Game Changing Moves
In a Rewatch of the Game Changers Season, I tracked the Game Changing Moves for each player, and the Production Twists.
In the opening statement to the players, Jeff says that by Game Changers, these players have done the following "moves that change the game":
1. Bold Moves (Tony is shown)
2. Quiet Moves (Sierra)
3. Legendary Successful Moves (Malcolm, Cirie)
4. Disasters and got voted out (Ozzy)
He then says most moves don't work, but you have the guts to make them.
First, I looked at how Production tried to change the game and give them ratings based on how much the game was changed. .
Episode 1
1. Life Ring in the Water Advantage with "Massive" Tool Kit
Ozzy went for this uncontested and gave Nuku an early advantage but really didn't come into play the rest of the season. (Rating: 2 out of 5)
2. Secret (Legacy) Advantage
Found by Sierra on Day 1 and inherited by Sarah after backstabbing Sierra, who used it at 6 and would have been voted out without it. (Rating 5 as it ultimately changed the game)
3. No Revote at Tribal
Really didn't come into play directly, but it may have altered the strategy in not splitting votes at certain points. (Rating 1)
Episode 2
4. Tribe Switch From 2 to 3 Tribes
This was not unique to this season, but the way it broke down had an affect on the next vote as Caleb and Hali were outnumbered. (Rating 2)
Episode 3
5. Two Tribes go to Tribal, Vote 1 person out
This may have been the single twist that most affected the game. Malcolm or Sierra were the targets of the opposing tribes, and would not have been had either or both gone to tribal council separately. This combined with the Idol that Tai found in camp (and not in a challenge like Troyzan's) and played for Sierra gives this twist a 6 out of 5 rating.
Episode 5
5. Tribe Switch
Not a big deal per se, but Sandra and Varner being on the downside of the numbers affected the next two tribals. (Rating 1)
6. Exile is a boat with Cochran and an advantage.
This was an interesting twist in that it changed up what exile was all about and introduced an outside influence into the game. I think luxury and the advantage would have been fine by itself. The Advantage had no effect as Ozzy would have already lost, I think the bigger advantage would have been fake immunity idol kit which could have blown up in peoples faces late in the game. (Rating 3)
Episode 7
7. Merge feast requires one person from each tribe to sit out in order for the rest to eat.
Brad and Tai sitting out had a mixed response in the immediate aftermath. Certainly didn't hurt Brad in winning 5 Immunity Idols. (Rating 3)
Episode 8
8. Secret Advantage on the sit out bench
Trying to give this to the person who had to sit out was great, but Michaela didn't notice it. Sarah did and it played a big role in the end game of Sarah and Cirie. (Rating 4)
9. Makes a big deal of having Cirie complete the beam at reward challenge, and brings a boat out rather than have the losers swim to shore.
Throughout all the seasons of Survivor Jeff probst has been most tough when someone fails. This one is a twist because he goes out of his way to make sure Cirie feels good by finishing the obstacle. He even brings out a boat so Cirie and team doesn't have to swim to shore. This allows Sarah to see the Secret Advantage that Michaela missed because of that alone, I have to give this (Rating 4).
Episode 12
10. Changed the format of FTC to more of a moderated discussion
This was much more meaningful as a viewer because I always dislike everyone getting a question and many of them use it for self-interest, "Why did you do "this" to me" rather than figuring out who is the most deserving player left to win. I think it ultimately brought out some more interesting points, and may have actually swayed a couple of people changing the game from Brad to Sarah. (Rating 3+)
So the key twists were the Legacy Advantage, Double Tribal, Secret Advantage/Cirie Prop Up, Exile/Advantage, and FTC Format Change.
It's hard to determine how much the Double Tribal affected the outcome of the game, as Malcolm was potentially set for a long play. The first Idol was played in this tribal, and The Exile Advantage was played early after the merge, but the others Hidden Idols as well as the Legacy Immunity came into play late in the game, and the cumulative affect had another player unexpetedly go home.
In addition the Hidden Immunity Idols were located in the challenge as well as at camp, although there were never more than three in play at any one time and only five were shown in total, (J.T. left with his still at camp.)
As for the players who were touted as Game Changers, I tried to go through and find the moves or events that changed the game.
1. Sarah--
Episode 1--Confesses she will be playing like a criminal this time (Quiet)
Episode 4--Sarah forges alliance with Troyzan (Quiet)
Episode 8--Goes back to help Cirie in reward challenge (Big)
--Retrieves the Secret Advantage before boarding boat after reward challenge. (Legendary)
--Works through options on directions she can take while rest of alliance is on reward (Quiet)
--With Sierra and Brad's plan to vote Andrea, Sarah realizes she is on bottom and works to take out Debbie. (HUGE)
--At tribal decides to choose the unknown over Safety and votes Debbie (Bold)
Episode 9-- Tells Cirie about the Secret Advantage Extra Vote (Big)
Episode 10--Sierra tells her of her Legacy Advantage (Big)
--Despite Voting for Sierra, she receives the Legacy Advantage (Legendary)
--Feigns surprise to Sierra after vote which makes Andrea and Aubry suspect something (Bold)
Episode 11--Gives Cirie her Extra Vote Advantage to hold (Legendary)
Episode 12--Plays the Legacy advantage at 6, sending Cirie home instead of her. (No-Brainer)
2. Brad--
Episode 1--Adopts WWMD (What would Monica Do) mantra. (Quiet)
Episode 5--Forges Alliance with Troyzan (Quiet)
Episode 6--Brad opens up emotionally about playing the game, winning over Aubry. (Bold)
Episode 7--Sits out the Merge feast. (Big)
--Bonds with Tai who also sits out (Quiet)
Episode 8 --When choosing reward teams, he leaves Troyzan and Sarah on the other team (Important)
--Formulates plan (with Sierra) to vote out Andrea and tells Debbie, Troyzan, Tai and Sarah (Disaster)
Episode 9 --Voted with Sierra and Troyzan for Tai (Backfire)
Episode 10--Wins Reward and Chooses Cirie and Sarah to join (Big)
--Wins Immunity Challenge #5 (Big)
Episode 11--Wins Immunity Challenge #7 (Big)
Episode 12--Wins Immunity Challenge #8 (Big)
--Wins Immunity Challenge #9 (Big)
--Wins Immunity Challenge #10 (Big)
3. Troyzan--
Episode 1--Discovers Tony making the Spy Bunker, thinks he's digging for an idol. (Quiet)
Episode 2--Switch puts him at 5-1 Disadvantage (Dumb Luck)
--Finds Clue to Idol in Immunity Challenge (Quiet)
--Grabs Idol at end of Challenge (Bold)
Episode 4--Forges Alliance with Sarah (Quiet)
Episode 5--Forges Alliance with Brad (Quiet)
Episode 8--Wins Immunity #3 (Big)
4. Tai--
Episode 2--Votes for Caleb despite friendship (Bold)
Episode 3--Finds the Clue to the Idol and then the Idol (Quiet)
Tells his tribe that they have an Idol (Bold)
Plays Idol for Sierra. saving her, eliminating Malcolm (Bold)
Episode 4--Finds Idol Clue (Quiet)
Episode 5--Finds Idol at water well, just before the switch, and finds the mirror one on the new beach after the switch.
Episode 7--Sits out merge feast (Big)
--Bonds with Brad who also sits out (Quiet)
--Wins Immunity #2 (Big)
Episode 10-- Moves to other alliance after three of his alliance voted for him (Big)
5. Aubry--
Episode 6--Bonds with Brad after Brad's emotional discussion in tribe after losing pizza (Quiet)
Episode 8--Recoginizes Debbie is a "Grade A Liar" and Goes to Sarah after Debbie tells her what Debbie said. (Huge)
Episode 10--Wins Reward and Chooses Cirie and Sarah to join (Big)
Episode 11--Wins Immunity Challenge #6 (Big)
6. Cirie--
Episode 1--Makes up with Ozzy (Bold)
Episode 6--Bonds with Brad after his emotional discussion in Tribe after losing pizza (Quiet)
Episode 7--Talks to Michaela about controlling her emotions (Quiet)
--Changes the vote up from voting Michaela out to getting Hali (Big)
Episode 8--Works on Sarah to see that she is on the lower end of her alliance. (Quiet)
Episode 11--Tries to use Sarah's advantage to vote out Tai, doesn't realize it's non-transferable (Disaster)
7. Michaela--
Episode 1--Reacts to her name being the Decoy for Cierra. (Neutral)
Episode 7--Takes Cirie aside and talks to her about contolling her emotions (Big)
Episode 8--Sulks on Sit Out bench during reward challenge and misses the Secret Advantage (Big Miss)
8. Andrea--
Episode 7--Wins Individual Immunity #1
Episode 9--Wins Immunity #4 (Big)
Episode 10--Wins Reward and Chooses Cirie and Sarah to join (Big)
Episode 11--Goes for Sarah, but gets no takers (Disaster)
9. Sierra--
Episode 1--Finds the Secret (Legacy) Advantage on the Ship. (Quiet)
Episode 7--Decides not to use Legacy Advantage at 13, instead deciding to save it for 6 (Quiet)
--Goes to Cirie and Andrea after Zeke tries to get her to join his alliance (Disaster)
--Formulates plan (with Sierra) to vote out Andrea and tells Debbie, Troyzan, Tai and Sarah (Disaster)
Episode 9 --Voted with Sierra and Troyzan for Tai (Backfire)
Episode 10--Tells Sarah about the Legacy Advantage (Disaster)
--Wills Legacy advantage to Sarah (and says she deserves to win the game) (Big)
10. Zeke--
Episode 1--Establishes relationship with Cirie
Episode 4--Volunteers to do Slide Puzzle on Reward Challenge and Wins (Bold)
Episode 5--Bonds With Varner, and makes him think they are voting for Tai (Bold)
Episode 7--After merge, tells rest of tribe about Jeff's Outing of him (Bold)
--Tries to work with Debbie and Sierra to take Andrea and Cirie out (Disaster)
11. Debbie
Episode 4--Volunteers as Balancer on Reward Challenge and Loses, blames Brad as Dictator, and Hali for taking too long. (Bold)
--Freaks out crazily on Beach making no sense (Nonsensical)
--Freaks out again throughout Immunity Challenge, ultimately refusing to do the balance beam part of the challenge, tribe wins first anyway. (Nonsensical)
Episode 5--In Tribe Switch ends up on exile with Cochran (Dumb Luck)
Chooses Extra Vote Advantage (Quiet)
Episode 7--Plays drunk at merge feast (Bold)
--Does not believe Zeke's ploy to take out Andrea and Cirie out (Disaster)
--Makes play to vote Ozzy (Big)
--Uses Extra Vote Advantage to vote out Ozzy (Big)
--Debbie goes to Aubry with plan to vote out Michaela, and tells her Sarah doesn't trust her. (Disaster)
12. Ozzy--
Episode 1--Goes for the Tool Kit uncontested (Quiet since nobody goes after him till too late)
--Makes up with Cirie (Bold)
Episode 7--Loses immunity after 1) bragging about not coming down, and 2) Saying he won't fish if he loses. (Disaster)
13. Hali--
Episode 2--Switch puts her at 4-2 Disadvantage (Dumb Luck)
Episode 6--Appears to figure out the word "Metamorphosis" at Immunity Challenge. (Big)
14. Jeff--
Episode 4--Stays quiet as Sandra eats the sugar. (Quiet)
Episode 6--Outs Zeke as transgender in a scorched earth ploy at tribal (DISASTER!!!!)
15. Sandra--
Episode 1--Adopts an "Anybody but Me" Mentality (Quiet)
Aligns with Tony (Quiet)
Realigns with Hali, Aubry, Jeff, Michaela, Troyzan
Episode 4--Sandra eats the rest of sugar when J.T. and Michaela fight over it. (Bold)
--Somehow makes J.T. believer she is with him. (Bold)
16. J.T.
Episode 2--Switch puts him at a 5-1 disadvantage (Dumb Luck)
--Looks for Idol while everyone else is on a raft. (Dumb)
Episode 3--Stands up at Tribal and starts talking to Brad starting whispered conversation (Bold)
Tells Brad that they are voting Sierra (Disaster)
Episode 4--Finds Idol on Beach (Quiet)
--Doesn't play Idol (doesn't even take it to Tribal), thinking Michaela was going home. (Disaster)
17. Malcolm--
Episode 1--Targets Cierra because of the names she is throwing out--Caleb and Tony--people he wants to work with (Quiet)
Episode 2--After catching goat, Malcolm strategically gets Sandra to give up on eating them. (Bold)
18. Caleb--
Episode 2--Switch puts him at 4-2 Disadvantage (Dumb Luck)
19. Tony--
Episode 1--Announces he is going for the idol (Bold)
--Works on Spy Bunker (Disaster)
--Aligns with Aubry, Malcolm, Caleb, and Sandra (Quiet)
--Gets Paranoid with Troyzan and Sandra (Disaster)
20. Cierra--
Episode 1--"Reads" Tony developing a relationship with Caleb's and throw's Caleb's name out for boot. (Disaster)
--Falls for the ploy in telling her to vote for Michaela as outcast. (Disaster)
Some of these are not unique to this season, but primarily these are the ones that affected the game in some way.
In the end, Sarah was more involved in changes more than Brad. Brad has 14 changes listed as opposed to Sarah's 11, but five of his were Immunity Wins. Important, but not the entire game. He also was perceived as a follower to Sierra, and didn't work hard enough on his relationship with Sarah to keep her in the fold at 11 when Debbie was voted out. Sarah, despite flipping at 11 (and although she talked about flipping back and forth on just about every tribal), stayed with the same alliance although she switched back to Brad and Troyzan in the last two tribals.
Brad had a good strategy, coming in with the baggage of his first play and thought to be the mastermind behind all the outsters. This time out he hurt himself late, when he came on strong and bully-like to Tai and Aubry, which may have cost him. I give him props though for recognizing it and apologizing first thing in the Reunion Show.
But to me Sarah changed the game the most. I think what put her over the top was telling everyone at FTC that she found the extra vote advantage at Michaela's feet at the sit out bench, as several people nodded agreement that it was a great play. Sarah's biggest play to her survival was haveing the Legacy advantage at the Tribal Council of 6, otherwise she would have been voted out. So her greatest play was playing Sierra into making her believe she didn't have anything to do with it, and Sierra still gave Sarah her advantage. Unfortunately Sierra didn't see her way to voting for Sarah to win, but Sarah had won over the others anyway.
I still don't think there was anything game changing about the season on the whole, but Brad played a great game, but Sarah played an excellent game and deserved the win.
In the opening statement to the players, Jeff says that by Game Changers, these players have done the following "moves that change the game":
1. Bold Moves (Tony is shown)
2. Quiet Moves (Sierra)
3. Legendary Successful Moves (Malcolm, Cirie)
4. Disasters and got voted out (Ozzy)
He then says most moves don't work, but you have the guts to make them.
First, I looked at how Production tried to change the game and give them ratings based on how much the game was changed. .
Episode 1
1. Life Ring in the Water Advantage with "Massive" Tool Kit
Ozzy went for this uncontested and gave Nuku an early advantage but really didn't come into play the rest of the season. (Rating: 2 out of 5)
2. Secret (Legacy) Advantage
Found by Sierra on Day 1 and inherited by Sarah after backstabbing Sierra, who used it at 6 and would have been voted out without it. (Rating 5 as it ultimately changed the game)
3. No Revote at Tribal
Really didn't come into play directly, but it may have altered the strategy in not splitting votes at certain points. (Rating 1)
Episode 2
4. Tribe Switch From 2 to 3 Tribes
This was not unique to this season, but the way it broke down had an affect on the next vote as Caleb and Hali were outnumbered. (Rating 2)
Episode 3
5. Two Tribes go to Tribal, Vote 1 person out
This may have been the single twist that most affected the game. Malcolm or Sierra were the targets of the opposing tribes, and would not have been had either or both gone to tribal council separately. This combined with the Idol that Tai found in camp (and not in a challenge like Troyzan's) and played for Sierra gives this twist a 6 out of 5 rating.
Episode 5
5. Tribe Switch
Not a big deal per se, but Sandra and Varner being on the downside of the numbers affected the next two tribals. (Rating 1)
6. Exile is a boat with Cochran and an advantage.
This was an interesting twist in that it changed up what exile was all about and introduced an outside influence into the game. I think luxury and the advantage would have been fine by itself. The Advantage had no effect as Ozzy would have already lost, I think the bigger advantage would have been fake immunity idol kit which could have blown up in peoples faces late in the game. (Rating 3)
Episode 7
7. Merge feast requires one person from each tribe to sit out in order for the rest to eat.
Brad and Tai sitting out had a mixed response in the immediate aftermath. Certainly didn't hurt Brad in winning 5 Immunity Idols. (Rating 3)
Episode 8
8. Secret Advantage on the sit out bench
Trying to give this to the person who had to sit out was great, but Michaela didn't notice it. Sarah did and it played a big role in the end game of Sarah and Cirie. (Rating 4)
9. Makes a big deal of having Cirie complete the beam at reward challenge, and brings a boat out rather than have the losers swim to shore.
Throughout all the seasons of Survivor Jeff probst has been most tough when someone fails. This one is a twist because he goes out of his way to make sure Cirie feels good by finishing the obstacle. He even brings out a boat so Cirie and team doesn't have to swim to shore. This allows Sarah to see the Secret Advantage that Michaela missed because of that alone, I have to give this (Rating 4).
Episode 12
10. Changed the format of FTC to more of a moderated discussion
This was much more meaningful as a viewer because I always dislike everyone getting a question and many of them use it for self-interest, "Why did you do "this" to me" rather than figuring out who is the most deserving player left to win. I think it ultimately brought out some more interesting points, and may have actually swayed a couple of people changing the game from Brad to Sarah. (Rating 3+)
So the key twists were the Legacy Advantage, Double Tribal, Secret Advantage/Cirie Prop Up, Exile/Advantage, and FTC Format Change.
It's hard to determine how much the Double Tribal affected the outcome of the game, as Malcolm was potentially set for a long play. The first Idol was played in this tribal, and The Exile Advantage was played early after the merge, but the others Hidden Idols as well as the Legacy Immunity came into play late in the game, and the cumulative affect had another player unexpetedly go home.
In addition the Hidden Immunity Idols were located in the challenge as well as at camp, although there were never more than three in play at any one time and only five were shown in total, (J.T. left with his still at camp.)
As for the players who were touted as Game Changers, I tried to go through and find the moves or events that changed the game.
1. Sarah--
Episode 1--Confesses she will be playing like a criminal this time (Quiet)
Episode 4--Sarah forges alliance with Troyzan (Quiet)
Episode 8--Goes back to help Cirie in reward challenge (Big)
--Retrieves the Secret Advantage before boarding boat after reward challenge. (Legendary)
--Works through options on directions she can take while rest of alliance is on reward (Quiet)
--With Sierra and Brad's plan to vote Andrea, Sarah realizes she is on bottom and works to take out Debbie. (HUGE)
--At tribal decides to choose the unknown over Safety and votes Debbie (Bold)
Episode 9-- Tells Cirie about the Secret Advantage Extra Vote (Big)
Episode 10--Sierra tells her of her Legacy Advantage (Big)
--Despite Voting for Sierra, she receives the Legacy Advantage (Legendary)
--Feigns surprise to Sierra after vote which makes Andrea and Aubry suspect something (Bold)
Episode 11--Gives Cirie her Extra Vote Advantage to hold (Legendary)
Episode 12--Plays the Legacy advantage at 6, sending Cirie home instead of her. (No-Brainer)
2. Brad--
Episode 1--Adopts WWMD (What would Monica Do) mantra. (Quiet)
Episode 5--Forges Alliance with Troyzan (Quiet)
Episode 6--Brad opens up emotionally about playing the game, winning over Aubry. (Bold)
Episode 7--Sits out the Merge feast. (Big)
--Bonds with Tai who also sits out (Quiet)
Episode 8 --When choosing reward teams, he leaves Troyzan and Sarah on the other team (Important)
--Formulates plan (with Sierra) to vote out Andrea and tells Debbie, Troyzan, Tai and Sarah (Disaster)
Episode 9 --Voted with Sierra and Troyzan for Tai (Backfire)
Episode 10--Wins Reward and Chooses Cirie and Sarah to join (Big)
--Wins Immunity Challenge #5 (Big)
Episode 11--Wins Immunity Challenge #7 (Big)
Episode 12--Wins Immunity Challenge #8 (Big)
--Wins Immunity Challenge #9 (Big)
--Wins Immunity Challenge #10 (Big)
3. Troyzan--
Episode 1--Discovers Tony making the Spy Bunker, thinks he's digging for an idol. (Quiet)
Episode 2--Switch puts him at 5-1 Disadvantage (Dumb Luck)
--Finds Clue to Idol in Immunity Challenge (Quiet)
--Grabs Idol at end of Challenge (Bold)
Episode 4--Forges Alliance with Sarah (Quiet)
Episode 5--Forges Alliance with Brad (Quiet)
Episode 8--Wins Immunity #3 (Big)
Episode 9 --Voted with Sierra and Brad for Tai (Backfire)
Episode 2--Votes for Caleb despite friendship (Bold)
Episode 3--Finds the Clue to the Idol and then the Idol (Quiet)
Tells his tribe that they have an Idol (Bold)
Plays Idol for Sierra. saving her, eliminating Malcolm (Bold)
Episode 4--Finds Idol Clue (Quiet)
Episode 5--Finds Idol at water well, just before the switch, and finds the mirror one on the new beach after the switch.
Episode 7--Sits out merge feast (Big)
--Bonds with Brad who also sits out (Quiet)
--Wins Immunity #2 (Big)
Episode 10-- Moves to other alliance after three of his alliance voted for him (Big)
5. Aubry--
Episode 6--Bonds with Brad after Brad's emotional discussion in tribe after losing pizza (Quiet)
Episode 8--Recoginizes Debbie is a "Grade A Liar" and Goes to Sarah after Debbie tells her what Debbie said. (Huge)
Episode 10--Wins Reward and Chooses Cirie and Sarah to join (Big)
Episode 11--Wins Immunity Challenge #6 (Big)
Episode 1--Makes up with Ozzy (Bold)
Episode 6--Bonds with Brad after his emotional discussion in Tribe after losing pizza (Quiet)
Episode 7--Talks to Michaela about controlling her emotions (Quiet)
--Changes the vote up from voting Michaela out to getting Hali (Big)
Episode 8--Works on Sarah to see that she is on the lower end of her alliance. (Quiet)
Episode 11--Tries to use Sarah's advantage to vote out Tai, doesn't realize it's non-transferable (Disaster)
7. Michaela--
Episode 1--Reacts to her name being the Decoy for Cierra. (Neutral)
Episode 7--Takes Cirie aside and talks to her about contolling her emotions (Big)
Episode 8--Sulks on Sit Out bench during reward challenge and misses the Secret Advantage (Big Miss)
8. Andrea--
Episode 7--Wins Individual Immunity #1
Episode 9--Wins Immunity #4 (Big)
Episode 10--Wins Reward and Chooses Cirie and Sarah to join (Big)
Episode 11--Goes for Sarah, but gets no takers (Disaster)
9. Sierra--
Episode 1--Finds the Secret (Legacy) Advantage on the Ship. (Quiet)
Episode 7--Decides not to use Legacy Advantage at 13, instead deciding to save it for 6 (Quiet)
--Goes to Cirie and Andrea after Zeke tries to get her to join his alliance (Disaster)
--Formulates plan (with Sierra) to vote out Andrea and tells Debbie, Troyzan, Tai and Sarah (Disaster)
Episode 9 --Voted with Sierra and Troyzan for Tai (Backfire)
Episode 10--Tells Sarah about the Legacy Advantage (Disaster)
--Wills Legacy advantage to Sarah (and says she deserves to win the game) (Big)
10. Zeke--
Episode 1--Establishes relationship with Cirie
Episode 4--Volunteers to do Slide Puzzle on Reward Challenge and Wins (Bold)
Episode 5--Bonds With Varner, and makes him think they are voting for Tai (Bold)
Episode 7--After merge, tells rest of tribe about Jeff's Outing of him (Bold)
--Tries to work with Debbie and Sierra to take Andrea and Cirie out (Disaster)
11. Debbie
Episode 4--Volunteers as Balancer on Reward Challenge and Loses, blames Brad as Dictator, and Hali for taking too long. (Bold)
--Freaks out crazily on Beach making no sense (Nonsensical)
--Freaks out again throughout Immunity Challenge, ultimately refusing to do the balance beam part of the challenge, tribe wins first anyway. (Nonsensical)
Episode 5--In Tribe Switch ends up on exile with Cochran (Dumb Luck)
Chooses Extra Vote Advantage (Quiet)
Episode 7--Plays drunk at merge feast (Bold)
--Does not believe Zeke's ploy to take out Andrea and Cirie out (Disaster)
--Makes play to vote Ozzy (Big)
--Uses Extra Vote Advantage to vote out Ozzy (Big)
--Debbie goes to Aubry with plan to vote out Michaela, and tells her Sarah doesn't trust her. (Disaster)
12. Ozzy--
Episode 1--Goes for the Tool Kit uncontested (Quiet since nobody goes after him till too late)
--Makes up with Cirie (Bold)
Episode 7--Loses immunity after 1) bragging about not coming down, and 2) Saying he won't fish if he loses. (Disaster)
13. Hali--
Episode 2--Switch puts her at 4-2 Disadvantage (Dumb Luck)
Episode 6--Appears to figure out the word "Metamorphosis" at Immunity Challenge. (Big)
Episode 4--Stays quiet as Sandra eats the sugar. (Quiet)
Episode 6--Outs Zeke as transgender in a scorched earth ploy at tribal (DISASTER!!!!)
15. Sandra--
Episode 1--Adopts an "Anybody but Me" Mentality (Quiet)
Aligns with Tony (Quiet)
Realigns with Hali, Aubry, Jeff, Michaela, Troyzan
Episode 4--Sandra eats the rest of sugar when J.T. and Michaela fight over it. (Bold)
--Somehow makes J.T. believer she is with him. (Bold)
16. J.T.
Episode 2--Switch puts him at a 5-1 disadvantage (Dumb Luck)
--Looks for Idol while everyone else is on a raft. (Dumb)
Episode 3--Stands up at Tribal and starts talking to Brad starting whispered conversation (Bold)
Tells Brad that they are voting Sierra (Disaster)
Episode 4--Finds Idol on Beach (Quiet)
--Doesn't play Idol (doesn't even take it to Tribal), thinking Michaela was going home. (Disaster)
17. Malcolm--
Episode 1--Targets Cierra because of the names she is throwing out--Caleb and Tony--people he wants to work with (Quiet)
Episode 2--After catching goat, Malcolm strategically gets Sandra to give up on eating them. (Bold)
18. Caleb--
Episode 2--Switch puts him at 4-2 Disadvantage (Dumb Luck)
19. Tony--
Episode 1--Announces he is going for the idol (Bold)
--Works on Spy Bunker (Disaster)
--Aligns with Aubry, Malcolm, Caleb, and Sandra (Quiet)
--Gets Paranoid with Troyzan and Sandra (Disaster)
20. Cierra--
Episode 1--"Reads" Tony developing a relationship with Caleb's and throw's Caleb's name out for boot. (Disaster)
--Falls for the ploy in telling her to vote for Michaela as outcast. (Disaster)
Some of these are not unique to this season, but primarily these are the ones that affected the game in some way.
In the end, Sarah was more involved in changes more than Brad. Brad has 14 changes listed as opposed to Sarah's 11, but five of his were Immunity Wins. Important, but not the entire game. He also was perceived as a follower to Sierra, and didn't work hard enough on his relationship with Sarah to keep her in the fold at 11 when Debbie was voted out. Sarah, despite flipping at 11 (and although she talked about flipping back and forth on just about every tribal), stayed with the same alliance although she switched back to Brad and Troyzan in the last two tribals.
Brad had a good strategy, coming in with the baggage of his first play and thought to be the mastermind behind all the outsters. This time out he hurt himself late, when he came on strong and bully-like to Tai and Aubry, which may have cost him. I give him props though for recognizing it and apologizing first thing in the Reunion Show.
But to me Sarah changed the game the most. I think what put her over the top was telling everyone at FTC that she found the extra vote advantage at Michaela's feet at the sit out bench, as several people nodded agreement that it was a great play. Sarah's biggest play to her survival was haveing the Legacy advantage at the Tribal Council of 6, otherwise she would have been voted out. So her greatest play was playing Sierra into making her believe she didn't have anything to do with it, and Sierra still gave Sarah her advantage. Unfortunately Sierra didn't see her way to voting for Sarah to win, but Sarah had won over the others anyway.
I still don't think there was anything game changing about the season on the whole, but Brad played a great game, but Sarah played an excellent game and deserved the win.
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