By Survivor Guest Correspondent Cho
Are you as happily surprised as I am that this latest episode is 2 hours long!? I feel like this is an early Christmas present. By the way, did you all get your shopping done over Black Friday or Cyber Monday? I definitely did a little bit of shopping for the holidays! I actually don’t like shopping for others, but it has been fun so far. Let me know in the comments what you’re buying. Now let’s get into Survivor!
Too Long Didn’t Watch
Last tribal was a literally circus show for the Goliaths. The Davids are immediately celebrating in front of everyone. Carl feels especially great for his successful advantage play. He’s hoping to keep their foots on the Goliath’s throats. Angelina then proceeds to confront Kara, Alec and Alison about their obvious betrayal. She promises the viewer that she will be even more vicious than they already think she is. Never forget #JacketGate. Once again, Nick and Davie are up early searching for the idol that has already been rehidden. Nick ends up finding a clue.

Alec’s Threat Level Is Elevated
The reward challenge is simple yet unique, and they’re playing for a picnic. Alec with the nice booty is doing really well once again. He’s definitely going to be targeted for being a challenge threat. Nick leads the purple team, but orange isn’t too far. Alec ends up coming back and winning for his team. Jeff notes that Angelina and Carl are the only ones to have not won a reward, so they are extra disappointed. Lo and behold, Carl tells us that Alec is the biggest physical threat in the game left.
The picnic looks really tasty! Alec sees this opportunity to reconnect with Christian and Gabby. He likens it to working the bar and working for tips. He compares Christian and Gabby as the hottest girls at the bar. He and Alison lie through their teeth about how they never were on board with Christian’s name coming up. Gabby revels in how the tables have turned. They get surprise letters from home. Everyone cries. We’ve seen Gabby cry enough, but it’s nice seeing the others be vulnerable and motivated.
The losers are having a rough time by comparison. Carl is especially feeling down with not having any food. He’s crying about the toll this starvation is having on him. Carl then lets everyone know that Alec is going home next if he doesn’t have an idol. Kara is weirded out that Carl would openly scheme against him in front of her. She says that Carl is being overconfident which has been proven to not be smart in this game when you look at the Goliaths voted out previously. She warns Alec who, along with Alison, is vomiting up their entire reward! Nick takes the opportunity while everyone is sleeping to find the hidden immunity idol!
Jeff offers that they can sit out of the challenge to eat a huge platter of nachos and drink beer. OOOO THIS IS ALWAYS GOOD! Angelina, Carl and Nick choose to sit out of the challenge. Carl and Angelina are rooting against Alec and cheersing to their future in the game together. I guess Angelina is in bed with the Davids hardcore now. Carl is still giving us commentary. We haven’t heard Carl say this much since he was on Exile Island! After 2 hours, Gabby is crying as she tells everyone that she wants to win so bad. Alec says he isn’t stepping off until he wins. After 3 hours, Christian begins spouting off random stories to keep him focused which annoys Alec. After 5 hours Alec says he feels like he’s going to pass out and starts telling Christian that he needs immunity more than he does. Christian cries and says he needs to win, and Alec proceeds to step off. Christian says Alec is an obvious threat but there’s a lot of time for things to change.
Carl, The Godfather
Alec is sulking about losing the immunity challenge and sees him standing on the perch for 6 hours as sealing his own fate. He cries about his fate in the game. Meanwhile, Carl has drank the power koolaid. You know the koolaid people get once they’ve had a taste of power and control. He’s bossing people around and telling everyone it’s going to be Alec no questions asked.
Gabby sees Carl as behaving like a godfather within the Davids alliance. She doesn’t like the fact that he is telling Kara the plans to boot Alec, because she’s his biggest ally. She thinks it’s unfair that he can talk to whoever he wants, but he bosses her around on who she can talk to. Agreed. But then, she starts flipping out on Carl and crying about how she doesn’t trust him. Ok girl, she needs to really chill. It goes from being about Carl making stupid strategic decisions to Gabby having an emotional outburst over nothing. Christian basically admits to having to babysit Gabby throughout the entire game.

Alison and Alec scheme on a way to flip things onto Carl who is currently drunk with power. Alec then tries to convince Christian that Carl is the biggest threat in the game. It’s actually a very weak pitch, but Christian admits that the real reason why he would keep Alec in is because he’s a shield. He wants to keep a few bigger threats in the game so that no one starts putting votes back onto him. He says tribal lines are finally blurred, and he has to decide on whether to move forward with Alec or not.
Tribal Council
Dan is the newest jury member and looks sexy with his fresh new haircut! Jeff talks about the immunity challenge with Alec and Christian being the most competitive. Nick defends his, Angelina and Carl’s decision to sit out the challenge. Alec says it speaks volume of their character or lack thereof. Kara adds onto the dogpile of Carl. Angelina then defends their decision and Alison comes for Angelina for being untrustworthy. THE NERVE of Alison! Angelina CLAPS BACK immediately and exposes the hypocrisy of Alison/Alec/Kara who desperately betrayed their alliance just 3 days ago!! She implies that they are just trying to make a move to save themselves and says this isn’t about nachos! Everyone admits that the tribal alliances are finally blurred. Jeff says that Carl could have eaten a million dollar platter of nachos. Obviously, it’s time to vote. Jeff reads them: Alec, Carl, Alec, Alec, Alec, Alec, and it’s unanimous for Alec.
Right after tribal council, we have come to realize that the Davids have the 5-4 majority now and could likely pick the Goliaths off one by one. Alison is now in shambles after seeing Alec leave. She compares letting him go to letting a critically ill patient pass away. How morbid! She realizes now that she has spent the entire merge teasing working with the Davids and now she’s paying for it as she’s the next logical Goliath target. This is literally what everyone in the comment section has been saying about her for weeks now. I’m glad if nothing else, she’s self-aware!
The Reward Challenge
Christian was not chosen by any of the captains, so he won’t have a shot at reward. Each team has to dive to retrieve buoys. Kara is doing really well! This is funny watching them try to dunk the buoys into the hoops! Davie ends up winning for his team! Kara is happy to win, because this gives her an opportunity to reconnect with her old tribe members Carl and Davie now that she’s in a bad game position.
Carl is already drunk on the boat like he was during the merge feast! Mike is happy to win reward and connect with Carl and Davie who are the new kings around the camp. He’s happy to suck up to them both. Once again, Carl is telling Kara that Alison is the one to go next to which Kara is again confused why he’s telling her. Davie is just happy that he was able to prove that he has his “black card” again. I was going to make a joke about him dunking so well earlier, but I’m glad he’s bringing it up first! Davie says he gets his black card taken often in real life. I can relate. Carl is so drunk. Kara says he’s an idiot player.
The Godfather vs Wonder Woman
Gabby is trying to convince Christian that “The Godfather” has to be taken out so that she and Gabby can be seen as people with agency. She is convinced that people will respect Carl more than them at the end. I’m not so sure people respect Carl to that extent. She’s taking Alison aside to say that it needs to be a blindside against Carl with Alison, Christian, Mike and Kara, but that they can’t tell anyone about it.
Carl is giving everyone their marching orders about the next vote. He tells Angelina they are voting Alison out but telling Gabby that it’s her. This makes no sense whatsoever, but Angelina is just happy to have replaced Gabby in the David alliance. Gabby’s relationship with Alison has definitely turned Davie/Nick/Carl against her. Alison is well-respected for her strength in all the challenges which makes her the biggest Goliath threat left. Mike is off put by Carl’s bossing everyone around but says he’s going to play along with it since Alison is hard to compete against.

Carl is half-drunk as he tells Christian to lie to his closest ally in the game which triggers Christian to start scheming against Carl. He goes to Mike with the offer that he can pull Gabby, Kara and Alison to boot Carl. On the other side, Nick, Carl, Davie and Angelina are down to finally get rid of Alison. Mike ponders on which side to go with and considers both options to be win-win for his game. He says either godfather Carl goes home or wonder woman Alison goes home!
Christian tells Gabby their true intentions, and Gabby is pissed that Angelina has replaced her in the Davids alliance. She’s insulted that people think she’s stupid. Well, she’s lucky she has Christian to fill her in. She makes the point that allies are supposed to tell each other how they’re voting, and it is horrible gameplay for them to treat her this way. I agree wholeheartedly! She feels even better about wanting to get rid of Carl now.
Negotiations 101
Angelina is worried about being out of rice within the next few days. She’s planning to negotiate with Jeff Probst about getting more food. She’s bold. She tells us that she loves negotiating and gloats about her educational accolades. Mike tells us the problem with Angelina: even when she’s right, which she usually is, she’s aggravating to other people.
We get to the immunity challenge which looks like something right up Alison’s alley. Angelina starts her pitch to Jeff about being critically low on rice. She offers giving away the cook sets, fishing gear, remaining tea/coffee and other comfort items. Jeff admits that it was a really well-laid out offer but that it was LOW BALL. LOL Angelina says in negotiations, you always start low. Jeff says that if someone is willing to risk immunity, he will give them enough rationed rice for the rest of the game. This is a lose-lose situation for whoever volunteers… In the short run, they lose immunity. In the long run, they can potentially be viewed as a threat. Angelina ends up volunteering and says “this is important”. Remember that last time you tried to manage the jury, Angelina? She admits this is a huge calculated risk considering she’s the decoy target.
We finally start the challenge, and everyone is dizzy from spinning around! Christian doesn’t even know which way to go! Everyone is on the puzzle around the same time. Carl calls Jeff over, but doesn’t get the word correct. Davie ends up getting it correct! Angelina is happy to have closed the deal with Jeff and leave with Alison being susceptible to being voted off.
Acting In The Middle
We get back from the immunity challenge, and Carl is happy to have Angelina and Mike in his corner for tonight’s tribal council. Alison realizes that her fate lies in Gabby, Christian, Mike and Kara’s hands. She’s confident it will be a 5-4 vote for either her or Carl. Mike has told both groups that he’s strongly in their camp. He reminds us that he’s a writer and an actor, so he’s working overtime. He says Alison is the most competitive person out there, but Carl is the most annoying person at camp these days which makes his decision really hard.
Christian recognizes that Mike is an actor and is starting to worry about his allegiance to the plan. Despite putting his trust in Mike, Christian remembers that he did vote against him twice now. Gabby talks about how vindicated she will feel if Carl goes home. She says “this whole time I’ve been seen as an emotional young woman, seen as hysterical…” and Gabby YOU. ARE. ALL. THOSE. THINGS! She wants to break those perceptions with this vote, but for her plan to work, Mike has to be fully on board or she’ll be facing the wrath of the godfather.
Tribal Council
I’m so excited to see how Alec looks, and of course he looks like a handsome frat boy! Kara and Alison say the last vote was good-faith to show the Davids that they are willing to work with them. Angelina says camp life is jovial, but tribal council is like the coliseum where everyone has permission to play the game hard. Alison says camp was alarmingly calm considering she’s on the bottom.
Carl puts his foot in his mouth by saying if anyone wants to talk to him, they know to find him in the shelter. He truly behaves like he’s the godfather and has no idea how bad of a player he is. Gabby takes offense to Carl’s statement. Angelina brings up her negotiating tactics, how it helped everyone get rice and that she had the backing of people she trusts. Alison looks absolutely defeated. Jeff reads the votes: Alison, Alison, Carl, Carl, Alison, Alison, Carl, Carl…. and the last vote is for Carl! Gabby imitates Carl’s “bing!” from when Dan was voted out!
Well this was a DOOZY! There’s a lot to discuss in the comment section… so give me all of your opinions! How do you feel about Gabby after this episode? What about Angelina’s negotiation tactics? Are you happy the godfather is gone? As always, don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms to stay in touch with me throughout the entire week: Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Twitch!
Please No Spoilers In Comments
I know it’s a long one, but hopefully you all leave some comments with your opinions on what went down in this jam packed episode!!
I really like Gabby, she’s had some shining moments but the crying is a little tiring at this point.
Angelina’s negotiating skills seemed pretty weak to me and her “sacrifice” was definitely jury management. She could make it to the end because everyone knows she’s hated. I think she thinks she should be rewarded for this but I think the other players will see not fighting for immunity as inexcusable.
I like Alison but I’m disappointed she didn’t pull the trigger with the Davids sooner. I was thinking the same about Mike White until this week. Interesting that Christian reached out to Mike not Nick. I wonder where the Mason-Dixon alliance currently stands? I really like Nick’s game, he seems very strategic. And Davie seems to be having so much fun! He’s fun to watch. I won’t miss Carl.
This season has been so good!!!
I think others see through Angelina as well. She’s playing hard, but her tactics have simply been too obvious and not stealthy at all. She definitely has the right idea though. She’s just one of those players that knows how to play the game in theory, but in practice, she falls a part and doesn’t adapt.
I am actually very interested in how Christian will explain things to Nick. That could be a really ugly battle.
OMG I have been dying to get to this. The site is having some issues or maybe it’s gust Gmail and Google I dunno.
Anway I have not even gotten into it yet but I clicked on your first link and it reminded me that I talked about you to my grocery bagger girl just the other day when I was dong the whole lonely AF old lady over share with her.
She asked me what I did for a living and somehow that lead to her tallking about this crazy ASMR craze and I told her about my nephew who did that and how it as kind of creepy. LOL.
Sorry will go back to recap now
That is so funny. This is literally the best comment I’ve gotten! lol It’s so funny that the crazy ASMR train is starting to get traction “in the real world” like grocery stores. haha
Cho- Oh how I’ve missed your recaps. I was in the hospital from Oct 26 thru Nov 24 because I’m battling rejection from my liver transplant. For some cruel cosmic reason I could not always access the internet. The last few days I’ve been binging on TT’s recaps and loving every word. Why is all the eye candy on the jury? I’m loving Davie. I think he could make it to the end if he remains likeable and non threatening. However he will have to make a big move to earn his “outwit” points. I would like to see Christian make it to the end as well. There has never been a Survivor player quite like him. He is brilliant and incredibly insightful. In the beginning I thought he would be socially awkward but he can read people well and adapt to the tone of the situation. Thank you for your entertaining recaps!!!
Kerry I am so sorry to hear of your situation. I know not one iota of how you probably feel, but I’m glad to offer at least minuscule comfort with these blog posts. Thank you for taking the time to join us.
I think Davie has already sort of proven himself when he used the idol on Christian a few weeks back, but competition has gotten fiercer. It doesn’t help that he was just blindsided. He needs to bounce back and regain control.
I want to see Christian in the end too, but I feel like he’s quickly going to become the biggest threat left with Alec out of the game.
Also dear nephew of many words, I need to know who voted for whom every week because Aunties fucking DVR shuts off early ALOT and she is old and addled.
Vote break down by alliance:
Kara/Alison – Carl
Christian/Gabby – Carl
Mike – Carl
Nick/Carl/Davie – Alison
Angelina – Alison
It’s weird that Nick was on the wrong side of the vote. I thought he was quietly running everything.
I think he was, until Christian blindsided him. It’s sure to shake things up next week!
I can’t stand Mike. He is full of himself. Doesn’t he realize he is in the bottom of both alliances? He annoys me more than Angela. I am excited for next weeks episode. I wonder how Christian will feel babysitting Gabby all season and then to see the preview? I hope the Mason-Dixon line is still in effect. They both have their idols. Davie continues to make me laugh every episode. He is enjoying the game. Plus, his slam dunks were hilarious. My kids and I are loving this season of Survivor. We count down the hours and days until the next episode. Thanks for the re-cap Cho. I enjoy reading them.
You are the first comment I’ve seen throwing some shade at Mike. I’ve never really seen him that way. I don’t think he’s played this game particularly well. He has seemed to just coast by, but he does show some interesting thought processes in his confessionals. If he were really smart, he would have voted Alison out which would lead to a huge war between Davie/Nick/Carl and Gabby/Christian. Obviously, there will still be tension, but keeping Carl in as an antagonistic force would have further kept the target off of Mike for quite some time.
Thank you so much for the compliment. I’m glad your family is enjoying this season. It’s truly one of the best as of right now.
Odds on Gabby being the 3rd stew on the next season of Below Deck?
I don’t watch that show, but I can imagine that this is a really shady post. LOL
Thanks Cho. I’m really enjoying this season. It’s as if everyone is relatable now, and it’s just fun watching. The gang of the ones left have become as if they are all even and it keeps it honest, and hopefully they see that they are all the same, in the game. Anyone can win, anyone. Should be exciting, the finale.
P.s. TT. I’ve had a red triangle for a couple days but I’m able to comment. Red triangle with a exclamation point inside.
(Just a FYI)
I’m glad you’re enjoying this season as well. I feel like we’ve gotten to know everyone by now. Even Kara, who is not as visible, has gotten lots of confessionals with her point of view over the last few weeks. It’s great that I can’t tell who’s going to win. Makes it that much more exciting!
Christian and Nick would make a great final two.
I agree! They are both smart and charismatic people. They’ve both played the game pretty well albeit had different paths to the end. I hope they don’t go toe-to-toe next week.
I don’t care for Angelina but she’s a scrapper so I would like to see her and Christian in the end. Then 100% votes going to Christian!
I almost wet myself when he just started talking and flat out told Jeff he had no choice but to listen, I scared the cat I was laughing so loud. Jeff is probably panicing because he knows that from now on if there is chatty Cathy in the group on challenges like this he’s gonna suffer!
BAHAHAHAHA LMAO ????
Same thing happened to me scared the crap out of my cat who was snoozing under the Christmas tree he flipped out in the tree fell on him.
Christian’s extensive monologues were genius! He knows full well most of his long stories drive people crazy. It was deliberate and delicious torture of Alex plus a way to get his mind off the pain. He is one tough competitor.
Absolutely! Lol
If they were smart, they’d vote Christian out ASAP! Btw I’m pretty sure Christian was behind Carl’s decision to write down Dan’s name on the idol nullifier. Christian had to have been the brains behind that operation. It was brilliant. He’s too smart!
I’d also love to see Angelina in the end, because that means we get maximum amount of weeks to laugh at her character doing funny things. Also, she really is a scrapper. On paper, she’s an excellent player, but in practice, it’s not coming out in the wash.
Christian was super hilarious during that challenge. I just know it was driving Alec crazy!! LOL
Maybe it’s me. But 2 hours is just too much. I dozed through the second hour.
It is an entertaining season, though.
It’s great if you are watching it on DVR, but I agree, it’s a lot for live TV that is forty minutes of commercials. I tape everything.
Sorry you couldn’t really make it through the entire thing. I always watch it on DVR, so it didn’t feel like 2 hours, because it wasn’t 2 hours after you take away the commercials!