Survivor - Guatemala: The Official Thread

Various Websites and my fertile brain | August 11, 2005 | Cuz_it_aint_their_money

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Hidden deep in the rainforests of Central America, stand the ruins of an ancient civilization that once prospered, and then vanished. These were the Maya people, and this is the country of Guatemala.

These stunning cities of the past stand as clues to a mystery thousands of years old. While Europe was in the dark ages, it was the Maya who harnessed the knowledge of the stars, and the celestial movements, to create a mystical union of man, nature and the gods. It was a world of great kings, elaborate ceremonies, fierce battles, and even human sacrifice.

18 Survivors will be marooned within this mysterious and rugged terrain.

For the first time, the castaways will actually live within the ruins of a vanished civilization, and they will be forced to embrace the ancient Maya lifestyle.

Join us as the adventure continues with:

PREMIERS THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 15, 2005
8:00PM ET/PT

[MomwithHope]

My daughter said this morning that the small idol COULD get you to the final 4 but that it can only be used once. If someone felt they were not in danger of being voted off they could keep mum about it and wait til the final 5 to use it. Guess we'll have to wait and see. I wondered why Gary gave it to Jeff, she could be right, it's a one time use.
I agree with a previous poster that StepheME probably wants to be in the final 2 with Judd or Jamie so she will wind up getting the votes. In the preview for next week I think it is her talking with Lydia and Lydia is saying she did not feel comfortable with that. I think it is Steph asking her to vote Jamie off next. After Judd got drunk (again) and barfed in the shelter and has been such a jerk she is content with him as a partner and sees Jamie as more of a threat, physically and he is trying to get back into everyone's good graces.
It would be fun to see everyone ask Gary where he found the idol and him say in a tree and everyone look at Judd who said in tribal council that he had not lied to anyone. BUT Gary said it too and he lied about his identity. I think Rafe, Cindy and Lydia should get together they are 3 votes and they could swing the game in a different direction right now, especially if they play off Gary and Danni. See you all next week.
Oh yes and a big BUMMER! about my Bobby John getting voted off.

[Texas2step]

I think Rafe, Cindy and Lydia should get together they are 3 votes and they could swing the game in a different direction right now, especially if they play off Gary and Danni.

I'd like to see Rafe and Lydia (or maybe Cindy) swing over to voting with Gary and Danni. They've got to be thinking that they're not in the top 3 in their own alliance, and could be a chance to improve their positions.

At some point, in every Survivor I've seen where there is a "large" alliance (5 to 6 people), 2-3 of those folks start seeing that they aren't in the "top" of their alliance, and start looking at options.

I'm hoping they start doing that sooner, rather than later, while they can still do something about it. I'm pulling for Gary and Danni. But wouldn't mind seeing Rafe up there either. I'm neutral on Lydia and Cindy (coattailers, IMO), and would love to see Jamie, Judd, and StepheME start going home.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Good morning all! Its Monday morning so that means its time for your:

SURVIVOR RECAP ! ! !

The Xhakum Tribe: (Red buffs)
Cindy, Danni, Gary, Jamie, Judd, Lydia, Rafe, StepheME

The Jury:
Bobby Jon

The Losers:
Jim, Morgan, Brianna, Brooke, Blake, Margaret, Brian, Amy, Brandon

Well folks, once again, I’m suffering from the ravishes of the common cold so your going to have to settle for a simple cut and past from the SeeBS website, instead of my typical witty comments. Sorry, hope to be back in top form by Thursday.

QUARTERBACK SNEAK
Gary snags Immunity, Bobby Jon gone.
On night 24, in an unprecedented "Hail Mary" move, Gary, the ex-professional football player, shocked his tribemates by pulling out the hidden Immunity idol the moment before the vote. With Gary suddenly immune, the tribe voted out Bobby Jon Drinkard, the 27-year-old waiter from Troy, Alabama and contestant on SURVIVOR: PALAU, making him the tenth person voted out of SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA. Shortly after being voted out of the game for a second time, Bobby Jon admitted, "I was surprised, and had no idea Gary was going to pull out that idol."

GOT NO CLASS
When the tribe returned form Tribal Council, Jamie was visibly upset over Bobby Jon's "no class" comments. Jamie announced, "I ain't angry; my feelings are hurt." Bobby Jon attempted to make amends, but Jamie continued, "Saying 'no class' is like saying I'm white trash." In an effort to make peace, the two alpha males shook hands. After an apology from Bobby Jon, Rafe commented, "If Jamie does not use this as an experience to learn and change from, then I am going to change up this game."

NUMBERS GAME
At Xhakum, Bobby Jon, Danni and Gary felt alienated and outnumbered by the alliance of six. Hoping to change their destiny, the three underdogs intensified their search for the hidden Immunity idol. Drawing on his former athletic achievements, Gary put it best, "I'm going to pull out everything I can to get as far as I can." Emphasizing the importance of finding the stone statue, Bobby Jon exclaimed, "I need that idol now!"

REWARD CHALLENGE: ATLATL
As the tribe convened at the Reward Challenge, host Jeff Probst explained the object of the game: use an ancient Maya weapon called and Atlatl to sling an arrow at a huge target on the ground. Each person would get only one throw. The arrow closest to the target's center wins. The Reward: a feast and clue to the location of the hidden Immunity idol. The unusual feast would have diminishing returns. From first to last place, the meals would decrease in size. Referring to the feast, Jeff hinted, "First place is steak and lobster…last place is not."

Judd was up first and his throw set the mark to beat. First through forth place positions changed with each successive toss with the Atlatl. At the end of the competition, in an uncharacteristic move, Jamie opted to trade his fourth-place finish for last place. Wanting to make amends for his recent bad behavior, Jamie explained, "We are one tribe now, and I'm sorry I didn't see that sooner." When Jeff Probst asked Rafe what he thought of Jamie's selfless act, Rafe responded, "It shows that Jamie learned a lot, and I think it is awesome."

REWARD: SURF AND TURF
At the Reward dinner, the tribe was treated to an unusual feast. Because Judd won, he received his clue to the hidden Immunity idol and a steak and lobster dinner. Sitting in the last-place spot at the end of the table, Jamie was served a small bowl of ramon nuts and a glass of dirty lake water. Before the eating could begin, Judd was allowed to pick two people to join him at his table for food and an open bar. After picking Bobby Jon and Stephanie to join him, the three gorged on the food and drank until their hearts and stomachs were content. Bobby Jon tried to be respectful of the others while they ate and drank, but their overindulgence did not sit well with Gary, who complained, "Two hours of watching them gorge themselves and get drunk: not my idea of fun."

BOTTOMS UP
When the tribe returned to camp, Judd and Bobby Jon were drunk from vodka. With alcohol clouding their judgment, they attempted to move a large tree to use as firewood. In their inebriated state, their wood-gathering turned to tree wrestling. The tree won, and Judd took a tumble down a hill.

MY LITTLE SECRET
Early in the morning, Judd could not keep the contents of the Immunity idol clue to himself and shared it with Stephanie. The clue indicated the hidden idol might be up in a tree. Stephanie noted, "Basically what it said is, it is not on the ground." In an attempt to throw everyone else off the trail of the idol, Judd tells them it is definitely on the ground. Later, Judd said, "I don't have a problem lying to the other guys at all. That's what the game is all about."

JAMIE GETS PARANOID
Jamie started to feel paranoid and feared he might be voted out for his previous bad behavior. Rafe began to question Jamie's motives: "I'm not sure it was out of the kindness of his heart…. I don't really think it was, so I don't trust Jamie." Later, Gary told Jamie he would vote with him at the next Tribal Council. Paranoid, Jamie believed Gary was going to vote for him, not with him. Jamie created confusion in the camp when he told the others Gary was going to vote him off. Stephanie started to see Jamie as a huge liability and a threat, noting, "He seems like a loose cannon, and he could ruin our entire plan."

TREE MAIL
The entire tribe contemplated the meaning of the Tree Mail for the upcoming Immunity Challenge. Knowing the Challenge would require dexterity and balance, Gary and Danni practiced balancing on the Maya pyramid, while Jamie continued to psych himself out. He confessed, "In this jungle, people start thinking too much. and it can all come back around on you."

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE: BRIDGE IT
When the tribe convened for the Immunity Challenge, Jeff Probst explained the rules of the game: Untie wooden planks attached to a balance beam, then use the planks to move across a rope bridge. The final round required navigating across a knotted rope bridge. Several Survivors tumbled from the balance beam and the ropes in a very close race, but in the end, Jamie reached the finish line first and took home the Immunity necklace.

BENCH HIM
Moments after arriving back at camp, Stephanie, Rafe, Judd and Jamie confirmed they were voting off Gary. The plan seemed simple, but a worried Stephenie wondered, "Why does it seem too easy? I'm getting nervous." Knowing Gary was a strong competitor, she added, "Gary is a huge physical threat, so unfortunately he just needs to go." Tensions were high around the Xhakum camp as the three remaining members of the old Yaxha tribe felt the pressure of the impending Tribal Council vote. Gary confessed, "I don't like going to Tribal Council, and I really don't want to go tonight, because it could be me."

Later, Gary approached Stephanie and asked her to tell him if they planned to vote him off. She said she would definitely tell him. Not trusting her, he asked her to look him in the eye and say it again. With a menacing glare, she confirmed she would tell him if he was the target. Bobby Jon then approached Judd and Jamie to warn them about trusting Stephanie by saying, "Watch out for the million-dollar grin." In turn, they reassured Bobby Jon that he was not the one being voted out.

THE HUNT IS ON
Desperate to find the hidden Immunity idol, Gary went on another mission into the jungle. Sneaking through the woods, Gary discovered Judd also searching for the idol. Gary was perplexed when he noticed Judd was not looking on the ground for the statue and said, "If it is on the ground, I wonder why he is looking in the trees." When Stephanie and Rafe realize Gary was on another search for the idol moments before Tribal Council, Stephanie exclaimed, "That would be amazing if he found it!"

TRIBAL COUNCIL
At Tribal Council it looked like Gary was going to be voted out. A moment before the votes were cast, he shocked the rest of the tribe when he reached into his bag and revealed the hidden Immunity idol. With Gary immune from the vote, the tribe voted out Bobby Jon Drinkard.

As usual, here are the comments made during voting and Bobby Jon’s final comments. These were transcribed last Friday, before my cold hit full force.

Judd (Votes Bobby Jon): Bobby Jon, man, I love ya, kid I didn't want to do this, man, but I gotta stick to, my alliance I am with the six. I love ya, kid.

Cindy (Votes Bobby Jon): This vote's...it's all about the strategy, Gary found the immunity idol, so I guess that's just the way things fell tonight, so...real sorry about it, but it's been awesome playin' the game with ya.

Bobby Jon (Votes Stephenie): Once you started taking control of the game, you know...how long you gonna last, but...better now than never I guess.

Stephenie (Votes Bobby Jon): Um, I'm glad you made the jury; if you're the one that goes tonight, I'm just stickin' to our plan all along, and I could be wrong, but...If it's not you, congrats.

Gary (Votes Cindy): Cindy, I thought you blew it when you voted for Brandon. So, I gotta take a vote for him.

Danni (Votes Stephenie): I know you'll forgive me for this tonight because you're in a safe position.

Jamie (Votes Bobby Jon): I'm glad we made up before you left... Wow. Um....right now Alabama pulled ahead in the race. Sorry.

Lydia (Votes Bobby Jon): You're truly an inspiration to me, you're a hard worker, a kind young man who has a bright future, I've learned so much from you, I've enjoyed our talks, and you know I hope you'll go far in the future. You're a great man and I'm happy to have known you.

Rafe (Votes Bobby Jon): Bobby Jon you're a great guy, I wasn't expecting to make this vote tonight, but, um, that's what happens in this game - so good luck to you.

Bobby Jon's Final Words
I have to tip off my hat to Gary because you know he kept fighting and he fought till the very end, and he found the idol, I don't know how long he had it for awhile or whatever, but just a great move by Gary.

The only thing - there's nobody to fault here - I don't even fault myself right now just for the fact that I got another chance - man, it was remarkable, and an amazing adventure, and I coulda won immunity today and I didn't, but I tell you what, just to be able to come out here and compete is something I will never forget.

I was very surprised by the outcome tonight, I really was. I had no clue that Gary was gonna pull out the Immunity Idol, and he did, and right when he pulled it out I knew I was goin' home, I knew for a fact - and I'm goin' home. Um, but, you know, I don't know, I had a couple of hard feelings I think goin' into this game, but you know, the good lord let me stay an extra few days and kind of let me iron 'em out, and I think I learned a lot about myself on this trip.

I would like to say that I do have regrets, about maybe not finding the Immunity Idol, but to be honest with you, I got a full plate out of this deal, I really did. I mean I wanted to win this game but, um, everything happens for a reason, and like I said, the good Lord didn't want me to win, he wanted me to be gone on Day 24, and that's all I can really say about that.

I think for as far as Palau vs. Guatemala and what I got out of each experience, I would definitely say Palau, I think I found out a lot more about myself, and a lot more about nature. Palau's just so much of a beautiful place that you can't even imagine. I mean you wake up, and it's just gorgeous, and before you go to sleep, it's gorgeous, and it's an amazing place, and I really got in tune with nature there, it was a gratifying experience.

I'll have to sit here and say in Guatemala just bein' here in these ruins that are thousands and thousands and thousands of years old that the Mayans built by hand and carved from just pure limestone and different other things, to me, it really trips me out, because I don't see how they did it, and they did, and that's something I really cherish - just the history that Guatemala and the Mayan empire had to offer, but I also think, in this experience in Guatemala, I learned a lot about myself and communicating with people this time.

I never quit in anything in my life and on Day 2 out here -- I thought I'd never die before, but if I were gonna die it was gonna be on day 2. I don't know what happened to me, my body completely shut down. I didn't know what was gonna happen to me. I bounced back and I came back, and, um, I just learned no matter how tough it is, no matter how hard it is, you can get through it, and that's somethin' I'll take with me forever as this experience. As just to be able to get up when you can't even move your legs, and really, just keep going - I mean, when I was told this was gonna be the hardest Survivor yet, it really lived up to its expectations.

Stephenie, I think, really - she was on both sides of the fence with me this whole entire game. I think going into the game, I'd say she was on my bad side of the fence because she lied to me in Palau. However I sit here and I’m lyin' to Blake, what makes me any better than her? But that was a different deal and it was totally an irrelevent cause. I'm sittin' here I'm thinking we got to get her out, we got to get her out, but when we go over to the merge, that thought is still there, and, you know- you got to bury the hatchet sometimes, you just gotta - I don't think it's healthy to hold grudges, I don't think it's healthy to be angry, and I know I did get angry out here sometimes in Guatemala, and I know I did have a grudge against Stephenie, but as far as becoming a complete human being I don't think holding grudges is -- I want to be a healthy person inside and out, and I think this experience out here showed me how to get over those type of feelings because you never know in everyday life when you're gonna be approached with things that you can't get angry about, that you have to compromise, and I really think I learned a lot about those types of feelings - and with Stephenie, I still think Stephenie's one of the best players out here, I'll never say she's not, but I do know that she's hard competition, and I can't sit here and say I wasn't tryin' to move her out, but when you're playin' the game you gotta try and take out the top players, and she was one of them.

My final words to my tribe are just to hang in there and keep going. They're all a bunch of good people, I really got to know a lot of 'em, and I think whoever ends up winnin' a million dollars -- it's going to be well deserved when they earn it.

Well there you have it, 10 down, and 6 more to go before we get to our final two.

Have a great day, & I’ll be back Thursday with my Weekly Picks.

Take care,

FReepmail me if you want added to, or removed from the one, the only, Official Survivor Ping List.

[Lee'sGhost]

Thanks again for doing such a good job, cuz.

[SittinYonder]

Well folks, once again, I’m suffering from the ravishes of the common cold so your going to have to settle for a simple cut and past from the SeeBS website, instead of my typical witty comments.

I started feeling really under the weather yesterday and tried Zicam nasal spray. Great stuff! After about a week of feeling so-so, I'm nearly back to 100 percent after taking it for just 24-hours. I really would encourage you to give it a try.

Hope you feel better soon.

[MomwithHope]

OK Cuz, can you or someone else please tell me WHY Judd picked Bobby John for the food reward? He knew Bobby John was going home in the next 2 tribal councils and Jamie who he was supposed to be so tight with, gave up food for the other tribe members. I really thought he would pick Jamie and I would think that would have pissed Jamie off a bit. Judd is not too bright in my opinion and I can't wait for his lie to catch up with him about where to look for thr idol and he tells everyone at tribal that he has not told any lies.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Good Morning FReepers and FReeperettes! It’s Thursday so that means it’s time once again for your:

SURVIVOR PING ! ! !

The Xhakum Tribe: (red buffs)
Cindy, Danni, Gary, Jamie, Judd, Lydia, Rafe, StepheME

The Jury:
Bobby Jon

The Losers:
Jim, Morgan, Brianna, Brooke, Blake, Margaret, Brian, Amy, Brandon

Let’s get to it shall we.

Tonight’s episode is titled "Eating and Sleeping with the Enemy"

From the official SeeBS website:
In a down-and-dirty struggle for Reward in the mud, a team is let down by the failure of one member. See the paragraph below regarding the Reward Challenge.

One tribemate's incessant paranoia drives another to the breaking point. Last week, Jamie misinterpreted Gary’s comment (I’m voting with you) as “Gary is voting me out at Tribal Council.” When Gary tries to explain his comment to Jamie, Jamie again misinterprets this as Gary accusing him of lying. This paranioa causes tension throughout the tribe, leading the others to approach Lydia trying to convince her to boot Jamie. See the next clue.

Some feel vulnerable, and some feel sure of who should go, leading to an unpredictable Tribal Council. Will the strong survive, or will the weak slide by? Vidcaps show a number of players approaching Lydia and trying to “sway” her vote, which she doesn’t feel comfortable doing. I think they are trying to convince her that it’s time for Jamie to go.

The Reward Challenge appears to be an obstacle course through the mud pit. The vidcaps show the players paired up and tethered together as follows: Judd with Gary, Danni with StepheME, Rafe with Jamie and Cindy with Lydia. The race appears to be run in heats the men against the men, women against women with the winners of each heat against each other for reward. We see in the vidcaps, a very dejected looking Judd, so I doubt if he and Gary wins, in fact, I think this is “the team that is let down by the failure of one member” as described in the clue above. The reward seems to be videos from home and a overnight stay with meal at a local lodging, courtesy of a helicopter ride. At this point, it appears that Danni and StepheME win the challenge, hence the title of the episode "Eating and Sleeping with the Enemy".

Regarding the Immunity Challenge, vidcaps show us a race through yet another obstacle course. This time, each players is tethered to a rope and must navigate the course, over, around, and under logs and other obstacles while still tethered to the rope. Since we only see Danni in these vidcaps, and since she is next on StepheME’s boot list, I’m gonna go with Danni winning the Ugly necklace.

Well, there you have it:

”Cuz’s weekly Survivor Picks!”

Reward Challenge Winner: Danni & StepheME
Immunity Challenge Winner: Danni
Tribal Council Bootee(s): Jamie (The tribe is tired of his sniping and paranoia.)

Take care,

FReepmail me if you want added to, or removed from the one, the only, Official Survivor Ping List.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

OK Cuz, can you or someone else please tell me WHY Judd picked Bobby John for the food reward? ... and Jamie who he was supposed to be so tight with, gave up food for the other tribe members...

I can only guess that Judd is also getting tired of Jamie's paranioa and complaining around camp. Jamie's whole attude is a drain on the entire tribe and his "sacrifice" in the reward challenge last week is a perfect example of "too little, too late."

Also, I don't think anybody will really make much of Judd's lie about the mini-idol. After all, lying is all part of the game to win the million bucks.

[ken5050]

G' mornin' Cuz..glad you're better....gotta take those fluids..unlike the Survivors..LOL

I have an idea...wanted to toss out..besides all of us weighing in each week on who we think the next one booted wil be, if migh be fun if each person would also opine who then think the ultimate winner will be..or at least the final two...then we can get a sense of how the trend changes from week to week..I think Cindy and Rafe make the final two...

BTW..pics of Danni and Step tied together...HOT..

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

At this point, I think the final four will be Judd, Rafe, Lydia and StepheME.
I really don't see Lydia making it into the final three, and it will be either Judd or Rafe with StepheME in the final two. Their reasoning (faulty as it may be), is the Jury should have an easy choice. In other words, StepheME already had her chance in Palau, why should she get another chance at the million bucks.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I thought Gary's immunity idol would take him to the final four?

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

I thought Gary's immunity idol would take him to the final four?

You're not alone. A lot of folks thought that was the case, but it isn't. The mini-idol could be used any time up till the final four, but it was only good for one Tribal Council. Once you used it, that was it.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Of course, I could also be wrong about that as well. We'll see tonight, when Jeff calls for the vote. If he says Gary still has Immunity, then we will know that it's good up to the final four and I'll have to revise my FF standings.

[ken5050]

BTW..did you see my #1425 before you got ill?

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Yep and rest assured, I'm keeping well hydrated! :~D

[piperpilot]

Please, please, please, let Jaime or the ever-obnoxious Judd be voted out tonight. The two of them annoy the crap right out of me.

[girlscout]

I'm in total agreement with you. Fingers still crossed from last week that tonite Jaime will take a long walk off a short pier.

[girlscout]

I'm down for Judd, Rafe, StepheME & Lydia as final four and Rafe as the big Kahoona.

[piperpilot]

I would like to see Rafe, Lydia, Gary and Danni as the final four with Gary and Rafe squaring off in the finale, but unfortunately, I feel that it will never happen because of the alliance. I always root for the players that play the game with some degree of integrity.