What Happens When Your Main Ally Has a Brain the Size of a Walnut

Those Duck Dynasty fellas make Alec look like a rocket scientist. For those two of you who are still reading this, you might know I've been referring to Alec as a mimbo. He's pretty, but not super bright. But honestly, Alec looks like a damn brainiac next to these two. Hoo boy. Then can we discuss how Keith spits constantly? Like, every time the camera is on him, he's spitting. Wes's thing is that he can't keep his tongue in his mouth. Have you noticed?

OK, so we'll get back to those yokels in a bit. First... Natalie. I was super impressed with how well she handled her bestie, Jeremy, getting blindsided. She stayed super calm and assured her alliance that she was still with them (even though she also said privately that she'd like to give Jon a taste of his own medicine.) That's where a lot of Survivors lose it - someone in their alliance gets voted out and they react emotionally, often flipping sides themselves & it bites them later. Natalie is smart. (Interestingly, I read that Jeremy thought that Natalie was part of the blindside and didn't find out 'til much later that she wasn't. Apparently she mouthed "I'm sorry" when he got voted out and he took that to mean that she was in on it.) Also, while some were at the reward (where 4 Survivors got to go be "Survivor Ambassadors" by giving out baseball gear to Nicaraguan kids. Fun, except for the part where the Survivors get to watch the baseball game while eating a bunch of food, that none of the other kids watching the game got to eat. Jon did give  one kid a bite of his ice cream, though. Gee, thanks.  Also, only the boys got to get baseball gear and play. The girls had to sit and watch and not eat food. Anyways... where was I?) Right. While some were at the reward, Natalie searched for the 3rd hidden immunity idol and found it! She was with Baylor, so her alliance knows about it.

The immunity challenge was a classic endurance challenge where Jeff brings out food rewards to try to tempt people off their ledge. Now, I like to think I would never give up in a challenge, but I've probably also never been as hungry as these guys so I try not to judge. But, candy? Come on. Jon stepped down first for candy. That's not even sustenance. I mean, Wes stepping down for a plate of wings and 2 beers, that makes some sense. (Though, probably less so when he got voted out.) Natalie stuck it out with Reed for over 3 hours before she decided she was going to slip up before he was. Wisely again, she asked Jeff if she could have wings, beer and a cookie to step down. Win! 

Then it gets slightly complicated and funny.

Reed has immunity.
Reed comes up with a plan where he, Alec, Keith and Wes vote for Jon.
Meanwhile he'll convince the Jon alliance that he and Alec are voting with them. Tells them that Wes & Keith are planning to play Keith's idol and that they should split the vote between Wes & Keith.
Notes that Keith doesn't have much smarts when it comes to the game.
Keith notes that Reed does have good game smarts... with the "math and stuff".
Everything looks good, right?
Tribal Council:
Reed continues to sell his story by saying that everyone's suspicious of Keith & Wes having an idol.
Remember - Reed's on Keith & Wes's side, but has to LOOK like he's on Jon's side.
Keith COMPLETELY FORGETS THIS and looks straight at Reed and says, "Well, I think we should just stick with the plan." Thus, selling out his alliance member, Reed, as a traitor.
Reed completely is dumbfounded. Cannot believe Keith is so dumb.
ALEC cannot believe Keith is so dumb. ALEC!!
Chaos ensues. Everyone starts talking about what plan to 'stick with'.
Natalie tells Jon he'd better play his idol. (Again, she's so smart!)
Jon plays his idol, thwarting Reed's plan.
Keith also plays his idol. Half-assed offers it to Wes, who doesn't take it.
Wes gets voted out.
Wes, bless him, is happy he got to play with his dad and probably even happier that he gets to go eat and then sit with his tongue hanging out.
Reed probably better continue winning challenges and stop allying himself with folks whose IQ is about the same as a duck's.

Another Good Guy Gone!

OK... ummm... so first of all, sorry I've been away so long. Is anyone still reading this? Let me know!

And second... I just wrote this whole thing, and then Blogger kicked me out without saving any of it, so I'm writing mad and now this post will probably be short. Sigh.

Right.  So we're down to the final bunch. The two leaders, Josh & Jeremy are the first jury members. Wasn't a surprise when Josh got taken down, but Jeremy? Didn't think his alliance would turn on him so quickly. Was it a smart move on their part? Yep. Do I like it? Nope. Does that make for good TV? Sure does.

What happened is that Jon & Jaclyn voted with Jeremy's alliance group to vote out Josh. To say thanks, Jeremy & Natalie gave up their spots in the reward when they won the challenge. Nice, yes, but also hoping that it's going to cement the love with Jon & Jaclyn. BUT, then they send Jeremy to Exile because he wants to go look for the immunity idol. Which, of course, he doesn't find because Jon already has it. Rather than fess up to Jeremy, Jon figures he should just vote him out now and goes to Missy & Baylor with the plan. Reed, who's desperate now to just stay in the game, pledges his support and the plan is hatched. Jeremy's out.

This will leave Natalie in a dangerous, but potentially good spot. She could be a swing vote, depending which side Reed sits on. Is Reed going to stick with Missy & Baylor (probably) or with the dudes? If the 2 couple alliance is smart, they'll try to vote out one of the other 'couple' - Wes  or Keith - before Natalie. Keith has an idol, which is dangerous... and makes for a trickier vote, but still can be done, especially if they use Natalie and don't just see her as an easy vote.

I've softened towards Baylor lately - given how badly she was treated by the Duck Dynasty boys and Alec, the mimbo, and how solidly she handled it. She did not engage & showed way more maturity than they were showing, that's for sure. Still, do I really want her or Missy to win? Not really. Though, I've got to give kudos where they're due - Missy's playing a pretty good game.

Jon & Jaclyn are somehow owning the game, but does anyone else find them a bit annoying? I don't really know why. I just do. And, I'm not certain that they're making any friends as they go.

How is Alec still in this game at all? Discuss.

So.. with my favourite two gone already, I'm left to cheer for their partners in crime - Natalie and Reed.

In Jeremy's own parting words, "They voted out one of the good guys." So true.

Josh & Jeremy for the next all-stars for sure?  Yeah!