Survivor Insights 155: Cochran Wins Survivor Caramoan (Episode 14)

There are five random reasons why this finale is interestingly good:

Reason #1: A favorite won again and I’m all pumped that it’s Cochran. I am genuinely rooting for this 25-year-old returnee the moment the ten fans and favorites were revealed four months ago. Truth is; watching Cochran’s overall game was never a disappointment. He learned from his past mistakes. He managed to win the most important immunity challenges (He won 3, the first and the last in which the second one was against Eddie) even if he’s not the fittest guy of the season who could win every challenge that requires strength and agility.

All in all, Cochran proved to himself that “Impossible is nothing” in the game of Survivor should one knows the proper timing to attack and when to get defensive. He also showed the world how an experienced fan of thirteen years could smoothly win a game full of backstabbers, narcissists and physical threats.

Reason #2: What went wrong with Sherri? She made the final three, made a great opening speech in front of the jury but when Erik asked her a question that seems important for her to answer, she seemingly acted like a know-it-all.

With all seriousness, Watching this scene felt like a dwarf collided with a banshee. It was seriously an awkward moment and until now, as I am writing this post, I find it hard to believe a successful businesswoman who owned multiple franchises in real life would have the nerve to behave like she didn’t want the money.

Reason #3: Eddie stepped up and out of nowhere, for the first time in 14 episodes, this firefighter/EMT convincingly knew he can win the game. I just don’t understand why he didn’t use all what he has to win the South-Pacific-rewind reward challenge. He was close, so close and should he win the challenge – it would be interesting to see if Cochran would still win the final immunity challenge.

Reason #4: I adored Dawn’s courage. Even if Brenda ruthlessly ordered her to remove her retainers, Dawn still gave in. Dawn didn’t allow her insecurities to embrace her and bravely followed Brenda’s order even if it means humiliating herself in front of million viewers around the world. Somehow, on the deeper side of things, Dawn didn’t humiliate herself. She proved to everyone that a forty-two woman with six adopted kids must be fearless.

Another realization is: All of us has physical insecurities and we regularly think the world will start criticizing us once they see our imperfection. But, once we learn how to face these insecurities and just forgetting what these fault-finder people will say, there are still people who will appreciate the imperfection in us.

With that saying, I can’t understand why Brenda didn’t vote for Dawn. Was Brenda not emotionally connected with what Dawn showed her?

Reason #5: It’s kinda predictable when Cochran voted against Eddie. It means he really feared Eddie for the title. Yet, it’s still the right decision in which Cochran has to do. Cochran voted against Eddie not because he’s a physical threat but he’s a likable person to win.

Should Cochran kept Eddie over Dawn or Sherri, it might be a more interesting final Tribal Council for which I could listen to three people talk, not just a Dawn-Cochran show. This finale is a 9 of 10 stars!

Photo courtesy: CBS

Survivor Insights 154: Caramoan – Malcolm NOT in the Middle

Episode 10: Truth – Malcolm’s decision to give his idol to Eddie and saved one for himself was a smart and one of the greatest moves in history. It’s a less risky strategy compared to that double-idol play made by Parvati in Heroes vs. Villains but it still works.

Though I’m not even convinced Malcolm was thinking long-term. Yes, he played the idols at the right time but it’s a type of move that’s good for one Tribal Council.

The second thing I don’t completely understand was Malcolm and his two amigos (Reynold and Eddie) voted against Phillip. To me, it’s not making sense at all.

Reason #1: Phillip may clearly be viewed as the leader of Stealth R’ Us but edit-wise and on a deeper side of things, whether it’s the truth or not, Phillip was only a follower.

Reason #2: The three amigos could have used Phillip to survive another Tribal Council, right?

Cochran and Andrea were S-R-U’s ring leaders who ran the entire show flawlessly. Their social game was simply to agree with everything he said as long as he’s not switching sides - outplaying Phillip into thinking he’s in control.

For this, if Malcolm wants to win the title, he should have eliminated either one of them as soon as he can. Watching him play the previous season, I highly doubt it that Malcolm didn’t knew Cochran and Andrea were his biggest threats.

It’s also an impossibility to know that Malcolm wasn’t aware he couldn’t play with them and them playing with him.

Episode 11: Malcolm paid the price. He allowed Cochran and Andrea to stay; that’s why, new opportunities were created. Cochran and Andrea grabbed the opportunity, acted on it and even without Plan B, C or D – they voted him off when they needed to.

It’s not entirely a surprise to Malcolm go. He has his chances but wasted them all. First, he failed to stay longer and win the Immunity Challenge that I expected him to win.

Second, he couldn’t find a hidden idol even with a clue, which he bought for $480. This hidden idol was his life in the game.

Overall, this episode is a let down for Malcolm. Total let down. For eliminating the wrong person when he’s in power, Malcolm’s game immediately went south, deeper south and couldn’t recover – that even his closest amigo (Eddie) voted against him during the revote.

EPISODES RATING: 10 of 10

Photo courtesy: CBS

Survivor Insights 153: Caramoan – Blindside After Blindside

3 Reasons Why I Love Episode 8

1) It’s merge time! The game shifted from group to individual and for this, things were getting better. The story of the episode reached its climax when Cochran won the first individual immunity challenge of the season. It’s his first win since he joined the show and this win was even made more memorable as he outplayed two alpha males (Eddie and Malcolm) in back to back rounds.

It seems impossible to believe how things happened but for Cochran, he did the unthinkable. He’s an underdog who managed to swallow all those nasty food like a pill just to win the necklace. It appeared there’s no strategy involved in winning that challenge – it’s pure pride and honor for himself.

But he’s not yet done. Cochran also stirred the camp drama before Tribal Council. He chose to stick with his Stealth R’ Us alliance to oust one of their own (Corinne). He completely understood it’s braver to let the Dominatrix go than allowing her to stay and spread her seed until it grows.

2) Dawn did it again! She stayed fearless when she back stabbed Corinne. She made Corinne believe she was at her side when the truth is, Dawn has other things in her mind. She remained loyal to Cochran by telling him everything she knew. Cochran who also remained loyal to Dawn shared the details with Andrea, who circulated the news to Phillip, Brenda and Erik.

3) It’s not really a good thing to see Malcolm’s social game went south. First, he lost a challenge to an underdog who probably weighed eight times lighter than him. Second, he failed to have the right numbers on his side. The fact he got Eddie, Reynold, Corinne and Michael in his pocket, he could have swallowed his pride and recruited Sherri, instead of voting against her.

Another wrong move made by Malcolm was he felt too confident and allowed Erik to explore other opportunities.

Episode Rating: 9 of 10 stars!

3 Reasons Why I Love Episode 9

1) This was another unpredictable episode with various twists and turns. I got no idea how Andrea turned herself into a seductive strategist who clearly understood how to make an excellent plan when it mattered most. Blindsiding Michael instead of Malcolm or Eddie was certainly one of the smartest moves I saw in history. Andrea went for a safe blindside instead of taking too much risks.

2) A part of Andrea’s plan was a success because of Eddie’s involvement. Eddie was blinded by his lust and it’s a miracle how this lust turned into loyalty that he started to share important information to Andrea. The way the edit went, it appeared Eddie talked to Andrea not because it’s necessary but because he wanted to protect her somehow. Truth is, if not for Eddie’s I-don’t-know-how-to-describe-it strategy, Andrea became the first jury member.

3) Brenda won immunity and it’s really funny she still has no confessionals. She simply won the challenge without her knowing and edit-wise, it’s not a big deal. LMAO

4) Sherri started to rebuild her game by siding with The Specialist. She knew she could handle Phillip just like she handled Shamar. Was this a good long-term strategy? Yes and I’m guessing she’ll be the only fan in the Final Four.

Episode Rating: 10 of 10 stars!

Photos courtesy: CBS