Survivor - Second Chance - Second Episode Discussion Thread. No spoilers for future episodes please

[dr.strangelove]

What a difference a episode makes. Spencer and Shirin go from the king and queen to begging for their lives. I tip my hat to Varner for engineering this without getting any blood on his hands. Genius play by him.

So we start with the dreaded return from tribal, and there is some shock for the old school crew who thought Abi was going home. Varner tells Spencer and Shirin that he hoped his vote for Vytas proved his loyalty, but once he says this, he goes right over to Terry starting to suggest getting rid of Spencer and Shirin. I thought this was a bad play by Jeff, but Abi provided him with cover. She single handedly shifted the power. Shirin and Phi-Gee were talking about Abi in a rather unkind manner, making fun of her for being upset about getting votes. Abi overheard and confronted them. Abi and Phi-Gee went at it. Phi-Gee made fun of Abi in the shelter and everyone laughed at her, including Shirin. Abi went to the beach and cried all alone. Terry, who did not really care for Abi, went to talk to her and make her feel better because no one should cry alone on the beach. He is a good dad type figure and I am sure this trait is what drove him down there. To his benefit, he saw the chance after talking to her and made her part of his group. Varner jumped in as well the next morning and added her to his growing group of him, Terry, Wiglesworth and Wu. Now they had 5.

At the other camp, Joe is “Survivor MacGyver,” making hammocks and catching fish. He is such a stud that it is bound to kill him again. He does everything well, even look good doing yoga. While Vytas came off creepy, Joe is genuine, likable, a challenge god and smart. He is done for. Fishbach, not so much. He is clearly a strategist and not a social player. He calls Jeremy out for idol hunting when all he was doing was gathering himself and having a cry after hearing Savage's story. SAVAGE, what a move that you totally did not intend. Telling that story of your wife, you just went from being a hardcore player to a man who puts love first. Savage concludes that Fishbach lacks in some of the values he wants to surround himself with. Fishbach is not looking good.

I think this tribe reminds me of the Michael Skupin tribe in Australia before the injury to Michael. Rocking the challenges and chilling at camp. They work well together. So of course Survivor will switch them up.

The IC was awesome. Climb these three triangle mountains that grow larger after each one, then drag a sled over a course, then solve a puzzle. Bayon worked calmly together and the Ta Keo tribe was as crazy as the fight between Abi ad Phi-Gee was. It was close, but Bayon wins again.

At camp, Varner made a HUGE mistake. He lines up the votes for Spencer or Shirin, but after telling Abi not to tell them the plan, she goes and tells Shirin what was going to happen. If you cannot control her, you can not win this thing. This could have killed them, but there was not enough time for Shirin to undo the damage. It was Spencer or Shirin, and they picked Shirin, splitting the vote in case one had an idol.

Next week, tribal shift. This could save Fishbach and Spencer. Lets see how it goes.

[Phentex]

1. Blabbi has got to go!

We predicted Abbi was going to blab and right on cue, she blabbed. Not only is she annoying, she cannot be trusted! I hope they aren't doing "Let's take someone everybody hates to the end."

[murielm99]

2. I guess I don't find her that annoying.

I did not like the "mean girl" treatment she was getting. That made a big difference in the shift of power.

I thought it was predictable that she would blab. She has a temper and is impulsive.

I think she is trying to play smarter, and it is tough for her. How long she remains in the game may depend on the switch-up. The whole dynamic could change next week.

I know people like Abi in real life. Quite a few of them are political activists. They are passionate, and not necessarily careful about what they say. I give them the benefit of the doubt. Is she loyal? I guess, in the end, her only loyalty has to be to herself. It is Survivor, after all.

[dr.strangelove]

3. loyalty means nothing in this game

you are right, its survivor, the only loyalty is to yourself. But you have to know when someone is doing something for themself that will hurt you, or if it will hurt others. Abi's "loose lips" will sink a few ships if she is not more careful. That makes it hard to trust her once you have the numbers on your side.
You are right that the switch will decide her fait. If she is in a majority, she will be fine until the merge. If not, well she will probably go quickly.

[Demit]

5. Abi is destructive.

And highly manipulative. I didn't buy the crying alone on the beach for one minute. I think there's something wrong with her, & have thought so since she was on the first time. I forget what she accused that woman for on her first Survivor, but she attacks people unfairly, like this time insinuating Phegee stole her bracelet. And then puts on the hurt act when there's pushback? That's a person to stay far away from. Anybody who thinks they can use Abi for their own ends is gonna get burnt. She loves to stir the pot and she's good at it.

[Suich]

4. The "mean girl" treatment Abi got was awful.

I don't care how annoying she is.

I swear, in one scene where Shirin and Abi were walking on the beach, I heard a bit of the "Godfather" theme...it was after Shirin hadn't come to Abi's defense!

There were lots of shocked faces when Jeff announced the buff change...can't wait!