Last Week: Russell was able to find another hidden immunity idol using only the dark side of the force. He used this idol to reverse boot Kelly. Laura vs. Russell…it’s so on.
39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog
Here are the tribes as they currently stand…
Aiga (Samoan for “Extended Family”)
Brett – 23 – T-shirt Designer
Dave – 38 – Fitness Instructor
Jaison – 28 – Law Student
John – 25 – Rocket Scientist
Laura – 39 – Office Manager
Mick – 33 – Doctor
Monica – 25 – Law Student
Natalie – 26 – Pharmaceutical Sales
Russell H. – 36 – Oil Company Owner
Shannon – 45 – Sales
We join up with Russell after tribal council, he’s comparing his performance to a Picasso painting. I’d describe it as reminiscent of his early Texan Evil Genius Period.
Dave saunters over and congratulates Russell on his impressive maneuvering. I suppose that’s a better strategy than just being bitter, but it’s pretty transparent. Meanwhile, Shambo is downright giddy that one of the 90210ers has been sent back to the Peach Pit.
The next morning the Easter egg hunt is on as Russell is trying to find his third immunity idol. No luck…yet.
At the same time, Shambo is trying to bring John on board to be a part of her alliance with Foa Foa. He doesn’t decide either way, but he agrees not to out Shambo as a Foa Foa sympathizer.
Reward Challenge Time: The tribe will break into two teams of five. One member will lie face down in a hammock-type thing. The other members will use ropes to guide them around a circle. The person who’s lying down will try to retrieve fifteen flags and place them into numbered slots in a log. The winning team gets to fly to another island and enjoy a feast. While they’re there they’ll get to take pictures with a Palm Pre (which would make a fantastic holiday gift).
The yellow team features Shambo, Mick, Monica, John, and Jaison while the purple team is made up of Dave, Brett, Laura, Natalie, and Russell. John and Natalie are chosen to lie in their teams’ respective cradles.
The yellow team has a bit of trouble early on as John accidentally drops a flag and knocks a flag out of his log. Natalie does an amazing (yet terrifying) job, dangling out of the hammock to retrieve and place the flags. It seriously looked like she was going to fall and split her head open. Fortunately, she managed to not die and win it for her team.
Russell lets us know that he intends to use the clue to find the immunity idol. Really? Why take the easy route now? He should try to find it blindfolded.
As the yellow team is flying to their reward, we’re treated to pictures that were taken with the Palm Pre. Amazingly, there aren’t any pictures of Russell and Laura laughing and painting each other’s nails.
Back at Aiga, Jaison and Mick are trying to work on Monica. Monica isn’t sure because she thinks Galu still has a six to four advantage. The guys say they’ve already got a Galu member on their side, but they won’t say the person’s name. Monica proves she isn’t an idiot by promptly figuring out that it’s Shambo.
Back at the reward, the magical Palm Pre coughs up two hints to the hidden immunity idol (is there anything it can’t do?!) Apparently the idol is hidden under a moss-covered rock.
When the yellow team arrives back at camp, the Easter egg hunt is back on. Dave and Laura are basically chasing Russell as he’s searching. Amazingly, they manage to lose Russell despite the fact that there’s obviously a camera man following him.
Sure enough, once Russell is alone he pulls a moss-covered rock out from a wall and uncovers his third hidden immunity idol. They must be buying those idols wholesale.
Immunity Challenge Time: The players will each throw a rock at colored tiles. For each tile that’s broken, a player will get a spear. They’ll then use a big crossbow-type contraption to shoot that spear at a target. The player with the spear closest to the center of the target wins immunity.
Jaison hits one tile, Dave hits one of Monica’s tiles, Mick hits one of his tiles, and Brett breaks two tiles. Everyone else misses. Shambo does not try to hide how pleased she is that Laura won’t be participating in the rest of the challenge.
The shooting portion is quick and relatively drama free. Mick gets his spear the closest, earning immunity. Shambo is downright giggly.
Back at camp, Shambo is breaking the news to Brett that she’s going to be voting for Laura. Poor Brett looks like he’s going to cry…like he lost his woobie.
Dave and Laura approach John about Galu’s strategy. I think John is growing frustrated with Galu. The fact that he called them “idiots” three times may have something to do with that.
Monica hatches a plan to tell Foa Foa that she’s voting for John. Her idea being that the four members of Foa Foa will vote for John, the five members of Galu will vote for Natalie, and Shambo will vote for Laura. Wow…so Galu doesn’t get that Shambo’s completely in bed with Foa Foa.
Whoa…sorry for putting that image into your head.
Meanwhile, Brett lets John in on Monica’s plan. John is of course displeased with any plan that causes Foa Foa to vote for him.
That night at tribal council, Kelly is wearing a pink button. Oh, now she’s trying to communicate.
J-Pro asks John how he’d feel about teaming up with Foa Foa. John smartly downplays the question.
Probst then lays out the math, explaining to Laura how the way she alienated Shambo has cost Galu their advantage.
Tie Break Rules: If there’s a tie, there will be a second vote where they can only vote for the tied players. If there’s a tie after the second vote, the other players will pick rocks. The person with the odd colored rock goes home.
Voting Time: Shambo votes for Laura, Dave votes for Natalie, and the rest are for Probsty to tally.
Probst asks if anyone has the immunity idol. Everyone looks at Russell, he stays seated.
One vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura…and the final vote is for Natalie! Tie game!
They’ll vote again. They can only vote for Laura or Natalie.
Voting Time Part Deux: Dave votes for Natalie, Jaison votes for Laura, and the rest are double secret.
One vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura…and the third member of the jury is Laura! John turned. The looks on the Galu members’ faces are priceless. Shambo looks like a kid on Christmas morning who just got a Palm Pre.
Erik has the line of the night as he shakes his head and says, “So good!”
Verdict: The past three episodes have been golden. Everything since the merge has been awesome. My question now? Does anyone on Foa Foa know Russell has that idol?
Between this season and Tocantins, I wonder if this is going to spark an attitude where the dominant tribe heading into a merge isn’t going to mess around so much.
Who’s Going to Win? Dare I say it? Could Evil Russell walk away with this whole thing?
What Do You Think? Have you become a Russell fan? Can Foa Foa trust John? Is Galu done for?
Tags: jeff probst, survivor, Survivor: Samoa
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