Cinema Science

Stop reading this now if you have not seen last nights episode of Survivor and plan on watching it in the near future. There will be a spoiler, quite a major one revealed in the next paragraph.

OK, so I am assuming you have seen the show now and seen what is easily the dumbest move in the history of the series. And this is coming from someone who has seen every episode of every season,except the first three of the Amazon season (release more seasons on DVD!). Even though my two favorite castaways were forced to leave the game due injuries (Jonathan Pennar and James) I can't really complain about the final four. Cirie (whom I hope wins), Amanda, Natalie, and Parvarti have probably played the game the best and deserve to win, especially after last night. Convincing Erik to give up his immunity necklace is some sort of brilliant move. Erik actually giving it up, after he had a guaranteed spot in the final four and was only one more challenge away from the final tribal council was the most boneheaded decision I have ever seen, maybe in my television watching history. At least when Ian made a similar move in the Palau season he regained some friendships, I don't even think Erik accomplished that. It made for some damn good tension but well, wow. How can you give up the chance at a million dollars on a promise a tribe mate, who has repeatedly lied to you, makes at the 11th hour? At least James will no longer go down as the dumbest survivor in history and for that, I can thank Erik.

UPDATE: This is an excerpt from Dalton Ross' recap of the episode over at EW. A pretty bold claim but I might have to agree with him.

I think you should sit down now because I'm about to say something that may shock you. Are you sitting? I have to assume so, because it would be very awkward if you were reading a computer screen standing up. Okay, here goes. This is the best season of Survivor since the very first one. There, I said it. And there's no taking it back, either. This is the Internet — crap statements like that live on forever. Not only is it the best season of Survivor since Richard Hatch took home the loot, but these past four episodes constitute the most amazing month-long run in the history of the show. Four straight blindsides done in the most dramatic fashion possible (Ozzy not using his hidden immunity idol, Jason not using his hidden immunity idol, Amanda shocking everyone with her hidden immunity idol, and then Erik — and I still can't even believe it as I'm typing it — giving away immunity for absolutely no reason whatsoever). That's right — no reason.