Survivor: China's Monday Morning Quarterback – The Death of Art

My voice is gone and without words am I. Todd has won, as I have foreseen for many a day. And yet, the happening saddens me to no end. For what art of war was present in the finale? None.

With but four generals remaining, the greatest strategic decision was whether Amanda would invite anyone to lunch? This is what the contest devolved to? Denise and Amanda were left standing, fighting for immunity and a ticket to the final judgment, and now the maker of lunches, from a position of complete weakness, proposed to make a deal? For Amanda to have grabbed this opportunity over the handle of her balancing stick would have been lunacy.

In the final vote to mark the last juror, Amanda had one more chance to prove herself the shrewdest of the lot. Of course Todd and Courtney were going to vote out Denise. They recognized their own despicableness and had no willingness to bring along a potential conscience to the final proceedings. But a scan of the faces of the jurors revealed that Denise could not win.

Every time she mentioned what a threat she might be or how she would be sure to win if taken along (an absolute pathetic display of strategy if it were true… to argue for you to be kept for you are sure to win is laughable), the eyes rolled and the laughter and snickers came from the panel. One glance in their direction proved Denise to have no chance at victory. Sensing that Todd was her chief threat and with the opportunity to actually make a strategic move that none could argue that Todd was truly the mastermind of, Amanda caved and voted out Denise.

This was folly for a secondary reason. Had Amanda simply written the name Courtney down, she would have avoided the tie, yet perhaps gained Denise's vote in the process. This may have only pushed her as high as second, but may also have won her a vote otherwise cast to Todd as well. That knowledge is forever lost to the mists of time.

Now chosen and free from further decision-making, what argument could the remaining trio make for their superiority? Courtney boasted of her lack of strategy, her lack of merit, her lack of tact, her lack of substance. And one could glean from the jury that her words were gaining her favor. Pathetic!

Amanda could not form an argument to set her apart from the others, and as she had all competition, gave the appearance of weakness. This helped her to reach the finale, as she was never the target Todd was, but now sitting there, the time to show strength and remove the mask of meekness was nigh. And it was nigh on impossible for her to do. Wear the mask too long, and it ceases to be a mask. It becomes your true face.

And so, Todd was left. He was the only one who attempted to heed my words from the outset. He took responsibility for his actions. He played the game. A game in which nobody else seemed to understand the rules… that in order to outwit, one must actually possess wits. In order to outplay, one must actually attempt to play. In order to outlast, one must actually stay alive and last!

I grow weary of these visitors to my homeland. I have spoken, and it is time for them to go.

Please do not return,

Sun-Tzu.

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

When not speaking on behalf of long-dead Chinese philosophers, AJ Mass writes about fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You may reach him at ajmass@verizon.net.