Survivor: Island of the Idols – “Assume Nothing”

For 38 seasons of Survivor, we always (minus one or two episodes), begin with Jeff saying, “previously on Survivor…”. This was cut, entirely. No recap of last week, no sentence, nothing. Instead, just a couple flash FORWARDS to tonight’s episode, previewing what’s about to come. I’m not too fond of this start, at least right now. Anywho, Lairo returns from Tribal Council after blindsiding Ronnie in the very first vote of the season. Vince is shocked his name was brought up and voted for, and he’s angry about it. Aaron tells the tribe he would have voted Ronnie if he was told that’s where the majority is going. But is still hesitant to trust anyone on the tribe now that they played against him. Missy however is confident in her girls alliance, and in her connection with Aaron, hoping he can still be an asset to her. Aaron takes the blindside so tough, like man you’re a fan you KNOW that this happens. Everyone that plays this game should know that when you return to camp from a blindside, you have to act cool, calm, and collected. Crying and whining and gonna get you nowhere.

In the morning on Vokai, Noura is complaining that other tribe members aren’t pulling their weight, and she’s pretty aggressive about it in front of everyone and Molly is the first to tell us viewers how annoying it is. She accurately says that in Survivor, you need to bite your tongue, and Noura clearly didn’t get the memo. Noura than proceeds to complain about Molly personally and how she’s the ‘popular’ girl in high school that no one likes in the real world. She has a heart-to-heart with Jason, who tells her to remain calm at camp. He does reveal to us that Noura’s antics push her further up the target board than he is, but equally is guilty because she helped save him early on when the tribe was after him. Noura identifies Molly, Jamal and Jack as the power trio, declaring a ‘revenge of the nerds’ strategy to overthrow the royal party and bring the underdogs and misfits back to the top.

Day 5 on Vokai, and Noura is leading a yoga session on the beach, much to the dismay or delight of the tribe. During the session, a boat arrives on the beach, where the tribe is passed a note saying Kellee is the next person to visit the Island of the Idols, returning to camp before the day is finished. She’s a little freaked out about, but Jason gives her some parting advice in, “thinking outside the box” and “assume nothing”. Yeah, my pre-season winner pick knows how to talk. She takes the words on board, and heads off to see what awaits. As she arrives, Rob and Sandra greet her leaving her jaw dropping to the floor. They welcome her and read her the oath of the idols, and they quiz her on her camp life, real life, personal details and more. Sandra and Rob also go on and on about themselves and Kellee is questioning what the hell the point of this is. She appears to be zoning out, but Rob then announces that her test has already begun, and to earn a hidden immunity idol good for two Tribal Councils, she must answer four of five questions correctly about Rob and Sandra, testing her ability to listen and make personal relationships with her tribe mates. She’s hesitant because of the risk in losing her vote if she can’t answer four. Rob offers to sweeten the deal (YES!), she only has to get three of five questions correct, and the idol upgrades for her next three Tribal Councils. She agrees to play, and after correctly telling the two Sandra’s husband served in the army, she has two daughters, and one of her dog’s name is ‘Papa’, Kellee secures an idol and breaks down in tears for making the achievement.

Lauren, Kellee, and Janet discuss flipping the split vote plan into voting out Molly for being a powerful and manipulative player. Lauren leads this charge, and identifies the three as an obvious trio (despite Jamal believing otherwise) with Molly being the queen between herself, the king (Jamal), and the jack (Jack, lol). Jason and Noura sense these changing winds and are a little worried it might be too good to be true, but are hopeful everyone stays on board to blindside the three. Tommy’s extremely cautious, because of his alliance with Jack and Jamal. He doesn’t wanna lose his two closest allies, and talk with Kellee about exactly where they go in making a move and taking out Molly, or going with the easy vote and eliminate either Jason or Noura.

At Tribal Council, Jason tells Jeff everyone got along on Day 1 except for him. He explains that it’s all paranoia, with everyone believing he was searching for an idol (but he was). Kellee says it’s a matter of group culture, to work together on the shelter and not split off and go the separate ways. Jason empties his bag to prove there’s no idol, and Molly says she takes offence at Jason’s statement that he’s been left out of the group. Noura talks 100 miles a minute, to the tribe (not Jeff), about a million things about her life and game magnification, yada yada yada. She’s hilarious. Jason calls Jamal out for not bringing his bag to Tribal, saying the speed he’s playing at is much slower to Jamal’s. Cue an, “uh-oh”, by Boston Rob in the spy bunker with Sandra. The tribe then heads off to vote, so will it be blindside or bye-bye Jason/Noura?

CHELSEA WALKER, I mean obviously. She found a frickin idol without even purposefully looking for it! She was in the hero role on the ladder during the Challenge, and started the bloody fire when Elizabeth was literally taught by Boston Rob how to do so. She’s just on fire and considering Lairo didn’t receive much air time in the episode, she was the stand out of the tribe and I’m loving what she’s putting out there. She really wants to be here, that’s evident, and I get Kelley Wentworth vibes so here’s hoping it’s the Cambodia Kelley that made it to Day 38 and not the San Juan Del Sur that got cut pre-merge. She’s awesome!

TOMMY SHEEHAN, probably my favourite guy in the cast. He’s still in a prime position and the way he talks is so captivating. He’s so well-spoken that I think he can charm anyone to make it to the end. I actually get good Sole Survivor vibes from him so I hope I’m right and predicted it pretty early on (sorry Jason). If he can manage to keep Jack and Jamal tight with him, there’s no questioning Tommy’s ability to make the merge. If he keeps playing the way he is I think he’ll fly under the radar enough to outlast some threats and the right group might just see him going very, very far. This was a great episode for Tommy.

KELLEE KIM, another very perceptive and strategic player. The idol-hair thing, brilliant. She did so well keeping that target off her back. But the idol itself is only good for so long so I hope if she never needs to play it, she keeps it as a great fake idol stunt to fool someone into thinking they have one. This will be so advantageous, and off the back of a great episode and decision making for the vote, Kellee is awesome and I’m hoping she continues to have such a good run in the game and goes pretty deep!

JASON LINDEN, he may have missed out last week but the boy is here! I see a lot of qualities of myself in Jason, albeit I probably wouldn’t go idol hunting Day 1. But man this guy knows what to say, who to say it to, and when to say it. Just some great advice coming out of Jason and I think he could be a real dark horse to make it to the end and win. Between him and Noura, I definitely think they’ll keep Jason around longer so congrats buddy on working your way in (if I’m right). Maybe he can find an idol soon and shake some things up, I see potential in him. Let’s bring it home!

ELAINE STOTT, purely based on the fact no one else stood out to me too much this episode (Lauren and Missy really close). Elaine had a solid start in the premiere and while we saw nothing from her this episode, I think she remains in a good position and is headed in the right direction. If she’s still forming those relationships and not being too analysed as a threat for it, Elaine’s gonna be fine for now. Here’s hoping next week is a larger edit for her and a ticket to episode four. Go Elaine!