Last week on Survivor, Shii Devil was repulsive -- but in a cultural way -- to Robb. Brian and Ted had each other's backs, but sadly, not Big Betsy's; the boat floated away to the dismay of Chuay Gahn. They still managed to win the "fish challenge," leading Sook Jai to vote out surly Stompanie at the tribe's second Council. Eleven are left. Who will be the to go?
But first, thanks to all of you who kindly offered your tapes -- and DVDs and RealVideo -- in response to my desperate plea. What fabulous support! A special thanks to Lynnette, whose offer I took up. You're all up there with Rudy in my book.
An aerial view of the island leads us to Sook Jai's beach on Day 16. Shii Devil pokes at the fire, and for once the gong sound does not accompany her mug shot, but a shot of Robb's back. Penny tells us it's necessary to take the game day by day, and that trust shifts as time goes on because they're all there for the same thing: a million dollars. Shots of wary-looking tribe members accompany Penny's interview. Robb, in particular, is wary of his wriggling toes. Erin thinks it's hard to separate reality from the game, and Robb responds that he's having trouble with that issue: he doesn't want to base his opinion of people on their behavior, but he can't help himself. Penny looks away as he says this, then explains in an interview that Robb asked earlier whether she'd ever considered voting against him. She told him she never intended to vote for him, and he revealed that Ken told him she'd debated between him and Stompanie in the last Tribal Council. Robb is pissed off because people aren't being truthful; he angrily exclaims, "There's no reason to lie to me!" Because really, who doesn't like a good strangulation every now and then? He doesn't go in for that "back-stabbin' bullshit," which is true. As we all know, he's more about the to-the-point "throat-grabbin' bullshit." Penny explains that Robb was upset because he suspected Ken of playing both two sides against each other. She doesn't tell us whether what Ken told Robb is true -- if she did indeed intend to vote for Robb -- or maybe that part was edited out to leave us as much in the dark as he is. I resent being put in that position.
On a walk with Ken through the jungle, Robb says he doesn't trust anyone because of what he learned from Penny. He's not playing any games and has been "straight up" since the beginning. But maybe that's because he's too stupid to be anything but forthcoming. He says he doesn't care about it at this point, except clearly he does, given the constant whining and sniveling. Even more so than usual. In a voice-over, Robb questions Ken's trust and loyalty; he doesn't know if Ken was trying to "mix everything up," or if he had a different agenda in revealing Penny's plans. Robb complains to Ken because he thinks Ken's "playin' a harder game then anyone here." Ken maintains his calm as he rationally tries to explain the situation to Robb. He asks, "So now yesterday goin' in there, who did everybody else tell you they were votin' for?" Robb answers, "Shii Ann." Ken says, "Oh, okay, who did everybody vote for?" and Robb answers, "Steph." Ken then decides to forgo waiting for Robb's answers and continues the discussion alone with, "Okay, who did I tell you I was votin' for? Steph! Who did I vote for? Steph! And now you got a problem with me because I was honest with you?" Ken, who has a point, doesn't "wanna [bleep]-ing hear it!" from Robb. Nor, most likely, does he want to see Robb constantly scratch at himself. In an interview, Ken tells us that he didn't know where Robb's anger came from. At first, he didn't realize that the diatribe was directed at him, and then he thought it was a joke. As if Robb's capable of thinking on the elevated level which would allow a sense of humor. Ken doesn't want Robb to talk about honesty anymore, because that pisses him off. Robb now seems bothered only because Ken whiningly imitated him; he insists he doesn't act like that, snitting, "I'm not a little fucking punk!" A quick shot of the Sook Jai camp shows the other members of the tribe exchanging perplexed glances as they overhear the argument.
Ken gets agitated as Robb requests a straight answer regarding their first Tribal Council: was the tribe split between him and Jed? Ken answers, "You're damned fuckin' right it was!" and Robb wants to know "according to who?" And while technically the answer to that question would be, "According to me, dummy. I just told you!" Ken answers instead, "According to everybody -- they couldn't...you were annoying the shit out of everybody! Because you wouldn't shut up! You kept on running your mouth! I think I already told you this, but you know what? I'm probably lying, right?" Hee. Robb points out that Ken had promised to let him know if he'd heard anything about Robb's imminent demise, and Ken says that was a week and a half ago. Robb whines that "trust is instilled early" and if it's "fucked up early, then it's fucked up forever." Ken thinks Robb has "some set of balls" to approach him, when Ken's been the only honest person in the tribe. He can't believe Robb just "bit the fuckin' hand that's been tryin' to feed [him]." Knowing Robb, Ken most likely means this literally. Robb points out again that Ken didn't tell him what he knew about the first Tribal Council, and Ken responds that Robb should have addressed that problem then. Except the whole point of it is that Robb didn't know about it then, and he exclaims, "That was the whole basis of my argument!" And who is he, Perry Mason? The "basis of [his] argument"? Ken argues further, causing Robb to spaz, "So don't fuckin' try to tell me that I'm doin' somethin' I'm not, all right? I'm not fuckin' stupid!" As Robb snots off, Ken groans and says, "Unbefuckinlievable!"
Tinkly music plays at Chuay Gahn, where Jan and Helen are using the tribe's water jugs as flotation devices to swim to the water source. There's an Erin joke in there somewhere. As they frog-kick along, Jan voice-overs that she hates that the boat is gone. It's not a bad swim to the water source, but three miles wears on you. I refuse to believe these people are capable of swimming three miles. I'm not sure they're capable of walking three miles, or in Jan's case, even riding three miles in an automobile. Back at camp, we get the first of many crud-covered Ted shots in this episode. His upper body and face are covered in unexplained, moist-looking, yellowish bits of nastiness. He speculates that the women are about five minutes away from returning to camp, but they appear to be much farther out than that. In an interview, Helen tells us that the boat's been a "sore spot" for the tribe since they arrived in Thailand. She points out again that "the men" thought they'd secured it, but the tide rose and took it in the middle of the night. Since Big Betsy's escape, the tribe has been pondering where she might have ended up. Did she sink? Will she float back? Is she on another shore? Ted implores the boat to show up somewhere, and Jan speculates that it's on the "backside of that island." Ted, who's all about backsides, responds -- like it's a novel idea -- "I think it's around that island." Isn't that what Jan just said? Clay also thinks the boat is around the island -- about a mile away. He tells us in an interview that they decided to swim over and look for it. So the men head out, while back on land Helen explains that, over water, land can appear a lot closer than it actually is. Jan and Helen agree that the island is a long way away.
As the men swim toward the island, Ted points out that the tide is growing stronger. Helen voice-overs that Brian is a good swimmer, but that even good swimmers can get into trouble. Clay and Ted, however, she wouldn't even "classify as swimmers." She says that Clay did bring along his water wings, but that Ted doesn't have anything. We rejoin the men as Ted realizes he's not even swimming in the right direction. Brian encourages him to "breast-stroke" over to the proper place. Brian can call it anything he likes, but it's not breast-stroking. It's not even swimming, really. Ted's just being carried along by the current. The camera pans back to show how far from land the three men are. As we see shots of a flailing, semi-swimming Ted, he voice-overs that his skills have vastly improved during his time on the island. Clay then tells us in an interview that it seemed like they were getting further away and "we wasn't [sic] leavin' this beach!" When they got halfway to the island, he said to himself, "Man, I'm not too sure I'm too proud I decided to come do this!" Finally, they make it to the island and begin to look for the boat. Clay says that if he ever has to make such a trip again, he'll bring a hamburger in his backpack. Exhausted from the trip, he tells us that if he had a "little bitty pillow," he would have gone to sleep right there. Brian voice-overs that he swam ahead, but that there was "no boat in sight anywhere," and then Ted tells the others that they've covered all the possible ground and the boat is probably "halfway to Malaysia." As far as Clay is concerned, "It's not in this whole side the world. It's gone." The camera quickly pans the island it did last time to show how far away the boat was from Chuay Gahn's beach, but this time the boat is nowhere in sight. Clay wraps up the Big Betsy segment: "I don't think anybody wants to talk about that boat no more."
At Sook Jai, a chicken casts a wary eye on the members of the tribe. Erin hacks at a coconut, while Ken frantically fiddles with his cap. He may have just signaled an infield fly. In any case, Robb announces that he's "starving, bro," as he digs into the bananas for "a good one." Ken shakes his head and walks away, before telling us in an interview that they'd agreed to refrain from eating the bananas at whim because "Robb's capable of eating twenty bananas a day; Penny's not." Ken runs over to the others to confirm the agreement; Penny isn't sure, but Erin insists that they agreed to wait on eating the bananas. Ken reveals that Robb is "in there diggin'" right now. Robb snits to the camera, "I was hungry so I had a banana. I don't think anyone wants to have to ask somebody if they can have a banana." ["I guess Robb was too busy getting pierced to have seen seasons of this show, in which people have been voted out for no reason other than pilfering food." -- Wing Chun] He complains that Ken "took it upon himself to be the policeman out here." Ken further questions whether it's a "free-for-all" on the bananas, and Robb explains again that he'll indulge when he's hungry. In complete disregard (and seeming ignorance) of the tribe's decision, Robb states, "People are gonna be hungry; they're gonna eat a banana." Seriously, how many times can two people say the word "banana" in two minutes? Because Robb and Ken just set a record. Shii Devil can't stay out of an argument and adds, "Are we just eating the bananas whenever, then?" Robb repeats his new mantra, "I'm hungry, I'm gon' eat a banana." Shii Devil pushes the issue, but Robb doesn't "even wanna hear the word." Maybe he should stop saying it, then. Shii Devil insists that she's not trying to squabble, but that she needs the system defined or some such Human Resources jargon. The issue appears to be a done deal for Robb, as Shii Devil mumbles that he's eaten more than anyone else has. Penny voice-overs that she pulled Shii Devil aside and told her to stay out of it. She doesn't know why Robb and Ken "continue to act like children," and she thinks they need to be left alone to work it out. Hee. Robb and Ken need a time-out.
We see the tribes are arriving at a challenge site, where benches, baskets on sticks, and Just Peachy await them. Peachy explains that the reward challenge combines elements of a "very popular Thai game" -- wicker balls and baskets -- to create a "unique Survivor reward challenge." In other words, the real Thai game was far too complicated to teach the S11. Each tribe will select one member as its "ball launcher". The others will be paired with members of the opposite tribe, and located at one of four stations on the beach. Using the wicker baskets, they will attempt to catch the balls. At the same time, they will attempt to block members of the other tribe from catching balls of their own. At this, we are treated to the stimulating joint video/audio effect of a slow-motion basket block paired with a gong sound. Each tribe is allowed one time-out, during which they can talk strategy or swap positions. The first tribe to catch five wicker balls wins the reward, which Peachy explains is in three parts. In addition to getting away from their own beach, they will "get a chance to experience Thai culture." Because they've been there for sixteen days already and haven't made one effort to experience it on their own. Lastly, he unveils a food-laden table and reveals that they'll also "get to indulge in a massive feast." It looks like all kinds of pineapple to me, but Peachy explains that the meal consists of many Thai delicacies, including pineapple stuffed with rice and cashews, "prawns the size of your fist," and wine. He puts a small sampling of the food under each of the S11's noses, but they're not allowed a taste as they have been in seasons past. He promises that the winners will return fully sated and in "a good state of mind." Penny and Helen assume the role of "ball launchers," and Shii Devil agrees to sit out to even the odds.
As the challenge begins, Clay makes a valiant effort to catch the first ball, but he takes a major digger. Robb skillfully scores one for Sook Jai, and acts expectedly gloaty and obnoxious about it. In the shot, Ted and Robb each catch one, followed by another catch by Robb for Sook Jai, bringing the tribe's lead to 3-1. Ted orders Helen to shoot the balls directly to Clay in the front, and Clay chimes in, "Shoot 'em this way, not way out there in the danm cliffs...hell!" Except he pronounces "hell" as "HEY-el." So Helen shoots to Clay, who dances around trying to catch the ball before Robb knocks him over. Peachy laughs at them before offering his congratulatory "Nice effort, guys." Ted then yells at Helen to "Hit Brian!" and she pissily responds that he just told her to hit Clay. It doesn't matter, because Robb catches the one, bringing Sook Jai to within one point of victory.
Clay wises up and calls a Chuay Gahn time-out. Ted plans to watch Robb because Penny has been aiming at him, but really -- are they skilled enough at the ball-launching to actually take any kind of aim? Ted suggests that he and Brian trade places, and Brian agrees without fussing. I guess his porn-star male ego can't be damaged by failure at one measly ball-catching game. Meanwhile, in the Sook Jai huddle, Ken tells Penny to hit the balls straight to Robb, since he's the only one who can catch them. The game resumes, and I notice that Clay's basket is a long and cylindrical, while all the others are shallow and wide. What's up with that? Peachy is clearly looking for a new gig as a broadcaster as he relays the action. Clay does a jeté, but there's not a pirouette in sight. Ted catches another ball for Sook Jai and Helen exclaims very enthusiastically, because they're now tied at 4-4. Ted and Robb elbow each other as they try to catch the same ball. When they both fail, Robb throws his basket on the ground and angrily yells, "You just got in my face!"
Now it's time for Sook Jai's time-out, and Robb wants to know why he's the only one scoring. Ken responds that since he's the only one getting the balls, "that's [his] job!" Hee. Penny, meanwhile, is trying to get a few words in with the following whispered sequence of words: "Listen. Listen. Time-out. Shh. Shh. Okay. Listen. Hush. Right now. Hush. Listen." Hee. But Ken and Robb continue to go back and forth about who's to blame for their current situation. Robb says, "Why don't you go over there?" to which Ken responds, "Well, I'll go over there instead of bitching!" Finally, Penny "hush"es and "shhh"s her way into the conversation. Speaking very slowly and waggling her index finger, she sternly says, "I'm gonna start launchin' 'em in the middle, and I want all four of your butts running in the middle, so let's get 'em in the baskets!" A couple rounds of scoreless ball-launching follow, including another post-ballet fall from Clay. Finally, Penny launches a ball that gets a lot of air before making a clean drop into Robb's basket. The members of Sook Jai celebrate their win and upcoming meal, and even Peachy musters kind words for Robb for carrying his tribe through the challenge, having scored four of their five points. The tribes walk off, leaving their equipment on the beach for someone else to clean up.
Funky music plays, and a stork-like creature pokes and moseys along in time with the music. A monkey peeks at the Chuay Gahn tribe as they return to camp. Ted doesn't like losing, particularly after having given the challenge "a hundred and [sic] million percent." Considering he loves his wife only "150 to 200 percent," that's a whole lotta percent. He doesn't think the loss can be blamed on a person or incident -- they all gave their best efforts, but it just wasn't good enough. The tribe talks about being tired during the challenge, while Clay reclines on a sheet like some kind odd, Rubenesque painting. Ted flaps his lips unappealingly, and then Helen tells us it was hot on the beach and there was a lot of running around. She thinks the men of Chuay Gahn were tired because they swam so much earlier while searching for the boat. She also tells us that tempers were flying -- hers included -- during the game. Ted explains to the others that he wasn't pointing them out as individuals, but was just responding "in the heat of the battle." He says he was "highlighting" what they needed to do to win, and he doesn't want them to take it personally. In an interview, he tells us that it was a particularly bad loss because Sook Jai will go "somewhere where there's gonna be a Thai festival type of atmosphere" and whatever it is is "better than coming back and pulling clams off of rocks." This is followed -- appropriately enough -- with shots of Chuay Gahn pulling clams off rocks.
We now join the feast, where it looks like there's at least a bottle of wine for each member of the tribe. But however many bottles of wine there are, there aren't nearly as many as there are pineapples. The tribe rejoices, and Penny says the tea is so good, she could "drink it like milk." They are particularly excited about having such plentiful drinking water with ice cubes. Robb couldn't imagine a more perfect setting or feast because now the little things -- ice water, clean plates and utensils, and "napkins to wipe our faces" -- mean so much to him. Penny makes an icky face as she says, "What is this?" over a particular food item. Shii Devil responds, "That's, um, shredded pork...or shrimp." And either she sees the two items as interchangeable (which is entirely possible given her indiscriminating eating habits), or this is an example of her oft-cited know-it-allness. They exclaim over and pass a huge prawn around the table. This prawn could not be mistaken for pork, although it could be mistaken for an entire small pig. Erin thinks it's "crazy" that they're eating with "gold utensils"; she tells us in an interview that she wasn't expecting something so ornate and extravagant, and that she felt like royalty sitting there. This comment is juxtaposed with a big, royal burp from Robb. A group of Thai entertainers arrive and begin playing a xylophone-like instrument. Maybe it is a xylophone, but I'm assuming it has some Thai significance. The tribe continues to orgasm over the meal, and then a possibly drunken Robb waxes sentimental -- he is proud that the tribe came together after the morning's drama, and says the reward is better than anything he could have imagined. Penny drawls, "We love you, Robb." She then tells us in an interview that Robb was a key factor in their win; if there were an MVP award, he would have won it "for sure." Penny, by the way, would have won "Best Personality!" Erin points out that just this morning they were fighting over "unripe bananas," and the others -- including a hard-pressed Ken -- laugh. Shii Devil eloquently sums it up: "The morning was retarded." Clearly, she's been around Robb too long. The Thai musicians are joined by very pretty, hand-motioning dancers. Shii Devil doesn't call the dancers "retarded." In fact, she rejoices in seeing some local culture, and thinks the dancing and music were wonderful. She felt for a second like they were "maybe even friends" enjoying each other's company and sharing a meal; they were able to put aside the game momentarily: "That rarely happens for Sook Jai." They walk back over a sunset bridge.
Oooh, a sleek little otter ducks and swims in the water! He's so cute! The tribe admires the sunrise and Clay exclaims, "Man, ain't that pretty!" Ted makes a fuss of saying he feels a merger is coming -- like it's some huge prediction and not something that's happened for the last five consecutive seasons. He tells us in an interview that, although he's been horrible at predicting the events of the game so far, he suspects a merger will happen "very, very, very soon." A veritable pre-cog, he says, "I kind of have a feeling, man." Clay agrees with Ted, and guarantees that the merge will happen before the two immunities. Ted explains that they need the immunity badly because Sook Jai is up by one person right now. A victory in the challenge will provide an even playing field: it'll be like starting the game all over again, but without some of the annoying people! Clay conveniently disappears, and Ted asks if Brian is "still in play"; Brian agrees that he is. The two men giggle and do their secret fist bop. In an interview, Brian explains that he and Ted have a strong relationship, along with a "certain lingo that [they] talk about" that lets them know "exactly where [their] head's at." Their collective, giant head. There it is again. Ted tells Brian that when they merge, it will be important for the tribe to stay unified. In an interview, Brian says that "no one needs to know of [their] strong friendship," and that they're trying to see if any of their tribemates are "playing them." As Clay ambles over, Brian says, "I think Clay's tryin' to figure us out." This whole segment is made to look as though Clay is suspiciously snooping around, but I think that "skeptically dismayed" is his default expression. Ted says that if the subject comes up, they should pretend they don't know what he's talking about. Ted is once again covered in the yellow cruddy flecks during this segment. Ted camera-talks that if the others discover their secret alliance, "it could bite [them]" and potentially ruin the rest of their game plan. I guess he prefers to be the biter, not the bitee. Again, the camera closes in on Clay's "What is that peculiar odor and why is it coming from Jan?" face; he then reassumes his sexy recline in the shelter.
A shot of a butterfly precedes a shot of a scorpion. Because there's so much beauty out there, but so much danger as well! Did you get that? Mostly, I just got "oooh, pretty" and "ew, yuck!" Robb "dude"s and "Oh my God"s his way through a conversation with Ken about how he can't wait to eat another Thai meal, but he knows it will never be in as beautiful a place. They hike through the woods as Robb voice-overs his amazement regarding the prior day's experience. His mind was opened up and, although he doesn't think he was taking the experience for granted before, he now appreciates it more. For those of us needing proof, the camera closes in on Robb appreciating a snakeskin. He wonders what animal shed it, and then an animal that likely did not shed it stares at him and slithers. Robb explains that he and Ken walked way into the jungle -- the furthest he's been since coming to the island. That's no surprise, since the S16 tend to have as much inclination to explore their surroundings as they do to display any useful survival skills. To Ken's obvious discomfort, Robb whistles to get the attention of bats. When Robb exclaims, "There's bats flyin' all over the place inside!" Ken evenly responds, "I know there are," as if he's talking to a two-year-old who just discovered a jar full of Elmo cookies. As Robb continues to enthuse spastically over the bats, Ken tries to quiet him down: "If you freak 'em out, they're all gonna fly out!" Bats fly at the camera for effect. Robb is positively twitching with excitement. He is amazed to be able to walk to such a beautiful place. And well he should be, because generally, creatures with Robb's mental capacity are not able to walk-- not on two legs, anyway. Robb tells Ken he never thought he'd be sitting in a cave in the middle of a jungle in Thailand while savoring a banana and a canteen of water that's "warm as piss and tastes even worse." He voice-overs that he'll never be there again in his life, and I don't blame the Thais -- I wouldn't let him back in my country, either. Robb has done a lot of thinking, and everything is now in perspective for him. This, he says, is a result of the fact that he and Ken "really squashed the beef." Robb says Ken "made [him] make sense of [him]self," and not many people have done that. Especially considering there's no apparent sense to be had.
Ken has finally dragged Robb away from the bats and outside the cave. Robb complains that Ken is always telling him what to do, and Ken suggests that Robb should listen when someone tries to help him. He says he's only been trying to help Robb, but that it's getting harder and harder to do. Robb fiddles with a stick. Ken fiddles with his hand. If a fiddler crab were within a hundred miles of this jungle, the editors would have made sure it was in there, too. Ken tells us in an interview that he and Robb don't have many differences, but that Robb is just a "young kid." Ken took him out on the walk to "get his head straight," because Robb's not doing very well in the game. As they walk back to camp, Robb thanks Ken, who says they're returning to camp feeling better and getting along. In an interview, Robb says it was good and like "hangin' out with an older brother."
Red ants dig at Chuay Gahn as Jan meanders down the beach and drawls that they need to have a funeral. She says, "I found a baby bat...and it's dead!" Except she pronounces "dead" as "DAY-ed." This show would be much less amusing without the southern accents. Brian and Helen try to muster appropriate reactions, and since the appropriate reaction is laughter, Brian succeeds. Jan then says something about having "hidden" the baby bat from the others. She says they're going to bury it -- maybe "with its paw." I don't know if she means "Pa" in the "Laura Ingalls Wilder" sense or "paw" as in the "it's dislocated from its body" sense. Or maybe she meant something else entirely. I should just stop trying to understand her. In an interview, Helen says she wouldn't even call what Jan found a "baby" bat, yet; it was still in its "embryonic stage," and to her just looked like a "slimy little baby bat thing." Jan molests the baby bat with a stick -- pointing out its head and its "little bat arms." Helen grimaces as she tells us she feels bad when a kitten dies, but that when she saw the bat she thought, "[sarcastically] Yeah, that's real sad," and wanted to bury it before it collected flies. Ted promises to send a card and flowers to the bat's funeral while Jan is busy weaving a cross. Clay just shakes his head in dismay. Brian tells us in an interview that Jan was very sad over the dead baby bat; she cried and named it Oscar. He says, "I was curious whether we could eat it or not." Jan scrapes the baby bat carcass into a shell, further massacring it in the process. She tells the bat, "Didn't have a chance, did you, baby?" Brian doesn't know whether it's Jan just "bein' emotional" or if she's actually "losing it" out there. Personally, I think she's always been a bit batty. (I just couldn't resist that one.) Jan digs and digs at a grave, then tells us in an interview that she knows it's silly, but she feels sorry for Oscar: "So, I buried him and he's happy." She assures us that she'll stop crying soon, and explains that she's particularly sensitive about little animals that don't have a chance. Somber, funereal music plays. Jan digs some more.
So Oscar is dead and buried, may he rest in peace, and it's time to check the treemail, which reveals that the upcoming immunity challenge is "a game of luck," and involves the number 21. Ted suspects that the challenge will be a mental one. He guesses that it might be Blackjack, before Clay voice-overs that the merge will happen within the few days, so it's very important that they go in ahead, because otherwise Sook Jai will -- all together now -- "pick us off one by one."
The tribes march into the challenge in single file while dramatic music plays in the background. Jan hates to give up the idol, which Peachy says is the most coveted prize in the game (though the hot fudge sundae seems to me to deserve the honor more). He says that today's challenge, called "Thai 21," is "all mental." There are twenty-one flags, which must be removed from the playing field in denominations of one, two, or three. Each tribe's goal is to claim the final flag. Peachy claims that it's all about "how many flags to grab and when to grab them," but according to the forums, it's all about who gets to go first. (That is, if they know anything about the challenge or about numbers in general. I don't, so I can't make too much fun.) Robb demonstrates a semblance of self-awareness by immediately volunteering himself out of the challenge.
Peachy sends the tribes off to strategize before the challenge begins, and we can already tell how this one is going to go: while Sook Jai is still debating whether they actually want the last flag, Chuay Gahn is on to figuring out how many flags they want remaining in the last round. Sook Jai wins the coin toss and apparently the game if they had thought it through; but they didn't, so it's an open playing field. They take two flags, leaving nineteen behind. Chuay Gahn also takes two flags, causing Peachy to comment that it's a "simple game with huge consequences." Sook Jai takes two more flags (leaving fifteen); Chuay Gahn takes one (leaving fourteen); Sook Jai and Chuay Gahn each take one (leaving twelve); Sook Jai takes one (eleven); Chuay Gahn takes two (leaving nine).
Here, Peachy explains that they're down to nine remaining flags, and that the moves at this point are critical. Pondering her tribe's move, Shii Devil begs, "You guys have to help me think! You gotta help me think!" They have a hard enough time thinking on their own, so I don't really think they're in a place to help her out. Shii Devil finally admits that she doesn't know what to do, while Clay realizes that his tribe is in good shape as long as they continue to take the same number of flags as Sook Jai does. Shii Devil finally advises her tribe to take three flags -- the first such move of the game -- leaving behind six flags. She then instantly figures out that if Chuay Gahn takes two flags, her tribe will lose the challenge no matter what they do. Either this is a case of not seeing the forest for the trees, or Shii Devil intentionally threw the challenge. Ted, meanwhile, is encouraging his tribe to take away one flag, and Brian agrees. Clay confidently insists, "We have to go pick up two flags! We have to pick up two!" Ted "shh"s him, but I don't see why it matters now if Sook Jai overhears their conversation. In any case, Chuay Gahn listens to Clay, and Ted and Brian head down to collect two flags. Shii Devil tells the rest of her tribe -- who clearly are still in the dark, most likely celebrating because they have more flags! -- "We lost, we lost, we lost." She shakes her head and says it sucks. Peachy points out that Chuay Gahn just clinched the game, and welcomes Sook Jai down to make their last move. They take away three flags, which Peachy calls "very classy." I guess playing out the game with no strangulation or unfair pushing was positively civilized on the part of Sook Jai. Penny nicely congratulates Clay, who accepts the kind gesture, then Chuay Gahn holds hands to collect the final flag while the camera focuses on a distraught or distraught-acting Shii Devil. Ted insists to his tribe that "everyone put their hand on it," so they can take it back together. Peachy points out that Chuay Gahn has now won "back-to-back immunity"; he snits that it's just another reminder of how one wrong move can take you out of the game, and dramatically turns to Sook Jai and says, "One of you will be."
A full moon accompanies Sook Jai back from the challenge on Night 17. Jake tells us that they're "bummed out" about the loss, and we see Ken hugging Robb, who clings to him. They decide to drink the remainder of the reward-challenge wine and discuss their situation. Ken tells the group that it's the first time he's been upset about losing a challenge, and Erin explains in an interview that they used the wine to "came to grips" with getting rid of someone. Robb points out that it's their last night together as a family of six and Jake says, "This is a game of up and down, isn't it? I mean, up one minute, totally down the ," and I'm glad he clarified the whole "ups and downs" thing, because I wasn't quite sure what he meant. Robb has no words to describe the game -- it's all been positive for him. He chokes up as he tells the group that Survivor has changed his whole outlook on life in just two weeks. I wonder how many of Robb's emotional and communication problems would have just been solved if his parents had sent him to summer camp and forced him to learn to cohabitate with others outside the environs of the closet they obviously kept him in throughout his childhood. Erin tells us that Robb's reaction and experiences really made the rest of the tribe think. He continues his swan song, telling the group that all that was important to him before coming to Thailand was "how much money I made a week, and getting wasted." Hee. "A week." That's mean, isn't it? Robb is now full-on crying as he says that life and family ("the people you love; the people who love you just as much") are important. He didn't have a relationship with his dad for the first twenty-one years of his life, but now he can't wait to get home because he misses his dad and wants to tell him he loves him. Oh, that makes me sad for Robb. And for Robb's dad. Robb insists that he's already going home a winner, and then Jake tells us he "loves people" and likes to see them make personal breakthroughs. He thinks the experience will be meaningful to Robb for the rest of his life. Robb never imagined he'd "really warm up to cherishing bananas," and Ken responds that he didn't think he'd warm up to "hangin' out with a skateboarder freak." Still, Ken says Robb's a good man, to which Robb responds, "Amen, bro!" Shii Devil tells Robb that despite their differences, she thinks he's a good guy. She doesn't look like she means it, though.
It's now the morning, and Sook Jai is surrounded by empties. Shii Devil tells us they had a great time last night -- a lot of meaningful words were exchanged. She knows it's "kind of sappy, but really sweet at the same time." As we see Jake prepare to break another chicken's neck, Shii Devil continues, "Is it a love fest? Is it a love tribe? I don't think so." Jake -- whose primary role in the tribe seems to be the breaker of chicken necks -- grimaces and violently snaps the chicken's neck as he says, "We love you, chicken" and thanks it for giving up its life. Shii Devil thinks they bonded because of the alcohol, and in remorse over losing, but the experience didn't change the tribal "politics." She still doesn't think Penny and Erin trust her, and she doesn't trust them either: it's the nature of the game, and they remain a divided tribe. Sook Jai dig into the boiled chicken as Jake explains that Tribal Council is "terribly painful" for him. Just like this morning when he killed the chicken, it's something he doesn't want to do, but knows is a necessity.
The customary Tribal Trill takes us to Council, where Peachy welcomes them back after "another interesting three days in the life of Sook Jai." Erin says that the past several days have been the most "tumultuous" in their time in Thailand. She said the feast was their best night, but the following day's immunity challenge loss touched them all in an emotional way. Penny says that of all the games they've played, the tribe most wanted to win last night's immunity challenge so they could remain a group of six for three more nights. Robb thought it was "kinda hard" to sit on the sidelines watching his tribe lose and witnessing their reactions. He is thankful, though, to be part of such an amazing experience, and says he shared his feelings with the tribe to "uplift everyone's spirit." He tells Peachy that the tribe's tearful reaction to his tearful revelations exceeded his hopes; he is pleased that they were all moved by his words, and Just Peachy is "genuinely delighted" to hear of the tribe's turnabout. Shii Devil knows tonight's vote will be really hard; while she can't speak for the others, the last three days have been very "intimate" for her. Peachy then asks Erin a bizarre question about whether "both are wins": taking part in such an amazing game, and the accompanying life-altering experience. Erin answers the convoluted question perfectly: she ignores it. Instead, she says that Robb has changed them all, and they are now at peace with making a necessary decision. Peachy asks where tonight's vote ranks in the past eighteen days, and Jake says it's the most difficult for everyone involved. He'll never forget the last days with this group of six.
Penny wears some sort of ribbons -- or perhaps multiple buffs? -- in her pigtails. She needs a new 'do. We don't see her vote, or Jake's either. Shii Devil holds up Robb's name as she says, "An old proverb: 'A wise man knows much, but says little. A fool knows little, but says far too much.'" She was just starting to like him, but he has to go -- no hard feelings. The only other vote we see is Robb's for Shii Devil. He says, "No hard feelings, baby. I had to vote for somebody." Although they've had their ups and downs, he's glad he got to know her. Mostly because he now knows to avoid meeting all those nasty fellow city girls in the future.
Peachy's off to tally, and there's no suspense this week. Shii Devil gets the first vote, and the rest are all for Robb. He's clearly aware that he's going, and his only issue seems to be that the members of his tribe misspelled his name when voting. He grins and says, "It's two 'B's! Two 'B's, guys!" Not one of the voters manages to get the spelling right, but then, maybe they refuse to write the second "B" out of principle. So Robb is headed home, and Shii Devil watches him go with a smug smile. Robb makes what could be the longest departure ever, as he shakes hands and hugs various members of the tribe, then bangs his chest in a show of solidarity and love. After he finally exits, Peachy says that the tribe has clearly experienced some "spiritual growth," and points out the irony in the fact that the person who inspired the group catharsis is the same person they just voted out. D'oh!
time on Survivor, Brian becomes "the life of the party" by sticking his fingers down his throat and vomiting. Ken worries that Shii Devil might be branded a rat for the rest of her life, which would be as bad as being branded a nasty eater. And will the tribes merge?
As the credits roll, Robb continues his weepy journey of spiritual growth. He embraces the moment and wants to express his gratitude, because the Survivor experience has "broadened [his] horizons -- made [him] think of the importance of family and life and love." He never expected to leave the game feeling so inspired and excited. He says he loves the others, and he knows he's already a whiner -- I mean, "a winner." He really holds the audience's hearts in his hands during this special moment, which -- and I think I speak for all of us here -- is vastly preferred to holding our throats.