Survivor: "Rustle Feathers" Review

Last night's tribal council tiebreaker was so unusual, I'm still working through what happened in my head. And Jeff Probst is still tweeting clarifications this morning.

Rule clarification: Deadlocked ties - we draw rocks. That's why we rarely have them. Takes a lot of guts. But at final 4 we make fire.

— Jeff Probst (@JeffProbst) December 5, 2013

The real winner in the episode was the editing. Who in the audience had ANY idea that votes would be cast for Monica? That Ciera would make that seemingly 360-degree turn? None. Or at least, none who didn't watch any of the promos. As the episode progressed, all the confessionals wherein Ciera claimed sole allegiance to Tyson were highlighted, and any where she may have swayed were omitted.

Source: Facebook.com/Survivor

Poor Tyson. He was playing a heck of a game until his cocky attitude at tribal (and around camp) began to lose him any jury votes he may otherwise have received. I can't help but sympathize with him, because I get annoyed when people mis-quote common idioms, too. I really can't blame him for correcting all the "rustling" of feathers that was happening last night. And poor Katie! The tribe didn't even speak and she was sent packing. Ciera, though. Ciera may have just won this whole thing. If she can stay in the game long enough for her big move to have meant anything. (You Malcolm fans out there know what I'm talkin'bout.) In my opinion, her fate will also depend on whether her mother stays out of the game from now on, too.

Here's what I'm really wondering. At this point, doesn't it sort of behoove any of the remaining players to go to the end with Tyson? I mean, he won't get any votes from the jury, if their facial expressions are any indication. And with a hidden idol in his pocket… er… shorts, Tyson doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon anyway. Hang in there Hayden and Ciera. You're the forces to be reckoned with now.

Survivor: "Come Over to the Dark Side" Review

Survivor: Caramoan has had more surprising, unconventional, and record setting tribal councils than any other season, at least that I can recall. And I love it! It's made for a fascinating, sometimes upsetting, definitely classic season.

Last night's episode was both "delicious" and heartbreaking. Malcolm and Cochran were each my favorite player of their respective first seasons, which made it thrilling to watch them go head to head this season. They are two very strategic players with otherwise very opposite skills. These two (not Sherri) were clearly in control of the game, and it makes sense that they had one another in their sights. With Malcolm gone, so is Cochran's greatest strategic adversary. And there aren't many left on the island who realize just how pretty Cochran is sitting.

If you could declare a winner at the food auction, it was Cochran. Not only did he get an advantage in the immunity challenge, but a picture perfect peanut butter moment that caught even Jeff off-guard.

Source: facebook.com/survivor

Plus, Cochran had that precious emotional moment reading his letter from home. How cute was that? (I'm totally crushing.) Malcolm, on the other hand, got nothing but beer and nuts. But his mistake wasn't not finding the idol he paid for, his mistake was thinking he himself (and his bros) wouldn't need that immunity challenge advantage. But that was his second mistake in this game. His first was leaving "Stealth-R-Us." But I can't blame him for that. Besides, I think we're all grateful. Last week's tribal council will go down in Survivor history. Malcolm can be proud of a game well-played.

Cochran's getting a bit cocky himself, though. Since the title of this episode pays homage to one of my favorite movies, it's appropriate that this is what came to mind when Cochran declared himself a challenge beast:

I think I'm rooting for Cochran to win it all, and I think he just might. But in a season like this one, anything can happen! And I can't wait to see what happens next!