Survivor Micronesia and how to name your alliance

Naming things in Survivor takes a certain degree of panache, and Parvati had that panache for her new alliance name in Micronesia.

The eleventh episode of Survivor: Micronesia is all about the auction and about spiders. Well, one’s literal and one’s metaphorical. Shall we dig right in?

The day after Ozzy went home, there were competing reactions. Erik acknowledged that they had played well. Amanda did not take it as well, at least at first.

Parvati’s game also ended up breaking her relationship with James, but she did, however, make an appeal to Amanda (with some help from Cirie). In a confessional, Amanda sounded very skeptical.

Then came the Survivor auction. Everyone had $500.

• $120: Cirie bought a covered hot dog and fries.
• $80: Erik swapped to get covered nachos instead of an octopus.
• $240: Natalie bought covered fruit bats, and then James got it for free.
• $280: Amanda bought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with milk.
• $240: Natalie purchased the right to send Jason to Exile Island and take his money. She also pointed out he could get a new idol.
• $380: Natalie then picked up a chocolate cake to share with Alexis, Cirie, and Parvati in 60 seconds. Erik then paid Cirie $40 to lick her fingers.

Off on Exile Island, Jason discovered the hidden immunity idol. Of course, the ladies (including Amanda) started planning his demise in the game, sending Natalie out to deceive him.

Erik’s birthday fell on the day of the immunity challenge, so Natalie confessed to the camera that he would make it through no matter what. It turned out to be a series of elements from older challenges in stages. Natalie took a moment to talk to Jason, telling him to “let anyone but James win”. Jason, Erik, James, and Amanda advanced first; then Erik and James made it through, with Erik winning on his birthday.

And then, in a confessional, Parvati named her all-girl alliance:

"“It’s like the Black Widow Brigade, like all the girls are coming together, and we’re spinning the guys around as much as we can, just spinning them and spinning them until they don’t know which way is up and then we’re devouring them one at a time.”"

See, the name works here because most of the Black Widows had already taken out Ozzy, the metaphor worked, and it had Parvati selling the whole idea to the camera. There’s really not much more that you can ask for when it comes to style points in Survivor.

Natalie searched Jason’s bag to ascertain that he had the idol, and then ascertained that Jason had faith in her by telling him to vote James.

At Tribal Council, James aired his feelings about Parvati’s sudden turn, and Jason trusted Natalie and didn’t play the idol. Once again, Probst read the votes all the way to the very last one, sending Jason home in a 4-3-1 vote, with James getting three votes and Parvati a lone vote from James.

Quick notes:

• “I’m Ruthless … And I Have a Smile on My Face” comes from Natalie, who had a lot more screentime in this episode thanks to her work with Jason.
• The story of James’ injured finger starts in this episode, and you can see it’s bandaged by this episode’s Tribal Council. Probst also called in the medical team at the end of the episode.

Next: What are the best locations of Survivor?

But for the next episode, it’s time for still more idol shenanigans as well as family time!