Immunity idol complicates ‘Survivor Panama’

Imagine a tribal council where someone gets sent home after getting only one vote. Imagine not knowing if a vote will count until after they have all been counted. Well, you wont have to imagine very long - because that is part of the game this season.

The new format in “Exile Island” makes the game refocus on the idea of being a sole survivor. Every week, someone will get punted to the “Exile Island” and left alone. Although they will be left to fend for themselves for days at a time - they will also have something to do. They can spend their time searching for the Immunity Idol (that will be re-hid each week).

This season, the Immunity Idol will not be played until after all the votes have been read. The idol is transferable - meaning that the person who gets it can trade it to someone else. In the event that the person receiving the most votes plays the idol, the second-most vote-getter goes home.

I assume they have already taken into consideration the possibility of fraud in this (i.e. the person with the idol holds onto it and while the votes are being read sneaks it to their ally who needs it most) - but imagine the changes in gameplay.

There has never been certainty in Survivor voting - with people flip-flopping up until the last minute. Usually the flips served to favor the “majority.” Now an alliance can have all the votes but still not be able to kick off someone. That added uncertainty will likely lead to an early breakup of alliances and lots of interesting tribal councils once the numbers start to dwindle down.

As everything seems to do, this will likely just make me mad as the person I hate somehow slides by week-to-week. Still, it is an interesting change - and gives anyone who has been to the exile island the ability to bluff. Even if they don’t have the idol, it’s not safe to vote for them because they might have the idol.

McGowan will love this.
Read: Immunity idol complicates ‘Survivor Panama’ (at MSNBC.com)