Oh, the infamous Zhan Hu tribe.  Survivor: China's biggest talking point this season arose from the actions taken by Jaime and Peih-Gee two weeks ago when they decided to throw a challenge for strategic purposes.  In hindsight, this was probably the incorrect move considering they decided to not do it again last week, but the jury is still out.  Even though it appears the merge will happen this Thursday (though the promos could be a fake out), we're going to stick with the tribal Survivor power rankings until after merge occurs.  The future of these current Zhan Hu members could also depend on whether James ends up with the second immunity idol or not. 

#4 – Peih-Gee Law

Nothing against Peih-Gee here, it's just the way things have shaken out.  If the tribes do merge, it'll hurt that Peih-Gee lost maybe her biggest ally in Sherea last week and might get stranded.  She does have Jaime and Erik by her side, but those two have each other's interests at heart, not Peih-Gee's.  She will probably attempt to re-form a bond with Frosti, but now Frosti is firmly entangled with Todd and Amanda, thanks to the immunity idol.  She's going to have to gain some alliance members soon. 


#2/#3 – Erik Huffman and Jaime Dugan

Whenever a showmance occurs, a legitimate one (and this appears to be the case with these two), the two involved become a package deal.  Erik and Jaime will henceforth make all of their decisions together and will act as their own alliance.  It's nice that they have Peih-Gee with them, but that may not be enough if they get singled out once the merge occurs.  They are going to have to try and bring Frosti back into the fold and even then they won't have the numbers to take on the original Fei Long.  New alliances will have to be made, but I just don't see it.  Neither Jaime or Erik have shown much motivation for anything, let alone grand scheming. 


#1 – James Clement

First to last to first.  It's been a crazy last couple episodes for James, going from the brink of elimination to the huge power position he currently finds himself in.  He holds one immunity idol (though James is a stand-up guy and I bet he graciously returns it to Todd after the merge) and will probably get a hold of the other.  I know the promo for Thursday's episode shows Erik and Jaime looking at the idol, but I bet they just found it in James' stuff.  Regardless, James is in with Todd and Amanda, though those two definitely understand the great threat that James poses in the challenges and might take their first chance to knock him out. 


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer (Image Courtesy of CBS)