Survivor: Game Changers: What went into Michaela’s elimination
Michaela also joined the jury on this week’s episode of Survivor: Game Changers, but why did she get those four fateful votes?
By comparison to Andrea’s elimination, the Tribal Council that saw Michaela go home was wild and reminiscent of earlier Tribal Councils on this season of Survivor, with people whispering to one another and side conversations erupting at random. It is Game Changers, after all. Standing and talking at Tribal as often as it’s happened this season counts as a pretty big change.
Even though Michaela had a chance to participate in some of those conversations, she ended up going home anyway.
Survivor has uploaded the video. Check out the vote below:
The question is why Michaela became the target over, say, Cirie, who had just tried to use Sarah’s advantage. But Cirie is a fairly easy vote any time. As my colleague noted earlier this week, she usually doesn’t get close to winning immunity challenges. Additionally, people know how dangerous she is. It led to her elimination early back in Heroes vs. Villains. Why waste the capital now?
And Sarah, it seems, knew it. Looking back at the episode, it seems that speaking to Tai set things off. Afterward, Brad asked Tai what had been said. Between that moment and when Sarah used her advantage to take Tai’s, she doesn’t speak to either Brad or Troyzan, who ended up voting for Michaela as well. To be more specific, she doesn’t speak to them during the episode footage.
There are a couple good reasons why taking out Michaela is wise. She’s quite athletic, so it leaves Sarah with better odds to win immunity going forward, and that will matter heavily in the finale. Additionally, Michaela had pulled Tai into a strategic partnership earlier. She also had connections with Cirie.
As you might imagine, Sarah did the bulk of the work for this elimination, and not just because she had two votes to use for it. Indeed, she benefits a lot from taking Michaela out. It leaves Cirie and Tai both in positions where they might turn to Sarah. At the same time, though, she can also turn to Troyzan and Brad if she so desires — and that might work better for taking Cirie out sooner rather than later. Again, as my colleague noted in the above-linked post, if Cirie makes it to the end, she might very well win it all.
Next: Michaela's exit interviews
Ergo, don’t be surprised if Cirie comes close to the Final Tribal Council and falls just short, just as she did in Micronesia.