Game Changers: So Was That The “Stupidest Move in Survivor History?”

Survivor: Game Changers may have had an unwise move during last week’s episode, but does it really deserve the title of “worst Survivor move ever?”

Warning: Survivor: Game Changers episode 4 spoilers follow, as you might imagine. 

In an interview with CBS after last week’s episode of Survivor: Game Changers, Malcolm Freberg dubbed J.T.’s attempt to eliminate Sandra with the help of Mana as the “stupidest move in Survivor history.” Now, that phrase gets thrown around for a few distinct moments in the 17 years the show’s been on the air. Remember Cirie talking Erik into “redeeming himself” by giving up individual immunity in Micronesia? How about James going home with two idols in his possession in China?

In fact, J.T. also played a pivotal role in another of the worst Survivor moves ever. We’re sure you remember Heroes vs. Villains, where he helped give a hidden immunity idol to Russell Hantz.  We projected that had J.T. not done that, he may have been able to win HvV. (Can you imagine J.T. being the king of Survivor? After all, Sandra’s the queen because she won twice.) Instead, his play directly led to his own elimination. Frankly, that still seems like the worse move. Let’s break down why.

At that point in Heroes vs. Villains, J.T. and Russell had not spent any time together. On the other hand, in Game Changers, he and Brad had actually played together on the earlier form of Nuku, albeit only for six days. Additionally, he realized that the Nuku majority effectively relied on him, and that the bonds he’d built on the original Nuku might be enough for him to engineer Sandra’s elimination.

So yes, there was a risk involved. There was a risk involved in Heroes vs. Villains, too, but the logic seems to be more clearly there when it comes to Game Changers and J.T. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a bad move — especially since it led to the elimination of perhaps the one person who remotely resembled an ally on the current form of Nuku in Malcolm.

Instead, I think J.T.’s Game Changers movie is on the level of Tyson basically voting himself out in Heroes vs. Villains, because it seems like overthinking played a pivotal part in both outcomes. Tyson changed his vote at the last minute; J.T. tried to change things at Tribal Council.

Of course, a full assessment of how this Tribal Council and J.T. changed the game has to wait until at least J.T.’s elimination, which seems closer than ever based on the preview we already have for episode 5. In fact, it may be safer to wait and see how the rest of the season plays out. We now know that Game Changers will air its finale on May 24, and two months isn’t really that much of a wait.

Next: Has Survivor Been Spoiling Its Challenge Winners?

Right now, we lean towards saying J.T.’s Game Changers move isn’t the dumbest in Survivor history, not while Heroes vs. Villains still has Tyson and J.T. … but there’s also a lot of Game Changers left. Give it time. We might have a new winner yet.