Survivor Ghost Island edgic episode 5: Shuffle and deal
Though we know that things won’t be so simple heading into the next episode of Survivor Ghost Island, edgic for episode 5 made up for straightforwardness.
Though this weekly piece is not usually dedicated to discussing the events of the previous episode, Survivor Ghost Island episode 5 was a bit of a dud for some. Although I appreciated the despair and struggle by those on Malolo, it was clear from the moment they lost the challenge that Michael or Stephanie was going home. Unfortunately for our own edgic chart last week, it meant sending home one of our contenders of the season.
I had knocked Michael off the top because I was concerned that he would be taken out next in retaliation, making it harder to value him as high in the edit. Now that we’ve seen what he’s done to secure safety (and having his enemies agree to keep him safe), that changes everything.
You can see the results of these changes with our Survivor Ghost Island episode 5 edgic chart, as seen below:
Winner Contenders
Michael Yerger (CPP5): Of the original Malolos who made a blend of positive-toned, personal content with strategic scrambling within the episode, Michael Yerger came out on top. He cried, he talked about how much he’s grown as a person, he cut a deal and noted how Brendan’s elimination was his “first really hard fall.”
His edit has been about struggle, biding his time and getting revenge against those who oppose him. Most importantly, he’s the face of the group the audience feels sympathy for. Likability is key for modern Survivor winners.
Live Feed
Betsided
Kellyn Bechtold (MOR3): Once again, Kellyn jumps between high visibility and taking a second-in-command role. While we don’t see her driving alliances or making tight long-lasting partnerships, I believe it’s actually a service to her. She’s one of the most prominent old Naviti players, yet she’s been mostly hidden from the negativity in the edit while still being a player in control of the game.
The biggest evidence is her shown crying after voting out Stephanie. Malolo is the underdog to cheer for, but Kellyn’s personal story and sympathy are driving her forward as one of the few likable Naviti players. However, she’s going to need more partnership/strategic moments as we teeter near the merge.
Domenick Abbate (UTR1): For the first time in Survivor Ghost Island, Domenick got a much-needed cooldown episode. Domenick gets more edgic points because of how much the edit has been terrible for his main rival this past episode. He’s certainly one of the strongest players from an advantage and strategic standpoint.
Donathan Hurley (CPP4): Donathan has been pegged for the journey edit so far, but now we’ve seen something more this past episode. He feels more comfortable with Chris after sharing deeply personal stories, but he sees himself as someone who can control the fates of Domenick and Chris within the game. He’ll need to bring something to action in order to earn more credit, but right now we have so few winner contenders that he’s been given more wiggle room.
Outside Looking In
Wendell Holland (UTR1): We know he’s Domenick’s righthand man, but we don’t know much more about him six hours into the show. I need to see him make money moves, but I’m afraid it’s getting far too late for him to make a pre-merge push.
James Lim (MOR2): We got a bit of insight from James about using Chris to Malolo’s advantage, but we know that James doesn’t know the whole story because of Laurel and Donathan’s push to work with Dom and Laurel. James is mostly about the good of the tribe, not himself.
Must Read: Survivor Winners: Ranking All 34 Sole Survivors By Season
Jenna Bowman (CP3): Although she enters the earliest stages of a showmance, this episode allowed us to see Jenna make a move to keep herself safe on her own behalf, putting her closest ally, Stephanie, down the path to elimination. It’s a baller move, and we got to see her come to terms with making the move. It’s just that hour six is mighty late for this kind of advantage-heavy season.
Sebastian Noel (MOR3): It’s entirely possible we’re going to run into another Fabio winner edit, with the wacky likable guy who says wacky, likable things stumbling his way to victory. The fact that he wants to keep Jenna safe and gets his way makes him another Naviti player the audience can possibly cheer for late in the game.
Hard To See
Chris Noble (OTTP4): Chris was a dominant force for Naviti in these Survivor Ghost Island episode 5 challenges, but he got the most powerfully negative editing technique; the dodo sounds when doing his freestyle rap. Though he was positively edited, he had a slightly strategic reason for sharing his mother’s story with Donathan.
Watch Survivor on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels (including CBS) with a 7-day FREE trial!
Laurel Johnson (UTR2): Once again, Laurel was here serving somebody else’s story. This week, it was Donathan. She said she was going to stop playing under the radar; for the edit to show her going right back under the radar kills her credibility.
Drawing Dead
Stephanie Johnson (CPP4): Sincerely, it felt like the Survivor editors were making Stephanie to be a war veteran being shot down in their home as if a national tragedy occurred. Whether it was absurdly positive content at Ghost Island, her making passionate Tribal Council speeches about providing and thriving for her family or specifically-tailored elimination music, it’s like the show wants her back on the island tomorrow.
Chelsea Townsend (UTR2): Though we see her in strategic talks with key Naviti players, we never see who Chelsea’s close with. She’s a tertiary character at best, invisible at worst.
Desire Afuye (MOR2): Desiree’s been given slight undercuts of sincerity with the edit, primarily being seen snooping in hero Stephanie’s bag. That’s a big no-no when everybody is not concerned she has an idol; it shows the audience she cannot be trusted with your things. Those it’s not inherently negative, I don’t doubt she’s a swap-screwed elimination candidate this week.
Angela Perkins (UTR1): Other than grab some coffee and cheer pastry man, she’s invisible once again. She has no story other than “person who’s with Chris for some reason.”
Libby Vincek (UTR1): Once again, she was used to highlight Morgan’s blindside and has done nothing before or after. That’s nothing to be hopeful about when it comes to edgic.
Next: Survivor: Ranking all 35 seasons
Bradley Kleihege (CP4): Everybody in the opposing alliance thinks he’s smug and a complainer. That kind of cartoonish villainy tends to get an abrupt end when they least expect it. The swap could be that time for him to go.