There was a lot of confusion heading in to this week’s Survivor.

Coming out of it quite a bit has been cleared up. Sure, there are still some issues to try and understand (if anyone knows what Leif’s plan is, please tell me) but by in large the survivors now know where everyone stands.

Everyone now knows where Troyzan stands, most importantly Troyzan himself.  Smartly he read through Kim’s overselling (ok, perhaps labeling her the next Boston Rob or Parvati was a bit premature) of his own safety and played his idol.  The move prevented his departure and kept him off the ignominious list of those sent home with an idol in their pocket.

Troyzan deserves a lot of credit for playing the idol.  Many of the Survivor contestants before him who did not play their idol either truly had no idea or simply didn’t believe it.  In the face of lies from the women and genuine disbelief from the only honest character, Jay, Troyzan went with his gut and bought himself three more days in the game. 

His decision to tell Jay he had and was playing the idol was not a smart one.  However, once he revealed his secret his only move was to play the idol.  When the idol’s presence is known all it does is put a target on your back.  It certainly seems that Troyzan understood this concept by playing the idol and his words to Jeff when he gave up the prized possession.

The effects of Troyzan’s move are drastic.  With Jay gone the intentions of the women are clear.  Kim is at the helm of the women’s alliance with Chelsea, Alicia, Kat and Sabrina working the oars.  Christina is below decks, working the galley.  She “fits” in to their alliance until they don’t need her, which will be when they’re at six.

Continuing with the analogy, Troyzan becomes Captain Jack Sparrow.  A mutiny lead by Barbosa, Kim, kicked him off his own ship.  Now he’s a lone gun, completely out for himself just trying to stay alive. 

Such a situation may sound dire, but on Survivor laying all your cards on the table can be a blessing.  Everyone knows where Troyzan stands.  Everyone knows he does not have the idol.  Everyone knows he’s looking for someone to work with.  There are no questions about Troyzan.  This can be very influential.

Despite all of these potential positives Troyzan’s future in the game requires friends.  Who’s going to play the role of his Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly?  Leif?  Tarzan? Christina?  Not exactly the most reliable group.  I’m not sure one of those three has had a strategic moment in the game so far.

The heat is intense on Troyzan right now, but if he can somehow survive the next episode he’s got a chance.  The key for the lone wolf style of playing Survivor is becoming the swing vote.  One immunity challenge win might be enough to do that for Troyzan.  Once Troyzan is no longer the target, figuring out the next target could easily spark a fracture in Barbosa’s, er Kim’s, crew. 

Where does the crack come from?  It should start with Christina, but she’s so oblivious to everything that’s going on around her that it won’t.  Tarzan’s an option, but he also voted against Jay this past tribal and remains a wild card until he’s on the jury.  Leif voted with the women’s alliance last week and against them last week.  Huh?

If Troyzan can survive a week, the crack could come from Chelsea.  Amazing that we’re talking about this considering what we thought her relationship with Kim was, but things clearly changed this week.  Chelsea is trying to play with her head, but having a hard time ignoring her heart.  I could see the way Troyzan staved off elimination this week convincing her that he’s a viable option to work with.

This is where Kim needs to step up her game if she wants to be the next Boston Rob or Parvati.  If she hasn’t already, she needs to have a sit-down with Chelsea and remind her that they’re in the game together.  Neither of them can do it alone, but together they can run to the final with whatever other third person they choose.

Will Troyzan make it through next week?  Will Chelsea be the one to shatter the women’s alliance?  The odds aren’t good, but that’s why we watch the show, right?

More from this episode of Survivor:

• I found the immunity challenge extremely disheartening.  Clearly I do not get what the food deprivation does to your mind but I can’t believe how easily people gave up immunity.  Don’t even get me started on Leif.  I wonder how quickly people would give up if the challenge were next week, after this week’s chaos. 
• Tarzan in the final three addressing the jury would be priceless.  It’s not impossible because he had no shot to win so people want to go up against him.  
• Speaking of Tarzan, what was with the red shirt he was wearing?  Clearly it’s a woman’s shirt, but who’s?  And why is he wearing it?  His fashion statement certainly cracked Jonas up.
• No one misses Colton now, right?  Hopefully all those who said this season would not be as good without Colton can shut up now.