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Interesting episode. It wasn't really what I was expecting at all. (I haven't read anyone else's comments yet so bear with me.)

First, a concession that obviously the editors did intend some of Sugar's actions last episode to be taken badly (though I still think OTTN was wrong), or else we wouldn't have had Bob's new confessional pasted into the recap of last episode. Still, it is interesting that this came in an episode where Sugar would otherwise come across OTTP in dealing with her mom and her dad's memory. I think the intention is to show why Sugar may have difficulty winning jury votes, but we're still meant to be rooting for her. More than ever, she looks like a finalist.

Matty was another OTTP construct this episode. Did we really see much of him other than his emotional proposal? He was targeted separately by Ken/Crystal and Bob/Corinne and then they joined forces. We definitely were meant to be glad the blindside attempt failed.

Susie got a brief positive moment with her loved one, but she was otherwise missing again. There's no change to her edit.

The big surprise was Bob showing actual game for once and Ken seemingly determined to bury his own. Bob came off as positive in spite of allying with evil Corinne against good Matty. Ken came off as negative (even if strategically so) for turning on his ally too soon.

Ken was smart to try to insure the idol was played, but in that case, there was no need for him to waste his vote either. If Crystal is voting Corinne, it doesn't really matter if Ken does too as long as Bob and Corinne think they are both voting for Matty. He overplayed.

But I'm torn as to whether this is showing how Ken managed to lose the game he seemed on the verge of winning or whether it is building up doubt that he will win and he does so anyway. I guess I still lean toward the latter. But it will be interesting to see how the next vote plays out, especially given the scenes from next week.

Ratings:

Bob - CPP. Bob just isn't very complex, but this is as about as CP as he can get. First, we had some remorse over the Randy prank. Then, we had explanation of a really sophisticated strategy and some concern over whether it would work. Throw in the obvious emotion over seeing his wife, and it is enough for CP - barely.

Corinne - MORN. She wasn't OTTN this time, probably because she was working closely with Bob. But while other players get tender moments with their loved ones, she gets to say how her brother knows how mean she is and loves it. OK ... There's no doubt we're meant to hope she gets voted off.

Ken - CPN. He's the other player who doesn't really get a P tinge from the family visit. It's all strategy with his sister and comes across as very arrogant. He does consider the ramifications of the idol at least, pushing him barely into CP territory. Otherwise, he'd be MOR.

Crystal - MORM. She does present the choice of the episode on whether to risk Corinne being voted out or insure that Matty is, which is borderline CP, but she's really low key for the rest of the episode except she does get an emotional visit with her boyfriend. To some extent, she's an extension of Ken's edit. Overall, I still feel that if Ken's problems drag him down, she will win.

Sugar - MORP. Her loved one visit was extremely positive, and the only reason I'm not putting her OTTP is because of the opening scenes where she takes criticism from Bob and argues with Corinne. There's some negativity for her with that scene, but it is long forgotten by episode end until Corinne gives her final words, which are all about Sugar.

Matty - OTTP. He's being presented as a potential martyr this episode, which isn't really all that good for his winning chances. At the moment, I think it is too obvious he'd win at the end if he makes it so he won't make it. (Then again, maybe this is all just doubt he makes the end. Argh!)

Susie - UTRP. She only gets the brief scene with her husband. Otherwise she's just irrelevant. If she makes the finals, she doesn't factor into the vote.

In defense of craig (I know it doesn't occur very often.), the INV argument is not so simply settled as saying because it hasn't happened since Tina, the INV guideline must be valid. First, as craig points out, there are very few players who have received an INV who weren't eliminated without it. Rafe is the only one that comes to mind actually since I don't think Danielle ever actually was INV, and Corinne certainly should have been eliminated even without it for her OTTN edit. The argument thus is because Rafe didn't win, that proves that we were right to eliminate him for his INV. That's a weak argument on its face since we certainly can't draw any causal relationship here. The fact that we (collectively) gave him an INV in one episode is not the reason he didn't win. Given there was at least as much debate over the INV he did get as there was over Yul's weak episode where he called Ozzy Poseidon, I find it pretty ridiculous to say that the editors chose to cross some line with Rafe because he didn't win that they approached but didn't cross with Yul because he did, especially when no one can point out with any clarity where that line is.

I refuse to use the INV guideline because of the subjectivity involved in deciding that line, because I think it is foolish to eliminate anyone on the basis of a single episode, and because in all but one case it has been unnecessary to eliminate people based upon INV because they've been eliminated anyway. A player doesn't need to win to have an edit capable of winning. In my opinion, Rafe did have an edit capable of winning regardless of this one supposedly INV episode and thus should not have been eliminated just on that basis.