SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA Recap – “Stuck in the Middle”

“Expect the unexpected”. It might be the mantra for BIG BROTHER, but it usually hold true for most competition reality shows.  Knowing the heavy hand editing plays in creating suspense in this genre, I never expected that the person targeted in the first scene of tonight’s episode would actually end up going home. But it happened. I can’t say I didn’t see it coming…but I didn’t.

After last week’s tribal council, it became clear to most that Sash and Brenda were running the show. Holly and Jane decided to get the ball rolling to get one of them voted off the island. One by one they approached the members of Libertad and most seem to be in agreement. Even NaOnka, who I thought would be problematic due to her relationship with Brenda. (Ok, I really just though Na would be problematic because she’s Na and being problematic is just who she is). But it was Chase who was the first voice of dissent. Given his friendship with Brenda, Chase tried to throw the scent on to Benry.

At the reward challenge, Jane, Chase, Kelly, Fabio and NaOnka walked away the winners and were treated some volcano boarding and then a feast of pizza, soda and desserts. When the talk turned to game strategy, Na pulled Fabio away from the group to fill him in on the plan to get rid of Brenda. Seemed NaOnka was watching her words around Chase. Good thinking because Chase and his Team Brenda tee shirt ran right back to camp and told the Queen Bee of the plans to oust her.

Tribal Council wasn’t the only stress on the Libertad tribe this week. While at the reward challenge, the carefully constructed barrier they put in place to keep their fire going went up in smoke. Literally. Now I’m not sure whose genius idea it was to try to surround the fire with wood as a way to keep it going, but I guess kudos for a job well done. Not only were the remaining food sources destroyed but so were their machetes, most of their supplies and a good portion of their tarp. The fire devastated the camp.

At the immunity challenge, Jane once against showed those young whipper snappers what she’s made of. During a competition that required the mental and physical strength to hold on to a rope while at a severe angle, it came down to the fittest guy, Chase, and the oldest woman, Jane. Everyone seemed proud of Jane for holding her own, but I have to wonder if they are starting to get a little nervous about this woman. She might be tough to beat in the end.

Without immunity, Brenda had to scramble to find the votes she needed to stay, except Brenda was above scrambling. She thought it made her look weak. Fine, but a little effort might have gone a long way. Rather than making a compelling case to oust someone else, Brenda put her entire SURVIVOR future in Sash’s hands. She tried to convince him that if he used his immunity idol to save her, then all the votes against her would be null, leaving her, Chase and Sash in control over who went home. Brenda suggested it be Na. But did Sash agree?

After the votes were tallied, Probst made his weekly request for the immunity idol. Despite the dramatic music and the looks back and forth between Chase, Sash and Brenda, no idol was played. Sash kept the idol for himself and Brenda’s torch was extinguished.

She should have scrambled.

With 9 survivors left, I honestly I have no idea how this thing is going to play out. There are too many variables – NaOnka’s disruptive behavior (which looks like it’s going to be back in full force next week), Fabio’s general flakiness (he doesn’t have the mental capacity to win this game), Chase’s lack of gameplay, Sash’s cockiness, Dan’s health, and the list goes on and on. But I guess with nine people still left in the running, it literally is anyone’s game.

Did the tribe do the right thing by breaking up Brenda and Sash and sending Brenda home? Did Sash make the right move by keeping his idol? Who should be next to go? And how out of the loop is Kelly to have given her vote to Benry?

Be the tribe…speak!