Survivor: China (Episode 1512) Did Todd get blindsided by Amanda?

*** WARNING SPOILERS***

If you are a Todd Herzog fan, watching the last two episodes of Survivor: China has not been a particularly fun experience. Whether via outstanding editing and/or actual representation of the game, our gay powerhouse player has looked like he’s been in serious danger of being voted off.

Last week’s previews made it seem like Todd would finally be blindsided by Amanda, who, after masterminding James' unexpected offing, is starting to remind me of the title character in 1950’s Oscar-winning All About Eve. Will our beloved Todd’s torch be snuffed before its time just as Margo Channing’s was by the outwardly meek Eve? If Todd has not seen Bette Davis’ classic tale of deceptive ambition, I hope that he has enough Mean Girls wisdom to finish off what he started.

The show gets to business right away with a Reward Challenge that has the Final 5 using a replica of a 4th Century Chinese crossbow concoction to fire arrows at a target that has their names randomly written on it. To give it a wicked edge, the number of arrows that each player will fire will be based on how each player “secretly” distributes the 5 arrows that they are given. The winner will get to go on an overnight trip, via private jet, to the Great Wall of China.

Out of the total of 25 red roses (wrong show) arrows to be awarded, there are no surprises, as non-challenging Courtney receives a whopping 12 arrows. Outcast Peih-Gee receives only 1. Denise gets 2, Amanda 4, and our Todd 6. If the game were based on acumen, Todd would have won hands down as he was able to hit his own name with 5 out of the 6 arrows that he received. He would have been followed by Courtney and Denise who tied with only one hit each; however since the winner is based on how many times a player's name gets hit, urban hipster Courtney accidentally hits Denise’s name 5 times to give the Lunch Lady her second reward over Todd in as many weeks.  

Denise is allowed to invite two other players to join her in her reward excursion. She picks Courtney  and Todd, who always gets picked by the members of his alliance as they want to be on his good side. Amanda and a whiny Peih-Gee get sent back to camp with nothing. The winning threesome take off on the private jet, and we are entertained by our favorite flight attendant, who works it by welcoming all on board, announcing that they are on “Survivor Airlines Flight 15”, and making reference to how cool the passengers are. All in all, a cute sequence with Todd being the charming man-boy that he is.

Back in camp, Amanda decides to talk to Peih-Gee. At this stage of the game, the smartest players start being human to even the least popular kids school as they want their votes when they join the Jury. Eve Harrington Amanda manages go from the equivalent of “what was your name again?” to almost braiding Pieh-Gee’s hair and perfecting synchronized swimming routines in the pond. Todd would not be happy seeing this love-fest as it makes so much sense for these two to get rid of him, which they could easily do by bringing Denise on board.

People come back from the Reward Challenge, get in passive-aggressive tiffs, the “nice” Lunch Lady throws "meanie" Todd under the bus, too much rice gets eaten, people complain about others being greedy/thankless/backstabbing/blah, blah, blah. What becomes very clear is that unless Todd wins Individual Immunity, and especially if Peih-Gee wins yet again, he could be joining the Jury before the hour is over.

The Individual Immunity Challenge is another Survivor cycle-ending tradition as it combines elements of previous challenges. To make a long story short, Todd does not win and actually is the first one out of the running. Amanda and Peih-Gee are the last two remaining, but Amanda wins it.

This must have given Todd marginal relief as it makes his leaving tonight less likely, but still very possible. He knows it and says that he will be “livid” if he gets voted off, but also gives the ladies a “big ups” for figuring out how to get rid of him. These words are uttered on his way on Tribal Council.....

At this late stage of the game, Tribal Council is one of the only places where there can be some humor as everyone is so serious. In this cycle, the laughs are generally provided by Courtney as she mocks someone saying something really stupid or self-serving. I am taking to you Amanda! She is also is managing to look even more beautiful with each passing day. I smell Playboy calling. Super stud host Jeff always goes for the jugular at these meetings by asking leading questions to get information that would otherwise not be revealed. Tonight he gets all sorts of dirt. One player says a few seemingly benign things that I predict will secure her loss if she makes it to the finals.

There is a hilarious segment that has Courtney referring to herself as a “Negative Nancy.” Peih-Gee looks disgusted at Courtney's negativity and starts to go on and on about how much she hates that attitude as she's such a “positive person.” This delusional self-assessment elicits a laugh like I’ve never seen from James, followed by the now classic Courtney eye-roll, and a Todd guffaw. Positive? Peih-Gee is more like Debbie Downer's bitter sister, but she has reason to feel  frustrated as she's been putting on a great fight with no one to help her. I grossly underestimated her and actually thought that she was going to be the firt person voted off at the end of the September premiere.

I continue to laugh as Peih-Gee is still going on and on and on about being "honorable" and deserving of being there. Not a smart move as she should continue to play intelligent mind games to secure her spot. The players do their thing, and by a vote of 4 to 1, the 12th player voted off Survivor: China is .... Peih–Gee. I start breathing again for the first time Todd lost Individual Immunity. Denise and Miss Harrinton Amanda give the about to become 6th member of the Jury fake hugs, surely hoping that this will generate good will when it comes to the final vote. I love my Todd as he makes no attempt to hide his youthful happiness by smiling, laughing, making-faces, fake crying for the Jury, and even doing a sitting-down Cabbage Patch, a 1987 short-lived dance club move move that was en vogue when Todd was all of 2-years old. Todd rocks!

Next on Survivor: China! “4 players, 3 Tribal Councils, 2 Hour Finale, 1-Hour Reunion Show” Who says that these writers don't belong with their fiction-writing counterparts? They did lose some steam by billing of the last four players as follows: The “Lunch Lady,” the “Long Shot,” the “Schemer,” and the “Chameleon.” After all this time this is the best that they can do? I would have preferred if the Amanda “billing” would give us clues as to why her backside is perpetually blurred by editing. Does she have an unusually low-hanging butt? The worst wedgie ever? Are there genitalia issues that even my warped mind can’t even contemplate? The editors also blurred her sister last week. Inside joke? What gives? I demand answers.

I am going to win $1,000,000 and I will pay all taxes

Predictions: I am going out on a limb regarding Todd's winning this game because I believe it and to allow people can make fun of me if I am wrong. I predict that no matter which other two players Todd is up against, he will get votes to win from James, Frosti, Jean Robert (yup!), and the one remaining woman who will be the final member of the Jury. Erik and Peih-Gee will likely vote for anyone but Todd. Jamie is my only wild card, but even without her vote, Todd will win!

Check back in on Monday to discuss the finale and live reunion show results! I now even think I know why Amanda's back has been blurred, and now have the stunning picture to prove it.