Survivor: Cook Islands – Survivor Live, Episode 10

Before we begin with Survivor Live, we have my trivia question: Which African-American male has had the highest (meaning, best) finishing position in Survivor History? As usual, the answer will be near the bottom of this article.

Due to the local holiday (U.S. Thanksgiving), Survivor Live was not held until Monday afternoon this week – that’s why you’re seeing this article later than usual.

The show begins with Dalton enthused that the last three weeks have been great viewing on Survivor, ever since the mutiny. Jenna agrees; she especially likes the challenges.

Attention now turns to Nate. He looks about the same, but he’s wearing a tie and his hair is under control. Jenna thought Adam might be the guest this week, because he had no ties to Aitu to save him.

Dalton asks why the Raro tribe was so sure Yul hadn’t found the hidden immunity idol. Nate says he thought Yul had found it, and he mentioned to Adam and Candice that they should think about targeting someone else. But Adam was playing it up like he had the idol, and his public denials of the possibility that Yul had it was all a part of that act.

Jenna feels that with Ozzy winning the immunity challenge and the hidden idol not having to be played, things worked out perfectly for Yul this episode. Dalton asks Nate who would have been the target if both Yul and Ozzy didn’t win immunity. Nate says Yul was their prime target, because “he’s brilliant” and “Yul’s always thinking long term.”

Raro saw Jonathan talking to Yul a lot. In response to Dalton’s inquiry, Nate says that on the way to Tribal Council he figured the chance of Jonathan flipping was about 70 percent.

An even better indicator followed an earlier conversation he had with Candice. They discovered that no other Raros beside Jonathan had been approached by any of the Aitu four about swapping sides. This implied to them that Aitu had been successful with Jonathan.

Nate says they could read Aitu’s faces going into Tribal Council and they were very calm, so the Raros knew one of them was in trouble. Once Nate saw Jeff reveal his name on a vote, he knew he was done for.

The clip of Yul’s strategy/coercion with Jonathan is aired. Dalton reminds Nate that after the mutiny, he promised Jonathan would not break them up, and Dalton wonders what happened. Jenna says, “Karma is a bizzle,” and Nate agrees.

Nate says they got too comfortable with the amount of food Jonathan was bringing in. Also, he was their “get out of jail” card, meaning, if they had to vote again he was gone. I must say, they forgot to play that card last week!

Our first caller today is Brandon from Arkansas. He wonders if Nate was mad at Ozzy as well. Yes, and he had very strong words for Ozzy upon his exit. Nate respected Ozzy as a player, so it upset him when Ozzy didn’t give him any warning that he was about to be booted.

Remember that one for later, we’ll be referring back to it. The hosts have said many times that one should not announce to targets they are about to be booted, or else things may change in an unfavorable manner. They don’t say it today, though.

Jenna notes that it was Jonathan who decided who was to be booted. She points out correctly that his best interests are not necessarily the best interests of the others. Dalton points out that the other obvious choice, Adam, is not really a strategy threat. But since Nate was, that’s why he was the correct choice, and that’s why they let Jonathan appear to have his way.

Ron in Oklahoma asks what interaction they have with the crew during filming. Dalton intercepts, relating that the crew only talks to you during an interview. Otherwise, they ignore the players and everyone goes about their own business. Nate says, “You forget they are there after a while, you zone them out.”

Dalton says when he spent his one night on Exile Island (pre-show); they filmed him trying to make fire for about a minute, and then walked away. He says, “That told me I was no way close to making fire!” Jenna confirms the crew is mute when questioned by a player; Rob Cesternino only wanted a nod to indicate how the Jets were doing, and he got nothing from them.

Linda from Washington wonders when Nate figured out he was gone no matter if Jonathan flipped or not. Nate admits he had harsh words for Jonathan but says, “I think he’s a good person outside the game… but inside the game, there was bad blood between us.”

The hosts aren’t too sure Nate would have been the target, but I am. Jenna thinks Jonathan had alpha-male issues with Nate. I say Aitu knew Nate was the biggest threat on Raro and needed to be addressed first.

Nate relates that Jonathan called them, “Lazy, and psychos, and stuff.” He insists they were doing just fine before Jonathan got there.

Dalton reminds Nate he sent Jonathan to Exile Island on day two. Nate says it wasn’t just about stealing the chickens; it was because removing a male from that team would weaken them the most, as they would only have one male left. In that case I might have chosen a big, buff, young stud named Adam instead of elder Jonathan.

Speaking of Jonathan, Jenna points out his bad track record in the game and calls him, “A ticking time bomb you can’t rely on,” and adds the words “hyena” and “scavenger.” She continues that Yul should take Jonathan to final two if he wants to win or an alliance mate if he wants to be nice.