Episode Report Card Sara M: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Not That There's Anything Wrong With That
By Sara M | Season 18 | Episode 5 | Aired on 03.12.2009
Jalapeño returns to camp. Taj interviews that she was hot today. But not temperature-wise -- temper-wise. What's with the text under Taj's name calling her a "former pop star," by the way? They didn't call Crystal a "former Olympic champion" last season. And there's nothing former about Taj's success. SWV forever! She wanders off while Joe shows off his knee injury, which pales in comparison to J.T.'s missing tooth. Taj takes a seat next to Spencer and interviews that she knows she fell short today, but thinks that Spencer fell even shorter and should be the one to go. Taj, Stephen, J.T., and Joe head into the water, and Taj starts talking, saying that whoever they vote out tonight has to be someone who will increase their chances of winning the next immunity challenge so they'll be even going into the merge. She orders everyone to put their emotions aside and think about the best interests of the team. Meanwhile, her emotions are out of control. She says she's angry and doesn't care what anyone thinks of her and they can all kiss her ass. She probably shouldn't have said that last part out loud. J.T. and Stephen say they trust her more than some other people in the tribe once they get a chance to speak. Then it's Joe's turn to talk, and he says he trusts Taj just fine, by which he obviously means that he doesn't. Taj says he doesn't really, since he's never approached her about forming an alliance while she's made efforts to talk to him. With that, she storms off, saying she's sick of the bull. Joe interviews that he has no idea what Taj's problem is with him, but acting like that is a great way to get voted out. Except not this week, since I just saw the stupid Sprint Player of the Week thing and she was one of the choices, so obviously she's not getting voted out tonight. Thanks for ruining the show again, Sprint. Stephen has to try to defend Taj without looking like he's in an alliance with her now, and says Taj is probably acting out because she's scared. He asks Joe what he thinks, and an obviously dubbed-in voice (I have no idea whose) says "she's next." So now Stephen has to figure out if he should let Taj be voted out without telling her, thereby getting the idol for himself free and clear, or keep his secret alliancemate in the game. As for Taj, she totally trusts that Stephen will let her know if she's in danger tonight and give her back her idol to use if she is.
Now it's Spencer's turn to worry. He says he's competitive, so he hates losing and his poor performance being a reason for that loss. He's pretty sure that J.T. is gunning for him right now. Sure enough, down by the water, J.T. is saying he has no problem writing Spencer's name down tonight because he didn't do what J.T. and Joe told him to and that's the reason for their loss. Spencer walks up as J.T.'s saying this and gets in the water, fully aware that the people he's walking towards are talking about him. J.T. asks Spencer what he's thinking, and Spencer says he's pretty sure J.T. is pissed at him. J.T. says he was pissed at him for the challenge because he wasn't tackling Tyson. Spencer just says he had a feeling he'd be on the chopping block tonight. J.T. says his opinion is not necessarily that of the entire tribe's. Spencer tries to make a case for himself, saying that he's not "the worst person to keep around" and they might need him for the next immunity challenge. The whole time he says this, he's touching his face, which is textbook liar and insecurity. Don't even try to play poker, Spencer. He asks J.T. to tell him who should go tonight. "You or Taj," J.T. says. Spencer tries not to cry. He shrugs helplessly. Who's worse -- Taj, for going over the top in defending herself and yelling at everyone, or Spencer, for making little to no attempt to stay in the game at all?