‘Survivor’ finalists were consistent to the end

Just as he was surprised that Cindy acted selfishly and not altruistically, he again seemed baffled by the emergence of self-interest. But the game of “Survivor” is not like Ring Around the Rosie, where everyone has fun and claps at the end because there are no losers. Self-interest is vital to survival in the game.

During the final Tribal Council, Danni was accused, primarily by Judd, of looking out for herself by avoiding everyone else, by literally “skating” her way through the game rather than playing aggressively. But, man, that was an unfair accusation, man. Even though Danni was outnumbered by an opposing alliance, she never gave up, strategizing covertly and successfully convincing Steph and Rafe to turn on their alliance. That helped to keep Danni in the game—and, ultimately, to win jury votes in her favor, since the jury’s ranks were increasingly filled with people Steph had betrayed.

Still, even if Stephenie hadn’t played aggressively, Danni may have won. That’s because this was Stephenie’s second chance at “Survivor.” Although she repeatedly expressed surprise that she made it to the final two, many of the other players were star-struck by her from day one, giving her an unfair advantage.

More significantly, she was an excellent resource since she’d played the game before; at those first few Tribal Councils, her tribe realized that keeping her made much more sense than keeping a physically and mentally weak person.

Thus, instead of voting her off immediately, her tribe let her stay, and the alliance she helped form quickly became dominant and propelled her to the very end. Still, Stephenie started on an uneven playing field. And the jury, save for Bobby Jon, may have rewarded Danni for lasting to the end as one of them, a person without an advantage.

Danni knew when to say she was sorry
For all the producers’ attempts at changing the game by introducing various twists, the return of Bobby Jon and Steph included, the game still stayed grounded in interpersonal conflict. For the most part, contestants were voted out because of their own behavior, not because of the new game elements.

And there were many minor twists this season, from the initial tribe switch-up to the “curse of the car” choice that Cindy had to make. There was also the auction that offered both time with loved ones and an advantage in the next immunity challenge, which Danni smartly purchased for $200, essentially buying herself an all-important immunity win.

That may have helped her in the game, but ultimately, Danni Boatwright won because she did exactly the same thing what each of the most recent “Survivor” winners have done: She apologized for her behavior.

While Steph mostly defended herself and her backstabbing actions during the final Tribal Council, Danni literally repented. “I do ask forgiveness” every day, she said, when Judd suggested she go to confession. Her answer impressed even Judd. And when people hear what they want to hear, people like Danni (and, before her, Tom and Chris) win.

Andy Dehnart is a writer and teacher who publishes reality blurred, a daily summary of reality TV news.

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