“Survivor Jackpot:” A Deeper Look At Survivor Game Changers Episode 3

The Goat Scene And Sandra’s Villain Edit

The early episode goat chase scene at the new Nuku camp didn’t conform to the familiar template the producers have gone to previously. This scenario typically starts with someone making a boneheaded error like letting the chickens loose. Then, there’s a 30-second montage of castaways being close-lined by branches in pursuit of said chickens. We don’t often get a solid 45-second debate about the ethical treatment of animals.

Based on the response on social media, I sense that this got a little tense for viewers. Even J.T., an actual rancher, didn’t want to kill the goats. While there was some obvious hypocrisy at play (why could they kill a chicken but not a goat?), it served the purpose of driving home Sandra’s villain edit. When Malcolm compares the goat to Bambi, and Sandra’s first instinct is (for someone else) kill it, that’s the literal definition of cutthroat.

Note to Sandra: anytime someone indirectly compares you to the hunter from Bambi, you have to soften up a little. Nobody is going to hand the hunter from Bambi a million bucks.