And it all comes down to this.

Tonight, CBS aired their 18 live season finale of Survivor. After spending 39 days and nights out in the wild of Brazil James “JT” Thomas Jr. outwitted, outlast and of course, outplayed all 15 members of his competition.

Perhaps, making his biggest betrayal of the season in order to persevere in strategy J.T. and his strongest alliance member sent home Taj, their third musketeer. This left them with Erinn, who, let’s face it, stood no chance of winning more than one of two jury votes if she were to make it to the final two.

After winning immunity, yet again, the game was completely in J.T.’s hands as he had to decide between his best friend on the show Stephen whom he’d promised to bring to the end and Erinn, the girl who he could most definitely win again.

After bringing along Stephen and pleading out his case to the seven jury members it turns out that J.T. was able to be both loyal and a vote-sweeping winner. Winning every single one of the jury members votes this good ol’ country boy made it to the very end and walked away, not only a winner, but with several new friendships that may just last a life time. Not many people who have won Survivor can say that.

It’s true, I never did want J.T. to win, but obviously I missed something about this survivor that his cast members never forgot. He must have truly swept them off their feet. To that, I tip my hat. Well done good ol’ boy!

With only five contestants left, tonight’s Survivor was a real nail-biter.

On the one hand you’ve got Coach. He’s arrogant, fake, a drama king, and yet, a huge fan of the good ol’ boys club. The club in which J.T. holds a V.I.P. membership. With J.T. always holding all the cards, and Stephen previously willing to go along with whatever his country buddy suggested, all hope looked lost for our other contestant on the chopping board, Erinn.

Truth be told Erinn hasn’t looked like much of a contender from day one. Physically, she’s no star athlete. Mentally, she’s a follower. She sort of reminds me of last season’s Susan to be honest. The whole season Susie merely floated along practically forgotten about. Yet, when it came to the season finale, she came in as the winner’s biggest threat. Who knew? That’s how I feel about Erinn. She’s still here and moving on to live another day… who knew?

Thank God Coach is gone though. It supremely irritated me to see him so easily pull the wool over J.T. and Stephen’s eyes when he all of a sudden tried to avoid exile island by playing up his weaknesses. Then, to play the martyr on top of it, you’ve got to be kidding me! I’ll give him this, he knew how to play the game. He knew exactly how to suck up to J.T. and be the “brave warrior” role model. I just thank God that Stephen’s smarter than I once gave him credit for. Perhaps he caught on to the fact that J.T. just might throw him under the bus in order to save Coach for the final two in the end. And why not? Just as Jeff said during their final challenge, this is the challenge they’d be waiting for “young buck” against “old warrior.”

My vote for the season winner: Stephen. He earned some major brownie points in my book tonight.

This is the episode of Survivor that always makes me cry a little. No matter how predictable, expected and drama filled the “family reunion” episode can get, I still feel the need to shed a tear when I see those poor, dirty, starving people meet up with the family members that look at them with such pride and excitement.Would I put myself on an island in such conditions to win a million dollars? Probably not the first game I’d choose to win cash, but I do respect those that have chosen this route. They’re crazy, no doubt, but they still deserve some respect.

Having seen her husband come and go, with a lil pep talk in between, it was a little sad to see Debbie go tonight. Oh, don’t get me wrong, it was definitely her time, but still, she’s come so far. She’s definitely managed to hold on much longer then I ever gave her credit for. She’s just too conniving. If anything, she left because she was just too good at the game. While the boys are managing to hold on regardless of their brains and brawn, Debbie felt the first sacrifice of being a threat. Her gift of the gab just wasn’t enough of a bargaining chip to keep her around any longer.

I bet Coach was pretty annoyed tonight at J.T. and Stephen’s betrayal, yet again. However, as soon as they fill him in on all that Debbie was doing to sabotage Coach’s existence I guarantee he acts as if she was never going to make it and would be happy to help her pack. He’s such a tool. (Is it mean for me to point out that his visitor wasn’t even family or friends but rather an assistant coach who helps him stretch?) I sort of feel bad for the guy when I’m not being annoyed by him.

In any case, from here on out, I’m rooting for Stephen unless somebody else does something mind blowing to impress me. There’s no way Erinn will win. The only reason why she’s even still here is because she’s not much of a threat, but they’ve almost put her on the chopping block before. Now, it’s only a matter of time. I’m happy to see J.T. go because I don’t feed into his “good ol’ boy” act. Yes, he’s probably an amazing person, but he’s just as conniving and ruthless as the rest. His personality is keeping him afloat, but in part, it’s a sham because he too is playing this game to the fullest and chopping others down at the knees. Taj is sweet and I’d be perfectly content if she won, but part of me looked at that big ol’ house that her family was sitting in and realizes that if she missed out on more money in order to give it to someone who might need it more, well, that’d be okay. As for Coach… are you kidding me? I hope he’s next.

(S18E09)

Typically, in Survivor, the most interesting part of the episode tends to be the very last few minutes. It’s at this time that you hear the hard and sometimes awkward questions answered. It’s when you get to see the jury hint at which way they may be swayed come the final vote. Most exciting, it’s where the blindsides happen. Never have I seen this opinion of mine held so true as during tonight’s episode.

Let’s face it, the whole episode was full of the players personal problems with each other. Between Seirra begging for mercy and making excuses to Tyson and Erinn’s obvious annoyance, I was pretty much over it come time for tribal council. And then Stephen and Erinn spoke up. Now wouldn’t it make most sense to get rid of the strongest players so that the rest of the group could have a fighting chance at winning? Fancy that thought. I mean, it’s not like any other survivor tribe has come up with that idea.

In any case, given that Tyson was the leading opponent in individual immunity challenges, his name was immediately put on the chopping block. Even the ever praised J.T. shook his hand with coach and then immediately “spit” on it when it came time to voting. (Which makes me wonder, why exactly do they love that kid so much? He’s not loyal. He’s not even nice sometimes. I don’t get it.)

Making Brendan a very happy first jury member, Seirra was saved by her own incapability and Tyson was blindsided in, what may be, one of the best blindsides we’ll see this season of Survivor.

Don’t cry Coach, but I fear your days are numbered.

Wow, I’m pretty confidant that Coach took a crazy pill before they filmed tonight’s episode of Survivor. I guess he got the last laugh though. He may be loco, but he’s still in the game. Brendan, however, was officially slayed.

After an excellent bonding trip which saw Debbie, J.T. and Brendan white water rafting through some of the best rapids out there, I really thought there was  some potential for an alliance between J.T. and Brendan. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who saw this. Spending a sleepless night strategizing about how to keep J.T. safe in this game, Brendan instead ended up sacrificing himself to a complete blind side which was made possible, in part, by this “really great” country boy.

Having had her only true alliance taken away, Seirra is now left holding the bag. Both Coach and Tyson pretty much want her destroyed, and from the looks of next weeks teaser, they’re a fan of playing with their prey before going in for the kill. Poor kid, I didn’t have too big a hope that she’d win, but I didn’t expect her to be personally attacked before her exit either.

Survivor Tocantins claimed it’s first injury victim tonight

Joe, who’s had a cut in his leg for so long that I can’t even remember when it happened, was finally spotted by Jeff at the first ever merge challenge and held back for examination by the medical team. Unfortunately for a very gaunt looking Joe, that inflamed red hot area spanning close to his whole shin wasn’t anything to mess around with and he was shipped out on the first helicopter without even having the chance to say good bye.

My favorite part was when the Probstmeister risked his own good health to trek through the pouring rain looking as fresh and clean as ever to tell the poor ragged, dirty and cold remaining survivors that, not only was their teammate gone, but their expected evening rendezvous at tribal council would be cancelled. Instead of bringing screams of joy, or at least private confessions of  “thank God,” the new Forza tribe members were mostly mad. What seemed like a solid pact for Debbie, Coach, Tyson, J.T. and Taj to vote out either Seirra or Brendan is now in major danger of being blown to bits by bad timing and loose mouths.

Oh how easily the Timbira and Jalapao tribe members shed their red and black bandanas to snake in and out of each other’s circles of trust. In a shout out to the arrogant  Coach, I must ask , which beast will have their head chopped off at the end of the next day? My bets are on the dragon slayer himself.

With a tribal merge just around the corner, tonight’s Survivor: Tocantin’s team members had one thing in mind and one thing only: surviving the merge. Of course they all want to be winners, but the first step on the road that goal is to make it long enough to mingle with the opposite team.

Having spent numerous nights on exile island with both Brendan and Sierra of Timbira, Taj has a one up in this department which, with no doubt in my mind, saved her tonight. Having unwisely shared/exposed her possession of the immunity idol with both Stephen and J.T., Taj was of no real value to the greater goal of personal success to both of the boys, having showed her deck of cards and then practically handing out her aces. Luckily for her though, not even Joe and a pretty face could save Sydney this time. Au revoir femme jolie.

Having an entirely different experience these past two weeks, Jalapao is back and stronger than ever. Sure, they may be annoyed at coach and struggling over the beans, but this six member team is looking mighty strong for a merge. That is, as long as they can manage to have each others backs. Something Jeff Probst is apparently counting on, but I as a viewer highly doubt. After all, there’s a nice inter-tribal alliance that was set long ago my friend, and I don’t see that breaking so long as the numbers still work to players advantages.

My prediciton for how the merge will divide the remaining players? Taj, Brendan, Sierra, Stephen, Joe and Erinn will take on Tyson, Debbie, and Coach. It doesn’t take a genius to guess which side will have the muscle.

And just when you thought the first ever cross-tribal secret alliance was safe on Survivor, think again. When Taj is posed as a possible contender for the next great exit on the Jalapao team, Stephen thinks not of saving this woman who brought him into a very powerful position in the game, but instead admits to the cameras that if the choice came down to it, he may just help her pack in order to keep the immunity idol all to himself.

Luckily for temper-tantrum throwing Taj, Spencer’s weak game in challenge two out did her bad blood with team leader Joe. After losing a tooth in a valiant attempt to save his team from sending one of their own home, TJ came back to camp “spitting” mad and pushing for Spencer’s exit. I’m not thrilled that Spencer went home as I think Sydney is definitely weaker, but I can’t say I’m upset either.

As for Timbira, it looks like they’re finally starting to get their act together. Sure, they lost challenge one, but thanks to Tyson, they won in the challenge that truly counts at the end of the day. However, Brendan better watch out because for as dumb as Tyson sometimes looks, he’s not as much of a sheep as we originally thought. When Brendan choose to send Stephen to exile in order to talk through their new alliance, the oddity didn’t go without notice. Tyson’s got Brendan’s card and he’s already smart enough not to let Sierra in on his suspicions. This could mean trouble, and oh do I love trouble!

The first Survivor, secret cross-tribe alliance is now intact.

After Jalapao, once again, kicked Timbira’s butt during the first challenge, Taj and Seirra were sent to exile island, allowing them a chance to talk and seal the alliance deal. Now all that’s left is for Taj and Stephen to locate their tribe’s hidden immunity idol.

While some relationships are clearly strengthening, others are beginning to falter. The Jalapao tribe is forced to look for a weak link after finally losing a challeng and thus earning a trip to tribal council. Taj looks towards Joe but doesn’t make a case for her decision, perhaps showing that her reasoning isn’t a strong one. Others though looks towards the older Sandy and model Sydney.

Perhaps saved by her pretty face and a predominately male tribe, Sydney’s name appears on the chopping block, but isn’t hung out to dry. As we all expected from day one, Sandy instead finds her flame extinguished. Now if only she could have figured out what a pace was.

Oh Coach, you little ego-maniac you. It’s personalities like yours that make reality television so great.

The momentum was gone from Survivor’s Timbira tribe tonight, setting players like the unaligned Erinn and ailing Jerry in the throws of harms way.  After losing by a crushing 2 to 0 in challenge one’s blindfolded race, it became obvious to both viewers and players alike that lack of communication can easily bring doom to a team this early in the game. Not only did the competition cost Timbira relaxation furniture and blankets, it also broke their spirit. Well, every one’s except for Brendan’s that is.

After being chosen to hit exile island once again, he wisely choose to bring his co-hort Taj from the winning Jalapao team with him. Already teamed up to help each other find their team’s respective hidden immunity idols back at the base camps, they further plotted to protect their alliance in the future, opting to include both Steve from Jalapao and Sierra from Timbira in the potentially merged foursome. Never have I seen such a seemingly weak player climb so far out of her own hole as Sierra. If she can hold on she just may be able to ride Brendan’s coattails to the end. We shall see.

Once back at camp Brendan started making the dream a reality when he easily discovered the hidden idol and tucked it safely into a hiding place. Only time will tell as to how far he carries out Taj and his plot. My bet is that near the beginning of the next episode he’ll tell Sierra and they’ll become the powerhouse pair at the Timbira camp (hopefully sparking some life back into it). Regardless though, if tonight taught us anything, it’s that Coach has very little hold on this game anymore.

Once failing miserably once again due to a lack of like minds, Jalapao went to tribal council with primarily one name on their minds. Not out of malice, but out of practicality, Sargent Jerry was sent packing with warm wishes that he feel better soon. Jerry’s dismissal hit home just how little Coach’s opinions matter to the team as a whole. Even his “Assistant” Tyson threw his wishes under the bus to get rid of sick Jerry and keep the “enemy” Erinn alive for another day. I mean come on Coach, even Jerry knew it was his time to go.

My prediction as to who’s going home next? Tyson. Once Coach finds out he was crossed, he will quickly ditch Tyson and really, who else does that nudity loving boy have for support?