Do you think the producers of Survivor thought that a secret “Exile Alliance” might spring up when they changed up the rules this season? Now, when a winning tribe sends a losing tribe member to Exile Island, that person gets to select someone from the winning tribe to join them. In the very beginning, Brendan was the first selected to go to Exile and he brought Taj with him.
It was almost uncanny how quickly they teamed up and concocted the idea of a secret alliance which would not come to fruition until the merge. Now this could be one of the most brilliant ideas in the history of the show, but in order for it to work all the members of the alliance have to make it to the merge. I’m not sure everyone understands that.
By everyone, I really only mean Taj. With two people on each tribe spreading influence, it should be easy to keep that pair from getting eliminated each week. Even early target Sierra can stave off an early death with Brendan helping promote other tribe members each time they have to go to Tribal Council. But, that’s all thrown out the window when you become an emotional wreck, as Taj did this past week.
For someone who’s playing one of the cleverest strategic moves I’ve ever seen, Taj plays a pretty dumb game in her day-to-day interactions. First she admits to having an NFL husband. Then, she goes on a tirade bitching about everyone and everything and saying that she doesn’t care who she pisses off. She was even ready to use the Idol if needed; not that we’re certain Stephen would have given it to her.
Lay low and make the merge and you’re golden. A foursome with two Idols should absolutely dominate through to the end. But, and this problem was more inevitable, you also have to be sure of your alliance. While Sierra, Brendan and Taj seem to be loyal to the greater cause, Stephen is a little less solid. When Taj gave him the Idol he immediately started proclaiming it his and saying he wasn’t sure if the alliance was his best move.
Now, first of all, it is. But if Stephen goes maverick from the plan, it could really mess things up. While it might be kind of anticlimactic for the alliance to work and dominate throughout the season and one of the four win the crown, it would be impressive to see such a far-reaching plan play out and work perfectly. But you have to make the merge, Taj! And stick to the plan, Stephen!
Clacked by Jason Hughes 
on Mar 16, 2009 @ 18:00 EST5EDT
actually this group could also help if they do a tribe swap, as they will already have an alliance, which would mean numbers if they end up together.