Survivor Heroes and Villains - March 4/10

Its night 8. The Villains arrive back at camp having just evicted Randy (who no one seems to miss much). We learn that Coach was greatly offended by Sandra's comments about him at Tribal Council. He tells Tyson what a sensitive guy he is, just managing to hide it behind his machismo, while keeping busy doing noble things. Then (oh m'god, tell me this isn't happening!!) Coach starts to cry. To his credit, Tyson handles it well, giving Coach a hug and telling him that he is there for him. He also offers to "coach" coach to get him back in tight with the tribe. Tyson suggests that maybe wearing feathers to Tribal Council is a little over the top. And those stories. The stories have to stop says Tyson. Nobody (NOBODY) wants to hear those stories. But no. Coach has to be true to himself. The feathers and the stories are who he is. The next day Coach takes his troubles to Rob. He tells Rob he is on the outside. He isn't one of the cool kids. Rob tells him that isn't true and asks Coach to trust him. Keep your head up and act like a man, says Rob. Coach promptly wanders off to do yoga while muttering that there is strength in weakness, he is one of a kind, last of the Mohicans, blah blah blah. My God! Where does this man come up with this stuff? Any small amount of sympathy I was feeling vanished like that little diamond mine I bought shares in a while back.

Tree mail arrives including a Sears catalogue from which the tribes pick their preferred luxury items. Clutching their wish lists, they hike off to find Dimples for the reward challenge. Members from each tribe go head to head, sliding wet bodies* across a wet slippery surface to try to retrieve a suspended ball. The first one from each pair to retrieve their ball and shoot a basket wins a point for their tribe. The first tribe to get 4 baskets wins reward. It comes down to a shoot out between Tyson and Colby, but Tyson sinks his basket first, giving the Villains another win. They cheerfully gather up their swag (knives and stuff to make their shelter more livable) and head back to camp. Once there, someone finally notices that the machete is missing. But before Russell can get any decent gloating done, a rolled up piece of paper falls out from the handle of a knife that came with their reward package. Bostom Rob snatches up the note and reads it aloud. It is a clue to an immunity idol hidden somewhere on their beach. Russell is mortified that he let the clue fall into the hands of the tribe, especially when they decide to find the idol and collectively destroy it. Russell wanders off by himself to look for the idol, causing Rob to send Sandra to spy on him. Although Russell doesn't find the idol, his obvious attempt to find it draws the wrath of the tribe. Rob calls him a stupid ass and likens him to a Hobbit on Crack. As a group, the Villains decide that Russell should be the next to go.

Over at Camp Hero, the tribe has decided to drown their sorrows in a good cup of coffee. As JT digs out a handful of coffee he finds a rolled up piece of paper buried in the Arabica. Sure enough, it is the Hero's version of where to find the hidden idol. Unlike the Villains, the Heroes all suddenly develop a strange glazed look and begin to scatter in all directions to look for the idol. Tom, Cirie and James are all digging under the same tree, when Tom unearths the idol. He quickly hides it in his sock but is spotted by Amanda. And so Tom has the idol, but everyone knows it.

For the Immunity Challenge, each tribe must select one member to ride in a large wooden ball. That person must guide two blindfolded tribe mates to roll the ball down a trail. At the end of the trail the same person must direct four other blindfolded tribe mates to get a ball through a table maze. Tom directs for the Heroes and Boston Rob for the Villains. Both men do an admirable job, but the Villains beat the Heroes by a hair.

Back at camp, Tom apologizes for the loss but knows he is a target because he has the idol. The strategizing heats up. Cirie wants Tom to go. She and Candace cook up a scheme to split the votes so that Tom will go if he doesn't play the idol, and Colby will go if he does play it. But JT tells us that he trusts Tom and Colby more than Candace, and would like to see Candace go. Tom offers to give the idol to Amanda and JT and has a measure of success and cementing an alliance with them. However Cirie refuses to vote for Candace and tells us that Amanda is not the sharpest tool in the shed for suggesting such a scheme. Break up the powerful Tom/Colby alliance, says Cirie. JT overhears this conversation and tells Tom that he is no longer in control and that Cirie is running the show. Not finished yet, Tom hatches a plan that will split the vote and send Cirie home. Poor JT (I love JT) tells us that he knows how everyone is voting except for himself. But when the votes are cast at Tribal Council Tom plays his idol, canceling any votes against him. The remaining votes are for Colby and Cirie. In the end, Cirie is the one heading home. Debbie from our pool heads off with Cirie for a shower and a good meal. No one picked Cirie and the ultimate winner.

Until next week,
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Courtney holy eating disorder Yates)

* Selina! Did you see James all oiled up OMG!