Survivor: Island of the Idols - Season Finale Blog Party

Tonight will be the first taped reunion show ever in the history of Survivor. I guess they don't want any unexpected discussion. Hmm. While Jeff Probst has been saying Dan is the first one ever removed from the show, Russell Hantz and others disagree -- they claim Brandon Hantz was removed and that impromptu vote booting him was staged. It's been a season of controversy and, to be honest, I'll be happy to see it end.

I might have a few issues with live blogging tonight as I had an eye exam with the dilated pupils and all. I'm still having some problems with double vision as I prep this post. I will do my best to update this entry with the major happenings, though. Refresh the page to get the latest update! As always. the real party is in the comments area -- please feel free to join in on the fun!

The Lovely Lifeguard Laurie has updated the blog pool -- are you still in it to win it?
Merged Team
Dean Kowalski -- CherryPie, Merrilee
Janet Carbin -- Donna NY, Sharon C
Lauren Beck -- Jackie, Sharon N
Noura Salman -- Jennasmom
Tommy Sheehan -- Karen in CA, Terry is a Texan

Jury
Jack Nichting
Kellee Kim & her idols
Jamal Shipman
Missy Byrd
Aaron Meredith
Elizabeth Beisel

Karishma Patel

Elaine Stott

Survivor fans ready? GAH! The Impeachment hearings are still on?!?!?! Ah, they're starting on time. We start out in Los Angeles with a Rob/Sandra reminisce session.

The five see a boat arrive. They're all instructed to grab their personal items and get aboard. They're all heading to the Island of the Idols. Tommy is the only one who hasn't been there before. 

For the rest of the game, the five will live in the house Rob built. They get new buffs, too. Rob and Sandra are OUT. Whoa … there's one last test if someone has been paying attention. 

Janet has an idol and believes she's guaranteed to be final four. Some are mentioning her name. though. Dean seems to be targeted. Tommy seems to be the only one thinking something is on the island to save him. He's finding machetes. one in a coconut. He thinks it was pink inside because he's colorblind. He tells Dean hoping he can trust him.

Tommy thinks Dean isn't being any help. Meanwhile, Dean is actually following the clues for his own nefarious self. And, it's Dean who finds the hidden idol.

Immunity Challenge time -- they retrieve rope rungs, build ladder, climb tower, maneuver bag of balls up ladder, toss on table maze. Also Reward -- steak dinner, vegetarian alternative.

DEAN wins Immunity for the second time in a row! He can take one person with him for the dinner and chooses Noura, a surprise to all. He claims it's to make amends. Of course, the others think jury management.

Dean is buttering up Noura to sit with her at the end. She realizes what he's doing but understands. They both think they need Janet out. She tells Tommy that all the votes except hers go on her while she plays her idol and votes Lauren, the one she thinks is the biggest threat.

Uh-oh. Tommy doesn't want Janet in the end although he adores her. He is tight with Lauren. Hmm. They want Dean to use his idol nullifier. Dean has to decide with whom he wants to sit at the end.

Time for Tribal Council. Fire making is brought up. That's not good for Janet because she's good at making fire. Jury management is discussed as well. 

The tally -- Dean does use the nullifier and Janet uses her idol to no avail. 

Lauren, Janet, Janet, Janet ...

She played the idol right and Dean nullified the right target. Sigh. Janet is gone. I liked her. 

Impeachment breaks in, Donald Trump is indeed impeached -- the third president impeached and I've lived through two. Supposedly, Survivor will be aired in its entirety.

Now we're sitting through all the saved-up commercials they didn't air during the impeachment news break.

Okay … we're back on the Island of Idols. Dean is thrilled with himself and his superiority at the game. @@ He thinks he has final two deals with both Moura and Tommy. He can't make fire. Meanwhile, Tommy tells Noura he cannot make fire. He can't really figure Noura out. Nor can we, so he's not alone.

Final Immunity Challenge -- Stack letter blocks on wobbly platform spelling out Island of the Idols. Winner picks one to accompany him or her to the final three. The other two face a fire challenge to garner the third place.

NOURA wins the final immunity! It's her third immunity win.

Back to camp and the others are really worried about Noura because she's so unpredictable. She tells them she wants to take a swim, has already made up her mind, will discuss it with them along with the psychological aspects. She tells Lauren she's her number one. Dean suave made good moves. Tommy didn't connect. 

She tells Lauren that she's the Queen so she needs to go to fire. Dean, your game is on fire right now, really fire. So, she's taking Tommy. Lauren is in tears -- she's never made fire. Dean has never made fire but is trying to act like he's not worried. They both practice fire. Tommy wants to help both of them because one will be on the jury. He's helping Dean more because he thinks he has a better chance against Dean and Noura. 

Tribal Council time … Noura tells her wacko thinking in making her decision. She tells her ideology that Lauren is her number one and that's why Lauren must go. She says she chose Dean to eliminate Lauren. So, Tommy is her choice to go with her and she really wants her number one Lauren out.

Lauren and Dean must make fire. Dean wins the fire challenge.

The final three are Noura, Tommy and Dean.

The guys think it's definitely one of them winning. Noura wants to work with Tommy to run down Dean. Noura and Tommy think Dean can't win. Noura does see through the guys.

Final Tribal for jury questioning.
Outwit -- Jack tells them they're all undecided and be clear and honest. Dean -- he tells his strategy not to be the smartest, social game. Noura -- haven't watched every season, not to be super, but don't be dead weight in challenges, she goes off on tangents. Elaine reminds her that it's not strategy she's talking. Tommy -- making real connections with others, play in the middle, get info from all, big moves. Lauren asks Tommy who he was most loyal to and he tells her it was her. Noura rats Tommy out about the extra help to Dean with the fire. Janet asks when he decided to betray her. He told her around eight because he couldn't beat her. Lines not willing to cross? Noura didn't want to make a move she didn't want to own. Tommy, no bullying. Dean never promise a final three if he didn't mean it. 

Outplay
Win final immunity, what would you do? Noura -- Dean because his game was weaker. What about Tommy? She doesn't think Tommy could beat Lauren. Approach to individual immunity -- Noura always tried her best, Dean gave all later in the game. Tommy says he controlled the game because he knew who had the advantages. Heh. Dean learns from Jamal that his advantage was fake. Sean shows them the idol he found in the final five. He had all the idols and advantages and never had to play them. Tommy claims that wasn't a game move. 

It's pouring along with lightning and thunder. 

Outlast
Tommy played hard, risky big moves, didn't win an immunity necklace but still got there. Noura you loved and hated me, wild card, weird, crazy, did whatever she could to win challenges. Dean jaw-dropping moments such as nullifier. on the losing tribe, etc.

Time for them to vote …

Back in LA

Tommy, Dean, Tommy, Dean, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy ...

TOMMY WINS! Congratulations to blog pool winners Karen in CA and Terry is a Texan!

I won't be posting much on the reunion show unless something strikes my fancy. 

Sia gives 15K to Jamal, 100K to Elaine! Wow! 100K to Janet! Okay, that almost redeems the season!

Time for the Kellee talk with Jeff. He tells her she was right and he apologizes. I won't be covering this in full.

Next season is 20 returning winners. Winners at War, return of Extinction, the prize is two million dollars. I don't usually like returning players but an all winners playing might be very interesting!