'Survivor' Showdown: One for the Money

The hardest thing Susan had to do on that island, I'm convinced, wasn't facing immunity challenges or battling hunger and boredom: It was coming to terms with that pathological contrarian, Kelly — the one colleague who coulda, mighta been a pal. A gal pal. For a brief island minute, remember, Sue nurtured the hope that Kelly might salve the loneliness left by the long-ago death of a close friend. And speaking of her yearning and grief, the tough chick had wept. Hers was an expression of emotion as direct as Richard's shtick was suspect — and the power of her bitterness made her shockingly eloquent.

That Kelly turned out to be an untrustworthy operator may have hurt Susan, but I hope she doesn't feel ashamed of her instinct, or her desire. Kelly is a callow girl. Sue is an adult who understands how the world works. In fact, I think beneath her rough Valkyrie exterior there's a warm, playful woman who knows that although it's important to make her own luck in this world, it's equally important to have someone to lean on. Her big-bear husband, Tim, looks like he's up to the assignment.

And I suspect that, million dollars or no, Susan's experience in distinguishing real friends from false will come in real handy as she drives her truck down life's road, ya know?
— Lisa Schwarzbaum