PicoBlog

Welcome to my new home on Substack! Every Wednesday after the “Survivor” episode airs you’ll be able to find a full recap along with individual player grades right here. The next day I’ll have an exit interview with the latest castaway on my YouTube Channel. And…get this…every Monday I’ll be squaring off against “Survivor 44” challenge beast Frannie Marin in the “Survivor” Power Rankings! That too is available on my YouTube Channel.

So, don’t miss a thing. Follow me here, follow me on YouTube, on X, etc…

Last Week: Sabiyah found an idol that was encased in wax, Basile went to an island to gather some facts, and Brandon was voted out due to the challenge prowess he lacks…

39 26 Days, 18 Players, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let's take a look at the tribes as they currently stand...

The Belo Tribe (wearing blue)

• Brando, 23 - Software Developer

• Bruce, 47 - Insurance Agent

• Jake, 26 - Attorney

• Katurah, 35 - Civil Right Attorney

• Kellie, 29 - Critical Care Nurse

• Kendra, 31 - Bartender

The Lulu Tribe (wearing yellow)

• Emily, 28 - Investment Analyst

• Kaleb, 29 - Software Sales

• Sabiyah, 28 - Truck Driver

• Sean, 35 - School Principal

The Reba Tribe (wearing red)

• Austin, 26 - Grad Student

• Dee, 26 - Entrepreneur

• Drew, 23 - Grad Student

• J. Maya, 24 - Singer

• Julie, 49 - Estate Attorney

• Sifu, 30 - Gym Owner

OK, one last quick thing before we get into this week’s recap. I wrote and illustrated a graphic novel! It’s about professional wrestling (but it’s really about marriage), if you’ve ever enjoyed any of my writing or my “Survivor” press, I’d really love it if you’d check it out. The digital version comes out Wednesday, October 18, 2023 and you can PREORDER IT HERE!

Post-Tribal Shenanigans

Sabiyah breaks down her vote by simply saying that the tribe couldn’t win with Brandon. She also realizes that getting Emily worked up isn’t worth keeping her shot in the dark, so she gives it back.

Kaleb also makes the point that Emily is a lot easier to keep around now that she’s willing to work with the group. Good, cause it takes four people to harness pyramid crystals.

Emily sits down and does the Tribal Council math and realizes that someone didn’t vote. Not being one to keep things to herself, she flat out asks Sabiyah if she didn’t vote. And Sabiyah lies about it…poorly.

At Belo Beach

Jake blows on the fire to keep it going and almost Skupins himself. Which isn’t the worst way to be compared to Michael Skupin.

The smoke was too much and he almost wipes out right into the embers. Fortunately, he seems to be OK. 

This turns out to be a good thing, as taking care of Jake makes Kendra feel protective of him. Which is something I’ve heard; the way to get people on your side isn’t to do nice things for them, it’s to get them to do nice things for you.

Kendra later tells us that it seems like there are two groups; the guys and the gals. What?! Did Brando try on a buff tube top for nothing?

At Reba Beach

Things start off with the group storing two worms in their pot to eat. But when they go to retrieve their feast, they’re bummed because a crab has already eaten the worms. Hey geniuses…eat the crab.

Later on, Austin and Drew devise a plan to finally dig up Austin’s idol. One person stands guard while the other digs. However, Dee thinks something is up because they’re spending so much time together.

Sure enough, Dee and Julie catch Drew digging and she is not happy about it. Drew quickly concocts a story that he caught Sifu digging in that spot, so he’s just double checking it. That’s actually a decent cover.

The quartet claims to be four strong, but Dee still feels like they’re keeping something from her.

Reward Challenge Time: The teams will race to the beach, then one at a time a player will toss a ball into an overhead track and then catch it at the end. They’ll toss a ball into a basket to lift a series of targets. The first tribe to hit all three targets will get a fruit platter. The second tribe will receive a slightly smaller fruit platter. The winning tribe will also get to send someone to either of the losing tribes to steal an item.

Sitting Out: Bruce and Jake for Belo, J, Maya and Drew for Reba. 

Result: Lulu wins reward! Aww…sorry, Brandon. Reba claims second place.

Raid’n Reba

Kaleb is chosen to be Lulu’s designated raider. He’s also given an opportunity to forge a secret relationship with another player by giving them an advantage that allows them to restore one lost vote.

Drew is not surprised that Kaleb is the raider because he’s convinced Kaleb is running the Lulu camp.

Kaleb takes the tribe’s fishing kit, but he leaves behind the spear. He also requests some solo time with the individual players. Drew, interesting, absolutely tells Kaleb that he has the safety-without-power advantage. Bold move, Basile. And it pays off as Kaleb gives him the restore-a-vote advantage.

Drew immediately tells Dee and Austin about this development which is smart because Dee has (rightfully) had some issues trusting them.

Meanwhile, Sean and Sabiyah open up about how they really feel about Kaleb while he’s gone. And they are both scared to death to take him to the end. Cool your jets, you two. It’s like day seven.

They decide to bring Emily into this plan…which is way…too…soon…

Emily tells the duo that she’ll do whatever they want. Which, she should not.

Back at Belo

Kendra lets the September alliance in on the fact that she’s been buddying up with Jake, which is cool with Katurah because she still wants to send Bruce and his slick dance moves home.

Kellie is relishing her role as the swing vote. And she appreciates that when she has to cast her first vote, she’s going to upset a few people.

Return to Reba

We meet up with Austin sharing his Beware Advantage with Julie and Dee as a way to solidify their alliance. And, they are honest and say that they knew about it before Julie and Dee caught them. Er…don’t love that. You’re just admitting you lied to them.

The quartet works together and Dee eventually uncovers a rope. Dee and Julie pull it until they uncover a hammer with a message that reads “Break a rock by the water well.”

Julie and Dee take the hammer to Austin, which is interesting, because I think they could have just pocketed it. 

Austin starts rock hammerin’ and eventually discovers his immunity idol…which is only good for one Tribal Council. However, if he sacrifices one vote, it’s good till everyone is on the same beach. And, if he sacrifices a second vote, it’s good until five players are left in the game. 

Well, that makes Drew’s advantage all the more useful.

Immunity Challenge Time: The tribes will race out with a cart and retrieve keys using poles. They’ll use the keys to release big ol’ block puzzle pieces. They’ll put the blocks on a cart, move it a bit, take apart the cart, shove it through a wall, put it back together, then wheel the blocks to the end. The first two tribes to put together their giant block puzzle will win immunity.

Sitting Out: Julie and Dee with sit for Reba, Brando and Kellie will sit for Belo.

Result: Belo is the first to the end, followed by Lulu and Reba. Reba comes from behind and claims first place with Belo taking second. Lulu didn’t even come close.

Quick Aside: Very interesting editing on this. Not a celebration of the winners, very much a sad reflection on Lulu.

Pre-Tribal Politicking

Kaleb doesn’t think he’ll be able to save Emily and plans to stick with his original three. He and Sabiyah plan to tell Emily that they’re targeting each other so she won’t play her shot in the dark. Very savvy, Sabiyah.

(Although, if I’m Emily, I would have already told Kaleb that they’re targeting him.)

Sabiyah is still planning on targeting Kaleb, and she finally realizes that there’s a fire at Tribal that would be perfectly capable of melting an idol candle. Sabiyah even brings Emily into this plan as a way to earn Emily’s trust.

Emily tells Kaleb what’s up and he claims to be on-board with getting rid of Sabiyah, but he tells us that he doesn’t completely believe her. Could we see a three-way tie? Then just Sean decides?

Also, Emily doesn’t know that Sabiyah doesn’t have a vote.

Quick Aside: If I’m Kaleb, I might wonder why Sabiyah needs her vote at this Tribal. Although, they still have no fire, so that idol might be trapped forever like the Kryptonians in “Superman 2.”

Tribal Time

Sabiyah immediately puts her candle into the fire. Then, she admits to Jeff that she won’t get a vote until the idol is free.

She also brought a stick to move it around. That’s hilarious. 

Hey look, Adam Klein! An idol was finally found at Tribal Council!

She eventually retrieves it, but she doesn’t read the note that came with it. I assume it’s similar to what Austin received.

In other news, Sabiyah is making it look like Emily’s time is up. 

Voting Time: Emily votes for Sabiyah. Sabiyah does read her note and it is the same as Austin’s. She reasons that Emily and Sean will vote for Kaleb and Kaleb will vote for Emily. We are not shown whether she votes or not. The rest of the votes are secret.

JPro tallies and returns. He asks if anyone wants to play an idol and…nobody does.

So, Sabiyah must’ve not voted or she would have just played it.

We’ve got one vote for Sabiyah, one vote for Kaleb, and the third person eliminated from “Survivor 45” is…Sabiyah.

Um…that was amazing.

Verdict: Just amazing. My mind was racing with the possibilities of that vote. And I’m the first one who worries about these things getting too complicated, but that was just awesome.

Power Rankings Results: Frannie Marin had Sabiyah in spot ten, while I had her in spot fifteen. So, the current score is Team Marin 26, Team Holmes 32.

A: Kellie and Brando - By playing their cards super close to their vests, they are able to hit a tribe swap without any unnecessary blood on their hands. Well done.

A: Emily - Could you have imagined Emily in this spot after the premiere? Me either. Well done. I would love it if she’d stop calling people out in public though.

A-: Dee - Your intuition told you something was off, but you didn’t rock the boat. You sat back and let the situation play out.

B+: Jake and Kendra - Targeting people because of their occupation is kinda dumb. (Unless their occupation is “Survivor Reporter.”)

B+: Julie - You were kinda in the same boat as Dee, but you didn’t verbalize it on the show, so it’s tough to give you full credit.

B: Drew and Austin - You blew it a little bit with the digging, but you made it up to your alliance mates. That and Drew played Kaleb’s visit perfectly.

B-: Kaleb - If Sabiyah wasn’t targeting you, I’d still say going with Emily was the right choice. I just worry that your visibility level is super high after your trip to Reba.

B-: Sean - Yeah, you lost. But a tribe swap wipes all that away.

Incomplete: Bruce, Katurah, Sifu, J. Maya, - I can’t give you a grade if you don’t show your work.

Welp, that’s it! Check out my exit interview with Sabiyah on YouTube tomorrow. And, this Monday don’t miss the second round of the “Survivor” Power Rankings as I square off against Frannie Marin!

Follow me here on Substack, as well as YouTube, and X.

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