The Survivor Specialist Has His Torch Snuffed

What can I say about last night's epic Tribal?  Did you watch it?  If you didn't, stop reading this and go do that.  Since he is a personal friend, and yes I know I'm in the minority, I was sad to see Phillip leave last night, but at least he's on the jury.

I guess I should start with that whole bit about Dawn losing her teeth in the water.  If she didn't want everyone to know, then maybe she should have quietly asked for help to find them instead of getting hysterical?  I do imagine that Survivor can get to you.  Being out there with limited food items, the same people day after day, all kinds of crazy thoughts going through your mind AND being a woman in your 40's.  I can see it.  Suck it up, girl!

On to the rewards challenge.  At least this time the teams were a little more even-sided.  Malcolm's idea to make it easy for everyone else on his team didn't help them pull it off.  Sherri was like molasses in January, wasn't she?  That woman should be long gone from this show, but there she sits not even a consideration when the voting occurs.  It was good to see Cochran once again on the WINNING team, wasn't it?

The Immunity challenge involved maneuvering underwater under a raft.  Apparently, Philip had a traumatic experience when he was a child, so he opted out of this challenge.  Truthfully, he didn't have a chance to win, so why not opt out?  This clearly was going to be a male winner since it involved strength, holding your breath and fitness.  Reynold is by far the fittest of all the contestants remaining on Survivor so it wasn't a surprise that he sailed through this competition.  It was unfortunate that Eddie was a bit cocky resulting in him NOT getting his tube onto the post and losing.  Malcolm was Reynold's closest competition and you could clearly see that he couldn't catch his breath.  Reynold dove into the water to retrieve his Immunity necklace without a whiff of tiredness.  He clearly is the one to beat physically in this game.

Okay, lets discuss tribal council.  Malcolm has had a HII since the tribes merged.  With the luck that only happens on Survivor, Malcolm finds a second HII.  All the tribe sees and knows about the second one.  As you know (and if you don't, then why are you even reading this?) there are two alliances.  Most of the Favorites and Sherri are aligned with Phillip leading that pack. The second alliance is Reynold, Malcolm and Eddie or The Three Amigos (no relation to the Reality Rally Team!).  As soon as Malcolm found that second HII, my head started spinning with the possibilities.  How about you?  I can just imagine how the thoughts were flying in Malcolm's head!

The favorites were once again planning to split the votes between Eddie and Malcolm to flush out the HII.  Don't forget Reynold is safe.  Eddie, Malcolm and Reynold plan to vote for Phillip.  Talk gets around to Malcolm having a HII.  He pulls it out and then shortly after pulls out the second one.  The faces on some of the contestants were classic.  This tribal will forever go down in history.  Taking it the hardest, and for good reason is Andrea.  She knows her head could end up on the chopping block.  So now what we have is Malcolm, Eddie and Reynold all SAFE!!!  Someone from the Favorites will be leaving tribal.  What I don't get is why the favorites didn't immediately turn on Sherri and get her butt out of there?  She clearly doesn't have the ability to win challenges, so maybe that's why they are keeping her around?  Andrea's name is being whispered and all the Favorites are talking among themselves.  Jeff is enjoying himself immensely. Okay, so was I and I assume so were you? I think it was Erik that mentions just because they HAVE HII's doesn't mean they are going to use them.  Phillip ends the talk by stating that he thinks everyone should vote the way that was discussed BEFORE coming to tribal.  He states that he would rather be voted off than have his reputation continue to be tarnished (or some such rubbish--LOL).  The voting has the Favorites splitting between Malcolm and Eddie.  The Three Amigo's vote for Phillip.  The lone wolf in this whole debacle is Erik.  Instead of voting with the Favorites, he votes against Phillip.  At this point, it didn't really matter, but it's a very telling sign of what's to come with him.  So, the two HII's are played and Phillip is our second member of the Survivor Caramoan jury.

Whew...what an ending!  I'm sure there is tons of talk today about whether, Malcolm should have used both the HII's or whether they should have tried to squeak through without using two.  I guess it's neither here nor there!  Can't wait to see what happens next.  Bloggergal