I think Jack and Naomi's confessionals sort of highlight their differences, not as players (Naomi has played better) but as characters. Naomi kind of provides what she does every round which is deliver pretty workaday strategy in a sort of pleasant tone, but Jack's confessional was incredibly compelling and his story so far has been as well: I would have loved to have seen people speculating on why the tribe joke outlasted the rest of them. That I guess is the core of why I wanted/want Jack to stay here. He's such a soulful charismatic character and he could really carry off the story of a guy struggling hard at merge that Lexi and Naomi might not have the ability to make compelling.

I really like Jack and would like him to do well in the game but Naomi has severely outplayed him. Lexi should (on paper at least) have finished the drink, I am not defending that, but jack has consistently kept a person in the game that he has no relationship with and given her power over him. I think Jessaca has played an amazing premerge (Bryce too) but I’d argue that Naomi should get that title. I think Naomi has played a phenomenal social game and really hasn’t been in danger at all at any point. Her move of getting rid of Jenn over Lexi was great for her and horrible for others but they did it and she’s been consistently strong since day 1 and really hadn’t ever been in serious danger. Such a Denise

I have to say Jess really impressed me. I think Naomi will have a better chance come merge since everyone has seemed to have counted Jack out, so for Lexi keeping Naomi is better. I can see why Jack would be so pissed off at Lexi, since he drank that thing back to back and she didn't even try. Lexi went down for me though
Alejandro was smart to make people think Danny has the idol, I think he could really go far, and he is thinking about going forward which I feel like some people haven't thought about.

My actual reaction when I found out Lexi forfeited her match-up, meaning Jack is leaving this round:

watching confessionals just reminded me how well Chris and Bryce are both sitting

100% agree with everyone tho. Jack's story line has so much juice left to be squeezed out at merge--THE REVENGE TOUR 2K18--but Naomi is and has been the better player here and I'm preemptively happy for her to get to merge and reconnect with the A-Team.

To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement, infuriated is probably a better word. I can admit that for all intents and purposes, Jack really did bring this upon himself somewhat and made a few pretty blatant errors in the last two rounds — so he's by no means robbed. It takes away a little of the blow but I'm still crushed to be losing him pre-merge.

We no longer get to have the dynamic of one of the three buybacks interacting with the tribe that voted them out (since Jenn, Devon & Jack all are pre-mergers), and I'm just blegh because I'm really convinced that had Jack made it to the merge the whole game would've been totally different for him. Like Jack didn't get to meet Anders, Chris & Alejandro (who are my three favourites in the game), Danny, and Jessaca (who I'm really convinced would've been a fantastic ally for him). Just as Jack's friend, I do kind of hate that Abby has just been totally ripping on him to the Nu-Lachesis' tribe, and I especially hate that Abby's version of Jack is probably just going to be their lasting impression of him. I really wanted to see Jack come in and show them that like... he's actually very cool, so ugh. IDK.

The dynamic of both Naomi and Jack making merge was so interesting too. Naomi would've obviously gone back to Anders & Chris, but Jack being there created such a fun dilemma that would've been great to see play out. Now I think she'll slot in quite nicely. And of course it just would've been a great redemption story for Jack to be able to make it there. I think we'll still have a fun merge of course, but just a few of the fun dynamics we would've had are gone.

I do think Jessaca probably made a mistake here by for some reason attempting this challenge at 2000000% effort when she was in no danger at all and even admitted to wanting to work with Meleagers. I don't hold it against her too harshly, but I think Jack would've been an amaaaaazing ally for her and she just kicked him out of the game to keep Matthew — who is doomed, in a round or so longer.

I was also just kind of ready to lose either Matthew or Sarena. I like them both, but they've both just spent four solid rounds in Dead Man Walking limbo so it does feel a little strange to have them make merge. In any other season they probably would've been pre-jurors. At least Sarena will probably give an amazing jury speech now.

I try to be positive too with everyone, especially on recap but okay... Lexi. She's very nice and sweet and I don't have anything against her personally obviously — but I'm sorry, as a character she is so boring to watch. I love the cockroach character in a season but I'm struggling to muster up the enthusiasm to root for her. The trend of the boot being between her and a more interesting character, only for the more interesting character to wind up leaving is a frustrating trend to say the least. I can't believe she couldn't drink the smoothie if nothing else, so that she could have immunity at the merge round. I don't know it's just such a bummer all round, ugh.

I know the merge round is going to be another Genius Challenge round where multiple immunities are handed out (a la last season in the Kilby boot). As fun as those rounds can be I really wanted to get the Lachesis tribal done before then so we could actually properly experience it. I'd be sad to see like, Matthew & Sarena wind up with two of the many immunities and then just someone else has to go because of how the challenge shook out.

I think I feel the most bad because jack is always going to be ‘the joke’ of old Lachesis. He doesn’t gwt to redeem himself but there’s always Season 10 or all-stars or whatever is happening next.

I mean I'm going to jump in and defend Lexi and say maybe she honestly couldn't finish the drink. If I were her I still wouldn't have been able to finish it. You could've given me until next week and we'd still be waiting. Some people find it difficult to do that stuff and that's how she expressed it to me at least.

Viewer Lounge Reaction to Lexi's challenge performance:

Spoiler

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Ashlee, 10:48 AM I can't believe she didn't complete it Paige, 10:49 AM I wonder how it would have been different had both of them done it on call together Ashlee, 10:49 AM she had as much time as she wanted Sam, 10:51 AM And she quit? Paige, 10:51 AM she took a sip and forfeited Sam, 10:51 AM Jesus holli, 10:51 AM Pussies Paige, 10:53 AM I shouldn't be talking though since I refused to do it Ashlee, 11:01 AM Holli like unhinged her jaw to take out poor bwojan Steffen, 11:02 AM thats hot Paige, 11:03 AM if Lachesis wins then the original Lachesis on new Lachesis will have officially gone the longest without going to tribal, they are currently tied with me so I want them to lose lol Ashlee, 11:03 AM All he wanted was that pity point knowing his tribe was throwing to get him out and holli was savage holli, 11:39 AM LMAOOOOO OOPS Ashlee, 11:41 AM Lmaooo Kilby, 12:40 PM lexi didnt do it? Paige, 12:40 PM nope Paige, 12:41 PM she took a sip and basically said she doesn't care about jack so she wasn't doing it Kilby, 12:41 PM Ugh. Kilby, 12:41 PM Unstan Joey, 12:47 PM Ya Lexi is cancelled Jayden, 12:55 PM Ugh please lose Jessaca Paige, 12:55 PM I agree Kilby, 1:03 PM who won Ashlee, 1:03 PM jess Jayden, 1:04 PM Ugh Jesus Christ lexi Jayden, 1:04 PM I’m so upset Paige, 1:19 PM dang Paige, 1:19 PM im sad jack is going Nick, 1:19 PM WAIT WHAT TF HAPPENED Molly, 1:20 PM I hate Nick, 1:20 PM how did Meleager not win? Kilby, 1:20 PM because lexi is lame Ashlee, 1:20 PM bc lexi didn't even try Kilby, 1:20 PM lexi could have taken 2 hours to do it Kilby, 1:20 PM and won Ashlee, 1:20 PM she went out and bought a blender to take a tiny sip so she wouldn't get penalized in the next challenge Nick, 1:20 PM disgusting rockstar voice disgusting Joey, 1:20 PM I'm gonna laugh if she's merge boot Kilby, 1:20 PM she prob will be Nick, 1:21 PM my night just took a really dark turn with this news Jayden, 1:37 PM I hope she is Jayden, 1:39 PM Jess I think made a mistake too because she really could’ve used Jack at the merge Kilby, 1:39 PM Yep. Kilby, 1:39 PM i mean she keeps her immunity which is why she did it Vijar, 1:43 PM how expensive was that blender smh Ashlee, 1:44 PM I think she bought the cheapest one at Walmart but still Vijar, 1:44 PM we can't even feel bad for jack bc if he TALKED TO HER or saved kait or got kait to vote naomi or won the tiebreaker or any of the other things he would stay. he thoroughly deserves to go but smh at the circumstances. Ashlee, 1:44 PM Like buying the blender and all the Ingredients is a lot Joe, 1:59 PM omg Joe, 1:59 PM what a journey this premerge has been. Sam, 1:59 PM seriously lol

Michael 'Vic' Vicario @ 26/11/2018 1:25

I mean I'm going to jump in and defend Lexi and say maybe she honestly couldn't finish the drink. If I were her I still wouldn't have been able to finish it. You could've given me until next week and we'd still be waiting. Some people find it difficult to do that stuff and that's how she expressed it to me at least.

Season 5 is a strong Terrence here. Lexi is def not the best for drinking weird things. This bitch drinks Mikes Hards for or game nights so I get that part of things. Also Brian W was the ‘on the bubble person’ just like Jack is now and did his all and still left that round. This is nothing new but it’s always sad

However, I do think Jack is the smarter boot for Lexi. It creates a situation where Atropos and Lachesis both have four people and I can somewhat see that turning into a war for majority, leaving Danny, Jess and Lexi potentially in the middle. Atropos may want to keep her after saving Naomi as well.

If I recall, Jess and Danny were on call earlier both mentioning that they couldn't wait to see Lexi again.

Also going to update what I think boot list might be and explain why
12th: Jack~ I am sad to see this one but Lexi seems way closer to Naomi and she said she didn't care about Jack so I see him going
11th: Danny~ With old Lachesis only having 4 members I see the others letting them slide and vote for Danny cuz his lies are really getting to people, it will be a blind side since Alejandro made them think he has the idol. I think also only 2 Meleager coming into merge they won't risk the nullifying votes by voting one of the girls
10th: Lexi~ there will no longer be the question if she is immune or not and with Danny being blindsided she won't have the immunity
9th: Matt~ I think Jess will be able to keep him for the 2 rounds but with Danny who was one who more so wanted Sarena they won't have the numbers for him.
8th: Sarena~ I think once Matt goes she has practically no connections and will go due to this.
7th: Abby~ I think Chris and Naomi and maybe Anders will team up with Abby and maybe Bryce and try to take out Jess but it will get told to Alejandro and Jess will play her Idol blindsiding Abby as they will think Danny went out with the idol.
6th: Alejandro~ the others who wanted to vote Jess will be mad Alejandro told her and Jess will have immunity from Abby voting her so they will take it out and vote Alejandro out instead
5th: Jess~ The Alejandro vote would be a blindside to them leaving Jess without immunity, she will have a great resume and I think no one would want to sit next to her at the end causing her to get 5th
4th: Bryce~ I think Chris will decide to stick to the A team and vote out Bryce instead of having a tie breaker challenge
3rd: Naomi~ I think being away and on Meleager has caused Chris and Anders to become closer, I also see both the guys thinking they would beat the other over beating her.
2nd: Anders~ I think Anders will have just rubbed people the wrong way and this will cause him to be the runner up and lose the jury vote.
1st: Chris~ I think almost everyone who will be on Jury will like him and respect the social game he played which will lead to him winning.

Well in just one round this changed so I am sure it will change again but I feel like this might be a fairly good guess at this point, however the dying wish could play in to it and mess it up.

Jessaca is dead set on keeping Matthew at the eventual merge round but I just don't know how she'll be able to do it. I could see her grabbing Matthew, Sarena, Danny, Lexi & herself but that's about it, and that's only a 5 (which might not even be able to be pulled together). Maybe she can convince the others to split their votes and then go for a 5-3-3 or something like that? Bryce might be the swing vote but I don't know where his head is at. I do approve of this move, because I think if she gives up Matt here there are just so few people left in the game for her to work with and she'll just end up running out of options.

Next round having like half the tribe immune is just going to make it impossible to plan for though which is annoying. Maybe it'll make it easier for Jessaca to play her idol on someone to take another player out though if there's only 3-6 players eligible for votes.