Welcome to Season 44’s Next Time On Survivor weekly feature on the Inside Survivor site! If you’re new around here, this is a tiny space where I give my best attempts at understanding preview trailers and make my predictions for the next episodes of the show. Let’s jump right in!
After the blindside last week, it’s only fitting that the NTOS trailer begins with Kane reflecting, “As soon as the move was made, I wasn’t heartbroken, I wasn’t betrayed, I was woken up,” with visuals of a pensive Lauren and Kane.
The players from the pre-swap Ratu tribe were blindsided by Brandon’s exit, leaving Kane, Lauren, and Jaime on the outs. The focus on the upcoming episode will likely be if they can get more numbers on their side to reclaim some power in the game, perhaps turning to Yam Yam, who looks to be rather close to them.
However, Yam Yam’s not going to be a follower that easily. As Carson says, “The three stooges are running this game; it’s crazy!” referring to himself, Yam Yam, and Carolyn. The three players from the original Tika tribe don’t seem to be perceived as threats by others and are playing a well-hidden game in the middle of two louder conflicting alliances.
In the last episode, Yam Yam said he wanted to make the move that guaranteed them options moving forward — and he did just that. Carson and Yam Yam voted for Frannie, despite knowing about Soka/Danny’s plan to play the immunity idol to save Frannie and take a player from Ratu out. Yam Yam even feigned some shock as the blindside happened, allowing them to continue working between the Ratu and Soka alliance.
I think we should really be looking at Yam Yam making it far, as he’s in a great position with many players wanting to work with him. In the preview, he recounts how Josh, Matt, and Brandon all tried to get him out of the game, and they’re on the jury now. “You wrote my name down; you’re dead.” This sounds like like an ominous forewarning that it will continue to happen. I can definitely see this happening, especially with the strategy and awareness that the three stooges have.
On the other side, Jaime’s a blindside in the making as she continues to exclaim, “I’m so happy I still have my idol!” My prediction is that Soka’s play in the upcoming episode is to split the vote between Lauren and Jaime, two opposing players with “advantages” — whether it’s a real extra vote or a fake idol. It’ll really depend on whether Soka is able to get Tika’s buy-in to get enough numbers for this plan.
In their swing vote position, it’s up to Tika to decide which alliance they want to join. There’ll likely be a bit of back-and-forth discussion, with Yam Yam and Carson leaning towards getting a Ratu player out but Carolyn wishing to vote out Danny instead. In the NTOS trailer, she confesses, “I want to vote out Danny; I’m sick of him,” as Danny flosses away. This feels like a follow-up from Episode 5 on the journey reward, where Danny and Brandon bro-ed out as Carolyn sat by excluded, rolling her eyes dramatically at them.
Ultimately, my guess is that the Tika three will go with Soka and that Jaime will get blindsided, thinking she has safety with her fake immunity idol.
What do you think is going to happen in Episode 9? Leave your predictions in the comments!
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To me the Carolyn wanting Danny out thing seems like a pre challenge thing. Like she wants him out cause she doesn’t like him but after the challenge the real target emerges. I think Lauren is going to use her advantage this week and Tika/Soka go full on her, Jamie thinks it might be her and plays her fake idol but Lauren goes.
Oh my gosh I want Yam Yam gone!!! I know I’m in the minority here and people will hate me, but while he is funny sometimes, he is also obnoxious, flip flops and can’t be trusted. If the tribe doesn’t wise up and vote him out and then Carolyn, one of them will win.
Carolyn, will outsmart them. Her and Carson should make it to the end.
Stephanie, I love reading your predictions! Please keep it up! Thanks for the insight. I have to agree that Carson makes it to the end. I am shocked that Carolyn is still there but good for her to stay under the radar, especially with such a big personality! I’m a big Frannie fan (was so sad when Matt left) and am glad she was saved last week. Yam Yam not sure if he will make it to the end as his name creeps up and with fewer people, he may become a target as a big social player.
Carson has been underestimated this entire game. Despite now weighing about 50 pounds, he holds his own in challenges and everyone loves him like a favorite teddybear. And he hasn’t made the mistake that his predecessor, Christian Hubicki made in the Great Challenge Filibuster by showing that he’s not just a sweet nerdy kid but also brilliant.
While he’s under the radar largely because he’s sandwiched between two HUGE personalities in Carolyn and Yam Yam, his social game has been perfect, and honestly, I think he’s the strategy mastermind behind Tika’s success so far.
I’m with you on this one. Ive wanted him out from the start. Which made it obvious he’d be there for the long run.