Use It or Lose It
Episode recap: Ready to Bite the Apple
Okay, was that not the coolest
Survivor reward ever? Two weeks ago, when dear Frosti was bumped from the tribe and we poor sots thought that that chapter was over
Jeff pulled a To Be Continued saying there was "more business". Wheels started turning in people's minds. What could this mean? Well, I'll tell you what it meant: There was another reward challenge to be held immediately after tribal council. It whisked the winner, Peih-Gee, and two of chosen tribemates, Erik and Denise, to the 1500-year-old Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of kung fu, where Shaolin monks still practice this ancient martial art. I mean, come on, that is a fantastic reward.
It was a special treat for Denise who, it turns out, is a near black belt at karate, having studied for eight years. I love that she continues to surprise me and her tribemates with stuff like this. I hope she sticks around a lot longer in the game because it wold be sweet to see her outlast the other players who have marginalized her. Yet it bugs me to see that Denise's loyalty to her alliance is unreciprocated. There she is away on a reward with the two other outcasts and her alliance is whooping it up back at camp exclaiming how great it is to be just those four. Where's the love for Denise, I ask? At least our favorite lunch lady got a once in a lifetime, up close and personal demonstration from the monks of something that was meaningful to her. That totally makes up for her being overlooked before.
As amazed as Denise was by the monks I am by Peih-Gee and her staying power. She's not liked at camp. She's been on 'the list' for a while, yet she manages to survive tribal council time and again. Every week she's pushing that same old, "if we band together we can vote them out" strategy that everyone ignores. But she doesn't give up and that's admirable. Even tonight, last to know Peih-Gee stumbles across James's hidden idols and comes up with a plan that the remaining Fei Long have already put into play. What is it with Zhan Hu always being a few steps behind? I cracked up when she asked Amanda if she knew that James had the idols and Amanda was like, "Duh! I'm not stupid".
It's about time somebody had the nerve to force James Of The Two Idols' hand. The Former Fei Longers voted against James hoping he wouldn't use an idol and the remaining Zhan Hu's voted for Todd
which, of course, means that his little neck was really on the block. James has been quick to toss out adapted biblical references in this game to keep things inline as he sees them. I'll do the same:
It is better to give up an idol than to keep two of them and lose the million dollars. Yes, James, you made the wrong choice tonight and ended up taking that walk of shame out of the pagoda. In a refreshing move he didn't leave a bitter goodbye message.
Six are left and one alliance has already started cannibalizing itself. Which way will this game go next? Courtney displayed some skill with the star toss. Todd is losing his hold over his group. Erik, this week's immunity winner, and Peih-Gee are holding their own in challenges. Amanda wants to make a powerplay and Denise could do the same. To my eyes, it's anybody's game now.
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