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So sorry for that, but I get myself worked up sometimes. While I was ranting, Ben was looking for an idol. After some more searching, he finds an arrow pointing down to the ground. Down there he finds a note that there is a hidden idol tied underneath their shelter. All he has to do is have the guts to go get it. Dude, when you're the odds on favorite to go home, you get the idol regardless of who sees you. Hell, being seen might even be better. Then they'll know not to vote for you tonight and you might keep it til Final 5. At any rate, he gets back to camp and everyone is there, of course, so he just goes and lays down in the shelter right above where the idol should be. Time starts to run out and the sun starts to set. Ben positions himself and covers up his hand with his hat and starts to grab under the shelter. As everyone packs up for Tribal, Ben tells us that he HAS to get that idol.

And for the first time since Season 16 with Amanda Kimmel, we head to Tribal not knowing whether or not Ben got the idol. Well, sorta. I mean, they don't show it, but there's NO way he doesn't get that idol before Tribal. Even if he has to tear the shelter apart, I'm sure he has it in his pocket.

Jeff brings in the jury and we get right to it. Jeff asks Ben if there was any impact at camp after his idol play last time. He says that nothing has really changed for him and he's the next to go. He points out that Ashley and Devon are a pair as are Ryan and Chrissy. This leads Jeff to ask Ashley about the reward again and not getting chosen by Devon. She plays it off well saying that it was a 2-person decision and she understood the strategy behind it. As usual, Chrissy is not able to let something like this go, so she points out that Ashley's demeanor after the challenge was poor sportsmanship. I kinda expected Ashley to get a little irritated at that, but instead, she back peddles. I really do not care for Chrissy and how she talks to everyone like they're a child needing to be scolded. Maybe I just have mommy issues. Moving on. Jeff asks Mike if it's time to start looking at the end and start working backwards. He says that Ben is a huge threat, but not the only threat. This starts a line of questioning about wanting to get to the end, but get there with someone you can beat. 5 of the players fess up to having a final 3 in their head. So, obviously, some people are out in the cold. Ben, he just wants to work with someone. ANYone. Mike admits that Ben's offer might start to sound good soon, but Ben is very smart and very dangerous right now and he wouldn't be shocked for Ben to get his way tonight. This wakes Ashley up. It seems she never entertained the idea that anything other than Ben going home might happen and now she's concerned. Ben talks about how no one wants to play and no one wants to make any moves. This gets under my skin a bit. It's the Ciera Eastin method of Survivor play. "No one wants to make big moves. How can I play if no one wants to make big moves?" Um - to any Survivor players (current, past or future) please don't mistake people not wanting to make big moves with people not wanting to make big moves WITH YOU. People are making moves all over this game (some good, some monumentally stupid), they're just not making them with Ben. And Devon actually calls him on that asking if every vote hasn't pretty much been a blind side. Ben suggests Devon hasn't done anything in the game and asks him what he has done. Devon tells him he'll be happy to lay out his game for Ben, when Ben's on the jury. Devon maintains that he thinks Ben is going home tonight.

"Jeff, let's just church this up." I have NO idea what that means, but it's what Ben says as he pulls the new idol out of his boot and puts it around his neck. He tells them all, "I ain't goin' home tonight." Then he makes a bomb explosion noise. This really gets under Chrissy's skin and she quickly acts to diffuse the moment. She says that his reaction might be a little much and basically acts like this idol is no big deal. What was it Kimmi said a couple seasons ago, "No Pumpkin no." This IS a big deal. And it's the second big deal in a row. I totally understand how Ben making big displays like this, at Tribal, in front of the jury, can totally ruin your end game, but make no mistake. This is a pretty big deal. No matter what happens from this second to the end of this Tribal, it's Ben's play - not yours. Not Devon's, not Mike's, not anyone else's. Ryan, at least, sees the gravity of the situation. An idol was just pulled out by someone who was getting votes tonight. Devon jumps in to remind everyone that just because it's around his neck, that doesn't mean he's playing it. Ben offers a deal to Ashley and Devon. Points at Mike and asks if they want to go back to camp with him. Ashley is game, but Devon tells him he doesn't think he'll play the idol tonight. And in an unprecedented move, Ben gets up and takes his idol over to Jeff and says, "I'm in the final, Jeff." Now, here's an interesting grey area for me. Jeff does his normal Jeff thing, "This...IS a hidden immunity idol." My concern here is whether or not Jeff should have confirmed it as an idol at this point. Every episode he tallies the votes, comes back and says, "If anyone has a hidden immunity idol and you want to play it, NOW is the time to do so." So, should he have taken Ben's idol and let them know he'd confirm it after the votes are cast, like always. It's not a huge deal to me, but an interesting topic for Survivor nerds to debate for a while.

Needless to say, this changes everything. Ryan acknowledges that plans have to change and someone's plan will end tonight. Mike doesn't know exactly what to think. Ben is making nods at Ashley and Devon in the back row to see if they want to work with him. He is all smiles too. He's turning the group on themselves and has bought himself one more day in the game. We see very little talk or chit chat or anything before Jeff calls for the vote. We see no votes and hear no comments. Jeff tallies votes and asks for any further idols. There are none. First vote: Mike. Second vote: Ashley. And then the wave of Ashley's come in. Unanimously, Ashley is the 13th person voted out and the 6th member of our jury. As she goes up to see Jeff, Ben hugs her and tells her good game. Devon tries to hug her and she gives him the Heisman. Ouch. That's what happens when you vote out your boo, Devon. She ain't gonna want a hug. In fairness though, he's in a tough situation here. Ashley's his ride or die, but when the entire group is voting for her, what do you do? Do you go against them? Or do you stick with Ashley and vote Mike? Does that help you or hurt you at the end? His only other option here might have been to cast a vote for Ben. It's a throwaway vote, but not a vote for his girl. He doesn't alienate anyone at camp, since everyone knew a vote for Ben wouldn't count. But, that could also have been seen as the coward's way out. What the jury saw tonight was that Devon made the decision to take his girl out and they have to respect that. Further, what the jury saw tonight was Ben making another game changing move. It's been suggested that Chrissy's plan to take out Ashley was in play the whole time. First of all, as I stated about, it's a dumb plan. Second of all, it's not Chrissy's plan or move anymore. It's Ben's. He stole it right out from under her. As we've said for a few weeks now, if Ben makes it to the end, everyone else is dumb and he's a millionaire.

Next time on Survivor: only 5 remain for the season finale. Devon is shown hanging with Ryan. Chrissy has something around her neck and Mike looks like he doesn't know what's going on. If nothing else, the outcome is definitely up in the air. Sure, if Ben makes it, he wins. Other than that, though, there are a ton of different possible outcomes. Please make sure you come back next time for the 2 hour season finale of Survivor: Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers. Til then, take care.

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