Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, Episode 7 "That's Not How I Play Survivor" Gameplay Breakdown

 "Did, like, a massacre happen?"

-Rizo Velovic

Oh, Coach.  How I missed your self-righteousness and hypocrisy.  No one does it quite like Coach.  I'm a little worried his honor and integrity alliance could take over the whole season.  I'd prefer if that didn't happen, but I'm fascinated by how this dynamic is going to break out next week.  Before we get to next week though, we have to talk about this week and who played well and who sucked!

Who Played Well:

I'm not putting Coach or Jonathan in this section, but I will say that taking out Dee was a great move for the other members of their alliance.  This worked out the best for Stephenie, Aubry, Chrissy, and Joe.  It benefits all of them, gets their alliance further, and takes out a dangerous player in Dee.  Plus Stephenie managed to get a Vote Steal on the Journey, so it was an especially good episode for her.  I predict that Vote Steal is going to doom someone as soon as the next episode.

Aubry also made a smart move in playing her Idol.  She's gotta get that target off her back, especially after her terrible lie that she forgot to play her Idol during the Genevieve vote.  Awful.  I don't know if pulling off Rizo's move in 49 of stringing everyone along with the Idol will work in 50.  It's possible, but I can't fault her for playing it instead. 

Christian and Devens also both made it through the vote and it didn't seem like either of them had a working relationship with Dee, though it might have been smart of them to go through with the idea of taking out Coach.  It remains to be seen, but for now, I'll give them a net positive.

Who Sucked:

I would have put Emily in the same category as Christian and Devens, but she proved once again that she can't keep a secret to save her life.  She asked Rizo about his Idol and spilled that Dee told her about it.  Future contestants, take note.  If you ever play on a season with Emily, don't trust her with anything unless you're okay with the whole tribe knowing.

I think the Rizo, Cirie, and Ozzy trio made a mistake in taking out Dee over Coach.  I'll give them some benefit of the doubt though.  It's possible the numbers were never truly there to make that move.  If that's the case, well, they survived the vote, but if they could have, I think they should have.  That old-school, honor and integrity alliance scares me and it should scare them, especially if there's any truth to the pre-game alliance rumors.  If that knowledge is on the island at all, I'd want to cut a couple of those people just in case, and Coach is a nexus point, even if he is polarizing.  Dee was a number for Rizo, Cirie, and Ozzy and an excellent shield.  Sure, they know they can't trust her with any real information, but you can't trust Coach either, and he certainly isn't working with them for the long term, except for Rizo, possibly.  I will give Rizo credit for building a relationship with Coach and to Ozzy for winning Immunity, but I think they made the wrong call in the vote.

Coach and Jonathan both allowed themselves to get into a confrontation with Dee.  I know Jonathan told us he did it intentionally to push Dee's buttons, but I think he did too much.  It isn't great to have the first member of the Jury be someone who is angry at you.  That kind of thing can set the tone for the Jury and doom your chances if you get to the end.  Coach made things even worse by controlling the vote and alienating most of the rest of the cast in the process.  They got their way, but I think they drew a lot of attention and ire in the process.   

Finally, Tiffany I think could have done a better job after the Kamilla vote.  I get that she was angry and what she did was better than blowing up at everyone, but the best move after a blindside is to talk to the people who blindsided you and try to reconnect.  Sometimes you have to get over your feelings faster than you'd like to.  She managed to survive the vote, but people saw her as too close to Dee and she was the backup in a split vote.  Plus she didn't do herself any favors by voting for Coach.  She should have voted for Dee, just in case it was an even-split vote.  Just to ensure Dee went home and not her.

As for Dee, I think we can trace her downfall back to the blindside of Charlie.  Jonathan was justifiably pissed and found a way forward without her.  I think she tried to take too much control too early because that's what she was used to from her win in 45.  Instead, she made enemies, was drawn into a fight with Coach and Jonathan, and leaked too much information for people like Rizo to want to save her.  Dee was able to impose her will on 45, but that's trickier to do with returning players.

Verdict:

Best Player of the Episode goes to Stephenie LaGrossa-Kendrick for earning a Vote Steal and taking out Dee.

Worst Player of the Episode goes to Coach Wade.  He got his way, but pissed just about everyone off in the process.

I don't think a line has been drawn in the sand yet.  I believe that's coming next week.  I think the next episode will decide if the honor and integrity alliance will run this game or not.  I predict they will win the battle and potentially the war, but I'd be more than happy to be wrong about that.  Can't wait to see it either way!