Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Survivor Nicaragua November 17/10

It's night 24 and the Libertadites have returned to camp from Tribal Council, having sent Marty to be #2 juror. Benry, Fabio and Dan have now learned that Brenda and Sash are not on their team. Brenda says that she and Sash look like the king and queen, but really she is the king and Sash is the queen.

For her part, Holly has decided that Brenda has too much power and is calling all the shots. She approaches Jane about getting rid of Brenda. "Something has to change", says Holly, "and change soon".

The next day it is raining. In order to keep the fire dry (pay attention here folks, because this is important), they put their two wooden chests on either side of the fire, run some bamboo poles between the two chests and stack some stuff on top. The fire thus protected, the scheming continues.Holly recruits Benry to help get rid of Sash and Brenda. Jane helps out by going to talk to NaOnka. Everyone is in until Holly gets to Chase. Chase wants to vote for Benry instead. "Dpn't trust the guy", says Chase.

Dimples (in a sea green shirt) presents a challenge that involves the tribe dividing into two teams. Each team receives 4 barrels, 2 planks and 10 feet of rope. With these materials they must get all five team members onto a nearby platform without touching the ground. If any tribe member touches the ground the whole tribe goes back to the start. The team comprised of Jane, Kelly, Fabio, Chase and NaOnka win the challenge and head off in a helicopter for a day of volcano surfing (sliding down a really really steep volcanic hill with a stick of wood up the wazoo). This is followed by a feast of pizza, beer and brownies. As they are eating, Fabio comments that everyone should talk about how they are feeling about who should go next. NaOnka stands, takes Fabio by the arm, and marches him off to the side where she tells him that it is already decided. Brenda is going. "Cool, dude" says Fabio, once again having been relieved of any need to think.

Back at camp, things have taken a definite turn for the nasty. Brenda, Sash, Benry, Dan and Holly return to camp to find that the chests they had set up to protect the fire have burned. Gone is most of their food, half of their tarp, the handles of their machetes and almost everything else in camp. They are devastated, but life, Survivor and skulduggery go one. Chase arrives home after the reward trip and promptly pulls Brenda aside to tell her of the plot to oust her. He fingers Holly as the ringleader, then tells NaOnka that he told Brenda. So NaOnka tells Benry that Chase can't be trusted and wants him out.

For the immunity challenge, Survivors hang onto a knotted rope and lean back over the water. Every few minutes they must take a grip further down the rope, making their lean over the water more extreme and hanging on more difficult. Amazingly Jane hangs on longer than any of the nubile young women and the studly young men to win. While basking in the respect of the tribe, Jane tells us that she believes Brenda is going home. Chase and Sash want Benry gone but worry that they won't have the numbers. NaOnka approaches Sash and manages to get him wondering if he too should vote for Brenda. But, remembering he is in an alliance with her, tells us that he will give Brenda his idol and blindside NaOnka instead.

At tribal council, when Dimples asks if anyone wants to play the idol, Sash and Brenda exchange looks. What the looks meant was unclear to this humble scribe. It might have been "play that *&$* idol NOW loser", or perhaps "no need to use the idol this time Queen Sash, I've got this one covered". Whatever the look meant, no idol was played. When the votes are counted Brenda is heading over to join a rather inhospitable jury composed of Alina and Marty. And so ends Rick's journey in our pool (his mind still reeling from how quickly Brenda went from King to jester). No one voted for Brenda to win.

Until next week,
Outplay, Outwit, Outlast
Pat (aka Jill remember me Behm)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Survivor Nicaragua - November 10/10

Thanks, Lynn, for doing the update last week while I visited son Dan in Vancouver. I was nice to be able to just read the update without having to create it. And a fine update it was!

We rejoin our little band of schemers and plotters on Night 22, following the removal of Alina to the jury. As a result of their comments at Tribal Council, the relationship between Marty and Jane has reached the boiling point. However, among the youth of the former LaFlor, sympathies are definitely running with Jane. Marty admits he has a giant target on his back and so sets about trying to get people to vote against Jane.

All strategizing pauses for a reward challenge. Survivors are randomly divided into two teams and by some massaging of the laws of probability, they end up with an all male and an all female team. There is one Survivor left over (Chase) so Dimples tells him to pick the team he thinks will win. If they win reward he gets to go along. Chase elects to go with the women in order to show them they can trust him. The challenge involves the teams working together to get through an obstacle course made up of hay stacks, bamboo barricades and brick walls. Along the way they must collect three keys. The first team to collect their keys and open three locks wins reward. The men take an early lead and are able to hold on for a win. The women work hard and Jane is close to exhaustion when the challenge is finished. Dimples gives the men the option of trading their place with a deserving woman from the other team but none are willing to give up their reward - a tour of the Nicaraguan jungle canopy via a zipline, followed by a barbeque. While heading off to the reward, Marty wonders why Chase would stay with the women. Seeing Chase and Jane walk off together reminds him of Dumb and Dumber, says Marty.

And so the men head off to zip over the Nicaraguan jungle, eat chicken and drink beer, while planning their next moves. Marty wants them to vote for Jane, but let NaOnka think she is getting the votes. That will flush out the idol, get rid of Jane and isolate Chase. He pitches his plan to Sash who agrees, but tells us privately that he and Brenda are the two brightest minds in the group and that they have to power to send home anyone they see fit.

Back home, the girls are making their own plans. Brenda is concerned that Chase made a bad choice and that he doesn't make smart moves. Chase is also concerned because he and Brenda don't talk much anymore. When he asks Brenda (over and over and over) if she is uncertain about something, all he manages to do is annoy her further. Meanwhile Jane is hoping that "diabolically evil" Marty will be sent to the jury.

The immunity challenge turns out to be a memory game. Dimples gives them a series of six symbols to remember. Each time someone gets one wrong they are eliminated. It comes down to Brenda and Marty, with Brenda going on to win. The anti-Marty faction breath a sigh of relief believing he will soon be gone.

Back at camp Marty approaches Brenda with "Sash's" idea about getting rid of Jane and flushing out NaOnka's idol. Brenda outwardly agrees with him but tells us that it is she and Sash that re running the camp, not Marty. Still, both Brenda and Sash agree that they are not quite ready to send Marty to the jury yet, since he trusts them and tells them what is going on. One thing is sure, says Brenda, tonight's vote will tell everyone what side they are really on.

At Tribal Council Dimples reminds NaOnka about her food stealing. NaOnka goes off on a rant that is unprecedented in Survivor history. She drops several f-bombs, and acts like a guest on a Jerry Springer segment. Dimples is left speechless. She even gives Marty the finger when he imitates her walk as he returns from casting his vote. But a confident NaOnka does not play the immunity idol and when the votes are counted it is Marty who is joining the jury. Joining Marty in the jury is our own pool-dweller, Debbie. Kathy, Lisa and Debbie all picked Marty to win the million but none of them will be wearing that Survivor Nicaragua buff, I'm afraid.

Remember to take some time out of your day tomorrow to remember all of the victims of war, both military and civilian.


Until next week
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Jill missed the jury by thaaaat much Behm)