SURVIVOR CAGAYAN Episode 4 Ranking

Tribal shuffle and new tribal dynamics. I hated this twist when it was first introduced way back in the third season, Survivor Africa. But I've grown to appreciate it over the years as it brings more complexities in the players' strategies creating friction and drama that viewers like me want to see. This twist either brings luck or misfortune to certain castaways and thankfully, only few of my favorites were screwed by this twist.

The last couple of shakeups have been lame as it made one tribe way more powerful physically than the other. Thankfully, the outcome of the tribal shuffle this season is great. As we've witnessed in this episode, it made room for a lot of betrayals, new alliances, and new stars of the game. Exciting!

NuAparri consists of Kass, Spencer, Tasha, Morgan, Alexis, Jeremiah and the odd one out, Sarah.

In Survivor Philippines, we've witnessed the come from behind victory of Denise Stapley who's been in the losing tribe throughout the whole pre-merge of the game. From the dissolved Matsing, her and Malcolm who were allies got separated from each other. Malcolm went to the winning tribe Tandang and Denise to Kalabaw.

This season, it seems like we're bound to witness another come from behind victory care of one of the three original Brain tribemembers: Tasha, Spencer and Kass.

It really pays off for players coming from a weak tribe who ended up harmoniously entering a tribal shakeup. With Tasha and Kass' decision to spare Spencer from the game in their last Tribal Council, it made them more solid and Spencer felt like he needed to prove his loyalty to the two who saved him.

And now with this twist, they are unscathed and stronger than ever. They're not necessarily in a better tribe challenge wise, but their percentage of winning immensely increased. Even if they lose the remaining Immunity challenges before the merge, the players that ended up with them don't trust each other to stick together and counter attack them. Morgan, Jeremiah and Alexis all want to be with them. Great thing for Kassha and Spencer, they're making the most of their situation and are more inclined in creating more conflict to these Beauties. This is their time to gain numbers so I can't wait to know who among Sarah, Morgan, Alexis and Jeremiah would win their hearts. Now, these people should bow down to them as they're at their mercy.

Plus, there's Sarah whom I must say should be thankful albeit being left out as the only original Aparri in the NuAparri, as she's saved from the self destructing NuSolana. Which brings us to them.

NuSolana consists of Trish, Cliff, Tony, Woo, Lindsey who are all from the original Brawns tribe and the outsiders LJ and Jefra from the original Beauty tribe. They're clearly outnumbered but once again, this episode proves that entering a tribal shuffle without the numbers doesn't always mean you're toast.

The Brawns tribe have been chaotic solely because of Tony's lies and it brought us this Cliff blindside. Whether it's good or bad decision, we'll never know until we see how their games unfold.

The line has been drawn in the NuSolana and I can't pick which side I'm rooting for in it. Fact of the matter is, I don't really care that much about their tribe. The NuAparri tribe is clearly the more likable one and I'm more invested in the future of that tribe. Really happy how this game turned into.

This week, LJ is once again the recipient of the valued Plummy for saving his outnumbered self from the crowded and dysfunctional Brawns tribe and for keeping his idol in his pocket making him the first castaway to receive two Plummy's. =o

14. Tony

 He seems like a nice guy outside the game and just excited to experience all the attention he's getting but geez, I think he made a BAD move this episode. He's the King of the Brawns tribe so while he's at it, why not save all his Brawns peasants as far as possible before jumping ship to people he hardly even know or hardly even trust. Making a new alliance with LJ and Jefra go is so random when he even commented after the Immunity Challenge that LJ has got to go. He only made LJ more powerful than ever. I could understand Trish's decision because she's the one who has really bonded with LJ but Tony?? WHAT THE HELL?? Don't get me wrong, I've been praying for a Brawn boot the last couple of weeks and Tony and Trish provided it BUT it's so wrong in so many levels. Unnecessary. He just made the Beauties more powerful. Oh well... it's definitely good TV.

13. Jefra

Not so impressed. She let LJ play for her. Even LJ made a speech to the Brawns people about sparing him assuming that he's willing to vote out Jefra.I guess she's just a loyal player like what she said in her preshow interviews but that's dull and uninteresting. Her accent though, reaaaaally adorable.

12. Cliff

Yes, I like Cliff. I think he's likable and influential as Tony said but do you agree that his elimination is also kind of his fault? Trish mentioned that she's on the outs in their tribe, that Cliff is shady, and that Cliff never talked to him. Trish has all the reasons to vote Cliff out and Cliff also has all the reasons not to alienate Trish or at least keep Tony in making the Brawns tribe strong. Cliff was too passive and so are his friends Woo and Lindsey. They just sat there badmouthing Trish. They got too relaxed. Thinking about it, it's really frustrating because they didn't do anything about it. They solidified each other's votes but didn't care for Trish or Tony or even deceive LJ and Jefra. So I guess, good riddance!

11. Jeremiah

Jeremiah approached Kassha about saving him and keeping him as an ally. I appreciate that. Fight! But between Jeremiah, Morgan and Alexis, Jeremiah is my least favorite. I kinda think that he's doing the right things so far, though so he doesn't deserve further hate from me or from anyone.

10. Woo

Woo's blindsided reaction was golden. It seems like it didn't got into him until a few seconds laters. LOL. But he managed to become likable even if he didn't do much. Although at the same time, I kind of blame him for the crumbling of the Brawns because he's supposed to be the glue right now in the NuSolana. I don't think he's made enemies but he also didn't do anything to maintain that so he's in a hot pickle right now and it's also his fault. If Lindsey quits, Woo better start winning the remainng challenges for himself. He's in trouble.

9. Sarah

See? She's more bearable without Tony. I'd rather see her vulnerable and humble in the NuAparri than be strong and confident but delusional because of Tony's lies. Right now, she's in the most unpredictable spot in the NuAparri and even if she reaches the merge, I don't know what she's gonna do and where she's gonna be. She's the epitome of the wild card right now.

8. Lindsey

Her 'Malnutrisha' annoyance is a guilty pleasure of mine. I love how she continues to badmouth Trish with Cliff and Woo but we haven't seen the climax yet as it looks like it's going to be in the next episode. Sadly, Trish got her way in their first Tribal Council together and I hope that that wouldn't stop Lindsey from fighting back. Please don't lose hope and fight. But from the looks of it, I think she's a goner next week. :( So much for Abi Maria Gomes-like potential. But it'll be a first if she quits solely because she just doesn't want to be around Trish anymore. That would be disappointing yet hilarious at the same time.

7. Kass

Kass was kind of under the radar this episode except for her funny commentaries when they went back from Tribal Council after voting out J'Tia. But that doesn't change the fact that she's a favorite and now one of my contenders for the win.

6. Morgan

Her and Alexis are funny in the NuAparri tribe, they don't seem like enemies on the island but they're obviously on to each other. Same with Jeremiah. Once again though, she proved to be a calm player. When Sarah inadvertently exposed Morgan's lie, she didn't scramble nor she didn't admit like she lied hardcore to the Beauties. Alexis eventually realized about her lie but I trust that Morgan is social enough to save herself. Her conversation with the Brains tribe in the NuAparri proves that she can be a social player. But there's still more to her, I can feel it. I hope she wins the hearts of the Brains. Start with Spencer, Morgan!

5. Alexis

I usually gravitate towards underdogs and Alexis hasn't been one ever since the premiere, but I kind of found new appreciation and respect for her because this episode showed her the promise she told her interviewers preshow. Her willingness to jumpship and how she executed it doesn't necessarily translate to great gameplay as the Brains seems like they're still weighing in their options but respect for somehow being aggressive and presenting herself IN the game. I also love her pose in her confessional, shows her confidence and that's sexy. She looked miserable in the Reward Challenge and for that I'm giving her the Paloma Soto-Castillo Award for being similarly dragged down by her opponents in the same challenge Paloma played in Gabon.

4. Spencer

I love Spencer's confessionals this episode. He perfectly described the Beauties in his new tribe -- spreading rumors with each other. Spencer continues to prove that he's indeed a smart player in the game. Something I thought would be a fraud when he kept on telling his pre-show interviewers that he's used to being the smartest in the room or crowd or whatever. He's also smart for talking to these people while reserving his thoughts on who should they pull to their side and who should they vote out. Either that, or it's just editing since they won the Immunity challenge. Either way, he's really good this episode in a different way. Other than being the hero in challenges, he proves that he knows how to play the game. About time, he can strategize again without relying at the mercy of others.

3. Trish

Well look at Trish, just when I was about to drop her from my winner radar, here she is proving that she's still in the running in the race to the Finals. Too early to say but whatever happens, this is clearly her breakout episode and looks like it's going to continue next week or throughout the game. Tribal shuffles truly give other people the opportunity to be in the spotlight and this week it's Trish. She lured the horse trainer easily and vice versa, and I feel like this twosome is going to be a force to be reckoned with. Also, her feud with Lindsey is kind of ridiculous but we take what they provide. It's not the most exciting drama but it sure is one of the realest. This shows personality and whether it's good or bad, I appreciate it!! It's strong nevertheless. She may be playing with her emotions according to other players but I kind of think that her move would actually benefit her and what makes most sense for her game. Also, her laugh WHOALYLOL!

2. Tasha

From Tragedy to Triump indeed. Like Spencer, I love her perspective about her new tribe. She knows that she's on the driver's seat now and she's loving it, and excited about it. But I've been talking about her strategic capabilities in my past writeups. Truth is, the reason she's up here is because of her performance in the Reward Challenge. That challenge was first used in Cook Islands and it's also the first time Candice caught my attention. She was fierce in that challenge. Tasha, she gave Candice Woodcock a run for her money for not letting go from that pole. What a challenge beast!

1. LJ

Yes he's outnumbered. Yes he's boring and has a dreary voice but that won't stop him from continuously slaying the game... against all odds. I can't even decide if the swap was a huge misfortune for his game. I wish it was because he's been on top since the beginning of the game but I feel like Trish's presence made him even more powerful in the game. Now he doesn't only have the Beauties on his side, he also has Trish who's head over heels over him. It's obvious that Trish is a very patriotic woman of Massachusetts and LJ's too lucky he lives in the same state because it's one of the basis why Trish likes him. Trish could be LJ's ticket to the end game and I'm kind of mad because I wanted to see him lose one of his aces, one of which is his Hidden Immunity Idol. But because of his intelligence, Trish's crush for him, Tony's idiocy and the Brawns incompetence, he's still one of the leading contenders in winning the game and he's also able to save his idol. No complains I guess. If he gets there, he totally deserves it.


WINNER PICKS:
1. LJ - He's a huge threat and there's still a long way to get to the end. People are going to target him anytime soon as he's already being targeted currently. But he still has the idol, and since the rule for the HII is going to change some time in the game (as stated by Jeff Probst preshow), that would give him way much more power and advantage. I could see him winning this game ala Kim Spradlin's dominant gameplay. Only difference is that Kim was on top throughout the game and LJ started in this tribal shuffle on the outs before taking back the steering wheel.

2-4. Kassha and Spencer - They are the ultimate underdogs and I can see them winning the game just like how Denise Stapley did it. The Beauties and Brawns are too dysfunctional, they're the only united group in this game right now. I could see Trish and LJ being the thorns in their throats along the way.

5. Trish - I think she can win this game or at least get to the end, but somehow her chances are slowly decreasing because I can see her Dawn-ing her way to the end. Making a lot of enemies along the journey. :/

Next week: It seems like Lindsey can handle any amount of rain but when it comes to Trish, she would rather quit than stay anywhere near her. Looks like she's gonna quit and I won't like it. But we'll see. Trish's venom is REAL and we're going to see a glimpse of how Jeff Probst hush a woman!

Phew! This episode had my typing a LOT. I hope you enjoy this week's entry. You can tweet me @jaynormouskid