"Pascal and Neleh...they're my ticket to the final 4"
John Carroll (Marquesas)
This blindside was arguably the first of its kind and truly changed Survivor history. It was the first ever genuine "power shift" of the game, and had this never occurred I honestly don't think it's that much of a stretch to say that Survivor may not even still be airing today.
CBS did probably the most genius challenge they could in the episode that John - a member of the dominant "Rotu 4" alliance that had controlled the game thus far and ousted Boston Rob at the merge - was blindsided. At the rope-chopping immunity challenge, the Rotu four made the mistake of arrogantly eliminating everyone in the order that they wanted them to be voted off: Sean went first, followed by Vecepia, then Kathy, then Pascal and Neleh. This made Neleh realize that she and Pascal were on the bottom of their alliance, so they teamed up with Kathy, Sean, and Vee to vote John out and thus flip the game on its head.
Up until this point, the alliance that entered with a majority at the merge was the one that won the game. Sure there were notable times when they turned on one another for a vote or two (like when the ex-Ogakors voted Jerri and Amber out before Rodger and Elizabeth) but somebody from the majority alliance had always ended up winning the game. The series had become somewhat bland and predictable and may not even have continued for much longer. Simply put: The John Carroll blindside made Survivor history and forever set a precedent that carries on to this day - the idea that you *can*make big moves and make your own destiny in the game, and you're not always beholden to your ex-tribemates.
This is what makes Survivor so great, and that's why this is my pick for #1 boot.
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