“ Penny doesn't tell us whether 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. ”
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.
Power of One
“ 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. ”
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.
Power of One
“ Ken frantically fiddles with his cap. He may have just signaled an infield fly. ”
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.
“ Clay does a jet, but there's not a pirouette in sight. ”
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 jet, 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!"