When is it too early to turn against your former tribe? That’s the big question that came out of episode seven of Survivor: Edge of Extinction. Members of the former Kama tribe made a bold move by turning against one of their own during Tribal Council. And while both Aubry and Joe were blindsided beforehand, their eliminations stemmed from being Survivor veterans. However, Eric was a newbie. Sometimes, if a player makes a big move too soon, that could cause a ripple effect. This early vote to take out a newbie will have a big impact later on.
Based on the move itself, I would say this was a terrible idea. Currently, Kama has the majority AND they have Rick willing to vote with them. That kind of leverage is a powerful tool to propel further. However, all it takes is one blindside or bad vote to turn the tide. Just look to Survivor: Samoa as the perfect example! While it’s essential to plan for the game down the line, the Kama players should’ve focused on their current situation to put them in a more secure state before picking each other. Eric was a dedicated member to the Kama tribe and wanted everyone to survive to Top 7.
I have a feeling that Aurora, Gavin, Julia, and Victoria will come to regret this decision in the coming weeks. In the process of blindsiding an ally, they not only ruined goodwill with Eric (he’s still on the “jury” after all), but they destroyed their trust with Julie, Rick, and Ron. Their shocked faces during Tribal Council revealed it all – they had no idea that their own tribe turned against them. What won’t stop them from joining up with the Manu tribe members to turn on them?
Let’s face it, Kama’s continuous winning streak in the first half of Survivor: Edge of Extinction has now reared its ugly head. Their overconfidence as a tribe made them slip up and perform two back-to-back moves that might be their undoing. Joe’s elimination had many benefits to it, so I understand their choice to get rid of him, but Eric’s vote came too soon.
Good job to Wardog for making this plan happen! His little conversation with Gavin and Julia created the spark that unraveled everything. While I still think his days are numbered on Survivor, he did show that he has it in him to make a strategic move and plant seeds.
It’s a shame that Rick and David’s friendship started unravelling before our eyes. They were so close when they were on the Manu tribe together, but time and Survivor have a way of manipulating things. Rick’s previous elimination might’ve been the kick he needed to start playing a more selfish and self-serving game. He went with his own moves, which was very important to build his resume. But, he can’t burn his bridge with David because he needs David’s help in this game, especially after this blindside. Rick will have to do a lot of damage control to repair their partnership.
The immunity challenge might be one of the most dramatic ones we’ve witnessed in Survivor history. Lauren’s fainting narrated the entire series of events that led her to collapse during the challenge. In the past, a castaway would maybe say a line before something bad happened, but Lauren gave many indications to Jeff, the production crew, and the viewers that something bad was happening to her. Did Jeff and the team not hear her? Luckily, she survived and got the treatment she needed, but if someone warned the crew well in advance, someone should’ve stepped in.
I’m on the fence when it came to Aurora’s campaigning. On one hand, she really needed to read the room! Everyone freaked out about Lauren’s collapse and nobody wanted to hear Aurora campaign to Victoria about winning the challenge. Aurora’s relationship with Julie, in particular, has been negatively affected by this. On the other hand, Survivor is a game of Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast. Aurora felt her neck was on the line, so she kept playing to win. You should never stop playing. And with the extra vote gift from Aubry, Aurora needed the help more than ever.
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Eric’s elimination fell into the camp of “future threat.” He and Ron were a tight duo, and they had formed relationships that would’ve protected them when the Kama tribe would eventually fracture. On paper, eliminating a big threat like Eric was a good thing because a likable and capable player turns into a threat later on. Plus, he assumed the role of unofficial Kama leader; that’s never a good sign for someone’s chances. Unless he turned on his former tribe first, he had no chance to avoid this blindside.
“I’m the Puppet Master” showcased the beginning of the end for the former Kama tribe. The merged tribe evolved into this tangled web of tribe members turning on each other and alliances potentially breaking apart. There was also a Manu in the background planting seeds in the hopes of avoiding eliminations. Now, let’s see if those seeds foster into a shady tribe dynamic.
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