By Guest Correspondent ChoHey, it’s Cho and I’m back with another Survivor 40 Recap! Excuse my absence in the comment section of last episode. I took a much needed 4 day vacation from all work-related tasks. Surprisingly, I stuck through it and didn’t do ANY work online or otherwise. It’s good to unplug every once in a while. However, this week is NOT the week to do that, because we have a 2-hour episode of Survivor!! Definitely catch up here if you missed last week’s mess of a tribal council.
It’s night 29, and people are upset. Michele & Jeremy are both obviously on the outside. Jeremy ends up giving her advantage back to her. Denise is also pretty upset with how she’s been feeling about the game. She had a big moment last night where she yelled at Jeff that she was “done!” She’s giving herself a pep talk about how to both endure and let go. She’s in tears about how stressful the game has been. As we near the end of the game, it’s always sad to see the true mental exhaustion wear on the Survivors.
Plan C
Tony & Sarah are ready to get rid of the other “hyenas” in the game: Denise, Nick and Michele. He wants the cops and firefighter Jeremy to stick together to get rid of the weaker players. The problem is that Ben wants to take Jeremy out. Sarah is now trying to convince Ben to get rid of Nick. Everyone treats Ben like a child because he is. All of the sudden, Ben has this magical idea to blindside Nick. LOL He’s so easily manipulated and emotional. Nick is now a prime target for being the double dealer that he is.
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Unfortunately, Nick goes on to win the immunity challenge where Michele really struggled. We go from one easy vote of Nick to the easy plan B of Denise. Things are never this easy though. Jeremy and Nick don’t believe it can be that easy for the others to try to vote Denise out. The paranoia is real right now, because for once, Jeremy is actually safe.
Ben is Finally Targeted
Ben has decided he wants to make an ass out of himself. He decides he’s going to pit Jeremy and Michele against one another. He tells Jeremy to get the 50/50 back from Michele in order to prove trust to their alliance. This doesn’t make sense considering the target is Denise. He then goes to Michele and tells her that Jeremy is going to ask for her 50/50 advantage. Ben is just being extra at this point. She promises that she won’t give it up. Of course, Jeremy and Michele compare notes and realize that Ben is trying to play them so they decide it’s time to finally blindside Ben. YES FUCK YES!
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Jeremy and Nick then pitch voting Ben out to Tony who lies and says he’s down. Seemingly seconds later, Nick and Tony backstab Jeremy and decide that they will split the vote between Jeremy and Michele. Sarah is me and realizes the common denominator here: Nick. Don’t trust Nick. There’s enough votes for him to flip on them while they try to split the vote. Nick realizes that the Ben vs Jeremy showdown is finally going to climax tonight and that he has the power to control who wins. Please send Ben home!!
A Million Dollar Coin Toss
Jeff opens up tearing into Michele about her poor performance in the challenge. That was a dick move, Jeff. Jeremy says the game is personal, but that you have to find a middle-ground. You can’t treat people like game bots, but you also can’t play completely with your heart. Everyone starts talking about the PTSD-like symptoms they’ve had after leaving the game and not being able to trust people. It’s obvious how much of a toll this takes on people. Sarah calls out Michele’s 50/50 coin and how it has created fear against her and Jeremy. Michele admits that it has to be played tonight so expect it to be used.
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Jeff remarks on how strangely calm tonight’s tribal council is considering the past tribals. It’s time to vote. Denise votes Michele. Jeremy votes Ben. Tony votes Jeremy. I think it’s honestly going to come down to the 50/50 toss and Nick’s vote! Michele decides to play her 50/50 advantage on herself! This drama is kind of ridiculous. She flips the coin and lands on SAFE meaning no votes cast against her will count! She screams!! Jeff reads the votes: Michele, Michele, Ben, Jeremy, Ben, Jeremy and the next person voted out is Jeremy!
Jersey Girl on the Outs
Nick checks in on Michele, and she immediately rips into him, telling him exactly what Tony just told us: that Michele’s next and Nick is after her. She says the obvious that Nick’s not going to get to the end with the crew he just aligned with. Michele says that they haven’t seen the sassy girl from Jersey yet, but they’re about to see her. It’s nice to see some FIRE in her spirit. Michele says that she’s hit the peak of her anger in the game and that she’s the only one who’s willing to throw shit at the wall considering she has nothing to lose.
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She chats with Sarah and tells her that there’s some people you just can’t beat in the game such as Tony. Michele says that Tony is the easier person to vote off, because no one will beat him at the end. Sarah goes to her alliance and warns them that Michele has no allegiance to anyone and is targeting Tony. Tony says that he’s been on the inside of every vote while Michele has been completely on the outside and doesn’t deserve to be in the “superbowl of Survivor”.
The Queen of Extinction
Jeremy hates the Edge of Extinction. Everyone is starving. Yul is so fucking hot. He reads a clue, and everyone starts SPRINTING! This is so hilarious! Everyone is looking for a “throne of stone”. Natalie is such a fucking bad ass bitch OMG! Give her the 2 million now. Tyson says that he’s just watching her as the Queen of Extinction. She’s been out there the longest and is never giving up. I love her so much. She rolls her eyes as she admits that she decided to share it with the group, because they’re all miserable together.
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Natalie has won another advantage that she can sell to someone else, and she chooses Nick. It’s a secret advantage that he can use to play against someone in the next immunity challenge. Natalie charges him 8 fire tokens, but he only has 6. He decides to reach out to Michele. Before Nick can even describe the advantage, she agrees to give them to Nick. While she’s not impressed by the actual advantage, she says that she has nowhere else to go. They decide to use it in a way that will cause the most chaos.
The Domino Effect
We get to the immunity challenge which is very similar to stacking dominoes through a trippy obstacle course. He announces that Ben has been disadvantaged. Nick hopes this will cause Ben turmoil in his head and lose his cool. Ben is already failing miserably at the challenge. Michele, Tony and Sarah are in the lead in that order, but Michele drops one! However, she picks it back up and then wins immunity! WOW JERSEY GIRL PULLED THROUGH! She gives us a cute victory dance and tells Jeff how no one clapped for her.
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Now that Michele has won immunity, shit is about to get real. As much as I dislike Ben, I kind of want Nick to go home, because he’s also been annoying these last few episodes. Denise out of nowhere tells everyone that she knows she’s a target, so she’ll give up her tokens in order to buy more rice for everyone. However, this is just a ploy to keep Michele and Nick from fighting too hard in the game. Denise is banking on herself, Tony, Sarah and Ben sticking to their final 4 alliance.
Time to Slay The Queen Slayer?!
Incredulous to the idea that he’s actually got a majority of votes coming his way just like Michele predicted, Nick boasts that today is the BEST day for him yet! Such an oblivious idiot this one. He says everything is working according to plan with Ben losing and Michele winning. He’s going to wish that Michele didn’t win the immunity challenge. Everything Nick and Ben does annoys me this season. Ben convinces Michele and Nick that Denise is actually the target.
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Tony is now reopening the sky spy-shack and just in time! Denise has gone to Ben and Sarah and said that she wants to go to the end with them instead of Tony. Tony says if you don’t want him in the finals, then you gotta go. He convinces Michele and Nick to switch their votes from Ben to Denise. Sarah and Tony debate on whether it should be Nick or Denise. If you’re going to take a shot at Tony, you better not miss, Queen Slayer. We’re left thinking that Sarah wants Nick and Tony wants Denise. They are the swing votes.
Endure But Let Go
Michele says she needed immunity today like Jeff needs a blue button down and khakis. HA! Ben is upset about the disadvantage being played against him and wonders who played it against him. Michele says that getting fire tokens after tribal council has really helped her to feel better especially after being blindsided so many times. Ben says he’s scared about who’s coming back and how they can impact the game.
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Denise plays up the strategy she deployed earlier about being okay with leaving. She may be faking this strategy, but she may ironically get blindsided. She says that she’s sticking to her new mantra of “endure but let go”. The jury wonders if she’s faking it or not. She says she’s not going to scramble anymore. Jeff basically says she’s the easy vote tonight. Jeff reads the votes: Nick, Denise, Denise, Nick, Nick and Nick is totally blindsided. He deserved that. Michele warned him. He shouldn’t have voted out Jeremy when he was so obviously on the outside of Tony/Sarah/Ben!
Preparing For the Final Days
Everyone is congratulating each other on it being the last day on the Edge of Extinction. Amber says she hates this place but also will miss it. She cries about missing the beautiful sense of peace she gets from being here. The edge has forced her to take a break while at home she’s go-go-go. She’s going to miss the simplicity of the Edge, because you don’t get to do that at home. Very touching monologue from Amber! Everyone gives Natalie and Amber big props for making it to the end from the very beginning.
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Preparation for the battle back challenge begins. Those who have fire tokens are obviously spending them on idols and advantages in the challenge. Natalie tells us how she’s been grinding for 32 days on Extinction. She has a massive 14 tokens! Fuck! She bought 3 advantages, peanut butter and a hidden immunity idol. She then bought a second idol with her EXCESS tokens and gifted Tyson an idol in case he gets back into the game. Tyson cries, because he’s never been shown that generosity after playing the game 4 times. None of us deserve Natalie, a true Survivor warrior princess.
Season Recap!
We get a montage about the game thus far! Old school pro players like Sandra, Parvati and Rob “using old tricks” but not being able to succeed. We see them all getting picked off. Fire tokens are explained and how they have impacted the game. I actually have loved the fire token twist, but what about you? We revisit the biggest family reward challenge. We then see all the crazy blindsides and twists that have been played.
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Tony wants to sit in Sandra’s throne and be crowned the “King of Survivor” and to be honest, I’m kind of rooting for him too. What are your thoughts leading into the Survivor finale?! How have you enjoyed this season in general? Let’s discuss all the things in the comment section below! If you like what I do here on the site, be sure to support me in my other ventures elsewhere on the internet! Please check out my blog and let me know what you think!
Hey Cho! I, too, am a Natalie fan and I do NOT want Tony to win. Or Ben or Sarah. I would rather see Denise, Michelle or Natalie. Denise deserves it for slaying the Queen but Natalie more for being the beast that she is. Michelle is a Jersey girl and that is why I am rooting for her. I will root for whatever extinction player gets in. I like an underdog.
I’m with you, I really want Natalie to get back in, she’s so good at the challenges so I’m hoping. Denise definitely deserves to be in the finals but she’s got a huge target on her for dethroning Sandra with her own idol no less.
I’m still trying to figure out how they are going to have the challenge to get back in and then have enough time to go from 6 to 3 and then have jury questions and then announce the winner and then have a reunion all in three hours!?!
idk how they’re going to fit all this excitement into TWO hours. Remember the reunion itself is one hour. It’s going to be an exciting trip. That’s for sure!
It was a fantastic 3 hours finale show with NO reunion! I was cheering so loudly at every challenge it sounded like a sports bar at my place. Even my 2 year old was copying me and cheering. It was awesome. I cried, laughed, and I am SO happy with the winner! I am excited for your recap! I wonder if Sia is giving an award this year. Maybe not since it was all stars 🤷🏼♀️.
Natalie has just been so amazing. I want to see her back in the game. I honestly could see myself being happy with anyone winning except for Ben. While I think a case could be made for why Michele shouldn’t win, I like her enough to be happy for her success. I just really can’t stand Ben.
Out of the EoE, I could really only see myself being happy if Natalie or Rob came back and won.
Uuuggghhh, why did she gift an idol to Tyson?
My guess is that Natalie was trying to buy a jury vote in case she gets back into the game and can make it to the final three. If it was about friendship, she would have given it to Jeremy, they’re really close irl. She’s one of his kids godmother. If it’s about the jury votes, she already has Jeremy’s.
Ok I literally copied what you already said! LOL Thanks Angie!!
Hey Cho 👋
GMTA!
That’s exactly what she did!
Probably because they’ve grown closer to one another over the course of being on EoE. Also, it could be jury management on her end. I would have thought she’d gift it to Jeremy since I think they’re close irl.
She couldn’t do anything else with her excess tokens so I think that was a brilliant move by Natalie. Tyson has been around a long time & made a lot of friends with Survivors, so if Natalie gets back in the game Tyson can really help her with the jury vote.
Most people on the EW recap will be incredibly mad if someone from EOE wins.
Does everyone else feel that way?
I would not have a problem with Natalie winning.
I know a lot of people hate Tony, but he cracks me up and I wouldn’t mind if he won.
I was not happy that Jeremy went home. Wish it was Ben instead.
I didn’t like how Denise acted like she was fine with going home. Why didn’t she just say F it, I’m buying rice for all of us. It was the last time they could use the tokens….She didn’t need to do what she did. At least she didn’t get voted out.
There’s been a lot of negative feedback from people who hate the EoE twist in general. People really didn’t like Chris winning but I LOVED him winning that season. Just wish they showed more of people on EoE.
I would LOVE to see Tony win this game. He has dominated and continues to dominate. His partner Sarah has been pretty underrated. Other than the sophie blindside, her social game has kept her from being a target when she should have been.
Yeah, Denise’s move was really stupid and MADE her a target when the vote was actually supposed to be split between Ben and Nick. Her scheming against Tony didn’t help.
I would be disappointed if someone from EoE won this season. When you’re playing with all champions it’s a totally different game & you always have to be mentally sharp. So those people still in the game had to work extremely hard to not get voted out.
I started this season hoping Sarah would win, and then it was between her or Tony, and sometimes Denise. I just don’t want Michelle, Ben or the EoE person.
Cho – great recap, as always! This season has been so much fun to watch! I would love to see a Natalie win! Agree with Navymommy that Denise or Michele deserve it too. Denise for her big moves. Michele for proving her own confidence. She’s a great player…she just isn’t as arrogant as many of the others. I see her humility as being part of her game and it has worked so far. Any way it goes I love this season more than all others, and I think the fire tokens twist has a lot to do with it. Just adds another gameplay strand in the helix of Survivor!!
Thanks Kiki! appreciate you taking the time to check out my recap and comment. That means so much to me. I pretty much agree with all your points. Some of my friends on discord hate the fire token twist but I think it’s been a fantastic element that makes you think about the game both short term and long term. It’s also a testament to your relationships.
Michele has gotten so many tokens BECAUSE she’s had so many allies who trust her and want to see her do well. Despite the fact that her allies have been voted out, what does that say about her social game??? Really good things I think.
Still recovering from my two favorites (kim and sophie) being booted simultaneously! Ill be happy to see any of them win (maybe minus Ben).
I hope Michele feels redemption no matter the outcome because she really played a great game, having to play it consistently from the bottom, receiving everyone’s fire tokens, and even being responsible for Ethan’s blindside (love Ethan tho!).
Usually I can always guess who is going home at tribals but this season the editing is blindsiding us!
I have no idea how they can ever top this season!
I totally agree with you. Michele proved that she has what it takes to make an impact on the game. She may have played from the bottom, but like you point out, she DID make moves and she did have a good enough social game where I think she’s received the MOST fire tokens from other players. That in and of itself is something worth noting on a resume!
I’m loving this season so much. Will definitely rewatch it years from now.
Why do I feel like this ending is rushed? I love this show so much I want it to last longer and I feel like they are rushing it to put the battle back into the finale episode-lots of editing for sure.
Was super bummed to see Jeremy voted out. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the token economy twist. I’m rooting for Natalie to get back in and win. She is a badass beast and they should just give her the check now! I was surprised she bought an idol for Tyson. I’ll be rooting for whoever gets back in because EoE seems even more brutal than the regular game!
Why and how the hell is Ben still in the game? I can’t stand him. I will be pissed if either he or Tony win the 2mil. My girl Denise lost me when she turned on Jeremy and really lost me with her latest stupid and unnecessary farce. She’s lucky she didn’t actually get voted out. She will always be the queen slayer though!
While Nick was playing both sides and deserved to be voted off, I feel like Tony has played both sides as well. Just because he’s entertaining doesn’t mean he deserves a win in my book. I was cracking up at the conversation between Jeremy and Tony who thinks a week is five days. Lol
I’m also rooting for Michelle. I love an underdog and she has really been playing alone and from the bottom which is more difficult than the paths others have had. Plus, her social game is top notch as exemplified by her numerous tokens which has already been pointed out.
Counting the days until the finale but still feel like we’re getting cheated a bit with all of that stuff crammed into two hours next week. Could they not give us one extra episode/hour? Looking forward to seeing all the hot guys all cleaned up! Am curious how the reunion is going to be done given the current state of affairs and am guessing it’s going to be some sort of remote thing if not a pre-recorded thing. Kind of a bummer ending for such an epic season. I also wonder if The Quitter will make an appearance? Love this show and am also looking forward to what next season is going to be. I don’t know how they can top this one!
Thanks for all of your recaps, Cho. I hope you enjoyed being unplugged for a bit. You deserve it! Appreciate all you and Tamara do! I don’t know how I’m going to cope once this show is over. It’s like the only thing that gives me joy these days, lol. I hope y’all will have a ranting/crying forum for after the finale!
I thought I posted the following when I put the post up, but I guess I didn’t…
I’m going to make some notes here because I can’t remember one hour of the game let alone two by the time I get Cho’s recap up. I can’t believe that Denise’s name is not coming up at all in this next elimination. She’s playing a great game. Now that I typed that she will probably go. And just like that, after Nick wins they want my girl out. But hopefully, Ben can save her. Tony is such a blabber mouth.
We didn’t even have the EOE for the first hour, did we? That’s interesting. GO NATALIE GO! The Queen of Extinction.
God I love this show. I also love Tony and his spy nest. Even if it is going to put Denise out. Why is no one considering that Rob will most likely come back. Because, production. These people don’t seem to take into consideration who is coming back and how that effects them. Aw Natalie bought Tyson an idol. I love her. It really has been the best season of the history of Survivor. Sadly, I predict a Rob win. He doesn’t deserve to.
Wait why is there no hidden immunity idol, or even anyone looking for it for this challenge? YAY! Denise lives another day!
And now for today’s thoughts. I love Rob, don’t get me wrong but I will be pissed if he wins. I didn’t like his game play this season. I want Natalie or Denise or maybe Tyson for the win. Or Ethan.
Cho- Great recap! I think if Tony and Sarah make it to the final three the jury may think that Sara was aligned with Tony but only followed his lead. I don’t think that because she dug her heels in and stood her ground when she disagreed with him . Tony could possibly spin it that he was the mastermind between the two of them. I hope if Natalie makes the final three she brings up the fact that she was the main one that was able to give advantages and disadvantages to those still in the game. She has been a beast since day one . I’m hoping that the those on the jury remember that she played the game the entire time. Some may not agree but I think on EoE she definitely outlasted; outwitted and outplayed the others with Rob nipping at her heels.
My problem with EoE is that EVERYONE IS STILL HERE. I’ve missed the last 8-10 seasons. I STILL DON’T KNOW HALF THESE PEOPLE. I only really started watching since March 14 when I went into quarantine with my parents. They are no help though, because they don’t remember jack shit, let alone names.
I’ve ALWAYS relied on the fact that half way through the typical season, the crowd gets thinned enough where I remember names, personalities, and alliances. I’m still confused a lot. I need a flow chart. LOL.
I will forever and always be Team Rob and therefore also Team Amber. (A month ago or so Rob tweeted a short video of them in quarantine, in his back yard with his girls and a fire pit. It was sweet… as he said, the answer to if they start their bonfires with a machete and flint, the answer is yes! His daughter did it! If anyone is a second generation Survivor player… it will be one of their girls.
But if Natalie makes a comeback and wins? I’ll be happy.. SHE’S A BEAST (in a great way).
Tony annoys and delights, so maybe him on the regular island.
IMO – Having Natalie win after coming back from the EOE would be great as she has earned it being on EOE so long, playing the game excellently while there, and raking in the benefits. That takes game play! Some of the players still in it haven’t done a quarter of what Natalie has accomplished.
My favorite players are all on the EOE. They look drained, skinny, exhausted, it seems like very rough living for them.
As far as the people who are still in the game. I think Tony is playing the best game. He’s such a liar… lol
I think Natalie might win the battle back, if she does, I think she will win. She has the jury votes, maybe not against Denise, but I think Denise is going to be voted out. Tony’s scared of her and it seems whoever Tony wants out, goes. I was surprised she stayed this episode, but seems like Tony has a plan to get her out next. Hope she wins immunity.