Ok, now this game can get interesting again. After three straight fairly predictable votes (even though I thought Shauhin was leaving last week), we’re entering a vote that in one way or another will establish some battle lines.

Mitch and Chrissy seem to be on the outside of the recently formed cross-tribal alliances. I suppose if one of them leaves it wouldn’t be a major shock, especially since Chrissy hand-delivered a solid reason for Joe and Eva to speed up her departure (“I don’t think ‘honest’ and ‘loyalty’ is gonna win you a million dollars”). But there’s the possibility the original Civa members will want to maintain their 5-4-1 majority. But who would they want gone? Booting Shauhin would betray the alliance Kyle and David made with Joe and Eva. That’s probably why they didn’t move against Shauhin last week. Star is on the fringe. Who would fight to keep her around? I think David would deflect votes away from Mary.

If it’s David, Joe, Shauhin, Eva and Kyle facing off against Chrissy, Mitch, Star, Mary and Kamilla, guess who’d have the power to swing the vote? The same player nobody is targeting at all – Kamilla. She could pull Kyle in either direction. Who would Kamilla want gone in that scenario?

If Chrissy was being sincere last week (and there’s no reason to think she wasn’t), which one of the “honesty and integrity” players would she go after? Is she even aware of the alpha male + Eva alliance? If she targets one of them, it’s bound to bounce back on her. The most interesting scenario happens if Chrissy wins Immunity or finds an Idol. Things would really open up for the non-alphas if Joe and Eva were broken up.

It sure seemed like Chrissy and David were very close before the swap. I wonder why David was so quick to exclude her from his post-merge plans? If Chrissy is counting on David to continue to support her, she might be in for a surprise. If Chrissy realizes David has cut her loose, he might be an attractive target for her too.

Could Chrissy, Mary, Mitch, Star and Kamilla take that shot? Was the Shauhin “close call last week merely a setup for this week? Let’s find out.

And away we go ...

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In the “Previously on…” teaser, we hear David say, “Mary is willing to work with us.” That part wasn’t in the broadcast to this point. It was only in the Secret Scenes.

Chrissy immediately realizes her mistake and tries to walk it back. I don’t think it will work. Chrissy, if you’re gonna do that, you need to let everyone know BEFORE you go to Tribal Council. In fact, it would have been smarter to deliver that info in private conversations. That way, people might trust you more.

In confessional, Mary says “I thought I was going home every day.” That’s something she should start mentioning around the other players. She could build herself a nice Denise Stapley story.

Shauhin telling Joe that David wants to include Mary is probably great news for Kamilla. Nobody is looking at her at all. And Shauhin prefers to work with Kamilla too.

Shauhin utters another Survivor death phrase: “I’m in a good spot.” Last week he said, “I think I’m in control of the tribe.” Shauhin likes to tempt the Survivor gods.

Wow, these players are talking about which animals they could beat in a fight? Yeah, there are some REALLY boring moments during Survivor. Moments like these are why insanely likable players like Elaine Stott (Island of the Idols), Christian Hubicki (David vs Goliath), and Cody Assenmacher (43) stick around a while. Entertaining people make the game a little easier. But it’s also the reason most of them get voted out.

They have to divide into pairs? Drew did this the best in 45 (but they divided into trios). He suggested they all try to keep the teams even, but he made sure to have one of his targets in his trio. Drew ended up with his partner Dee and his target Jake. What do you do with pairs? Do you pick your target then throw the challenge? Do you try to pair your target with a weak performer?

In confessional, Joe says he wanted to force people to expose alliances. That’s a smart plan.

I remember in The Australian Outback, Jerri pushed hard for Colby to be her partner, bringing a lot more resentment her way. She won the battle and ran the challenge with Colby but lost the war when she got voted out.

Shauhin blinked first and immediately picked Kamilla. That’s bound to make people suspicious. Kyle was smart not to pick Kamilla. Like almost everything else in Survivor, it’s best to be right in the middle. That’s where Kyle was in this pick.

Chrissy in confessional: “Of course, Joe grabs Eva ... how is that fair?” Sorry, Chrissy, but you had a chance to speak up and try to pick Joe for yourself. And why do you think Survivor is ever gonna be fair?

Chrissy’s big mouth is getting her into trouble as predicted. And Eva is doing a good job of setting her up as the target.

But Mitch still thinks there’s loyalty with his original Civa tribemates. Mitch is playing catch up and he doesn’t know it.

Kyle: “This is a difficult decision. I’m smack dab in the middle.” He should have been thinking of which group he really wants to stick with, and how he can placate the other group long before the merge.

This week’s Viewer poll gives you a chance to choose what the Immunity necklace will look like (yawn), whether or not they start the game with tribe supplies (but which specific supplies aren’t listed), and whether or not twists should be included (but which specific twists aren’t listed). This didn’t spark much interest from me without specifics, but you can vote here.

I remember in last season, Sam and Andy ripped the bag off their puzzle piece in the sand and couldn’t get it out. They got eliminated in the 1st round.

But this season’s version has them holding a pole at the end. That’s gonna be a lot harder to do after running the first two stages. I like that little twist. I bet Probst does too. He doesn’t want any 12-hour challenges like with Ian and Fireman Tom in Palau.

Mary uses the same technique that got her through the mud at lighting speed, but I don’t think it will help her clear any sand for David. She was the 4th one to her mat. David uses Mary’s method and blazes through it.

Two of the prime targets – Shauhin and Mitch – get bounced in the first round. Mitch can’t catch a break at all. He’s the only one who hasn’t had a food reward. The least interesting scenario is if Star loses her vote.

Early on, it doesn’t look to me like Kyle is trying very hard to get those staircase planks. Is he throwing it? Does he want Chrissy out?

I think the bigger guys will have trouble on the rope bridge.

No, Kyle made up a lot of room on the plank bridge ... until they fell. He wasn’t throwing it. I checked it twice. They both placed the plank that slid off the rope.

Ok, I’ll try it again. The big guys will have trouble holding the pole. I think Mary could do this in her sleep with her tiny feet. They can fit into those notches easier.

Joe is the first one out, and David is right behind him. I got one right!

Mary: “I’m pretending this is my boyfriend.” She’s had some good one-liners this season.

My wife told me an autistic person’s focus is amazing in tasks like these.

Ahh, that’s why its harder.

Eva wins. My wife was right.

Mary needs to clean that crud out of her eyes. But at least she wasn’t as dirty as Sue was last season.

Chrissy wants Joe out, and Kyle wants Shauhin out, but it’s tough to plan when you don’t know how many votes you can work with. Chrissy did her set up work a little too loud, as in too public. She needs a more subtle approach.

Ok cool, a new game that involves a little strategy. The smartest player can figure out the pattern and double-team someone. And of course, Kamilla picks up on it first and teams up with Mitch against Star. Kamilla is the smartest player in this game.

Star picks the first red ball, but instead of also picking the gray ball behind it, she only takes the lone red ball. She could have forced Shauhin to take a red ball and immediately tie it up.

Star loses her vote, but I don’t think anybody wants her out yet anyway. Just the same, she’s a sitting duck who can’t play her Shot in the Dark now. If everybody plays it safe, Star is an easy vote. Joe, David, Eva and Shauhin might want that easy shot, but I don’t think anyone else will. Could someone get blindsided in a 5-4 shocker?

Eva gets the Rachel LaMont memorial snack food Idol clue. My spidey sense is tingling. We didn’t see them walk in. Were they told where to sit?

David to Joe “How much do you trust Shauhin?” Kamilla’s seed planting last week worked. David is suspicious of Shauhin, just like she wanted him to be.

But David surprises me and wants to go after Kamilla. David’s cocky side irritates me, but I’ve got to give him props for coming up with this one. Removing Kamilla removes an option for Shauhin. That’s almost like Dee removing Emily so Austin and Drew can’t put that vote in their pockets.

This season’s players are like characters from Game of Thrones Some do really crappy things but are still likable, like Jaime Lannister. David reminds me of him. Then there are some who have the right idea but can’t get out of their own way like Robb Stark. Mitch reminds me of him. Then there’s Khal Drogo, who has tunnel vision about his destiny. That’s Joe. And of course, Arya Stark just cut heads without anyone seeing her coming. That’s Kamilla. I guess that means Kyle would be Gendry, right? I’m not sure if Shauhin is Littlefinger or Lord Varys. Eva might be Sansa Stark who was naïve but not too naive. Star would be Brienne of Tarth, but before she learned how to kick everybody’s ass. Mary is tough. I guess she’d be all of the sand snake women rolled into one. And Chrissy? She’s acting like Catelyn Stark going to a wedding.

Mary: “I’ll trust Shauhin if Kamilla leaves tonight.” That’s a Sandra-esque baller line.

Eva can get the Jeremy Collins memorial fire Idol (or Advantage). But I don’t like that the Immunity winner got it. I’ll have to rewatch this to see if they had assigned seating or Eva sat there by chance. (After rewatch note) Yeah, it was assigned seating. Producers hand-delivered this Advantage to Eva. That's not cool.

Kyle finds out Kamilla is the target and immediately tries to flip it to Chrissy by telling Joe that Chrissy wants him out. That was VERY smart, Kyle.

David pushing so hard that “Mary’s with me” is putting a target on Mary. He should have said “Mary is with US.” David came up with a smart plan, but he’s pitching it with an inflexible “My way or the highway” style. That’s not a good long-term plan.

Kamilla’s ranting about David in confessional - “He should have called Joe and Eva and said ‘Let’s do the Olympics together’” - is reminding me of Sandra ... and I’m loving it.

Kamilla’s problem is that she’ll have a tough time getting Mitch to vote for Chrissy, but that might be the only way to do it.

Kyle to Kamilla: “I can’t get blown right now.” Ok, maybe Kyle isn’t Gendry.

David to Kyle: “You need to let that go, bro ... working with Kamilla just can’t happen.” More “My way or the highway.” David doesn’t know it, but he’s chasing Jury votes away.

Star speaks for the audience: “Dang, I wish these things had subtitles.”

Who is gonna put their foot in their mouth at Tribal Council? Whose foot has already gotten themselves booted?

I think there’s gonna be some whispering tonight.

Cedrek sits, smiles, then waves at the players. There’s no way he’ll be a bitter juror.

Star: “...then you see a single one person laying down and you’re like ‘Oh, nobody’s talking to you, huh?’ When you got no vote, you got nothin’ but time.” Star cracks me up almost as much as Mary and Kamilla.

Chrissy doubles down and puts her other foot in her mouth with her Ciera Eastin-esque “I see these strong players taking over the game.” Does she even know there are other targets, and she should keep her mouth shut? She might have just changed Joe’s mind.

Now David is going after Chrissy at Tribal Council (“I think that’s bullshit”)? He just lost Chrissy’s Jury vote for sure.

Kamilla: “Some of you guys are doing a horrible job at Jury Management.” Damn, Kamilla, you could write my column for me. I get the feeling Kamilla is gonna destroy David at Final Tribal Council like Sophie destroyed Coach in South Pacific.

I can hear the Survivor fandom now: “Not Kamilla! Not Kamilla!”

Chrissy in the voting booth: “I think I screwed myself at this vote by opening my mouth.” You did that last week, girlfriend! You had the right idea but did a horrible job of executing it. Don’t call people out so publicly.

Chrissy’s gone and we see 5 votes for her and 1 for Shauhin. Did anybody vote for Kamilla?

Mitch speaks for all the Kamilla fans.

Eight votes for Chrissy. That makes me think she was the target before Tribal Council began. I don’t think that many people would change their minds without a whisper fest happening first.

But I’m dying to know ... did Kyle save Kamilla? Did Kamilla save herself? Did Shauhin do the saving by pushing Joe to vote for Chrissy? How did word get to Mitch? In the “Next week on ...” preview, we see Kyle saying, “This could blow up my game,” so to me that means that’s the LAST thing that will happen. I learned my lesson from Shauhin last week.

But it’s a mystery, and I don’t think Chrissy will be able to enlighten things much in her exit interviews.

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Recap

Ok, it’s a lock that Chrissy will rip David apart on the Ponderosa. We already know Cedrek likes Chrissy a lot, so it’s not unreasonable to conclude David cost himself two votes with his Tribal Council rant. Being so heavy-handed with Kyle might cost him Kyle’s vote too if Kyle is on the Jury.

I’ve gone back and forth with David this season. In preseason, he came off so cocky and arrogant, I couldn’t wait to see him blindsided. But then he showed some likable qualities and had good strategic insight. His glaring weakness is in his execution. He’s just too heavy-handed and inflexible. He’ll only make things worse if he bitches and moans about not getting his way at this vote. He took a sharp turn towards a finals goat position. People don’t like to be bullied. It doesn’t matter that the vote didn’t go his way. It will get worse if he pulls a “I gave you one, now you have to give me one” move.

I’m very curious to see how Mary will handle this fallout. I think she’s smart enough to see David got himself into trouble this week. Will she try to keep him around as a finals goat, or will she try to put him on the Jury as someone who’ll lobby for her to win? Next to the “who saved Kamilla?” question, Mary’s reaction is the most interesting to me.

Chrissy shooting herself in the foot can’t be anything but bad for Mitch and Star. How can they get into a majority now?

I think everything Chrissy had to say was 100% accurate. She just shouldn’t have said it. She should have read last week’s column.

What do you think? How did Kamilla get saved? Did her one-liners remind you of Queen Sandra too? Who has had the better one-liners between Mary and Kamilla? Did David talk himself out of a win? Who benefitted the most from this vote? Was it Shauhin? Will Eva be able to keep her Idol a secret, or is it already a lock that she’ll tell Joe? Was my Game of Thrones casting on point? Let me know in the comments.