Survivor 51 Recap: The Game's Bloodshed Gets A Little Too Real

A good rule of thumb on "Survivor": Try your darndest not to get MedEvac'd from the game. While Kristin injures her foot due to being blindfolded during a challenge, at least she knows how to treat it thanks to her green thumb. But for Brady? He was all thumbs working with the tribe's small axe, so much so that the brody, himself, lopped a third of his fingertip off! (I couldn't decide which thumb joke to go with, so I used them all. Here all night, folks!) 

Yes, the second episode of "Survivor 51" saw not one, but two players suffer some potentially game-ending injuries, and while Kristin's foot issue seems more like a wait-and-see sitch, I'm honestly quite shocked that Brady wasn't removed. That looked like a lot of blood. Could we have gone without the multiple shots of the guy's severed thumb as poor Pantsless Patt sheepishly held it in a shell? Sure. But this is "Survivor," baby! And now, it's a scene that will forever be etched into the "Survivor" record books. A gross, gross scene. But overall, I'm glad no one saw his or her dream go up in smoke from a little on-island owie. That's never any fun. (Guess I should've been checking the contestants for all 10 fingers and all 10 toes when we spoke at the "Survivor 51" premiere event!)

While the show's "On Fire" podcast seems to be taking a break in the Open Era (whether it'll ever return remains TBD), host Jeff Probst is sending press his "Field Notes" after each and every episode. Here's what he had to say about Brady's axe-ident:

"Brady had a great sense of humor as he pleaded with our medical team to wrap the piece of thumb and put it in a cooler to save for him after the show so he could take it home," wrote the host. "Talk about a one of a king 'Survivor' souvenir. Most players are happy with a treemail. Brady also wanted me to see it, so I went over to Medical. Sure enough, that's the tip of a human thumb. Another 'Survivor' first."  

Meanwhile on Savu, our man Rob is trying — and failing — to sacrifice himself to save Eric. 

I can't figure out what the most egregious part of this whole charade is. The fact that Rob gasses up the entire moment by saying it would make history? That it would be "groundbreaking"? Or the bit where he literally tries to WRITE HIS OWN NAME DOWN only to be told by a producer that it's against the rules? I'm not here to lay judgment on a dude missing his family. That's actually very sweet. But after thousands of people apply for years and years to get on the show — Kristin has been applying since Season 2! — watching someone get on the show and almost immediately want to tap out is frustrating to see, to say the least. Maybe he'll have a change of heart moving forward. I hope so!

But what an absolute Tribal Council flop. First, he pulls Eric aside to warn him of this game-changing stunt he's about to pull. But then he refuses to tell Eric what the plan is! "Do what I say at Tribal Council"? (Uhh, how about... no?) Before the vote, he finally comes out with it, telling Eric to play his Shot in the Dark. If the Shot doesn't hit and win Eric safety, Rob says he'll use his idol to save his tribemate from elimination. Hence, by trying to write his own name down, he was attempting to orchestrate his own exit and (from the looks of it) quit the game. But after all of that, he does something even crazier: HE WRITES DOWN ERIC'S NAME ANYWAY! Rob, I have a lot of follow-up questions, my friend. But those will have to wait until later in the season because neither Rob nor Eric is the one sent packing in Episode 2.

And that isn't the only case of sloppy gameplay we saw Wednesday. Despite Rob's best efforts to off himself, the vote ultimately falls on Ana (6-4). But I think it's safe to say that her exit is really her own undoing. Early in the episode, the voice actress tells us that she wants to stir things up in her tribe by throwing names around. FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. (This episode really has me reaching for the caps lock. My sincerest apologies.)

It's one thing to talk some smack to a bestie, who early on seemed like her Persian pal Alexis. But Ana's house of cards begins to tumble after Alexis overhears Ana talking about the magic of... popcorn! Mmm, it's buttery, it's salty. Who wouldn't want the largest tub of popcorn out on the island!? Jeff, is it too soon to fire up the ol' Survivor Auction? 

No, Ana is actually overheard recapping her convo with Alexis to Carter and Christian! So what does Alexis do? She runs straight to Sharonda and Linnea and starts spreading the word on how Ana is slinging names left and right. "So if she's gunning for us, then I'm gunning for her," Sharonda says. And boom goes the dynamite, leaving Eric to live on and annoy the Savu tribe for at least another day or two.

So, what did you think about this wild second episode of "Survivor 51"? Go full tilt boogie in that comments section, and be sure to return to TVLine Thursday for our exit interview with Ana!