Everyone takes a trip to Scramble City as two players are sent packing.
“I hate his… look at his face.
I hate his face.
The cast of ‘Survivor 41’.Robert Voets/CBS
I could die.”
Remember, this goes all the way back to day 5.
Liana was so upset at Tiffany changing the target from Xander to David Voce that she straight-up started crying.
The cast of ‘Survivor 41’.Robert Voets/CBS
Bawling on national television because she had to keep looking at that DAMN FACE!
So I totally get why Liana hates Xander’s face.
Because it’s not about the face.
Naseer Muttalif on ‘Survivor 41’.Robert Voets/CBS
It’s about the fact that she has to keep looking at it.
She knew how dangerous Xander was.
She knew it would never be this easy again.
Evvie Jagoda on ‘Survivor 41’.Robert Voets/CBS
And she has been proven right!
And brutally funny, too.
Sorry, as a viewer no matter whom you are rooting for it just is.
But here’s the thing: That wasn’t even the best Liana-and-Xander moment of the week.
Liana threw Evvie’s name out.
That didn’t really work, so she pivoted a bit to Deshawn.
That was all fine.
But then came the main course.
I guess trying to build some sort of trust (???
Not to play it, but just to have it to know that you wouldn’t play it."
Let’s all just pause for the cause for a second to let that last quote wash over us.
Everyone, kindly take a minute to absorb…
All done?
I don’t know if Liana was trying to channel her inner Shan here.
I don’t know if she was trying a Jedi mind trick of the “these-aren’t-the-droids-you’re-looking-for” variety.
Or maybe she simply mistook Xander Hastings forErik Reichenbach.
If you’ve already seen the season, yo enjoy my oral history of thegreatestSurvivormoment ever.)
But why stop there?
Why not channel your inner Angelina and also ask Evvie for her jacket?
And Heather for her portion of the food?!
And Probst for immunity BEFORE THE NEXT CHALLENGE EVEN BEGINS?!
I’m totally serious.
Honestly, nothing would make me happier.
Strength in Numbers?
“Well, that’s notexactlywhat happened, but it was pretty damn close.
Yet, as predicted, they kissed and made up the next morning.
What happens when you put two strong-willed alphas together?
We’re watching it play out before our very eyes.
Oh, you know who else has eyes?
Sometimes it’s crucial that you trust your eyes, and not your gut.
If people were not looking at her when they spoke, she was lost.
When people talked at night, she was lost.
It was a big storyline for her back on season 6.
Now, fast-forward to season 41.
Because it means Ricard was not defined by that one aspect at the start of the game.
Well, then you’re more perceptive than me, I guess.
Maybe you should start your own recap!
But it’s true.
Personally, I prefer this less-forced approach.
But then again, I prefer a lot of things other people don’t.
Blah, we’ve seen this one too many times before.
It’s not just about watching people suffer, however.
It’s partly that don’t get me wrong.
But it’s actually from a completely different angle.
It’s watching beads of sweat flow down their foreheads.
It’s watching Naseer clap with only one hand because he has lost all feeling in the other one.
I love all that stuff, and kudos to everyone for putting themselves through that house of horrors.
Of course, it was not just a simple challenge, because nothing is simple this season.
Staying up there for even half an hour is impressive in my book.
God, I’m such a softie this week.)
I feel amazing tonight” escaped his lips.
You don’t tempt theSurvivorgods like that.
Wish we could have seen more of that discussion.
“I have the most high-maintenance alliance ever,” noted Ricard.
Perhaps, but it makes for great TV.
Obvious to everyone but Xander and Evvie, that is.
Let me be clear: I don’t care if it was.
But that’s just me.
Also, why was Tiffany already sitting there when the tribe walked in?
Is this some sort of “drop the four, keep the one” situation?
I love the jury walk-in at Tribal!
(Note: Scowls are more fun.)
Also, it gives the jurors their little moment in the spotlight even after they’ve already been discarded.
Don’t take the dramatic juror walk-ins away from us, Probst!
As for what went down here at Tribal No.
I figured the Naseer chatter was just a well-placed red herring to keep us on our toes.
And then, BAM!
Oh, you just know it absolutelykilledShan to use that extra vote.
But, to her credit, Shan did it.
That led to a 3-3 tie between Naseer and Heather, with Naseer taken out unanimously on the revote.
And Naseer went out of the game the exact same way he went in smiling.
What a joy that guy is.
And not a trace of bitterness after he was blindsided, even congratulating the folks who took him out.
Just lock him in right now for the next season of returnees.
Another (Number) One Bites the Dust
First off, my apologies to Evvie.
I realize I retroactively jinxed you by making you my episode 1 pick to win it all.
So, that’s my bad.
You didn’t deserve that.
You probably also didn’t deserve to go home here.
Although, I suppose that depends.
I was also struck by something Probst said at Tribal No.
2, when he noted that “nobody has really said anything.”
That’s a mark of good gameplay.
I have always said the key to Tribal Council is giving Probst something without giving away anything.
He’s not looking for the truth he’s looking for an entertaining answer.
That is areallystrong group.
Nowhere to hide among those five.
So Evvie moves over to the jury as well, and also does so with her head held high.
You know, playingSurvivoris hard.
You go out there and you starve, you freeze, and you don’t sleep.
You get bumps and bruises and scrapes, and often much worse.
And then your best moments don’t even make the show, ending up on the cutting room floor.
Often, the whole thing doesn’t seem worth it.
And then… it is.
Make no mistake, Evvie is now dead to me.
But still, that’s a pretty great way to go out.
