33--O22--Fiji

Rank: Original #22
Season # 14
Title:  Survivor:  Fiji
Location: Macuala, Vanua Levu, Fiji
Broadcast: Spring, 2017
New Players:  19
Returning Players: 0
Days: 39
Winner:  Earl Cole
Final Tribal Council:  3 Players 9 Jury
Initial Tribes: Ravu, Mota
Swap at 13
Merge: at 10 Bula Bula
Jury: at 12 
Premise:   Players were separated into a tribe of Haves and Have Nots after all 19 players built the "Haves" Camp. 

This was the second season where there was no initial tribes assigned.  

One player quit just before the start, so at the beginning there were no tribes, and they were sent to an island with a cave as shelter.  After being sent plans for a plush camp and finding lumber, all castaways built the camp, shelter, kitchen and outhouse. 

On day 3 prior to the immunity challenge, the Architect, Sylvia, was given the task of picking the two tribe and then went to Exile Island to wait for the first tribal council.  The winner of the challenge, also got the completely built beach, while the loser went to a new beach with only a pot and machete.  

Moto won the first challenge and went to the Luxury beach.  Ravu went to the new beach with nothing. After voting their first person off, they added Sylvia to their Tribe, but did not get Flint.

Moto went on to win the next 8 challenges.  Despite all the luxury, Gary had to leave the game on Day 10, which was the first Moto loss of a player.  In the following immunity challenge Moto won again, but a twist required them to give up immunity or lose their Luxury beach.   They voted Liliana off and kept the beach. 

The most ridiculous challenge came on Day 13 when a well-nourished Moto went against a fully depleted Ravu in head to head pushing contest.  It was no contest, and pretty much summed up how ridiculous the premise of the season was.    

On day 15 The tribes were swapped out.   Michelle, Yau-Man and Earl were sent to the luxury beach, and Edgardo, Mookie, and  Dreamz were sent to the poor island, later joined by Lisi, who was odd woman out and sent to exile. 

At this point Earl and Edgardo took charge of their plans to bring in someone from the other tribe to join their alliance.   

The Rout continued however as despite having all men Ravu lost the next Immunity Challenge in a close finish, losing Anthony and gaining Lisi.  Rocky and Lisi were voted out in the next two tribals prior to the merge.   However on Day 17, Ravu won a reward challenge to break the losing streak.  But then lost the immunity challenge following, along with the next 4 challenges. 

Pre-merger, Ravu won a total of 1 challenge, which may be the most lopsided run this side of Palau.  But the haves vs. have nots was a terrible premise for a season.   

At the merge, the tribe lived at Moto beach, but all the luxuries were gone.  

The key moment of the post-merger was the 2nd vote at 9, where the competing Alliances led by Edgardo and Earl each having an Immunity Idol, strategized for the vote and how to play the idols.  Dreamz who wasn't trusted by either side, and wasn't definitely in an alliance was the master of the misinformation.  Believing Alex was the target, Edgardo's alliance played the idol for Alex, and voted for Cassandra.   Earl's alliance voted out Edgardo.  The rest of Edgardo's alliance went in order, Mookie, and Alex.  

There was also a hilarious moment when an impromptu "Spy Bunker" happened when Mookie and Alex discovered Yau-Man's immunity idol, and started talking about it, not knowing that Stacy and Cassandra were listening.  Later Boo created one. 

At 6 Yau-Man won the car in the reward challenge and negotiated with Dreamz for the Immunity if Dreamz won the immunity challenge at 4.  He also sent himself to exile island. 

Dreamz of course, reneged on his promise, sending Yau-Man to the Jury.  The Final Tribal Council was just weird with Alex, Lisi and others asking incomprehensible questions and then interrupting the answers.      

Earl won the season unanimously against Cassandra and Dreamz, deservedly so, since the only other one that would have gotten votes was Yau-Man.  But this season was bogged down by the initial premise, and too many twists, that just made it lopsided for players, which made the final lopsided outcome a fitting finish.   But it was not a great season. 

 












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