Survivor Phillipines Season Finale December 9/12

Well, it's late and I am a little bit under the weather so I will keep this short (please hold your applause).

The Survivors have returned from Tribal Council having sent Abi to the jury. Skupin says that having Abi gone was the best feeling...that she sucked the life out of him. Malcolm is wondering why everyone who wants to go out with a bang, does so by throwing him under the bus. Malcolm and Skupin confirm their alliance but Skupin tells us that he needs to figure out who he can beat. He doesn't share everyone else's opinion, though, that nobody can beat Malcolm once they are before the jury. Skupin figures he has a pretty good story and could convince the jury to vote for him.

At the reward challenge, Survivors must run an obstacle course and collect three bags of puzzle pieces along the way. Like last week, Malcolm falls off a beam, falls behind them goes on to win on the the puzzle bit. His reward is an "advantage" in the final Immunity Challenge.

The final four do the obligatory torch walk, where they honour the Survivors who have had less success than they. Boring. Then they come to the final Immunity Challenge. There is a wooden dowel that has been cut into various lengths. On the top of the centre piece is a little groove. The goal is to hold the wooden dowel between two handles while balancing a ball bearing in the groove. At regular intervals a new piece of dowel is added so that the number of pieces of wood, and the distance between the handles, progressively becomes greater. When you drop your ball you are out...except for Malcolm. The advantage that he won in the reward challenge gives him one "do-over". Except it doesn't do him any good. Almost immediately he looses control of his stick/ball. He sets up again but is the first to go out a second time. I have to say this seemed a little staged to me except that why would anyone throw a challenge with a million dollars so close? Instead we learn that Malcolm has some sort of congenital shakey hands things. The challenge comes down to a duel between Skupin and Lisa and Skupin eventually wins immunity.

Back at camp, Skupin is thinking there would be more honour in beating Malcolm so maybe Malcolm should stay and Denise should go. Lisa, very practically, points out that you have to win first. Lisa thinks Malcolm will win if he goes to the final three. Lisa wins out and Malcolm is sent home at Tribal Council, taking our Mitzie with him. After a day of feasting and hiking the final three finally face the jury at Tribal Council. There is obviously quite a lot of bitterness on the jury and it is not at all clear who is going to win this one (at least not to me). However, when the votes are cast and we are whisked off to the Hollywood Studio we learn that Denise has won the million dollar prize. Debbie and Kathy were sharing Denise so both will get 75.00. Roberta picked Denise to win so she gets the $20.00 secondary prize.

During the reunion show I learned that:

1. my Abi has realized why she wasn't liked during the show is is going to make some changes.
2. Malcolm is single
3. I barely remember some of those people

The next Survivor series is a Fans vs Favourites located in thge Caramoan Islands (also located in the Phillipines). We are entering season 26 of the Survivor franchise. Rick is condidering lobbying for an Americans vs. the World series...whatdya think?

That's it folks. I am off to bed. I will be in touch with those of you that will be getting money. The rest of you, have a safe and happy holiday season. I will even be so politically incorrect as to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Until next season...

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Abi so that's why you didn't like me Gomez)