by Gina Scarpa

 

Any Survivor winner knows that coming back into the game is going to automatically make you a target. Couple in an equally strong and competitive brother as a potential partner, and your days are most likely numbered. Survivor: Panama winner Aras Baskauskas made it just to the merge when his alliance members decided it was time to blindside him right out of the game. His brother would soon follow, and Aras lost to Vytas and Australian Outback winner Tina Wesson in last week's challenge. He chatted with us afterwards about being voted out by friends, the player's game he respects most, and making music back home.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: There were many people who thought you'd make it to the end of the season. Coming into the game, being a winner and expecting to play with Vytas though, weren't you expecting to be a big target?
A. Aras: Yeah I think coming in, it was clear that Vytas and I were the most threatening couple in the game and being a winner didn't help.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Early on, Colton was very frustrated because none of the returning players wanted to talk game. Was that part of your strategy or did you really not want to have to talk game, especially so early on?
A. Aras: We were talking game, we just weren't talking with Colton.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you enjoy the vibe around camp with your initial tribe?
A. Aras: Yeah we were getting along really well and then the Colton saga began.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How has Survivor changed your relationship with your brother?
A. Aras: I mean, I don't wanna be so bold as to be like, "Oh the game changed our relationship" but I do think it's helping build a healthy functional relationship.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You handled your blindside pretty well from what we saw on tv but what was it like when you first got to Redemption Island by yourself?
A. Aras: The first night at Redemption, I was overwhelmed with sadness. It's rough to get blindsided, especially by someone who's your friend outside of the game. Something important to me, though, was not blaming other people for my feelings.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Going up against Tina and Vytas, did the challenge make you feel confident that you'd stay alive in the game?
A. Aras: It did and it didn't. It was a carnival game so it's anyone's game in that situation. I was very bad in that challenge! I assumed I had a pretty good shot, but on a certain level, I was ready to go home.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Watching this season, do you prefer a bold player like Tyson or a quiet player like Caleb or Hayden?
A. Aras: I think at this point, Tyson is playing an incredible game. I think it's very easy to play an under the radar game when you have a bigger character. Tyson and I were taking a majority of the strategic workload on. Are Caleb and Hayden are going to move from the backseat to the front seat? We'll see.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It has been a while since we last saw you before this season. What's life been like back home?
A. Aras: I'm in a band Odd Us, like my name is pronounced, and we have a website at oddus.com. We just played the Troubadour opened for Edward Sharpe, our music was on MTV's Buck Wild... it's happening! I recently got engaged and life is good. Survivor has only brought good things into my life.

 

Survivor: Blood Vs. Water airs Wednesday at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa