Episode Report Card Kim: B+ | 2 USERS: C YOU GRADE IT Federal Agent Question Mark
By Kim | Season 22 | Episode 1 | Aired on 02.16.2011
But then Phillip needs more details; he wants to know who else will be voting with them, because they only have three votes and that's obviously not enough. Kristina obviously doesn't want to tell him about the HII so she just keeps telling him not to worry about it, and she's sorry she ever said anything to him. Okay. Phillip is crazy, no doubt. But I don't think he's wrong to want more details of their plan. They're just asking him to vote, and as far as he knows, it's going to be a futile effort. Maybe he thinks he could bring some people into their alliance. Of course, because he's crazy, Phillip manages to make it into a discussion of Philip's Rules of Order and who can talk when and how he's a Federal Agent Question Mark. Francesca and Kristina are obviously regretting ever starting this conversation. The others return to camp, so they shut it down and agree to talk if their tribe loses the Immunity Challenge. And of course, after Francesca and Kristina say the conversation is over, Phillip has to repeat, "We're done. We're done." So everyone knows that HE ended the conversation. Oh, Lord. Francesca and Kristina could not have picked a worse alliance partner, it seems. It couldn't get even worse, could it?
Francesca wins my heart with this interview segment: "I don't know how it happened! How did I get stuck with the old annoying guy with the droopy fuchsia briefs? He's such a pain in my ass. [faux-bright] Did I mention we're in an alliance together? How...awesome." I would like to hang out with her. And I'm still loving her pink sundress. However, she is screwed.
Time for the first challenge! The two tribes arrive on the beach. Probst explains the challenge, which is quite physical. First, the tribes have to push four giant blocks alone a track to build the base of a huge temple. Once the four blocks are in place, they all run up some steps and one person uses an axe to cut through a bunch of ropes, which will release another set of steps. The entire tribe then climbs up to the very top of the temple, where they have to put together a 3D puzzle of giant Tetris-like blocks to complete the temple. The first tribe to finish the puzzle wins Immunity and fire, while the other tribe goes to Tribal Council. Got it? Three stages: pushing, chopping, and then puzzle assembly. Let's do it.
Probst calls the start and both tribes take off running. It seems like Zapatera benefits in the first stage from having more dudes. They get some good momentum going with the blocks while Ometepe seems to actually stop all forward movement at times. Zapatera gets all four blocks in place while Ometepe is just starting with their last block. Ralph does the chopping for Zapatera, and they quickly move on to the third stage. Ometepe finally moves on to the second stage and Matt takes what feels like forever to chop through the ropes. David appears to take the lead in helping Zapatera with the puzzle, but you have Rob the Puzzle Master on the other side, and Ometepe quickly closes the gap. David appears to let Russell take the lead on the puzzle, though I've seen it written elsewhere that David was still actually calling the shots, quietly. So he's one to watch. Anyway, despite making great strides, Ometepe can't close the deal and Zapatera wins immunity.