Post by BCandScott on Apr 28, 2006 12:53:28 GMT -5
Six people left, Terry still holds the hidden immunity idol from Exile Island, new pacts are being formed as people are starting to consider who would be beatable in a final two situation. No immunity and no vote last week, as Bruce had to be evacuated (in more ways than one) by medical. He may or may not return to sit on the jury. At this point, someone from the old Casaya tribe WILL go home.
Day 28. Terry is trying to fish using hermit crabs as bait. They are pretty much running out of food. Terry feels that Bruce was someone he might have brought over to vote with him so he now feels he must really attempt to keep winning immunity challenges.
Shane has found a piece of wood that reminded him, presumably because of shape and size, of his blackberry. He has begun taking his "blackberry" over to his "thinking stump" where he text messages and surfs the web. O....K. Danielle thinks he's nuts. I think it's been done before, in season one where Greg Buis had a "cell phone" that he found on the beach. Shane says it helps his day he's "communicating with people...not on this island."
For the reward challenge, they are split into two teams of three. Terry, Danielle and Courtney are one team. Cirie, Aras and Shane are the other team. They must latch themselves onto a rope by a ring and all three must travel through an obstacle course that is threaded with the rope. First up are hitching rails on the beach and the rope is wound around them, then they swim out to a platform with poles. The rope is wound around the poles. Next up are underwater rails with the rope wrapped through them forcing the teams to go under and over, in and out of the water, until then they reach a platform and unhook from the rope and go across six floating platforms, or lilypads, to reach another platform where they dive into the water. Underwater are three chests containing bags. Each member of the team must retrieve a bag and return to the platform so the next team member can dive for a bag. When all three bags are collected, the team must hook back onto the rope and come back through the same obstacles as before to reach the beach. The first team back to the finish line with three bags wins reward. Reward is a trip to a private island for a barbecue. Everyone groans aloud at the thought of food...especially steak and sausages.
The teams start off and Terry is blazing to get through the hitching posts. Aras actually shoves Cirie over the bar on their side of the course when she seems unable to hop over quickly. She falls but is up quickly to continue. Both teams enter the water at about the same time, but Terry is slightly ahead of everyone as they reach the platform with the poles. Courtney practically carried Danielle through the last hitching post but they have pretty much caught up to Terry at the poles. The teams remain close until they enter the water to do the underwater rails. Coming up after going under the first rail, Cirie becomes entangled and Aras and Shane try to keep going without giving her time to find her way and all three end up in a mess of rope in the water. Terry, continues to fly through, coming out of the rails and dancing across the lily pads. He is the first to dive for, and come up with a bag. Aras, Cirie and Shane are still stuck when Terry comes back to the platform with the bag and Danielle hops across the lily pads and retrieves the second bag. Courtney hops from lily pad to lily pad like a gazelle and is back with her bag by the time Cirie, Aras and Shane finally reach the platform to start on the lily pads. Shane flops across the lily pads and he and Aras actually manage to get bags but it is too little, too late. Terry, Danielle, and Courtney have won reward.
Aras is sent to Exile Island because he is deemed their biggest threat. Cirie and Shane are sent back to camp. Jeff then informs the three winners that there is something else for them to do, another challenge and that ONE of them will win a 2007 GMC Yukon, fully loaded. They will each shoot marbles from a slingshot at three ceramic tiles. The first person to break all three tiles wins. In order to be considered broken, the tiles, which are suspended by a rope at each of four corners, must shatter so that at least two of the ropes are no longer holding the tile.
Jeff says Ready, Aim, and Fire and all three let fly with a marble. First shot, Terry clips one corner of a tile and Danielle takes out her first tile. Second shot, Terry takes out his first tile while Danielle clips a second tile. Third shot, Courtney smashes her first tile while Terry takes out his second tile. Fourth shot, Courtney breaks her second tile and Terry chips his third tile. At this point, Terry has one chipped tile remaining, Courtney has one tile remaining, and Danielle has two tiles remaining. Fifth shot, and surprise, surprise, Terry wins another challenge and a 2007 GMC Yukon. He's delighted.
They are to be flown to an island and when they land they will find the car loaded up with all the things they need for their BBQ.
Aras is on Exile Island but he isn't wasting time or energy looking for the island because he knows that Terry has it now. He says that makes his visit to the island pretty unnecessary now as far as any positive aspects.
The plane bearing the winners lands on a grass strip and there at the end of the runway is the Yukon. Terry says his wife told him as he was going out the door to please, bring her a car. They drive to a beach and take out the BBQ supplies and set up the grill. While the meat is cooking, they have some sodas and Terry, coy and diplomatic as usual, says "So, I think it would be great for the three of us to be the final three." He is trying to develop a relationship with them and to show them that getting Aras and Shane out would be a good thing. Courtney says that she thinks it could be a good idea since the jury is made up of mostly Casaya tribe members, and that Terry, as the remaining La Mina tribe member would be easy to beat in final two. Terry is probably assuming that Courtney, being the most annoying and the one who never shuts up and the biggest poser per the previous reward challenge, would be easy to beat in final two. Shane has already come to that conclusion and has approached Courtney about a pact with him. Terry explains to Danielle that it would be him and the three women, Danielle, Courtney and Cirie in the final four. Danielle is thinking that might work, but she is not going to make this too easy for Terry. He needs to think about who will be in second and third place. She is not willing to opt for third and she suspects his reasoning where Courtney is concerned.
Back at Gitanos camp, Shane tells Cirie they can talk strategy if they want. Cirie just laughs. Shane says, well, if Terry wins immunity, we will vote off Danielle. If he doesn't win immunity, we'll vote him off. Cirie listens to Shane talk about a Cirie, Courtney, Shane final three and realizes that he is thinking that he could win against Courtney. Cirie feels that at this point Courtney is more dangerous to Cirie than having Terry around. She wants to get rid of Courtney as soon as she possibly can.
Cirie wants to go fishing. She has the little stick and line with a hook. She says she used to fish with her dad using a bamboo fishing pole so hey, everyone else has tried to catch fish, now she wants to try. She tells Shane "I'll be back with some fish," and goes out to the rocks with her "tackle" and some snails for bait. I LOVE watching Cirie fish. She's very girly about it, saying ewww, and eeeee, at all the right times. She first has to smash one of the snails. She puts a snail on the rock she's sitting on and has a small rock in her hand. "Oooooo, this is so gross. I'm sorry snail." She looks away and gathers herself. She turns back and whacks the snail with the small rock going "aaa! Aaaah! Sorry." Finally she has bait. She puts it on the hook and swings it out over the water. I don't know how long she was actually out there since Survivor condenses the time so much, but it seems like only seconds and her line goes taut. She squeals! "EEEe, eee, it's a fish, it's a fish." She pulls the line in and finds she has hooked a fish, and not a little fish either. It looks to be 10 to 12 inches long. She has it up on the rocks and continues to squeal with delight and fear at the same time as she dances around the catch trying to figure out what to do next. The fish is flopping and she is trying to get it back to camp, saying "Lord, help me." She does drag it in the sand for a bit, but finally she reaches camp and approaches singing to Shane as today is his birthday, "Happy birthday to you....happy birthday to you...."
Shane is amazed. He shakes his head in wonder as Cirie parades into camp with her fish. "Unbelievable," he says, "How did that happen."
Cirie describes her adventure for the camera. She was SO happy to catch that fish. She is thrilled it was a big fish. And it was Shane's birthday. She says the look on Shane's face was priceless. Yes, indeed it was.
Shane tells Cirie he is SO proud of her. Shane says that "Captain America" has been swimming around for weeks and here, Cirie, the girl from Jersey caught the biggest fish of them all. "How great is that." Cirie continues to giggle with happiness.
The reward challenge winners arrive back at camp in a boat. They are surprised to be greeted by a squealing happy Cirie who caught a fish. Cirie says they waited to make sure they saw the fish when they got back.
Danielle wants to talk to Terry. She asks him if he wants to take Courtney to the final two. He says he hasn't really thought much about it. Oh yeah, I'm sure Danielle believes that. Danielle says she doesn't want to cut a deal for third place. While telling Danielle he is not "set" on taking Courtney to the final, Terry tells the camera that he would, of course, want to take Courtney to the final and he suspects that Danielle would like to take Courtney to the final. Terry suggest they all make a pact that whoever comes in 1st and 2nd in the challenge go one and two to the final. He tells the camera he could do that because it would sort it down to the best people.
Danielle explains this concept to Courtney and Courtney says it doesn't make any difference to me. During the conversation, Danielle says something about not wanting to see someone "carried" into the final two. Courtney says this was insulting to her, indicating that Danielle thinks if she ended up in the final two it would be because she was annoying and taken to the final two as "easier to beat." Courtney feels that anyone who makes it this far in the game and goes THAT far in the game earns their place and is not "carried" into anything. Guess she didn't see Rob and Amber in Allstars. Courtney lets Danielle know she is pissed off at the "free ride" comment and stomps off.
Cirie overhears part of the argument and asks Danielle what it was about. Danielle says that Terry wants to take the three women to the final four with him. Cirie smiles and says, of course. Look at the three of us, who do you think is going to come in second? Cirie tells the camera that she thinks Danielle has been brainwashed, that she wants to go with Terry so that it would be Cirie, Danielle, Courtney and Terry in the final four. Cirie says that, of course, that puts her in at number 4. Cirie tells Danielle that it is obvious that Terry plans to take Courtney to the final two. She suggests that they tell Terry that they are going to vote for Aras as planned, but that they actually vote for Courtney. Cirie tells the camera that she really wants Courtney gone.
The immunity challenge is an endurance challenge. Each person is on their knees on a platform extended out over the water. They have two ropes hanging down above them that they must hold on to. The ropes are attached by pulley to a hook where bags of weight can be hung. Each person will need to hold the ropes supporting 20% of their own body weight. If, after every 15 minutes, they are still holding on, more weight will be added. If they release the ropes, the weights fall and release the platform they are on so that they fall into the water.
The tribe arrives at the challenge and Terry surrenders the immunity necklace which now has his name embroidered on it....ok, just kidding, but it might as well have. Aras returnes from Exile Island. They are placed in position and the challenge begins. Aras, Shane and Cirie and Terry are all supporting about 34 pounds, Danielle and Courtney 24 pounds. Shane is the first one out at 13 minutes. Weight is added, another 10%, at the 15 minute mark. Cirie is groaning aloud and soon the ropes have slipped through her hands and she is down. Aras is struggling, as is Danielle. Danielle goes first. Aras goes soon after. Aras just lets go. Just back from Exile Island, he couldn't do it. That leaves Terry and Courtney. Courtney seems to be meditating. They reach the 30 minute mark and another 10 % is added to the weights. Terry is holding 68 pounds and Courtney is holding 48 pounds, 40% of their body weight. Terry is struggling a little but Courtney breaks first and Terry wins immunity for the fourth straight time.
The tribe returns to camp. Terry is delighted and sure Aras is going to go home. Courtney explains to Cirie that they are all voting Aras. Shane will be voting for Danielle, but Danielle, Courtney, Terry and Cirie will vote Aras and Aras will probably vote for Danielle with Shane. Terry is pleased. Shane is pleased. Cirie smiles and says, fine fine, that's fine. Cirie knows that Shane and Terry both want to take Courtney to the final two. Cirie tells the camera that she is going to try to mess up Shane and Terry's plans and possibly give herself, Danielle and Aras a little more leverage in the game. Cirie gets Aras and explains to him exactly what is going on. She tells him that if he will vote for Courtney with she and Danielle, they can take control of the game with their three votes. They will be in power for the next vote with a majority of 3 over two, Shane and Terry. Danielle, Aras, and Cirie agree to vote for Courtney. They each lie to either Shane and Terry as needed, claiming they are voting for either Danielle or Aras respectively. Cirie hopes Danielle follows through with the plan.
Cirie's plan is brilliant. She is getting rid of the person most likely to be drug along to be in the final two, improving her chances of being there instead. She is cementing a bond with Aras and Danielle at the tail end of the game when there are only 5 players and it only takes 3 people to be a majority. My respect for her game play has grown leaps and bounds from those first days in this game, and I really hope that it is recognized by the others so that if she does make it to the final two, she is rewarded for playing a far better game than Terry, for example, who won many challenges, but had no clue how to form alliances or bonds other than just saying, "wanna be with me on this?" His lame idea to bribe Danielle with the immunity idol was just pathetic. He is now guaranteed at least one more safe week, guaranteeing him the final four. If he continues to win all the immunity challenges, he will end up in the final two. If it ended up as Terry and Cirie in the final two, I would hope Cirie would win for being a more cunning and intelligent strategist than Terry. Time will tell.
The tribe arrives at tribal council and the jury is brought in, Austin, Sally and Bruce. The tribe applauds Bruce's return.
Jeff asks if there was any bonding between Terry, Danielle and Courtney at the BBQ. Terry says it was more of a team bonding thing because they won the challenge. Jeff then asks Cirie if when she hears Terry say this, does she believe him. Cirie says she doesn't buy it. She says that they may want them to think they were just having fun but as long as they are here and their torch is lit, there's game going on. Jeff also asks Terry if people are coming to him and trying to join up with him. Terry says no.
Aras says that Casaya is holding strong, but now at this point, they must vote off one of their own. Shane says that they have to "eat one of their own" and people are running all sorts of scenarios in their head regarding who they want to go on in the game with, to the final two. Jeff mentions that in that challenge with the surveys, Courtney took a lot of hits. Courtney says that nobody is really hanging onto that challenge and that she doesn't think it makes her an automatic choice for final two.
They vote.
Jeff retrieves the container and begins to read out the votes. First vote, Aras. Then Danielle. Then Aras. No surprises so far. Then Courtney's name shows up. The second vote for Courtney and Shane jerks his head around and his eyes get wide. The third vote is read. Courtney is the 11th person voted out of Exile Island. Shane is dumbfounded. Terry is pursing his lips. As she walks away from the torch snuffing, Courtney turns and stares back in complete amazement.
Aras, Danielle and Cirie voted for Courtney. Shane voted for Danielle. Terry voted for Aras. Cirie has turned the game on it's ear and totally shocked those people who THOUGHT they were in control. Cirie's alliance now consists of Cirie, Aras and Danielle. I really think Aras is the ONLY one physically capable of beating Terry in some of the physical challenges. This game just got a lot more interesting.
Next week, the reactions to the council appear to start on the way back to camp in the dark. Aras is explaining to Shane that Cirie sniffed out the plot to remove him. Shane is asking Cirie if someone is trying to pull a fast one and she responds "come on, now" trying to reassure him. Later we see Aras telling Terry, "you are starting to offend me." Then, at what must be the family visit reward challenge, we see Shane drop to his knees crying.
So, this week on cbs.com, you can vote for the most powerful player. I'm voting for Cirie.
Day 28. Terry is trying to fish using hermit crabs as bait. They are pretty much running out of food. Terry feels that Bruce was someone he might have brought over to vote with him so he now feels he must really attempt to keep winning immunity challenges.
Shane has found a piece of wood that reminded him, presumably because of shape and size, of his blackberry. He has begun taking his "blackberry" over to his "thinking stump" where he text messages and surfs the web. O....K. Danielle thinks he's nuts. I think it's been done before, in season one where Greg Buis had a "cell phone" that he found on the beach. Shane says it helps his day he's "communicating with people...not on this island."
For the reward challenge, they are split into two teams of three. Terry, Danielle and Courtney are one team. Cirie, Aras and Shane are the other team. They must latch themselves onto a rope by a ring and all three must travel through an obstacle course that is threaded with the rope. First up are hitching rails on the beach and the rope is wound around them, then they swim out to a platform with poles. The rope is wound around the poles. Next up are underwater rails with the rope wrapped through them forcing the teams to go under and over, in and out of the water, until then they reach a platform and unhook from the rope and go across six floating platforms, or lilypads, to reach another platform where they dive into the water. Underwater are three chests containing bags. Each member of the team must retrieve a bag and return to the platform so the next team member can dive for a bag. When all three bags are collected, the team must hook back onto the rope and come back through the same obstacles as before to reach the beach. The first team back to the finish line with three bags wins reward. Reward is a trip to a private island for a barbecue. Everyone groans aloud at the thought of food...especially steak and sausages.
The teams start off and Terry is blazing to get through the hitching posts. Aras actually shoves Cirie over the bar on their side of the course when she seems unable to hop over quickly. She falls but is up quickly to continue. Both teams enter the water at about the same time, but Terry is slightly ahead of everyone as they reach the platform with the poles. Courtney practically carried Danielle through the last hitching post but they have pretty much caught up to Terry at the poles. The teams remain close until they enter the water to do the underwater rails. Coming up after going under the first rail, Cirie becomes entangled and Aras and Shane try to keep going without giving her time to find her way and all three end up in a mess of rope in the water. Terry, continues to fly through, coming out of the rails and dancing across the lily pads. He is the first to dive for, and come up with a bag. Aras, Cirie and Shane are still stuck when Terry comes back to the platform with the bag and Danielle hops across the lily pads and retrieves the second bag. Courtney hops from lily pad to lily pad like a gazelle and is back with her bag by the time Cirie, Aras and Shane finally reach the platform to start on the lily pads. Shane flops across the lily pads and he and Aras actually manage to get bags but it is too little, too late. Terry, Danielle, and Courtney have won reward.
Aras is sent to Exile Island because he is deemed their biggest threat. Cirie and Shane are sent back to camp. Jeff then informs the three winners that there is something else for them to do, another challenge and that ONE of them will win a 2007 GMC Yukon, fully loaded. They will each shoot marbles from a slingshot at three ceramic tiles. The first person to break all three tiles wins. In order to be considered broken, the tiles, which are suspended by a rope at each of four corners, must shatter so that at least two of the ropes are no longer holding the tile.
Jeff says Ready, Aim, and Fire and all three let fly with a marble. First shot, Terry clips one corner of a tile and Danielle takes out her first tile. Second shot, Terry takes out his first tile while Danielle clips a second tile. Third shot, Courtney smashes her first tile while Terry takes out his second tile. Fourth shot, Courtney breaks her second tile and Terry chips his third tile. At this point, Terry has one chipped tile remaining, Courtney has one tile remaining, and Danielle has two tiles remaining. Fifth shot, and surprise, surprise, Terry wins another challenge and a 2007 GMC Yukon. He's delighted.
They are to be flown to an island and when they land they will find the car loaded up with all the things they need for their BBQ.
Aras is on Exile Island but he isn't wasting time or energy looking for the island because he knows that Terry has it now. He says that makes his visit to the island pretty unnecessary now as far as any positive aspects.
The plane bearing the winners lands on a grass strip and there at the end of the runway is the Yukon. Terry says his wife told him as he was going out the door to please, bring her a car. They drive to a beach and take out the BBQ supplies and set up the grill. While the meat is cooking, they have some sodas and Terry, coy and diplomatic as usual, says "So, I think it would be great for the three of us to be the final three." He is trying to develop a relationship with them and to show them that getting Aras and Shane out would be a good thing. Courtney says that she thinks it could be a good idea since the jury is made up of mostly Casaya tribe members, and that Terry, as the remaining La Mina tribe member would be easy to beat in final two. Terry is probably assuming that Courtney, being the most annoying and the one who never shuts up and the biggest poser per the previous reward challenge, would be easy to beat in final two. Shane has already come to that conclusion and has approached Courtney about a pact with him. Terry explains to Danielle that it would be him and the three women, Danielle, Courtney and Cirie in the final four. Danielle is thinking that might work, but she is not going to make this too easy for Terry. He needs to think about who will be in second and third place. She is not willing to opt for third and she suspects his reasoning where Courtney is concerned.
Back at Gitanos camp, Shane tells Cirie they can talk strategy if they want. Cirie just laughs. Shane says, well, if Terry wins immunity, we will vote off Danielle. If he doesn't win immunity, we'll vote him off. Cirie listens to Shane talk about a Cirie, Courtney, Shane final three and realizes that he is thinking that he could win against Courtney. Cirie feels that at this point Courtney is more dangerous to Cirie than having Terry around. She wants to get rid of Courtney as soon as she possibly can.
Cirie wants to go fishing. She has the little stick and line with a hook. She says she used to fish with her dad using a bamboo fishing pole so hey, everyone else has tried to catch fish, now she wants to try. She tells Shane "I'll be back with some fish," and goes out to the rocks with her "tackle" and some snails for bait. I LOVE watching Cirie fish. She's very girly about it, saying ewww, and eeeee, at all the right times. She first has to smash one of the snails. She puts a snail on the rock she's sitting on and has a small rock in her hand. "Oooooo, this is so gross. I'm sorry snail." She looks away and gathers herself. She turns back and whacks the snail with the small rock going "aaa! Aaaah! Sorry." Finally she has bait. She puts it on the hook and swings it out over the water. I don't know how long she was actually out there since Survivor condenses the time so much, but it seems like only seconds and her line goes taut. She squeals! "EEEe, eee, it's a fish, it's a fish." She pulls the line in and finds she has hooked a fish, and not a little fish either. It looks to be 10 to 12 inches long. She has it up on the rocks and continues to squeal with delight and fear at the same time as she dances around the catch trying to figure out what to do next. The fish is flopping and she is trying to get it back to camp, saying "Lord, help me." She does drag it in the sand for a bit, but finally she reaches camp and approaches singing to Shane as today is his birthday, "Happy birthday to you....happy birthday to you...."
Shane is amazed. He shakes his head in wonder as Cirie parades into camp with her fish. "Unbelievable," he says, "How did that happen."
Cirie describes her adventure for the camera. She was SO happy to catch that fish. She is thrilled it was a big fish. And it was Shane's birthday. She says the look on Shane's face was priceless. Yes, indeed it was.
Shane tells Cirie he is SO proud of her. Shane says that "Captain America" has been swimming around for weeks and here, Cirie, the girl from Jersey caught the biggest fish of them all. "How great is that." Cirie continues to giggle with happiness.
The reward challenge winners arrive back at camp in a boat. They are surprised to be greeted by a squealing happy Cirie who caught a fish. Cirie says they waited to make sure they saw the fish when they got back.
Danielle wants to talk to Terry. She asks him if he wants to take Courtney to the final two. He says he hasn't really thought much about it. Oh yeah, I'm sure Danielle believes that. Danielle says she doesn't want to cut a deal for third place. While telling Danielle he is not "set" on taking Courtney to the final, Terry tells the camera that he would, of course, want to take Courtney to the final and he suspects that Danielle would like to take Courtney to the final. Terry suggest they all make a pact that whoever comes in 1st and 2nd in the challenge go one and two to the final. He tells the camera he could do that because it would sort it down to the best people.
Danielle explains this concept to Courtney and Courtney says it doesn't make any difference to me. During the conversation, Danielle says something about not wanting to see someone "carried" into the final two. Courtney says this was insulting to her, indicating that Danielle thinks if she ended up in the final two it would be because she was annoying and taken to the final two as "easier to beat." Courtney feels that anyone who makes it this far in the game and goes THAT far in the game earns their place and is not "carried" into anything. Guess she didn't see Rob and Amber in Allstars. Courtney lets Danielle know she is pissed off at the "free ride" comment and stomps off.
Cirie overhears part of the argument and asks Danielle what it was about. Danielle says that Terry wants to take the three women to the final four with him. Cirie smiles and says, of course. Look at the three of us, who do you think is going to come in second? Cirie tells the camera that she thinks Danielle has been brainwashed, that she wants to go with Terry so that it would be Cirie, Danielle, Courtney and Terry in the final four. Cirie says that, of course, that puts her in at number 4. Cirie tells Danielle that it is obvious that Terry plans to take Courtney to the final two. She suggests that they tell Terry that they are going to vote for Aras as planned, but that they actually vote for Courtney. Cirie tells the camera that she really wants Courtney gone.
The immunity challenge is an endurance challenge. Each person is on their knees on a platform extended out over the water. They have two ropes hanging down above them that they must hold on to. The ropes are attached by pulley to a hook where bags of weight can be hung. Each person will need to hold the ropes supporting 20% of their own body weight. If, after every 15 minutes, they are still holding on, more weight will be added. If they release the ropes, the weights fall and release the platform they are on so that they fall into the water.
The tribe arrives at the challenge and Terry surrenders the immunity necklace which now has his name embroidered on it....ok, just kidding, but it might as well have. Aras returnes from Exile Island. They are placed in position and the challenge begins. Aras, Shane and Cirie and Terry are all supporting about 34 pounds, Danielle and Courtney 24 pounds. Shane is the first one out at 13 minutes. Weight is added, another 10%, at the 15 minute mark. Cirie is groaning aloud and soon the ropes have slipped through her hands and she is down. Aras is struggling, as is Danielle. Danielle goes first. Aras goes soon after. Aras just lets go. Just back from Exile Island, he couldn't do it. That leaves Terry and Courtney. Courtney seems to be meditating. They reach the 30 minute mark and another 10 % is added to the weights. Terry is holding 68 pounds and Courtney is holding 48 pounds, 40% of their body weight. Terry is struggling a little but Courtney breaks first and Terry wins immunity for the fourth straight time.
The tribe returns to camp. Terry is delighted and sure Aras is going to go home. Courtney explains to Cirie that they are all voting Aras. Shane will be voting for Danielle, but Danielle, Courtney, Terry and Cirie will vote Aras and Aras will probably vote for Danielle with Shane. Terry is pleased. Shane is pleased. Cirie smiles and says, fine fine, that's fine. Cirie knows that Shane and Terry both want to take Courtney to the final two. Cirie tells the camera that she is going to try to mess up Shane and Terry's plans and possibly give herself, Danielle and Aras a little more leverage in the game. Cirie gets Aras and explains to him exactly what is going on. She tells him that if he will vote for Courtney with she and Danielle, they can take control of the game with their three votes. They will be in power for the next vote with a majority of 3 over two, Shane and Terry. Danielle, Aras, and Cirie agree to vote for Courtney. They each lie to either Shane and Terry as needed, claiming they are voting for either Danielle or Aras respectively. Cirie hopes Danielle follows through with the plan.
Cirie's plan is brilliant. She is getting rid of the person most likely to be drug along to be in the final two, improving her chances of being there instead. She is cementing a bond with Aras and Danielle at the tail end of the game when there are only 5 players and it only takes 3 people to be a majority. My respect for her game play has grown leaps and bounds from those first days in this game, and I really hope that it is recognized by the others so that if she does make it to the final two, she is rewarded for playing a far better game than Terry, for example, who won many challenges, but had no clue how to form alliances or bonds other than just saying, "wanna be with me on this?" His lame idea to bribe Danielle with the immunity idol was just pathetic. He is now guaranteed at least one more safe week, guaranteeing him the final four. If he continues to win all the immunity challenges, he will end up in the final two. If it ended up as Terry and Cirie in the final two, I would hope Cirie would win for being a more cunning and intelligent strategist than Terry. Time will tell.
The tribe arrives at tribal council and the jury is brought in, Austin, Sally and Bruce. The tribe applauds Bruce's return.
Jeff asks if there was any bonding between Terry, Danielle and Courtney at the BBQ. Terry says it was more of a team bonding thing because they won the challenge. Jeff then asks Cirie if when she hears Terry say this, does she believe him. Cirie says she doesn't buy it. She says that they may want them to think they were just having fun but as long as they are here and their torch is lit, there's game going on. Jeff also asks Terry if people are coming to him and trying to join up with him. Terry says no.
Aras says that Casaya is holding strong, but now at this point, they must vote off one of their own. Shane says that they have to "eat one of their own" and people are running all sorts of scenarios in their head regarding who they want to go on in the game with, to the final two. Jeff mentions that in that challenge with the surveys, Courtney took a lot of hits. Courtney says that nobody is really hanging onto that challenge and that she doesn't think it makes her an automatic choice for final two.
They vote.
Jeff retrieves the container and begins to read out the votes. First vote, Aras. Then Danielle. Then Aras. No surprises so far. Then Courtney's name shows up. The second vote for Courtney and Shane jerks his head around and his eyes get wide. The third vote is read. Courtney is the 11th person voted out of Exile Island. Shane is dumbfounded. Terry is pursing his lips. As she walks away from the torch snuffing, Courtney turns and stares back in complete amazement.
Aras, Danielle and Cirie voted for Courtney. Shane voted for Danielle. Terry voted for Aras. Cirie has turned the game on it's ear and totally shocked those people who THOUGHT they were in control. Cirie's alliance now consists of Cirie, Aras and Danielle. I really think Aras is the ONLY one physically capable of beating Terry in some of the physical challenges. This game just got a lot more interesting.
Next week, the reactions to the council appear to start on the way back to camp in the dark. Aras is explaining to Shane that Cirie sniffed out the plot to remove him. Shane is asking Cirie if someone is trying to pull a fast one and she responds "come on, now" trying to reassure him. Later we see Aras telling Terry, "you are starting to offend me." Then, at what must be the family visit reward challenge, we see Shane drop to his knees crying.
So, this week on cbs.com, you can vote for the most powerful player. I'm voting for Cirie.
