A combination of small moments and big laughs make for the most satisfying episode of the season.
So I’ll say it again: LAST GASP!
The tides had to be just right, and it needed a very specific location.
Jeff Probst and the cast of ‘Survivor 44’.CBS
But then… they did it!Last Gasp returned forSurvivor 43… and it was awesome.
At least, it was awesome for us.
I was paranoid that producers would once again retire the best challenge inSurvivorhistory due to that unforeseen result.
The cast of ‘Survivor 44’.CBS
After all, what if it happened again?
you might’t continue running a challenge one that is considered the scariest ever that people keep beating.
DAMN YOU, OWEN & KARLA AND YOUR ABILITY TO FEND OFF HYPOTHERMIA!
Yam Yam Arocho on ‘Survivor 44’.CBS
No way they bring it back, I thought.
They brought Last Gasp back.
And again, it was awesome.
The cast of ‘Survivor 44’.CBS
But, even better than that, we had a completely unexpected result.
At least unexpected to me, because once again, I was wrong.
AsProbstyelled at them to “KEEP DIGGING!”
Carolyn Wiger and Carson Garrett on ‘Survivor 44’.CBS
Becauseof courseI knew who was winning!
How did I know it was Heidi?
Now, why would they show that package this episode?
Danna Massa on ‘Survivor 44’.CBS
No doubt about it.
Yam Yam might as well just bail out now.
Only that isn’t what happened.
Those glorious bastards got me, and they got me good.
I was burned worse thanJohn Cochranin the Caramoan sun.
And I love it.
Alas, Yam Yam emerged unscathed.
As he has pretty much this entire game.
Look, there was nothing crazy here.
NoParvatiorMalcolmwalking up with two idols.
Yes, there was a thrilling challenge.
Yes, there was juicy strategy talk.
Yes, there was an (albeit unnecessary) idol play.
All that was great.
But there was so much more.
Because the stars of this episode were the players themselves.
And we saw sides of them we don’t normally see.
Th interesting part of both the Carolyn swimming and Jaime meditation moments is that they led absolutely nowhere.
There was no game mechanic involved.
There was no ulterior motive to them appearing.
Don’t get me wrong.
But this episode struck a great balance between game play… and just plain play.
Which brings us to Tribal Council.
How great was that?
And there was also spice!
I’ve been begging for Tribals to get a little more confrontational.
And it was refreshing to see some bite, with Carolyn getting upset with Danny and Lauren.
“CAROLYN: “Absolutely.
“PROBST: “You get some sleep, Carolyn, who knows how you’ll see things.
“[Carolyn sits stone-faced staring at the host.
]PROBST: “Are you mad atmenow?
“CAROLYN: “Yes.”
Right up there with Chet and Joel’s “I hit my head back there…
I don’t care… Just instant classic stuff.
Better than his McGregor, that’s for sure.
And did you see how hard it was for Jeff to keep a straight face during that?
He couldn’t do it!
And I don’t blame him.
I couldn’t do it either.
I probably would have responded with a little “Am I clown?”
Or, in more proper new era terminology, full tilt boogie.
That’s an entertaining player!
And he provided the perfect comedic exclamation point to a very entertaining episode.
And we have only two episodes left!
But why rush it?
Because we still have some stuff this week for you to enjoy.
Stuff like anextended version of that meditation scenethat never made it to air.
Stuff like myexit interview with Danny Bronx.
And stuff like Jeff Probst revealing healmost died doing aSurvivorstunt.
(Can you guess which one?)
Enjoy it all, and I’ll be back next week with another scoop of the crispy.
