No songs this week. Nothing witty. I’m strung out from too much Halloween candy. See you later!
Oh: and GO MONKEYS!
Who will be hosting this week?
The title of this week’s episode doesn’t narrow things down much, does it? 
The correct response is, of course, “Nobody is as dumb as you look.”
I have it on good authority that Another castaway is voted off the island. Furthermore, Jeff Probst hosts.
Lalalalalalalala … I’m not reading your spoilers!
covers ears with hands and continues singing
Damn you, Skammer! May as well not even watch now. :mad:
I’ve always preferred: ‘You couldn’t be.’
3 minutes in, Courtney is pretty hot in night vision, maybe because I can’t see all the bones.
That was entirely amusing. Proof that Jamie is, indeed, as dumb as she looks.
For some reason, that tribal council was a little less awesome than I thought it would be with the fake idol.
What happened to Courtney voting for JR and JR voting for Pei Gei?
In news that hopefully won’t spoil anything for anyone: Todd is my new mascot. I really, really love it when guys are bitchier than I am. Also, lots of love for James – he tried to warn people about keeping their fool mouths shut, and then gladly let them hoist themselves on their own petards. Plus, when she smiles, my knees get a little bit weak. I bet he’s a hoot on dollar draft nite.
Also …
OMG, you guys! How long have we waited for someone to try to play a fake Hidden Immunity Idol, and wondered what would happen when they did? SQUEEE! I have to admit, I’ve been having a bit of a crisis of faith with this show, since everybody seems to know how to play it now, but this episode? Like a tent revival for my reality-loving soul. Praise the Probst, and hallelujah!
(What? I’m already going to hell anyway, on account of those entirely unwholesome thoughts I’ve had about previous contestants.)
I just realized I don’t care who wins as much as who DOESN’T win: Courtney or Jean Robert.
James just went up my chart all the way to the top. Very funny and very smart. I think Todd is about to outwit, outplay but not outlast himself out of the game.
I adore James! And I agree that Todd is outwitting himself; he’s getting far too carried away with his own devious plans. And clearly it’s never occurred to him that he who has possession of the immunity idol(s) is NOT required to share them with his group, no matter what he’s promised; so the strongest guy in the game by a factor of about 25 currently has all the immunity idols and presumably can ride them to a win. Which I’d adore.
Courtney is really a bitch, isn’t she? And a stupid bitch at that – she’s truly incapable, apparently, of considering the fact that everyone else in her group shouldn’t do what will get HER further in the game, to their own detriment. Todd tried to explain it to her, and I thought did it quite well, but apparently Courtney has as much brains as body mass, which is to say next to none. Peih-gee isn’t far behind in the bitch category; for some reason she really gets on my nerves. Jean-Robert is just a big jerk. He can’t leave too soon for me.
I was sorry Jaime’s attempt to play the fake immunity idol didn’t produce the fireworks we were all hoping for. Although the expression on her face – versus James immediately bursting into laughter, then covering his face, and Todd smirking with delight – when Jeff tossed the fake into the fire was just lovely.
Best of all? When Jeff showed up at the camp when they were still all half shitfaced to have the immunity competition on the spot! Hee!
One of the greatest moments ever on Survivor, I think.
I presume you guys heard the preview where Todd suggested getting rid of James, and that’s what you mean by getting ahead of himself. But what if he can pull it off? Man would that ever change my enjoyment of the show.
I wish James would have said to Jaime; “who’s giggling now you rhymes with witch.” Or "why do think it was lying on ground sweetie. "
A nice touch, that. 
I wish Jeff had read the votes first before disclosing that the idol was ornamental. James would have exploded trying to keep from laughing.
Someone was able to convince Courtney to tow the party line.
I think Todd’s got it exactly right. James is a beast: he’ll probably win 2+ individual immunities, and has a pair of hidden idols. He’s well-liked, and has betrayed no one at all. If you don’t get rid of him soon, before he feels like a target, you never, ever will, and he will trounce you.
Todd would love to take Courtney and JR to the final three. Not James and Frosti so much.
Recap (If you haven’t yet seen this episode and don’t want it spoiled, stop now!):
Fade in at Fei Long, middle of the night, and Courtney is still complaining about Jean-Robert as the tribe is settling in for the night. Jean-Robert voices his surprise at the bile leveled at him in the last Tribal Council, Todd and Amanda attempt to play peacekeepers, and Courtney allows (privately) as how she doesn’t think she needs to be anybody’s friend: “I dislike everyone else more than I dislike Todd and Amanda. I think they mistake that for friendship.” I’m really not sure what game Courtney thinks she’s playing if she doesn’t think she needs friends.
Over at Zhan Hu, Peih-Gee is attempting to convince James that he should trust them: “I hope you trust us now because we told you we were going to stick with you.” (!!) This has got to be the weakest, most transparent attempt at alliance-building in the history of Survivor. Um, yeah, like, you know how we had that whole plan to throw Immunity Challenges to get rid of you? Ha, ha, yeah, that was funny right? You’re with us now, right? Thankfully, James is not that dumb. Honey, there ain’t enough rolleyes in the world for that little ploy.
Later, James finds some alone time to tear the plaque off the gateway at Zhan Hu and secure the second Hidden Immunity Idol for himself. Interestingly, the plaque on the other side of the gate also comes off, but is blank on the back. James doesn’t have time to do anything with it, and just leaves it on the ground.
Back at Fei Long, Courtney is still bitching about how they lost an opportunity to get rid of Jean-Robert, and how Todd and Amanda don’t pay attention to her and zzzzzzzzzz . . .
Oh, wait - Jaime and Erik have found the blank plaque at Zhan Hu! Could they possibly think it’s the Hidden Immunity Idol? Inspired, Jaime roots through James’ bag to see if he has one, and finds the two items in his bag. But! James has deviously wrapped the plaques in his pants, and the Dynamic Duo don’t think to oh, I dunno, actually look at the things. They assume the blank they have is actually another Hidden Immunity Idol! This is too, too funny. Later on, James realizes the blank he left on the ground is gone, realizes Jaime might have it and think it’s a Hidden Immunity Idol and try to play it, and gleefully voices our hopes: “Please let that happen. Please.”
When the tribes assemble for the next challenge, our Tremulous Trio sees their worst fears realized when it is confirmed Sherea was voted out. Jeff talks a bit about The Art of War and knowing your opponents and abruptly comes out with it: “Drop your buffs. You are merged.” There is no Reward Challenge, as the newly merged tribe is sent off to a feast and an afternoon of Chinese cultural performances. But Jeff cautions them before they go: “Keep in mind. This game nev-er stops. Keep that in mind as you enjoy this afternoon.” This is met with bewildered looks, but the new tribe is just happy to be going to a feast, and apparently put it out of their minds, although we do hear a voice-over from Jean-Robert musing on exactly what Jeff meant.
The feast looks good indeed, and the tribemates stuff themselves while watching a show including acrobats, plate-spinning, contortionists, and dancers - not to mention fireworks. We hear a voice-over from Amanda indicating that even though the tribes have merged, it is still their plan to vote off the remaining former Zhan Hu members. Back at camp (they are staying at the former Fei Long camp), the tribe brainstorms the new tribe name, and settle on Hae Da Fung (Black Fighting Wind - the new tribe buffs are black). Peih-Gee deludes herself into thinking she has a chance if James is with her (again, how she imagines this is even possible is a mystery) and if Frosti is with his former tribe.
While they are busy drawing up their new flag, Jeff arrives at camp and springs a surprise Immunity Challenge on them. It’s the first individual challenge, and it’s based on their memory of events at the feast (Ohhh - that’s what “the game never stops” meant!). :smack: In a short single-elimination series of questions, Frosti comes out as the winner.
Later, James tells Todd and Amanda about the blank plaque he believes Jaime has, and Amanda tells us privately how she sees Jaime as the “silent leader” of the former Zhan Hu. They want to target Jaime, but realize Courtney is a wildcard due to her strong dislike of Jean-Robert. Who, speaking of the devil, we next see privately discussing strategy with Todd - Jean-Robert wants to target Peih-Gee, while Todd, Amanda, and James want to vote off Jaime. Jean-Robert believes he is going to the final three with Todd and Amanda, and will hold Todd responsible if he doesn’t. Meanwhile, Jaime and Erik tell Frosti they have a Hidden Immunity Idol, and share their plan to vote off Jean-Robert. Next we see Jaime privately discussing Hidden Immunity Idols with Todd, who summed up her status succintly: “Wow. Does she have to catch up.”
Sooo . . at Tribal Council, Jeff focuses on the change from team game to individual game. Courtney again snipes at Jean-Robert, but Jean-Robert’s rejoinders exasperate James, who seems to understand the necessity for circumspection in always voicing opinions as Jean-Robert does, adding fuel to the fire. As the votes are cast, we get a clever bit of editing as we see Courtney begin by writing a “J”, but cut away before we see what she has written.
Before Jeff reads the votes, Jaime presents her blank plaque. Jeff draws it out a bit by restating the rules of playing the Hidden Immunity Idol but winds up with, “This, however, is not a Hidden Immunity Idol.” Whereupon he chucked it into the fire, and we are treated to a succession of reaction shots: Todd flashes a grinch-worthy smile, James can barely contain his glee, Jaime is crestfallen, and Jean-Robert is relieved. The final tally is 7-3 for Jaime, and she is the first member of the jury. Interestingly, Courtney went along with the majority and voted for Jaime; Jean-Robert’s three votes came from Jaime, Erik, and Peih-Gee.
Since we are now down to an individual game within the single tribe Hae Da Fung, let’s handicap our contestants. In ascending order:
Peih-Gee: Her only remaining alliance is with Erik as former Zhan Hu, and if he was smart he’d be looking to ingratiate himself elsewhere. Might stick around only if the others prioritize challenge threats over Pagonging.
Erik: Tenuous connection with Peih-Gee as another former Zhan Hu, but again, he’s got to see that’s not in his interest. Could be a surprise contender in Immunity Challenges.
Jean-Robert: Hanging on by a thread, as getting rid of him just to appease Courtney could be worth it in the long run. Even if he were to campaign against a potential winner in the jury, he’d likely not convince anyone. Could be seen as a threat for immunity, which also paints a target on his back.
Frosti: Former Zhan Hu, but converted Fei Long pre-merge. Even with connections to Todd and Amanda, could be targeted as a challenge threat and former Zhan Hu (despite the conversion). Wildcard here is the budding relationship with Courtney, which may develop into another whispering alliance.
Denise: Seems to go along to get along, but doesn’t seem like much of a threat for immunity. Somehow don’t see her in the final four.
Courtney: One thing Jean-Robert said at Tribal actually made sense - the thought that Courtney might just stick around because she’s not seen as a threat. And really, who wouldn’t want to be opposite the girl who didn’t need friends when it comes time for the final vote?
Amanda: Strong alliance with Todd, and an apparent ability both to deal with him and persuade others. Could actually be final two and a contender to win it all.
Todd: Has the alliance and the scheming mentality, and could win immunity challenges that don’t require him to out-brawn the likes of James and Jean-Robert. His Achilles heel might be his apparent tendency to panic and second-guess.
James: In the catbird seat right now due to his possession of both Hidden Immunity Idols, and being an absolute monster in physical challenges besides. The previews for next week make it appear that Todd is going to try to blindside him, but I’d really hate to see that happen. He’s proven to be smarter than the others seem to think he is, and that may be another hidden weapon.