Survivor 40: Winners at War - Season Finale Blog Party

Well, well, well ... here it is, season finale time already! From what I've read, most of tonight's three-hour broadcast will be show, not the reunion. What reunion there will be will be video conferencing type. I know that many will squawk if Natalie wins her way back into the game and then wins the two million. While I personally wouldn't think it right that the first person voted out stands a chance to come back and win it all, she has amazed me with her determination and physical skills. I don't know. I'd prefer she not win, but still thinks she deserves some kudos!

I will be updating this entry with the major events as the show airs here on the East Coast -- refresh this page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. Please feel free to join in on the fun!

Before she blows the final out of the pool whistle of the season, Lifeguard Laurie has updated the blog pool. Here's where we stand going into the finale --

Ben Driebergen - Rbennie, Shannon
Denise Stapley - Becky, Jennifer
Michele Fitzgerald -Terry is a Texan
Sarah Lacina - SueGee, Cheryl in NC
Tony Vlachos - Karen in CA, Donna in Alabama

Extinction Island
Adam Klein - Lifeguard Laurie, Petals
Amber Mariano - Delee, Glenn Allen
Danni Boatwright - Jennasmom
Ethan Zohn - Rochelle, Jackie
Jeremy Collins - Sharon N
Kim Spradlin-Wolfe - Dr_Celine
Natalie Anderson - Nana in the NW
Nick Wilson - Barbara BW, Judi Sweeney
Parvati Shallow - Donna in FL
Rob Mariano - Auntie Leigh
Sophie Clarke - ChicMc
Tyson Apostol -Janice
Wendell Holland - Nickelpeed, PDX Granny
Yul Kwon - Ed in Ohio

Survivor fans ready?

Jeff is in his garage with a big set-up to present the live portions of the broadcast. He thinks this has been the greatest season of all times.  All of the castaways are on a Zoom internet kind of screen. He claims so much is going on with the show itself that there wouldn't be time for a reunion show anyway. Hmm.

Final five get to watch the Extinction players compete. Attached to rope, race through obstacles, dig up rope, make rope bridge, untie knots, table maze. Several have bought advantages with their tokens. Natalie bought the most and gets stuck. After doing so well, she's not rocking this challenge! Wendell has maintained the lead for a while. Natalie has caught up and she, Wendell and Tyson are vying for the win. Whoops for Wendell. NATALIE WINS HER WAY BACK INTO THE GAME!

Now we're getting the Survivor stories from those who didn't win their way back in. Well, Tyson did but got voted out again.

Natalie is touring the camp. She knows that she will be the biggest target. She sees everyone is on the "Tony bandwagon." Tony doesn't trust her and is sure that she will be telling lies. Yes, she plans on telling lots of lies! She has already started telling people that the jury has all been talking about voting for Tony. 

Immunity challenge -- race through obstacles, grab bag, up stairs, down waterslide times 3, puzzle. MICHELE WINS despite being way behind until she started her puzzle.

Tony thinks they should split the vote between Denise and Natalie. Meanwhile, Natalie wants to work with Michele. Ben wants to be human and not vote out his friend Denise. Natalie has an idol (one that Tony thinks she might have). Tony thinks he might have to play his idol. Ben has one, as well. Tony thinks they should vote Denise because he thinks Natalie has an idol. Sarah doesn't think she does have one because "she would have told me." @@

Tribal Council time. Jeff starts out asking about Natalie's return. Natalie goes ahead and says Tony is running the show. Now it seems to be female solidarity is afoot. Natalie is really pushing her oust Tony agenda.

The tally -- Natalie plays her idol. Tony plays his idol. Ben plays his idol.

Natalie, Natalie, Natalie, Natalie, Ben, Ben ... must revote. They can only vote for Denise or Sarah. Denise and Sarah don't count. Nobody draws rocks. settle with making fire if it is a tie.

The re-tally -- Denise, Denise, Denise ... bye, Denise.

Tony is a bit upset that he and Ben "wasted" their idols. Tony knows at least one idol is now hidden and he wastes no time going in search of it. NATALIE finds one instead.

Immunity Challenge time -- through obstacles, water, key, two sandbags land them on target.  TONY WINS IMMUNITY, a guaranteed spot in the final four.

Natalie is pushing to break up the Tony/Ben/Sarah trio. Tony goes to his spy nest thinking he wants to eavesdrop on the girls. Natalie tells Sarah that she doesn't want to go against Ben in fire. Natalie tells and shows Sarah that she has an idol. Tony wants Natalie to think they're voting for her but put the votes on Michele. Michele knows that she's the target. Would Natalie use her idol to save Michele? Hmm. Ben tells Sarah he's okay with her writing his name down.  He thinks she should go to the end and not be told she was just brought along there. 

Tribal Council ... it's getting all sentimental and personal growth feelings stuff. 

The tally -- Natalie plays her idol.

Ben, Michele, Ben, Michele, Ben.

Tony is surprised. His bud Ben is out!

Final Immunity Challenge -- One hand tied behind back, ball down a chute, catch it, more balls added as time goes on. Tony out! Sarah out! 

NATALIE WINS THE FINAL IMMUNITY!

She will pick one person to save and the other two must do a fire challenge for the third spot in the final three.

Tony is pretty sure that he and Sarah will face the fire challenge. I think he's probably right. Natalie wants to put the strongest fire maker against him. Will she choose Michele to go up against Tony? 

It's to Tribal ... Natalie saves Michele, leaving Tony and Sarah to do the firemaking battle.

TONY WINS! He's in the final three! Woot! Woot! Both Tony and Sarah are in tears.

They get their big breakfast feast.

Time for the jury Tribal Council --
Outwit
Yul offers them kudos, says they need to fill in the missing blanks about how they outwitted them. Natalie says she misstepped on day one not reaching out. Michele got into alliances, always felt like she was on the bottom.  Tony said he tried to be more open and vulnerable this time. Nick challenges him, as does Jeremy. Tony said he was with them until they went against him. Ben speaks up for Tony's loyalty. Natalie talks about targeting Tony upon returning to the game. Rob points out that she shunned the old school players on Extinction. Tony gets asked how he blindsided people. He tells of his spy nest. Wendell points out that Tony never had votes against him. Michele says she moved through cracks and had to work alone being on the bottom. 

Outplay --
Wendell wants Natalie to share everything she found in the game. Talk of winning challenges. Extinction an advantage for Michele, disadvantage for Tony.

Outlast --
Natalie wanted to take out the strongest alliance and did it. Michele wonders if she deserved her first win and worked hard this season. Tony came in as himself and played hard, even looking for idols at night, no one ever put his name down in the game.

They show Rob voting for Tony. Natale got a vote. Michele may have gotten one. They only showed a few.

The final tally for the win ...

To Jeff's garage with the final three on little screens. 

Tony, Natalie, Natalie, Tony, Natalie, Tony, Natalie, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony! 

TONY WINS! WELL-DESERVED!