Survivor Redemption Island - March 9/11

On the evening of night 8, the Zapateruvians return to camp minus Russell. We see Russell arriving at Redemption Island camp having just been voted out for the very first time in all of his Survivor experiences. He is surprised to see Matt, not Francesca, in the tent. Russell admits that Francesca would have been an easier opponent, but he is confident he can take "Matt's house from him". Then, as the others arrive, they can "sleep in the mud".

Morning arrives early at Camp Ometepe. Phillip feels the need to sweep the camp and it doesn't contribute to his burgeoning popularity. One of the girls calls him annoying and weird, while Rob wonders who wears pink tighty whities on Survivor. Even more annoying is the fact that Phillip has stuff dangling that Rob finds disgusting. Fortunately we are spared that visual. Presumably the cameraman assigned to cover Phillip was in the bush vomiting right about then.

Over at the Zapatera camp, Stephanie and Krista find themselves stuck with the "goobers" now that their man Russell has been exiled. While they are lying on the beach discussing their situation, Ralph decides it is time to reveal to the rest of the tribe that he has the idol. He feels it will firm up his control on the tribe, but Mike, in a cautionary tone, wonders if they might not see Russell back.

Tree mail arrives asking for two volunteers from each tribe to go to Redemption Island to watch the duel. Phillip asks to go (to seek "intel") and suggests that Kristina go along. Sarita and Ralph go from the Zapatera tribe. The challenge involves standing wooden tiles on end along a series of wooden planks with a lot of peaks and valleys. Russell and Matt must arrange these tiles along the course while avoiding trip wires which, if touched, will knock the tiles over. The idea is to set the tiles up, then knock them over, domino fashion. This will release a ball which will break a tile. Matt is the first to get his set up, but it stops halfway through the course. Russell has a similar problem. Finally Matt (my guy) gets the tiles to topple all the way to the end of the course, ensuring that Russell really will go home. But what is this? Russell pulls his hat over his eyes. The cameraman zooms in. His chin is quivering. A tear falls (or maybe a snot droplet, who knows). Russell is crying. Not just getting a little dewy eyed, but sobbing. Yikes. I hardly knew where to look. Dimples asks him what he is feeling (very Dr. Phil)and Russell is quick to recover. It is his tribe's fault for throwing the challenge. They didn't come to play the game but for fame. This gets a rise out of Ralph who says he outwitted Russell because he has the idol. No you don't says Russell. Yes I do, says Ralph, digging it out of his bag. Not now, warns Kristina. Uhhh...I don't have the idol, says Ralph. Fooled you. Phillip jumps in at this point. He is trained to recognize a lie and he believes Ralph has the idol. This is just the intel he has been looking for. Meanwhile Russell makes his final exit. He vows this is the last time he will play Survivor. He has nothing else to prove. So Russell walks away, still feeling like a winner but a winner with a snotty nose. With him goes Jeff from the pool. Jeff also voted for Russell to win, as did Cheryl. Tough break, guys!

While part of the camp is away at the duel, Rob decides on a last ditch plan to find the idol. He has the clue but it is very vague. He creates a game called Royal Treatment which is designed to get everyone away from camp. The rules of the game are as vague as the idol clue. Apparently it involves lying on the beach. In any case, once everyone is away from camp, Rob feigns diarrhea and runs back to camp (presumably everyone thinks it is normal to want to poop in camp rather than in the surrounding jungle). He does a frantic hunt for the idol and finally sees it up on the branches of a tree. Mission accomplished, and no one seems suspicious.

Phillip and Kristina return from Redemption island. Phillip has devised a plan whereby he will release information to Rob about what he has learned at the duel, in exchange for Kristina's safety. Kristina thinks Phillip is "one big windbag" and Rob feels pretty much the same way when Phillip tries to strike a deal with him.

On day 11 word arrives about the next reward/immunity challenge. The reward is a complete barbeque set, complete with all the food. To win the barbeque and immunity, the tribes must use the Craftsman (insert Sears logo here) tool box they received when they arrived at camp. They use a crowbar to open a chest to retrieve a shovel. They use the shovel to uncover a hatchet. They use the hatchet to cut through a log to release 2 saws. They must then use the saws to saw off sections of board which then become steps to a ladder. They then have to untie a hammer and use it to hammer in three nails. The first to get all this done wins the barbeque. Apparently Phillip wasn't able to get any intel on how to saw because he is really bad at it. Ralph, on the other hand, knows his way around a tool box. With the possible exception of getting his hand tangled in his body hair, he is unstoppable. Zapatera wins the reward and Ometepe goes home to lick their wounds. At camp Phillip immediately calls a team meeting. Good job team, says Phillip. Silence. Rob tells us privately that there is palpable malice toward Phillip. Meanwhile Kristina is acting strangely and some wonder if she has the idol. Wanting them to believe she does, Rob suggests they should split the votes between Phillip and Kristina. The entire tribe wants to get rid of Phillip, but Rob feels Kristina is smarter and more of a threat. When Rob tells Phillip he is supposed to vote for Kristina he is angry. Didn't he just give Rob all this valuable intel in order to protect her? But it all falls apart at Tribal Council anyway, when Kristina and Phillip turn on each other. After the votes are counted it is Kristina who is heading over to cosy up with Matt (my guy) on Redemption Island. Will Kristina defeat Matt in the next duel? Will Rob recover from his diarrhea? Will Ralph get a manscape when Survivor is over. Stay tuned for the answers to these and other questions.

Until next week,
Outwit, outplay, outlast
Pat (aka Matt Pat thinks I'm pretty cute Elrod)