Survivor: Blood vs Water - Power Rankings
Week 8
By Ben Willoughby
November 5, 2013
6. Ciera
Ciera is in the new Tadhana alliance, and if her mother wins the Redemption Island challenge, Ciera can bring her into the alliance, guaranteeing an Aras vote-out and establishing some credibility. Of course, being the only pair in that alliance would make both Ciera and Laura? firm targets for the next blind-side in a few weeks, but whatever.
7. Katie
Katie is seen as a tag-along, which doesn’t speak much for her power in the tribe. But tag-alongs often hang around for a while because there’s no overriding reason for getting rid of them.
8. Caleb
We haven’t seen much of Caleb since the tribe switch. He’s in the new Tadhana alliance and that’s about it.
9. Hayden
Except for feeling sad about Kat’s departure, we haven’t seen much of Hayden, either. But he seems in with the new Tadhana alliance as well.
10. Monica
For all the talk about Brad being an anchor, Monica’s position is not looking that great. It looks like the original Galang alliance is not going to be revived after the merge, and she doesn’t seem to have any options beyond sticking with the Aras-Tina group.
Redemption Island
Continuing with the theme of actually believing what “Next Time on Survivor” says, the Redemption Island duel is about hanging onto the top of the pole for as long as you can. This challenge is as much about concentration, will-power and having tiny, tiny feet as it is about strength – but the winner’s biggest challenge will be making any alliances once they are back in the game.
1. Laura?
I’m putting Laura? in the #1 spot because I think she is the one most likely to win this week’s challenge, and also the one I believe would have the biggest impact if they were to return to the game. There will be 11 players at the merge, so six people are needed to control the vote, yet no current alliance has more than five people. Laura? also has a loved one still in the game, which could provide her with a ready-made alliance. But I think the game will be a little less predictable if Laura? made a comeback.
2. John
He’s not my #1 pick, but I think John has a reasonable shot at winning the Redemption Island duel. But if he does win, he has both too many options and too few. With no loved one in the game and his former alliance broken, he can go whichever way he wants. But it’s also worth remembering that his original tribe voted him out because they think he is shady (when he’s really just a bit clueless), and he doesn’t have a relationship with any of the returnees (who by the way, voted out his wife at first sight). Coming into a merged tribe split 5-5 with him as the swing brings opportunities, but if he’s to do well, he’ll have to work hard at building new bonds while being seen as a physical threat.
3. Rupert’s Laura
I expect that Rupert’s Laura was crossing her fingers and toes for a water challenge this week. However, all Redemption Island duels must take place in the Redemption Island arena, so Rupert’s Laura’s chances of winning this challenge are about as good as Rupert’s Laura’s chances of winning if she were to re-enter the game.
All in all, I’m looking forward to tonight’s episode. The last couple of episodes have felt a little dull, as the pre-merge episodes tend to be, and I’m more than ready for some anything-goes pre-Tribal Council scrambling.
Continued:
1
2
Print this column
