'Survivor: South Pacific' (CBS)
Quick Note: We’ve already inducted two members into the ‘Survivor’ Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011. Click here to find out who and come back Friday to meet the third member.
Last Week: Cochran didn’t last long on the hot seat, Coach proved he’s the chairman of Upolu, and Edna was voted out, even after she’d promised to eat stool.
39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog
Here is the tribe as it currently stands…
The Te Tuna Tribe (wearing yellow)
Albert – 26, Baseball/Dating Coach
Brandon – 19, Oil Tanker Crewman
Coach – 39, Slayer of Dragons
Rick – 51, Rancher
Sophie – 22, Medical Student
Currently Residing on Redemption Island (with next to nothing to talk about)
Edna – 35, Anesthesiologist
Ozzy – 30, Challenge Destroyer
We get things underway with the Team Te Tuna returning from Tribal Council. Coach is proud that his five were able to stay together and now are free to backstab each other with honor and integrity.
Albert then drops a bomb by letting us know that getting rid of Sophie is next on his “To Do” list. Wha-what?! SoPhail! Benedict Albert!
The following morning, Albert explains his plan, saying that Sophie is too dangerous to take to the end. Well…he has a point.
Later, he meets up with Rick and lets him know that they’re still going to the end together. Wha-what?! Albert thinks his best bet is to go to the end with Rick and Coach.
Redemption Island Duel: Players will race to complete a slide puzzle. Once the puzzle is completed it will release an axe. They’ll use the axe to retrieve puzzle pieces. First person to complete that puzzle stays in the game.
The duel gets underway and Ozzy is quick to solve the first puzzle. Albert and the other Upolutians start shouting instructions to Edna. It works as she’s able to release her axe.
The help from the peanut gallery continues, but it isn’t enough to give Edna the victory. Ozzy completes the puzzle first and stays in the game.
Back at camp, Sophie and Coach discuss how dangerous Ozzy is. She pitches the idea of sending Brandon to Redemption Island to square off against him.
Later, Albert lets Coach know about his desire to get rid of Sophie. Coach writes this off as Albert being intimidated because Sophie is smarter than him. Oh, then that explains why I’m so intimidated by Sophie.
Fun Fact: Albert is sporting a new buff fashion; he’s wearing it in his pocket like it’s a handkerchief.
During the conversation, Brandon comes over and says he’s nervous because they’re talking without him. Coach plays this off well by telling him not to act like Russell. Ooo…familial burn!
Sure enough, being compared to Russell hurts Brandon’s feelings. Brandon needs a hug to feel better about things. That works? Um…Mikayla hurt my feelings.
Immunity Challenge Time: The players will use a rope to scale a wall and retrieve bags of puzzle pieces. Once they have all five bags, they’ll have to match up pairs of pieces. Then, they’ll take the pieces that don’t have matches and run back up the wall. Once on top, they’ll use the pieces to unlock a combination. First player to unlock their combination wins immunity and pizza.
Rick jumps out to a slight lead, getting all his bags first, but Lil Hantz and Coach are a close second and third.
Brandon completes the pairing portion first, but Coach is right behind him. However, by the time Coach gets to the top it’s too late as Brandon has the right combination. Brandon wins immunity and reward.
Brandon is given the opportunity to share his reward and chooses Rick.
Quick Aside: I kind of like how they have to enjoy the reward in front of the rest of the tribe.
Back at camp, South Pacific Pizza shows up and delivers dinner for Brickdon. They aren’t allowed to share the food, but Sophie doesn’t mind as long as she can smell it. When she’s done smelling, Rick spills the beans that Albert wants to take him to the end.
Brandon hears this and his truth Spidey sense goes ballistic. He confronts Albert about this and all Hades breaks loose. A four-way fight starts up between Coach’s kids. When the dust settles it doesn’t look good for Albert.
Albert approaches Brandon and tries to win back his trust. Apparently this works. Brandon even offers to give Albert his immunity necklace to keep him safe. Wha-what?!
Brandon brings this idea to the Dragon Slayer. Lil Hantz thinks this is a great move because he knows Coach will never vote for him.
Another Quick Aside: Say what you will about Brandon, but I believe that he believes everything he…believes.
Coach then makes the distinction that God told Brandon to give up the idol. And that God told Coach to pray about what he should do. Ohhh…and I thought praying to find an idol you already had in your pocket was shady.
In other news; God is busy dealing with wars, poverty, etc…
That night at Tribal Council, Brandon wastes about half a second before handing his necklace over to Albert.
Somewhere Erik Reichenbach is having déjà vu.
Brandon then tells Probst that he’s willing to lie down on the sword for Albert.
Coach then clarifies that God told Brandon to give his necklace to Albert. God’s social game is soooo good.
Brandon goes on to explain that he has been crazy (or “loco”) loyal to his friends and he considers Coach and Albert to be his best friends.
Albert thinks their bond is real and that’s why he broke his bonds with Rick and Sophie.
Probst has some fun with Albert and asks if he’d be willing to give the necklace back. Albert says he would if he thought Brandon was in trouble.
Brandon admits that he doesn’t feel completely safe. Albert again says that he thinks Brandon will be fine.
Coach says he’s at peace with the evening’s vote because he prayed about it.
Oh man…
Voting Time: Rick votes for Brandon, Brandon votes for Sophie, Albert votes for Sophie, Sophie votes for Brandon, and the Slayer’s vote is super secret…
One vote for Brandon, one vote for Sophie, one vote for Brandon, one vote for Sophie, and the fifteenth person to make a trip to Redemption Island is…Brandon.
Oh man!
As Brandon is leaving, Coach hugs him and says, “It’s God’s will, go win Redemption.”
Verdict: Just…wow. As in wow.
I can’t wait until this jury gets to tear them apart.
Who’s Going to Win: Still Sophie.
Power Rankings Update: And in the final Power Rankings of the season; Andrea Boehlke had Brandon in spot three while I had him in spot four. However, she had Ozzy winning at Redemption while I had Edna. So, she gets four points and I get four points. The final score is Team Boehlke 156, Team Holmes 156.
A tie?! Do we draw rocks now?
(And a special shout out to @SherriErwin and @the_timgilmore for doing better than both Andrea and myself this week.)
Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
Tags: benjamin coach wade, jeff probst, ozzy lusth, survivor, survivor south pacific
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