JEFF PROBST:One difference with the rain this season was the strength of the downpour.
We may never see another season played at this level of strategic intensity.
And, as you note, the best evidence comes from the players themselves.
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS
It wasnt just one, it was nearly all of them.
Eight of the 10 took the shelter over the competition.
Did that surprise you, especially with so many returning gamers?
Some felt that five was too many and we wouldnt be successful.
Its reason #736,215 that I love being a part of this show.
This kind of collaboration is what we do.
We conceive, we debate, we decide and then we execute.
And every step along the way we challenge the idea.
Sometimes were right, sometimes were wrong but we never, ever approach it halfway.
How do you like what Jeremy did here by playing an idol for Stephen?
This is the only way to play this game.
You must play to win.
I say it over and over and over and over and over.
You cant play safe.
Not if you want to win.
Jeremy wants to win.
He put his faith in Stephen.
It may work, it may not.
Next Tribal he may have to vote Stephen out or Stephen may blindside him.
But for this moment, this was his best move and I love that he made it.
I cant believe you did the Survivor Folklore challenge!
We havent seen this in YEARS!
We really wanted to do stuff at night this season, me especially!
Another specific reason was I wanted to challenge our pyro and lighting department.
So this season they were tested and man, did they deliver.
They kept saying No problem.
Rain or shine there will be fire.
We had over 50 fires in that jungle.
That is a major feat and a major endeavor to keep secure and ensure fires dont spread.
Its a risk we were willing to take.
Then we added in the idol clue and we had ourselves a kick-assSurvivorchallenge.
Memorizing thats something Ive always been able to do.
It definitely comes in handy at times like that or complicated maroonings with several beats.
One other fun note we had always done Folklore with two possible answers.
So we had a big creative meeting to discuss options.
Seems so simple when you hear it, doesnt it?
So yes, there is an invoice for getting food.
I would never do it.
I think people miss opportunities to strong arm.
When you win, you have leverage.
You may never have this much leverage again.
So use it.Survivorhas changed.
Just look at the recent history.
Its been a long time since a lesser of two evils won the game.
I cannot even handle how insane this second Tribal Council was.
Fishbach does the right thing and plays his advantage and thenstillgets voted out.
That moment just turned this season from a very good one into a great one.
Take us through the scene and your thoughts being there as that all went down.
Its reminiscent of last season when Dan used his extra vote and was blindsided.
My vantage point is really reactionary at Tribal.
So my head is filled with a lot of what if scenarios.
What if an idol is played?
And I love it!
I love it when tribal is alive like that.
Its honestly why I still love this show so much.
But, and this is a big but …
I give him a lot of credit for playing as big as he did.
He really left it all out there.
He let us see inside his heart and his vulnerability was really a beautiful thing to witness.
Over and over and over.
Looks like we have a loved ones visit and a possible medevac coming up.
What can you tease for next week?
These players should all be in theSurvivorHall of Fame.
So yes, next week the loved ones come and its pretty doggone emotional.
I think I welled up just a wee bit.
Pushing a body so hard that it just stops.
Also see to it toread Daltons full episode recap.
And for moreSurvivorscoop, follow Dalton on Twitter@DaltonRoss.
