Overall a decent episode. But yeah, that idol play beforehand was garbage. Never has that happened and for good reason. It gave Ben an edge there for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if more people didn't do that from now on just to shake things up.

It gives the group actual time to come to some agreement before votes are rolled because now they know he has it, is playing it, and it's legit. Didn't really like that one.

Other than that, I'm getting scared for this end game. I really don't think Devon has a shot here, so I feel it has to go to either Ben or Chrissy and neither one is a fun ending in my eyes. But Mike, although more likable, would be a TERRIBLE winner. He is one of the worst players this season by a long shot. He would be even more of a stumble-to-a-win player than Adam was, and that was pretty bad.

I think Ben's play to go for Mike was actually the right choice for him. It would leave two couples in the game with Ben as the swing and not Mike. Ben really screwed up by playing it early, I think. But Ashley very likely could have been on her way out the door anyway whether he played it before or after votes were read.

It pretty much is a lose-lose for Devon/Mike at this point. They HAVE to get Ben out before the finale or he will straight up win. But if they take him out at 5, that leaves Ryan and Chrissy together. You pretty much have to eliminate Ryan/Chrissy at 5 and then hope Ben doesn't win immunity and you can take him out, but that's super risky

Absolute bullshit allowing Ben to play his idol before the votes were cast

also I don't get Ben voting Ashley. It's really confusing because they're obviously hiding stuff from us. He must have knew they were all voting her. idgi

Didn't really enjoy that episode other than reinforcing my belief that this is Ben's game to lose. I genuinely struggle to see anyone else coming remotely close to Ben's edit. However, David in MvGx had an amazing edit too and he was Final juror to Adam's goofy ass winning game.

That idol find and play was such BS though like might as well film footage of Probst just walking up to camp and saying "Hey Ben. You're background story of being an All American former-marine alpha male Dad is a real seller and I want you to win the most so here's an idol to help you out. Gosh I wish I had thought of this in Borneo to help Rudy. Drats *shakes fist*"

Everyone else taking out Ash was really dumb for many reasons but one of them imo is that Ashley was their best shot at beating Ben in ICs. If there isn't a puzzle involved Chrissy can't win it. Ryan and Mike are lol. And Devon won't really be able to pull it off - much like his so-close-but-yet-so-far gameplay.

Someone please write a Ben/Probst fan fic
Plz include jeff being flustered when ben alphas it up and walks up to him and gives him a gift of a beautiful necklace

I mostly agree with the things said here, especially about hating that ben played the idol early.

One thing i love about this season is how ruthlessly and immediately pairs have been broken. Ali/patrick, ryan/ali (kinda), ashley/jp, ben/chrissy, ryan/Devon, ben/lauren, devon/ashley. These were all big pairs with screen time where one betrayed the other with pretty much no build up outside of the episode that the betrayal occured

Christian @ 14/12/2017 0:00

poor Ashley. If Chrissy wanted to break up that pair, why not Devon? Ashley would never have won the game.

Because she trusts Devon and not Ashley.

This was so meh but I can't believe those dummies didn't keep an eye on Ben instead of letting him go find another idol clue/idol. I hope he wins now just because it'll be a fitting ending and because I can't stand the idea of a Ryan/Chrissy/Devon F3. Devon would be a good winner and is definitely getting that edit, though. Plus, he's a nice guy and seems to respect people. :)

As much as I love Devon, I don't see him winning against anyone except Maybe Ryan and potentially Mike at this point.

Devon got rid of the main person he could likely beat.

I think Ben's best play would have been to let them all vote for him again and he takes out Mike. Then he would be in the swing position. Ben's need to flaunt the idol and try to make a play screws him in the long run, I think.

But the more I watch, the more I see Chrissy winning and I hate it...

Ben’s “secret secret!” and explosion noises were really dumb. Some subtle gloating out of excitement is fine but he chose the lamest way to do it. I loved Chrissy’s response

Ben playing the idol early wasn't a big deal, you see people bring one out all the time and put it around their neck.

Jeff shouldn't have accepted it, and said, "we'll validate when it's time". Or told him to go sit down, we'll get to that soon.

But it wouldn't have altered anything, everyone was afraid he had one, he could have pulled a fake one out and no one would have voted for him.

Dadd @ 14/12/2017 14:52

Ben playing the idol early wasn't a big deal, you see people bring one out all the time and put it around their neck. Jeff shouldn't have accepted it, and said, "we'll validate when it's time". Or told him to go sit down, we'll get to that soon. But it wouldn't have altered anything, everyone was afraid he had one, he could have pulled a fake one out and no one would have voted for him.

Tbh they might’ve because they knew he made a fake one not long ago. They could’ve called his bluff but it was all skipped by the early validation

This one gets p funny halfway through

Curtis @ 14/12/2017 15:56

Dadd @ 14/12/2017 14:52 Ben playing the idol early wasn't a big deal, you see people bring one out all the time and put it around their neck. Jeff shouldn't have accepted it, and said, "we'll validate when it's time". Or told him to go sit down, we'll get to that soon. But it wouldn't have altered anything, everyone was afraid he had one, he could have pulled a fake one out and no one would have voted for him. Tbh they might’ve because they knew he made a fake one not long ago. They could’ve called his bluff but it was all skipped by the early validation

I thought at first that it was the fake one he put around his neck lol until he brought it over to Jeff.

Has anyone tried to validate an idol before tribal? I feel like it might be yes. That's the only way I'd have true Igor level outrage over Jeff accepting it