Episode Report Card Sara M: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Average Joe
By Sara M | Season 18 | Episode 8 | Aired on 04.09.2009
Meanwhile, Joe limps around camp. That's all.
Tyson talks to Stephen about getting rid of Brendan. Stephen says Brendan underestimates everyone else in this game, which is probably true. Tyson says Brendan told him he didn't have the idol and he wanted to take Tyson to the final, and Tyson doesn't believe either of those things. He proposes an alliance of Stephen, J.T., Tyson, Douche, and Debbie. "Oh, good," Stephen says. Yes. Very good. Stephen interviews that so far, Tempura has shown itself to be a fractured tribe without the strong bonds it would need to form a united front against the Jalapeño minority. Meanwhile, I see that Douche didn't even hesitate to claim the new hammock for himself. Stephen continues that Tempura is full of "power dynamics" that should be "very easy to exploit." And when even J.T. can figure that out (although not present that argument quite so eloquently), you know Tempura is full of transparent fools. Tyson tells Stephen that once they get rid of Brendan, the game is theirs to win. Stephen smiles. Tyson laughs evilly.
The next morning, J.T. tries to teach Tyson how to fish. Tyson is excited when he manages to catch something, but when he pulls it out of the water, J.T. tries not to laugh at the "little baby catfish." J.T. gives Tyson a lesson in catfish anatomy, telling him that some catfish have razor-sharp poisonous fins. Even though the catfish attacked him, J.T. throws it back in the water to live another day. He interviews that he didn't think he would get along with Tyson after going up against him in all those challenges, but things are different now that they're living together. With that, the new friends talk strategy. Specifically, voting out Brendan ASAP. J.T., of course, is just fine with that and they shake hands and man-hug. Tyson interviews that he's looking forward to getting rid of Brendan, who seems like "sneaky bastard." Tyson, on the other hand, thinks that when he lies, no one can tell. He's proud of this quality, which I think is shared by many sociopaths.
Back at camp, Tyson makes up a lame excuse to talk to Debbie, saying "Debbie, uh, you wanna go grab some firewood? You think we need some?" Yeah, he's a smooth liar. As soon as they're gone, Taj and Stephen are left with Brendan. This is excellent for the secret Exile alliance. Or not, as Taj interviews that she figured she and Stephen were safe once the merge happened. But they've been at camp for a while now, and Brendan and Sierra haven't said a thing to either of them, so Taj is starting to think they've decided to stick with Tempura rather than align with them. Taj and Stephen go off to talk, and Taj admits that she has no idea what's going on with Brendan or if he's still with them. She doesn't have much hope that he is.