New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

Naturally, we come back from break to Levu beach as this new tribe prepares to go to Tribal. Essentially, we have the Heroes vs the Healers with Devon in the middle. Joe has already alienated Devon, so Ashley's pitch to him is very easy for him to hear. It takes like 3 minutes for Devon to join forces with the Heroes. Seeing Devon hug Ashley, Joe can tell that he's lost the battle for Devon's affections. So, what a dude that reminds you of Tony Vlachos do at a time like this? He tries to go all Tony Vlachos on everyone. So, he decides to get everyone together and stir shit up in an effort to get everyone to vote for him so he can use his idol. What ensues devolves into an argument between Joe and Alan in which Joe says he's voting for Ashley and Alan says he will never vote for Ashley. All this really does is piss everyone off and throw Desi under the bus. She tells him that he came in too confident and they know he has an idol now, which puts the target squarely on her back. She tells him to play the idol for her and she'll ride with him to the end. Ultimately, though, this was an amazingly bad play on Joe's part. It could end up working out for him, but he was wickedly transparent through all of this. We've said it before and we'll say it again #TeamTV was a Survivor unicorn. Don't try to play his game, because it just can't work again. Ask Tony v2.0.

Before heading off to Tribal, Devon finds a Secret Advantage hidden in his bag. He is blown away that someone on another tribe is thinking enough of him to send him an advantage. The writing on it tells him to let Jeff know right before the vote at which time the advantage will be revealed. As they all head to Tribal, Devon is pretty excited being the swing vote AND having an advantage.

When they get to Tribal, Joe and Desi have to grab a torch and get fire. Fire represents life in this game. When your fire is out, so are you. Alan wastes no time getting into the heat of the day. Desi and Ashley are both feeling really concerned, having been thrown under the bus today. Essentially, this just breaks down to Alan and Joe trading bards at each other. Jeff does ask Devon about being in the middle of all this. Devon just says that he plans on sticking with the people he feels he can work with. And it is time to vote...but wait Jeff!!

Devon pulls out his Secret Advantage. He opens it up to read, "This is a secret advantage, but it is being used against you by another player to block your vote at tonight's Tribal Council." And in the line of the season, so far, Devon says, "That is NOT an advantage." Now that Devon has been taken out of the decision making process, it is time to vote. We see no votes, but we know what they all are, right? Jeff asks about playing an idol and Joe stands up. He hands his idol over to Jeff and says that he can either use it for himself or give it to somebody. Desi's eyes light up with hope, and as Joe scans the group, he decides to keep the idol for himself. And when the votes come up, it is 2 votes for Joe and 2 votes for Alan. Alan Ball becomes the 4th person voted out of Survivor: HHH. Joe is ridiculously animated while votes are being read, telling Desi, "I told you." And he finishes it off by telling Ashley that he read her face, "Thank you baby girl." So, a gracious winner Joe is not. Also, he may have won this battle, but I think he definitely lost the war. He doesn't have an idol anymore and he has basically cemented a bond between Ashley and Devon. Which means at best, their next vote will be a 2/2 tie and at worst, Desi will decide to ditch his ass and side with the other 2 creating a very solid trio moving forward. So, Joe - enjoy your moment tonight, buddy. I don't think you have many left.

Next time on Survivor: First, we have the return of the inch worm challenge, where people will lie on the ground with hands tied behind their back inch-working their way through a challenge pushing a ball with their face. Then we have some strategy, Chrissy telling JP that Roark wants an all girl alliance. JP, "Well, then she's gotta go. And things like that." And Devon and Ashley bond at Levu beach. Ashley, "The next vote is going to rocks." Sounds like a good time! See ya Wednesday. Til then, take care everybody.

Continued:       1       2       3       4