Survivor South Pacific Season Finale Dec 18/1

It's late and it was a long show so I will do you all a favour and keep this short. It's night 35. Brandon has arrived at Redemption Island. He tells Ozzie that he gave Albert the immunity idol and, as Ozzie rolls his eyes, Brandon says that he loves and forgives Albert. Ozzie tells us that Brandon has to understand that he isn't playing with God but with a bunch of greedy humans who want to win a million dollars. At camp Coach is giving Albert a stern talking to. He says he knew that Brandon was going home but didn't return the idol. Coach says he is tired of all the little lies and wonders what bigger lies are occuring. Privately Albert tells us this has been a humbling day and he will need to find a way to repair his alliance. The final duel is called on Redemption Island. This time the winner returns to the game. Ozzie is ready. He has been on Redemption Island for two weeks preparing for this moment. The contest involves holding onto a large post as long as possible. There are 1/4 inch grooves cut into the poles, but Ozzie and Brandon must hang on with arms and legs and not much else. Both of them hold on for more than 40 minutes but it is Ozzie who is victorious. He returns to camp with the former Upolulites while Brandon (along with pool member Lorelee). The Upolians treat Ozzie with half hearted hospitality. They know they will have to beat him in challenges if they want to get rid of him. Coach though, confirms that he would like to take Ozzie to the final three and even suggests he will give him the immunity idol if Coach should win it (remember Coach still has the hidden immunity idol so if he won a challenge he would have an idol to spare). At this offer Ozzie wonders "who in their right mind would want to take me to the final three?" The immunity challenge involves using a rope handle to balance a teeter totter. While holding the handle with one hand, Survivors must use the other hand to build a house of cards to a specific height. Ozzie wins again and tells us that he is happy to facilitate having the Upolu tribe each each other up. And they do. Albert wants to send the likable Rick packing, while Ozzie is lobbying for Sophie to go. Ozzie tells Albert that Coach promised to take him (Ozzie) to the final three. Albert speaks to Coach about this but gets a lot of Coach-speak that really doesn't reassure him. At Tribal Council Ozzie again tells the group that Coach promised him final three and Sophie has a meltdown when Ozzie calls her a spoiled brat. When the votes are counted Rick (along with Debbie) is jury-bound. And so Ozzie, Coach, Sophie and Albert are left. Ozzie's Plan A is to win. His Plan B is also to win. His Plan C is to not share the coconuts he is collecting. Coach, believing the best defence is a good offense, tells Ozzie that the deal is off since Ozzie spilled the beans about their secret deal. It was disrespectful, says Coach. But Ozzie tells Coach that he has been burned before by trusting people and the game has hardened his heart. Coach's heart softens toward Ozzie and he tells us that "everything has changed". The last immunity challenge involves a race through a giant flower-shaped obstacle course to collect bags of puzzle pieces. Once all five bags of pieces have been collected, Survivors must complete a flower puzzle. Ozzie takes a huge lead in the obstacle course but seems to get frustrated with the puzzle. Sophie pulls off a stunning upset, defeating Ozzie and being dubbed the new dragonslayer by Coach. Ozzie asks Coach to tie the vote and let he and Albert settle the matter in a fire-making competition. But Coach stays firm to Albert and Ozzie becomes the final member of the jury. Sadly Donna goes along with Ozzie. I must tell you that Donna has been in this pool from the beginning. She also runs another pool at work. She has never won in either of these pools in all these years. I was kind of pulling for Ozzie for Donna's sake, but, alas, it was not meant to be. Back at camp Coach tells the others that the vote was a no-brainer and that he stuck with "the family". And so Coach, Albert and Sophie face the jury. They each make their opening statement then are questioned by the members of the jury. This process was quite uneventful except that Ozzie wore pigtails which was not his best look! Once the votes are cast and everyone is whisked off to Los Angeles it is Sophie who is caressing a cheque for 1,000,000 dollars. Sophie was represented in our pool by Mitzie who will have a little extra cash to pay for those last minute Christmas gifts this year. No one in our pool voted for Sophie to win but Jack came the closest in voting for Albert. So Jack has won a Survivor buff which I will mail once the Christmas craziness is over. The next Survivor is called Survivor One World. Both tribes share the same island and must decide whether to share their resources. I will let you know more details when I hear them. Until then, Outwit, Outplay, Outlast Pat (aka Christine lookin' fine at the reunion Markosky)

Survivor South Pacific - December 14/11

We rejoin our intrepid Survivors as Edna heads off, with her alter ego Jack, to Redemption Island. There they will room with Ozzie for a (likely brief) while. The alliance of Coach, Albert, Sophie, Rick and Brandon have successfully eliminated everyone else and now must start turning on each other. They have a group prayer but they know alliances will crumble and sub alliances will be revealed. Albert is already plotting to get rid of Sophie. She is too smart and too dangerous to take to the final three. Instead he promises Rick that he will take him to the final three if Rick votes for Sophie. Strategizing is interupted by a Redemption Duel. Ozzie and Edna must race to complete a slide puzzle and release an ax. With the ax they must cut a rope to release a bag of cubes with coloured sides. The first to assemble the second puzzle so that, when stacked on top of each other, no colour appears twice on any one side. Edna has help and support from every one from her former tribe. Ozzie has to work on his own. In spite of that Ozzie pulls out a surprisingly narrow victory. So Edna and Jack burn their smelly buff and head off to get cleaned up for jury duty. Back at camp, Albert continues his campaign against Sophie. He tells Brandon that he, Albert and Coach will go to the final three. Wait a minute...wasn't that supposed to be Rick, Albert and Coach? Hmmmm. Meanwhile Sophie has made the astute observation that the last person all the jury members talk to is Ozzie. All of them have passed through Ozzie's "pleasure dome" on the way to the jury. Sophie is of a mind that Brandon should be the next to visit Ozzie. Albert speaks to Coach about his plan to oust Sophie and while they are talking Brandon comes over. He wants to know what they are talking about, and, when they tell him they are discussing jury votes, he says he doesn't believe them. Although I thought Brandon was pretty respectful, Coach ties into him, calling him a bully and comparing him to his uncle Russell. Brandon apologizes and insists that Coach heave himself out of his comfy hammock and give him a hug. Coach rather grudginly does this but has already decided that Albert sways whichever way the wind is blowing, and that Brandon has to go. For the immunity challenge, Survivors must use a rope to climb a very steep wall. Tied to the rope at intervals are five bags of puzzle pieces. Survivors must climb the rope, untie each bag and return it to the table at the base of the wall. Once they have collected all five bags of tiles, they must match pairs. The remaining unmatched three tiles will give them a numerical code. They must then climb over the wall to a combination lock and use the three numbers to unlock it. The first to successfully do this will win immunity along with reward (pizza, soft drinks and garlic bread). Brandon wins reward and chooses Rick to share it, a move, he tells us, which is not strategic. Coach tells us that he believes in divine intervention and that Brandon changed his fate by winning immunity. Coach tells us he is at peace with this...he is pissed, but at peace with it. While Brandon and Rick are eating the pizza Sophie curls up near them so she can "smell" it. She uses the opportunity to campaign against Albert. In truth, Albert is getting on everyone's nerves. But during the conversation Brandon learns from Rick that Albert lied to him. In true Brandon style he confronts Albert and they are joined by a very angry Rick. The three have a shouting match in which Albert tries to deny promising to take both Rick and Brandon to the final three. Meanwhile Sophie is loving it. After the argument has cooled Albert approaches Brandon to apologize and ask him to forgive him. In a moment of Biblical stupidity, Brandon "looks inside" Albert and determines that he is a good person. He not only forgives him, but offers to give Albert his newly won immunity idol. He confirms this decision with Coach and tells Coach that "we are here to forgive". No, you snot nosed weenie. You are here to win a million dollars!. Oops sorry. Did I say that out loud? Coach tells Brandon he (Coach) needs to be alone to pray about who to vote for. He does, and tells us that the same person keeps coming up again and again (kind of like those Magic 8 Balls I guess). Sure enough, in a tribal council rife with talks of honour and god, and much eye rolling by Sophie, Brandon gives his immunity idol to Albert. Albert is asked if he would give it back if Brandon was in danger. Albert says he sure would, except he is certain Brandon is safe. Not surprisingly, when the votes are tabulated, Brandon is heading to Redemption Island with our own Lorelee. Albert quickly slips the immunity necklace off his neck like it has suddenly become radioactive. Sunday December 18 is the season finale. That's when we find out who wins all the marbles. Will it be Coach (Lisa), Albert (Kathy), Rick (Debbie) or Sophie (Mitzie)? Or will Ozzie (Donna) or Brandon (Lorelee) return for redemption. Tune in on Sunday to see which of our pool members is going to win the million. Until then, Outwit, Outplay, Outlast Pat (aka Christine bought the Survivor t-shirt Markosky)