Survivor Samoa - November 5/09

It's night 18. Foa Foa has just sent Liz home, leaving only four of them to tuck each other in at night. There is general concern about going into the merge with such low numbers but Evil Garden Gnome (EGG)says he isn't worried at all. He is too good for this game, he tells us.

There is tension over at Camp Galu the next morning when Laura can't find her canteen. She asks Shambo where it is, whereupon Shambo goes into a tirade about power stuggles, 90210 young things and high school cheerleaders. Shambo is obviously working through some troubling high school experiences! From his home in the trunk of a tree, Erik tells us that they all know Shambo is crazy, so fighting with her just makes the fighter look bad.

Tree mail arrives with vague references to full bellies. Not knowing what to expect but wanting to be prepared for a merge, EGG takes his hidden immunity idol with him, lest they not return to camp. It turn out to be a good idea. When the tribes arrive at the clearing, there is no Dimples, just a treasure chest containing new blue buffs and a note indicating that the tribes will merge, there will be a feast and they will be living at the former Galu camp. So the members of Galu and Foa Foa all set about getting to know one another. EGG comments that Foa Foa is doing exactly what he told them to do (schmooze with Galu) and that he is the king of the kingdom.

When the tribes arrive at the former Galu camp they set about to choose a new name. They settle on Aiga which, according to John, means extended family in Samoan. Privately Erik tells us that he has an immunity idol and wonder how you say "get the hell off my island" in Samoan. Meanwhile EGG has decided that the way to make friends and influence Galuans is to show them his immunity idol. He starts with Laura. He tells Laura that if she takes him to the final 7 he will give her the idol. Laura is aghast that EGG would show her the idol, but when he tells her what the "rules" are she balks. EGG says one of the former Galuan men must be the next to go. Laura says that won't happen so EGG wanders away muttering that Laura will be the next to go. The next stop is Monica where he finds a more receptive audience (or at least one who can keep her qualms to herself). Finally, EGG shows the idol to John. But EGG finds his biggest ally in Shambo (and he doesn't even have to show her the idol). EGG believes Shambo is a good person (I'm not really sure what it means when EGG says you are a good person?. In any case EGG finds, in Shambo, a willing accomplice to help him get rid of his new enemy Laura. In no time at all there is consensus that Laura should go. EGG tells us that its way easier to control the minds of these people than he thought.

Everyone arrives at the immunity challenge to find Dimples wearing (gasp) a pale green shirt. It turns out that the challenge involves a game of Survivor T-Ball. The ball is batted into an area assigned with a specific point value. There is one shot per Survivor and the man and woman with the highest points both win immunity. John and Laura are the winners. And so the Aigavians have to develop a new strategy, since it seems that Laura will be staying for a while yet. Laura tells Erik that EGG has the immunity idol. They decide to get the word out that EGG is the one being voted out, in order to get him to play his idol. Meanwhile they will vote for Jaison. It is a brilliant plan for the 30 seconds or so that it is in effect. Foa Foa, and Jaison in particular has taken a dislike to Erik. Then the women of Galu begin to turn on him too (nooooooo, Erik is MY guy!). Whatever is going on, even EGG admits that he doesn't know what's going on. At Tribal Council Erik slags all of the former Foa Foa members with his nastiest comments reserved for Jaison. When the votes are cast EGG turns in his immunity idol. It turns out it was in vain though because EGG doesn't get a single vote. Instead it is Erik (and me) who are trudging out of Tribal Council with what I can only describe as "oh shit" expressions. And so both idols are out of the game and we are down to one tribe of 11 people. Who will be next? See you next week to find out. Until then...

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Erik oh shit Cardona)