Survivor
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Last week, Maryanne talked about the blessing and the curse of not being perceived as a threat.
Heading into tonights tribal council, the timing is perfect.
Several big targets are ripe for the picking.
Challenge dominator Jonathan doesnt have the immunity necklace.
The likable Mike appears confident enough not to play his idol.
If there is ever a time to make a statement, its right now.
But before we get there, lets rewind a little.
For Omar, that involves separating Mike and Jonathan, just as he did previously with Mike and Hai.
Little does Omar know that Mike is already onto his schemes.
Mike sees me as his savior, says Omar.
I saved his life and saved his idol.
Omars maneuvering indeed helped Mike avoid potential catastrophe.
But hes wrong about Mikes indebtedness toward him.
The jury saw Omar go from this caterpillar to a butterfly, she says.
Theres no way I can beat him.
Meanwhile, Lindsay remains hyperfocused on Jonathan.
The only thing standing in her way of ultimate success is Jonathan.
Jonathan isnt a complete dummy, though.
He realizes that Lindsay and Omar have become a powerful strategic pair.
He needs to strike at them before they strike at him.
Its time to break up, he laughs.
In reality, Jonathan is onboard with Mikes plot to blindside Omar at the next vote.
The only thing they need to do is check that Lindsay doesnt win the next immunity challenge.
If she does, shell be safe and can protect Omar with her idol.
In trueSurvivorfashion, Lindsay wins immunity in an intensely close back-and-forth with Jonathan.
Who thought table mazes could make for such tense television?
This blows up Mike and Jonathans plan to target Omar.
There is too much risk involved now.
Easy, sure, but not a game-winning move.
And thats what Maryanne needs right now.
Taking out Romeo does nothing for Maryannes stock.
Maryanne explains to Jonathan and Mike that they could put four votes on Omar five if Romeo joins them.
She pleads that now is the right time.
However, Maryanne persists, putting forth an even more brilliant plan.
Im ready to show Im here to win, Maryanne says in confessional.
Im not just a goat to be herded.
During the pre-vote discussion, Jeff Probst asks Omar if hes feeling confident about tonights vote.
ImSurvivorconfident, states Omar, but every time youreSurvivorconfident, youre usually wrong.
But Im hoping thats not the case.
Unfortunately for Omar, that very much is the case.
Maryanne pulls off the spectacular 3-2-2 vote, sending a flabbergasted Omar to the jury.
Omar asks his former ally.
I did, Maryanne replies.
And what a move it was.
Maryanne perfectly picked her moment.
She correctly read the tribe dynamics and knew where all the votes were going.
On top of that, she became the first player to properly and successfully use an extra vote.
Obviously, there was a considerable risk involved, knowing that Omar could have played an idol.
Part of me wonders if Maryanne knew that Lindsay didnt intend to use it.
Even so, the risk was worth it; at worst, Jonathan probably would have gone home.
That would still have been a big threat taken off the board.
Its the season finale next week, five players remain, and Maryanne now seems to be the favorite.
And she may still have more fancy moves up her sleeve before then.
There was even a sweet message to his niece (and some more awkward Jeff fourth-wall-breaking).
