The Mad Hatter strikes… and almost loses a vote in the process.
I’m a lucky guy.
I get to watch TV and write about TV for a living.
Jeff Probst and the cast of ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS
It’s pretty awesome.
I can just shrug my shoulders, sigh, and say “Sorry, hon.
It’s for work.”
The Coco tribe of ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS
And the best part about it is… it’s true!
IT’S THE ULTIMATE GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD!
How do you think I got by watching six SIX!
The Vesi tribe of ‘Survivor’ 43.Robert Voets/CBS
seasons ofTemptation Islandwithout being divorced?
Like, did Danny McCrayreallykeep givingshout-outs to his wife Kiki every week onThe Challengeor did I just dream that?
Or take this week ofSurvivor 43. ass tattoo, would they?
Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS
We can only hope Cody’s right butt cheek becomes a season-long thing like Danny’s spousal shout-outs.
Hell, you’re free to even give Cody’s ass its own Ponderosa episode if you want.
Goin' Fishing (in Bags)
Great.
Justine Brennan on ‘Survivor’ 43.Robert Voets/CBS
And then he went from talking about pooping his pants to looking like hepeedhis pants.
Just a thought.)
C’mon, I could not have been alone in that.
The table was all set for him to lose that thing and then… nothing.
Zilch.Survivorproducers set up all the pins but then refused to knock them down.
While Gabler was out there NOT losing the Hawaiian sling, the tribe started wondering about his immunity idol.
Was it good forthefirst two Tribal Councils orhisfirst two Tribal Councils?
And I think that is a mistake.
I was shocked to see how many people actually agreed with me.
Think of this Gabler example that just went down.
The game and show have changed, and I think the rules should as well.
Same thing on copying puzzles at challenges.
But they also can be really powerful and more importantly really mean something to someone out there watching.
Which I hope this segment did this week.
And I look forward to him sharing more of it on the show.
Livin' La Vesi Loca
Can we talk about how into the Vesi tribe I am?
I’m into the fact that Justine is deathly afraid of spiders.
(NOTE: I don’t know what I’m saying.)
I’m just into this tribe!
I find their dynamic fascinating and I still can’t quite figure Cody out.
Is this guy a nutjob?
A rock solid partner?
I have no idea!
Like, how did he and Nneka become so close?
That really intrigues me.
They seem like polar opposites, and I’m not talking about skin color.
And am I the only one that really, really wants Jesse and Dwight to work together?
Why am I so invested in them as a pair?
Anyway, lots more to come with Vesi, but let’s first get to the challenge.
Snake in the Grass Water
I do something stupid sometimes when I watch challenges.
I really focus on footwear, or the lack thereof.
I proceeded to spend the 10 minutes before the challenge obsessing over whether to go shoes on or off.
It had swimming and it had obstacles.
So what do you do when it comes to footwear?
But then all of Vesi except for Dwight had their shoesoff.
Is that what lost them the challenge?
No, but I just wasted two paragraphs on it anyway because I remain OBSESSED with that decision process.
That thing was heavy.
In between 300 and 400 pounds, I was told.
Anyway, the struggle you saw on your TV watching this was real.
Obviously, Nneka was an issue out there on the course.
The question was: Would it be her undoing in the game?
The Mad Hatter
So, the vote on who would go home on Vesi seemed pretty simple.
Noelle, Justine, and Dwight wanted Nneka gone.
Ah, but nothing is ever simple onSurvivor, now is it?
As a concept, I’m a fan of Beware Advantages.
And I also dig the risk and penalty factor.
So Cody grabbed his super dope palm fronds hat and asked for beads to help bedazzle it.
Did he get them all?
We had to wait until Tribal to find out.
And wouldn’t you know it?
After the money had been lost, another accomplice would yell “Police!”
A super fun addition to the episode.
You have to try new things.
Again, small gripe.
I’m fine with that.
But I wouldn’t do it again.
Let the vote itself be the big reveal.
There, mini-rant over.
Much like Justine’s game.
Like I said, I’m a lucky guy.
And you’re lucky too!
