I LOVE This Season!

Ok, I admit it - this season of Survivor started slow. Too many people, too many tribes, gimmicks galore. But now? Well...I think this may be one of the best seasons ever.

In the previews for this week's episode, it sure did look like Parvati had to leave the game (thus explaining how we still have so many survivors). But in the first few minutes she sliced her thumb open, had it stitched up, and won the reward challenge. (and didn't you just love the juxtaposition of Parvati being the toughest player ever with Adam's wincing at the sight of blood?) She hasn't been my favorite player, but man is she tough.

I always love the family member reward challenge. And this one was great - a nice combination of a few previous challenges, and a nice balance between the survivors and their loved ones playing (I hate when the loved ones do the entire challenge). I don't understand, though, why it took so long for them to realize to squeeze their hair and clothes into the bucket (did they not watch previous seasons?). I also LOVED that Parvati's dad got to choose the other two to go on the reward. Side note - did anyone else notice the number of parents that were there vs. spouses/kids? This group of survivors may be the youngest yet. (but very smart - bringing back corn and chicken and meatloaf bought Adam & Parvati another few days, and may put them into the finals)

Oh Ozzy. First, you encourage your alliance to stop sharing food with the Raro folks. Then you engineer a plan to hide food from Adam & Parvati. And then you lap everybody at the challenge. Does anyone else remember how before the mutiny, Aitu discussed voting out Ozzy, since he would be such a threat at the challenges? Hmmm...

So one of the best players ever, Jonathan, was the next survivor voted off, and we're down to six. Of course, we're down to six, with only two episodes left. Word is that the final will be different this season - not a final two. Not sure what that means (rumor is final three), especially because there is the possibility for a tie in the final vote. And since Mark Burnett has publicly said that he will never do a final vote reveal on the island again, that adds a whole extra layer of intrigue (in season 1, where the votes were read at final tribal council...since then, the final votes are revealed during the live finale). I don't even know where to start predicting a winner, since an expanded final changes everything. But if Yul is up for votes from the jury, I don't know how he can lose.