back from Exile Island right before the tribal vote, so there could be no prior discussion about the tribal boot? What about giving the person voted off a chance to eliminate one of the people that voted for him? What about having an elimination immediately after merge, once more allowing no time for contestants to discuss their boot?

And that just scratches the surface. “But wait!” you say. Doesn’t that negate all the strategy of Survivor by changing it up all the time? Personally, that’s one of the things that I find most appealing about the show. The game can change in any way at any time without warning. It’s like the ultimate game of Calvinball! No rules, except the ones we make up!

Of course, now I’ve been wandering down this rabbit trail for so long I’ve developed a taste for carrots, so let’s get back to the purpose of the article. Who will go next?

Well, barring any unforeseen twist, I think the game is still precarious for Cristina in the Raro camp. Her tribemates have clearly pegged her as an outsider, and barring some strategy on her part, she’ll still be the next to go from her tribe. That’s not to say that she won’t strategize. We’ve already seen evidence of her doing so with Jenny when she formed a girls’ alliance to oust J.P. But that alliance was so weak that it only lasted for that vote. Clearly there are no solid alliances in this tribe. Tribe members are voting on feelings, and if somebody is annoying (J.P.) or appears weak (Stephannie), they’ll be picked off.

Looking at Aitu, the landscape has changed somewhat. The previous two weeks I chose Sundra to take a walk, since she was the obvious outsider with no firm connections to any alliance. But she lucked out when D.J. Jazzy Cao Boi and his Funky Bunch took a stroll together on Raro Lane, leaving her alone to be approached by the CaucAsian Alliance. With her in their camp, they’re five strong and should remain so for the foreseeable future.

This puts the Funky Bunch – Cao Boi, Ozzy, and Flica – in the hot seat. Of these three, Ozzy should get a pass for the next two votes. He’s proven himself far too valuable to the tribe to be eliminated just yet. That leaves the two annoying people to choose from. But I would definitely say that of the two, Cao Boi is coming off as far more annoying. So I predict that he’ll be tossed before Flica will.

Things may change a bit depending on immunity. But all things being equal, Cristina and Cao Boi will depart the island when this double-elimination ceremony has ended.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Survivor: Cook Islands articles here on RealityNewsOnline:

Wesley is a writer and English teacher from Wichita, KS. He wishes he had a pet tiger to play Calvinball with. He can be reached with questions, comments, or mildly snide remarks at Musnud@Gmail.com.

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