Episode Report Card Sara M: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT I'm In Such A Hot Pickle!
By Sara M | Season 16 | Episode 9 | Aired on 04.10.2008
Immunity Challenge time! The new team arrives and Probst asks Alexis about the new tribe name. She says it's Dabu, which Erik told everyone was Micronesian for "good." Probst has a look on his face that says "I don't know who's stupider -- you guys for believing Erik, or Erik for thinking this is an awesome fun prank." But he still manages not to look so disgusted as to give the game away. Probst has mastered the subtle smirk. Unlike Cirie. Probst takes the immunity idol away from James and unveils the new individual immunity necklace and the mandatory speech about how super-awesome-important it is to have in the game. Unsurprisingly, the immunity necklace is as butt-ugly as always, with pointy shells and little tiki sculptures around it.
Probst explains today's challenge: contestants will be stationed under a "grated steel barrier" (a.k.a. "grate") in the water. As the tide comes in and the water level rises, they'll drown. Last one breathing wins!
Probst puts on his waiting shades and the players take their places under the grate. James almost immediately has a problem, as the fish are apparently biting him. Just bite them right back, Bat-Eater. Cirie is nervous at the prospect of being in the water. Time passes. After thirty-five minutes, a bored Probst says things are going to get interesting, as the water level is getting pretty high and he's sure people will start freaking out soon. By the way, to Probst's credit, he really does stay there for the entire challenge. If it's an endurance challenge that last ten hours, he's there. Usually he brings out a lounge chair, but still. And he has to listen to the contestants ramble on about their favorite recipes and tell boring stories the whole time. Probst is so dedicated! Amanda is the first contestant to go as she manages to get out by accident when she starts "dozing" (in ear-high water??? Dumbass) and drifts beyond the boundaries of her grated steel barrier. Kind of dumb, but it's not like she needs the immunity this round anyway.
Forty-five minutes in, Probst wants to get this over with so he tries to work some psychological magic by telling the contestants that as the water creeps up, their brains will tell them to panic and bail out. Except for Amanda's brain, which will tell you it's a good idea to doze off in the middle of a competition in the water. I guess Jason has nothing to worry about, since his brain tells him nothing. Because it doesn't exist.
Parvati is second out, followed by Alexis. As soon as Cirie's smirk goes underwater, she quits, too. The remaining contestants are struggling. Despite her thin sharp nose that I would have expected to rise far above everyone else's, Natalie is next to go. The water starts getting in Eliza's nose and she has to give up. Noooo! Oh, that so sucks. Erik follows her out. James, Jason, and Ozzy are left, and all three have cleverly made some kind of snorkel with their hands. That's probably the key to winning this game. Why couldn't you have thought of that, Eliza? Why???