LAST EDITED ON 10-18-10 AT 07:24 PM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON 10-17-10 AT 11:52 PM (EST)

At the double step... Here... We .... GO...

Last time on Survivor, Marty's, Chris and Russel-like, deconstruction of his own tribe continued when he talked a majority of doubtfuls into voting out Jimmy T of the "got skillz" ilk instead of the albatross around Espada's neck named Dan of the "best thing about me was my shoes and they are 6 feet under" ilk. Marty's vendetta against all Jimmies satisfied, Espada looked to move forward with Jeff telling them, "Good luck with that."

So, enough with the past, we pick up with Espada post Jimmy T extinguish, and Holly seems more flummoxed than upset that no one told her they were voting for Jimmy T. Apparently she actually believed the BS about "keeping the tribe strong," yada, yada, yada, a sensible strategy that probably hasn't been followed past the 1st boot since Exile Island. At least she is smart enough to correctly interpret the clear as the Bat signal sign that she is on the outs and pretty much needs a Hail Mary at this point.

Switch to Marty the next day, apparently no one gives a crap about La Flor at this point, who is giving us the ages old speech about how he pretty much has this in the bag, as if a million dollars was awarded at merge, and it would take something "huge" at this point to change that. Well, actually, it won't take anything "huge" at all, but rather, something as inevitable as a switching of the tribes.

Of course, that is the perfect segue to the endangered species known as a reward challenge, which of course is preceded by Holly's Hail Mary otherwise known as the tribal switch. Yes, happy to say, the experiment of "Crazy vs. Lazy" is at an end. We get the switch school yard style with Brenda and Holly picking people they want on their team. Brenda, excited about her opportunity to pick, strangely picks Marty, Jill and Jane to join La Flor, while Holly goes the more conventional route by adding the strength of Chase, Benry, Alina and NayBonka to Espada. The new Espada immediately capitalizes on this strength by winning the RC, which was basically Plinko on steriods. Espada is awarded 3 chickens in a coop, much to the disappointment of Jane who will no longer have the chance to "wring that chicken's neck" and to the future disparagement of Tyrone.

We follow the chickens to the new Espada, where Tyrone greets his four new tribemates by "laying down the law" T-style, or as NayBonka would put it, G-style. Alina points out, to the audience not to anyone that matters, that Lazy Flor had a more "on vacation" attitude towards Survivor living, and I have to admit that T's suggestion that people bring back a piece of wood when returning to camp was an awful lot to ask for. Holly breaks Shi Ann's record for turning traitor by instantly going Mother Hen to the chillins of ex-La Flor. As yet blissfully unaware of Holly's "zest" for life, Alina and NayBonka are all too happy to collect Holly's vote and maintain the same control in the game they enjoyed back at their own base camp.

The editing very momentarily turns to the new La Flor, though even this ends up more about Marty than about La Flor. Marty very politically admits they had their own protocols for getting stuff done at Espada, but they would expect to do things the La Flor way now. Brenda immediately sets him straight that La Flor's method of getting stuff done is little more "chill," meaning, ever since we won the tarp we pretty much just lay around and catch rays, we got rid of the last guy that liked to shoot his mouth off around here, and finally, the old-standby, we are saving ourselves for the challenges.

In an exact replay of the events at new Espada, Jane hardly waits until the new buffs are tied before selling out her former Espada's by running to Brenda and comparing Marty and Jill to humping ticks. Meanwhile, Marty, sensing where the brains of La Flor lies, chats with Fabio in the shelter and manages to get the story of the Fruit Basket Mauling out of him. Perhaps hoping to capitalize on any rift the Mauling may have caused and knowing Jane is likely to reveal the fact he has the HII anyway, probably right after she is done talking about humping ticks, Marty gathers the tribe to let them know he has the HII. Brenda, a main beneficiary of the Mauling, shows her indignation at Marty's ostentatious attempt to set himself up as king of La Flor. Apparently, Marty is unaware that La Flor prefers its men to perform in challenges and otherwise keep their mouths shut. Brenda even goes so far as to say telling everyone he had the HII was "the dumbest thing he could have done." Of course, she is unaware that Jane already knows this fact, and apparently she doesn't consider trusting her game to someone as unpredictable as NayBonka a dumb move.

Speaking of which, the following day ends up a day of rain, surprise, surprise, rain forest, hello? The tarpless Espada catches the worst of it, thanks to not only the lack of tarp but also because the Espada shelter has a ceiling that would be wonderful for a Christmas tree but poor for a sideways rain. NayBonka, who the camera loves as much as she loves it, responds by going into the fetal position, shocking us all, I'm sure, by revealing the bully is actually a big baby. This attempts to set up the only suspense in the show, though most of us know that NayBonka is quitting right after I win the lottery.

On to the IC, though just by the above summary it should be painfully obvious to everyone who the winner is going to be. At least the IC is original though perhaps inspired by a medieval torture chamber, with 3 women forced to ride a wheel that will momentarily submerge them in water, where they have get a mouthful of water to then spit into a tube at the top of the wheel. Espada wins this portion of the challenge, but unfortunately for them, the 2nd part involves breaking panes by tossing balls and Tyrone somehow is their point man. The La Flor duo of Jane and Fabio quickly overcomes the deficit before Chase does his best Jimmy T and Benry takes over in tossing for Espada. He manages to make it interesting, especially with the help of the editing, but ultimately, we have what we expected- a trip to TC for the tribe of the hour, Espada.

So, back at camp, Espada strangely decides that now would be a good time to eat a chicken, perhaps preparing for the taxing trip to TC, I'm not sure. Anyway, the one guy who should most want to eat a chicken now since he won't be seeing the morning anyway, Tyrone, is the lone dissenter in the decision. Espada overrides Sargeant T, and Chase gets to wring a chicken's neck, which is props to him and much to the chagrin of Jane. Tyrone wises up once the chicken and his own goose is cooked equally and partakes heavily in dispatching the chicken. Benry complains about Sargeant T's obnoxious proclivity, like he wasn't the obvious boot no matter how much chicken he ate.

The editing tries to build a pretense of suspense by having Alina read a card handed to her by the camera crew: "NayBonka has checked out. So we might have to vote for her tonight." Yeah, whatever.

TC bares no surprises. Gangsta T says he's qualified to lead, now that Marty is gone, apparently, but he is right in that he'll be leading the way down the walk of shame for the new Espada. He is indeed qualified for that. NayBonka compares the difficulty of Survivor to her divorce, proving only that man's desire for sex truly knows no bounds. Otherwise, everything goes according to plan. Boss Man T is shown the door, with only lovely Yve voting with him.

Next time on Survivor... Individual immunity is up for grabs, which can only mean one thing: former Espada's can be dismissed at twice the normal rate.

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• RE: S21 Nicaragua: Episode 5- Sum of Sum - The Flower is Mightier than the Sword,michel, 06:26 PM, 10-18-10
• RE: S21 Nicaragua: Episode 5- Sum of Sum - The Flower is Mightier than the Sword,Belle Book, 07:13 PM, 10-18-10
• RE: S21 Nicaragua: Episode 5- Sum of Sum - The Flower is Mightier than the Sword,Aruba, 07:03 AM, 10-19-10
• RE: S21 Nicaragua: Episode 5- Sum of Sum - The Flower is Mightier than the Sword,suzzee, 08:02 AM, 10-19-10
• RE: S21 Nicaragua: Episode 5- Sum of Sum - The Flower is Mightier than the Sword,Spanky68, 03:59 PM, 10-19-10

Nice job on short notice, Iltarion. I enjoyed this a lot, especially Marty thinking the million is awarded at the merge and the "Crazy vs the Lazy"

Ils sont fous, ces Romains!
Thanks Tribe!

I think it's possible that NayBonka will quit before you win the lottery, but she certainly didn't quit that episode! Anyway, nice job!

"Hail Mary" is the accurate analogy. And Production played the part of Peyton Manning throwing the bomb to Holly and Jane.

Good Job!

iltarion, good off the cuff instant replay of this installment of "Where's my Cheese".

Marty, sensing where the brains of La Flor lies, chats with Fabio. (the cheese)

Was it just me or is the next challenge going to be who can jump the shark? Just askin'.

Charter member of the Sarcasm Society