Last week, Sash scrambled more than a fry cook during the breakfast rush, especially given that most of his alliance had just quit the game. He had the HII, but fortunately for him, he didn’t need to play it, because he won immunity. With two three-strong alliances on either side of him, it was inevitable that one would crack before the other. At TC, both Dan and Benry turned on their ally Fabio, but the last laugh went to the other camp of Holly, Chase and Jane who, along with Sash, teamed up to get physical threat Benry out. Six remain, and I have to ask myself: when are these people going to get wise and vote Jane off? There are only three TC’s left, and she is the biggest threat to win the million bucks. That couldn’t possibly be more obvious. So stop worrying about Sash’s HII and Fabio’s prowess at challenges, get the biggest threat out of there.
Night 32. One week to go (game time). Upon returning to camp following TC, Sash immediately pulls Fabio aside and tells him he’s got his back. Of course, he then tells us in interview that nothing short of winning immunity will save him. Lying to someone’s face is not something I approve of, but I certainly understand it. Fabio seems to accept Sash’s word, and if he knows what’s good for him, he’ll start campaigning against Jane posthaste, or he’ll be the next one out. Fabio then tells us that he’s a lot smarter than people think he is, which… um… let’s just say that a phrase with the words “talk” and “walk” spring to mind.
The next morning, treemail takes the form of a Sprint cell phone with video capabilities, so you just know it’s going to be messages from home. Yup. Cue the soft piano, grab the nearest box of Kleenex, it’s that time of the season. Each person gets a brief message from various family members, and everyone starts bawling, even Dan. Hey, a full month without your support system is a long damn time.
Reward Challenge. The prizes tend to get more grandiose as the season progresses, and this is no exception. After taking back the cell phone, Jeff explains that the winner of this challenge will get to take a cruise down the Nicaraguan coast, with plenty of food and drink to partake of, and will also have the cell phone to take pictures for themselves. Oh, and their loved ones will be joining them. Now THAT’S incentive. Once again the music swells, and family members dart out of the forest, including: Chase’s mother Connie, Fabio’s mother Anne (who chuckles when Jeff informs her of her son’s name change), Sash’s mother Leigh, Dan’s son Matthew, Jane’s daughter Ashley, and Holly’s husband Charlie. The outpouring of affection is rampant. ‘Scuse me whilst I wipe a tear away…
The challenge: the castaways race up a ramp and dive into a pool to retrieve two bags of letter tiles, one at a time. They then hand the bags to their loved ones, who must unscramble the tiles into the three-word phrase “Family Comes First”. It’s a very close race, but it’s Chase and Connie that finish first. Jeff gives him the option of taking two other duos with him, and he makes up for last week’s mistake by finally picking Sash and Leigh. And because Holly mentioned that she missed her 25th wedding anniversary to be on the show, Chase chooses her and Charlie. Fabio is taking not being chosen really hard; he sobs that he would have taken Chase had he won, and it hurts even more because he and his mother live in different states. All Chase can do is apologize. Dan calls Chase a “scumbag” under his breath. Sadly, all Dan, Fabio and Jane can do is say goodbye, and Anne gives her son some terrific motherly advice: “Get your head in the game”. WTG, Mom.
Back at camp, Jane, Dan and Fabio commiserate over their mutual loathing of Chase. Jane, too, is hurt because Ashley will be off to college soon and this was their last summer together. I think the Carolina coalition is over and done with, and it’s about time. If Fabio plays his cards right, he can get off the chopping block by joining with Dan and Jane. That would just leave Holly to choose whether he wants to stay with Chase or remain with Jane. Meanwhile, the other three castaways indulge in sub sandwiches, pistachios, watermelon, cookies, beer and champagne. Not much else to say about that, really, except that Holly seems to be casting her lot in with Sash and Chase and leaving Jane behind. Which means it’s going to be 3-3 unless something changes.
The winners aren’t back at camp for thirty seconds before Fabio takes Chase on a guilt trip, lamenting his mother’s too-short visit and the fact that Chase has won four RC’s in a row. Thankfully, it’s a short trip, and Fabio then shows quite a bit of maturity by telling us that Survivor isn’t a game where you can hold grudges, because they are distractions you can’t afford.
Immunity Challenge. Wow, that was a quick few days, because the caption as we zoom up to the IC reads “Day 36.” Four days in twenty minutes? Must have been uneventful. This challenge is a toughie: players are blindfolded, and they must make their way to a shield whose surface is covered with designs of various shapes. Using their fingers to trace the shapes, they then grab a bag of pieces and run to a blank shield, where they must use their memory to re-create the design. It comes down to a race between Fabio and Chase, but this time, Fabio wins. And I couldn’t be happier. Take that, Chase. And take THAT, Sash.
Strategy time. Dan, who has been amazing to last this long, is nearing the end of his rope physically. Chase proposes to Fabio that they vote Dan out, but Fabio replies that Jane needs to go at some point. Chase, apparently, isn’t ready for that yet. Wuss. However, one final conversation with Sash and Holly apparently have Chase convinced that it’s time to cut the umbilical cord. When Jane joins her “alliance”, she asks if Dan is now their only option. The silence is deafening. Under Jane’s withering stare, Sash and Chase crumble, and reveal to her that they think she’s the biggest threat. Jane’s awesome response is a blurred-out upturned middle finger. Even awesomer: she dumps two buckets of water on the fire that SHE started. Amidst a cloud of billowing smoke, she says, “I started it, by gum, I’ll put it out.” I love Jane. I hope you all haven’t mistaken my saying that she needs to go as a sign that I don’t like her, far from it. I’m just saying that yes, strategically, she is the biggest threat to win. What jury member wouldn’t give their vote to a down-on-her-luck widow who has played the game with integrity and shown more toughness than anyone, including the men half her age? This moment was coming, and now that it’s here, it’s a terrible thing to behold.
Tribal Council. Jeff brings the jury in, which, for the first and only time, is the same size as the field that’s still playing. Benry still looks pissed off as hell. It takes no time at all for Jane to take the floor, and she tears into her former alliance, including calling Holly out for stealing and submerging Dan’s alligator shoes. (NaOnka makes a “Say Whaaaaaaaat??” face.) Chase lays it all out, that the time has finally come to send the biggest threats home, starting with Jane. He then turns to Sash and Holly for what they’re going to do next. Jeez, does this guy even HAVE a mind of his own? (Benry mutters “Oh my God…”) Sash and Holly agree that Fabio and Dan are going next.
Jeff then asks Jane, Dan and Fabio what they plan to do, given the three-strong alliance determined to take them out. Jane suggests that Dan and Fabio join her and vote for Holly, because both Chase and Sash have HIIs. This would force a tie-break which, though never a preferable choice, seems to be the best one. Jeff, sufficiently smug after getting all the dirty laundry out, asks Holly if she feels as safe as she did ten minutes before. She says definitely not. Chase just looks like a deer in headlights, which makes Marty and Brenda very pleased.
Voting time, and for the second straight week, we are not made privy to anyone’s vote. Hmm. Jeff collects the urn, and asks Sash and Chase if they want to play their HIIs. Not surprisingly, both of them do, which means that they, too, are safe, because any votes cast for them will not count, not that I think there will be any. Out come the slips. Jane. Jane. Jane. And… Jane. It’s funny, I said at the beginning of this recap that Fabio should campaign against Jane to save himself, and that’s what he did. But a lot happened between then and now, and I can’t help but wonder what happens next. Fabio’s only chance to survive is to keep winning immunity, because if the Chase/Sash/Holly alliance is as strong as it seems to be, they now have the majority. Jane’s torch is snuffed, and off she goes. Marty actually looks satisfied. Prick.
This Sunday: it all comes to an end. Two more challenges, two more Tribal Councils, and the jury vote.
