By Guest Correspondent ChoHey, it’s Cho and this has been a week of utter hell. My best friend’s dog died who I helped raise. A cousin passed from cancer. My high school best friend experienced the loss of her younger sister, and this all happened Monday. I’m still playing catch up and can’t wait to sleep 12+ hours Friday night. I have a feeling this Survivor 39 Recap will mark the beginning of the midway point aka the MERGE. Let’s jump right into it and escape our reality for a bit!
The Lairo tribe is suffering from a really wet night. Their fire is out, so Jamal tries to restart it. Everyone notices that he actually sucks at starting fire despite saying he could, so Kelee attempts to give it a try. Not a few seconds into her attempt, Jamal passive aggressively chastises her. The fuck? Just when we were starting to really love Jamal. Kelee has lost all of her patience, so she walks away. When she comes back, she quickly makes fire.
Camp Life Woes
Now we’re fighting about rice. Fighting about camp life is my FAVORITE type of Survivor content! Noura is concerned about there being one scoop of rice left so Jamal accuses her of taking too much for herself. Jamal is pissing everyone off with his domineering ways around camp. Noura is unhinged and immediately goes to the other girls in the tribe to scheme about voting Jamal out next. But, Janet is not on board with this and thinks it’s better to stick with the plan of booting Dean and keeping Karishma is a loyal vote.
Janet is a BAMF
Janet is chosen for the next visit to Island of the Idols, and she’s not happy. She even cries, because she’s so nervous. Janet says that going to the island has put targets on other Survivor’s backs, and she doesn’t want to mess up her safe position. She continues to cry as she meets Rob & Sandra. Today’s lesson is about “calculated risk”. We get a flashback to the season finale of last season which showcased Chris making a calculated risk. He was so hot.
The advantage Janet would win if she takes the challenge would allow her to be safe at an upcoming TC, but the catch is that she would have to LEAVE tribal council before the vote is read. Janet starts talking it out before coming to the decision that she doesn’t want to gamble. Basically, she says that she would put an even bigger target on her back in the following tribal which impresses Rob & Sandra. They say she’s the first person to actually analyze the risk/reward of their offer through logic. Sandra bets Rob that a woman will win this season of Survivor.
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Janet comes back on a boat from the island of idols and flashes her boobs to her tribemates in order to prove that she doesn’t have an idol!! I love Janet. Why have they not shown her more often? Janet begins revealing part of her experience. Kelee is on pins & needles, because she thinks Janet is going to spill the tea about the twist. Luckily, she doesn’t, and it remains a secret. Kelee looks at Noura, Janet and likens this to a “secret society” of people who really know about the twist but are choosing not to reveal it to others.
Old Vokai Cannibalizes Itself
Vokai just experienced a horrific tribal council. Elaine is safe which is all I care about, but Lauren is crying about feeling betrayed by Missy at the previous tribal council. I can’t say I feel sorry for anyone on Vokai. Aaron and Missy revel in how much control they have. We get this really awkward scene of someone placing their arms over someone else at night. Apparently, Dan was the one sort of touching others at camp. Didn’t he have an issue with this earlier?
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Lauren seizes the opportunity to throw Dan completely under the bus, because she realizes that she, Tommy and Dan are next on the chopping block. Lauren decides she’s going to paint Dan as a flip flopper. Tommy makes up a complete bullshit lie about Dan, but Missy sees through it all. She knows Tommy and Lauren are close, so she thinks voting Tommy out will keep Lauren secure and dependent upon her. Missy is a smart cookie. Aaron says that these people are so quick to turn on each other when they are afraid of going home themselves, and he’s so right!
Kelee Attempts a Risky Move
Outside of the intense screaming, the tribal council is pretty mundane with Vokai winning. The Lairo collective decides that Dean is the unanimous vote to make. Jamal says tonight is the safest he’s ever felt in the game. Oh God, he’s going home tonight. He says that Noura is a handful, but it doesn’t make sense to deviate from the plan. Cue to Dean trying to give his pitch about why he should stay. Jamal and Jack are completely snowing him about Noura being blindsided tonight.
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Kelee’s idol will expire at this tribal council and she feels bad about it going to waste. She has this moment of inspiration where she will give her immunity idol to Dean to play and trust him to write down either Jack’s name or Jamal’s. She gives us several reasons why both of them should go home. The tricky part is trusting Dean to not spill the beans about her plan while also not writing her own name down. Kelee tells Dean that he’s the target, and she’s willing to give it to him. She thinks that the bond they already have will increase exponentially with her giving him an idol. Again, why aren’t we shown Kelee more? She’s always brilliant and entertaining when she’s on our TV screens!
Women & Survivor
At Tribal Council, Noura calls Dean out on not being someone she can trust compared to her old tribemates. In retaliation, Dean exposes Noura for targeting Jamal just days earlier. Noura rationalizes this by saying the opposite of love is indifference: she may hate Jamal sometimes, but that’s better than her not caring about Dean at all. That was some deadly shade, Noura! While Jamal should take this as Noura remaining loyal to him, he takes issue with the fact that Noura just basically admitted that she has thought about voting Jamal out, so they get into a squabble.
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Jack says he appreciates Noura’s honesty which is great most of the time, but it can also make her a loose cannon. Jamal says he isn’t confident about making it to the merge, because he knows the power of women realizing their collective power. Kelee calls out the sexist roots in Survivor about the fear of women’s alliances when they statistically just don’t happen. Not only this, but players aren’t typically afraid of men’s alliance despite the fact that it’s usually all men at the end of the game. Get him, Kelee!! We are now talking about the #MeToo movement. Jamal says he’s so grateful to be having these conversations and is proud of the women of his tribe. Still, his concerns about a women’s alliance is totally valid, because he’s probably about to go home.
After such a great bonding tribal council, it’s time to vote. Karishma says in her voting confessional that Dean took 3 shots at her and missed, but she’s gonna take him out with her first shot. BAM! Jeff tallies the votes. I’m nervous. Dean plays his idol, and Kelee pretends like she’s shocked! LOL This is the funniest moment of the episode. Then, Jamal plays his idol… ON NOURA! What is happening?! He must think it’s going to be unanimous against Dean… He’s going home. Jeff reads the votes: Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean, Jack and Jack is voted out 2-0! The best way to end this blog is a quote from Sandra herself: “Damn, they got his ass.” If you like what I do here on the site, be sure to support me in my other ventures elsewhere on the internet!
Sorry about your tough week Cho. Hopefully you can have a very restful weekend.
This was a fantastic episode and your recap relived all my feels. I am a Jamal fan and I was freaking out that he was going home. And where did he get that idol? Also why did Noura question why he didn’t play his idol last week. For all she knows he found it the day before. Why aren’t people searching for idols around camp this season? Are all the idols coming from Rob and Sandra? I’m confused.
Also the whole thing with the girls acting like being afraid of a girls alliance was fucking ridiculous. There is always a girls alliance attempt on every single show like this. It never works out, but they always try and often vote in a block until they start sleeping with some dude. There is often a powerful alliance run by men too. IT HAPPENS EVERY SEASON OF EVERY SHOW. This has nothing to do with the me too movement. I thought that whole discussion was hogwash. THAT IS MY OPINION!!!! (screamed in my Tamra Judge voice. 🙂 )
It’s ok, I just slept for like 12 hours so I’m feeling better.
I go back and forth between loving Jamal and seeing him as annoying. He’s just so handsome and so intelligent, but I think he can also be arrogant. I also relate to not knowing exactly how people are getting all these idols! I think Kelee found her idol re Island of the Idols, but I literally have no recollection of how Jamal got his.
LOL @ your Tamra voice!!!! I agree with you though. I thought the conversation was cute to have, but Jamal had EVERY right to be fearful of an all girls alliance. Tribal Council is always full of bullshit.
Cho sending thoughts and prayers and thank you for the recap. I’m really enjoying this season. It’s kinda crazy. Lol.
Kelee’s super dramatic facal expressions were pretty darn hilarious.?
Thank you for the comment. Kelee’s dramatic fake ass expressions had me DYING! hahahahah She’s so good, I love her!
Sending you positive vibes Cho! Since I cut the cable cord, I rely on you and TT for these recaps. Don’t feel like I’m missing anything!
although it’s not the best, I do like the season. I’m totally confused as to why Jamal play that idol for Noura though. Hopefully there’s another twist coming because the “island of idols” is getting old.
Right?? WHY did he do that? She is not going to be loyal and he totally could of kept that idol for another time altho I do realize he didn’t know that
Hey Linda, thanks for the comment! See the below explanation for why Jamal did what he did. He was still incorrectly thinking this vote was Vokai vs Lairo and hoped to get rid of Dean and Karishma in that order. He got played hard by Kelee.
<3
Why Jamal played the idol on Noura:
1) he's arrogant.
2) he thought the vote would be 6-1 against Dean.
3) he thought Dean was voting against Noura.
4) When Dean had the idol played on him, he was afraid that Noura would go home. INSTEAD, he would play his idol on Noura which would make the vote 0-0. Now we have to revote.
5) On the revote, Jack would have still gone home, because the girls are aligned BUT Jamal probably thought they would then unanimously vote out KARISHMA.
Basically, Jamal feeling safe and cocky lead him to think that everything was under his control. His suspicions of the all women's alliance was correct. He just never thought it would actually materialize into something like it did…
Fun recap- first one I’ve read but it won’t be the last. I like Dean. I am afraid of Missy and Jamal- eh. Also Kellee is bad ass and I remember in the little instagram bios that they do before every season I thought she came off as elitist (she commented on how she didn’t want people to realize how smart she was and she would have to dumb herself down- came off as arrogant but now I like her – she has a huge crush on Dean but she is hiding it well
Thank you so much for joining the party!! Feel free to comment often. I always try to respond to keep the conversation going.
I TOTALLY think Kelee has a crush on Dean which is funny because her friend in real life used to date him, which is why they have a special connection in the game. It’s so random how outside life comes into play on Survivor at times. Kelee is probably my favorite this season.
Sorry to hear about your week Cho. Sending luv your way. Many thanks for the recap!
I was so glad to see more of Janet and she was awesome! Kellee is very entertaining and fun to watch. I’m not sure Dean is going to keep her secret though. Missy is playing hard, I’m surprised she hasn’t been targeted yet but that might change next week. It took me a few episodes to warm up to this season but I thought this episode was packed and enjoyable.
Thank you for the sentiments. Feeling better now!
Janet is a BAD ASS BITCH!! When she flashed her boobs, I screamed!! She’s so smart and has the knowledge on how to get far in the game. And she’s strong in the challenges so far. My only fear is that she’s going to trust the wrong person and get backstabbed hard.
Yeah, Dean and Kelee’s relationship is an interesting one. I’m afraid for Kelee as well. She’s one of my favorites. This season definitely just heated up in the right way after these last two episodes.
Cho’s recaps are like you are watching the whole thing with anticipation! I love them. You really don’t even have to watch. He lays it all out there for you. I tell him to keep it short, but I still linger on every word.
Also, why was there no reward this week? Did they have one and just trash the footage because this episode was just that good?
THANK YOU! haha I tried so hard to keep it short this episode but I just had to tell y’all the tea!! I even cut out my entire section about the immunity challenge where everyone was screaming like absolute LUNATICS. LOL
I think they probably cut it out because there was so much to explain with Janet’s visit and Kelee’s big move.
This was the best episode to date this season.
I REALLY WANT LAUREN GONE NEXT.
Her desperation was not cute this episode. I actually felt a little bad for Dan with how Lauren and Tommy threw him under the bus.
Cho, I’m so sorry for all the loss you experienced this week. I hope you get plenty of rest. I wish you peace.
As far as the episode, thank you for the recap. You fill it a lot that I miss, my mind seems to wander while watching. I appreciate all your hard work each week.
I have to agree with Jamal. Noura’s shell was jam packed with rice. It looked like she smashed a lot in her plate. Well, at least what I saw. I don’t know. I don’t understand why he gave her his Idol. Rob and Sandra said it was a mistake and I agree.
Janet is so cool. I enjoy watching her. I’m glad finally someone didn’t jump on their offer.
Dan, hmm. I called him the other guy because I forgot his name last week. I guess he might go if Lauren and Tommy are turning on him. Missy is onto them so we will see.
I enjoyed the voting. The best part was Jamal giving Noura the idol, even if it was wrong to do.
I’m with Tamara. I have no idea where the idols come from.
First off, I just want to say thank you so much Laila for commenting so often. Isn’t this your first season with us on the site? I always look forward to your insight!! <3
Anyway, I'm gonna have to go back and watch Noura's serving. She IS crazy and it doesn't take much to cause her to become unhinged. But the general sentiments from the edit is that Jamal is domineering around camp. Maybe it's a reach, but the edit wants us to feel that way about him. The example with fire concerning Kelee was probably more damning for him than the rice situation.
Kelee got her idol from the island of the idols. Jamal found his somehow. I forget honestly! lol
Who are your favorites going into the merge? I'm going to do another write up this weekend on everyone left standing!
Cho, right back at you, thanks so much for the recap!
Yes, it’s my first season watching Survivor regularly. I get that they were trying to let us know that Jamal is a bit domineering, but I have to see more. I like him so far and I am not going to jump ship just yet. And what TT said about Noura ..”Bitch needs to go.” (lol) I agree! I went back and inspected her shell and it can go either way, her shell is full, but so is somebody else. I doubt we
will ever know.
My favorite so far is Janet, Aaron, Elaine and even Jamal. Everyone seems to love Kelee and Missy. I like Kelee and Missy is strong minded, so we shall see. Oh, Elizabeth is good at the game as well. I’m guessing Jamal will go since he received a bad edit this week. Idk.
I’m thinking my insight isn’t that good with this show, which is strange b’c I think my insight is pretty good with the show Big Brother. Same concept… throw someone out etc..
“I have to agree with Jamal. Noura’s shell was jam packed with rice.” Bitch needs to go.
Noura has been needing to go since day 3 at this point. lol
Another great episode in my Survivor books. I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying Rob and Sandra. Especially when they’re watching Tribal. They’re funny enough for Mystery Science Theatre 2k but also astute observations. Love their rapport. I enjoyed the banter at Tribal. Made me feel kinda highbrow after years of Jeff crowing about the greatest sociological experiment of our time or whatever, lol.
Is this the 2nd time we haven’t started with PREVIOUSLY ON SURVIVOR? I’m lost without that intro. Also, after the COME ON IN GUYS, there was no Roku getting their 1st look at Tonowanda, Aud voted out at the last Tribal Council. Seriously lost without that too.
My DVR cut out at the end. I’m so lost on who voted for who. What I did catch made no sense.
Hope you’re weekend and next week go much better Cho.
I miss the “Previously on..” too! I don’t think they’ve done it at all this season. No opening credits either 🙁
Aud you make me feel like an overly obsessed fan, because I notice those same changes as you do!! I’m ok with change as long as there’s a good reason. In terms of the intro, those few minutes goes towards more content during the actual episode. Same thing with the previously on segment. Minutes add up to a lot when you consider that each episode is only 45 minutes or so? I do miss the previously on segment, because it would really give you direction on how the new episode was gonna go.
What you missed:
– Kelee gave Dean her idol to play. She told him to vote out Jack. She also told Noura that “IN CASE DEAN PLAYS AN IDOL, you might want to vote for Jack… JUST IN CASE wink wink”. At least this is how I imagine Kelee communicated it to Noura. lol Of course, Noura being the paranoid mess that she is, ate it up.
– When Dean played his idol, Jamal played his idol on Noura, thinking that it was a unanimous vote against Dean with him voting against Noura. Jamal’s intention was to protect old Vokai.
– A 0-0 vote would have caused a revote in which Jamal thinks Karishma would go home. He would have been rudely surprised by that outcome when all the ladies still voted Jack out.
What a weird Survivor season this is. No real villians but no real angels. And so much navel gazing. It feels like this is the first “woke” cast on Survivor. And I don’t like it. I need villains and true meanness and backstabbing. Well, more episodes to come and that merge may shake them into Survivor reality. Here’s hoping.
Thinking of you, Cho.
Thank you for your well wishes. Feeling better today!
I understand your sentiments. There haven’t been any over the top villains or heroes quite yet. I would argue that Elaine is probably the only person leaning towards a pure hero to root for, but they haven’t really done her justice.
There are a few people who can quickly become villains but haven’t been tapped to their full potential yet. Missy, Lauren, Aaron, Noura, Dan and Jamal all have had some weird scenes where if they became a villain later on, I wouldn’t be surprised. We need an Angelina this season!!!
What I loved about this week is Kelee votes for Dean- knowing her vote wouldn’t count, but still had Noura vote for Jack. There in she is still the “good guy” who didn’t vote against her team
Kelee’s play is masterful… if Dean doesn’t spill the beans. She can go back to camp and tell EVERYONE that she simply voted for Dean and was completely blindsided with everyone else. This sets up Noura as the one to blame since it’s really her vote that mattered the most.
Kelee is just so freaking good!
I haven’t watched Survivor since about Season 2, but tuned in this week to honor Rudy Boesch. But I gotta say, that thing with the immunity idols has me intrigued enough to see if anyone figures out what Keller did.
Great recap!
Wow Karen, you’re long time viewer like myself. I actually started off watching Survivor during the second season. I never got to watch Rudy in action in real time but I’m glad I eventually watched season 1 later on. He was a great character and an even better human in real life.
Thanks for commenting. I hope you stop by again. I’m sure Kelee will be in danger at some point. She’s just too smart.
Cho- great recap! I hope you are feeling better after a difficult time. Well after 17 days I’m finally home from the hospital. Thank you and others again for your well wishes. Kelee won her idol by answering questions about Rob and Sandra’s personal lives after they bombarded her with a lot of info. Jamal found his idol the traditional way, searching the area around his camp. I still like Jamal. I thought Kelee’s response to Jamal’s fear of an all girl alliance was alittle off. His fear is no different than fearing the physically fit guys or the older folks forming alliances. I think Kelee had that speech in her back pocket and was just waiting for a chance to use it.
So glad you’re home Kerry! I still like Jamal too.
Does anyone remember who it was that won an idol by sneaking into the enemies camp for embers/ashes from their fire? I can’t remember who he was or whether that idol is still out there.
It was the Hmoung guy, I can’t remember his name but he succeeded in getting the idol but then went home with it in his pocket!
Oh shoot, that’s right! I’ve lost track of who else might have an advantage left.
It was Vince!
What was VInce? And is it bad that I can’t even picture who Vince is and had to double check the tags to make sure there is indeed a Vince? It’s time for the merge and there are still people I don’t know. Especially the ones that rarely go to tribal council.
Vince was the Hmong guy that had to collect fire from the other camp and he earned an immunity idol for it from Rob & Sandra but then he was voted out with the idol in his pocket. I think it was episode 2 or 3.
I remember him but there are still a lot of people I don’t know either. Not only is it time for the merge but the jury is already forming too! Seems earlier than usual to me.
REMINDER TONIGHT, THE 13TH, SURVIVOR IS TWO HOURS.
Yes, and while I am happy for a two hour show, It is making me use BOTH DVRs tonight.
Wasn’t sure if it mattered for your resting. Hope today is better for you. Xo
Ankle is healing, I am feeling better and all ready for tonight back to back recaps. xo ~tt