Well, it's late and I am a little bit under the weather so I will keep this short (please hold your applause).
The Survivors have returned from Tribal Council having sent Abi to the jury. Skupin says that having Abi gone was the best feeling...that she sucked the life out of him. Malcolm is wondering why everyone who wants to go out with a bang, does so by throwing him under the bus. Malcolm and Skupin confirm their alliance but Skupin tells us that he needs to figure out who he can beat. He doesn't share everyone else's opinion, though, that nobody can beat Malcolm once they are before the jury. Skupin figures he has a pretty good story and could convince the jury to vote for him.
At the reward challenge, Survivors must run an obstacle course and collect three bags of puzzle pieces along the way. Like last week, Malcolm falls off a beam, falls behind them goes on to win on the the puzzle bit. His reward is an "advantage" in the final Immunity Challenge.
The final four do the obligatory torch walk, where they honour the Survivors who have had less success than they. Boring. Then they come to the final Immunity Challenge. There is a wooden dowel that has been cut into various lengths. On the top of the centre piece is a little groove. The goal is to hold the wooden dowel between two handles while balancing a ball bearing in the groove. At regular intervals a new piece of dowel is added so that the number of pieces of wood, and the distance between the handles, progressively becomes greater. When you drop your ball you are out...except for Malcolm. The advantage that he won in the reward challenge gives him one "do-over". Except it doesn't do him any good. Almost immediately he looses control of his stick/ball. He sets up again but is the first to go out a second time. I have to say this seemed a little staged to me except that why would anyone throw a challenge with a million dollars so close? Instead we learn that Malcolm has some sort of congenital shakey hands things. The challenge comes down to a duel between Skupin and Lisa and Skupin eventually wins immunity.
Back at camp, Skupin is thinking there would be more honour in beating Malcolm so maybe Malcolm should stay and Denise should go. Lisa, very practically, points out that you have to win first. Lisa thinks Malcolm will win if he goes to the final three. Lisa wins out and Malcolm is sent home at Tribal Council, taking our Mitzie with him. After a day of feasting and hiking the final three finally face the jury at Tribal Council. There is obviously quite a lot of bitterness on the jury and it is not at all clear who is going to win this one (at least not to me). However, when the votes are cast and we are whisked off to the Hollywood Studio we learn that Denise has won the million dollar prize. Debbie and Kathy were sharing Denise so both will get 75.00. Roberta picked Denise to win so she gets the $20.00 secondary prize.
During the reunion show I learned that:
1. my Abi has realized why she wasn't liked during the show is is going to make some changes.
2. Malcolm is single
3. I barely remember some of those people
The next Survivor series is a Fans vs Favourites located in thge Caramoan Islands (also located in the Phillipines). We are entering season 26 of the Survivor franchise. Rick is condidering lobbying for an Americans vs. the World series...whatdya think?
That's it folks. I am off to bed. I will be in touch with those of you that will be getting money. The rest of you, have a safe and happy holiday season. I will even be so politically incorrect as to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Until next season...
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi so that's why you didn't like me Gomez)
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Survivor Phillipines - December 12, 2012
It's night 33. Carter is gone and Abi has taken a niceness pill. She thanks everyone for keeping her around..says she is over the moon with happiness. People are not concerned with Abi though. Even the next morning they are still feeling bad about voting Carter off. He was such a nice guy, they say. Malcolm is mulling over something that Lisa said at Tribal Council. She said she would rather go to the final three with someone she could beat. "What"? Says Malcolm. "Lisa is playing strategically"? Malcolm thinks he may have to reconsider his alliance with Lisa. Abi has wandered off into the woods, announcing that she is going to get "water" but everyone knows she is going to hide her imaginary idol. No one is really buying her story any more though, judging by her relief at not being voted off last night. They reason that if she was that insecure at Tribal Council, she would have played an idol if she had one. Knowing Malcolm has an idol and is safe, Abi starts to stir up a movement to get rid of Denise. She starts by telling Lisa that she is at the bottom of her alliance of four...after Abi, goes Lisa. Lisa tells us that she doesn't trust Abi but needs to stay on her good side.
At the Reward Challenge Survivors are asked to run up a ramp then slide down the other side and into the ocean where they will collect two bundles of rings. Once they have collected both bundles they must toss the rings and try to get five of them over pegs. Skupin wins this one in a last minute shoot out with Malcolm. Of course he gets to take two people with him. He chooses Malcolm and Lisa, leaving Denise and Abi to return to camp alone. Denise is philosophical about not going...Abi, not so much. She rants and rales about being the swing vote and nobody recognizing it. Denise settles in for a long day saying she would rather hang herself or have her eyes gouged out than spend the day with Abi. Abi isn't thrilled either. Denise is a "terrible person" according to Abi who apparently is not impressed by gracious, polite women.
Skupin, Lisa and Malcolm are whisked away by helicopter to a boat in the ocean. Here they enjoy pizza, cookies and soft drinks. Apparently Skupin avoids sugar and hasn't had a soft drink in over 30 years. The pop gives him a bit of a buzz, leading Malcolm to comment that Skupin is "suddenly fun". After they eat, the trio dons snorkelling fins and masks and dives down to swim with a whale shark. The shark seems to enjoy the company, even head-butting Skupin in a good natured "give me some treats" kind of way.
Back on the boat, Malcolm begins to lobby against his staunch ally, Denise. "She hasn't betrayed anyone and none of us could beat her", she tells Lisa and Skupin. "The three of us should go to the final three together". Skupin is all over the idea and Lisa agrees, only to tell us later that she might change her mind if the deal doesn't work for her later on. Lisa, you are such an animal!!
On Day 36 Denise awakens with a firey burning on the side of her neck. The painful sensation is accompanied by what appear to be fang marks on the side of her neck (Phillipine Vampire?). Denise tells herself that she should just suck it up (no pun intended) but ends up crying while Lisa and Skupin pray for her (also works for Vampires). Abi and Malcolm look on, both obviously calculating how easy it would be if Denise just went home.
Denise recovers enough, though, to go to the Immunity Challenge and put in a respectable effort. Survivors must lay planks across two parrallel ropes to build a rope ladder. Advancing across the ladder they collect pieces of a table maze. Once they have all the pieces, they assemble the maze and roll a ball through it to win. Malcolm falls off the rope ladder and has to start over. It looks like he is out of it. But while the others struggle constructing their maze, Malcolm throws his together in record time and goes on to win. Malcolm already has an immunity idol and has to play it at the next Tribal Council. Denise asks him if he might give up the one he just won. But he declines. Privately he tells us that he dosn't have to give it to Denise because Denise is safe. Wait a minute. Didn't you say you wanted to get rid of Denise?! Abi, of course, is busy working the crowd, trying to get them to vote for Denise, rather than her. Lisa likes the idea...a lot. At Tribal Council Abi makes one more last ditch effort to change the vote by trying to tell the group that Denise is too much of a threat. When Skupin tries to talk she inexplicably interupts him and calls him an idiot, then a moron, then an idiot. Whether it was pre-arranged or a result of this last bizarre outburst, Abi is finally sent packing. I am Abi's alter ego but even I am happy to see the end of the obnoxious wench.
Sunday is the two hour season finale. Mike Skupin (Grace), Denise (Kathy and Debbie), Malcolm (Mitzie) and Lisa (Jeff) are still in the running for the grand prize. Jack, Jeff and Donna (who all voted for Malcolm to win), Roberta (who voted for Denise) and Lorelee (who voted for Skupin) still have a shot at the 20.00 secondary prize.
Until Sunday....
Outwith, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi I can't understand you people Gomez)
At the Reward Challenge Survivors are asked to run up a ramp then slide down the other side and into the ocean where they will collect two bundles of rings. Once they have collected both bundles they must toss the rings and try to get five of them over pegs. Skupin wins this one in a last minute shoot out with Malcolm. Of course he gets to take two people with him. He chooses Malcolm and Lisa, leaving Denise and Abi to return to camp alone. Denise is philosophical about not going...Abi, not so much. She rants and rales about being the swing vote and nobody recognizing it. Denise settles in for a long day saying she would rather hang herself or have her eyes gouged out than spend the day with Abi. Abi isn't thrilled either. Denise is a "terrible person" according to Abi who apparently is not impressed by gracious, polite women.
Skupin, Lisa and Malcolm are whisked away by helicopter to a boat in the ocean. Here they enjoy pizza, cookies and soft drinks. Apparently Skupin avoids sugar and hasn't had a soft drink in over 30 years. The pop gives him a bit of a buzz, leading Malcolm to comment that Skupin is "suddenly fun". After they eat, the trio dons snorkelling fins and masks and dives down to swim with a whale shark. The shark seems to enjoy the company, even head-butting Skupin in a good natured "give me some treats" kind of way.
Back on the boat, Malcolm begins to lobby against his staunch ally, Denise. "She hasn't betrayed anyone and none of us could beat her", she tells Lisa and Skupin. "The three of us should go to the final three together". Skupin is all over the idea and Lisa agrees, only to tell us later that she might change her mind if the deal doesn't work for her later on. Lisa, you are such an animal!!
On Day 36 Denise awakens with a firey burning on the side of her neck. The painful sensation is accompanied by what appear to be fang marks on the side of her neck (Phillipine Vampire?). Denise tells herself that she should just suck it up (no pun intended) but ends up crying while Lisa and Skupin pray for her (also works for Vampires). Abi and Malcolm look on, both obviously calculating how easy it would be if Denise just went home.
Denise recovers enough, though, to go to the Immunity Challenge and put in a respectable effort. Survivors must lay planks across two parrallel ropes to build a rope ladder. Advancing across the ladder they collect pieces of a table maze. Once they have all the pieces, they assemble the maze and roll a ball through it to win. Malcolm falls off the rope ladder and has to start over. It looks like he is out of it. But while the others struggle constructing their maze, Malcolm throws his together in record time and goes on to win. Malcolm already has an immunity idol and has to play it at the next Tribal Council. Denise asks him if he might give up the one he just won. But he declines. Privately he tells us that he dosn't have to give it to Denise because Denise is safe. Wait a minute. Didn't you say you wanted to get rid of Denise?! Abi, of course, is busy working the crowd, trying to get them to vote for Denise, rather than her. Lisa likes the idea...a lot. At Tribal Council Abi makes one more last ditch effort to change the vote by trying to tell the group that Denise is too much of a threat. When Skupin tries to talk she inexplicably interupts him and calls him an idiot, then a moron, then an idiot. Whether it was pre-arranged or a result of this last bizarre outburst, Abi is finally sent packing. I am Abi's alter ego but even I am happy to see the end of the obnoxious wench.
Sunday is the two hour season finale. Mike Skupin (Grace), Denise (Kathy and Debbie), Malcolm (Mitzie) and Lisa (Jeff) are still in the running for the grand prize. Jack, Jeff and Donna (who all voted for Malcolm to win), Roberta (who voted for Denise) and Lorelee (who voted for Skupin) still have a shot at the 20.00 secondary prize.
Until Sunday....
Outwith, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi I can't understand you people Gomez)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Survivor Phillipines - Dec 5/12
I'm typing this to a background of the movie Black Christmas. If I suddenly disappear, look in the attic. I'll be the one wrapped in a dry cleaning bag. Now on with the update.
It's Night 30 in Survivorland. Penner has joined the jury. Abi talks to Carter and asks him how he feels about the alliance that he isn't a part of. She goes on pretending that she has an immunity idol and privately asks "who will they choose...a guy from Kansas or a girl from Brazil that no one likes because she is too honest?". Right Abi. It's only your honesty that is standing in the way of a big group hug. While Abi tries to stir a fire under Carter, Lisa is realizing that Malcolm is playing the game brilliantly. For her part, she knows that going to the end with Malcolm and Denise is not great strategy, but if she betrays them her poor little head is going to explode. Actually Lisa didn't say that, that was me.
Day 31 brings a reward challenge and it turns out to be the tear jerking, gut wrenching, snot inducing loved ones challenge. Skupin's son Mike is there. So is Lisa's brother Justice and Malcolm's brother Miles. Denise is overjoyed to see her husband and they have even flown Abi's bewildered mother in from Brazil. Lisa wins the All Time Survivor Break Down Award for her hysterical sobbing when she sees her brother. The challenge involves the Survivor throwing bags soaked in mud to their loved one. The loved one must then toss the bag and knock over six wooden pegs balanced on a platform. Someone forgot to translate the rules into Portugese for Abi's mom because she doesn't seem to understand that she is supposed to catch the bag, not avoid it. Malcolm and his brother Miles win the challenge, meaning that Miles gets to go back to camp with Malcolm for the afternoon and over night. Of course Malcolm gets to pick two other pairs to share the reward. He picks Skupin and his son, and Lisa and her brother. His choice, he tells us, is strategic...to reward those who stayed loyal to he and Denise at the last vote.
At camp Lisa's brother is very interested in her strategy (m'thinks he REALLY wanted to do Survivor and probably shook his head when they picked his straight-up sister). Nonetheless, brother Justice has advice for Lisa. Get rid of Malcolm. "But, but I gave him my word", she splutters. "If he is a game player he might respect you for it", responds Justice. Lisa is ecstatic. She has permission to lie...on Survivor. How "on the edge" is that? From this point forward everyone is going to want to do it. A perceptive Malcolm is watching Lisa and her brother and is correctly analysing what is going on. Lisa's bro has snapped her back to her senses.
The immunity challenge involves running across a balance beam to a platform in the water. They must use a hook to snare three underwater bags. In each of these bags are pieces of rope and a bundle of sticks. Back on shore they must assemble a stick long enough, and sturdy enough, to knock over a target. Malcolm wins immunity which tops up the immunity idol he already has. Looks like Malcolm has a firm hold on at least the final four. While Malcolm is happy Lisa is less so. Just when she got herself all psyched up to play dirty, Malcolm wins immunity and ruins her plans.
Now, of course, all eyes turn to Abi and Carter. They are both outside of the alliance of four. People like Carter and keeping him would fit with their goal of keeping people who deserve to be there, while getting rid of Annoying Abi. On the other hand, practical considerations must also be considered. No body, no how is going to vote for Abi if she goes to the final three. Carter walks up on a discussion between Lisa and Mike and asks them, if they respect the game, to keep him. All the while Abi is running around talking about her phantom immunity idol...even heading off into the woods to retrieve a pretend idol from a pretend hiding spot. Abi also has another go at mouthing off and annoying everyone, leading Malcolm to tell us that she is like one of the Dementors from Harry Potter and that if she goes home tonight it is because she is a bitch. Lets not beat around the bush Malcolm. Mike says that Abi has every known psychiatric condition all rolled into one.
At Tribal Council, Carter tells the group that he doesn't deserve to go. Still, it is Carter who will be joining the jury. With Carter goes Georgia from our pool thereby seriously curtailing Georgia's Christmas shopping plans. Sorry about that Georgia. We have five Survivors left. Abi has another week to become loveable. Malcolm has another week to to become more gorgeous, Lisa has another week to determine God's will. I have another week to figure out another word for "meanwhile". Until then...
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi why don't you lying untrustworthy losers like me Gomez)
It's Night 30 in Survivorland. Penner has joined the jury. Abi talks to Carter and asks him how he feels about the alliance that he isn't a part of. She goes on pretending that she has an immunity idol and privately asks "who will they choose...a guy from Kansas or a girl from Brazil that no one likes because she is too honest?". Right Abi. It's only your honesty that is standing in the way of a big group hug. While Abi tries to stir a fire under Carter, Lisa is realizing that Malcolm is playing the game brilliantly. For her part, she knows that going to the end with Malcolm and Denise is not great strategy, but if she betrays them her poor little head is going to explode. Actually Lisa didn't say that, that was me.
Day 31 brings a reward challenge and it turns out to be the tear jerking, gut wrenching, snot inducing loved ones challenge. Skupin's son Mike is there. So is Lisa's brother Justice and Malcolm's brother Miles. Denise is overjoyed to see her husband and they have even flown Abi's bewildered mother in from Brazil. Lisa wins the All Time Survivor Break Down Award for her hysterical sobbing when she sees her brother. The challenge involves the Survivor throwing bags soaked in mud to their loved one. The loved one must then toss the bag and knock over six wooden pegs balanced on a platform. Someone forgot to translate the rules into Portugese for Abi's mom because she doesn't seem to understand that she is supposed to catch the bag, not avoid it. Malcolm and his brother Miles win the challenge, meaning that Miles gets to go back to camp with Malcolm for the afternoon and over night. Of course Malcolm gets to pick two other pairs to share the reward. He picks Skupin and his son, and Lisa and her brother. His choice, he tells us, is strategic...to reward those who stayed loyal to he and Denise at the last vote.
At camp Lisa's brother is very interested in her strategy (m'thinks he REALLY wanted to do Survivor and probably shook his head when they picked his straight-up sister). Nonetheless, brother Justice has advice for Lisa. Get rid of Malcolm. "But, but I gave him my word", she splutters. "If he is a game player he might respect you for it", responds Justice. Lisa is ecstatic. She has permission to lie...on Survivor. How "on the edge" is that? From this point forward everyone is going to want to do it. A perceptive Malcolm is watching Lisa and her brother and is correctly analysing what is going on. Lisa's bro has snapped her back to her senses.
The immunity challenge involves running across a balance beam to a platform in the water. They must use a hook to snare three underwater bags. In each of these bags are pieces of rope and a bundle of sticks. Back on shore they must assemble a stick long enough, and sturdy enough, to knock over a target. Malcolm wins immunity which tops up the immunity idol he already has. Looks like Malcolm has a firm hold on at least the final four. While Malcolm is happy Lisa is less so. Just when she got herself all psyched up to play dirty, Malcolm wins immunity and ruins her plans.
Now, of course, all eyes turn to Abi and Carter. They are both outside of the alliance of four. People like Carter and keeping him would fit with their goal of keeping people who deserve to be there, while getting rid of Annoying Abi. On the other hand, practical considerations must also be considered. No body, no how is going to vote for Abi if she goes to the final three. Carter walks up on a discussion between Lisa and Mike and asks them, if they respect the game, to keep him. All the while Abi is running around talking about her phantom immunity idol...even heading off into the woods to retrieve a pretend idol from a pretend hiding spot. Abi also has another go at mouthing off and annoying everyone, leading Malcolm to tell us that she is like one of the Dementors from Harry Potter and that if she goes home tonight it is because she is a bitch. Lets not beat around the bush Malcolm. Mike says that Abi has every known psychiatric condition all rolled into one.
At Tribal Council, Carter tells the group that he doesn't deserve to go. Still, it is Carter who will be joining the jury. With Carter goes Georgia from our pool thereby seriously curtailing Georgia's Christmas shopping plans. Sorry about that Georgia. We have five Survivors left. Abi has another week to become loveable. Malcolm has another week to to become more gorgeous, Lisa has another week to determine God's will. I have another week to figure out another word for "meanwhile". Until then...
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi why don't you lying untrustworthy losers like me Gomez)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Survivor Phillipines - November 28/12
Our Survivors are back at camp having sent Pete to the jury. Abi is bitter about her treatment at Tribal Council but Denise has little sympathy. Unless Abi wins immunity she is the next to go. Abi is still smarting when she and Malcolm go to collect tree mail. She begins to cry, and Malcolm feels his heart going out to her. He ends up giving her a hug telling us that, last night, the truck ran over Abi then backed up and ran over her again. *Editors note: could we just crank up that Mac truck one more time...for me?
The reward challenge involves bidding on food. Each Survivor starts with 500.00 .Dimples uncovers the first plate and Denise immediately bids her entire $500.00 on the pancakes, bacon, maple syrup and OJ. Skupin bids all of his money on a plate of crackers and cheese and a glass of wine (Skupin doesn't drink - WTF!). Malcolm buys iced coffee and donuts and Penner gets a bargain, spending $100.00 on a mystery plate that turns out to be fried chicken and fries. Carter buys another covered dish for $200.00 which turns out to be a baked potato with all the fixin's. There is a twist on this one though, in that Carter can keep the potato or trade it for a bag each of rice and beans for the tribe. Carter selects the rice and beans, earning several attaboys from his tribe mates. Lisa spends $320.00 on two subs and a coke. When Dimples announces that the next item is an advantage in the next challenge, Abi wastes no time in bidding her full $500.00 wad - this is exactly what she was hoping for. The last item is another covered item purchased by Carter. Again it turns out to be a purchase that benefits the tribe - a veal shank. The entire tribe gets to share it and they have 60 seconds to eat as much as they can. And so the auction ends with Carter earning his tribe more food.
They return to camp with joy in their hearts and veal hanging from their teeth. The exuberant mood is dampened, though, when Abi demands that Penner apologize for being mean to her at Tribal Council. Penner makes an apology of sorts, but tells us that the more toxic Abi is, the better it is for him. Abi tells us that others will have to start to work with her now, since they don't know what "advantage" she purchased at the auction. When she reads the note it tells her that she has won a free entry into the final round of the next immunity challenge. Given Abi's none-existant to poor performance at challenges, this is hardly a gimme. However, Abi decides to try to trick her tribe mates into believing she has found another idol. She wanders around all day, then tells Malcolm that she isn't going home and that she has an idol. "You guys are going to have to make some decisions", she tells him. Malcolm says that Abi is like the girlfriend that you have broken up with, who won't leave.
The Immunity Challenge is a three parter and Abi gets to sit out the first two parts (as she has sat out virtually every challenge to date). Before the challenge begins, Dimples asks her to read the paper that she purchased in the auction. She says it is a two part note and that she is only obligate to read the first part. She tells them she has won a bye into the final round of the challenge. She then quickly tears up the note, implying that there is something there she doesn't want them to know. If I were Dimples I would have blown her cover, but Dimples never lets on that there is no second part to the note.
For the challenge Survivors wear a belt attached to a rope. The rope is wound around a balance beam type of thing. They have to move over and under the beam to reach the end of the rope. At the beginning of each round they are asked a question. An incorrect answer means that they have to carry 5% of their body weight during the challenge. In spite of carrying some extra weight, Denise wins the first round. She, Carter, Skupin, Malcolm and Penner all move on. Round two involves a three dimensional maze that they must follow their rope through and around. Denise now carries 10% of her body weight, while Carter and Skupin carry 5%. Penner and Carter win this round and join Abi for the third and final round. This round is less physical and involves untying knots to move through a course. In some sort of weird freakish distortion of the natural order, Abi wins. Malcolm tells us that hell has frozen over and Abi has won a challenge. But, unlike the others who were counting on getting rid of Abi, he isn't really that upset. This gives him the perfect opportunity to get rid of Penner, who he considers a much greater threat.
Abi's win has a much more profound effect on Lisa. Because Penner is now the target, Lisa is stricken. She has an alliance with Denise and Malcolm, but she really likes Penner. She and Penner go for a walk and she tells him her conundrum. "I've been told to write down your name", she says. "Well what are we going to do about it?" asks Penner. "Work your magic", says Lisa, "because I really want to go to the final three with you".
Penner does his best. He sees his earlier error in not agreeing earlier to ally with Lisa, Denise and Malcolm. He tries to start a movement to oust Denise. Skupin becomes the swing vote. But when the votes are counted, Penner's last minute push has failed and he is heading (somewhat ungraciously) over to the jury. Too bad, as your faithful scribe had become kind of fond of Penner, whose voice sounded just like Hawkeye on the old MASH shows. With Jonathan Penner goes Jack from our pool. With the closing music from MASH playing in my head we wave goodbye to Jack. No one voted for Penner to win so Jack is alone in his misery.
until next week..
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi Marie I can't understand why you all hate me Gomez)
The reward challenge involves bidding on food. Each Survivor starts with 500.00 .Dimples uncovers the first plate and Denise immediately bids her entire $500.00 on the pancakes, bacon, maple syrup and OJ. Skupin bids all of his money on a plate of crackers and cheese and a glass of wine (Skupin doesn't drink - WTF!). Malcolm buys iced coffee and donuts and Penner gets a bargain, spending $100.00 on a mystery plate that turns out to be fried chicken and fries. Carter buys another covered dish for $200.00 which turns out to be a baked potato with all the fixin's. There is a twist on this one though, in that Carter can keep the potato or trade it for a bag each of rice and beans for the tribe. Carter selects the rice and beans, earning several attaboys from his tribe mates. Lisa spends $320.00 on two subs and a coke. When Dimples announces that the next item is an advantage in the next challenge, Abi wastes no time in bidding her full $500.00 wad - this is exactly what she was hoping for. The last item is another covered item purchased by Carter. Again it turns out to be a purchase that benefits the tribe - a veal shank. The entire tribe gets to share it and they have 60 seconds to eat as much as they can. And so the auction ends with Carter earning his tribe more food.
They return to camp with joy in their hearts and veal hanging from their teeth. The exuberant mood is dampened, though, when Abi demands that Penner apologize for being mean to her at Tribal Council. Penner makes an apology of sorts, but tells us that the more toxic Abi is, the better it is for him. Abi tells us that others will have to start to work with her now, since they don't know what "advantage" she purchased at the auction. When she reads the note it tells her that she has won a free entry into the final round of the next immunity challenge. Given Abi's none-existant to poor performance at challenges, this is hardly a gimme. However, Abi decides to try to trick her tribe mates into believing she has found another idol. She wanders around all day, then tells Malcolm that she isn't going home and that she has an idol. "You guys are going to have to make some decisions", she tells him. Malcolm says that Abi is like the girlfriend that you have broken up with, who won't leave.
The Immunity Challenge is a three parter and Abi gets to sit out the first two parts (as she has sat out virtually every challenge to date). Before the challenge begins, Dimples asks her to read the paper that she purchased in the auction. She says it is a two part note and that she is only obligate to read the first part. She tells them she has won a bye into the final round of the challenge. She then quickly tears up the note, implying that there is something there she doesn't want them to know. If I were Dimples I would have blown her cover, but Dimples never lets on that there is no second part to the note.
For the challenge Survivors wear a belt attached to a rope. The rope is wound around a balance beam type of thing. They have to move over and under the beam to reach the end of the rope. At the beginning of each round they are asked a question. An incorrect answer means that they have to carry 5% of their body weight during the challenge. In spite of carrying some extra weight, Denise wins the first round. She, Carter, Skupin, Malcolm and Penner all move on. Round two involves a three dimensional maze that they must follow their rope through and around. Denise now carries 10% of her body weight, while Carter and Skupin carry 5%. Penner and Carter win this round and join Abi for the third and final round. This round is less physical and involves untying knots to move through a course. In some sort of weird freakish distortion of the natural order, Abi wins. Malcolm tells us that hell has frozen over and Abi has won a challenge. But, unlike the others who were counting on getting rid of Abi, he isn't really that upset. This gives him the perfect opportunity to get rid of Penner, who he considers a much greater threat.
Abi's win has a much more profound effect on Lisa. Because Penner is now the target, Lisa is stricken. She has an alliance with Denise and Malcolm, but she really likes Penner. She and Penner go for a walk and she tells him her conundrum. "I've been told to write down your name", she says. "Well what are we going to do about it?" asks Penner. "Work your magic", says Lisa, "because I really want to go to the final three with you".
Penner does his best. He sees his earlier error in not agreeing earlier to ally with Lisa, Denise and Malcolm. He tries to start a movement to oust Denise. Skupin becomes the swing vote. But when the votes are counted, Penner's last minute push has failed and he is heading (somewhat ungraciously) over to the jury. Too bad, as your faithful scribe had become kind of fond of Penner, whose voice sounded just like Hawkeye on the old MASH shows. With Jonathan Penner goes Jack from our pool. With the closing music from MASH playing in my head we wave goodbye to Jack. No one voted for Penner to win so Jack is alone in his misery.
until next week..
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi Marie I can't understand why you all hate me Gomez)
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Survivor Phillipines - November 21/12
You know I'm dedicated to the cause when, driving home from my class this evening I come across and overturned vehicle and my first thought is, "crap, I'm going to miss the beginning of Survivor". However, all five of the young occupants were in good health, the police were on their way and no one was in imminent danger of frost bite. I judged that it was safe to move on. They wanted me to drive them home, but I persuaded them that they really should stay with the vehicle since the next car to come along would be digging in the snow trying to see if anyone was pinned in the vehicle. They agreed that perhaps it would be a good idea to stay until the police came. Whew, Survivor crisis averted.
As we rejoin our intrepid band of Survivors, Artis has joined the jury and Abi and Pete are trying to think of a new strategy. Abi seems shocked that the former Tandang hasn't stood firm. Puleeez.
The next morning Abi has a chat with Lisa who tells her that she never waivered from their alliance but is hurt that she was not trusted. Privately Lisa tells us that breaking up is hard to do and that she has lived a lifetime where it feels comfortable to be used. Not any more though. Lisa is preparing to take control of her own destiny and is feeling a new pride in herself.
Dimples has planned a little Reward Challenge for the group. there are three circles, each with two drums, one red and one yellow. One member from each of the red and yellow teams must run about flipping drums. The tribe to get all three of their drums upright at the same time score a point. The first team to score four points wins reward. There is a lot of flipping and running, running a flipping. Abi (competing in her second challenge ever I think) doesn't really know the rules and flips over her own drum. Even that doesn't guarantee defeat though, since Skupin does the same thing, bringing defeat to Team Yellow. The result is that Carter, Malcolm, Pete and Abi get to go to have a spa day with baths, massages, umbrella drinks and a feast of beef, chicken and calimari. Mike, Penner, Denise, Malcolm and Lisa have to go back to camp dirty and hungry.
As the young punks are enjoying their reward, Malcolm suggests that they put the game aside and just enjoy the moment. It's strategic, he tells us later. All the people that he wants to go to the final four with are back at camp. Pete agrees that not talking game is a good idea. He needs time to think things through. He is fit and smart so the extra food can only help his chances of surviving a while longer.
Team Red arrives back at camp with a Pantene shine to their hair and a telltale bulge to their bellies. Now Survivor etiquette suggests that reward winners should downplay the wonderfullness of their reward for the sake of those who didn't get to go. But not my Abi! No. Uh uh. She goes on..and on...and on, leading Malcolm to comment that she has all the social grace of a Mac truck. But Abi isn't quite done yet. She stretches out on her bed and announces that she is done cooking for the rest of her time there. She has cooked for 26 days and now is done. Oh yes, she still wants to eat. She is just done cooking. (Oh God. Let me at her!!).
While Abi is making friends and influencing people, Malcolm is trying to cement his final four. He wants Mike Skupin, Lisa, Denise and himself to take it to the end. Mike is all for the deal but Lisa hesistates. She trusts Penner more than she trusts Malcolm. However, when Lisa and Mike pitch the idea of final four to Penner he balks. "Its too early", says Penner. Lisa, on the other hand, thinks that Penner has missed an opportunity. As a result, the next shot sees Mike, Lisa , Denise and Malcolm shaking hands on a deal to go to the final four together. Privately Mike tells us that he is uncertain about the deal but felt that he couldn't refuse. Malcolm is too much of a "gamer" to be trusted. The only sure way to be secure is to win immunity.
Speaking of immunity...how about we do a challenge? This is a three parter. The first part involves sliding a buoy attached to a rope that winds around some hurdle type things. The first five to complete this move on to round two where the buoy must follow a rope wound around a balance beam. Skupin, Carter and Denise move on to the final round where the rope and buoy are wound around a boat. This is a tough one involving much jumping into and out of the boat, along with a neighbouring dock. In the end Carter wins immunity by a narrow margin over Mike Skupin.
So the final pre-Tribal Council strategizing begins. Penner floats a plan to split the votes and either get rid of Abi or her idol. In a last ditch effort to save themselves Pete and Abi try to turn everyone on Mighty Malcolm. Lisa and Denise are firm but Mike gives the idea serious consideration.
At Tribal Council Dimples is brutal with Abi. Denise tells her she is abrasive and unliked. By the end she is in tears and even your hard hearted scribe is feeling a little sorry for her. But she plays her idol, ensuring we will have another week to get over our sympathy for her. When the votes are tablulated, and Abi's are subtracted, it comes down to Pete and Malcolm. Malcolm looks edgy since, you will recall, he also has an idol that he opted not to play. However, it is Pete who is joining the jury, and, with him, Cheryl from our pool. Cheryl also voted for Pete to win so she is in double despair this evening.
We are now down to seven Survivors. Denise (Kathy and Debbie), Malcolm (Mitzie), Abi (Pat and Barb), Mike (Grace), Carter (Georgia), Penner (Jack) and Lisa (Jeff). Who will be the next to go? I'll let ya know next week! Until then...
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi I'm a *#@* princess Gomez)
As we rejoin our intrepid band of Survivors, Artis has joined the jury and Abi and Pete are trying to think of a new strategy. Abi seems shocked that the former Tandang hasn't stood firm. Puleeez.
The next morning Abi has a chat with Lisa who tells her that she never waivered from their alliance but is hurt that she was not trusted. Privately Lisa tells us that breaking up is hard to do and that she has lived a lifetime where it feels comfortable to be used. Not any more though. Lisa is preparing to take control of her own destiny and is feeling a new pride in herself.
Dimples has planned a little Reward Challenge for the group. there are three circles, each with two drums, one red and one yellow. One member from each of the red and yellow teams must run about flipping drums. The tribe to get all three of their drums upright at the same time score a point. The first team to score four points wins reward. There is a lot of flipping and running, running a flipping. Abi (competing in her second challenge ever I think) doesn't really know the rules and flips over her own drum. Even that doesn't guarantee defeat though, since Skupin does the same thing, bringing defeat to Team Yellow. The result is that Carter, Malcolm, Pete and Abi get to go to have a spa day with baths, massages, umbrella drinks and a feast of beef, chicken and calimari. Mike, Penner, Denise, Malcolm and Lisa have to go back to camp dirty and hungry.
As the young punks are enjoying their reward, Malcolm suggests that they put the game aside and just enjoy the moment. It's strategic, he tells us later. All the people that he wants to go to the final four with are back at camp. Pete agrees that not talking game is a good idea. He needs time to think things through. He is fit and smart so the extra food can only help his chances of surviving a while longer.
Team Red arrives back at camp with a Pantene shine to their hair and a telltale bulge to their bellies. Now Survivor etiquette suggests that reward winners should downplay the wonderfullness of their reward for the sake of those who didn't get to go. But not my Abi! No. Uh uh. She goes on..and on...and on, leading Malcolm to comment that she has all the social grace of a Mac truck. But Abi isn't quite done yet. She stretches out on her bed and announces that she is done cooking for the rest of her time there. She has cooked for 26 days and now is done. Oh yes, she still wants to eat. She is just done cooking. (Oh God. Let me at her!!).
While Abi is making friends and influencing people, Malcolm is trying to cement his final four. He wants Mike Skupin, Lisa, Denise and himself to take it to the end. Mike is all for the deal but Lisa hesistates. She trusts Penner more than she trusts Malcolm. However, when Lisa and Mike pitch the idea of final four to Penner he balks. "Its too early", says Penner. Lisa, on the other hand, thinks that Penner has missed an opportunity. As a result, the next shot sees Mike, Lisa , Denise and Malcolm shaking hands on a deal to go to the final four together. Privately Mike tells us that he is uncertain about the deal but felt that he couldn't refuse. Malcolm is too much of a "gamer" to be trusted. The only sure way to be secure is to win immunity.
Speaking of immunity...how about we do a challenge? This is a three parter. The first part involves sliding a buoy attached to a rope that winds around some hurdle type things. The first five to complete this move on to round two where the buoy must follow a rope wound around a balance beam. Skupin, Carter and Denise move on to the final round where the rope and buoy are wound around a boat. This is a tough one involving much jumping into and out of the boat, along with a neighbouring dock. In the end Carter wins immunity by a narrow margin over Mike Skupin.
So the final pre-Tribal Council strategizing begins. Penner floats a plan to split the votes and either get rid of Abi or her idol. In a last ditch effort to save themselves Pete and Abi try to turn everyone on Mighty Malcolm. Lisa and Denise are firm but Mike gives the idea serious consideration.
At Tribal Council Dimples is brutal with Abi. Denise tells her she is abrasive and unliked. By the end she is in tears and even your hard hearted scribe is feeling a little sorry for her. But she plays her idol, ensuring we will have another week to get over our sympathy for her. When the votes are tablulated, and Abi's are subtracted, it comes down to Pete and Malcolm. Malcolm looks edgy since, you will recall, he also has an idol that he opted not to play. However, it is Pete who is joining the jury, and, with him, Cheryl from our pool. Cheryl also voted for Pete to win so she is in double despair this evening.
We are now down to seven Survivors. Denise (Kathy and Debbie), Malcolm (Mitzie), Abi (Pat and Barb), Mike (Grace), Carter (Georgia), Penner (Jack) and Lisa (Jeff). Who will be the next to go? I'll let ya know next week! Until then...
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi I'm a *#@* princess Gomez)
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Survivor Phillipines - November 14/12
Thank you Donna, for doing the update.
Well, there is no Saskatchewan Roughrider football and so without anything else to do, Pat has given me the daunting task of doing the Survivor review. How does one follow up after such a tough act? Pat does them so well! Anyway, mine will be more factual but at the very least I will try to summarize it all. Pat please feel free to edit and forward on to the group!
We begin at Night 22 after the last tribal council. There’s the usual gibber jabber about who voted for whom but at one point Penner realized there really was ‘no plan’… he screwed it up by voting for Abi! Abi, needless to say, wasn’t happy, but then I don’t find Abi very happy any of the time anyway.
Lisa and Malcolm talked and made up. Big hugs all around a warm and fuzzy moment. He realized she was just doing her best to ‘play the game’.
On the morning of Day 23 Penner is still worrying about being the next to go home. He recognized that there are a lot of crack in the alliance though. His plan is to play on divisions and get in with Lisa and Mike. So, he shmoozes Lisa to get into psyche. He tells her all about her ‘trying to please’ ways and why she is the way she is and he comments that it’s his business to know these things about people. He comments to her that she is a ‘pleaser’, avoiding confrontation, being loyal and just generally trying to place people and be a good person. There are more hugs… more warm and fuzzy moments.
The challenge consists of two teams. Team Yellow is Skupin, Artis, Lisa and Pete, Team Red is Denise, Malcolm, Penner and Carter. Nobody chose Abi so she sat on the sideline, looking miserable, no reward for her!
Each team must crawl through mud, over an A-frame finding bags of balls hidden in the mud, then through a sandbox size container of rice (all I kept thinking is why don’t they stash some for lunch?) But I digress. Anyway, the 1st team to gather all the bags of balls, 12 in total, and sink them in a metal ‘basket’ wins reward. It’s a Give and Receive reward. Survivors go to a local village to bring school supplies and toys for the kids. In return the villagers will cook them a feast.
Penner is the first up for the Red and Skupin for the yellow. Penner gets to the mud pit and digs up all the bags of balls for everyone, so they don’t have to dig themselves. He takes one bag and completes the course behind Skupin. However, since he’s dug up all the bags of balls the other members of his team fly through the course and they end up with a huge lead. The yellow team does make an effort to catch them, but in the end it’s Red that wins reward.
The winning Survivors go to the local village where they are met by all sorts of happy children. Malcolm has discovered something that is missing in life. “Why am I pouring drinks for young women, when I so enjoy working with children?” Apparently he taught English in Micronesia for a year. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing him as a bartender! More warm and fuzzy moments.. it kind of was a warm and fuzzy show tonight.
While at the village of course some strategy was discussed. The plan was to try to get Skupin and Lisa to join forces with Denise, Carter, Johnathan and Malcolm. Penner talks to Lisa and says he isn’t trying to get into her head… but really.. he tries to get into her head. Why is she in an alliance with people who don’t trust her, come over to the dark side.. he tells her. Change the game, make it your game, that’s what the audience wants to see.
Meanwhile.. after one of Abi’s rants to Lisa about disloyalty, the next words out of her mouth are that still want to get her and Skupin to stay with Abi, Artis and Pete. But then they say they don’t trust her, Abi does need to learn to shut up and as Artis said, she’s a loose cannon.
The Immunity challenge is to roll a ball, one at a time, down the end of a paddle to the end where there are six divits for the ball to rest in. The idea is to get the ball to rest on the paddle in one of the divits. First person to have 6 balls secure on their paddle wins immunity. At first it didn’t look like anybody was going to get this, then all of a sudden Skupin has 1, then 2… 3 and 4 quickly. Peter runs a close second, but loses a few and in the end Skupin wins immunity.
With the vote comes more discussions of course. Johnathan feels that they need to ‘break up Tandang’ and that hinges on if he can convince Lisa and SKupin to flip. He talks to Lisa to flip and get rid of either Artis, Pete or Abi. Then Lisa and Skupin talk. Skupin brings up a couple of good points. Who do you go further with? And who would you rather play the game with? During that conversation it seems like they are both convinced, but due to clever editing we never really know, do we?
At tribal council Denise said that big moves come at any point in the game and it naïve to sit comfortably with your perceived numbers thinking that everyone is on board. Abi confesses that she is not sure about Lisa at this point, she’s afraid Lisa will flip. At that point it’s time to vote. After everyone has voted in a 5-4 decision, it’s ARTIS who goes home, and with Artis goes one of our own, but because I don’t have the list handy I have no clue who that is. Whoever it is stand up and wave or something. (Editor-on-vacation's note: That would be Rick who is leaving the pool this evening.)
Ironic thing is, Lisa did not flip on Artis, it was Skupin who joined forces with Penner, Malcolm, Carter and Denise! Lisa better get on board with them cause that other ship is sinking!
Until next time, what does Pat say??? Oh ya.. outwit, outlast, outplay
Donna (a.k.a. Sarah, I know my baseball players, but don’t know when to keep my mouth shut, Dawson)
Well, there is no Saskatchewan Roughrider football and so without anything else to do, Pat has given me the daunting task of doing the Survivor review. How does one follow up after such a tough act? Pat does them so well! Anyway, mine will be more factual but at the very least I will try to summarize it all. Pat please feel free to edit and forward on to the group!
We begin at Night 22 after the last tribal council. There’s the usual gibber jabber about who voted for whom but at one point Penner realized there really was ‘no plan’… he screwed it up by voting for Abi! Abi, needless to say, wasn’t happy, but then I don’t find Abi very happy any of the time anyway.
Lisa and Malcolm talked and made up. Big hugs all around a warm and fuzzy moment. He realized she was just doing her best to ‘play the game’.
On the morning of Day 23 Penner is still worrying about being the next to go home. He recognized that there are a lot of crack in the alliance though. His plan is to play on divisions and get in with Lisa and Mike. So, he shmoozes Lisa to get into psyche. He tells her all about her ‘trying to please’ ways and why she is the way she is and he comments that it’s his business to know these things about people. He comments to her that she is a ‘pleaser’, avoiding confrontation, being loyal and just generally trying to place people and be a good person. There are more hugs… more warm and fuzzy moments.
The challenge consists of two teams. Team Yellow is Skupin, Artis, Lisa and Pete, Team Red is Denise, Malcolm, Penner and Carter. Nobody chose Abi so she sat on the sideline, looking miserable, no reward for her!
Each team must crawl through mud, over an A-frame finding bags of balls hidden in the mud, then through a sandbox size container of rice (all I kept thinking is why don’t they stash some for lunch?) But I digress. Anyway, the 1st team to gather all the bags of balls, 12 in total, and sink them in a metal ‘basket’ wins reward. It’s a Give and Receive reward. Survivors go to a local village to bring school supplies and toys for the kids. In return the villagers will cook them a feast.
Penner is the first up for the Red and Skupin for the yellow. Penner gets to the mud pit and digs up all the bags of balls for everyone, so they don’t have to dig themselves. He takes one bag and completes the course behind Skupin. However, since he’s dug up all the bags of balls the other members of his team fly through the course and they end up with a huge lead. The yellow team does make an effort to catch them, but in the end it’s Red that wins reward.
The winning Survivors go to the local village where they are met by all sorts of happy children. Malcolm has discovered something that is missing in life. “Why am I pouring drinks for young women, when I so enjoy working with children?” Apparently he taught English in Micronesia for a year. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing him as a bartender! More warm and fuzzy moments.. it kind of was a warm and fuzzy show tonight.
While at the village of course some strategy was discussed. The plan was to try to get Skupin and Lisa to join forces with Denise, Carter, Johnathan and Malcolm. Penner talks to Lisa and says he isn’t trying to get into her head… but really.. he tries to get into her head. Why is she in an alliance with people who don’t trust her, come over to the dark side.. he tells her. Change the game, make it your game, that’s what the audience wants to see.
Meanwhile.. after one of Abi’s rants to Lisa about disloyalty, the next words out of her mouth are that still want to get her and Skupin to stay with Abi, Artis and Pete. But then they say they don’t trust her, Abi does need to learn to shut up and as Artis said, she’s a loose cannon.
The Immunity challenge is to roll a ball, one at a time, down the end of a paddle to the end where there are six divits for the ball to rest in. The idea is to get the ball to rest on the paddle in one of the divits. First person to have 6 balls secure on their paddle wins immunity. At first it didn’t look like anybody was going to get this, then all of a sudden Skupin has 1, then 2… 3 and 4 quickly. Peter runs a close second, but loses a few and in the end Skupin wins immunity.
With the vote comes more discussions of course. Johnathan feels that they need to ‘break up Tandang’ and that hinges on if he can convince Lisa and SKupin to flip. He talks to Lisa to flip and get rid of either Artis, Pete or Abi. Then Lisa and Skupin talk. Skupin brings up a couple of good points. Who do you go further with? And who would you rather play the game with? During that conversation it seems like they are both convinced, but due to clever editing we never really know, do we?
At tribal council Denise said that big moves come at any point in the game and it naïve to sit comfortably with your perceived numbers thinking that everyone is on board. Abi confesses that she is not sure about Lisa at this point, she’s afraid Lisa will flip. At that point it’s time to vote. After everyone has voted in a 5-4 decision, it’s ARTIS who goes home, and with Artis goes one of our own, but because I don’t have the list handy I have no clue who that is. Whoever it is stand up and wave or something. (Editor-on-vacation's note: That would be Rick who is leaving the pool this evening.)
Ironic thing is, Lisa did not flip on Artis, it was Skupin who joined forces with Penner, Malcolm, Carter and Denise! Lisa better get on board with them cause that other ship is sinking!
Until next time, what does Pat say??? Oh ya.. outwit, outlast, outplay
Donna (a.k.a. Sarah, I know my baseball players, but don’t know when to keep my mouth shut, Dawson)
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Survivor Phillipines - Nov. 7/12
Night 19. RC has moved on to do jury duty and Penner is pissed that (but for playing the idol) he would have been gone, Jeff is still gunning for Penner who is not yet resigned to going home, but does think he might have to climb in the back seat for a while and put a blanket over his head. He no longer has any allegiances.
The next morning Penner goes out fishing and the anti-Penner scheming continues. Lisa is still feeling her allegiance to the old Tandang tribe and feels Penner should go next, followed by Mike, then "the three that no one likes", namely Peter, Abi and Artis (editors note: Abi is my girl and I voted for Artis to win...SOMEBODY STILL LOVES YOU GUYS!). Jeff isn't one of them though. He thinks it would be fun to split up the Abi/ Peter/Artis trio.
For the reward challenge, the tribe is randomly split into two teams. I say the split is random, but really it appears to be nice people vs not so nice people (with apologies to Carter who seems to have no personality at all). Team members take turns running into the water and swimming out to a submerged fish trap. They must unhook the trap and signal the other team members to pull them to shore with the trap. Once they have collected all four traps, another tribe member must dig in the sand to locate a key. The key opens a box. I never did really figure out what was in the box, but ultimately they must pull 8 banners out of the fish traps and put them together to make a design. Lisa slows her team down and it looks like their cause is lost. However, Mike can't find his team's final fish trap and while he is looking for it a powerhouse Denise front crawls her way to team victory. As a result, Mike, Abi, Peter, Artis and Carter head back to camp, while Lisa, Penner, Denise, Malcolm and Jeff head off on a river cruise. The mood is very upbeat. Not only do they have all kinds of great food, but everyone seems to agree that this is a great group of people. Lisa feels like a good vs evil dynamic is beginning to appear and Penner takes advantage of it by trying to turn the cruisers attention away from him and onto Pete, Abi and Artis.
At camp Abi is shooting off her mouth again. Even Pete concedes that he would like to get rid of her (noooooooo) but knows she is a fabulous person to take to the final three since no one ever, anywhere, in any galaxy, will vote for her.
Once the cruisers return from their trip, Lisa floats a plan by Mike. She tells Mike that Malcolm has an immunity idol. If they can organize a 5-4 alliance, they can blindside Malcolm, a powerful player, and get the idol out of play at the same time. Penner arrives during this conversation and is on-side, but knows he still needs to win immunity to ensure his survival. Unfortunately Penner has never won an individual immunity challenge so the cards are stacked against him.
Well, speaking of Immunity Challenges, here comes one now. Survivors must climb under and over wooden bars and untie knots to release bags of puzzle pieces. The first three to collect their puzzle pieces move on to the second round in which they actually assemble their snake puzzle. Penner Jeff and Pete move on to the second round and, despite a slow start, Penner solves his puzzle first. Now there is turmoil. Penner was first on virtually everyone's list for eviction. Now they have to find someone else to vote for. Since Mike was second on everyone's list, he is looking pretty dejected. Malcolm is irate that his plans have gone awry. Lisa decides to float her plan about getting rid of Malcolm past Pete. Pete promptly goes to Malcolm and asks him if he has the idol. Malcolm denies it and wants to know who is spreading such malicious gossip. "Lisa", says Pete. Malcolm feigns righteous indignation. Later Lisa asks Pete if he told Malcolm that she said he had the idol. "No", says Pete. "It's hard work being a mastermind", Pete tells us. They go on to decide that Jeff should be the next to go (not sure what happened to the Mike plan. Perhaps I blinked). Jeff walks up during this discussion and discovers that he is being targeted. The vote is hardly a given, though. Even as the group is leaving for Tribal Council different options are being tossed around. Pete should go. Jeff should go. It's more confusing than the U.S electoral system (with apologies to our honourable representatives from New Hampshire).
At Tribal Council Lisa breaks the news that Malcolm has the idol. Malcolm pulls the idol out saying that he will play it to clear the air and remove the target from his back. When Dimples asks if anyone else has an idol, Abi dutifully digs in her bag and pulls hers out. WTF? Is this woman some new kind of stupid? In any case, the votes are cast and when Dimples asks if anyone wants to play their idol, neither Malcolm or Abi play theirs. When the votes are tabulated Malcolm gets none, Abi gets one and the rest are distributed between Jeff and Pete. Jeff comes out on the short end though, and is heading off to the jury, along with our pool-mate Marie. Malcolm looks confused and Jeff spouts a lot of baseball analogies, but the result is still the same.
Who will be the next to go? Will my Abi hang in until the final three just because she is so obnoxious? Is Pete really the mastermind? Will the gorgeous Malcolm eventually arrive at Pasqua Lake and sweep me off my feet. Oh sorry. Private fantasy.
Until next week,
Outplay, Outwit, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi It's not paranoia if everyone really is out to get you Gomez
The next morning Penner goes out fishing and the anti-Penner scheming continues. Lisa is still feeling her allegiance to the old Tandang tribe and feels Penner should go next, followed by Mike, then "the three that no one likes", namely Peter, Abi and Artis (editors note: Abi is my girl and I voted for Artis to win...SOMEBODY STILL LOVES YOU GUYS!). Jeff isn't one of them though. He thinks it would be fun to split up the Abi/ Peter/Artis trio.
For the reward challenge, the tribe is randomly split into two teams. I say the split is random, but really it appears to be nice people vs not so nice people (with apologies to Carter who seems to have no personality at all). Team members take turns running into the water and swimming out to a submerged fish trap. They must unhook the trap and signal the other team members to pull them to shore with the trap. Once they have collected all four traps, another tribe member must dig in the sand to locate a key. The key opens a box. I never did really figure out what was in the box, but ultimately they must pull 8 banners out of the fish traps and put them together to make a design. Lisa slows her team down and it looks like their cause is lost. However, Mike can't find his team's final fish trap and while he is looking for it a powerhouse Denise front crawls her way to team victory. As a result, Mike, Abi, Peter, Artis and Carter head back to camp, while Lisa, Penner, Denise, Malcolm and Jeff head off on a river cruise. The mood is very upbeat. Not only do they have all kinds of great food, but everyone seems to agree that this is a great group of people. Lisa feels like a good vs evil dynamic is beginning to appear and Penner takes advantage of it by trying to turn the cruisers attention away from him and onto Pete, Abi and Artis.
At camp Abi is shooting off her mouth again. Even Pete concedes that he would like to get rid of her (noooooooo) but knows she is a fabulous person to take to the final three since no one ever, anywhere, in any galaxy, will vote for her.
Once the cruisers return from their trip, Lisa floats a plan by Mike. She tells Mike that Malcolm has an immunity idol. If they can organize a 5-4 alliance, they can blindside Malcolm, a powerful player, and get the idol out of play at the same time. Penner arrives during this conversation and is on-side, but knows he still needs to win immunity to ensure his survival. Unfortunately Penner has never won an individual immunity challenge so the cards are stacked against him.
Well, speaking of Immunity Challenges, here comes one now. Survivors must climb under and over wooden bars and untie knots to release bags of puzzle pieces. The first three to collect their puzzle pieces move on to the second round in which they actually assemble their snake puzzle. Penner Jeff and Pete move on to the second round and, despite a slow start, Penner solves his puzzle first. Now there is turmoil. Penner was first on virtually everyone's list for eviction. Now they have to find someone else to vote for. Since Mike was second on everyone's list, he is looking pretty dejected. Malcolm is irate that his plans have gone awry. Lisa decides to float her plan about getting rid of Malcolm past Pete. Pete promptly goes to Malcolm and asks him if he has the idol. Malcolm denies it and wants to know who is spreading such malicious gossip. "Lisa", says Pete. Malcolm feigns righteous indignation. Later Lisa asks Pete if he told Malcolm that she said he had the idol. "No", says Pete. "It's hard work being a mastermind", Pete tells us. They go on to decide that Jeff should be the next to go (not sure what happened to the Mike plan. Perhaps I blinked). Jeff walks up during this discussion and discovers that he is being targeted. The vote is hardly a given, though. Even as the group is leaving for Tribal Council different options are being tossed around. Pete should go. Jeff should go. It's more confusing than the U.S electoral system (with apologies to our honourable representatives from New Hampshire).
At Tribal Council Lisa breaks the news that Malcolm has the idol. Malcolm pulls the idol out saying that he will play it to clear the air and remove the target from his back. When Dimples asks if anyone else has an idol, Abi dutifully digs in her bag and pulls hers out. WTF? Is this woman some new kind of stupid? In any case, the votes are cast and when Dimples asks if anyone wants to play their idol, neither Malcolm or Abi play theirs. When the votes are tabulated Malcolm gets none, Abi gets one and the rest are distributed between Jeff and Pete. Jeff comes out on the short end though, and is heading off to the jury, along with our pool-mate Marie. Malcolm looks confused and Jeff spouts a lot of baseball analogies, but the result is still the same.
Who will be the next to go? Will my Abi hang in until the final three just because she is so obnoxious? Is Pete really the mastermind? Will the gorgeous Malcolm eventually arrive at Pasqua Lake and sweep me off my feet. Oh sorry. Private fantasy.
Until next week,
Outplay, Outwit, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi It's not paranoia if everyone really is out to get you Gomez
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