Survivor Samoa - December 4, 2009

Well most of you probably figured out that last week's Survivor was a "never before seen footage blah blah blah episode" because of the US Thanksgiving, hence no update last week. As review shows go it was a pretty good one though, as there actually was a lot of never before seen footage. But it was a review of old stuff and no one new got kicked off so your humble scribe decided no update was necessary.

This episode begins on night 27 as the survivors meander back to camp after Tribal Council. Shambo is ecstatic, saying that Medusa (Laura) has been dethroned. For her part Monica realized that John changed his vote on the second ballot (the first was a tie) and that he is the one who sent Laura home. She says John is a Judas and that he must go.

Tree mail arrives with money and promises of a full belly. There is much excitement around camp as all signs point to a food auction. Sure enough, when they arrive at the challenge Dimples has it all set up for an auction. I must just interject here, that Dimples looked a tad disheveled for this challenge. His hair was messy, his shirt rumpled and he looked like he had more stubble on his face than a prairie field in October. I'm not saying he was rolling around in the jungle with one of those hot Australian paramedics. I'm just saying he looked a little diseveled, is all. Anyway the auction begins with Natalie bidding $200.00 for a PB&J sandwich. Shambo spends $240.00 on a mystery plate that turns out to be Sea snails and slugs. Monica bids $340.00 on a mystery dish that turns out to be a roast chicken. Jaison spends his entire $500.00 on something guaranteed to give him an advantage in the next immunity challenge, John pays $200.00 for a clue to the hidden immunity idol and Natalie pays 160.00 for a shower and clean underwear. The final auction item is a huge hunk of apple pie that John buys for $300.00. When he goes to collect it, though, Dimples makes him an offer. He can take the single piece of pie for himself, or he can forgo his piece of pie, and take a whole pie that he can give to four other people. After very little thought, John takes the single piece of pie for himself, saying these are all nice people and no one is going to vote him off over a piece of pie. Can you say "forshadowing"?

Back at camp there is a weird little scene where Shambo says goodbye the chickens who, it has been determined, are going to sacrifice their lives for the good of the tribe. Shambo tells us how she talks to the chickens, how they understand her and how they have been her single source of happiness as a survivor. If any of you have actually ever known a chicken, you will know that they are not great conversationalists, but Shambo is genuinely sad that they will be sacrificed for food. While Shambo wants no part of killing the chickens, she is determined that she is going to cook them and God help anyone who gets in her way. She puts them in a pot to boil and when Dave tells her that they will be ruined if they boil for two hours she hits the roof (or she would have if they had a roof). Dave has got to go she tells us. That night she dreams that they vote Dave off. When she relates the dream to EGG he tells her that its a sign, and for sure Dave should go. Shambo walks away pleased, and tells us that she has everyone voting her way. Uh oh. Pride goeth before a fall!

The immunity challenge involves each survivor standing beside a large vertical log with a rope attached to it. Down the length of the rope are a series of knots. They must hold the log up using the rope, but every three minutes they have to move their grip down one knot on the rope. This increases the angle of the log, making it progressively more difficult to hold up. When someone lets go of the rope they are eliminated. Jaison gets to read the piece of parchment that he purchased at the auction, which tells him that he can, at any time, move his hands two knots up the rope. So the challenge begins. Shambo and EGG are out quickly. Natalie hangs in for an incredible length of time, but it comes down to Jaison and Dave. Jaison used his two knot advantage after only 9 minutes and I really thought Dave was going to beat him, but in the end Dave's hand slides off the end of the rope and Jaison wins immunity.

And so the stars are aligning as they should. Dave has no immunity. Shambo and Mick both want him gone and EGG seems to be onside with the plan. However, EGG and John are off visiting in the jungle. John emphasizes that EGG promised him a Foa Foa head on the next vote and together they decide that Mick should be next. Then the conversation turns to the clue to the hidden idol that John purchased at the auction. He has been out looking for it but, of course has not been able to find it. EGG, for some reason, tells John that he has the idol, then privately tells us that was a mistake, and now John must go. He heads over to Dave to tell him that he can save his hide by getting Monica onside to vote John off. The next stop is Mick who is also ok with sending John home. The only hold-out is Jaison who says that Shambo wants Dave gone, and if they take her for granted and vote against her, they will lose her support. Apparently no one cares, because when the votes are counted Dave and Mick each get one and the rest go to John. And so John the rocket scientist is zooming over to the jury, taking with him our own Cheryl. No one voted for John as the overall winner so we're all good there.

Until next week,

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Erik I'm having a lot of fun on the jury Cardona)