Survivor: Redemption Island - Season Finale Blog Party

The show will be starting in about five minutes here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with major news while sharing some opinions on what I see both here and in comments. Of course, the comments area is where the real party is! Everyone is welcome to join in, the water's fine! Oh. And bring snacks. Snacks are always good.

Remember to bring your drinks for SAM events -- every mention Phillip makes about being a SAM (special agent man), we drink. Even if it's close. I hope everyone has their designated drivers with them! We're into the penultimate evening of the series.

I don't know how the Redemption Island Four will work out. I guess we'll see. I have a feeling Matt or Rob will win the fan prize -- Matt because of his exile on Redemption for nearly the entire season or Rob because he's played a fantastic game. Phillip, of course, will be toasted with shouts of "SAM" throughout the country. Let's watch ...

They got tree mail for the final duel -- three will go on the jury, one back into the game. They have to balance a vase with their foot on a teeter-totter doohickey. Last vase standing wins.

Grant's out. Oh, geez ... Matt is out. Mike is out. Andrea goes back into the game! Who woulda thunk it?

Andrea is planting the seed they should vote Phillip out. Now the women actually outnumber the men -- bad news for Rob and Phillip!

Immunity -- Walking across a balance beam collecting bags of numbered tiles. They then must arrange the tiles in order - 1 to 100. Ashley, Rob's nemesis, won immunity. This can't be good for him. But he has one last chance to use that idol. He might need it.

Uh-oh -- Rob doesn't think he needs to use the idol. He wants Andrea out and the four (sans Andrea) supposedly made a deal. Ashley and Natalie have their pact. Now the girls are thinking of taking Rob out. Duh. About time someone thought of it!

Tribal Council. Rob uses idol! The votes: Rob, Andrea, Andrea, Andrea ... Andrea is gone once again, this time for good. Rob would have been safe as his lone vote came from Andrea. These folks are so dumb!

Rob told the girls he's going to win the next immunity and take the both of them to the final three ... leaving SAM out.

Final immunity challenge -- maze race, four bags of puzzle pieces, solve word phrase. Ashley stayed on Rob's heels throughout the maze. They're "working together" but not really on the puzzle - Rob wins Immunity with Only You Are Safe. Rob is all emotional.

The girls think Phillip is going. I think Rob wants to keep him, get rid of Ashley. Rob told Natalie he wants Ashley out. It's working. Natalie just lied to Ashley and said the plan is Phillip.

Tribal Council. The tally: Ashley, Phillip, Ashley, Ashley ... Ashley is outta there!

Phillips plan with the jury is to put salt on the wound reminding them why they're on the jury and he's in the finals. I don't think that's a great approach, do you? But he did burn the pink underwear (calling them "plum" colored). That's good.

JURY: Opening statements first --

Natalie - Made it 39 days, best game I could, social skills, Rob and I from the beginning. Been loyal, youngest female winner if you vote for me,

Phillip - Rob's appearance changed strategy, thanks him. Stealth strategy. Rob was mastermind and I implemented it, loyal to Rob.

Rob - Was competitive, put together alliances. Hard worker, did my part. What really matters is what the jury thinks. Trying so long -- ten years to get to the top. All about his wife and child. Hope he gets the vote.

The questioning:

Andrea - Phillip, you're weird. Who is the real Phillip Sheppard? You don't know me, if you don't don't vote for me. Natalie -- Betray, weird relationship with Rob.

Ashley - Sick of hearing Phillip's voice. Argues, Phillip refuses to shut up. Natalie - betrayed me. Natalie claims she was the bigger threat. Rob - you deceived a lot of people.

Grant - Natalie, alliance with Rob? Dynamics of alliance. Rob says if Natalie did what she said, it would be to the end. Rob didn't want to go to end with Grant because he'd kick his ass.

Ralph - Natalie, can't do anything without Rob. Phillip. you let me down. The feathers. Do you like me? Phillip does.

Matt: Rob - Where is the line drawn? Liar, etc. How do you keep yourself together? Rob - it's necessary. Harsh but effective.

Julie - You three should be humble, none of you played a respectable game. Do you think your parents would be proud? Nat, servant to Rob. Phillip, none of us like or respect you.

Mike: Closer to God, friendhips, inner peace. You learned to decieve and trick, anything else? Natalie - Learned a lot, just out of high school, strong and capable, confidence with life. Rob - need to stop playing s, no more after this. Phillip - blessed, can stand on my own, an outcast, left home at 16, a beacon the Sheppard family.

Steve: Natalie, commend at 19, Rob hat off to you, Phillip I'm sorry for you shameful for who you are and what you've grown into.

Dave: Cut off Phillip. Rob did everything. He controlled all of you, you all bought it, ruthless but brilliant. Easy to say who deserves to get your vote tonight.

David votes for Rob, Ralph for Phillip. No other votes shown. Off to NYC.

The votes: Rob, Phillip, Rob, Rob, Rob, Rob --

Boston Rob finally won Survivor!!

Boston Rob and Matt got 76% of the fan vote. The winner is Rob.

Redemption Island again next season -- South Pacific, two returning players. Hmmm ...