Survivor:... Episodes on CBS

This week on Survivor: Gabon, the game totally changed once the tribes finally merged. Again, Sugar holds the coveted swing vote, Randy explains his dislike of Crystal, Kenny takes control of the game and another player is blindsided.

We need to talk about Kenny. I just wanted to hug him when, in the aftermath of Marcus' exit, he challenged the Onion Alliance's position that Marcus did not deserve to leave. Watching Corinne and Charlie scramble for plausible explanations as to why Marcus deserved to go further in the game over other players like, say Kenny or Bob reeked a bit of Kota elitism. So glad Kenny called them on it.

I wish Kenny had taken on Randy's nasty attitude toward Crystal. Dude, it's a game. Let it go. But no, Randy's name calling just went on and on. So much so that Charlie had to interrupt a rant to get clarification on which nickname referred to what person. "Sasquatch is Crystal, which is also Big Foot, which is also T-Rex." This man just spews sunshine wherever he goes.

How nice, then that the tribes have merged and everyone can enjoy Randy uncut and uncouth. The new Nobag tribe (Gabon spelled backwards) emerged after the reward challenge — slingshot golf —, which Fang won. Matty got to experience his first reward, a Gabonese feast, and later some dancing. Meanwhile Bob spent some alone time on Exile Island searching for a non-existent idol. It's amazing that even with evidence that the idol has been found, people find it hard to believe that Sugar could actually have done so. People she's spent what, a month on EI? If she couldn't find that idol...? Regardless, I like that Bob made a pretty convincing fake idol to throw others off the path. Too bad half of the players know that Sugar has the real idol.

Now that everyone is one big family, immunity is much more personal and its first individual challenge forced everyone to prove that they could build a fire using flint and steel. Would you believe that only Sugar and Susie were able to spark a flame? While I'm surprised that Susie won immunity I'm just as surprised that one or two of the others did not hack off a finger. It's a good thing, too because you need all of your digits to make a strong fist, which is, of course, comes in handy at Tribal Council.

As usual, the gloves come off at tribal. With Marcus looking on, Crystal asked Randy to explain his animosity to her. Randy offered to share a list of reasons, but instead stated just one. Crystal, GC and their posse were arrogant. There's a pot and a kettle somewhere in this discussion.

Anyway, Kenny and his lying ways managed to convince his posse that Charlie was the true mastermind and should therefore be shut down. Sugar, yet again took Kenny's word, (albeit with a grain of salt this time) while Randy threw his effort behind getting rid of Crystal. It was a close vote and Jeff did his darn best to make it suspenseful, but in yet another blindside, Charlie was sent to join Marcus on the jury and while he was disappointed to leave the game he was excited to get back to Marcus' side. In the end all is well.

I look forward to seeing the inevitable fireworks between Crystal and Randy next week. Has the game truly been turned on its head now that the merge has truly happened? Is Kenny the biggest threat? Are the mean comments during voting really necessary? And, really, how many more times will Sugar burst into tears?