Survivor 35: Heroes-Healers-Hustlers - Season Finale Blog Party

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be updating this entry with the latest happenings during the two-hour finale. Refresh the page to get the latest! The party itself is in the comments -- join in on the discussion! Come the reunion show in the final hour, I'll more likely be hanging out there than posting on this entry.

Lifeguard Laurie has updated the blog pool and here ya go:

Survivors 
Ben D. - Donna in FL, Merrilee, Tammy.
Chrissy H. - Donna in Alabama, meb, SueGee, KelseyNY
Devon P. - David, Margo, Laurie, Fred aka TwoBlackAces
Mike Z. - Becky, Janice, Rbennie, PDX Granny
Ryan U. - Anonymouse, Glenn Allen, Nickelpeed

Jury
Desiree W.
Cole M.
JP H. 
Joe M.
Lauren R.
Ashley N.

Five are left. Who will be the sole Survivor? 

Hmm. Los Angeles once again for the show. They used to flip back and forth each year between NY and CA. I should mention that two fellow New Jersey people are still in it to win it --Chrissy and Ryan.

Mike is grateful that they voted Ashley out instead of himself. Once back at camp from Tribal, Ben is already out looking for an idol. Ben is once again named Public Enemy Number One, this time by all four with him.

Ben is determined he will find an idol while the rest sleep. So far, nothing. 

And, then ... he finds it!  

Oh my. Chrissy decides that she will make up with Ben. Of course, she's using him. Will he fall for it? Nah. He thinks she's his biggest competitor and wants to blindside her at the next Tribal. 

Right to the Immunity Challenge! Swim to platform, climb stack of crates, leap, retrieve keys, balance board, more keys and then a roulette type puzzle thing. Reward is a chicken feast. 

CHRISSY WINS IMMUNITY AGAIN! 

She brings Mike, then Devon. Hmm. Ryan and Ben get nothing. 

Mike has them looking for a clue, but obviously the last idol isn't there for them. Chrissy wants a contingency plan in case Ben has an idol. Mike wants to use Chrissy's dead super immunity necklace. They figure they can trick Ben with it. No, they don't think he has one.

She shows Ben her necklace and the letter from Ryan. Ryan and Chrissy think Ben bought the story. Meanwhile, Ben is laughing about the fake idol. 

Ben tells us he will decide who goes home. His strongest competitors are Devon or Mike. He dismisses Ryan. And, of course, Chrissy is safe. Devon is considering a Mike vote just to make sure his own butt is safe.

Tribal Council time. Chrissy puts on the necklace. She talks about finding a clue to the idol and digging it up. Ben admits she told him about it. He plays being dumb at an Oscar level. Ben claims she gloated about the idol. He's really putting on an act. Heh. While I want Ryan or Chrissy to win, Ben does deserve it. Or Chrissy. 

Heehee. Ben pulls out his idol and shocks them all!

The tally:
Ben, Ben, Ben, Mike, Devon.

It's a tie. Ben, Ryan and Chrissy must re-vote for either Mike or Devon. 

Re-tally:
Devon, Mike, Mike

Mike is out. He takes it well.

Caution: Twist Ahead. 

At camp, they talk about a record for playing idols in a row. Ben knows no one will take him to the end. If he doesn't win Immunity, he'll lose it all.

Immunity Challenge time, for the last time. Stack letter blocks on a wobbly platform. Must spell Heroes Healers Hustlers. Twist is the winner receives a final secret advantage in the game. 

Ben is done, but a letter is upside down. Whoa, he loses almost all. Then Ryan and Chrissy and then Devon. It's anyone's game.

CHRISSY WINS IMMUNITY ONCE AGAIN! 

She reiterates the idea that Ben will go home. 

Ben tries to schmooze Chrissy. She promises him that she will hear him out at Tribal. She tells us Ben needs to go. She runs off to read her advantage. She has won information. Tonight she will cast the final vote. She will sit next to one to "save" him. The other two will do a fire challenge for the final spot in the final three. She thinks Devon will do better. She warns Devon. She tells Ryan. 

As Ryan says, his inability to make fire will get him into the final three.

Devon starts practicing to make fire. He broke the flint. He decides it's meant to be. He doesn't want to expend more frustration. Ben still has no clue. 

Tribal Council time!

Jeff asks if Chrissy shared the advantage. She admits sharing it with Devon and Ryan. Then she reads it to the jury. 

As discussed, she chooses Ryan to sit next to her. So, Devon and Ben must make fire. 

BEN WINS THE FIRE CHALLENGE!

The final three are Chrissy, Ryan and Ben. 

Ryan knows he's the underdog. He feels he needs to convince the jury that he's been in control of the game all along. He admits that's not true, but ...! 

Time to face the jury.
Jeff tells them it's all about Outwit, Outplay and Outlast. 

Outwit:
Desi -- Ryan, all thought they could beat him. He tells of finding the advantage, building alliance with Chrissy and Devon. Had to depend on social game. Devon admits that Ryan's social game was sent via him. Joe tells Ben and Chrissy that their social games were horrible. Ben says he's been trying to work on his social skills. Chrissy said her social game was remaining loyal to her alliances. She points out that she remembers all that people told her. Ryan is really playing his social game even now. Oh my, Chrissy is being rude to Ryan. 

Outplay:
Cole respects the shelter building, Chrissy wins challenges, Ben finds idols. What has Ryan done? Ryan claims he's never done any of the things and didn't want to mess up. He says it wasn't his strength in the game. He then talks about the advantage and finding the idol. The jury brings up that women won eight of the nine challenges. Chrissy talks about her wins. Ben talks about knowing no one was on his side and how hard he looked for idols.

Outlast:
Ryan couldn't rely on winning challenges. His name never on chopping block, not due to pity but due to the social bonds, finding an idol, finding an advantage. He says he's now looking introspectively. Ben said all the others were hurdles, wanted to win for family. Joe tells him he needs more and Mike wants to know why he should win. Ben says he got himself there and fought all the way. As expected by me, he brings up the military and PTSD. Chrissy says she came in underestimating herself. She thinks she kicked ass in challenges, played a good clean solid game, all Moms are heroes. They're also healers and hustlers. She's been applying for 16 years.  

Lauren votes Ben. Devon votes Ryan. Ashley votes Chrissy. They show no more.

Back to California --
The tally:
Ben, Ryan, Chrissy, Chrissy, Ben, Ben, Ben.

BEN WINS! 

Next season - Ghost Island. 

Jeff tells us that bad decisions by former players will come back to haunt the Ghost Island season.

The "reunion" show is only going to be a half-hour. 

Congratulations to blog pool winners - Donna in FL, Merrilee, Tammy.
If I'm not mistaken, this might be the fourth blog pool win for Merrilee.