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So, three episodes with three very good Tribal Councils. Malcolm, Eddie and Reynold were very lucky that the stars aligned for them tonight. Unfortunately for them, I don’t think anyone else will be willing to. Everyone who saw them as immunity monsters at the merge now sees them as a tight threesome of immunity monsters. Anyone joining that alliance would know they are joining at the bottom, and their better option is to solidify and vote out the “three amigos”. Maybe if Malcolm had felt able to keep his idol, it would work out differently, but presumably they’ll both be in play again next week.

Erik’s decision to flip was the weird one, because he was also the one who cooled everything down by asking “what if they don’t play their idol?” After that, everything became settled and Stealth R Us decided to go ahead with their plan, damn the consequences. So then why flip? Did he want to make sure? I suppose I can explain it by Erik not knowing what he was doing.

And for all Phillip’s talk about being “maligned”, he had decided to dump Andrea from the alliance but couldn’t pass the word on to enough people. He only decided on martyrdom when he realized he couldn’t control the vote. Lesson for potential castaways - seating position matters!

Next time on Survivor, we have Reynold making another pitch for a majority – with Sherri, who hates him. And there’s a Survivor auction! Where Cochran is fed food by a girl of the opposite gender! According to Cochran it happens “more often than you’d think.”

Phillip’s farewell words are pretty dull and surprisingly lacking in showmanship. “I felt I played a great game. I am so happy with the way I played. I tried to bring in some things I learned from Boston Rob. I felt often in Season 22 I wasn’t respected, I wasn’t appreciated for the things that I do, so that part hurts. But I know I did a very good job out here. I did my best.”

So, a fitting end to Phillip, but it also means he won't get the even more fitting end of zero votes at the final Tribal Council, and can carry on his delusions. But at least we won't have to suffer watching the most Phillip moments in those 11 days. So long, Phillip. Whatever you learned from Boston Rob, you still played more like Russell Hantz.

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