Survivor is a massive reality TV competition where 1 million dollars is awarded to the winner. Needless to say, it’s a HUGE deal. So, it presents a lot of challenges when it comes to dealing with people, let alone dealing with people when you’re starving and exhausted. Survivor 46 episode 2 highlights how sometimes people interact with others in a variety of ways.
Friendships are formed; are they real or do they only help maneuver further in the game? People scream and shout in challenges; are they giving directions or are they just angrily venting frustrations at a single person? And I ask myself, how would I be if I were on Survivor? It makes me wonder; would I be that person? Screaming in anger at another person, or even something as trivial as taking an idol out of someone else’s hands.
Or would I even participate in a song-off?
What in the Survivor 46 World Is Going on?
There were many things that happened in the latest episode, and some were very enjoyable to watch. The Siga (green) tribe highlighted Ben starting a fire and happily crying about it. He admitted to having a stutter and lisp at a young age, and how playing music helped “overcome [his] insecurities.” We also saw Ben and Charlie have a song-off to see who could name more songs; Ben with Metallica and Charlie with Taylor Swift. Let’s just say their music knowledge of their favorite artists is impressive.
In an astounding back-and-forth, the Survivor Swiftie earned the win with a final count of 107 to 106. Are you kidding me? That’s a lot of songs! It’s safe to say Charlie’s reputation for loving Taylor Swift has been solidified. Speaking of “Bad Blood,” I didn’t know Soda and Venus on the Nami (orange) tribe were having a bit of a feud. Did you see Soda snagging the immunity challenge idol away from Venus last week? Then she tried it again this week?
That’s weird, right? Listen – I cannot remember every detail from every season, but some seasons will stand out more strongly for a variety of reasons. I’m guessing something like this (idol grabbing) won’t resonate as much if it doesn’t happen anymore. However, if there are more angry screams and shouts directed at individuals, then I might zone out from this Survivor experience.
Last week’s episode was a solid start to the new season, but this week’s episode feels like much more of a mixed bag. First off, I love the 90-minute episodes – please keep them, CBS. Two, I like that we’ve gotten to start the season with multiple 2-hour episodes. The mixed bag is just the angry screaming part, which is similar to seasons that have had heavy bullying where it’s not enjoyable to watch that kind of “gameplay.” Was there a ton of shouting in the latest episode? No, but maybe that’s just a me thing.
Survivor 46 Doesn’t End with One Episode
I’m just armchair writing over here. Survivor 46 episode 2 doesn’t change the fact that I have loved this show for years and years. But, if I’m being honest, it doesn’t change the fact that these kinds of moments are my least favorite and they always have been. Beyond that, we also have very interesting gameplay where players from Yanu (purple) are trying to prevent Jess from playing her “shot in the dark.”
This 1-in-6 opportunity to win immunity is a scary premise for players who know they don’t want to be the one person she votes for, if she were to successfully pull off that shot in the dark. Q literally hands her a fake idol while she’s idol hunting, and even though Jess questions whether it’s real or not, she has to play it at tribal council.
Bhanu, who my wife asked if he became the vote during tribal, well, kind of “lost his cool” during tribal. Jeff Probst even called him out on his reactions at the challenge. He was defending his emotional outbursts, but appeared erratic and to be openly discussing plans. That doesn’t seem to be what an alliance would want in one of their members, especially if they’re trying to fool someone into not playing their shot in the dark.
After he scrambled to the others asking what the plan was and if he’s being voted out, Bhanu admitted to feeling like a fool after Jess was voted out. Does this make him an easy out for next week if the Yanu tribe goes back to tribal council? Does Kenzie’s social game make her an early target? Was she even a legitimate target tonight?
What Happens Next Week?
It will be interesting to see what happens next as Yanu struggles to make any progress in winning a challenge. Could a tribe swap save them from losing more – or will another Yanu have their torch snuffed next week? After the first two vote-outs were somewhat foreseeable picks, the trio of Tiffany, Q, and Kenzie seem like the odds are ever in their favor to move on.
Yes, there was a lot of Kenzie chatter tonight, but that could’ve just been a smokescreen for the viewers. Survivor 46 leads into next week’s episode with questions about the purple tribe, but will we get to see a shakeup with one of the other tribes, if Yanu can pull off an immunity win? Only time will tell, and, yes, I’m already counting down the days until next Wednesday.