Outwit, Outlast, Keep Friends

I'm a bit late in blogging about the end of Survivor : Palau (despite not being able to wait for it to show on Aussie TV and grabbing it stealthily a few days prior). At the start of the season I picked Stephenie as my preferred winner. Unfortunately she didn't make it much past the 'merger' when the strong Koror tribe alliance picked her off.

Frogwoman Stephenie

With Stephenie piling on the makeup to join the jury I moved to Ian (assuming Tom would be gone once the game moved from tribal to individual immunity). Tom forced his way through to the final three (through strong wins in the challenges and some bullying back at camp) and Ian fell apart dealing with the politics. I'm sure there's a lot of debate over Ian's decision to take himself out of the game in order to retain Tom's friendship, but I put it down to immaturity. I think he honestly thought he would loose his newly made friendships if he continued to 'play the game'. After 30-something days in gruelling conditions I'm sure his mind was a 'in a different place'.

Tom Westman certainly displayed a strength of mind, body and character and deserves to be the 'Sole Survivor'. Here's to the next season in September.