What an EPIC episode! Before we get into it, I must ask... what is up with these weird pics of Danni Boatwright? More E of E pics... and the best one of Danni is this? I mean, everyone else looks reasonably happy. You've got BR and Ambuh back together! Natalie still all smiles. Tyson, Ethan and BR enjoying some laughs together. And then there is Danni. Looking like she is trying to conjure up a curse on someone. Quick! For the second week in a row... someone caption Danni's facial expression in this pic! Anyway... on to this epic episode of Survivor. Terrific game play from Denise. Major blunder from Queen Sandra who should have known better. Could we compare Sandra secretly handing her idol over to Denise for fire tokens (trusting that Denise was truly in her pocket and wouldn't use it against her) to say, JT handing over an idol to Russell Hantz as protection from that dangerous "all women" alliance? On a scale of dumb moves... No, JT still wins. But it DOES surprise me to see Sandra make such an error in judgment. So what events led up to this epic ending of the episode? #Alliteration Yara Camp Everyone excited to be in a camp without having to live under the heavy thumb of Boston Rob. Well... except Adam, who is realizing that he might be at the bottom now without the BR Shield. Edge of Extinction... ...where Tyson comes up with a log and a note. Something about "turning over stones". But honestly, we were just watching the Tyson show, capped by this truly hilarious, classic Tyson phrase. Spotting Boston Rob just as he was claiming his new-found idol... ..."I decided to pretend to tinkle before putting the package in my man panties!" (Well, that might not be verbatim but it was close). The package he was referring to was the advantage he found on an over-turned stone - an "Idol Nullifier. He chooses to sell it to Parvati. She takes the bait and the fire tokens are his. And with his newly acquired fire tokens, Tyson purchases a very large jar of peanut butter. "Sneaking peanut butter every day will allow me to do something sneaky and hilarious, while at the same time giving me the necessary protein I needs to do well in the game. Thanks, Parvati!" Not always a fan of Tyson but this was an entertaining segment for him complete with funky background music. I propose that everytime Tyson is doing something "sneaky and hilarious", his fun "theme song" music must play! Immunity Challenge Swim out to boat. Retrieve three bags of rice. Push them through a hole and back to shore. Find three balls that will be used to complete a maze game. Sandra takes a spot on the "Sandra Sit Out Bench". Michelle joins her. And the challenge is on: Details, details... WM help with the details (All you need to remember is that Ben was stabbing the rice bag with his machete with a ferociousness that rivaled the Surgeon committing his serial murders on "Prodigal Son"). Sele and Yara get to the puzzle maze first. I have such trouble with challenge details (Also, Wendell made a very cocky error. Just about to win the game for his tribe, he taunts the host "Watch this, Jeff!" - then proceeds to drop his ball off the board, costing them a victory. Probst was NOT about to let him forget that!) Let's see if I can just post a few pics.. hmm.... In the end, it is green tribe YARA who wins immunity. The twist for this episode is that only one tribe wins immunity. The other two will face tribal council (privately - no "advantage" for the winning team to observe the losers' TC) and we will lose two people this episode. Oh.. and the measly reward is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yawn. Sele Tribe Paravati and Michelle discuss what to do - but honestly, Michelle sees the writing on the wall (or should I say in the sand) for Parvati. The three guys - Wendell, Nick and Yul - are pretty tight. No breaking THEM up! Michelle pitches to Wendell that she WILL agree to Parvati - but that she would write his name down just so that she doesn't have to cote out Parv's. Also, her reward for turning on her friend will be Wendell's fire token. Well, Wendell is not having it, not for a minute. Very obvious there is some bad blood here. Michelle feels that she was the one who got burned in that relationship. Wendell seems quite hostile to her. "I'm not playing for fire tokens!" he boldly says. Then a few minutes later, Wendell tries a new tact with Parvati. It falls flat: they basically saw right through each other. But get this: HIS pitch to HER was "Give me a name to vote for and I will - but only if you give me your fire tokens." Well then... stole the idea right out from under Michelle! Parvati sees this as an opportunity to turn the tribe against Wendell. She tells Nick all about this conversation, putting some doubt in HIS head about Wendell. Michelle works on Yul, trying to sow seeds of doubt against Wendell with him. Dakal Camp... ...in which we find that Tony has not forgotten about his old "spy shack". The shack (or bunker, as he now calls it) comes into play again. They all see that he is missing, but have no idea where he has gone. We can only assume that he heard their conversation. Jeremy and Sandra speak the first conversation we hear as she declares that they will indeed stick with the old Dakal, meaning it will be either Jeremy or Denise as the target. Jeremy reminds us in a confessional that he DOES have an advantage that will allow him to leave TC at any point to save himself, but if he uses it he will not have a vote. Denise, Kim and Sandra go for a walk. Denise does feel vulnerable. She wants to know what they are thinking. The thing I have always loved about Denise is her ability to talk to people (she IS a therapist which explains why she is so good at it). But she doesn't come at people in a way that makes them feel threatened. She puts people at ease. She is likable. She doesn't scare anyone away. Even Sandra, who truthfully admitted to Denise that she would probably be the target, added that she is a lovely, wonderful person. Most unlike Sandra to be so kind. Denise decides that to play a humble game would be the best game. Inform Sandra and Kim that she KNOWS she needs THEM - and they don't need her. And finally they realize that Tony is still missing. "Is he in a spy shack?" A discussion of "split personality" Tony ensues. Then very suddenly, he shows up out of nowhere, claiming he fell out of a tree looking for idols. We see a conversation with all but Denis,e where they seem to convince Jeremy to vote for Denise with them. But Sandra isn't sure she is completely on board with that.... Has Sandra softened? Or was this her strategic plan to keep control of their tribe? She has this idol that is only good for one more night. It must be used. So certain was she that she was in no trouble, she opted to give Denise her idol in exchange for Denise's two fire tokens. The deal as Sandra made it was "You choose which of the two men go home; you do not touch Kim or myself." As this discussion is happening, Kim strolls up. Deflection time! "Oh how I'm craving cupcakes and cookies!" as Kim walks by. So funny. Denise takes Sandra up on this deal - with one caveat. She insists on giving Sandra only one token NOW; the other will come after TC when she knows for sure the idol is real. This was really clever for Denise - she gets to end up keeping one of the fire tokens. Tribal Council: Sele Wendell: "This is the season of pre-existing relationships. But for the game I will stab from the front and from the back to win". "Seems like people should appreciate someone being real. Even people who turned out to be disappointing in bed!"" Lots of discussion about this (fun to watch the tension between Michelle and Wendell). Which leads to Parvati asking Wendell if he'd like to do something..."If you want to." Parvati: "You gonna give me a name?" Wendell: "Nope." Parvati: "You want ME to give YOU a name?" Wendell: "Yep." Parvati: "Hard to take you at face value." Wendell: "I got nothing more to say" Weird exchange that got some confused reactions from the others. Vote happens: Parvati, Wendell, Wendell, Parvati, and... Parvati. Awww. Those of use who love and respect our "old school" players are sad. She bequeaths her fire tokens to Michelle... and off she goes to the E of E. But we aren't done yet... Tribal Council: Dekal Kim: "It's the threats versus the non-threats." Sandra calls out who she sees as threats and who she sees and non-threats. She lists Denise as a non-threat. Hmmm... Jeremy pitches that he should be kept for challenges. Denise says she will never be a challenge beast. To which I say... pshawwww. Of course you can, you "mighty munchkin of muscle" (Her false modesty was a good strategic move. Let the players discover her great challenge prowess later in the game - when its too late!) Not much more discussion that I care to mention. Because the outcome of this vote was... pure magic. Sandra was first. She DOES vote for Denise, fully believing that her idol will save Denise. She say at the urn "I know you're not going home tonight", suggesting she wants to be perceived as being a team player going along with the rest of the tribe. Denise DOES play Sandra's idol for herself. And THEN - much to the shock and surprise of the others - she pulls out the other idol and plays it for Jeremy. A chuckle from Denise. An uncomfortable smirk from Sandra. A pure laugh of joy from Jeremy. Tony looks stunned, and will continue to do so for the rest of tribal. Vote Happens: Denise (doesn't count), Denise (doesn't count), Denise (doesn't count), Denise (doesn't count)... and (only question now - who did Denise vote for?).... Sandra! Yes, Denise DETHRONES the queen and beats her at her own game. It is Sandra who is voted out and is sent to the Edge of Extinction. Oh, E of E should be fun next week! The only "old school" player left in the game is YUL. Can he Survive against all these new schoolers? Will one of the "old schoolies" win their way back in the game? Were we all just ecstatic to have someone other than Natalie win the E of E reward this week? What WILL happen next week? I don't have any idea because the video cut off before the preview! Oh well. Longer than I meant. But fantastic episode. Sad to lose Parvati. Not really sad to lose Sandra. Truly amazed by the greatness of Denise... so much so, lets make sure to find a pic... Well done, Denise. Well done!
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