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Randy's idol gaffe draws smiles on Survivor: Gabon
The last couple of episodes of Survivor: Gabon have seen the show moving in the right direction. Powerful players getting picked off is far more interesting than watching one tribe being slaughtered night in and night out. Also, personalities are emerging. Randy is abrasive, Kenny is megalomaniacal, Crystal is whiny and Corinne is bitchy – these are the traits that are fun to watch, but might get you voted off. Sugar has a knack for deciding which way the power shifts, Matty plays hard, Susie is guileless and Bob is amiable – these are the traits that might take you all the way, but also make you a target. Now, the show can begin in earnest.
Kota scramble. Randy and Corinne come to the sobering realization that they are no longer in the catbird’s seat at camp. Ken’s successful swaying of Sugar at tribal has taken the wind out of their sails, and they know it’s time to rebuild.
Cookie monster. Bob tells Sugar that he doesn’t have the idol, but that he made a fake one. Taking Sugar into his confidence is a good move for him. Sugar is the type who might well be taken by Bob’s avuncular demeanor. Randy and Corinne wallow in each others misery, and Randy is convinced that he might as well be his usual irritating self. Corinne and Randy decide that Matty seems to have the most credibility of all the remaining survivors, and make plans to try and draw him away from the larger alliance.
It’s the Survivor auction at the reward challenge. The food goes on sale, but also does the right to send someone to Exile island and take their auction money. Kenny wins that privilege, and exiles Bob. Susie wins a bath and a change of clothes. So far as food goes, Randy makes out the best, winning beer, peanuts, an Italian dinner, and cookies for the tribe. He offers one to Sugar, and she refuses. Her enmity for Randy is such that she takes the last cookie, which would have been Randy’s, and gives it to Matty. I may not be sure what game she’s playing, but I am as sure as hell she doesn’t like Randy. The only other bit of strategic advantage to come out of this challenge goes to Corinne. She walks off with a secret inside a bottle, a secret that promises to help her out later in the game.
Matty makes moves. Cookie distribution is discussed back at camp, and Randy appears to have no interest in letting his feud with Sugar go, and neither does she. Randy and Corinne next work on Matty, trying to convince him that he is at the bottom of the alliance he’s in, and is set for 5th place. They are offering him the opportunity to be final three.
Bob chooses clue at Exile, and is disappointed to find the same map that led him nowhere the last time he was at Exile Island. He elects to go on his own safari with his time in isolation, and takes that opportunity to reflect on his experiences in Africa.
Ken’s alliance discusses the next vote, and the majority want to rid themselves of Randy. Matty speaks up, saying that it would be a better idea to get rid of Bob, naming him as a bigger threat in the challenges than Randy or Corinne. Matty’s new-found activism doesn’t sit well with Sugar. Ken is already ostensibly in control of that alliance, and Sugar senses his gamesmanship at work. He seems to be successful, though, and has everyone repeating the mantra Bob, Randy, Corinne – the order in which he thinks the other three should be voted out. Is he trying to take control of this alliance, or is he trying to save someone he wants for his own alliance?
Ken takes a tumble. Randy announces to Corinne that he has a plan to keep them in the game. His plan, unsurprisingly, is to spread misery with his attitude, make everyone vote for him, and use Bob’s immunity idol to save himself. His votes nullified, they would target Susie with their own votes. Of course, as we all know, Bob’s idol is a fake!
Randy sets to work, taking shots at Susie, then Matty. This sinks Matty’s thoughts of trying to save Randy for a later vote. Everyone in the alliance of five is now planning on voting for Randy.
The tribe arrives at the immunity challenge, and they are joined by Bob. In the first round, survivors must race across a balance beam while holding puzzle pieces. Winners of this round must assemble the puzzle pieces into a Rube Goldberg-esque domino puzzle which, when assembled in the proper order and knocked over at the proper time, will raise the winner’s flag. Corinne opens her bottle, and the note inside her gives her a pass out of the first round of competition. Ken and Matty win the first round, and Corinne uses her bye. Matty takes an early lead and Kenny gets himself in trouble, knocking his puzzle pieces over early. But, Kenny is the first to test his setup, which fails. Shortly after, all three believe they have their dominoes assembled correctly, and the tipping begins. Corinne’s and Matty’s dominoes don’t all fall, but Kenny’s do, and he wins immunity.
Thou shalt hold no false idols before me. It’s congratulations all around for Kenny as the Nobag tribe returns to camp. Randy is ready to implement the final phase of his plan and ask Bob for his idol. Sugar gets to Bob first and convinces him to give Randy the fake idol should Randy ask him for it. Bob is willing to do so, and when Corinne asks him on Randy’s behalf, he agrees. Bob soon gives Randy the idol, and Randy is set for the biggest surprise of his life. Bob has just made his best move in this game yet, as Sugar is not a bad friend to have – if she believes she can trust you. Lucky for Bob, he is just the kind of guy that you feel you can trust. And he has veins popping out all over his body – urm, that’s not relevant…
People assemble for tribal, and Jeff brings the cookies up again. Sugar and Bob’s feud is rehashed, and Susie says the she feels sorry for Randy. Randy’s behavior at camp is discussed next, and Crystal talks about the tension at camp. Randy admits to feeling vulnerable at tonight’s vote, and he’s more right that he knows.
Now this is interesting, kids. We know who everyone’s voting for, we know Randy’s going to play the fake idol, and we know he’s really going home. We know everything about what’s going to happen at tribal – and still it’s exciting! Sugar and Crystal’s addresses to the voting booth camera are particularly rewarding. In a Survivor first, Crystal forgoes the traditional whispering and shouts her comments at the camera, letting Randy and the entire tribe know what she thinks of him. Sugar can barely contain herself.
As suspected, Randy plays the idol, and the moment is more than the tribe can take. Both alliances are sporting huge grins as Jeff is informs the group that what Randy has given him is not, indeed, an immunity idol. Randy’s face drops, Sugar and Crystal bust a gut, and Corinne’s smile vanishes. Interestingly, Bob looks a little sad after the revelation. Randy is voted off, and his torch is snuffed.
That was the best ending to a regular episode of Survivor that I’ve seen in a long time, and this season has officially turned around for me. Hip hip hooray for the merge - as I’d hoped, it brought the schemers head to head. I’ve been on the fence about Sugar for a while, but after tonight I’m convinced – she’s for real. She’s a power player in Ken's alliance, and has a budding alliance of her own forming with Bob. For these reasons, she’s my early favorite for final two. And regarding the teaser for next week – bring on more immunity idol hijinks! Very interesting to see that Bob chose Corinne to share this information with. Was he experiencing seller's remorse after fooling Randy tonight? Should the story about the supposedly lost idol prove to be true, is this part of a plan on Sugar's behalf to form an alliance to take down Kenny's five and get herself into the final four? If Bob can bring in Corinne with his idol story (let's face it, she's got no better option,) and Sugar can either seduce Kenny away from his own alliance or bring Matty over (he seemed willing enough to side with Bob and Corinne earlier tonight), then Sugar will have made the move that I was hoping she might last recap. Either way, this season promises to be interesting from here on out!
Oh, what a glorious episode! I knew when Randy took the fall it would be spectacular, and it was.
Jink | Nov 20, 2008 10:56:42 PM | #Wow. I knew about a quarter of the way thorugh the ep that Bob was gonna give Randy the fake idol and that he would be history. Although wouldn't Randy be a little bit suspect that Bob offered up the fake idol when it was known that Bob was not even secure in his own alliance. I think Randy was ready to go home and would believe anything.
I really underestimated Kenny. And also because Charlie revealed in the Survivor site that Kenny was referring to Charlie as "the homo" behind his back..he needs to go now. At least have a set of balls to say it to Charlie's face....thats just not cool. Charlie is far more interesting (and cute) that Kenny could hope to be.
Unfortunately, Corrine's days are numbered unless she pulls a Kelly from Season 1 and wins every immunity going forward.
Speaking of Season 1...close your eyes and tell me Susie does not sound like Sue Hawk. Talk about a coat-tail rider.
I think everyone underestimated Sugar too.She came to play. Susan, Kenny, and Crystal need to go.
I forgot to mention that the reunion show just got a whole lot better.
Jink | Nov 20, 2008 10:57:58 PM | #How can Randy, Corinne be so dumb??!! It never crossed their minds that Sugar may have the hidden immunity idol? She did go there 5 times!!!
I'm so happy Randy's gone, I just feel sad for Charlie and Marcus who have to endure him for 3 days. I know they only show bits and parts of the adventure, but how can nice intelligent guys like Marcus and Charlie like Randy so much? Are we missing something?
Although I don't like Crystal, she made me laugh out loud tonight when she screamed her vote, not an intelligent way though, because she won't get his vote if she'S F2 or F3.
Sugar or Bob win: YAY
Matty or Kenny win: OK
the rest don't deserve to win
Khiem | Nov 20, 2008 11:28:58 PM | #Instant classic. :-) Nastiest Tribal Council vote comments, incl: "This isn't strategic; it's personal." And then the loser's death wish on the survivors, e.g: he hopes they get bitten by a snake. Most satisfying episode ever.
The Ghost | Nov 20, 2008 11:47:50 PM | #Am I the only one who thinks this season sucks? Out of all who's left, I'm not finding anyone I like that much. Based on the lesser of all evils, I'm rooting for Bob. If Kenny, Crystal or Susie end up winning, I'm gonna puke. Man I hope the Marcus-idol thing is true. Things need to be shaken up.
walt | Nov 21, 2008 1:15:40 AM | #You are not alone, Walt. I thought tonight's council COULD have been interesting and well played but all the snickering just made it childish. I was actually PROUD of Bob for looking upset. Not that it wasn't a good move for him but at least he wasn't acting like such a child. Personally I cannot stand Crystal or Kenny because they are both so immature and annoying. Sugar can be smart, but she also is so very young and shows it. Corrine is just mean and spiteful and Susie is freaking crazy. Literally. I think there is something wrong with her. That leaves Matty or Bob to root for.
I agree with djintheATL- I think Randy was ready to go home. Even if his plan was a good one why implement it before he even knew if he was going to get the immunity idol? What would've happened if he went through all of that and Bob didn't give him the idol that Randy thought he had? He was ready to go and was pretending it was strategic.
genniel | Nov 21, 2008 4:32:20 AM | #Bob gave Randy the fake idol (Corinne knows this) yet he put down Susie's name. He may not enjoy the next couple of days...
Claude | Nov 21, 2008 5:28:45 AM | #Priceless. That look on Randy's face when Probst told them it was "not a hidden immunity idol". LOL.
Randy and his sidekick Corrine thought they had it in the bag, but... not so much. Bob played it very smart.
If this was a Disney movie, these would be the characters' names;
Angry: Randy
Dopey: Susie
Bitchy: Corrine
Whiny: Crystal
Yummy: Matty
Sneaky: Kenny
Spicy: Sugar
Happy: Bob
Peace.
JVice | Nov 21, 2008 6:48:23 AM | #I think Bob can save himself with Corrine and Randy (as a jury vote) by saying he was just as surprised as they were that it was fake. Just say he followed the clues and it was hanging there, so Sugar (or Dan for that matter), faked him out. Now he's good with both sides. Sugar knows he faked out Randy, and Corrine thinks he was loyal. I just hope he's more of a schemer than we've been shown.
tia | Nov 21, 2008 7:25:50 AM | #Tia, you are spot on. Bob was able to make Sugar happy by tricking Randy while still giving himself the opening to say, "I thought the idol was real."
I have to wonder what they are not showing us with Bob and Sugar. There is obviously a heck of a lot more of a relationship there than we've been allowed to see. Otherwise, why on earth would Bob have told her about the fake idol? It made no sense with what we've been shown, but clearly Bob knew he could trust her.
PM | Nov 21, 2008 8:14:35 AM | #Tia, PM. Yes, there's something going on with Bob and Sugar. But Sugar can always call him out on making the fake idol, if they go to the end. She can take credit for convincing him to turn on his alliance with Randy and tell eveyone (at tribal council, or final jury) that Bob made up the idol.
What do you think?
JVice | Nov 21, 2008 8:28:50 AM | #My guess is that there is no Marcus Idol, as implied in the preview. If there were, why wouldn't Bob have actually given that real Idol to Randy? Then their plan to vote off Susie would have worked.
Tony | Nov 21, 2008 8:36:03 AM | #Tia, PM, and JVice: It sure does appear that Bob and Sugar have a link, but that brings up what I said last week: Why wasn't it Bob who made the pitch to Sugar to vote with the Kota alliance? Instead it was Corinne, who was predictably unsuccessful.
Frank | Nov 21, 2008 8:40:51 AM | #It doesnt make sense why he would give the fake idol to Randy when he supposedly has a real one from Marcus??? If he had wanted to save his alliance he should have played that one.
Julke | Nov 21, 2008 8:45:27 AM | #I think what we saw in the preview was Bob making up a story about the idol he gave to Bob and telling Corrine that he found it after Marcus hid it. I think (?)
JVice | Nov 21, 2008 9:04:48 AM | #After all that, why did Bob still vote for Susie????
Justin | Nov 21, 2008 9:30:53 AM | #YOU HAVE MADE MY LIFE HELL FROM DAY ONE FORGET YOU GO HOME GOODBYE
Christopher | Nov 21, 2008 10:06:04 AM | #Personally, I am still not convinced that Sugar is as smart as some people here give her credit for. She, in my opinion, is no better than Susie. They both go whichever way the wind blows - Sugar just does it better than Susie does.
Both Sugar and Crystal displayed their childish and immature sides at the Tribal Council. While Randy may have been unpleasant and childish himself at times, they proved that they are certainly no better. Would either of these two have acted any differently if they were not on an alliance with the power in numbers?
The real target should be Sugar. Crystal, Ken, Susie, and Matty all know that she found the immunity idol at Exile Island, yet no move has been made to force her to use it. Are they content to give her a free pass into the Final Four, and if so, where does that leave Matty?
If Randy/Corinne/Bob were really smart, they should have surmised that Sugar had found the idol and that unless the Ken/Crystal/Susie trio forces her to use it, Matty is the odd man out. That would bolster and back up Randy's line to Matty that "fifth place isn't bad." Matty could then play the Ace card with Sugar, reminding her that it was Kenny's lies that caused her to vote Ace out. Then, the group could have targeted Kenny for "payback" and also get rid of the "brains" behind his alliance. Without someone telling them what to do, Crystal and Susie would be doomed.
At this rate, I'm rooting for anyone except Kenny, Crystal, Susie, or Sugar - so basically either Bob, Corinne, or Matty.
Jay | Nov 21, 2008 10:10:50 AM | #This is the worst-written season ever!
Justin | Nov 21, 2008 10:39:59 AM | #Does the person who writes the tag lines actually watch the shows ?
'Did Randy pull off one of the game's great blindsides on Thursday's (Nov. 20) "Survivor: Gabon," or was the joke on hime?'
Besides not using spell check - Randy blindsided NO ONE !
MJ | Nov 21, 2008 10:44:23 AM | #The idol being a fake wasn't even an issue when Randy hatches his stupid plot. He was assuming Bob would find the idol and then share.
Stupidest plan ever
MJ | Nov 21, 2008 10:48:29 AM | #Whoever doesnt get voted off next week between Matty and Corinne will swing to the new Sugar/Bob alliance which will be ultra strong, practically guaranteeing a final 3.
The reason Bob voted for Suzie was to hide the fact that he knew his idol was fake. Obviously.
Also Corrine could sway Kenny on her good side if she were to flirt with him just for a second. Because he loves "hot girls." PLAY THE GAME CORRINE!
Zooty McBooty | Nov 21, 2008 11:02:45 AM | #"Besides not using spell check - Randy blindsided NO ONE !"
Won't say anything about the spell check, but nothing wrong with the rest of it. It's asking two questions ... Did Randy pull off a blindside? No. Was the joke on him? Yes.
Beth | Nov 21, 2008 11:07:59 AM | #I swear that we saw the idol on the bottle floating in the ocean. I can't believe that Marcus was able to sneak it off and into his pocket
MJ | Nov 21, 2008 11:16:42 AM | #
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