1) Murlonio: Zapatera, no more. Ometepe, no more. Here comes… … … Murlonio! The “merge tribe” in which it means nothing but a crazy joke made by Boston Rob.
“Murlonio doesn’t mean anything. It’s just an inside joke between Amber and I. She has a bunch of stuffed animals and Murlonio is like the ring leader.”
Either you like or dislike the name, deal with it. It’s already too late for a change. Boston Rob simply gave a crazy suggestion and everyone took it like it’s the whole truth. Do not blame Boston Rob. That’s not fair. He’s only enjoying his time and getting in everyone’s nerves. I hated it when he outnumbered Rob Cesternino in All-Stars. I was even against him in Heroes vs. Villains when he’s gunning for Russel.
Now, for his the fourth appearance in the show, Rob still got what it takes to be the sole survivor. In fact, this is certainly his best and THE CRAZIEST season. His strategic game constantly changes in every season he’s in and that clearly makes him an interesting/entertaining person to watch.
2) It’s Just A Game: Matt’s biggest mistake was his lack of ability to separate religion and the game. I am a Christian too and I respect Matt’s beliefs. I have nothing to complain about being him as nice and honest. It is just that Matt was out of the line. He appears to be taking the game so seriously and as a result, he tends to be consumed by his guilt and confusion.
As the first ever survivor who won six duels in a row, Matt was in the most powerful position to destroy Boston Rob’s empire. The right time has come. However, he wasted all his chances. He turned himself into wishy-washy Chase in season 21. First, he turned down Mike’s offer to oust Grant. Second, he figuratively threw Andrea under the bus. Third, he confessed to Rob about his decision to switch.
Look the bigger picture and you’ll realize it’s Matt’s fault why he got blindsided for the second time. Someone gave him a one-way ticket to Redemption Island and Matt unconsciously accepted it. To top it all, he got blindsided by the same person in episode two.
Probst‘s Advice: “…sharing e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g is not always the right choice.”
3) Superman vs. Wonderwoman: As the youngest survivor in history, who would imagine Natalie knocked out the fittest alpha male of the season? No one I assume. Natalie also surprised me. I never expected her to ace a challenge and no one should forget that it’s a showdown against Mike. The challenge was all about focus, balance and consistency. Natalie has not failed to accomplish it all. Her professional experience in dancing certainly helped her balance three small balls rolling on a wooden disk while she’s standing on a small log.
Mike could have won. He’s in need of the necklace more than Natalie. Should he win the challenge, there’s no need of using Ralph’s hidden idol. The idol was used for nothing and did not benefit anyone.
4) Episode Rating: 10 of 10 stars. This is the type of episode I will remember. Various mistakes made and only one person took the control of the situation. I’m sure you know who he is.
Photo courtesy of: CBS
I AM SURVIVORDEAN 
Crazy episode. I started cracking up when Matts name started being read. I don’t understand why Zapatera was going to try and get Grant instead of Rob though. Nobody knows he has the idol so why go for second in command? You can see these guys are struggling with the strategic park of the game. Especially when Matt was telling Andrea the plan to get rid of the Ometepe tribe. He said we’ll vote out Steve and then Phillip and then Ometepe will think they’re safe. If they got rid of Phillip Rob would obviously know something was up.
I don’t think I see a way Rob doesn’t get to the final three unless Zapatera players start winning immunity, but Rob and Grant are great at challenges. And looks like Natalie will be a strong competitor if any more balance games or even endurance challenges appear.
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Zapatera voted for Grant because they somewhat feel Rob is in the possession of the hidden idol. They also knew without Grant, Rob will immediately lose the ability to control the group. This was a successful plan as if only Matt followed what Mike requested him to do.
In other words, I can conclude Matt also destroyed Zapatera’s chances. I don’t know if who he can trust when he’ll be back around the camp. Matt lose his Ometepe tribe. Even Andrea decided to leave him and sided with Boston Rob.
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Thanks Dean for the invite dude I love and thoroughly enjoy your blog!!! You are so right about Matt placing Christianity before the game. The way I saw it was…God (were he to be advising) would give clear consistent direction and in Matt’s case 6 separate people gave him just that. It’s nothing wrong in making a choice that will help you go farther as Rob would just as much do to you (which we saw and effectively) as you could do to him. In one fell swoop he a; lost possible ties with people who could be useful at a later date by voting Steve. b: lost Andrea and c: put yourself into an even bigger bind. As now it is everyone vs Matt.
Given the edit I have a sinking feeling we will see Matt triumph over and over and that eventually we may see a latter showdown vs Rob. I am calling it my David vs Goliath scenario. I doubt CBS would give a golden and symbolic edit to Matt as they have if there were not a bigger storyline being approached. As in David and Goliath ..Matt has turned his chances into a huge obstacle and Rob already game wise is a mega Goliath enough. If it comes down to that I do wanna root for Matt as he would have garnered a redemption by then. That’s IF that were to occur.
Rob played everyone like a fiddle. Everyone seems like his minions. The fact that he named the tribe after a personal item of his makes basically the tribe HIS. He is no holds barred THE player to fear yet I think they will allow him to continue that domination. Natalie did a really amazing job in the challenge and u gotta love the crack about “Mike’s balls” lol
GREAT BLOG!
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Thanks for reading my blog Brenda. I was laughing too when Julie whispered “There was a fly in Mike’s ball.” I knew what she mean by that but for viewers, this is awkward and funny to hear.
As for Matt, should he win and dominate in duels, I don’t know if the tribe will still trust him after what he did this episode. The game has nothing to do with religion and he should stop comparing the two.
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It’s Mike
I don’t know if Zapatera is completely done. Rob is a guy who will get rid of anyone at any time. If at any point he decides he wants to sit next to someone like Steve (who hasn’t done anything) or David (who no one of Zapatera seems to like) Rob will be happy to cut the head off of Grant, Natalie or any other Ometepe.
Matts deserved the edit he got because of the six in a row. I doubt he will run the table again the competition is going to be much harder. If Matt does return most likely he’ll be a swing vote again. He’ll be forced to choose a side, but if Matt does return I think the only way he can be safe is by winning like Fabio last season.
Also, I didn’t think anyone on Zapatera was smart enough to think that Rob had the idol that’s why I didn’t understand why they would vote for Grant
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You say no one will trust him, I think the people on Zapatera feel bad for Matt and would gladly take him back especially Julie, Ralph, and Steve
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You might be right. Zapatera can give Matt another chance when he’ll come back but I am sure everything is too late before that can happen. Matt’s decision not to vote for Grant is a huge mistake. It’s just the right time to make big moves and just what the title says, he wasted his chances. It’s hard to fix his own mistakes.
All Matt’s hard work in Redemption Island in the past five episodes became worthless.
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He definitely lost out on his opportunity, but he felt Rob would keep him
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@mcif2485 It’s a wonder if Matt has watched the show before. I expected Matt to be familiar with Rob’s game given the fact he played three times before this season began. Ya’ think?
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Yea you would think so, but has he watched the all-stars season?
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I’ll ask someone if either Matt applied for this season or he was just recruited. If he was only recruited, expect Matt to have not watched a season of the show.
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let me know
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[…] could have happened differently if only Matt voted against Grant in Episode 8. This was the one key moment that could have saved himself, Mike and David, […]
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[…] an important decision to stay longer. Just one decision and he would have been safe. However, he wasted all his chances and allowed his vulnerability to devour him. Boston Rob did not vote him out. It was Matt himself […]
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