Survivor: Game Changers - April 5 Episode Blog Party

Everybody ready? Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

It sounds like tonight will be another evening of twists and turns -- Exile Island, the dropping of buffs once again and the return of a castaway. With the last, we don't know if it's someone from this season or another or whether they're there to stay or not. Oh my.

Here's the updated pool from the best pool lifeguard ever, Lifeguard Laurie:

NUKU
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Rochelle, DonnaNY
Michaela Bradshaw - David, Jackie
Sandra Diaz-Twine - Jennasmom, SueGee

MANA
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Debbie Wanner - Glenn, tbc
Hali Ford - Buzzmaam, Nana in the NW
Sierra Thomas - Becky, monty924
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C

TAVUA
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Ozzy Lusth - KelseyNY, Margo, PDX Granny
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie
Zeke Smith - Janice from GA, Paula Bell

No more fire!
Ciera Eastin
Tony Vlachos
Caleb Reynolds
Malcolm Freberg
JT Thomas 
 
Survivor fans ready?

Sandra tells the others that JT had to go because he "betrayed" them and, due to him, they lost Malcolm. (So, vote the next strongest out? Hmm. As long as it's not Sandra!)

At his camp, Tai found another idol. Hopefully he will keep this one to himself!

Immunity Challenge time? Nope. Jeff tells them to drop their buffs. Their switching things up again. Orange and blue buffs. Debbie is without a tribe -- has no buff! 

I'll have to catch up with who's on what tribe during this. It's back to Mana and Nuku again.

Debbie goes to Exile Island, returning to the game at the next Tribal, joining the tribe which loses a member. No, she won't have a pony to keep her company.

Brad and Troyzan are the only two guys on their tribe with five women. Troyzan doesn't want to "get bamboozled by women" again.

Varner and Sandra are kind of on their own in their tribe. She vows the"queen stays queen." Well, not if Zeke and Ozzy get their way! Andrea thinks that, although they're targeting Sandra, she thinks Tai needs to go. Tai wants to get Sandra out but is concerned that he might be a target. He looks for a similar placed idol at the new camp and ... he's got it!  

Debbie's Exile Island is actually a yacht! It's fully stocked with food and beverages, even alcoholic ones. A boat pulls up and it's ... Cochran!

He's there to be an Exile sounding board and advisor on strategy. Well, that's different. How can one offer her advice? She knows everything and has done everything? Yes, Cochran, she's over-confident. He tells her she should pander to people like Brad. He also gives her an Advantage Option.  

She can pick from three options -- fake idol materials, extra vote or advantage for tribe in next challenge. She goes for the extra vote. 

Varner tries to bond with Zeke. Zeke wants to convince him that Tai is the target, not Sandra. Varner isn't 100% that he's not being fooled, but it's his best bet. He reports back to Sandra. But Sandra is a lot more dubious about the others wanting Tai out more than they want her or Varner out.

Now it's time for the real Immunity Challenge -- dive, race through monkey bars, retrieve puzzle pieces, puzzle. 

Sierra, Cirie, Aubry work on the puzzle for Mana. Mana wins Immunity!

Nuku - Tai, Sandra, Varner, Zeke, Andrea, Sarah, Ozzy ... go to Tribal. And, they get Debbie after Tribal.    

Although Varner believe Tai will go, Sandra goes to work on Ozzy. Uh-oh -- Ozzy talks to Andrea and is quasi-buying Sandra's ideas that the three -- Debbie, Tai and Sierra -- are more dangerous. Dang -- Tai tells Varner they're all voting for Sandra.

Tribal Council time -- Sandra tells Jeff Probst that she thinks she's going tonight. Oh my. Tai whispers a name to Sandra and it's Ozzy. Will that vote go down? The others are all whispering about voting out Tai.

The Tally -- Tai doesn't play one of his idols!

Tai, Tai, Sandra, Sandra, Sandra, Sandra

The Queen ain't remaining Queen!