Always listen to Jeff Probst during a word puzzle.
Thatis how you playSurvivor!
We begin this weeks recap by giving credit where credit is due.
Credit: CBS
And the credit goes to Andrea Boehlke.
Im saying it because she had a hell of an episode mastering pretty much everything there was to master.
She listened when Jeff Probst started dropping subtle clues 50 minutes into that ridiculously difficult reward puzzle.
She made an immunity challenge look easy that was anything but.
And, most importantly, she knew exactly when to strike at Tribal Council and why.
I dubbed Andrea the Goldilocks ofSurvivorbefore the season began, but it wasnt for her golden hair.
Its because her first two times out represented both extremes of theSurvivorspectrum.
Andreas first time playing, she did nothing.
Honestly, it was infuriating.
Just thinking about it again is causing me to break out in hives.
Her next time out, she course-corrected, but by too much.
She played too aggressively and was way too obvious about it, making herself a target in the process.
This time, like Goldilocks, she needed to find that middle ground that wasjuuuuuuuustright.
And thats exactly what Andrea appears to have done.
But the bigger issue was that Andrea knew she could never trust Zeke again.
And check that to keep your eyes peeled for a chance to win Zekes original pre-game vote.
Words With FriendsYou already know what Im going to say about this reward challenge, dont you?
I loved the way it was designed.
I loved watching everything about it.
But you know what Im going to say, right?
Because I say it every week.
None of it mattered.
Because say it with me now ITS ALL ABOUT THE PUZZLE!
Once again, the coolest physical part of the challenge served as mere window dressing.
But it could have seriously been 10 minutes and itstillwould not have made a lick of difference.
Whichever team was going to do the puzzle faster was going to win.
Ninety-five percent of the time, thats how it goes.
So you knew I was going to say that, and I apologize for the broken record routine.
Now, lets get to the word puzzle.
Reinventing how this game is played.That is a hard freakin puzzle.
As soon as I saw that, I knew the contestants would struggle.
They would be thinking about words like Reward or Probst phrases like Dig deep and Worth playing for.
Hell, they may have even been considering things like Scoop of the crispy, for all I know.
Lets just say that wouldnt exactly be at the top of my list.
But thats just my list.)
Sure enough, 50 minutes in, the players did not have a clue.
So Jeff Probst gave them one!
When youre doing a challenge, the smartest thing is to block out Jeff Probsts voice.
Its just a distraction.
I know from all the times he has mercilessly mocked me while Ive tested competitions out on location.
But there is one big exception to that rule: when you are doing a word puzzle.
Because the longer that puzzle takes, the more likely he is to drop a hint.
And thats exactly what happened here.
He kept repeating that one word over and over.
So what could it be?
I let Scott take this one so I could photograph and videotape it for him.
(Also, I hadnt yet finished my beer and, you know, priorities.)
The problem is, that struggle did not really translate on TV.
And there was only one block drop, which is what makes a challenge like this so dramatic.
Thats the fun in a challenge like this.
I know that sounds mean, but its true.
Trust me, this challenge (which weve seen before) isnoteasy.
But itlookedeasy from our couches, and that was the problem.
Perhaps thats the issue.
Just a working theory.
Youve found the super secretSurvivorpre-game vote-off giveaway of the week.
To enter for a chance to win Zekes vote for J.T., just answer the following question.
Email your answer tosurvivor@ew.comAND like confirm TO INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
The winner will be contacted directly.
(Congratulations to last weeks winner of Debbies infamous Playboy vote, Jessica Redcliffe.
Good luck to all!
We now return you to your regularly scheduledSurvivorrecap, still in progress.]
This time, Brad (a former NFL lineman) and Zeke started bonding over football.
We saw that when he cut Chris throat last season.
But Andrea and Aubry didnt know that.
Of course, that wasnt the real problem for Zeke.
The real problem for Zeke is that he had shown his cards as a big-time gamer too early.
I played this game four times, and he knows this game better than I do, said Cirie.
That was Zekes fatal flaw this time.
The key to playingSurvivoris playing great without letting others realize how great you are until its too late.
Once Andrea won immunity, she was ready to strike.
As for Zeke, you could feel and hear his disappointment after the vote came in.
Dammit, he murmured while walking off.
If you play big, you may go home.
Its never personal in his book just business.
Thats one of the things I admire most about him.
Zeke didnt want to be defined by what happened at Tribal Council with Jeff Varner.
I sincerely hope we havent seen the last of him.
Nor have you seen the last of ourSurvivorcoverage!
We have an exclusive deleted scene waiting for you above.
And dont forget to read myweekly Q&Awith the Hostmaster General himself, Jeff Probst.
Were you Team Andrea or Team Zeke?
What did you think of this weeks challenges?
And who has played the best game so far?
