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11/7: Shocker- Emory Med grad Marcus Lehman booted from “Survivor”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Emory Med School grad Marcus Lehman is not going to win “Survivor” like another former Atlantan Parvati Shallow. Instead, he was shockingly booted in a classic “Survivor” blindside, aided by a change in teams, bad luck and poor maneuvering tactics.
Lehman was a threat from the get go given his physical strength. He also seemed like a nice guy. But for him to survive, he needed to have an airtight alliance. Early on, with Charlie as his primary ally (and Corinne and Bob backing him up), things seemed okay for him. He didn’t make any apparent waves and helped win key challenges for Kota. (No sign of that arrogance Jeff Probst claimed before the show aired. He’s confident but not Ace-like arrogant or even Randy-like jerkish.)
During this episode, there’s a feast for all 10 remaining “Survivor” members. Ken sees a clue for the immunity idol but he is not secretive about it. So everyone nows. Randy finds it. Marcus has an idea to burn it. It’s a tempting target, the apple in the Garden of Eden. They dump it instead. “I have 10 people to throw an immunity idol into the ocean,” Marcus said, quite satisfied with himself. He feels safe because he’s part of the Koda 6 vs. the Fang 4.
Then there’s a twist. The ten members are changed into two new random tribes as opposed to a merged tribe, which was the presumption. Marcus loses his two biggest allies, Charlie and Corinne. He’s automatically vulnerable though he feels safe. “No immunity idol gets me to the finals,” Marcus thinks. Susie is the loose cannon here. Marcus is at least aware that she could turn on him and she admits she is not loyal to him because she feels she is on the bottom of the Koda tribe pecking order.
Crystal and Marcus bond over the fact one of Marcus’s best friends in Atlanta is Crystal’s cousin. Marcus is now torn over getting rid of Crystal and tells her he won’t. Crystal claims she won’t write his name down if they go to tribal but she tells cameras she is just playing the game.
This connection hurts Marcus. He promises Susie a top 3 spot, but she doesn’t really trust him and vice versa. So he takes a big risk by offering Crystal a spot in the Kota six instead of Susie. But they’d have to vote off Ken first, he says. (Marcus should have gotten rid of Susie first. Bad move.) Crystal feels too loyal to Ken so she tells Susie about Marcus’ shenanigans. “Marcus is playing the nice guy but he’s a schemer,” Crystal said. “I’m playing nice girl: liar and schemer!”
As a result, Marcus is screwed in tribal council. “I forgive but I won’t forget,” says a disappointed but not outwardly angry Marcus in the post-interview.
At least he will be on the jury. Susie was the turncoat but credit Crystal for the blindside. Outwit, outlast indeed!
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