Brilliant and Boneheaded 'Survivor' Plays of the Week: Mama C, Mama Do

Warning: This recap contains storyline and character spoilers for this week’s episode of Survivor.

It’s Rodney’s birthday and he’ll cry if he wants to.

Seriously, has there ever been a bigger crybaby on Survivor than Rodney? First, he tries guilt-tripping people into taking him on reward. Then, he passive-aggressively snarks at them when they don’t. Then, he just aggressive-aggressively lashes out at them. Here’s your binky, Rodney — suck on it and shut the hell up.

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Why anyone wants to keep him around is a mystery. Actually, scratch that — he’s the perfect goat to take to the finals, now that Shirin is gone.

Instead, Tyler is voted out, which is a damn shame as we were rooting for him. But it’s understandable why Carolyn flipped on him because dude was a major, major threat to win it all.

Boneheaded Play of the Week: Rodney

The meltdown was bad enough. OK, yeah, it’s his birthday, and Rodney does miss out on a great reward (giving supplies to orphans), but as Carolyn noted, you’re on freaking Survivor. That, in itself, is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sorry that we can’t get worked up while you play on the world’s tiniest violin.

But even more stupid than the temper trantrum? Rodney’s hare-brained plan to act like he wants to go home, so that Mike won’t play his idol. Poor Tyler tries to gently tell him that it’s not going to work, but Rodney stubbornly tries to go through with it when Mike, Carolyn, and Sierra return from the reward. He throws a hissy fit, then declares he wants to be voted out. Of course, Mike doesn’t fall for it, not even for a second.

Rodney, Rodney, Rodney… leave the stategery for the grown-ups.

Brilliant Play of the Week: Carolyn

Mama C is on a roll. She wins immunity for the second time in a row. She gets to go on an amazing reward and even sort of befriends Mike in the process. And she’s got a hidden immunity idol.

She’s got all the power this week in deciding who to send home. It’s a tough decision. Tyler has been her strongest ally since Day 3. But he’s a major threat to win the whole thing. There’s Dan, who has that voting advantage. It would be wise to get rid of him sooner than later.

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As Sierra noted, it’s time for a big move. And Carolyn made it by sending her ally home and saving her idol for another day.

Power rankings: 1. Carolyn 2. Dan 3. Mike

Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.