Survivor: The Amazon, Episode 6 MVPs: How to Strategize and Persevere

Well, it's that time again. Time to figure out who was on top of their game and who walked away with the coveted MVP title this week on Survivor. We actually had a very interesting week. Even though another woman was given the boot, I don't think this is the end of the women in the game. There are so many wildcards floating around right now, including Matt, Alex and to an extent, even Rob. Heidi will run back to Jenna, and Deena is a wildcard in her own right as well. Who knows what Christy will do? Dave, Butch, and Roger are the only ones who seem to have any clue about who is in their real alliance and where they stand. Two people rose above the rest though this week. They are the ones I deemed as MVPs. Who are they? Read on my friends…

Jaburu may have seemed like they were one big happy family, but the second they lost immunity, it was over. I was under the impression that if they were to lose immunity it would be Shawna to get the boot anyway, but I didn't think it would go down the way that it did. It was apparent that Alex has no allegiance to the men at this point, Jenna is so stupid she'll just vote off her former ally, then we have Matt who is another knucklehead that does what he is told. I swear the only two with brains on this tribe (when it comes to playing the game) are Deena and Rob. Rob, our MVP this week, was able to figure out that Deena may have been feeling vulnerable and approached her with an alliance deal that included Matt and apparently Jenna. Deena bought the story but I wouldn't be surprised if he stabbed her in the back. He has already admitted that he is going to do that to Matt, Dave, Roger, Butch, and Alex. What would make him not do the same to her? Even though Rob may seem like a creep, he is playing the game. I don't think he is playing as well as Brian did last season because Brian was so secretive with all of his alliances. I think Rob is going to be found out. Not because he is dumb, but I think people are going to talk to one another and figure out they are all being played. Brian was only close with three people. Rob has EVERYONE thinking that he is on their side. Or at least thinks he has everyone thinking he's on their side. That could be a huge problem in the long run. However, this episode, Rob did a very smart thing by gaining an ally in Deena. Now he has a core alliance that he can use to get himself to the final four. Then he will have to see where it goes from there.

There is not a bone in my body that is not rooting for Christy. I love this girl. She is an inspiration to all and I can only hope that more people who feel they have a disability will apply to this show. Christy is showing how it is done and still holding it down. She is my pick for MVP this week on Tambaqui. She did a great job when it came to the reward challenge, pulled her weight in the immunity challenge, and definitely had a defining moment this week. Butch was right on when he told her that in his eyes she did not have a disability, and nobody can say they weren't touched to see Christy's reaction. I think that comment to her really made her want to persevere. I also love the fact that when Christy thinks something is up she confronts the issue. Her call on asking the men why they voted Jeanne out was a good move. If she thought she was the weakest and saw Jeanne get voted out then she had every right to inquire why. I think she is so gutsy and that's what I love about her. I would love to see her go all the way. Okay, I could go all day on why I think she is an inspiration to all, much like I did last season with Jan (who I still think is the best thing since sliced bread). Anyway, for the reasons listed about I have named Christy the MVP this week for Tambaqui.

Once again, the road to becoming the MVP was completely different. We have Rob, who schemed and plotted his way to the title; and Christy, who was able to show that she has a never-give-up attitude, and is there for the long haul. Deep down, I have faith in both of them. I didn't even think Rob would get this far but his knowledge of past Survivors seems very good and he is using that to his advantage - great call. I'm rooting for Christy simply because she is Christy. What a great person. Anyway, something tells me that this will not be the last we see of these two as MVPs. I'm actually predicting Rob is going to do something pretty ballsy next week. At least, I'd like to see it happen. I want to see which alliance he flips to. He'd better figure out what he wants or he will end up with too many allies, if that's possible. So keep a look out for him as MVP next week if he makes the right choice. And Christy - *sigh* - gotta love Christy.

Phil Kural is a junior at Temple University, and can be reached at pkural@astro.temple.edu with any MVP suggestions.

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