It's been a long time since I've posted an actual Survivor blog (about a year I think). I haven't stopped watching though and I'm still invested in this season. And I just want to express my opinion on who I think is playing the smartest overall game in terms of staying in a good position and holding a level of power (but not in terms of who I think is going to win). Spencer and Tasha have done a really good job of staying alive so far but they're still on borrowed time. Trish and Kass have kept themselves safe for now but people may argue they have not done much outside of their crucial role in the merge boot (and they also got blindsided twice already). Tony has played a very head-on aggressive game which, while powerful, has pissed people off, makes enemies and risks bitterness from the jury. So...that leaves Woo? O_O
But Woo hasn't made any big moves either! He's just a wimp who does whatever Tony tells him to do! He sucks! Calm your jets. Give me a chance here. Woo's game is by no means perfect and it may not make for the best TV. And his odds for a win are still somewhat slim. But he's playing the game subtle and he's playing the game smart. Let's just take a walk through his game so far and see how he's really doing.
One thing Woo has about him is that he's likable and approachable. This is shown right away when he is easily able to make friends within his tribe. Cliff tries to downplay his celebrity status but Woo's like 'Dude, I know you. :P' but instead of making a big deal out of it, he plays it off as it's cool. Woo's laid-back, fun and friendly attitude draws people to him and it causes them to trust him. Cut to Episode 4. A (stupid) plan is being put together to throw a challenge in order to boot Cliff. Tony, Sarah and Trish are in. They need a fourth. So who do they pick between Woo and Lindsey, both of whom are very close to Cliff? They pick Woo (admittedly the Trish/Lindsey feud may have something to do with this).
This brings me to the second point of Woo's strengths in the game. Woo is adaptable. Woo states clearly that his strategy is to make sure that he stays in the majority, whatever he has to do (This'll be very important later on). He is willing to turn on Cliff to make sure he stays in the majority of the tribe to keep himself safe. (Yes I know he doesn't vote for Cliff in Episode 5 but that's because taking out the Beauties really should've been the priority at that time.) Unless evidence comes up otherwise, I think Woo would've gone through with the plan if the challenge had been thrown because why risk a tie? Even if NuSolana lost the next immunity challenge after Cliff/Lindsey left, it's very possible that Woo is able to get in the middle between the Beauties and the Brawns ala Kass was in Episode 2.
This adaptability has proved very crucial going through the merge. Who is the only other person other than Tony who has voted correctly every time since the merge? Woo. Woo has been able to work himself into a position where he is being approached to make moves and keep him from being a target. People think Tony wants Woo out? Leave Woo alone and focus on the minority. Tony wants to blindside LJ? Bring along Woo. Tony wants to blindside Jefra? Bring along Woo. People are considering making a move against Tony next week? They still bring along Woo even after he screwed them! (Unless next week's trailer is being misleading like the LJ boot episode). People know they can bring along Woo for these moves because he will do them. Woo is sticking to his strategy and ensuring that he is always in the majority. He has accomplished this by getting an aggressive player like Tony to trust him the most. And even though Woo is going along with these big moves, no one is bitter towards Woo (except for stealing the idol clue which I'm about to get to). Everyone blames Tony. This is great for Woo! He can be involved in these big moves without getting the blood on his hands and pissing people off because he has Tony as a shield to take all the damage.
The last point I can make is that Woo knows how to look at the bigger picture. The primary incident I can make of this is the incident where Woo took the clue from Spencer (which was awesome BTW). Woo shared the clue with his alliance instead of looking for it himself or making a deal with Spencer. The reason for this is simple; it's more important for your alliance to have the idol than for you to have the idol. Sharing the idol clue accomplishes two things (in theory): 1. It increases the odds that your alliance gets the idol and keeps the power (meanwhile the target is not on you since you don't have it). 2. It makes your alliance trust you more and makes you less of a target than if you just looked for it yourself or made a deal with someone you're supposed to be against (Look at Trish compared to Morgan and Garrett for instance. Who's still here?). Sharing the idol clue he took was the best thing Woo could do, even though it didn't actually work out and Spencer found the idol anyway.
I'm not saying Woo has a win in the bag just yet. Not by any means. If people start to realize that Woo is likable or a threat, they can vote him off and Woo loses. If the jury respects Tony and isn't bitter about his game, Woo loses. If the jury is bitter at Tony and affiliates Woo in that manner, Woo loses. If Woo is at the end with Spencer or Tasha, Woo loses. Woo's best chance of winning is being at the end with Trish and/or Kass and making that argument of how he made sure he was in a powerful position of the majority without being a target. He can also win if it's a final two against Tony and people are bitter towards Tony. I think Woo actually has a decent argument to win and is playing a strong yet quiet game, even if his edit suggests otherwise. He just needs a strong finish to have a shot at actually winning.
*that awkward moment when Woo leaves next week*
Comments
Woo is on Tony's dick and has done nothing for his own personal game except assure that he will lose to Spencer or Tony.
As someone that ranked Woo last in my cast ranking this episode, I actually thought this was a very strong Woo argument. This episode really made me throw away any chance for Woo to win but I think some of your points are valid. My feeling was that Woo had a strong pre-merge game but cooled down post-merge. I feel like right now, he's looked at as Tony's puppet. I mean Jefra said it on her way out and to me if she says it then everyone knows it. He blindly went along with 2 votes to betray other members of his alliance which I think would be looked at worse than Tony planning it.
To be able to explain those in his favor, I believe he has to make a big move. Show willingness to go against Tony on a decision. This doesn't mean he has to blindside him but just stand up to Tony on a strategic move. Right now, I just think he would be looked at as Tony's sidekick which is not good. I agree with RobM in Trish being in the best position to win. I believe she has the likability Woo has while also having relationships with people Woo doesn't. To me, likability alone can't win survivor unless there's a deeper purpose to it which I question if Woo has or not.
yankeeman311 I agree. The pieces are there in the right position for Woo to set himself up for a win but there are still more situations in which he loses than wins because based on recent trends, he will be seen as a sidekick or tagalong unless he makes the move he needs to. Next week will be crucial. He needs to adapt again and at least prepare for that big move because if he waits too long, his chances are shot.
I can see Trish very likely winning as well (Really based on logic, Kass is the only one who probably can't win in any scenario) because she is playing a good social game with good relationships (again, the only one to make the smart choice in rice vs idol), acts as a solid voice of reason within the group and pulling in Kass to make the majority at the merge was extremely important in determining the outcome of the game. The only real slip-up was being on the outside of those two blindsides and that's not even her fault because Tony's nuts. I think if the move against Tony is not made next week (sure it won't matter because of Tony's super idol but at least a move could be made) and Spencer or Tasha leaves, Trish and Tony are the most likely winners. If the move is made and Woo is involved, he's back in it. We'll see what happens.
