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Season 36 starts on Wednesday, February 28th.

The show returns to the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji.

Like last season, weekly updates will be posted on Thursdays.

Please come in and share...

Survivor: Ghost Island

This season features 20 new castaways divided into two groups of 10. The “Ghost Tribe” theme itself revolves around the bad decisions of past players.

In a new twist, players may be sent to a separate haunted island with a graveyard of artifacts representing past Survivor blunders. It's a place that offers the opportunity to seize cursed relics including real idols and advantages from the past, including from Brazil, China, Africa, and Australia, and use them toward future purposes. Can the players "reverse the curse" on an immunity idol that was previously played poorly?

These castaways will be forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay, and outlast each other in an attempt to become the Sole Survivor.

The Naviti Tribe

• Angela Perkins (Army Veteran, age 42) ~ Final four, Lost fire challenge to Wendell, 10th and final member of the Jury

• Bradley Kleihege (Law Student, age 26)~ Voted off 7th

• Chelsea Townsend (EMT & Professional Cheerleader, age 24)~ Voted off 13th, sixth member of the Jury

• Chris Noble (Professional Model, age 27) ~ Voted off 8th, first member of the Jury

• Desiree Afuye (Student, age 21)~ Voted off 10th, third member of the Jury

• Domenick Abbate (Construction Supervisor, age 38) ~ Final three, 2nd place finish

• Kellyn Bechtold (Career Counselor, age 31) ~ Voted off 14th, seventh member of the Jury

• Morgan Ricke (Marine Animal Trainer, age 29) ~ Voted off 3rd

• Sebastian Noel (Fishing Guide, age 22) ~ Final six, Voted off 15th, eighth member of the Jury

• Wendell Holland (Furniture Company Owner, age 33) ~ WINNER

The Malolo Tribe

• Brendan Shapiro (P.E. Teacher, age 41) ~ Voted off 4th

• Donathan Hurley (Caretaker, age 26) ~ Final six, Voted off 16th, ninth member of the Jury

• Jacob Derwin (Music Teacher, age 22) ~ Voted off 2nd

• James Lim (Business Analyst, age 24) ~ Voted off 6th

• Jenna Bowman (Advertising Account Executive, age 23) ~ Voted off 11th, fourth member of the Jury

• Laurel Johnson (Financial Consultant, age 29)~ Final three, was forced to choose the Winner after a 5/5 vote split between Domenick and Wendell

• Libby Vincek (Social Media Strategist, age 24) ~ Voted off 9th, second member of the Jury

• Michael Yerger (Real Estate Agent, age 18) ~ Voted off 12th, fifth member of the Jury

• Stephanie Gonzalez (Graphic Sales, age 26) ~ Voted off 1st

• Stephanie Johnson (Yoga Instructor, age 34) ~ Voted off 5th

[This message edited by looking forward at 8:33 AM, May 24th (Thursday)]

I haven't watched this in years! Maybe I'll check it out this season.

Last night's two hour premiere featured two reward challenges, two immunity challenges, and two castaways voted off.

Both from the Malolo Tribe!

The winning tribe sent Jacob from the losing tribe to Ghost Island and this also gave him immunity from the tribal council vote.

Gonzalez was voted off first!

~overconfident, targeted by the females, impatient with weaker members of her tribe

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

Because of my hell-bent determination and strong will to win. I put my heart into everything I do. I wanted to go to school, so I worked three jobs to pay for it, along with 1,000 hours of internships to graduate. In business I wanted to help my brother and we grew the business from one store to three stores. I know in my heart that I can win. I welcome all challenges with open arms and can read people really well.

Socially, it'll be fun to test waters on how diverse I can be in order to really connect with people. After all, I have to cater to people's personalities so they'll feel comfortable doing what I need. Once my heart is set I will stop at nothing until I've achieved my goal even through blood, sweat, and tears. I've studied Survivor well enough to understand how to manipulate the numbers, play idols how they should be played and hustle the social game. I will go into this with focus, agility, and perseverance.

The Naviti Tribe won their second reward challenge and immunity challenge. They sent Donothan from the Malolo Tribe to Ghost Island. He didn't get anything there. Donothan was the original target of his tribe to be voted off, so the tribe went with their original target from Day 3...

Jacob was voted off second.

~annoyed the others, first on Ghost Island, brought back a fake immunity necklace but he forgot the paper explanation which immediately raised the red flag to the others, especially Michael and Brendan. He actually got Sienna's legacy advantage from Season 35 and it was later given to Morgan on the Naviti Tribe.

Three words to describe you: Self-deprecating, charming, and affable—though others would say "punchable."

What's your reason for being on Survivor?

I've been dreaming of doing this for well over a decade. At this point, above all else, it's to prove I can do what I've been saying I could do since I was a kid: Win Survivor. Part pride, part sticking it to the kids who tortured me growing up. It's a "What have you accomplished?" kind of thing. I promise I'm not usually so vengeful!

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

This sounds stupid, but I'm really easy to talk to. I want to set up my situation so everyone knows they can come to me to chat and get support despite any problems they're having personally or socially in the game. I'm a teddy bear, y'know? On top of that, I'm not a weakling. I can haul firewood and follow instructions when it comes to building shelters. I know how to make fire and untie knots and all that.

[This message edited by looking forward at 10:59 AM, March 1st (Thursday)]

This one is very interesting. I can't even figure out who I like. I do like the alpha dude on the losing team. I like Donathan. But to win, can't pick it yet.

It takes me a couple of weeks to start getting favorites. Right now, Donothan stands out to me. I love the quirky underdogs and he seems so happy to be there.

I think the ghost island twist is interesting.

I'm cheering for Laurel, the girl from Minneapolis. :-)

So last night got off to a pretty quick start with tribe changes. Jeff told the 18 castaways to drop their buffs -- time for a tribe change!

The new tribes are made up of

Naviti

Domenick, Chris, Angela, Wendell, Morgan, Donathan, Libby, Laurel and James.

Malolo

Jenna, Stephanie, Brendan, Michael, Desiree, Sebastian, Kellyn, Bradley and Chelsea.

The original Malolo tribe members decide that since they’re outnumbered in their own tribe now they should go idol hunting. And it’s Michael who scores. He finds James’ original Idol from Survivor China. James went home with two idols. He is the only played in the show’s history to be voted out with two idols. So can Michael reverse the curse? We’ll see.

The Immunity Challenge was also the reward challenge (a tarp). It was a phydical one with lots of team effort culminating in a puzzle to solve.

The Malolo Tribe won but couldn't agree on who to send to Ghost Island. So stones were drawn. Chris drew the white one. He smashed the urn and got the "Nope, not today" message, and meanwhile back at camp there were rumblings of going against his target (Domenick). In the end, Morgan was voted off in a blindside. She, too, like Sierra, had told a fellow castaway about her advantage. Oops!

Since Morgan was voted out with the Legacy Advantage, she willed it to Domenick. That makes two idols for him.

What's your reason for being on Survivor?

It has always been one of my dreams to be on Survivor. I have been a fan of the show since Season 2 and I know I have what it takes to be the Sole Survivor. Additionally, I would love to see a new part of the world and a million dollars wouldn't be bad either.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

Being resilient, strong, and fearless are nice traits that should translate well on the island. For example, at a younger age I was a competitive gymnast on the national level and sustained a career-ending injury. Doctors told me I would never compete again as a gymnast, nor play other sports. Fortunately, in high school, I went to state finals in volleyball and diving and then earned a D1 diving scholarship to the University of South Carolina. Go Gamecocks!

Sorry, Morgan, time to go back to Seaworld and work with your killer whales!

[This message edited by looking forward at 9:04 AM, March 8th (Thursday)]

"Trust Your Gut"

Brendan was voted off 4th last night.

A switchup last night.....after the Reward Challenge (PB&J, milk, bread) the winning team decided to have the losing team draw stones to decide who would be sent to Ghost Island. Kellyn drew the white stone. However, this week, she would return for the Immunity Challenge.

She got the opportunity to play a game of chance. At the risk of losing her vote, she declined to play. Well, if she'd won, she would have had an advantage and still gotten to vote. If she'd lost, however, her alliance of Old Naviti would have lost its 5-4 advantage.

At the Immunity challenge - the grueling water tag - Malolo won.

At the Tribal Council....

The old Naviti tribe members targeted Brendan and Michael who revealed to his group that he had an immunity idol earlier that day and planned a strategy that unfortunately didn't pay off. They couldn't convince anyone on the alliance of five to flip.

Michael told everyone at Tribal that he could save two people. He played his immunity idol, and, thinking that Stephanie was the target, chose to use it on her; however, the votes went to Brendan.

So the Naviti tribe stuck to their plan of targeting one of the guys....

What's your reason for being on Survivor?

To win.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

I'm strong, fast, tough, and good with my hands. I can read a room. I know how to make people feel comfortable and secure. My tribemates will want to keep me around.

Well, your original tribemates wanted to keep you around; unfortunately, the new ones didn't!

I really thought Sebastian was going to flip last minute. I was surprised when he stuck to his original alliance.

Michael’s strategy was goid, unfortunately he picked the wrong person to save.

Micheals was good. I watched tonight. I don’t know why but Chris is to arrogant for me. His story was very sad. It’s more his entitlement about the chocolate.

Stephanie i liked a lot.

Stephanie (original Malolo Tribe) was voted off 5th.

The Naviti tribe held onto their winning streak while Malolo continued to struggle and found themselves one again at Tribal Council.

The Naviti majority alliance stuck together and voted out Stephanie.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

Because every day for the past 10 years, I have looked at a sticker on my mirror: "Outwit, Outlast, Outplay. Survivor." I never once have stopped believing that this dream would come true. I can have all the strategy in the world and I will! But if I have learned anything from watching the show, participating in endurance events, raising children, working in a fast-paced finance position, studying in an ashram, being an entrepreneur, or all my other adventures is that nothing turns out like you expect. I am really good at adapting to circumstances, to people, and to unlikely situations. Plan A quickly becomes Plan C and it doesn't shake me up. I can endure pain both mental and physical with a smile on my face. Adaptation. A sense of humor. Dreaming big. That embodies who I am and why I will win!

I really like you, Stephanie! Unfortunately, you didn't have a Plan D.

I don't particularly like Brendan or Chris, especially the latter's ego.

What I did like about him last night, was his interaction with Donathan, both sharing their personal relationships with their mothers.

Looks like next week we either have a merge or another tribe change. The teaser was "drop your buffs..."

Tonight's episode.....

Fate Is The Homie

A surprise tribe swap could mean a fresh start for some castaways....and apparently there is a new twist....

James was voted off 6th last night from, yet again, the new-old-new Malolo Tribe.

Ghost Island was a ghost last night -- didn't make an appearance at all! And neither did an idol!

Weird season....trying to reboot itself???

Tribe change again....this time, with 15 castaways left, do the division, and, of course, we ended up with 3 tribes!

I'm losing track of who's who...original, then changed, back to original, now some to a new tribe.

I have a headache!

The new Yanuya tribe got Sea-Bass, Jenna, Wendell, Chris and Laurel. That's a strong tribe. The reconfigured Naviti got Donathan, Bradley, Chelsea, Domenick and Libby. The Malolo tribe got James, Michael, Kellyn, Angela, and Desiree.

What's your reason for being on Survivor?

Survivor is an adventure like no other. Everything it presents—the wilderness, the challenges, the fellow castaways from all cross-sections of America—will be a chance for me to break out of the bubble I've been a part of for most of my life and push myself physically, emotionally, and mentally like never before. I'll embrace the challenge and have fun along the way.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

There is no magic formula to winning Survivor. However, there are qualities that will help players get far. I believe I have most of them—I am team-oriented, athletic, outgoing, and tenacious. I will focus on being a helpful, likable asset to those around me, and on the down low strategically pave my path to the very end.

You were given a second chance early in the game - you were tenacious, but, unfortunately, your new tribe mates didn't agree with your self-described qualities. Good-bye James.

"Gotta Risk It For The Biscuit"

Bradley was voted off 7th at last night's Tribal Council.

The Malolo tribe breathed a sigh of relief -- no tribal council for them (5 out of the last 6). Earlier they had burned their tribal banner to get rid of their curse -- it worked...lol

Both Michael and Wendell find idols:

Michael finds the actual fake immunity idol that Ozzy created on Survivor: Micronesia: Fans Vs. Favorites. That is cool. The only three players to handle it that season were all voted out in a row. The fake idol, which has been residing on Ghost Island, has been slowly maturing into a real idol over the past 10 years.

Michael wanders away from camp and spots a tree with an unusual appearance and finds a map to a hidden immunity idol at its base. He frantically digs for the idol and recovers it before anyone finds out.The idol is, in fact, the immunity idol necklace that Erik gave to Natalie in Survivor Season 16. After winning the necklace, Erik was guaranteed a place in the final four. The four women banded together to trick him into giving the necklace to Natalie, and Erik was promptly voted out. The necklace has grown into an actual hidden immunity idol.

Kellyn was sent to Ghost Island, and this time she didn't play it safe. She had 2/3 of a chance to win an advantage and wound up winning a bonus vote at a future Tribal Council.

The Yanuya and Malolo tribes win the immunity water challenge, and Naviti headed to Tribal Council.

What's your reason for being on Survivor?

To take a shot at playing a game I have watched religiously and loved since I was 9. I'd also like to win the million so I can pay off my student loans and then buy a sailboat and sail around the world.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

I like to lead people and take initiative. Plus, I like to roast people and what doesn't build tribe morale more on Survivor than a few laughs from roasting the other tribe? I can also cook a mean batch of rice.

No, Bradley, you did more than roast people -- you annoyed the hell out of them -- impatient, argumentative, and bossy. Totally blindsided!

[This message edited by looking forward at 8:36 PM, April 5th (Thursday)]

Just saw tonight’s so good.

I agree.

Great episode.

Ghost Island back in play.

Loved the interaction between Domenick and Wendell.

Awesome blindside!

Chris was voted off 8th last night and is the first member of the Jury.

Fear Keeps You Sharp

The merged tribe is called Lavita. While donning their new buffs, Chris found a hidden message. He was challenged to secretly go to Ghost Island in the middle of the night. Accepting the challenge, he won an immunity idol*** good for the next tribal council only; he then chose another scroll to try and extend the idol's use but he got "No Vote" at the next tribal council. He returned to camp and nobody noticed he had been gone for a while.

The Immunity Challenge was tough -- balancing a horizontal pole with above the head, every 5 minutes moving the feet down on a narrowing board. Kellyn won.

And what a Tribal Council!

Hats off to Wendell for the best ever speech when he was casting his vote.

Domenick and Chris went head to head in front of everyone.

Dom donned his fake immunity necklace but he played his secret advantage of immunity for himself. And, of course, Chris couldn't vote.

But a very respectful exit for Chris...

What's your reason for being on Survivor?

The game itself, and to spread the awareness of MS. 2.3 million people worldwide have MS and there is no cure! For me, like life, I've been finding ways to survive for a long time. I want to apply all my experiences with different personalities, and put them to the ultimate test. I want to compete and I want to win. This is a competition of survival. I am a type-A personality and I cannot stand the thought of losing. I have tunnel vision when it comes to winning and there is nothing out there, competition wise, like Survivor.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

I will bring my Survivor mental toughness, my ability to adapt, my positivity to aid the weak, and my will to survive. I might not know how to do some things, but I will find a way to eat and get water. Whether that's through my creativity, my charm with women, or my ability to make one of the guys my bro. Some men will not like my alpha mentality, which strategically, I will hold back in the beginning as I read people, but I will find my way. They always say "don't bite the hand that feeds you." I grew up on an island so if I'm one of the few that can get his own catch and get his own water (which are the two essentials of living), no one will bite that hand. I will have ultimate power.

Chris, you were way too much alpha for everyone and far too egotistical!

***from realitytea:

“...the curse of J.T‘s Idol” than it is arrogance. The mistaken confidence brought on by ego. JT and Chris didn’t play their Idol not because the “Survivor Gods” pooped on it, or whatever, they didn’t play it because their own vanity and lack of self-awareness gave them a false sense of security that made them both think they’d be safe.

And keeping track of idols and secret advantages:

Kellyn has a secret advantage (extra vote).

Michael has an idol.

Wendell has an idol.

Looking ahead to next week.....

We watch a scene where Wendell tells Laurel about his hidden Idol, leading us to see Laurel mention how Dom and Wendell are growing too powerful. And then…it’s the disgusting food challenge!

The Sea Slug Slugger

Libby was voted off last night, and she is the second member of the Jury.

Michael got 8 votes, but played his idol.

At Tribal Council, Michael played Ozzy's stick, which you may recall as the fake idol that so wanted to become a real idol that it booked passage for Ghost Island, spent 10 years taking advanced courses in idol self-actualization at Ghost Island University — Ghost Island State is much more of a party-idol school — and eventually became a real idol and swam back and hid himself at one of this season's camps. Given the effort that the stick went through, nothing Michael did is so impressive at all, but at least he did exactly what you're supposed to do with an immunity idol, in that he kept it completely secret and played it at a tribal council in which he'd otherwise have been eliminated.

Stick, thy curse hath been reversed!

The Naviti alliance, plus Laurel and Donathan, was smart enough to anticipate Michael's idol potential. They split the votes between Michael and Libby. Michael, meanwhile, voted alone for Wendell.

Wendell and Domenick gambled; they didn't play their idols.

The reward challenge - Taco luncheon - was won by Wendell's team (school yard pick).

Individual Immunity winner - Angela - the disgusting food challenge! She was the literal and symbolic winner of the challenge. She danced and strutted and fist-pumped her way to immunity and, in the process, actually looked alive and competitive and threatening for the first time. Wendell, unfortunately, couldn't even look at the first item on the menu. He lurched away, first eliminated in the group. Michael was very impressive. He barely lost to Angela and, after she won, he asked Jeff if he could return to the table and finish his mother-of-pearl flesh. Why would he do that? Because, as Michael said: You only get one chance and you don't want to leave anything on the table, however gross.. Gutsy 18 year old!

Libby was made to believe that the others felt she was too close to Michael. We didn't see much of that. In reality, she was voted off due to tribal lines because she was a disposable Malolo number.

What's your reason for being on Survivor?

To win a million dollars. And to prove that this southern small town blonde is more than just a pretty face. I love adventure. I love challenges and I love to overcome them. Winning could be my chance to show the bullies in high school that I'm not little 'ol Libby anymore. It's a chance to show off my skills and strengths and use them to their full potential. Being on Survivor has been a dream of mine. I feel like God's been putting me through challenges and experiences in life to prepare me for this.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

Because I know that I can outlast and outplay! I work out a lot. I have endurance, I danced for 12 years. I have balance. I've completed tough mudders, marathons, and other races so I can get myself through challenges. My social game is strong. Making friends and alliances wouldn't be an issue for me. Though I now work with technology and digital media, I grew up camping, hunting, and fishing. I love the outdoors so I know I can use that experience and those skills to outlast those 39 days. I'm strong, smart, and pretty and I know how to use it.

Sorry, Libby:

I'm strong, smart, and pretty and I know how to use it.

She's going to be really frustrated when she sees the various guys speculating on her ability to use her feminine wiles to get further in the game. The reality is that Libby may have certainly had the potential to be manipulative and flirtatious.

[This message edited by looking forward at 10:57 AM, April 19th (Thursday)]

I was sad Libby got the boot. I truly don’t have winner in mind. I am not enticed to vote for anyone so far.

Desi was voted off 10th last night, and she is the third member of the Jury.

Desiree's lies were her undoing.

It's Like the Perfect Crime

The merged Lavita tribe was still divided along original tribal lines. Here is who was left at the beginning of last night's episode:

Naviti

Domenick, Angela, Wendell, Donathan, and Laurel.

Malolo

Jenna, Michael, Desiree, Sebastian, Kellyn, and Chelsea.

The "trust your gut" theme ended badly for Kellyn. She refused to believe that Desiree was coming after her. So she was blindsided by the vote last night.

Desiree began the episode by sitting down with the four remaining members of the Malolo alliance, said that she worried she was at the bottom of the Naviti majority of seven and made a proposal that they target Kellyn first, followed by Domenick and Wendell. She got caught in her lies but refused to back down.

Desiree banked her entire game not on dealmaking on conciliation or personal leverage and promises, but on the other members of her alliance trusting her over the four people not in her alliance for the sole reason that she was in their alliance and they were not. She stuck to her lie without wavering even as everybody else told and sold the exact same (true) opposition narrative.

The reward challenge was a schoolyard pick, and Donathan was left out, The winning team enjoyed a helicopter ride and a picnic lunch. Since they didn't agree on who on the losing team should go to Ghost Island, it was done by drawing rocks. Kellyn ended up there and she gambled on the challenge and lost. Angela was willing to play this week's game of chance on Ghost Island, but picked the wrong bamboo chest and received nothing and lost her vote. She drew No Vote" at next Tribal but wasn't concerned as Naviti was a strong seven alliance. Right.....

Back at camp Michael and Donathan decided to look for an idol but separately. Donathan found the first half but needed his three Malolo tribemates to obtain the second part. He secured the two pieces of Scott Pollard and Tai's super-idol, which now form a single regular idol.

Domenick still has an idol, Wendell still has an idol and Kellyn still has a bonus vote.

Chelsea won the Immunity challenge.

What's your reason for being on Survivor?

The million dollars would change my life drastically. I would have a story for the books—the girl that went from village to Versailles. I've seen it all, from the slums to the fast-paced, hard working student life in NYC. I want to change my life and my surroundings. I want to show myself and others that regardless of what you've been through, (it was being homeless for me), you can succeed.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor?

I currently live in a house of eight girls. I know how to deal with seven different versions of crazy and different personalities. I am constantly settling issues in the house and running the house meetings, not only does this make me sociable, it makes me likable and adaptable. I have good experience in sports, having played basketball for most of high school and I work out at my college gym. I'm putting myself through school with grants and academic scholarships while my parents are in Nigeria and I am an asset to any team.

Unfortunately, Desiree, you were caught in your lies. You were no longer an asset to Naviti.

[This message edited by looking forward at 10:22 AM, April 26th (Thursday)]