What if...Survivor: Cambodia - Second Chance

The Decision

Well, the ancient era of Survivor was too boring, so let's talk about a season that actually might make some difference when we change one small detail. This is an extremely difficult decision in terms of what move or moment to change. As always, I want to focus on something post-merge. Wentworth...does not count? No...too easy. Spencer turning on Fishbach? Nope. THE FINAL 6??? Nope. I think the most interesting thing to investigate is what happens if the witches' coven isn't reduced to two members at the final ten, and Jeremy does NOT do what he needs to do to save his alliance. So, what if...Jeremy didn't know about the Fishbach blindside?

The Outcome

At the final ten, the votes stay the same, but Fishbach's votes do count, meaning Ciera doesn't go home and the remains of the witches' coven stays intact:

Wentworth --> Kimmi

Ciera --> Kimmi

Fishbach --> Ciera

Abi --> Fishbach

Jeremy --> Ciera

Spencer --> Fishbach

Tasha --> Fishbach

Kimmi --> Ciera

Keith --> Fishbach

Joe --> Fishbach

In a strange 5-3-2 vote, Fishbach does home as the witches' coven band together with Joe, Keith, Spencer, and Tasha. Jeremy feels betrayed by Spencer, and doesn't fall for Spencer's "voting block" excuse a second time. Spencer wins immunity and without Fishbach's steal-a-vote on their side, Jeremy, Tasha, and Kimmi have to scramble against the six-person majority:

Wentworth --> Jeremy

Ciera --> Jeremy

Abi --> Kimmi

Jeremy --> Ciera

Spencer --> Kimmi

Tasha --> Ciera

Kimmi --> Ciera

Keith --> Jeremy

Joe --> Kimmi

Jeremy correctly susses out the split vote situation, but the majority six is too strong for Jeremy's idol as the castaways vote again:

Wentworth --> Kimmi

Abi --> Kimmi

Jeremy --> Ciera

Spencer --> Kimmi

Tasha --> Ciera

Keith --> Kimmi

Joe --> Kimmi

And in a 5-2 revote, Kimmi goes home, leaving Jeremy and Tasha alone against a majority of six. Wentowrth wins reward and brings Keith, Abi, Joe, and Ciera with her to solidify bonds. However, at camp, Jeremy brings Spencer back in and they form a final three deal. At the immunity challenge, Wentworth and Keith win immunity and the majority must decide who to target:

Wentworth --> Joe

Ciera --> Joe

Abi --> Joe

Jeremy --> Joe

Spencer --> Joe

Tasha --> Joe

Keith --> Tasha

Joe --> Abi

And in a 6-1-1 vote Joe leaves on his first opportunity after passing out in the challenge as the majority and minority come together to form a voting block, despite the threat of an all-girls alliance. Keith wins reward and brings Ciera, Wentworth, and Abi while Tasha, Jeremy, and Spencer remain at camp. Spencer wins immunity and Keith must decide as the swing vote which alliance will stay intact:

Wentworth --> Tasha

Ciera --> Tasha

Abi --> Tasha

Jeremy --> Ciera

Spencer --> Ciera

Tasha --> Ciera

Keith --> Tasha

Meaning after a fight at camp over the previous night's vote, Tasha goes home in a 4-3 vote. Keith is presented with a final three deal due to the threat of the three women, and after Ciera wins immunity, chaos ensues at the final six:

Wentworth --> Jeremy

Ciera --> Jeremy

Abi --> Jeremy

Jeremy --> Abi

Spencer --> Abi

Keith --> Abi

And on the revote:

Wentworth --> Jeremy

Abi --> Jeremy

Spencer --> Ciera

Keith --> Jeremy

Not wanting to go home on rocks, Keith flips back to his original alliance, sending Jeremy home on a 3-1 revote. On finale night, Keith wins final five immunity. After Abi exploded at him earlier in the day, Keith wants to target her, but Wentworth and Ciera both know Spencer and each other are far bigger threats:

Wentworth --> Ciera

Ciera --> Wentworth

Abi --> Spencer

Spencer --> Wentworth

Keith --> Abi

Despite being friendlier with Wentworth than Ciera, Spencer attempts to vote out Wentworth but she uses her idol as it expires at the final five, leaving us with a 1-1 vote and a historic vote between Wentworth and Kieth:

Wentworth --> Ciera

Keith --> Abi

And we have reached a Survivor situation that has never happened before and is not described in the rulebook. This is now the first time that one player is safe due to immunity, one player is safe due to an idol, and three players are safe because they are in a deadlocked vote. The most likely solution in my opinion that production would choose is that everyone now votes again with Wentworth and Keith safe. With Ciera voting for the biggest threat eligible and her only non-ally Spencer, Keith again voting for Abi, Wentworth continuing to try to blindside Ciera, and Abi sticking with the witches' coven, Spencer must cast the deciding vote:

Wentworth --> Ciera

Ciera --> Spencer

Abi --> Spencer

Spencer --> Ciera

Keith --> Abi

Spencer switches his vote to Ciera recognizing she's a big jury threat, and they revote with only two eligible targets and three eligible voters in a record fourth round of voting in one round of gameplay, with Keith having to choose between alliance members:

Wentworth --> Ciera

Abi --> Spencer

Keith --> Ciera

Despite Spencer not being in his main alliance, Keith sticks with Wentworth to the final four, taking out his ally Ciera in a 2-1 vote on the fourth round of voting, leaving Keith and Wentworth in the middle of Abi and Spencer. Spencer wins immunity at the most opportune time, avenging his real-world self and sending himself to final three in Simmotion. Knowing Keith and Wentworth are sticking together, Spencer has to choose between taking out his adversary Abi or risking a vote with Abi to send one of Keith or Wentworth into fire:

Wentworth --> Abi

Abi --> Keith

Spencer --> Keith

Keith --> Abi

In this situation, Spencer knows that going to final tribal with Keith and Wentworth is a nightmare scenario with three beloved powerhouses facing the jury. He has to vote with Abi, who is stuck on voting Keith, meaning he can't force Wentworth into fire, but barring a flip on the revote we have fire in Cambodia:

Wentworth --> Abi

Spencer --> Keith

And we have fire. Abi and Keith face off in fire for a spot at final tribal council and a shot at a million dollars. If Abi can win, she needs a monumental performance to convince the jury that she deserves the million, and if Keith can win, he has a great shot but likely must split votes with Wentworth and Spencer and have reasons for erratic moves. So, without further ado, the woman who can't win a challenge and cracks under pressure against a multi-decade firefighter:

Fire --> Keith

And against nobody's bet, Keith pulls it out in under four minutes to set what would have then been the fastest firemaking challenge ever, sending Abi to the jury and meaning Keith, Wentworth, and Spencer will plead their case to the jury on day 39. Facing the largest jury to date in Survivor history, the vote is not as simple as it was in real life. Wentworth played the striking strategic game, with two of the most iconic idol plays in Survivor history this season to force out Savage and Ciera, timed her targets correctly, was the main strategic force in the witches' coven, and formed relationships that got her to the final three. Spencer won four individual immunities, served as a strong swing vote that allowed him to navigate through a turbulent post-merge, and shifted loyalties when necessary. Keith has no enemies on the jury, won big challenges including fire-making at the final four, and built durable relationships. It's a big decision for the jury, and the votes are in:

Tasha --> Spencer

Ciera --> Wentworth

Joe --> Keith

Abi --> Wentworth

Jeremy --> Spencer

Wigglesworth --> Keith

Kass --> Wentworth

Fishbach --> Wentworth

The Winner of Survivor: Second Chance:

Kimmi --> Wentworth

Savage --> Wentworth

And so the woman I believed might end up winning this season with Ciera surviving does so, and largely due to her second idol. Spencer's strategic and emotional distance simply runs too deep, and despite not facing Jeremy, he struggles to gain votes despite a great game in the middle. Keith's game is simply viewed as too eratic and not strategic for a season meant to crown a strong strategic winner. And Wentworth, now holding arguably the two most iconic idol plays in Survivor history, a massive blindside of her number one ally, and clutch immunity and reward wins, is a deserving winner who was just one challenge away from potentially winning a million dollars in real life.