MTV Trifecta: Stranded with a Million Dollars - Week 5

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

It's a Sunday and the first weekend of Spring, and back we are at DCBLOG as we roll along with our look at the MTV Trifecta. And this also happens to be the halfway point of the social experiment known as Stranded with a Million Dollars.
   Last week, six remained on the island after Chris decided to take off, and Alonzo nearly became the fifth to take his leave when he struggled to keep himself on the island. This forced Alex to do whatever he can to keep his alliance together as the gap between alliances increased. And when a $30,000 tent became the key point of interest in the control for power, Cody finds a new ally to join him as he tried to regain power.

   This week as the game reaches its fifth week, alliances are being tested as an attractive deal gets proposed that could change the game further. A grueling journey from one camp site to the next does nothing but to widen the divide between the alliance of two and the alliance of four. And when the attention turns to one of those two, the Campers decide to do more binge-spending and leaving the leader of that two-person tribe to worry that the winnings could be limited when it's all over.

   After the jump, week 5 of our stay in Fiji, plus after the diary a trip into the Strategy Room to see where this game all stands at the halfway point.

►#DCSocialPulse  STRANDED - EPISODE 5
@MTVStranded: A new #MTVStranded starts now! Watch closely, pizza may be in your future 🍕🔮
@MTVStranded: .@CaraMariaMTV "They have some kind of chip on their shoulder." I see what you did there😜 #TheChallengeInvasion #MTVStranded
@CodyThrive: There's too much drama on these shows man. Wish a show would focus 60% on conpetition 30% on strategy 10% drama. Something around there.
@MTVStranded: This divide is growing bigger the more days they're out there... 😬 #MTVStranded (GIF: "I'm treating them equally. Cause it's clear that they're in an alliance.")
@MTVStranded: .@iamzoewhite is DONE with playing nice. 👋 #MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: .@CodyThrive is trying to be diplomatic... is it working? 😦 #MTVStranded (GIF: "It's very hard for me to imagine Makani not being here.")
- @CodyThrive: @MTVStranded Duh... Why would you target her? She's NOT a quitter. You can't vote her out... This is STRANDED. Alliances don't take true competitors out.
@CodyThrive: Why wouldn't they just target Gina? They'd have a 3-2 advantage and get MORE pizza. Plus 1/5 instead 1/6. Dumbest idea EVER. #TeamMakody
@MTVStranded: It all comes to strategy in the wild jungles of Fiji. #MTVStranded (GIF: Cody - "I might possibly be down to turn 5 on 1 against Makani.")
@MTVStranded: What do y'all think? What is "fair" in this game? #MTVStranded (GIF: Alonzo - "I don't think the weight is being distributed fairly amongst us on this journey.")
@MTVStranded: .@iamzoewhite is not letting @makanime get away with carrying just the tent. 😲 #MTVStranded (GIF: "Something has to change here, something has to be done.")
@MTVStranded: WHAT A MOVE 😱😱😱  #MTVSTRANDED
@MTVStranded: .@makanime is FOR REAL about this, y'all. #MTVStranded (GIF: "Last time, he was just carrying the tent. This time, I'm just carrying the tent.")
@CodyThrive: Do guys beat women in Buffalo? Or why would Alonzo say that??? Jeez this group is nasty! #MTVstranded
@MTVStranded: "Why does this need to be a bully game of chicken?" -@AlexApple_ ... that's one of my favorite quotes of the season 😂 #MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: Is @makanime acting tough? or just trying to play fair?! #MTVStranded (GIF: "You act so tough.")
@MTVStranded: This journey is getting BRUTAL #MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: Oh gurl just hold on you can do it! @GinaPandaBaby 🙌 #MTVStranded (GIF: "I don't know why I'm on this journey. I wish I could flare out right now.")
@CodyThrive: These dog pics are so cute! My heart is melting!!! Reverse mom girls "kick her like a stray dog" remark. Tweet me your pics!!! #PUPPYPOWER
@MTVStranded: "Drink a can of man" -@CodyThrive  LMAO too much. #MTVStranded
@CodyThrive: Can we buy a can of man at the next group buy? We need 2!
@MTVStranded: .@makanime is SO SASSY THO. #MTVSTRANDED
@MTVStranded: THANK GODDDDD. I was worried. 🙌🙌🙌 #MTVStranded
@CodyThrive: A little common sense speech for the campers. #MTVstranded
- @MTVStranded: @CodyThrive how much does it cost to order common sense from the list? 🤔 #MTVStranded
- @MTVStranded: @CodyThrive That's gonna cost ya 😂 #MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: Are they being fair to @makanime? 😬 #MTVStranded   10%Yes! With the campers. / 90%No She's playing the game   360 votes•Final results
@ftwgiovanni: Where's all the animals on this island? @MTVStranded
- @MTVStranded: Fleeing from the drama? 😬😂 #MTVStranded
@makanime: @MTVStranded they're so mad I don't need no one🏝🐒🤷🏽♀️ going for a swim while they stressing🐒🙃🤙🏽🌊
@makanime: @CodyThrive you backed me up though😌💛 honestly had me doubting there for a second🙈 @MTVStranded
- @CodyThrive: @makanime Lol shut up! So glad they FINALLY showed me announce my allegiance to #TeamMakody
@MTVStranded: .@tewsdaykate ain't frontin. #MTVStranded (GIF: "Hope she flares.")
@MTVStranded: .@CodyThrive has words to say about @iamzoewhite #MTVStranded (GIF: "Alonzo, you can't walk the walk, buddy.")
@MTVStranded: Come on bro, you got this!  💪 #MTVStranded (GIF: Alonzo - "Thinking about, you know, self-evacuating today.")
@iamzoewhite: 🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽 straight to it 💰 y'all just keep watching 📺 & keep getting mad 😂. I eat dat shit 🍴👌🏾
- @MTVStranded: @iamzoewhite His haters are his motivators 👏 #MTVStranded
@iamzoewhite: Hope everyone can see how fake that kid really is 👌🏾
@MTVStranded: When you hear those house creaks and I'm trying to go to sleep... 😲 #MTVStranded (GIF: "I'm tired of these sounds... Like, I'm losing it.")
@iamzoewhite: It's just so funny because we are on a survival show and the 2 shit heads have yet to display any survival skills at all! 😂😂😂
@iamzoewhite: They can't start fire. They Can't hunt food. They can't read navigation maps. Can't eat unless we feed them. Who's really winning? Dummies
@MTVStranded: "I'm not even laughing anymore." 😱 -@AlexApple_ that sounds terrible. #MTVStranded
@CodyThrive: @meganmcclory26 @makanime @MTVStranded no way!!! Makani and @ChrisLacerra need to DATE!!!
- @MTVStranded: @CodyThrive WOAHHHHH. Are there sparks in #Teamthrive that we didn't see before?! #MTVStranded
- @makanime: @MTVStranded @CodyThrive codyy...why must you do this to me🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 *sigh* we've been over this. No offense, but chris was a wimp😕🤷🏽♀️🏝
- @CodyThrive: @makanime @MTVStranded you can be his Alpha!
- @MTVStranded: @makanime This girl is so SAVAGE. @ChrisLacerra, thoughts 💭? #MTVStranded
- @ChrisLacerra: @MTVStranded  @makanime  I can be your wimp 🤓🤓❤️👫
- @CodyThrive: @ChrisLacerra @MTVStranded @makanime cmon!!! He will let u wear his blue hat!
- @MTVStranded: @CodyThrive @ChrisLacerra @makanime OMG I WANT ONE THO #MTVSTRANDED
- @MTVStranded: @ChrisLacerra 😍😍😍 omg what would the ship name be?! 🤔 #MTVSTRANDED
- @makanime: @ChrisLacerra Lol points for adorableness😌
@MTVStranded: The half-way point seems hopeless for the campers. 😬 #MTVstranded (GIF: Alex - "It's the first time I've really thought seriously about leaving.")
@MTVStranded: .@GinaPandaBaby is DONE dealing with anything. #MTVStranded (GIF: "I'm just over it.")
@CodyThrive: ...here comes that hand out that Alonso claims he hates!!! #Temptation
@MTVStranded: Temptation time! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 #MTVStranded
@iamzoewhite: Splash brothers forever. 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 @AlexApple_ @MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: Me everyday @ lunch 😍  #MTVStranded (GIF: "Oh my gosh. Cookies, sandwiches!")
@MTVStranded: How'd that first franch fry taste, @AlexApple_?! #MTVStranded
@iamzoewhite: She such a wanna be survivalist. 😂 only eat if we feed y'all lol we like yalls Fukin parents! Finish ur homework first kids! ☝🏽
@MTVStranded: I'm not crying, you're crying... I just got something in my eye.😩 #MTVStranded
@CodyThrive: Did Alonzo's mom just tell him to flare out and come home??? I love that lady!!! Go home to mommy!!!#MTVstranded
@iamzoewhite: Idgaf what nobody say! @AlexApple_ is my brother for life! #SplashBros 💪🏽
@MTVStranded: "You need to go to Jarrod's, bro." - @iamzoewhite 💍 #MTVSTRANDED
@CodyThrive: We take temptations because we get starved out at group buys. They blow money at both!!!
@MTVStranded: Temporary setbacks for so much 💸💸💸 #MTVStranded (GIF: Makani - "This is meant to be a temporary stuggle and hardship in return for a life of being able to do so much more.")
@iamzoewhite: Makani said a tent isn't hardship while laying in one 🙄🙄🙄 lol
@MTVStranded: This group buy tho... 😬 #MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: OOOOO. A deck of cards tho? Necessary or no? #MTVstranded (GIF: Cody - "It's ridiculous. I'm absolutely pissed off.")
@MTVStranded: .@tewsdaykate will NOT take that. 🙅 #MTVStranded (GIF: "Now you attacked my family, so you can go f... yourself.")
@iamzoewhite: Should we buy playing cards? @GinaPandaBaby 😂😂
@CodyThrive: If I lived with my mom would she REALLY let me do this to the dining room? 🤔🤔🤔 #MTVstranded https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7fZYBdVsAAqAWd.jpg
@CodyThrive: Work hard. Make smart decisions. NOT excuses. And you'll THRIVE!!! Like me. #MTVstranded
@CodyThrive: BETTER AT LIFE THAN YOU!!! #TruthBomb #MTVstranded #TeamMakody
@iamzoewhite: Y'all are fans of a guy that talks about people's family??? Y'all just as bad as him and think it's cute don't y'all? Lol #clowns 🤡🤡🤡🤡
@iamzoewhite: lol how it feels when he talks shit yet I'm still getting my order bro lmao 💪🏽💪🏽🍕🍕🍕 @MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: #TeamMakody!!!! 💪💪💪#MTVStranded (GIF: "As long as we stay united, the two of us are a lot stronger than the four of them.")
@iamzoewhite: People like you get smacked boy 👋🏽👋🏽👋🏽 stay in a kids place 💯 @MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: Thanks for watching this week's #MTVStranded! Tune in next week for a SHOCKING new episode! 🙀 (GIF: "It doesmn't matter what we do, they're gonna complain.")
@iamzoewhite: And we're the whiners lol no matter how nice we r and feed our kids, they still have something to complain about lol never satisfied! 😂
@CodyThrive: Wait what job pays 45k over 9 years??? That's 5k a year? WHAT!!! #MTVstranded
@CodyThrive: Wow that ending was epic!!! Just wish @ejsnyder333 & @jeff_zausch could have been there with me. Yelling alone isn't as fun. #ThriveNation
@makanime: Confession: I was struggling to stream it on east coast time🙈 west coast....who's ready to turn up w me😏🏝✨ @MTVStranded
@GinaPandaBaby: Off to the next camp!(: can't believe I am still on the island #MTVstranded #PartyHardy #JourneyTime #PartyGirl
@GinaPandaBaby: Daaam you drones.. that pot weighed more than 6 pounds 😂😂😂 #MTVstranded
@GinaPandaBaby: That river was crazzzzy! I can't swim #MTVstranded
@MTVStranded: If you HAD to choose and they all cost the same, what would you buy during the group buy? 🤔 #MTVStranded   46%Peanut Butter / 06%Carrots / 35%Pizza / 13%Sandwiches   210 votes•Final results
@GinaPandaBaby: LOL Fiji is so beautiful ❤ #Mtvstranded
@MTVStranded: When someone texts you to go out after you make a vow to save money... 💸 #MTVStranded
@MTVStranded: Getting to see a friendly face after 3 weeks of strangers is almost too much for @iamzoewhite 😢😢😢 #MTVStranded

@tewsdaykate: It's been fun Twitter, see you all next week 😉 #MTVstranded

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 STRATEGY ROOM 

HALFWAY THROUGH...

If you are familiar with our coverage of The Challenge and Are You The One?, then you're familiar with the Strategy Room. This is where we get to take stock of where the game stands at various points during the former and most every week during the most recent season on the ladder, and offer that kind of analysis you would find at other sites, but with our own touch to it.
   So, what do we make of Stranded with a Million Dollars at the halfway point of this season? The group has made it to the maximum total of $500,000 of that potential pot of $1 million, but of course our adventurers have dealt with some obstacles along the way. They have taken advantage of all but one opportunity to grab something at the weekly group buy, and at all but one time has someone given in to those temptations they've been given on their own. And obviously, we've lost four of the original ten who started this journey: Bria, Michael, Ashley and Chris.

   As we've been seeing in these first five episodes, this game has evolved from just one group of ten strangers to now two alliances and a question that those who are sticking around after The Challenge has been posed to them: "Are you with Team Makody?" or "Are you with the Core Four?"  In one alliance is what is now a group of two in Cody and Makani, which was a group of three when Chris was still on the island. And in the other half of the ball is Alex, Alonzo, Eilish and Gina, who have been in control of the money side of this game so far.

   Being someone who's used to watching the three shows of the Trifecta and whose only experience of watching the show which this fourth jewel channels its inspiration from - Survivor - only a few times when not following the MTV world, it's taken some used to when it comes to watching this form of reality TV known as survivalist. But from those of you who also watch that show and a few others over the years, now I know why those people who are into this kind of competition show are always fascinated by those who have to endure 40 or so days on an island with many other people.

   Being that I've talked a bit with the leaders of both alliances, it's obviously hard (for me, at least) to state your position of whose side you're on, but then I've always made to sure to keep myself out of any conflict that takes place with castmates in social world. For this instance, what we've been seeing here with Cody and Alex channels the hatred we saw with Wes and Kenny on The Challenge and recently with ginger and Bananas in recent years.

   On one side of the coin, there's Cody, who MTV.com wrote that the Army Ranger might become reality TV's next villain and he's no doubt been the most active on social media among the cast of this show to their fans, though in this first part of the season he left those avenues of contact to his girlfriend while serving in ranger school. For here, he has had to deal with one of his closest friends here leaving and having just Makani as his sole supporter within the tribe, and having to live with people he despises over in the other tent. He has that leg up on the other group in having that
   And there's Alex and his group. Since the past few weeks, they've established control of this game not merely by now having the edge in more members of this alliance in him, Alonzo, Eilish and Gina, but also in the facets of how they've taken advantage of the money aspect of this game. In all but one try, they've bought something at group buy, and all but one time they've taken advantage of the temptation. And to make this more spicy, they've made these buying decisions for the group but enjoying the food and supplies for themselves to gain an advantage over Team Makody.

   As we enter the second half of this season, a number of questions remain: Which of these six people will have enough energy to see this thing through (especially with Alonzo and Makani)? Is the alliance of four better than the alliance of two? What else can these groups buy and will Cody get a chance to take power control from Alex to try and conserve the weekly buying spree we've been seeing each week? And how much money will everyone split when this is done? We'll find out, of course.

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Coming up, we'll turn our attention to the premiere of Are You The One? - Second Chances as ten fan favorite couples return for another chance at love and money down in Australia. See you back here later tonight.

- I AM DC