So much for Mark Burnett's pact with the devil. This season's hidden immunity idol twist had the potential to completely shake up the game. Instead, it fell victim to a confluence of two unlikely circumstances: one player dominating all the immunity challenges, and that same player finding the idol. Terry never needed to use it, and it would have been silly for him to give it up. So the game proceeded pretty much as it usually does. The players talked and worried about the idol, but it never truly affected any gameplay-- what a disappointment! It's hardly Burnett's fault. They structured it right: the person who went to Exile Island was often the one most in danger of getting voted out. But once Terry found the idol, that no longer mattered.
I'm betting Cirie loses the fire-building challenge, and Danielle and Terry go to the finals. I'll be extremely disappointed with the jury if Terry doesn't win under that scenario. Say whatever you want about the guy, but he dominated the challenges and survived despite having a massive target on his forehead. To not give him props for that-- and to reward Danielle instead, who really did nothing but fly low-- smacks of sour grapes. Cirie at least played the game well. Danielle just went along for the ride.
Posted by Peter at May 12, 2006 10:26 AMRemember that Terry has no more chances to use the immunity idol. If he loses one of the final challenges, that target is going to look a lot bigger.
Posted by: Matt J. on May 12, 2006 01:18 PMI'm leaning the other way - I think it's Cirie who wins the fire bulding challenge. I'd love to see Danielle make it (we've got both Danielle and Aras in our Survivor pool) but there was something in the previews that strongly suggested to me that it's Cirie.
Posted by: JessicaL on May 12, 2006 11:31 PMLOL. By "strongly suggested" do you mean the actual shot from next week's show where Cirie's fire is a-blazin' and Danielle's is barely going?
Of course, that could be very tricky editing.
I must say, I think Terry could have absolutely given up the idol knowing that Aras and Cirie would never take the chance casting their votes for him.
And even if it backfired - amazingly unlikely - it would still be a tie, and doesn't Terry think he can beat Cirie in a fire challange?
Piffle and pooh on him. No fun.
I agree that Terry deserves some props for dominating, but in the last few shows, he's dropped a little each time in my book. Well, unless he's actually "playing" all of us, hoping that people might consider taking him to the final two 'cause he's such a pill.
The game isn't called Dominator. He may be Outplaying (in the challenges), but he's not Outplaying in the rest of the game... and he's certainly not Outwitting.
(and while he's Outlasted the jury et al, so have the other 3).
Posted by: Arnott on May 13, 2006 01:56 AM