There comes a time in "Survivor" when you have to see the best players go home simply because they are the best. It's a tricky game where being the best only hurts you in the long run because you become the biggest threat. When you're somebody who wins nearly every challenge, play the game like a pro, are the ultimate fan favorite and know exactly what you're doing, you'd think there's no reason you wouldn't take home the million dollars.
But this is a game where these qualities only set you up for failure because everybody wants you out the second that gold immunity necklace isn't hanging around your neck, which is why the remaining castaways knew they had to take advantage of this rare opportunity and unfortunately, all-star Joe Anglim was sent home.
"He has a very tough road ahead. He is a physical threat and everybody knows he is a fan favorite as well," host Jeff Probst told People Magazine a few weeks ago. "These two qualities are great in life, but bad on 'Survivor.'"
Last week was the first time Joe was not safe at Tribal Council and - out of some miracle - Fishbach went home instead. While that was a complete blindside, last night's elimination was one Joe sort of saw coming, but he still went into Tribal Council thinking his plan to vote Abi out could work and he could still have a chance.
The surprise family visits during last night's episodes were the most emotional moments of this season so far, as you saw the remaining contestants reunite with their loved ones for the first time in 30 days. But the tables quickly turned when it came time for the individual immunity challenge, and all that joy from the visits was shot right out the window.
The individual immunity challenge had a new twist, as we've been seeing qute often during "Second Chance," and this time, there were two immunity idols: one for the woman who could hold her wooden statue up the longest, and one for the man who could hold his wooden statue up the longest. The girls didn't last nearly as long as the boys, and Kelley was quickly crowned the winner of the females, earning herself an immunity idol and zero chance of going home at Tribal Council.
What came next, though, was one of the most shocking moments of the season so far, as it came down to Joe and Keith once again. After a grueling hour and twenty minutes holding up a wooden statue on an extremely long pole in the unbearable heat of Cambodia, Joe collapsed to the ground.
The contestants on the sideline, who were just wishing and hoping Keith would win so they could vote Joe out, cheered when they thought the Almighty Joe had finally lost a challenge, until they realized he didn't drop his statue because he failed, but instead, he dropped his statue because his body had failed him. Probst quickly rushed over to Joe's side when he realized he wasn't moving and called medics over. Basically, Joe had pushed himself so hard in this game that he had passed out.
"Joe's willpower had pushed his body so hard that he pushed it beyond where it was able to go, so his body had to take over and shut down," Probst told Entertainment Weekly. "It literally just stopped responding to his will. It was an amazing display of determination. He literally went as far as his body could take him...Here's another layer, Keith was not far behind. Keith had also pushed his body way beyond anything it was used to. Had they gone much longer, it might have been Keith who dropped. Bot guys should be in the Survivor Hall of Fame based simply on that performance alone."
Even though it was a terrifying moment, he ended up being okay in the end physically, but now his opportunity at a million dollars was on the line. Keith was then given the immunity idol even though Joe technically lost due to health reasons and Joe was now scared for his life.
Going into Tribal Council, Jeremy, Spencer, and Tasha had Joe thinking they were all voting for Abi, while Kelley, Kimmi, Abi and Tasha decided they wanted to form a girls alliance to get Joe out. Even though Tasha was on Jeremy and Spencer's side, she warned them about the all-girls alliance so they wouldn't hear it from somewhere else first, and this didn't sit well with them.
In the end, everyone - except Keith, who for some odd reason voted for Tasha - voted for Joe. Even though Jeremy and Spencer had told him they were all for Abi and Joe really trusted them, they knew this was the smartest move they could make and this might have been the only time they had the chance to make this move. If they didn't act now, Joe could have continued to win and they would have regretted it forever. Joe was sad to go as he felt blindsided, but this wasn't really a blindside, as everyone else knew this was coming and was pretty excited that they were finally able to have this happen - especially Fishbach who cheered from the jury.
Now, only Jeremy, Abi, Kimmi, Tasha, Spencer, Kelley and Keith remain, and there are only two episodes left until we find out who the ultimate second-chance Survivor is. When asked what we can expect in the upcoming weeks, Probst got a little emotional since he's said time and time again how much he loves this season so far.
"It makes me sad that this season is winding down because as all 'Survivor' fans know, each season is a new adventure and I really hate to let this one go," he told Entertainment Weekly. "Next week is a pivotal episode. Seven players left. It's do or die. The vote here is critical. You are deciding whom will go toe to toe with in that final week. Nobody is certain of the right move. Plus, another scary situation and another Survivor in trouble."
