Previously on Survivor...Bruce doesn’t know what hit him walking out of TC with his II.
Everyone appropriately acknowledges Emily for the best move/play this season by blindsiding Bruce (and his II) out of the game. And she did so WITHOUT the benefit of being on the season’s power alliance. Even though some may want to single out someone from the Reba 4 and shoot sunshine up their backend when they actually make decisions as a group.
Returning from TC, the feeling at camp is like Munchkin land after Dorothy’s house killed the Wicked Witch of the East. No one is more elated than Katurah who wanted Bruce out from day one.
Reba 4 is savoring its alliance dominance.
Austin and Dee are savoring their summer camp crush. Prior to the Austin/Dee scene, Production should have flashed a disclaimer for viewers to have a vile of insulin and a syringe handy for the sappy, sugary dialogue that followed. Instead, we get a flashback of Rob and Amb”a” from the season they had the audacity to call “All-Stars.” One could only imagine Jiffy’s orgasmic excitement in the editing room as he got to relive his man-crush over Rob.
We’re reminded when Rob tells us how great it would be to “win the million and the girl.” Even though a bitter-betty Jury deprived him the million, when he proposed to Amb”a” and she accepted, he was able to keep the million “in the family.” I don’t think lightning will strike twice here. Conversely, Austin is darn near underwriting the million to Dee...as if having the women on the Jury isn’t enough to tip the scale in Dee’s favor. Although I will say in Dee’s defense, at least she’s not “skanking” her way to the million. Fact is, she’s very, VERY fortunate to have been placed on a tribe with a guy who is infatuated with T-Rex mouths and allergic-reaction lips. Oh, that’s right...it’s really her...UMMM...conversation *snort*
Jake and Katurah have a much different conversation. Both realizing they’re not part of the Reba 4 power alliance, Jake advised Katurah they should not “upset the apple c”ah”rt.” Katurah looks confused. Not sure if Katurah is confused by Jake’s Boston accent or if she’s not familiar with that idiom. Jake replies, “Whatev’a’”
It’s the next scene that steals this episode IMO. Katurah shares her horrific backstory about how her mom took her out of grade school and joined some Rev. Jim Jones-like cult on a whim. It wasn’t until the cult forced Katurah to become a child bride they decided to escape. If anyone should be ruthlessly bashed in this post, it is Katurah’s mom. It’s no wonder Katurah disowned her. Mommie Dearest should consider herself lucky that’s all Katurah did. As if that’s not enough, she informs us she’s a “poor black gay woman.” Did Production check off all the boxes with this one, or what?
And we should have felt sorry for Emily last episode when she bellyached over not being there for her sister who was moving because she’s on Survivor???
Right after Jake tells us he needs to st”ah”t making moves, the castaways hear a boat coming. It’s a message for a journey for only ONE player. Along with the message is a bag of rocks and only one is green. If more than one player wishes to embark on the journey, the ones who wish to participate must draw rocks and the one who draws green gets to go. Like DUH, do you think they’ll have to draw??? *snort*
Emily draws the green rock who proceeds to whine over the prospect of going on the journey to make the target on her even larger fresh off spearheading the move of the season thus far. OK, then why the heck did she decide to draw???
Anyway, she goes on the journey where she’s confronted with some puzzle with four rings and a string no one on Survivor has yet to solve. If she solves it, she wins immunity; but if she joins the prior castaways who failed, she loses her vote at next TC. Last time she choked on a numbers puzzle that should have been in an Investment Analyst’s wheelhouse. Needing the DNA from Einstein and Frank Lloyd Wright to solve this one, Emily chooses wisely to walk away; and her journey ends as quickly as it began.
She returned back to camp telling the truth about her journey. Everyone believes her but Dee...AH, nice read Dee... LOL The talk while she was away is do they target Emily or Mama J, but Drew tells Emily not to worry because the majority want Mama J (and her idol) out since no one wants to sit at FTC next to someone with a “Mama” label thanks to being the ONLY older woman casted due to CBS’s age discrimination.
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Only ONE combined reward/immunity challenge. No wonder the show is losing viewers...
Players must unravel enough slack with their rope to reach a beanbag toss area and knockdown all their blocks needed to spell “RESOURCEFULNESS” on BOTH sides to win.
Drew has the easiest time unraveling his rope, but as we saw last episode, an early lead does not equate to victory. Not only does Drew cry like a girl, and have hissy fits like a girl, he throws like one too. As a result, Austin catches up and spells out “RESOURCEFULNESS” on only ONE side. Jeff tells him “BOTH sides are not right,” Austin proceeds to stare at his blocks like the “lovestruck” boy he is. Even Percy Sledge sang in his classic song "When a man loves a woman; can’t keep his mind on nothing else…”
Drew, who is not involved in any showmance and whose mind is free of those distractions, spells the word on both sides and wins the challenge.
In addition to immunity, Drew also partakes in a BBQ. With only seven players remaining, he must choose two others to accompany him. It’s back-to-back sausage parties when Drew picks Jake and Austin.
At the BBQ, the boys realize Mama J needs to be taken out. It’s just a matter of not letting Mama’s closest friend in the game (Dee) know because Mama has an II. This means Austin must not turn on the majority consensus and leak it to Dee. Percy Sledge goes on to sing, When a man loves a woman; he’ll turn his back on his best friend...” Or to put that in Survivor context, he’ll turn on his alliance mate. I think we all know where this one is heading...
When the girls were enjoying the reward last episode, the boys back at camp did what dudes do...burp, fart, and flex. This time around, while the boys are at reward the girls back at camp do what girls do...evaluate their wardrobe by determining the buff’s origin of manufacturer.
Drew has garnished enough votes to blindside Mama J and her idol as long as she does not have any reason to feel she needs to play it. But Austin’s infatuation with T-Rex mouths and allergic-reaction lips is too overwhelming NOT to spill the beans to Mama J’s confidant Dee. Dee wastes little time relaying the information to Mama J, who reacts with a nightmare scenario of possibly writing Austin’s name when she plays her idol. Dee realizes her dilemma by lamenting her game is now in Mama J’s hands. What we really have is a chain reaction of dumb moves made by kneejerk reaction bobos blinded by raw emotion.
TRIBAL COUNCIL
Same old; same old... Jake’s still saying it gets hard”a.” Drew still rambles aimlessly with dull historical references causing Kellie’s eyes to roll so far to the back of her head she nearly falls off the top row of the jury perch. Players bemoan about how personal the game is getting and not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings that gets a reaction from Bruce who looks like he’s ready to punch someone’s lights out.
OK, what we really want to see is if Julie and Austin will play their idols, so it’s time to vote. After everyone votes, Jeff ceremonially asks if anyone wants to play their idol. Julie rises and plays hers followed by a Kendra Kleavage (is already old) obnoxious open-mouth gasp chin mole disappearing act. Knowing votes for Julie will not count and Austin knowing Julie threw his name out prior to TC, you’d expect Austin to play his as well since only one vote could send him home. But NO; he sits still. The man has stones!
First six votes are for Julie that don’t count, so you know Mama J’s sole vote will end someone’s game. Will Austin be the second in a row to leave with an idol in his pocket? NO, it is EMILY! As Emily brings her torch to Jeff, she announces to all that she “will vote for the best player...” (as long as that player is female, of course.)
NTOS
Austin babbles something about Julie still being in the game as “disastrous.” Well...who created the disaster, Loverboy?
Jake and Katurah want to blindside someone. Both in the F6 with the Reba 4, there’s not much else left for both to do at this point.
Drew and Julie go to war. Hey, history buff...here’s one for you. Caligula went from Emperor to assassinated in only a few years. Next Wednesday I’m predicting Drew will go from self-crowned King to booted in less than 90 minutes.