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The advantage of working with themes is that they aren't as fickle as ratings. For one thing, I see many posters are much quicker than me to bury Amanda! I hope my impressions of the players' edit will help in establishing those ratings.

This episode developed a new theme: Jeff saying after TC "you need to use each player's unique abilities". It ties into a quote from the "Art of War": "The general must not use his officers indiscriminatly."

A new twist in the story showed that Fei Long isn't the well-oiled machine that the first 2 episodes had presented.

Let's start with Amanda: True, we didn't see much of Amanda but I see her absence as a good sign in an episode when her tribe was presented so negatively. Her story took a pause but she still has strong connections to the original themes of the season. For now, being included by Courtney in their shared revulsion towards Jean-Robert, and in Leslie's "good people" during Zhan Hu's girl gossip is enough. She was shown in the middle of the voting discussions, listening to both points of view before rallying behind her leader. That keeps her high on my short list of contenders.

For sure, not receiving a TC question is troubling but none of the contenders received one. That TC was odd with only the 3 targets talking. It could be a new curve ball thrown at us, a new tweak in the editing patterns.

Todd had a strong episode and must be considered in the lead rigth now. He went to the defense of little Courtney (his fellow Munchkin!) against the big bullies. Calling them garbage could be considered negative but JR had been presented so negatively and his talk with James was so crude that the comparison applied. Ordering JR to "get it out of my face" during the IC showed us he has the power, not the big guy. Todd was also involved in the booting discussion and even if he pushed for JR, one must remember that he had said "Leslie leaving would be fantastic." The fact we heard him say that in the previous episode, one in which Leslie couldn't go home, is the manipulation of his edit that was said to be missing in his story. The casual viewer didn't hear Todd say he wanted to boot the 'nice' Leslie and won't blame him even if we know he thinks it's "fantastic" that she left.

On the other hand, Aaron had the final word in discussing the boot. It reaffirms his role as Fei Long's leader in an episode which that tribe is seen as negative! Aaron also engaged in an argument with James about the crab. The choice of who to sit out and who to use in challenges wasn't directly put on his shoulders but as leader, that's what people expect. More and more Aaron is losing the title of "The Good General" so important to Sun Tzu. One episode can't put Aaron out of contention but he is losing contact with the leaders.

Jaime had another strong episode. Granted, much of the kidnapping and subsequent clue talk had to be shown but what didn't need to be shown was that she told us it was her goal to kidnap Leslie. Her stratagem worked! An attentive viewer knew that Jaime, Erik and Sherea were the deciders on ZH but this episode showed that Jaime was in charge. Jeff had mentioned last week that the women of ZH were doing well during the first challenge. It wouldn't surprise me if all three women outlasted their male counterparts on ZH. Of the three women, Jaime is the one with the potential for making it to the end.

Of the others that had played a role in the themes of the story, Courtney really emerged last night. The littlest Munchkin is in direct conflict with JR and James! More importantly, she was underlined as being out of the loop of Leslie's boot, her sad face shown in close-up. What a great underdog story!!! Courtney will outlast JR and James. She will show that Jeff was right saying that each player has unique abilities and she will continue to entertain us with her confessionals. Can she win? She is catching up to the top contenders but I see her story as one of proving herself. Like Cirie and Yau-Man before her, she will go out once others have been convinced.

Peih Gee has emerged as ZH's narrator instead of Erik. It gives her some longevity but she's not part of the strategy. In a season based on the "Art of War", sliding by won't be enough.

Dave and Jean-Robert are being set up for us to enjoy their fall. (PG even told us that Dave's fall must have hurt when he took his belly flop. The next will be worse!)
Sherea is a strong women but the editors don't reward her with a storyline.
I don't see a point in discussing any of the others except to say that Erik should've been named Nick!!