LJ may also just have been making a calculated gamble, in that if he HAD to play his idol tonight, he's probably already lost anyway. If he doesn't, then he's got a good path to play a long time.

At this very moment in the game, the biggest alliance is only four deep, and it's just begun (LJ, Jefra, Tony, Trish). So very interesting.

Agreed at least in terms of this stage of the game. The farther you get in the game, the more eliminating challenge prowess matters, since they need to win fewer challenges to get the end.

Lazy seems to be Trish's go-to insult. I'm guessing she's a camp busy-body and no one can live up to her standard.

Then you alienate two people that you force to go against each other, rather than just one.

@avclub-edd6825356540bb8c277cb0a4a18fe8c:disqus has it. The Jeff stuff was shot after the fact. They may have even known as they ran the challenge that they'd only ever show three runs. But I find it really hard to believe that they only had three runs, yet didn't force everyone to participate.

And if that happened, Tasha and Kass are now the minority in whatever tribe they wound up on. Unless J'Tia grabbing a certain buff caused them to grab a different buff, resulting in one of them winding up with her and losing.

I would allow for that technicality if this were the merging of the Brains into two existing tribes. But it wasn't. People swapped sides (ironically, the Brains didn't). Sarah has no former tribemates with her. This was a swap.

Being the fifth boot didn't help. No sense in investing in someone who won't be in a lot of episodes (particularly when he only shows up for one Tribal Council).

Bob was willing to make a move to help win the majority over, as evidenced by giving Randy his fake idol so Sugar could have a laugh.

To be fair, I would've drafted Tony a lot earlier than second-to-last. Ahead of any of the preceding three picks at least.

I think it basically boils down to "I'm not playing for fifth place".

I think Trish is exactly the kind of player who would make a move based on what she wants to do rather than what most makes sense. I think this because she told us that she was that kind of player. Last night in fact.

To be fair, that's a really tall freaking tree. Has to block out a lot of the forest.

In his pre-game interview, LJ made it clear that in his bartending gig, he is not unaware of his effect on older women.

Win your way in, junior. I'll be waiting. (Or not, if Sarah can't work her way out of being the odd one out).

Carrie might not have liked it, but I for one found it refreshing that for once a male competitor was willing to whore himself out to further his game. Too often, that edit is reserved for young women. Go get it, LJ.

Now none of the teams in the real league have two players on the same tribe.

Three in a row too. Ouch.

Ehn, if it wasn't then, it was going to be soon after the merge. A double-tribal did not cost Willard his chance at winning Survivor.