Survivor Phillipines - Dec 5/12

I'm typing this to a background of the movie Black Christmas. If I suddenly disappear, look in the attic. I'll be the one wrapped in a dry cleaning bag. Now on with the update.

It's Night 30 in Survivorland. Penner has joined the jury. Abi talks to Carter and asks him how he feels about the alliance that he isn't a part of. She goes on pretending that she has an immunity idol and privately asks "who will they choose...a guy from Kansas or a girl from Brazil that no one likes because she is too honest?". Right Abi. It's only your honesty that is standing in the way of a big group hug. While Abi tries to stir a fire under Carter, Lisa is realizing that Malcolm is playing the game brilliantly. For her part, she knows that going to the end with Malcolm and Denise is not great strategy, but if she betrays them her poor little head is going to explode. Actually Lisa didn't say that, that was me.

Day 31 brings a reward challenge and it turns out to be the tear jerking, gut wrenching, snot inducing loved ones challenge. Skupin's son Mike is there. So is Lisa's brother Justice and Malcolm's brother Miles. Denise is overjoyed to see her husband and they have even flown Abi's bewildered mother in from Brazil. Lisa wins the All Time Survivor Break Down Award for her hysterical sobbing when she sees her brother. The challenge involves the Survivor throwing bags soaked in mud to their loved one. The loved one must then toss the bag and knock over six wooden pegs balanced on a platform. Someone forgot to translate the rules into Portugese for Abi's mom because she doesn't seem to understand that she is supposed to catch the bag, not avoid it. Malcolm and his brother Miles win the challenge, meaning that Miles gets to go back to camp with Malcolm for the afternoon and over night. Of course Malcolm gets to pick two other pairs to share the reward. He picks Skupin and his son, and Lisa and her brother. His choice, he tells us, is strategic...to reward those who stayed loyal to he and Denise at the last vote.

At camp Lisa's brother is very interested in her strategy (m'thinks he REALLY wanted to do Survivor and probably shook his head when they picked his straight-up sister). Nonetheless, brother Justice has advice for Lisa. Get rid of Malcolm. "But, but I gave him my word", she splutters. "If he is a game player he might respect you for it", responds Justice. Lisa is ecstatic. She has permission to lie...on Survivor. How "on the edge" is that? From this point forward everyone is going to want to do it. A perceptive Malcolm is watching Lisa and her brother and is correctly analysing what is going on. Lisa's bro has snapped her back to her senses.

The immunity challenge involves running across a balance beam to a platform in the water. They must use a hook to snare three underwater bags. In each of these bags are pieces of rope and a bundle of sticks. Back on shore they must assemble a stick long enough, and sturdy enough, to knock over a target. Malcolm wins immunity which tops up the immunity idol he already has. Looks like Malcolm has a firm hold on at least the final four. While Malcolm is happy Lisa is less so. Just when she got herself all psyched up to play dirty, Malcolm wins immunity and ruins her plans.

Now, of course, all eyes turn to Abi and Carter. They are both outside of the alliance of four. People like Carter and keeping him would fit with their goal of keeping people who deserve to be there, while getting rid of Annoying Abi. On the other hand, practical considerations must also be considered. No body, no how is going to vote for Abi if she goes to the final three. Carter walks up on a discussion between Lisa and Mike and asks them, if they respect the game, to keep him. All the while Abi is running around talking about her phantom immunity idol...even heading off into the woods to retrieve a pretend idol from a pretend hiding spot. Abi also has another go at mouthing off and annoying everyone, leading Malcolm to tell us that she is like one of the Dementors from Harry Potter and that if she goes home tonight it is because she is a bitch. Lets not beat around the bush Malcolm. Mike says that Abi has every known psychiatric condition all rolled into one.

At Tribal Council, Carter tells the group that he doesn't deserve to go. Still, it is Carter who will be joining the jury. With Carter goes Georgia from our pool thereby seriously curtailing Georgia's Christmas shopping plans. Sorry about that Georgia. We have five Survivors left. Abi has another week to become loveable. Malcolm has another week to to become more gorgeous, Lisa has another week to determine God's will. I have another week to figure out another word for "meanwhile". Until then...

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi why don't you lying untrustworthy losers like me Gomez)