Survivor: Samoa

09-09-2009 | JillValentine

[JillValentine]

Premiers Thursday, September 17 @ 8PM EDT/PDT on SeeBS

20 new contestants will compete for the $1 million prize on the islands of Samoa

Who will be the sole Survivor?

[Synthex]

One of the best tribal councils I have ever seen.

When Russell played the idol, you could just see the horror on Galu’s faces.

Monica was face palming, probably thinking she was done for.

Laura was shooting dirty looks everywhere.

Dave looked amusingly shocked as if he was surprised anyone could outplay him.

Mr. Rocket Scientist looks sick.

Kelly looks like she doesn’t see it coming at all...until her name comes up.

And Brett may have turned into a Chameleon and blended in with the set because he was practically invisible.

[newfreep]

I’ve only watched snippets this season but for Russell to find the idol TWICE makes one wonder if the show’s producers are feeding him location info to keep the game interesting.

[JillValentine]

Amazing Race ping.

[girlscout]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JillValentine]

SURVIVOR PING!

Aiga (Merged) Tribe: Brett, Dave, Jaison, John, Laura, Mick, Monica, Natalie, Russell H., Shambo

The Jury: Erik, Kelly

Losers: Marisa, Mike, Betsy, Ben, Yasmin, Ashley, Russell S., Liz

Episode 10 title: "The Day Of Reckoning"

Panic strikes the Galus as they begin following Russell around, thinking he has some sort of special idol-finding ability. Tempers flare and an alliance threatens to splinter apart at the most dramatic tribal council yet. A clever castaway jeopardizes the success of a scheme to ensure their own safety in the game.

Reward Challenge: A weapons challenge in a series of stages, with some contestants being eliminated at each stage. Different parts of the challenge will include throwing weapons at ceramic tiles and shooting a giant crossbow at a target.

Immunity Challenge: ?

Spoilers (highlight to see):

Reward challenge winner: ?

Immunity challenge winner: Jaison?

Voted Off: Just a rumor, but here's what might happen: Shambo switches to Foa Foa's side and forces a 5-5 tie at tribal council. The contestants re-vote, with Jeff Probst warning them that if they're still tied, there will be the dreaded...PURPLE ROCK!!!11eleven

Fearing the Purple Rock (TM), one of the Galus switches their vote, sending Laura onto the jury.

I'll be back after the show with the recap.

[Neets]

I now believe the entire show is a set-up.

[Lee'sGhost]

The only problem is...it’s too damn obvious. Maybe that’s their genius. But I don’t think so.

[codercpc]

I personally think that Russell is the best player ever!!!!

For years we have been complaining about "Mactors" and not real fans being on the show. We finally have a real fan and he is playing to win. Obviously Russell knows this game inside and out, and is showing it every week.

[PeteB570]

Why?

Just because Russell is the only one with brains for idol hunting?

5 people got the same clue. Russell had been hunting all over camp looking for the idol already. He knew where most of the moss covered rocks were. Dave was right there digging where the idol was and Russell knew it so he takes off running.

What did Russell say “Can you keep up with me?” Run - Run -Run - next words from Dave were “I lost him” and Russell ran right back to the same rock dug a little more and - SCORE!!!!!!!

Man , was John ever cutting on old Galu.

[Slicksadick]

Agree with you Codercpc, Russell is the best player ever. Also, Natalie has one finest figures ever as well.

It seems Russell took a few weeks off from really stirring the sh!t up, but letting the chickens go was funny as hell.

[JillValentine]

I question the wisdom of the rocket scientist. What’s John gotten himself, sixth place, behind the Foa Foa four and Shambo? Not only that, but all of Galu is now pissed at him, and a lot of them are going to be on the jury. A one in seven chance at going home by drawing a purple rock - seems like pretty good odds compared to what he just stepped in.

He did ask Russell to get rid of a Foa Foa next, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

[JillValentine]

Russell? Best player ever? Hardly. Best player this season? Not even that. He’s made quite a lot of mistakes - trying to make too many alliances too early and getting called out as untrustworthy, playing an idol when he didn’t need to, and thinking that sabotaging his own tribe was a smart move when in reality it just put them down in numbers and in a big hole.

In the first post-merge episode, Russell kept getting shot down when he tried to make alliances with Galu. It was Natalie who was able to work her way into the Galu group and eventually pave the way for the blindside of Erik, which set Foa Foa’s comeback in motion. In addition, Russell’s fear and hatred of strong women is not only a damn good reason for me to dislike him, it’s also hurting his game. Russell’s response to any assertive woman was to try to get her voted out, when he could have helped himself by working with her instead of trying to get rid of her.

Of course, since SeeBS has been giving Russell so much screen time and leaving so little for the others, it’s easy to get the impression that he’s “the only one playing the game.” It’s just that we don’t see much of anyone else’s game.

[JillValentine]

Confessional count (10 episodes):

Russell H. 60
Shambo 26
Jaison 20
Mick 19
Erik 17
Russell S. 15
John 14
Laura 14
Dave 13
Monica 12
Ashley 11
Liz 9
Natalie 8
Kelly 6
Ben 5
Betsy 5
Mike 5
Brett 3
Marisa 3
Yasmin 3

[PeteB570]

John could still pull it out.

He would need to lock in Shambo - Final two promise.

Once one more Galu is gone - get remaining Monica or Brett with Final two promise.

That's three.

And then work on Jaison - Jaison is touchy - “Hey, they'll bounce you at # 4, I'll give you final three and a shot at a million dollars.”

But I don't think he's that smart - even for a rocket scientist.

[proud American in Canada]

Hi,would you please add me to your ping list?

And count me in as a Russell fan. :) I’d be happy if either he or Shambo wins.

[Texas2step]

I question the wisdom of the rocket scientist. What’s John gotten himself, sixth place, behind the Foa Foa four and Shambo?

I think it was a smart move on John's part. He probably already figured out he was #5 out of Galu's 6 (Shambo being 6). When Monica was approached by FoaFoa to switch, she said she would consider it if John was voted out. When Galu came up with the plan to send word to FoaFoa they were voting a Galu out, it was John's name that was used. John was not long for the game unless he switched, IMHO.

With the switch, and knowing Russell the way everyone knows Russell, he probably figured he could break the FoaFoa alliance after they had gotten rid of enough Galu and secure a top 3 or better position.

[Texas2step]

Russell? Best player ever? Hardly. Best player this season? Not even that.

Correct, but definitely better than most who have played the game. Maybe "hardest" player ever? C'mon, give the guy a little credit. His tenacity has kept FoaFoa around. Sure, Natalie is the one the others trusted and she got them to vote out Erik, but the other major moves have been Russell's.

He’s made quite a lot of mistakes...

Absolutely. At the beginning of the season, I hated, hated, Russell. The pouring water out of canteens and burning socks was not only unnecessary, it was stupid. And, yes, he was overly aggressive in forming alliances. But, he's worked his butt off to play the game.

He trusts no one (smart). He knew there would be a hidden immunity idol in camp (3!) and he's worked hard to find them. Maybe it's editing, but who else has looked for the HII? Again, smart. And, he's made some very smart alliances (Natalie from the beginning), and the key alliance in Shambo.

Best player ever? Probably not. But he's darn good.

[RobFromGa]

Russell and Natalie are both great together and they would both be gone by now if it weren’t for each others skills.

I see a Russell/Natalie showdown at final two. the third person (mick or jaison?) will be along for the ride...

[JillValentine]

SURVIVOR RECAP!

Aiga (Merged) Tribe: Brett, Dave, Jaison, John, Mick, Monica, Natalie, Russell H., Shambo

The Jury: Erik, Kelly, Laura

Losers: Marisa, Mike, Betsy, Ben, Yasmin, Ashley, Russell S., Liz

LAURA VOTED OUT IN DRAMATIC REVOTE AFTER DRAMATIC TIE

The remaining members of the former Galu tribe return to camp completely shell-shocked from Kelly’s blindside at Tribal Council. Meanwhile, Russell of the Foa Foa Four relaxes on the hammock, relishing in his recent victory. “My work is done. It’s like a painting, like a Picasso,” says Russell. “They’ll write me a check for a million dollars for this work,” Russell chuckles. While Dave praises Russell for his brilliant move at Tribal Council, the Galu women, led by Laura, are in total shock and disbelief. “We really should have known better,” says Laura. Shambo praises Russell for angering Laura, and tells him that she overhead Laura saying that Russell had “ruined everything.” “I ruined everything? What did she think I’m here for? To bake her cookies and cakes?” Russell laughs. Shambo then determines her next move: “I gotta find that immunity idol…give it to Russ again!” she exclaims.

THE SIXTH VOTE

The next morning, Russell snoops around camp, blindly searching for the hidden immunity idol. “I will find it. It’ll be the third one. They’re like magnets to me. I’m just drawn to them,” Russell boasts. Shambo, hungry to take out Laura as soon as possible, seeks out John to persuade him to be the sixth person to vote out Laura at the next Tribal Council. Shambo insists that, since Laura has won the past two immunity challenges, she must be taken out at the first chance they get. “I wanna know that if she doesn’t win it, will you be the sixth vote to put her out?” Shambo asks John. “I don’t have an answer to that question right now,” John replies. John’s plan is to use the knowledge that Shambo has flipped to the Foa Foa side to his advantage when the time is right. “I gotta do what’s right for me,” John reveals.

REWARD CHALLENGE: GET HOOKED

The Aiga tribe arrives on their mat. Host Jeff Probst explains the rules of the challenge. The tribe will be divided into two teams of five. One person from each team will lie face down in a cradle that is suspended in the air. Attached to that cradle are four ropes. The other four people will pull on the ropes to maneuver the person in the cradle as they gather fifteen flags, one at a time, in order, and place them in their appropriate numbered spot. The first team to get all fifteen flags correctly placed wins a plane trip to the island of Savai’i, where they will enjoy a picnic lunch at a beautiful waterfall. In addition, they will receive the Palm Pre phone by Sprint, which will enable them to take photos of the trip.

The yellow team consists of Shambo, Jaison, Monica and Mick, with John in the cradle. The purple team consists of Dave, Brett, Laura and Russell, with Natalie in the cradle. The purple team takes an early lead, with Natalie nearly hanging out of the cradle in order to quickly retrieve the flags. John knocks out one of the flags for the yellow team, which puts them behind. Natalie hangs out of the cradle, using only her legs to keep her from falling out, and continues the purple team’s lead. The purple team of Russell, Brett, Dave, Laura and Natalie are able to maintain their lead and ultimately win the reward.

SAVAI’I REWARD

Russell, Dave, Brett, Laura and Natalie board a small plane and fly to the Samoan island of Savai’i. Upon their arrival, they are rewarded with a large picnic lunch beneath a beautiful waterfall. The castaways indulge themselves in the delicious feast consisting of pies, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and breads. “I needed the food. I literally was wasting away,” says Natalie.

A TRAITOR IN THE CAMP

Back at the Aiga camp, Jaison and Mick try to sway Monica to their side by offering her protection in the game. Jaison admits that one of the original Galu members flopped to their side, which gives them a guaranteed five votes to Galu’s five. To avoid a tie at the next Tribal Council, Jaison suggests that Monica be the sixth vote for Foa Foa. Monica becomes suspicious that the traitor from her original tribe is Shambo, but declares to Mick and Jaison that she wants to vote out John. “We can absolutely do that,” Mick replies.

ANOTHER CLUE

Back on Savai’i, Russell notices one of the photos on the Palm Pre phone, which instructs him to check the memo board on the phone for a clue to the hidden immunity idol. The castaways gather around as Brett reads the clue. “A rolling stone gathers no moss,” Brett reads. The phone also instructs them to go to the “videos” section to see a visual clue. Laura goes first as the team members each take turns passing the phone around to look at the clue, which shows a moss-covered rock being removed behind a wall to reveal the hidden immunity idol.

THE HUNT IS ON

When the challenge winners return to camp from Savai’i, they immediately begin searching for the idol. Dave suspects that the rock is behind a mossy wall in the jungle but, when he removes a rock with moss, he does not find the idol. Russell, firmly believing that the idol is behind that same wall, gives Dave a run for his money when he challenges him to a jog in the jungle. “The party’s on,” says Russell. Russell’s plan works perfectly when Dave loses him during the run, and Russell doubles back to the wall. He pulls back the same rock with moss on it, reaches deep into the hole, and discovers the hidden immunity idol. “It’s getting way too easy,” boasts Russell.



MONICA’S WARNING

The next day, Monica reveals to Laura that Mick and Jaison hinted that a traitor was among them. Monica suspects that the traitor is Shambo, who has been gunning to vote out Laura for a long time. Laura sees Shambo’s loyalties to the Foa Foa Four as a threat to her future in the game. “Sham just completely despises me. I need to be on the top of my game and I have to win this challenge,” Laura proclaims.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE: SPEAR ME THE DETAILS

The Aiga tribe arrives on the mat. Host Jeff Probst explains the rules of the challenge. For the first part of the challenge, each tribe member will have three tiles of the same color, arranged close together. Each tribe member must throw one rock in an attempt to break as many of the tiles as possible. For every tile that a tribe member breaks, they will earn one spear, which they will use in the second part of the challenge. In the second part of the challenge, the tribe members will shoot their spears at a target. The person whose spear lands closest to the bulls-eye wins immunity.

Jaison knocks out one tile. Dave knocks out one of Monica’s tiles, giving her one spear. Mick breaks one tile. Brett knocks out two tiles with one rock. To Shambo and Russell’s delight, Laura does not break any of her tiles. In the second part of the challenge, Brett sets the mark to beat. Jaison and Monica are unable to beat the mark set by Brett, and it all comes down to Mick and Brett. Mick sets the new mark to beat when his spear lands just inside of Brett’s. Brett launches his final spear, but it hits too low. With this, Mick wins immunity.

A FIGHTING CHANCE

With Tribal Council looming, Russell is elated that Laura did not win immunity and is vulnerable now at Tribal Council. “It’s five to five because Shambo is voting Laura, there’s no if, ands and buts about that,” says Russell. Shambo breaks the news to Brett that she is voting for Laura. “There is no more Galu,” she says. Dave and Monica devise a plan to vote out Natalie by tricking the Foa Foa Four to vote for John while Shambo votes for Laura. With the remaining five Galu members voting for Natalie, Natalie will be voted out. Monica begins campaigning to vote out John with the former Foa Foa members, but Russell is not buying it and decides to talk to John. Before he can do this, Brett reveals Monica’s plan to John, which does not sit well with him. “Um, no, doesn’t sound like a good plan when you’re John,” he says. “I’m not risking my life to save Laura’s,” John reveals. Russell then approaches John with the knowledge that he believes Monica is swindling him. Fearful of a tie, John makes a deal with Russell that if there is a tie, he will change his vote to Laura in exchange for voting out a Foa Foa member at the following Tribal Council.




TRIBAL COUNCIL

At Tribal Council, Shambo states that Galu is not a tightly knit tribe, which is challenged by Laura. Host Jeff Probst brings to Laura’s attention that if only one member of the original Galu tribe flipped sides, there could be a tie. The rules of Survivor state that if there is a tie, there will be a re-vote by everyone except the two people that were voted for. If there is a second tie, everyone will be forced to draw rocks, in which the person voted out will be left up to chance. Dave admits that he is willing to risk leaving his fate in the game to chance in order to stay true to his original tribe. “You’ve got to be willing to make big moves in this game in order to win. I’d say there’s nothing bigger than lady luck,” he states. With this, the vote ends in a five-five tie, in which Laura and Natalie were voted for. After the re-vote, John flips to Foa Foa’s side, and with five out of the remaining eight votes cast against her, Laura is voted out. Laura Morett, the 39 year-old office manager from Salem, Oregon, became the ninth person voted out and the third member of the jury of SURVIVOR: SAMOA.

Next week's (Thanksgiving) episode is the rec(r)ap episode. The next new Survivor is Thursday, December 3.

"I'm asking you, for both our sakes, to become my ally again." - Yul, to Jonathan, Survivor: Cook Islands

[tob2]

When Russell found that third hidden immunity idol, I lost it. Screamed at the TV like you would not believe! Then I went and threw up.