Tom wins, but Ian will be remembered

With nothing to lose, Jenn went to Tom with details of her alliance with Ian and Katie, forcing a Tom-Ian showdown that ultimately led Tom to join Jenn and vote against his buddy Ian at tribal council. With Katie voting against Jenn, Jenn and Ian faced off in a fire-building tiebreaker challenge. Ian won and Jenn went home. That was a predictable outcome from a very unpredictable set of events.

Even though Jenn’s departure left the alliance of three — Katie, Ian, and Tom — standing together, the day’s events were devastating to Ian. He was deeply and obviously wounded when Tom and Katie confronted him with the decisions he’d made in the game. Ian reacted emotionally, breaking down and getting defensive, and his fellow alliance members Tom and Katie stoked that ember until flames consumed him.

In the final immunity challenge, that weakness ultimately broke Ian down. Katie dropped out early, but Ian and Tom clung to masts atop buoys for a “Survivor” record of nearly 12 hours — 12 hours!

Ian gives up
Then, suddenly, Ian literally gave up. And he didn’t just jump into the water and quit the challenge, which would have been within the realm of understandable behavior. He actually quit the entire game, telling Tom that he’d step down only if Tom promised to take Katie to the final two. “I’ll give up the million to get back your guys’ friendship,” Ian said, and then hurled himself into the water.

Immediately afterward, Jeff Probst presided over yet another “Survivor” first, an impromptu tribal council. After confirming with Ian that he wasn’t just being delusional, Tom sent Ian to the jury, handing himself a clear victory in the game. (Other combinations — Ian and Tom, Ian and Katie — clearly would have left the jury with a more difficult decision at the final tribal council.)

More than a few people have quit “Survivor” over the years, and more than a few have made dumb-dumb moves in the game that they probably regret to this day. Ian is in a category all his own. He quit for friendship, for respect. That’s the most stupefying, admirably moronic move imaginable. Dolphin trainer Ian might have made the most idiotic decision in the history of “Survivor,” but he’s a noble idiot, one who clearly has his own priorities straight.

In five years, there have been 10 seasons of “Survivor,” and it came of age in its tenth season. Palau was full of firsts that featured a combination of extremely physical challenges and exceptionally forthright strategizing. While a perfect game of “Survivor” is impossible, this season came close to demonstrating flawless play, as one tribe slaughtered another and two people in particular — Stephenie and Tom — dominated the game physically and mentally.

But it may be remembered most because of Ian, the guy who gave up the game and possibly $1 million in order to gain something for himself.

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

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