After a couple of weeks’ worth of dehumanization, the Survivor Ponderosa video for Island of the Idols’ fourth and fifth jurors looks for the humanity.
This post will discuss the events of Survivor: Island of the Idols episode 10, who was voted off and showcasing their first moments away from the game at Ponderosa.
There’s a reason why my writing on the Dan Spilo matter (that shouldn’t have spiraled to what it’s become) hasn’t gone hard in the paint on those whose games were tragedy-adjacent is that we’re in this weird, awkward holding pattern of not knowing how the season will unfold. It cannot be forgotten, however, that Missy wanted Dan gone for her mental health, told another to play up their experiences for gameplay reasons, then pinned the blame on Kellee and Janet to avoid blowback.
Aaron was involved in trying to shut Janet’s perception down from the perspective of seeing Janet as someone looking to deflect their own game decision, which provided a harrowingly realistic version of what being complicit looks like. You would think that their elimination would provide some relief, but seeing how Dan was instrumental to Aaron’s downfall, that wasn’t the case.
Update: CBS has uploaded the Survivor: Island of the Idols Ponderosa video shared by the fourth and fifth jurors on YouTube minutes after our post went up about how it was previously only available on the CBS proprietary website. Regardless, it is worth checking out just to get an idea for where the players are at, as well as diving deeper into the brother-sister dynamic between these two players voted out.
It’s clear from this video that Aaron and Missy got on like peas in a pod, as their shared experience going out at the same time helped them transition into the jury stage. Kellee even wanted to award Missy the million, while Missy seems to hold onto Elaine’s betrayal with the “she’s dead to me, but not really, unless…” vibe. If Elaine makes it to the end, that might be one vote to cross off.
If one thing’s for certain, Aaron Meredith and Missy Byrd want to get to know the human version of each of the Survivor: Island of the Idols castaways that make their way to Ponderosa. Even Missy and Aaron had yet to truly learn who each other are, and both players hadn’t even met Jack prior to Ponderosa. It seems like a tragic misstep to have pre-merge jury members for that reason, even if they’re great people like Jack.