Episode 13:  "A Slippery Little Sucker"

A very enjoyable season with lots of colourful characters and only a few dull ones.  Pretty good considering all but Leslie and Todd were recruited.   

The Final Reward Challenge will have a physical and mental component to it.  It appears that they carry rocks (in the shape of 3 dimensional puzzle pieces) and have to put them together.  THe physical part will be particularly hard for the diminutive Courtney, and that should slow her down; as well, there's not much evidence that she is any good at puzzles.  Further to that, she never seems to care much about the challenges and she is the last person anyone will want to get rid of now.  Last place for her.  Of the other three, there's not much evidence that one would have an advantage over the others at the physical part.  Todd often chose to do the puzzle portion of group challenges, but there is nothing to say that he is better at puzzles than the other two.  As well, he seems so scatter-brained lately that he may not win over the very determined Denise or the very calm Amanda.  *tosses coin*, Denise for the win.

The reward is supposed to be something that will give them an advantage in the Immunity Challenge, but it's pizza, beer, cola and brownies.  Not clear on how most of those will prepare someone to win a challenge, but there you have it.

CBS tells us, " During the final Immunity Challenge, one castaway feels vulnerable and tries to swing a deal to get to the final three. Will the competitor bite?"  Denise is the self-proclaimed "bottom of the totem pole", so it's likely her desperation that would try to swing a deal.  Apparently, it's never too late to start playing the game.  Or, maybe it is, as her competitors will not "bite".  Who will win?  It's probably not too relevant as the remaining three will stick together and get rid of the mulleted lunch lady.

Then, the fun part begins.

Jaime - wasn't given much of a chance to bond with Fei Long... may choose girl power, or for who she feels played the smarter game... votes for Amanda

Jean Robert - told Todd he will hold him responsible if he gets booted early... will vote for Amanda

Frosti - could vote for his little munchkin, but likely will go with someone who is playing the game...  votes for Todd

James - surprisingly unbitter in his post-boot comments; blamed himself only for not using the Idols that TODD gave him...  votes for Todd

Erik - bonded closely with Amanda... votes for Amanda

Peigh Gee - bonded more closely with Amanda, while they weren't chosen for Denise's reward to the Great Wall... will vote for Amanda

Denise - seems to be closer to Todd... votes for Todd

RC: Denise?

IC - Amanda?

F4 Boot - Denise

Sole Survivor - Amanda by 4:3 over Todd

Winner of America's vote for one hundred thousand dollars - James

Announcement of next Survivor: All Stars (including James and Amanda) versus Survivor Fans.

Last week and this week's promos show Amanda talking about not liking Todd's gameplay and wondering aloud, whether it's Todd time to go.  But where would Mark Burnett be without his classic mis-direction.  We're all expected to say, "Oh, it would have been so boring to know that PG is the last Zhan Hu and that she is leaving, but Amanda is going to keep it interesting by getting rid of her ally, Todd.  I just HAVE to watch it now!"

The reward challenge is designed to display allies.  As expected, PG has none and Denise has few.    Both announce that they are aware of this.  What may be surprising is that Courtney seems loved by the most.  Perhaps it is due to the generosity of her friends that she wins the reward challenge and gets a chance to spend an evening at the Great Wall of China.  Who does she choose to go with her?  She's closest to Todd, so he's in.  Now, there are clearly 3 chairs and 3 beds set up:

If she gets to choose 2 people, it should be Todd and Amanda.  But, that would leave Denise and PG stewing about the unfairness of it all, without a third bitter person to attempt to bring over to their side.  So, it's unlikely that 3 people go and leave two behind.  It's much nicer, you understand, to have the majority whining about the few winners.  So, Amanda likely stays behind to complain about Todd, and bond with potential jurors ;)  So, why the third chair and bed?  No idea, other than, perhaps the loved ones didn't take the trip but home yet, and Courtney's father will join them?

The Super-Challenge for Immunity, will see Todd out at the first stage, Denise out at the second stage, Courtney out at the third stage, and, for the first time, Amanda beating PG for Individual Immunity.  You bring the crackers, cause PG will surely have plenty of whine.

And, yes, despite all the "Todd must go", he won't go anywhere.  PG will round out the Zhan Hu tribe sitting on the Jury. 

RC: Courtney, brings Todd

IC: Amanda

CBS tells us: After fulfilling a tribemate’s dream, one castaway is infuriated when her kind gesture is not returned.

This may refer to PG fulfilling Denise's dream, last episode, by rewarding her with a trip to the temple where Denise was treated to a display of her favourite martial arts.  If so, Denise may win this Reward Challenge, and not choose PG for the reward.

We have been told that this is the episode where the loved ones visit.  This scene with Todd and Denise hugging, with an emotional looking Amanda looking on, may be when they just said good-bye to their visiting loved ones.  If Denise did win the reward, and got to choose two people to visit with their loved ones, it does make sense that she is closest to Todd and Amanda, and therefore chooses them to spend time with their loved ones.

The Immunity Challenge appears to be a physical obstacle, whether or not there is also a mental component.  Either way, there's not much to go on, other than in the early stages, Erik and Todd seem to be ahead of the others.  However, DanieuBleu, consistent spoiler of the past two seasons, says that Erik goes this time, so perhaps Todd wins?

IC: Todd?

Boot: Erik

RC: Denise, PG

IC: Denise?

Boot:

 ----> 

The Reward Challenge appears to involve two teams of 4 bouncing a ball back and forth with large drums.  It appears that Todd, PG, James and either Courtney or Denise are one team. Amanda, Erik, Frosti and the other of Denise/Courtney.   At any rate, a happy Frosti and a dejected Todd/James may be an indication that Frosti's team wins this. 

Last episode, only PG and Erik brought their belongings to Tribal Council, as everyone else felt safe.  This episode, it appears that PG is wearing the Immunity Necklace.  Another win for a Zhan Hu. 

That leaves Erik and Frosti as possible choices.  Erik is unremarkable in his performances, whereas Frosti won one Immunity, came second in another Immunity, won a reward and is highly athletic.  But perhaps most detrimental of all, there is also his little love-ins with Courtney.  Todd can not have an already unstable Courtney being romanced by the enemy (even if the enemy appears to have mutinied).

RC: Erik/Frosti/Amanda/Courtney?

IC: PG

Boot: Frosti gets turned upside-down

The promos show Todd wanting to blindside James in order to put his two hidden immunity idols out of play.  Amanda, the calm, cool, collected one is not down with wavering from their original plan.  It's doubtful that Courtney would choose to get rid of a Fei Long other than Jean Robert, who she has been pleading to have voted out for weeks now.

The CBS teasers state that things are going to get turned around.  Well, another Zhan Hu leaving would be keeping on the same path that they are on.  Therefore, a Fei Long must leave.  Since we're shown that Todd wants it to be James, it likely isn't. 

The most logical choice, if for no other reason than to appease Courtney and the remaining Zhan Hu (eg. Jury!), is to get rid of Jean Robert.

Reward: Amanda

Immunity: Frosti

Boot: Jean Robert is bluffed out of the game

The Past:

Todd tells his ally, Amanda, about the Hidden Idols clues and hopes that she can help him find it.  James knows he's a target and works extra hard at Zhan Hu to keep his tribe rested so that they'll win the Challenges.  After seeing Aaron voted off, in a blatant attempt to even out Zhan Hu's numbers, Fei Long wins reward, and Todd kidnaps James.  Todd asks James for the 4th clue in return for saving him.  James gives him the clue and Todd and Amanda retrieve the Hidden Idol but Frosti sees them, so he's in on the secret.  Todd gives James the Hidden Idol with instructions to help throw the next Immunity Challenge, play the Hidden Idol and vote Jaime out.  Todd then tells Denise and Courtney about the Hidden Idol, and his entire plan to oust Jaime, and tells them to do their best to win Immunity.  At the Challenge, Courtney and Denise are unable to win their portion of the Challenge, and James ends up eating his portion of "Chinese delicacy".  Fei Long loses Immunity.  Todd and Amanda agree to vote out Sherea to lessen the Zhan Hu numbers.  They tell Courtney, but Courtney likes Sherea and wants Jean-Robert gone because they don't get along.  Todd considers this position and tells Amanda that he is confused.  Amanda insists that Fei Long keep their numbers, and therefore, keep Jean Robert.  At Tribal Council, Courtney announces that she is an outsider, despite Todd's denial.  Courtney and Sherea vote Jean-Robert and the rest vote Sherea.  Sherea firmly believes that it was her strength that was a threat to Fei Long, hence the reason for her boot.

The Present:

James has Fei Long's Hidden Immunity Idol, in his possession at the Zhan Hu camp. He also has the clues in order to find Zhan Hu's Hidden Idol.  Original Fei Long's are up 2 players over original Zhan Hu's.  Frosti "may" be thinking about jumping ship, since Todd entrusted him with information about the Hidden Idol, and Frosti wasn't that close with anyone at Zhan Hu.  James "may" be warming up to Zhan Hu, as they didn't try to throw the challenge to boot him, as they did with Aaron.  PG "may" want to jump ship, also, and go where the numbers are, since she isn't that close with any Zhan Hu's.

The Future:

James finds the second Hidden Immunity Idol at Zhan Hu.

Jaime knows about the Hidden Idol clues and how the whole thing works.  She'll understand the underlying reason that James was kidnapped.  And, with his failed, yet obvious, attempt to throw last week's Immunity Challenge, she may catch on to him having the Hidden Immunity Idol.  She and Erik will rummage through James' personal belongings and discover the coaster like Immunity Idol, actually, both of them.  Thinking that there are more items that look similar around camp, Erik incorrectly believes that he has found a third Hidden Idol. 

Fortunately, he shows his new girlfriend, who, for the record, isn't "as dumb as she looks".  Jaime will gently inform him, "No, sweetie, even though I'm also a recruit, I doubt that they'd have 4 hidden immunity idols at each camp... it would just make it too tricky to vote off anyone other than Jeff." 

The Immunity Challenge is called, "Retention to Detail", which presumably means that they will have to answer questions about details of a performance that they watch, seemingly Chinese acrobatics.

And, since Jaime is more than just the big burst of sunshine that dresses up as each Hallowe'en, she will win this unique first-merge individual immunity.

With Todd's plans foiled, once again, to get rid of the matching wit of the opposing tribe, will he choose a different Zhan Hu to further lessen their numbers?  No, he will insist on getting rid of one of the most untrustworthy Fei Long's.  But, who is that?  Is it Jean-Robert, who Todd's beloved pal Courtney, despises?  Or, is it the other "trash" James, who didn't follow through with Todd's "genius" plan to throw the Challenge, as planned?  Will James use one of the Hidden Immunity Idols?

Most importantly... will Jean-Robert really hold Todd responsible if he "gets screwed"?

Kidnap: none

IC: Jaime

Boot: good riddance to bad rubbish, Jean-Robert

Episode 5: "Love Is in the Air"

The promo's tell us what's going to happen this episode, often with picture proof.  And, with DanieuBleu giving us the name of the person who is expected to be going home, there won't be much suspense tonight.

So, it seems that each tribe is asked to choose two "warriors" to kidnap from the other tribe.  Zhan Hu chooses to strip Fei Long of their physical strength, in James and Aaron.  While, for unknown reasons, Fei Long chooses Frosti and Sherea.  The best plausible reason to kidnap them may be to try to bond with them.

They soon come to realize that this is a permanent kidnapping and new buffs are handed out to the four kidnapees.  Instead of a reward challenge, food, wine, and bathing suits will gratefully be received.  Whether or not his own swim suit will prevent Jean-Robert's on-going issue with "plumbers crack" is anybody's guess.  Let's hope so!

The Immunity Challenge is a combination swimming/puzzle challenge.  The newly formed Fei Long sits out Courtney and Amanda, has Frosti and Jean-Robert retrieve puzzle pieces from the depths of the water while Todd, Sherea and Denise put the puzzle together.  The new Zhan Hu sends Aaron and Erik to do the swim portion, while James, Jaime and Sherea attempt to solve the puzzle.  DanieuBleu reports that, in a concerted effort to throw the challenge, Jaime drops a puzzle piece so that they are unable to complete the puzzle.  It's likely obvious to everyone that there was no real attempt, by anyone other than James, to get the puzzle together.

Now, the only tricky part here is that DanieuBleu says that with Todd's help, James gets the Fei Long Hidden Immunity Idol, before the kidnapping.  The promo's are too busy hyping the "switch" that they neglect to tell us about this revelation.  As well, TV Guide seems to imply that Todd may find the Hidden Idol next week, which contradicts the spoiler.  So, either James has it and uses it to keep himself safe.  Or James has it and doesn't need to use it because he discovers that Zhan Hu wants to get rid of Fei Long's former leader, Aaron, first.  Or James doesn't have it.  So, like Zhan Hu's puzzle, this is the one missing piece of the puzzle for this week.

Kidnapped: Frosti/Sherea, Aaron/James

Immunity: Fei Long

Boot: Aaron

Episode 4 :  
"Ride the Workhorse Till the Tail Falls Off"


Dave: Sherea, are you picking up lots of clams and snails for food?

Sherea: No, I'm finding lots of pretty seashells for my Momma.

Dave: What?  What are you wasting time with??

Sherea: Did you not hear what came outta my mouth??

Dave: We need people to help around the camp!  Why are you just doing nothing?

Sherea: Did ya NOT hear what came outta ma mouth?

Dave: Do not wag your finger in my face!

Sherea: I will always wag my finger in your face!

RC: Zhan Hu?

Kidnap: Todd?

IC: Fei Long

Boot: Dave

Episode 3 Title:  
"I Lost Two Hands and Possibly a Shoulder!"

Dave "Crusers" Home

Zhan Hu continued their losing ways last episode.  It's not clear who is in charge of the voting over, but it's likely the alliance of Jaime and Sherea that are setting things in motion.  They have, along with Erik and Frosti, voted for the bootee both times.  Chicken was booted because he was annoying them, although he was doing more than his share of the work around camp.  Arriving back to camp without Chicken, and without a finished shelter, they quickly realized how cold, wet and miserable things would be if more work wasn't done.  Therefore, although Dave was also bossy and annoying, he was getting work done.  It would be difficult to get rid of him while there was so much more to do.  Instead Jaime and Sherea decided to cut loose their friend, as she had been ill and wasn't able to pull her weight around camp.

From Episode 1, we may be able to determine who seemed to be out of the social-loop, so to speak.  On Zhan Hu, Leslie stood out (editing-wise) as being high-lighted for leaving the temple during the welcoming ceremony.  Courtney seemed to be portrayed as a whiney New Yorker (albeit, only in confessionals).  Jean-Robert had the odd scene with Todd (not sure what to make of that).  Aaron was shown to get sucked in by Todd's smooth assignment of him as "leader" of the tribe (a position to which nobody (including Aaron) wanted to assign themselves!)

Oddballs on Zhan Hu were Pei-Geih, only for the vote cast against her; although, she also stood out for volunteering to be a leader for her tribe.  Ashley is a colourful character, a female wrestler who shows up in "twenty pound" boots and fish-nets, but also, appears confrontational, as well as ill from the conditions of China.  The other person on this tribe with negative editing was Dave.  Although he is shown working hard, and socializing with the core younger-group, he did not vote with the majority to send Chicken home.  Dave and Ashley did not vote together and did not vote for the majority, and there is no reasonable "strategic" reason that either of them could benefit from for not voting with the gang.

Since Ashley is that much less useful than Dave, AND that much more ill than Dave, Ashley is the next to leave.

RC: Fei Long (blankets, etc.)

Kidnappee: Jaime (per TDT)

IC: Zhan Hu

Boot: Ashley

We can examine the Fei Long (red tribe) in more detail in future weeks when they should be more dominantly featured in an episode, but for now, Zhan Hu (yellow tribe) should get the most air-time.  From the short video clips that have been aired of their first few days, Ashley (WWE wrestler), in particular, and Sherea (school teacher), to a lesser degree, are not faring too well in China; they are dehydrated and, consequently, weak.  Peih-Gee seems to be spear-heading the group and Erik, Dave, Frosti are working with Peih-Gee to get things accomplished around camp.  Jaime will bond with her peers and won't stand out as an immediate liability nor asset.

And then there was Chicken.  The eldest of the cast isn't necessarily at a disadvantage.  He is, after all, a lover of outdoors.  He has a strong work ethic.  He can contribute.  He will, however, lack the social game.  So early into the game, everyone (who understands the game) is looking for any reason to target someone else.  Sure, Ashley isn't doing too well without water, but she's their best female athlete, and she is their age.  Sure, Frosti is the youngest player to ever be on Survivor, but he is also an athlete who can leap tall buildings (or obstacles) in a single bound.  So, what's a tribe to do?  There's this "old" guy who can build a shelter and who can bring in the firewood, but geesh, if half of them aren't there to get away from their dad telling them what to do and how to do it... then, some guy who goes by the name of "Chicken" sure isn't going to be the one to ruin their summer-job fun.

RC: none

IC: Zhan Hu

Boot: Chicken