By Guest Correspondent ChoHey, it’s Cho and I’m SO sorry for this recap being late with this Survivor recap! It all started when I decided to go see Thievery Corporation live at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio. Long story short, a drunken night led to me getting behind on ALL of my online projects for the next several days. I could go into the dirty details of how hungover I was, but I digress! We are finally here for another Survivor 39 recap!
The Tribal Switch
On Lairo, Dean is reeling from the Chelsea blindside and realizes that he’s definitely on his own. He decides to play detective in order to figure out who set out to initiate the blindside. He narrows it down to Elaine, Missy, Elisabeth and Aaron. So, he talks to everyone, but they feed him total bullshit. He says the person who masterminded it is the person who needs to go. Dean confronts Missy about it who is indeed the one who convinced everyone. Naturally, he’s pissed at her and says he doesn’t know if he can work with her moving forward. Missy is scary.
Jeff announces the tribal switch! On New Vokai, it’s a 4-4 split. Elaine says she feels lucky to be on this tribe which seems to be the stronger one in challenges. Karishma is especially excited to be on a new tribe despite old Lairo being outnumbered 5 to 3. I’m sure she doesn’t consider herself a true member of Lairo anyway. Dean was looking forward to the switch, but isn’t happy about being automatically in the minority.
Fijian Applebees
They’re playing for reward: Applebees! I’m not even kidding. I miss these corny product placements. Remember when Pringles used to sponsor Survivor all the time? Karishma says Applebees is by far her favorite sit down restaurant. I’m going to hold back my pretentious judgement. Do you eat at Applebees? The challenge is a complete blowout in favor of the new Vokai tribe. Tom says that Karishma has failed physically and mentally in the challenges and needs to go home.
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Vokai is enjoying their Applebees reward. I’m so intrigued by what’s inside of this famous “Shark Bowl” cocktail. It looks really good. What’s your favorite thing to eat at Applebees? Aren’t they the establishment that has the onion rings?! As Elaine says, this is the honeymoon phase where the alcohol hasn’t worn off yet. She’s hesitant to dive too deep into new relationships and is concerned about Missy and Aaron talking to the other tribe. She isn’t the only one thinking about game as Jason reminds us that a 4-4 split is super dangerous, but that he’s determined to get one of the old Lairo to flip.
Aaron has been watching Elaine’s special social game gets her further, so he’s trying to emulate the strategy of using real personal bonds to succeed. He talks about his son with Tommy and shows him his special socks. Aaron then goes to Missy and lets her know that it’s time to move past Lairo. Missy says that “L is for Lairo” and that she’s ready to play a different game. Elaine better watch her back. These two are overplayers in my opinion, but I’m enjoying watching them both. Aaron is growing on me!
Karishma Opens Up
Karishma is super eager to throw her entire old tribemates under the bus. After having just failed the previous tribal challenge, she tells Kelley that she wants to work with the Vokai tribe. Tom takes the opportunity to try to sink Karishma’s game even more by telling everyone how utterly worthless Karishma is at all aspects of the challenges. Janet can’t even believe that Karishma is still in the game.
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Amazingly enough, Kelley and Dean share an outside mutual friend: Dean’s ex of 6 years and Kelley’s colleague from business school. This instantly ensures that they will have a bond that can be used within the game as they’re able to share that outside connection with one another. Dean let’s her know how he was blindsided by everyone in the previous tribal council.
Karishma reveals some heartbreaking personal information about her family upbringing and the issue of arranged marriage within her culture. This is really intense. She cries as she talks about this stuff with her new tribe and feels good that she can express herself.
Which Old Lairo Will Go?
I feel like this recap has gone on forever and we are just NOW getting to the immunity challenge! Nothing interesting happens: Karishma struggles and Vokai wins in another near landslide. Also, I just noticed the absence of Sandra & Rob. I hope we get some witty remarks from them at tribal council. I think Karishma is probably toast, but I feel like she’s given us more entertainment than the likes of Tom. Really, I think it’ll be between those two.
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Dean is upset that as a division one basketball player, and he failed. He even throws shade at Tommy for being a goofy looking pale redhead. The blasphemy! It seems like everyone has decided that Karishma is a huge liability in all challenges. She sells her vote as one of loyalty and tries to play up her social game. Janet appreciates Tom being a straight shooter, but she senses that he would be more loyal to his old tribe. Kelley also starts to be wary about Dean being a threat after the merge. I feel bad that all 3 of Dean, Karishma and Tom are at the mercy of this tribe, and I honestly don’t know who will actually leave. My gut leans Karishma.
Vokai 5’s Decision
Tribal council is here in which we just rehash all the different reasons why each of Tom, Karishma or Dean should leave at this point in the game. Right off the bat, Sandra says “those three have been to so many damn tribal councils!” HA! Noura is a hot mess, but I do actually like her. Jeff basically asks the 3 outsiders to pitch why they are valuable. Dean says how he’s all about making genuine connections with everyone on his new tribe, but Janet calls bullshit. Dean throws Karishma completely under the bus by saying she has ties to the previous tribe who saved her at the last minute. Tom dog-piles onto Karishma and says she’s not telling the truth when she says she doesn’t know who saved her.
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It’s time to vote, and I honestly have no idea who is leaving. Tribal council didn’t look good for any of the 3 outsiders, and I could see any of them leaving in this exact moment! Jeff reads the votes: Tom, Karishma, Karishma, Tom, Tom, Tom and Tom is voted off! It seems they chose to keep the two Lairo members who were least likely to join back up with the others, and that simply didn’t include Tom. Karishma just refuses to leave!! What do you all think about the outcome? Was that the right move for the Vokai 5? If you like what I do here on TamaraTattles, be sure to support me in my other ventures elsewhere on the internet!
My sister and her husband love Thievery Corporation. Apple Bees is Ok, but not the first placed I’d choose. So I will slightly judge Karishma. Really girl? It’s your favorite sitdown restaurant? Outback Steakhouse has the Bloomin Onion
Was happy to see Tom go. Was tired of him constantly bagging on Karishma. Everyone knows she sucks at challenges Captain Obvious. I sense though Karishma will be the next to go
Tell them that they need to see em live! They’re even better if you can believe it! I definitely was judging Karishma when she said it was her all time favorite. lol
I feel like when Karishma finally goes, it will be a huge surprise. haha
Applebees has a brand new menu that is WONDERFUL AND DELICIOUS. I had stopped going and went because it was my mom’s idea last year and it is now one of my FAVORITE restaurants and I rarely eat out.
Glad Tom is gone. I hope Dean is next but he will find an immunity idiol, of course.
Tell me what you usually get there. I can’t remember the last time I went.
Is that you Jeff?
LOL
I thought it was weird that there was no “lesson” from Rob and Sandra this week.Did they get the week off? Was it just because of the tribe switch?
I thought the Applebees thing was insane. Where did they cook Applebees? Applebees was fine when I was 25 but I can’t imagine going there now. You’d have to drive past fifteen much better choices on the way.
They were at Tribal council. Sandra was cracking jokes. She was the best part of TC.
True story! lol Sandra is just so hilarious without even trying to be.
LOL @ “You’d have to drive past fifteen much better choices on the way”! That is just so freaking true though. I’ve never been intrigued enough to even stop by because there are so many better choices elsewhere.
I remember working at the local paper and getting LOTS of Letters to the Editor about how the town finally had arrived! Because Applebee’s was coming. WTF? I do not like chain restaurants. Not for places to work; not for places to eat. Everything has a weird “coating on the tongue” taste. YUK!
After reading the Cho recaps, I may start watching Survivor again.
Really?! I have just never been that impressed. And in general, I agree with your sentiments about chains being lower quality overall.
You should start watching. I feel like it really gets good at the merge. Easier to tell people a part and recognize the story they’re trying to tell.
I hated the over the top Applebee’s promo. It was way overdone, in my opinion. Go ahead and get your advertising pitch in, but it turned into a commercial with all the survivors as the actors which makes me question the reality of the show (and I like to be in my bubble about reality shows). I am taking a bit to like this season, but I know it’ll grow on me. I need to start really rooting for someone and I haven’t picked my favorites yet – except Elaine, loved her right away. Thanks for the recap!
Hey Lisa, thanks for taking the time to comment! The promo was definitely over the top Karishma saying it was her all time favorite sit down restaurant was mindblowing to me. I just can’t imagine anyone saying that about Applebees.
I agree though: it’s taking me a while to pick someone to root for. I can say this: I want Noura to go far because she’s trouble. I do like Kelley & Tommy. Missy will be a force to be reckoned with. Aaron is growing on me. Elaine is wonderful!
I have not been to the applebys in my town in at least 10 years and it was terrible, there are so many better places to eat. I missed Sandra and Rob, though they were good at the end. I would like to see the real set up as to where they are during tribal. It looks like they are stuck in a locker or something!
Noura is entertaining, and you know, they keep the less popular people on board to push votes towards themselves. It’s a shame because the people who are not good at the game keep staying. Karishma seems like a lovely person but wow, she needs to leave the game.
I simply can’t get behind Applebees being some stellar chain restaurant. I haven’t been in a super long time either, and I don’t remember being that impressed.
Sandra and Rob were definitely missed, but I imagine they wanted to give everyone time to adjust to their new tribe before shipping them back off to the idols.
Karishma is definitely lovely, but she’s just bad at the game in EVERY aspect.
Noura has really grown on me, she doesn’t seem to listen though and that weakens her social game. Karishma is not athletic, ok they got rid of Tom but karishma will impact them again next challenge so I think dumping Tom was a mistake. Man, Noura really fought hard in the challenge, dragging karishma behind her. I’m enjoying this season now, and your recaps are great, Cho!
Aww Frosty, thank you so much for commenting! Agreed totally on Noura. She’s entertaining. Not a good player, but the effort is there. The word to describe her: overzealous.
Karishma will definitely effect their ability to win challnges. They will continue to lose until she’s voted out.
No worries on late recap Cho, I’m running behind all the time lately too! I’ve missed the corny sponsoring as well LOL, so didn’t mind the goofy Applebees segment.
I was totally blindsided by the vote out and agree it must be concern about the merge.
Also thought I missed Rob and Sandra so guess it will not be a weekly feature? Still wondering what would happen if it’s revealed by someone that they are there?
Thank you for your patience!! Yes, I just thought it was sooo over the top. lol I’ve missed how corny they are!
I find it absolutely stunning that they haven’t shown people talking about Rob & Sandra. Maybe it’s an editing thing where they want the twist to appear more exciting than it really is. I’m very perplexed by it. I’m pretty sure Elisabeth told others about her trip there, because that was a main reason why Vince got booted.
I’ve never been to Applebee’s so I had no idea what the shark drink was till I looked it up.
Very surprised to see Tom go.
I’m liking this season. I know it’s bc they have several age groups. Over the last 5-10 seasons there were so many young blonde women I had no idea who was who? This year I know most of the players.
Yeah, the players are actually distinguishable for once. I think it’s a good thing for sure. And things will only heat up even further as we get closer to the merge!
I’m really interested in the shark drink. Not interested enough to visit Applebees but close!
Damn you for making me search this! I sounds DISGUSTING. ““Our new Shark Bowl served Mucho is mixed with Captain Morgan and topped with a gummy shark.” The drink itself is a 12-ounce frozen beverage that mixes tropical-fruit flavors with Captain Morgan spiced rum.” And it’s BLUE. Never drink a blue drink at a bar.
omg no night ever ended well after drinking a blue drink…
This was something I read in Cosmo or something as a teen. NEVER DRINK A BLUE DRINK! lol
I don’t like chain restaurants either. Once or twice (out of state, in Florida) I had a decent meal from Red Lobster, it was actually fresh seafood. I’m very picky and know the difference. But here in NY, the chains are even worse… and Applebee’s is at the bottom. So I think we were all shaking our heads at this ‘love’ for Applebee’s.
Karishma should of gone! Not Tom. She doesn’t contribute, so why keep her? NHL twitter showed a small interview from tom. He said that his alliance went to the other tribe, so he wasn’t surprised he was evicted. He seemed nice enough.
I was glad the showed this b’c so far it seems there is no rhyme or reason as to who goes.
Thanks for the recap Cho!
Hey Laila, thanks so much for commenting! I always felt like Red Lobster in coastal states would taste better than the Red Lobster in Ohio. lol
Karishma is literally being dragged alone. I’m not sure if she’s really contributing to her own survival. I don’t dislike her, but I don’t like her. Her story is kind of compelling.
I remember going to church with my parents and after church it was a mad dash to beat those darm Methodists (actually my favorite people) to wherever we were going. Sometimes we would go to Morrisons, which was like a cafeteria where everything you picked up costs something. I was like 45 and still told to order from the kids menu. I exaggerator, but my parents were depression babies and my mom had me at 39 so I was raised in a different era than I was living in.
My classmates always thought my parents were my grandparents. It was odd which is why all thes HWs having babies at 40 plus don’t know what they are doing to their kids.
Anyway… If a sibling was in town for church, we would go to Red Lobster (and order the cheapest thing on the menu) sometimes AS AN ADULT I would be brave enough to order… I think it was some sort of shrimp on the salad for like less than a buck Mother would roll her eyes at my “extravagance.” But those cheddar bay biscuits or whatever they are called are amazing. I need to take myself back to Red Lobster for sentimental reasons. And I recall the salads being very good, but we were not a salad family …. so to speak so perhaps it was my introduction to bleu cheese dressing. Seriously in the US my parent thought splitting an order at the Chinese restaurant three ways was a night out on the town.
OTOH, when they died they had alot of money to where five … well four one was cut off by the courts for stealing kids had a nice inheritance. I have not kids. I am going to ride the wire of my unknown death and hope to die in debt. LOL
That was a long story to say, I want to go to Red Lobster and I may be a tiny bit drunk.
I mean it was a bit of a windfall for me at the time, I was young. But I still haven’t done anything with it. It’s like I have been as frugal as they were with their money and only spent mine. But I’m getting old and I want to die in debt at a four season with a very large bill somewhere..
As for Red Lobster. All I remember was being annoyed having to going there, but I was pleasantly surprised that the food was fresh. I think it was lobster and it was very good. That was in FL. I don’t remember their salad or biscuits. I’m a salad person, but not a biscuit person with a bad memory. lol Those cheesy biscuits does sound good though. If I lived near you, I would take you there.
I think I liked Red Lobster in the 80’s. But most food tasted good back then. Even fast food.
Most parents were frugal in the 70’s and 80’s. Not cheap, just didn’t think of going to restaurants every week or getting take out every other day, which is what most people do now.
The salads were great in the 80s we would go there if the parents were SPLURING and still I would order the cheapest thing on the menu usually. One time I asked for the shrimp add to my salad. It was probably like 50 cents and my parents thought I was being out of control with my extravagance. I never did it again. lol. I think the waitress just asked and I said “sure why not?” LOL.
I haven’t seen Thievery live in YEARS – how fun!! Recaps can wait! But excited to see it posted. I also laughed out loud about the Applebees challenge, and these poor Survivors flexing their acting skills pretending that Applebees is their favorite. I loved me some Applebees when I was in college but come on – I highly doubt it is Karishma’s favorite place, she must have drawn a short straw to have to deliver that valentine to “the Apple” as we used to call it. I was bummed to have to choose between Karishma, Tom and Dean, they’ve all grown on me. Dean mostly because I didn’t realize how foxy he was before. I missed Sandra and Rob but loved their commentary during Tribal, they are worth it this season for that alone! I felt for Karishma with her tale of overcoming her strict background and feeling she is a disappointment despite her achievements, but the show is called Survivor, not Therapy and I’m ready for her to bounce!
They’re one of your favorites as well? They’re so good! I also didn’t realize how fucking HOT Dean was until this episode. I couldn’t stop staring at him. He has a good nose too.
You bring up a good point about Karishma using this as therapy. I’m so happy that the Survivors are able to grow from this experience. That’s what makes the show so compelling to me. On the other hand, you’re also right that she’s not a really good Survivor and needs to go home.
Right?? I couldn’t stop staring at Dean and his sexy nose! I’m cool with him sticking around for a while just for the eye candy.
I like that they get food/drink as a reward, but geez that stuff would blow up my insides if I had been on a survivor diet!