Board Thread:Survivor: Papua New Guinea (Season 16)/@comment-27287393-20160423005000

Well hello there final 2. You've both done what the eight of us failed to do, which is make it all the way to the end of this game. Congratulations. However, having said that, I really don't want to vote for one of you, and I'm not sure I can vote for the other, so I'm in a bit of a tough position.

Linh, let's start with you. I'm very impressed by your challenge dominance, the way you worked hard and the way you used your auction advantage and your idol. You scored better on some challenges than the rest of the tribe combined, very impressive. On a personal level, we were never close because we saw the other as competition, but in the conversations we did have you were friendly and civil, so on a personal level, I have no problems with you whatsoever. If one thing didn't happen, I would have loved to write your name down tonight. However, to quote the great Jeff Probst: "Fire represents life. Once your fire is gone, so are you." For me, getting voted out is final. There are no second chances. You didn't outlast anyone on the jury, hell, you only outlasted two people. You for sure outplayed everyone, you outwitted some, but for me, the outlast is the most important factor. My biggest question to myself tonight is if I in good conscience can vote for an outcast, because believe me, I really want to. My questions to you are the following:

1. What twists or strokes of luck outside of Anh's control worked in his favor?

2. When I was voted out, Anh claimed it was based on you two both being Vietnamese. However, in your speech you mention your secret alliance. Anh mentions thinking I was too big of a threat to take to the end. Please tell me which of these stories is true, and if you did have a secret alliance, when did this start, and how did it affect the game?

3. Tell me something fun about you as a person.

Good luck!

Now, to Anh. You boast about making it to the end four times in a row now, but what you fail to mention is how many times you've won, which is the same amount of votes you've gotten throughout the season, and I hope it stays that way. The way you talked to me before you voted me out and your jury speech now are incredibly arrogant: "I will make the jury think the way I want them to", "I can't be voted out of Survivor", "prove you're a real fan of Survivor". In a weird way, you play like Russell Hantz. Your only target is getting to the end, but what you fail to take into consideration is how the jury thinks of you. I fault Linh for getting voted out, but is that really fair if you didn't really start playing the game until what, day 35 or so?

Your jury speech tries to paint you as this cutthroat mercenary gamer, which I could respect, if that was the game you played. But you never once voted 'indepently' until the final 4. You say you voted JT at F5 because Linh and I were safe, I say you voted that way because that was what we discussed. I only told you about my idol because at that point my trust in you had already faltered and I didn't want you stupidly flipping on our alliance. And yet you did the very next tribal, all in an effort to bring the most obvious jury threat to the end, just to make sure you get there, and voted out your only remaining shot at the win. Had you voted out Linh at the final four, you would now be sitting here against Erin instead of Linh. I think you have changed people's mind by flipping at those last votes, but now instead of loyal, you're what? I don't think getting second is any better than getting 16th, everyone who doesn't win is a loser, and playing for second is not a strategy. You say you have this incredible social game, but Linh has made true friends throughout this game, friends who are working in jury in her favor. Where are your friends Anh, your great social ties? I feel like you rode coattails of other players to get yourself into a solid alliance, and when you needed to make moves for yourself, you made the wrong ones. The only reason I see why people could vote for you over Linh is because they either hate her or her game.

However, I may still be writing your name down tonight, if Linh can't convince me she's deserving of the win. I have a few questions for you too:

1. What was the purpose of lying about your auction advantage?

2. What is your answer for Linh's second question? Which story is true?

3. I'm sure you considered this when you won final immunity, but please let me know as well. How did you imagine the vote between you and Linh going, and the vote between you and I? Which jury member would vote for who in what scenario?

Good luck.

Bas out

 