Keys to Survivor San Juan del Sur Episode 4

Gloating:
Thank you to those who read my posts.  The page view counts have been high enough to rule out just my mom reading them.  Sure, she could click in and read it multiple times.  Or she could check it twice daily waiting for an update.  But I'm betting she doesn't have the time for that.

Humility:
Then again, I'm only getting double digit views.  We're talking less than 30 per post (so per week).  It's nothing to write home about.  But I suppose it must be worth blogging about.  Anyway, on the the reason you come here: Survivor!

Revelations of Dale:
Dale somehow felt too comfortable in the game.  With John getting voted out, he has realized he needs to focus.  Not sure why he would have felt comfortable, but he did.  Editing likely plays into this.  When 2-3 days go by, I'm sure he chats with people and feels somewhat included.

Two Times the Flint, Four Times the Embarrassment:
Who's surprised?  Hunahpu found their lost flint.  It was less than a foot from their fire pit, just barely under the dirt.  If they had lost it any closer than that, they probably would have found it quite a bit sooner in grand fashion.  Drew decides to reverse bargain with Jeff Probst to get something for their unused new flint.  Nobody else wanted to even ask.  Kelley seemed downright embarrassed that it was even happening.  Sorry, Kelly.  You're on Survivor.  People do stupid things.  You're not guilty of their stupidity just because it is happening right behind you.  No harm - just let it go.  Jeff was not interested in making a deal, also to no surprise.
Editor's Note: Four (from the title to this section of the post) was just a semi-random number.  Please, no comments or questions about it's significance.  It has none.

Reward - Battle Michigan:
Hunahpu won rock/paper/scissors and put Jon up to face Jaclyn.  Retrieve 3 bags of balls using a grappling hook.  Launch 5 balls into 5 different buckets by jumping on a wooden lever with varying amounts of force.  4 buckets are larger, in a square pattern.  1 bucket has a fairly small opening at the center of the square.  Jon gets his balls back first, but Jaclyn is close behind.  It comes down to the final middle bucket.  Both miss a few times, hitting the top rim.  Jon connects first.  Jaclyn is sent to Exile Island along with Drew, who was both chosen and volunteered at the same time.  For reward, they turn down a great cook-out meal and take the "comfort" of pillows, blankets, and a tarp.

Barely Noteworthy Exile:
Drew gets the clue to the idol, but reads it aloud so Jaclyn knows the info too.  She was told by Alec that Drew is a charmer and Drew doesn't disappoint.  Drew goes as far as telling her that he may throw the Immunity challenge so Coyopa won't have to visit tribal again and Hunahpu can get rid of some dead weight.  Will it happen?

Hidden Idol Issues:
Keith goes looking, but can't find the idol.  He figured Jeremy must have it.  Someone sees him maybe searching.  He throws Jeremy, possibly his best ally, under the bus.  Not a bad move if it can earn you new allies.  These potential new allies go right to Jeremy, who never backs down from speaking his mind.  Keith's plan backfires and Jeremy is just upset.  Thankfully for Keith, he later finds the idol.  This could make him look even worse, but if it saves him then who cares?

Challenge Throwing Digression:
Is it ever a good idea to throw a challenge?  I do have a coworker who thinks that it was the right move just once.  She agreed with the move to get rid of Russel Hantz.  I see her logic, but even in that case I don't agree.  Russell was a known quantity with only 2 allies and no idol.  I would have cut off his allies and utilized his experience in challenges.  Other times?  Pearl Islands?  Bad move - killed their whole momentum.  Cook Islands?  Looks okay on the surface, right?  Ozzy's idea and he finishes a close 2nd and becomes a fan favorite, despite an intentional loss to kick out Billy.  But due to being split up, a direct result of that loss, their original tribe gets voted out 3 of the next 5 tribals, leaving only Ozzy.  Caramoan?  Wow, okay, special case.  If a player, *cough, Brandon, cough*, is going to harm himself or others then that's totally different.  Ultimately, I can't put my stamp of approval on this sort of plan.

Note that nobody has ever, EVER, thrown a reward challenge.  Which is more important, reward or immunity?  That logic seems good enough for me.  Don't expect me to throw any challenges when they cast me.

Immunity:
Four people run/climb/swim out and back to retrieve 4 rings.  Two of these retrievers continue retrieving while two other people throw the rings, attempting to hang them on Survivor-themed hat-rack.  Who is throwing?  Julie and Drew for Hunahpu, who have the early lead, but it's a slim one.  Drew/Julie start by alternating throws until Drew takes over full time, missing wildly at times.  Coyopa manage to eek out a 'victory'.  Wonder if they were less enthusiastic while watching it at home last Wednesday?

Scrambling:
This gets complicated.  Let me try to break it down.
1) Jeremy wants Keith out.  Keith lied about Jeremy possessing an idol instead of working with him.
2) Jon wants Julie out.  If too many 'singles' are around at a merge later, they'll start targeting couples, so best to ditch someone who's loved one is already gone, especially if they sit most of the challenges.
3) Drew wants Kelley out.  She's quietly flying under the radar and running the show.  If you talk to her you know she's never missed an episode of Survivor.  The girls are going to kick out all the guys.
Editor's Note:  What!?  Don't you expect anyone playing this game to have seen every episode?  How can she run the show if she doesn't have the numbers and is under the radar?  How can the girls kick out the guys if there are only 4 girls and 5 guys?
4) The girls aren't really solidly together, but they're way more organized than the guys.  Kelley hears Drew throwing her name out there, so decides she is best to target him for that, for general laziness, and probably for asking Jeff to trade them something for flint.

Let's Tribal Council like it's 1999 (+1 year):
Everyone is confused.  There isn't any solid game plan.  Nobody knows who to vote for.  Nobody, that is, except the girls, who are playing smart.  But that's still just 4 votes.  Is it enough?  It is when Jeremy votes with them to get rid of the true dead weight - Drew.  Jon votes for Keith, thinking he was the target.  Drew votes for Kelley.  Keith and Reed thought they were gunning for Julie.

Take Home Messages:
A) Don't throw an immunity challenge.  It isn't a good idea.
B) Have a plan going into tribal council.  If you don't, somebody else does.
C) Try not to let your lasting legacy on Survivor be that you launched a self-fulfilling prophecy with you as the immediate victim.  The women on this tribe suddenly have even numbers and could manipulate themselves into a position to ditch all the guys.  Unless...

Next week:
Drop Your Buffs.
We have a tribal mix-up on Wednesday.  Who ends up playing alongside their loved ones?  Which tribe winds up strong or weak?
I avoid all Survivor commercials to limit spoilers.  So these questions may already be partially answered, but I'll find out during the episode.  Call me a purist.

Stay tuned.  I'll try to put out a post by Tuesday night with my thoughts on who the biggest potential winners and losers are in this tribal mix-up.