Survivor: David vs. Goliath – What to watch for in episode 5

Three tribes, two challenges, one cyclone. Episode 5 of Survivor: David vs. Goliath seems to have it all in terms of theatrics and big storylines.

During last week’s episode of Survivor: David vs. Goliath, a tribe swap put every single David member in the minority. Also during last week’s episode, an original Goliath member went home. It just goes to show that anything can happen on Survivor, especially when an early swap begins to erode original tribal lines.

This aspect of having various loyalties is what makes Survivor so interesting. Add in Hidden Immunity Idols, secret advantages, terrible weather, and dynamic personalities, and you have the format for an exciting season! Here are three of the most significant stories to watch for in tonight’s episode of Survivor: David vs. Goliath.

1) How will the original Goliath members react when they realize Natalia is gone? 

When Elizabeth was trying to sway Alec to flip and vote out Natalia, he countered by stressing how that would send a message towards the other Goliath members. Alec was right, as we’re definitely going to get a reaction once the three tribes meet at the next challenge.

My guess is that the original Goliath members are going to be pissed off at Alec for flipping, and I think Kara might make a few faces or gestures to portray her innocence with the vote. This might come back to haunt Alec if there were to be another tribe swap, or even at the merge.

That being said, I think some Goliath members who aren’t as loyal to their original tribe will see this as a token to vote out whoever they want. Mike is a perfect example for that. Alec being the first one to blindside a Goliath member will make Mike feel more inclined and less guilty to voting off Natalie.

2) Will the weather affect the gameplay?

The promo teaser for tonight’s episode revealed that the stormy weather may even lead to a temporary evacuation from the game. It’s clear that this isn’t your typical rainy Survivor weather as this cyclone poses a serious threat to the castaways. How will this affect the gameplay?

At this point, I can’t see anyone quitting the game because of rain, but it can affect strategizing. It might create an environment similar to Survivor: Samoa, where the castaways were forced to stay under the shelter for days because of the constant rain, which greatly limited conversations prior to Tribal Council. This might be lessened if there is a temporary evacuation, but it will be interesting to see if the weather will play a role when deciding whose torch will be snuffed next.

3) Can other David members replicate what the orange tribe pulled off? 

Davie and Elizabeth from the orange tribe were skillfully able to influence Alec’s decision and make him feel more comfortable with them than his original Goliath members. At this point, it looks like any Goliath can be swayed to flip.

On the purple tribe, Mike is sick of Natalie and has already made an alliance with Nick. On the green tribe, Chrisitan immediately bonded with John and Dan. The David members have planted the seeds, we’ll see in tonight’s episode if they’re able to take root!