Survivor - Fans vs Favorites - "It's Just A Stick"

Hello again! It's been a while since I have had time to sit down and write about Survivor because Big Brother, among other things, has consumed all my spare time. But after last nights episode, I felt like it was time to share my thoughts on this season.

Let's go back a ways to when Jonathon had to exit the game. I, for one, was sad to see Jonathon go. I have always liked him. He was sneaky and schemed with the best of them and it was sad to see Jonathon have to exit in the way he did. He really did not get a chance to get down and dirty with his scheming. But I am glad he got the medical treatment necessary and is getting better. Maybe we will see him again when there is another AllStars!!

Chet - what can I say about Chet except his time on the island was way too long. He should have been one of the first to go. What was he thinking in auditioning to be on Survivor. He does not look like he could survive on a pig farm much less a deserted island with no food, shelter or comforts of home. I thought these "Ultimate Fans" would know to get out the weak and keep the strong until you merge. What were these idiots thinking in getting rid of Joel and Mikey before Chet. Sorry Chet, I am sure you are probably a nice guy in the real world, but in Survivor land you were out of your league.

Kathy, crazy lady as they called her, proved that she did indeed deserve that name. Another person that is probably sweet and kind in the real world but was in way over her head. And another one that should have been long gone and would never have lost her mind on the island if she had been sent home earlier. She definatley was the Ultimate Fan though as she was star struck upon seeing and spending time with our Favorites. Can you say loco!!

As for last week, Ami getting booted. I saw this one coming a couple episodes before hand. Once Jonathon was out, Ami had no one. Sure there was Eliza, but we all know Eliza will go whichever way the wind blows. And Ami should know she had no chance against the all mighty Ozzy!! If Ozzy plays his cards right, he could just go all the way.

So now we are to last nights episode, where the all mightly merge takes place. You knew it was coming, so there was no surprise here. Of course with the merge comes the food celebration. Sorry to say, but no amount of lack of food would get me to eat a bat, as James did. I just don't think I would ever be that hungry. Did you see all the alcohol they got. There were numerous bottles of wine and plenty of beer. Funny thing is we never saw them drinking much or the after effects. But there was lots of joy that came with the merger and some anger. Seems like Parvati was elated to see Amanda again and proceeds to tell Amanda that she made an alliance with Alexis and Natalie for the four of them to stick together. This does not sit well with Amanda who now has second thoughts about re-aligning with Parvati. Who does Parvati thinks she is by making deals for Amanda. Looks like Parvati is getting a little too big headed. If I was Amanda I would work swiftly and see that Parvati is booted.

The merge also lets Eliza know that she is a dead man or woman walking. Seems like the only person she is connected to is Jason. You know Jason, the one that found the fake immuity idol that Ozzy made. Poor Eliza, she is on an island all by her lonesome with just Jason to lean on. Me thinks Eliza's days are numbered. Also with the merge we see a new budding relationship in Ozzy and Alexis, which does not sit well with Amanda. I was shocked to see just how much Alexis was throwing herself at Ozzy and equally shocked to see him respond. Be careful Ozzy, a jealous woman is a dangerous thing!!!

We get to the immunity challenge and of course Jiffy informs us that tribe immunity is no longer and it's every man or woman for him or her self. He unveils the individual immunity necklace. I like this one. Probably the only individual immunity necklace I have liked. It's pretty with the seashells on it. I know I know, I'm being too girlie here...sue me.

This challenge looks like it is tailored made for Ozzy. Or at least for a show down between Ozzy and his ultimate fan Jason. The players are all placed underwater with only a portion of their heads sticking out. They have a metal grate over them. Rules of the challenge are simple...stay afloat as the tide comes in and your air supply slowly goes away. Looks like this will be a guys challenge as the woman fall starting with Amanda. Parvati, Alexis, Cirie, Natalie and Eliza all fallow suit and are eliminated. Erik bails shortly after Eliza leving only James, Jason and Ozzy. Each of these have developed a diffferent way of breathing underwater by making breathing tubes with their hands. James bails next after giving it a good try. It's down to Jason and Ozzy as I had first predicted when I saw the challenge. My gut tells me Ozzy will win this one only because he has been known to be able to stay underwater for long periods at a time. But surprizingly Ozzy starts having trouble as his "breathing tube" begins to fail. We see him go underwater and back up. Then underwater again. At this point I am thinking, ok Ozzy just stay underwater for the rest of the time. But apparently Ozzy just could not regain his composure and he too had to bail, giving immunity to Jason. I just about died. Of all people to have immunity. And with that immunity came a great big ole head. Why....well he just beat Ozzy, one of the best physical players ever in Survivor. I cringe knowing that for the remainder of Jason's stay on the island and for eternity thereafter, we would have to hear about how the mighty Jason had beat Ozzy.

Back at camp Eliza gets wind (via evesdropping) that she is the target for this weeks boot and she goes into action cornering Jason for the immunity idol he found on Exile Island. In case I forgot the mention Jason said if he won immunity at the challenge he would give Eliza his idol to save her. Their plan is to both vote for Ozzy while the rest vote for Eliza. She plays the idol and Ozzy goes home. Sounds like a great plan and if it goes down as planned would be the biggest blindside in Survivor history. Jason fetches the idol from his hiding place and gives it to Eliza. Once she is alone she takes a peak and is shocked to find a stick with a sickly looking face carved in it. Knowing the powers that be at Survivor would never use something so plain and simple, she takes off looking for Jason. I don't know about you but if I was sitting there watching Eliza stalking around I would for sure think something is up. So Eliza finds Jason conveniently alone on the beach and asks him what he is trying to pull. She apparently thought maybe Jason was trying to double cross her. Good idea but not one I think Jason could have thought of on his own. She tells him that the idol he has given her is not the idol, "It's Just a Stick". He says no it's the idol. She doesn't believe there is any way that stick could be the idol but both agree she should play it at tribal just in case the powers that be at Survivor decided to play a trick on them.

At tribal council Alexis is first up and is revealed to be a triple threat - mental threat, physical threat and social threat. She apparently excels in all areas. Eliza is next with to be honest I don't remember what she said because Parvati jumps in and attacks Eliza calling her out for at the beginning of the game wanting to get Parvati out and then when the merge happened wanting to be buddy buddy with Parvati. Eliza looks like a deer in headlights and her only response is hey you should keep me around to the end as no one likes me and you could beat me easily. Was nice to hear James chime in that Eliza is liked, although not true, it was nice to see James being his good ole southern gentleman again. But you know what, Eliza is right. Keep her to the end and you will win against her. Did I say that.....I don't like Eliza and have wanted her gone from the beginning. I can't believe I said she should be kept to the end. Someone call me a shrink, I think I have what Kathy had!!

It's time for voting and we only see Eliza's vote of Ozzy. Jiffy asks if anyone has the hidden immunity idol to show it now or forever keep it hidden....or something like that. Eliza proudly gets up and hands Jeff the stick in paper all the while we see Ozzy cracking up laughing. I have to say I busted out laughing and had to rewind and watch that scene a couple times. Seriously folks this was funny as hell. Jeff proceeds to tell us the rules of the hidden immunity idol which states that if the person who uses the idol is the highest vote getter then the next highest vote getter will be the one that leaves. After Jeff tells the rules, he then reveals that the "stick" that Eliza presented is not the hidden immunity idol, to which Eliza then reveals that Ozzy has the idol and he planted this one. Ozzy, laughing pretty much the whole time apologizes half heartedly for not telling them. At this time Jiffy proceeds to throw the fake idol in the fire to which Ozzy says "Come on Jeff, that took hours to make".....I fall off my chair laughing. No surprise Eliza is voted out by a vote of 8-2 and her torch is snuffed. She becomes the first member of the jury and has successfully turned everyone's attention to Ozzy. As we see in the previews of the next show the girls think it is time to get rid of Ozzy and his idol. I think it's time for Ozzy to step it up and start winning immunity.

I have to say this was by far the funniest episode of Survivor I think I have ever watched. I just don't remember laughing so much. Thanks to the editing team for making me laugh and smile instead of wanting to throw my remote at the tv. For once I did not have to scream at the tv and my daughter only thought I was a little crazy. She's wrong though....I am a lot crazy.

Got a comment, come on you know you do. Just hit that little comment button right down in that corner and tell me what you think.

Until next time........

bbfanatik