Episode 9 & 10

[Deleted]

Rookies have 6 players left
Veterans have 3 players left

DJ and Mandy remain with their Idols

It's still anyone's game.

[adrian]

Oh man, Taylor getting voted out after sandbagging a challenge... ouch. I know how that feels!

At this point, I think Mandy is going to be the last vet standing. I think the rookies will see her as less threatening than Brandon and Andii. My prediction for this round is that if Brandon does not win immunity they will target him, if he does the rookies will eat one of their own. Don't have much insight for the round as I really have not been feeling this season after the cheating scandal and all of the medevacs.

[Sandy]

Honestly shit is getting good at this game. After the scavenger hunt there was a twist we introduced called The hidden Council. As soon as results were posted I messaged everyone on Skype privately and gave them 60 seconds to vote in a secret tribal Council. They could not discuss the vote with anyone until after the results. Goodbye Taylor. Kind of serves him right for not participating in the challenge.

Now onto the quiz during every individual survivor game where people get exposed. This is fun because a lot of these players are dramatic, so the results are sure to cause a fallout.

Malcolm DJ and Helena have Phil and Ruben who voted in the majority together. now this isn't super solid, there's no assurance that Ruben or Phil will not look for greener pastures elsewhere. I do however, think think it's smart for the rookies to band together at this point. I like the story arc of Ruben being let back into the fold , When it seemed like he was for sure done for after Alexis was sent home.

Banks and Andy are exposed at the moment. They did not strategize enough during the scavenger hunt challenge to wear their ducks were all lined up for the vote to go their way. It did not. Unfortunately Taylor did not vote with them and was sent home because of lack of communication. Banks really wants to split up Malcolm and DJ. The one trick coming up for this vote for him is DJs hidden immunity ring which has the potential to spoil that his plan. Not to mention Banks's side of Andy himself and Brandon seem to find it difficult to really solidify a strong plan against Malcolm's bitches.

Mandy is a big? In this game. Either she is super smart and we played this middle man roll till the end or she really doesn't know exactly what's going on and therefore is in the middle because the other people are playing without her. And at this point in the game that is not good regardless of her holding an idol.

Ruben is such a smart motherfucker.

[Deleted]

As this tribe is right now the noose is starting to tighten around Banks' neck because he's actively lying to the majority numbers which also has Mac/DJ in there and they're both known for wearing their heart on their sleeve. Back in round one all the Rookies would screenshare their votes to preserve their loyalty to whatever alliance and then that way it would be all legit, Banks said that he voted on call as opposed to text which knowingly sparked the rumour that he's flipped and decided to join Andii and Brandon.

That flip won't cost him the game, however, as now Andii and Brandon are on the block. I'd expect either one of those to go this round. Ruben continues to be flabbergasted at his continued survival and as it stands he's faded into the background and nobody is bothered by him, people have unknowingly taken the spotlight off him and where it would've been an easy round the number of targets has now increased significantly giving Ruben a few rounds to recover properly and plan the future of his game. As long as DJ has the Idol then he'll control the votes with Helena, Phil and Malcolm.

From what I can understand from these long ass confessionals, there are two groups and several floating players.

Rookies Alliance: DJ, Helena, Malcolm & Phil
Outsiders Alliance: Andii, Banks & Brandon

Floating Players, no real alliances: Mandy & Ruben

As Mandy and Ruben are the floaters they need to be swayed by both forces and can ultimately determine who goes next. Mandy would seem to be the logical choice to get on-side as she has her Idol HOWEVER she's been throwing wild votes which can be viewed as cowardly as she's not really taking a side whilst Ruben is still treated as hostile by his former tribe BUT he could win favor with them if he tries to go after Banks. But I would place my bet on Banks using his Express Pass and let the boot go to another Rookie.

If the Outsiders win this round then the game opens up for everybody
If the Rookies Alliance win this round then the final four is locked up and it'll be a DJ, Malcolm & Phil Final 3

[Deleted]

Brandon was booted 4-3-1, Banks played his Express Pass on Phil but still voted in the minority. Malcolm voted Andii only because Brandon's advantage allowed him to block Mac from voting him out otherwise it would've been 5-3.

Banks has been called out by Mac (surprise?) about lying and justified his reason to vote Andii because he was still under the impression Banks was loyal to him but now he knows better. It looks as though Banks has rolled over, there's absolutely no way he can avoid the jury now and Andii has been less than receptive about getting a vote from Malcolm... but when you're on opposite alliances then you should half-expect it anyway. With Mandy getting the unanimous Immunity twist it really does throw me off as to who is in the five? Is Ruben now back in the Rookies Alliance or is Mandy more valuable than him? I'd be more inclined to believe that Ruben is the fifth as Mandy voted Helena when Ukmar got booted.

Either way, this next vote is going to continue to eradicate the Outsiders alliance. Banks is the most hostile right now and nobody is going to want to make waves at this moment and is less of a threat than Andii who will have nobody if she survives.

I do enjoy that people being voted out are all saying the same thing "nobody wants to play the game" THIS IS THE GAME, just because nobody wants to work with you doesn't mean shit. The Veterans really fell on their ass and should've capitalized on Malcolm being so hostile and boot Mandy in the pre-merge to prevent him from getting an Idol. Meh, the Rookies Alliance will control the majority of the votes BUT it doesn't mean they'll control the game.

[adrian]

Brandon did a great job this time in iS. He can and should be proud of his efforts. Looks like it is a safe bet that Malcolm has booked himself a seat at the final tribal council. Not only does he have a lot of sway in the majority alliance, but his closest allies all think they can beat him. It will be interesting to see who Malcolm will ultimately side with and unintentionally help crown as the new sole iSurv1vor.

Just out of curiosity, who is still watching this game? The PW lounge has been disappointingly quiet. Not a lot of views to discuss or bounce theories/ideas off of

[a11an]

I tune in usually once a day but haven't kept up evenly with everyone's confessionals, so I am unable to see all points of view each round. Poor Brandon. He did so well, for all he had to fight through. I really wish it hadn't been him this round.

I am still rooting for Phil, although hiding behind Mac is annoying me a little. I will punch him after the game.

And Andii. I missed her over the years.