Episode 08

[Holly Hoffman]

Wow, what a way to start the merge, but there are a few things we'd like to know.

Kim J left with a strong majority tonight. Do you think that maybe it was a wasted opportunity to take out a bigger player?

There's been a lot of talk about idols in the recent rounds, particularly with Sean. No sign of them at tribal council though. Does it concern you that there's this talk but nothing has happened yet? What about the new idol that has been hidden?

Now that we've hit the jury, how do you plan on impressing those watching in order to convince them YOU should win Stranded in Venezuela?

[Lex]

No for a couple reasons - sometimes keeping big players in the game is a good idea because it keeps attention off of yourself and on them. And I'd like to keep Sean/V as allies because not only does Sean have two idols (and he might find the third) but Vecepia is unlikely to beat anyone at final tribal. So I'm going to stick with the group for now in voting out Sarah next.

I'm allies with Sean actually, he has both idols and we've been saying "Yeah Sean has no idols he used them at last tribal to eliminate Frank" which is why Kim P. said "Thanks for getting rid of Frank, Sean." But Mia said "Sean you still have both idols" which might have hurt our story really bad. =(

New idol - I don't think I'll find it because there's 11 other people looking for it. Sean might find it though, he found the last two.

Jury - by being "honest", friendly and give the impression I'm doing a lot of work.

[Brenda Lowe]

Tell me a little more about this eightsome (?? octosome??). Obviously you outlined a NuMariche v NuTamanaco division in there in your last update, with some hope that Lindsey will jump back to you, and some fear that Sean/Vee might abandon you later. Now that you're beginning to get more time to talk with the people within that you hadn't met before, as well as the people outside of that, do you still hope the game will pan out that way?

What room is there here to rope in someone like say, Clarence or Sarah and make some move to ensure you do not play yourself into a 6v2 minority?

Also apologies on Mia's behalf for inadvertently revealing that about the idols. It was just honest host error - it's pretty difficult keeping an eye on all of you and your varying schemes and differing perceptions of the game Unfortunately there's no real way to undo it now, so all I can offer is apologies :/

[Lex]

The eightsome was mostly organized by Linda & Lindsey, when Lindsey swapped onto the Mariche tribe she made friends with the Mariche members (Gina, Patricia, Gabriel)

So now both foursomes wanted to do coming into the merge was immediately vote off both Caciques, it was going to be Sarah but she won immunity. After that it's probably Clarence because he's on the outside of both alliances - if we vote off Clarence it would be 4v4 except we'd have two idols to our advantage (assuming everyone stays loyal.) And I'm hoping people won't be quick to vote me out because they like me (like J.T.) if things to come work that way.

I'm fairly certain Sean/V will stick with us for awhile because not only did we help them eliminate Frank (who a lot of people were mad at), but they didn't have to use either idol, and joining up with them was great because from the last tribal we heard they were the ones who were going to be voted off first and second, which means they were pretty much on the outside of their tribe.

I might be able to convince Clarence to work with us so we have a majority alliance, I'm not sure about it yet but we'll see what his reaction is when I talk to him ^^ but Sarah said she sent me a lot of messages and I never got them, and she's not interested in sending them again apparently. :L So that's the end of talking with her I guess.

I'm glad Sean didn't respond to the question, hopefully not too many people noticed it. I should have clarified it beforehand in the confessionals.

[Mia Galeotalanza]

What makes you think you're a J.T.-esque player?

[Lex]

Nobody wanted to vote off J.T. because everyone liked him so much. And he did well at winning immunity when it most mattered. (One thing I was considering and still am considering is sandbagging immunities when I'm absolutely certain I'm safe, so people don't see me as a challenge threat.)
Maybe I'm not playing perfectly like J.T., but he's my favorite player and the guy I'm trying to model my play after. (My second/third favorites are Penner and Sandra respectively)

[Brenda Lowe]

I was with you right up till Penner.

[Lex]

I'm not trying to model myself about Penner, but I selected Penner as my favorite Survivor in the last to post thread because I didn't put J.T. as an option (Penner is my second favorite)