Grid Effect

So far, this was unequivocally the best episode of Survivor: Cook Islands. It was probably all the generic yet effective twists, whatever the reason, it was a significant upgrade from the uneventful episodes we have become accustomed to this season.

We opened with Raro coming back from Tribal council and Cristina taking it a little too hard for how she was persecuted at tribal council, because it seemed like the only person sticking to it was Adam. I find it hard to believe that Adam from Survivor can reduce anyone to tears, but, there’s your proof. It seemed almost foregone that they were going too send her home after they announced both teams were voting someone off, but she performed well in the immunity/reward challenge.

The introduction to Aitu this week, much like it does every week, opened with Cao Boi ranting about spirituality and his dreams. Later in the episode, he tells Yul a dream he had convinced him Jonathan had the hidden immunity idol. From this dream he divises a plan as he explains to Yul; to split their six votes and give three to Jonathan and three to Candace, since they are the only two who have been to exile island (besides Yul). This would simultaneously expose the hidden immunity idol, vote off one of the two players and take out a member of the original white team, who as of now, is going into the merge five-strong. He entitles this idea: “Plan Voodoo”. Yul even admits its “ingenius”. And it is, in theory. But the person he is divulging this Manhattan project to, in actuality, does have the idol, as opposed to some crackpot dream. Cao Boi is like the mad scientist, he can surprise you and even be insightful at times, but he is so remarkably off-beat it becomes hard to take him seriously.

The immunity/reward challenge is remarkably physical. It features a contestant from one team holding onto a post while two members from the other team attempt to yank him/her off then drag the person across 20 feet of sand to a finish line of sorts. There are two rounds of women and one round of men. To say the least this challenge was… atypical. Let me just say that the women were willing to do things the men weren’t, so much for the naturally competitive and passive genders. It was like a training video for, should you need it, tactics in avoiding prison rape. The people being dragged reminded me of Dufrane from Shawshank trying to escape “The Sisters.” This was some primitive stuff.

Going back to camp from the immunity challenge, this was the first time all season I was unsure about who was getting the boot. I had my suscpicions on who was getting booted, Cristina and Cao Boi. But they allotted enough time for the audience to suspect it to be a close race. I prefer this, the audience is privy too more conniving and we learn more about the contestants and where they stand.

Cao Boi really intrigued Yul with his aforementioned plan. And between him and all three women in his alliance having their doubts about the intentions of Jonathan, I thought he could possibly get voted out. Cristina, on the other hand, I thought might have apologized her way off the chopping block. There was some discussion to vote out Jenny because, like Cao Boi worried about the former white team, Nate had the exact same concerns about about the former Asian team. That being: they would be going into the merge five-strong if nothing changed.

So who got voted out? Well, since there were two different tribal councils, the winning tribe went first, as part of their reward was to eat while they watched the losing tribe deliberate who to vote off. So they discuss Cao Boi’s eccentric attachment to the team immunity idol, how unfortunate it is they have to vote someone off, despite winning, annnnddd nothing of real importance. Flicka and Cao Boi are the only one’s still hip to his plan. Because she votes for Jonathan, he votes for Candace and the other seven votes go to Cao Boi. Not surprisingly, everyone spelled his name “Cowboy” or “Cow Boy”.

The next tribe steps up and the mood is noticeably different. It could have something to do with one team on pins and needles, completely consumed trepidation and their place in the game. While the other team is consuming only lamb shakes. Out of a bucket. They go back and forth on a number of irrelevant subjects. Adam, however, mentions that Candace won the challenge for the Aitu triber because she managed to hold onto the post for such an extended period of time.

(At which point they look at each other, smile, and she mouths the words “I love you”. Now, I know they were at least friends from being on the same team, but were they mocking former contestant Billy who believed Candace mouthed the same words to him before he was voted off. I don’t think it is possible, because to the best of my knowledge they haven’t spoke since she found out about said incident. I don’t know, if they are not mocking him it is pretty ironic).

But it ends up the Aitu tribe gets to pull one contestant from Raro, keeping him/her safe from elimination and the person gets some of the food they were eating.

So they decide to go with… Nate? Nate, the largest guy remaining on the team whom throughout all of tribal council it was never even suggested he was going home. Maybe Aitu thought he was well liked amongst his team, and it would casue some friction giving him food to eat in front of his teammates? I don’t know. I am trying to rationalize the decision. I would have gone with Cristina, because from what we were shown at tribal council, they were certainly leaning towards her. If you eliminate her as a voting option, the Raro team sputters into a frenzy and has to vote for a totally random person. Possibly causing them to all resent each other afterwards. Never the less, Raro voted out… Cristina. Personally, when it comes down to preserving the physically strongest players for possible challenges, I don’t vote off the woman who has been capped more times than your average rapper… But that’s just me. No wonder this team keeps losing.

It would seem hakim’s razor was at work here: All things being equal the simplest explanation/answer tends to be correct. Whatever. I enjoyed it.

Next week: Ozzy continues to kill things and Nate comes into some information during his stint with Aitu.