Out of all the big threats remaining in Survivor: Edge of Extinction, it was Wardog who was able to change the state of the post-merge game.
Warning: This article containers spoilers for episode 8 of Survivor: Edge of Extinction.
As much as some viewers have enjoyed picking on Wardog for his challenge performances, it’s not an understatement to say that he was the mastermind behind this week’s episode. He demonstrated not only his strategically inclined mind but also the ability to make a big move happen. Wardog even showcased a legitimate social game as his conversations with Julia put this surprising blindside into motion.
Why Wardog deserves MVP over Julia:
There’s no debating that Julia was the catalyst for making this Eric blindside happen. She recognized the hierarchy within Kama and saw the need to flip on Ron and Eric before she got bamboozled. Her conversation with Eric to figure out their plan to use Rick and David was absolutely brilliant. Julia was able to catch Eric and Ron’s grand scheme before it took effect.
However, we can’t ignore the fact that Julia’s proactive gameplay all began with Wardog. His conversation with Julia about the Kama tribe’s pecking order made her think about her situation in the game. Even Julia admitted that she didn’t consider that Ron and Eric had alternative plans until Wardog brought it to light. Without that key conversation that was initiated by Wardog himself, Eric might still be in this game.
Wardog benefited from this move more than any Kama member. Julia was able to take the power away from Ron and Eric, but in doing so, she also weakened her own Kama alliance. Wardog’s two biggest allies were the top targets at Tribal Council. He went from possibly losing his closest ally to getting rid of an opposing threat.
Wentworth and Lauren both survived the night with their idols still intact, making this unified trio even more dangerous going forward. This move helped to cement Wardog’s position in the game after looking like a potential early merge boot.
David’s epic speech about passengers and pilots couldn’t apply more to this situation. Julia was definitely a pilot as she was able to navigate her loyal Kama allies to vote for Eric. If Julia is a pilot in this episode, Wardog is air traffic control. She acted on Wardog’s advice to steer clear of voting off a former Lesu member in favor of taking out a friendly Kama ally.
Wardog might not have done the dirty work, but his smart plan and great execution proved to be enough to sway the votes. Even with the brilliant minds of Wentworth and David, it was Wardog who single-handedly saved old Lesu.
He continues to show his superior understanding of the game of Survivor in spite of his straight-up and aggressive manner, which acts as a great shield in itself. Wardog’s constant scheming might hurt him in the end, but for now, it has put him in a better place in this game.