Previously on Survivor, ambassadors from each tribe decided at which camp the tribes would live together. Live together. Got it? It's important later. Shii Devil liked Chuay Gahn's beach better, and conveniently Helen did, too, so Chuay Gahn it was, where Shii Devil began "workin' a deal" with the members of the opposite tribe to vote Penny out. Peachy gleefully revealed at the Immunity Challenge that he had chosen his words carefully (and after four seasons of saying the word "merge," he must have been at least a little scared he'd drop the "m" bomb) because the tribes were doing just that: living together. There'd been no actual merge, and the S10 would still compete as tribes for immunity. Chuay Gahn won, so potential Sook Jai traitor Shii Devil found herself "in the hot seat." After a valiant attempt to stick around, during which she called Penny "manipoolative," she was voted out anyway.
It's Night 21, and we see a full moon and trees. Ted tells the other members of Chuay Gahn that he's not going to sleep until Sook Jai returns from Tribal Council. Brian also wants to see "what's up" because they're "comin' back to [Chuay Gahn's] house --""-- after we spanked 'em," concludes Ted. He can't wait to ask the other tribe why they voted off their latest bootee, and eagerly awaits their answer. Clay is amazed by the tension in the other tribe, and the others agree. Brian -- who can't remember Shii Devil's name, calling her "Soo Yee" and "Sin Jun" instead -- says that Sook Jai wasn't thinking if they voted her out (whatever her name) because she's "more damage" than Erin. She's also "more drama," but he doesn't say that. Ted thinks Shii Devil's ejection will demonstrate an "emotional decision" on behalf of Sook Jai, which Brian thinks is a mistake.
We join Sook Jai as they stumble back from the challenge in the dark. Penny confides to us that she thought Shii Devil had succeeded in plotting against her, and that Penny had said her goodbyes. She whispers, "The joke's on her as far as I'm concerned. I'm still here and she's not." Penny is really quite gracious. If "gracious" means "an obnoxious sore winner." She tells us in an interview that she couldn't have been happier to hear that the challenge was tribe against tribe because she knew she was still safe with Sook Jai. Back within the Sook Jai huddle, Penny insists that they're still strong and need to stay true to each other because they may be competing against the other tribe in the future. She thanks them for keeping her around, but they seem fairly indifferent to her professions of gratitude and love. In an interview, Ken explains that Penny is doing damage control, and that he would, too, if he were in her position. She needs to undo the damage that's been done and move forward from there. I hope that by "forward," he means back home to Plano.
Back at camp, Chuay Gahn can't believe how late Sook Jai is coming back from the Council. They cooked food for the returning tribe, which is more than they deserve. They all congratulate each other before Clay asks, "Who'd we lose?" When Sook Jai reveals that Shii Devil is gone, he responds, "I kinda figured." Maybe because she's not there? Ted asks why they chose Shii Devil, and Ken plainly answers that she "threatened" them. He says, "She seems to claim that you guys have a deal with her that if we got rid of her [sic], you guys were gonna pick us off one by one." Clay and Ted act amazed by this, but maybe because Ken so completely shitmouthed the explanation. Clay disbelievingly says, "She what? She what?" so Ken begins explaining it all over again, but we don't get a chance to hear whether he gets it right this time. Ted tells us in an interview that Sook Jai was correct in its accusation: Chuay Gahn, with Shii Devil's vote, would indeed have voted Penny off. Clay is still playing the dunce -- not that he has to work very hard at it -- by insisting that it's a "hell of a strategy." Jake points out that it backfired, and Clay responds that Shii Devil's claim was "kind of stupid to say." Brian tells us in an interview that although the other tribe knew what was going on with Shii Devil, they acted surprised. He and the other members of Chuay Gahn were all like "okay, uh huh, whatever." Clay points out that the tribes had a lot invested in the night's vote, and Ken agrees, but says it's the nature of the game. Clay narrates that they're not yet one tribe, and as far as he knows, they're "doin' what [they] did today again tomorrow and the day and the day." Ken responds that no matter what, they're all in the jury.
As the tribe settles down for the night, Brian voice-overs that whenever he looks at Sook Jai, he "see[s] enemy." He says he can put the rivalry aside "just all of a sudden -- great, one happy family. I love you guys. Hello!" There's a big difference between "I love you" and "hello." Well, maybe not to a porn star. Brian tells us he's feeling out the members of Sook Jai, and that they'll have to win his trust. He has some professional experience -- and I don't mean in the used-car business -- at "feeling out" other people. As the camera pans over the sleeping S9 -- including a creepily wide-eyed Clay -- Brian insists again that it's a weird feeling to be sleeping with the enemy. Sleeping with strangers for pay? No problem. But the enemy?
On the morning of Day 22, Ted ponders the ocean while two monkeys converse nearby. I wish I could hear what they're saying; I'm sure I could understand it as well as I grasp a conversation between Clay and Jan. Penny smirkily approaches and asks if he's still talking to his family. He responds, "Every morning! Every morning, every morning! Every morning!" So I'm thinking Ted talks to his family...uh, every morning? Not that Penny gets the point. She asks, "Are you still doin' it?" She says she'll let him stay there until he's done, and Ted insists that it's okay for her to stop by any time. She would love to join his workout later, so he says he'll let her know when it's time. He then tries to scare her off with the threat of yoga, but she exclaims, "I'll do it with ya! No problem!" She struts off and the camera stays on Ted for about seven seconds before his eyes roll back in his head. Hee.
Thus follows the Penny Works It Unsuccessfully segment of this week's show. She's moved on to Clay, as she flirtily tells him she most misses waking up to her morning cup of coffee. Clay says he misses that "kick in the head," and it's too bad Robb's not around anymore, because I'm sure he'd be glad to help out with that. Ted tells us in an interview that Penny is "superbly, overly nice," and that it doesn't feel genuine. He says, "It feels...it feels fake," thus missing a chance to use the word "disingenuous" correctly. Penny moves on to Jan, and falsely thanks her for the night's fire and soup. She scrubs at some dirt at Jan's nose, but it won't come off -- that dead baby bat residue is some sticky stuff! Penny then -- despite the fact that they're standing two feet from the ocean -- spits on her finger and rubs some more. I guess she thinks shared saliva will more appropriately demonstrate their solidarity. In an interview, Jan tells us that Penny uses her sweetness and cuteness to her advantage. She adds, "And why not? It's part of her tools. It's part of the package."
As the some members of the S9 bathe, Clay wants to know whether he or Penny talks funnier. He says "like or laaaake" as an example. Jan laughs, but Penny is humorless about ither accent as she is about everything. She's glad not to have the worst southern accent among the group, and Clay snidely says, "Right." She says the real contest is between Clay and Jan, and the others hoot at the comment. It's now Clay's turn to join Jan and Ted in pointing out Penny's fakeness. He says she's a cute, sweet "little girl" who thinks she can use her looks and her "little talent" to get whatever she wants out of men. Erin pours water down the front of Penny's bathing suit and dabs at her chest for no apparent reason while Clay lecherously looks on. He tells us, "Well, I'm forty-six. She ain't getting' shit from this one." He says that every time Penny tries to kiss up to one of the Chuay Gahn men, they exchange a glance and think, "Yeah. There's a little bit more o' that butter that's not workin'." I think Clay's a bigger fan of Erin's "butter," if you know what I mean.
As we see Ted and Jake playing a game of HORSE with a basket from the ball-launching challenge, Ken voice-overs that both sides have a strategic reason to get along with the other because "things change real quick." And if the now-minority members of Sook Jai hadn't wised up to that yet, they'd be even dumber than I thought they were. And that would be quite a feat. Helen attempts to share some of Mike Skupin's spotlight by hacking at a coconut dangerously close to her fingers. She tells us that they're "off-center" in making predictions, and that she's finally had to accept the fact that she can't anticipate what's coming. Instead, she's going to "be Australian" and "do that 'no worries, mate' thing." As long as she doesn't do the accent again, it's fine with me. The tribe slurps up noodles, and Jake says he's ready to kill another chicken. Since he earned it, he says, he "can damn sure kill it." Jan calls it "Chicken Snappin' 101," which is surprisingly cavalier for a woman who weeps over embryonic bat carcasses. Ken is distributing bananas among the group, and offers up to Jake a "really soft one." Brian tells us that although they're all hanging out and it looks "peachy," he can still feel the phoniness. It doesn't look anything like Peachy to me, though. Peachy's much, much shorter. Brian further explains, "I can feel it. I can smense...I can sense it. I can smell it." Hee. "Smense."
Meanwhile, Ken smenses something else entirely. He complains that their new home smells like a urinal because Chuay Gahn has been "pissing in the front of the cave." He says, "It's the piss cave. Very nice." The camera shows us two piss spots. And get used to those piss spots, because they get as much camera time as Nick did in Season Two. Ken and Jake lie in the entrance to the cave and continue to complain about the stench. I don't know why they don't just move, but then there'd be nothing to complain about. Jake is amazed that the urine smells even though it's in the sun. I guess he's thinking it should have dried out, but generally hot things smell worse than cold things. Ken points out that the urine isn't technically in the sun -- it's within the confines of the cave. Jake wonders why the others don't pee out further, and Ken answers, "I don't know. I didn't do it!" In an interview, Ken says, "It's like pissin' in your front door. You know, you walk in your front door, you close it, 'Honey, I'm home. Let me take a piss right here.'" Hee. Ken says that animals are "genetically encoded" not to pee where they eat, so he doesn't understand why it's happening. He thinks it smells like "under the boardwalk," and tells us that he can't feel at home at Chuay Gahn for the "simple fact" that its members are indiscriminate urinators. , Ted stumbles out of the cave, past where Ken and Jake lie, walks five feet away from them, and pees. As if the pee stains weren't enough proof. In an interview, Clay refutes, "There ain't nobody peein' in the cave. I mean, it smells [sic] like a cave the whole time I been [sic] here." He reminds us that it's not like being in a candlelit living room and insists, "It is a cave! Can't forget that!" Pee spots and more pee spots. Magilla watches Ted continue to pee, most likely glad that Ted is not peeing where he sleeps.
It's now Day 22. As the women wash the dishes, Jan says, "Plate washers, let's go. Chop chop." If anyone ever directly referred to me as "plate washer," I wouldn't be very happy about it. Not that anyone ever would call me "plate washer" -- just ask my husband. Brian philosophizes to Jake that even after being in the wilderness, the girls still enjoy being "domesticated." Jake says he offered to do the dishes but was rebuffed. Brian says, "It kind of resorts back to, like, the good old days when the men just ate and the women did all the cookin' and cleanin'." The men laugh before Jake points out that they don't know what the women are talking about while they do the chores. Brian -- ever the anthropologist -- pats himself on the back: "It's quite an observation."
As the women fuss over the cooking, Helen is suddenly going on about the amount of sugar to put into her "grandmother's caramel recipe." Erin looks on, more bewildered than interested. Jake tells us that he likes everyone in Chuay Gahn, but that "the only one that drives [him] crazy is Helen with the constant recipes." Helen goes on about her "Swedish almond bars," detailing the need for a cookie sheet, toasted almonds, batter, and a sprinkling of raisins, while the others in the group take copious notes. Except not. I'm glad to know that Erin's not into raisins, though. It's something to keep in mind when I'm baking her cookies. Seriously, why am I watching this? Jake agrees and exclaims, "My God! You know I need to go somewhere else when she starts that recipe stuff, which is non-stop, 24/7." Helen fiddles with the flesh at the sides of her sports bra and fantasizes over "cashew butterscotch squares." She makes an orgasmic face when the others ask what they are. She explains, "Same type thing -- pastry on the bottom, and then cashews and butterscotch chips on top, and they bake in the oven." She says it's something to cut up and put in lunchboxes. And for your kids to trade for Twinkies once they get to school.
While walking away with Brian, Jake says, "God-dang, that obsessive talk about food and recipes drives me totally wild." Brian says that Helen likes to talk about the same thing over and over again as Jake says, "Yackety, yackety, yackety!" He says he finds himself thinking, "Jesus, don't you girls ever just be?" As Jake and Brian ready the boat, Brian voice-overs that he and Jake like to get away from the camp. He says, "I kind of am getting a little bit of cabin fever -- or if they wanna call it out here a little, uh, cave, uh, cave fever. I'm goin' stir cave-y." Hee. The two men paddle along in the rain as Jake voice-overs that he and Brian are still cautious as to what they reveal to each other because of the tribal division. They're not cautious in discussing the hotties, though, as Jake asks which Sook Jai girl Brian thinks is better-looking. Brian thinks Penny's "got a cuter look," and they agree that she's pretty. Jake tells us that he's trying to figure out info from Brian, like which Chuay Gahn member would be voted off first, and that they're partly truthful to each other, but partly "fudgin' a little bit." Still, they are building confidence in each other, and he thinks they might be able to "form an alliance of sorts." Brian tells us that although Jake is feeling him out, he's not giving him anything -- "at least not yet."
Day turns to night, and Helen is still prattling on with the recipes. And this, for once, might not be a trick of editing; it really looks like she's stood in the same place for eight hours while rattling off one stupid recipe after another. She says, "A cup of sugar. Half a cup of plain old cocoa. You know? Cocoa, not mix. Cocoa. You're gonna take another cup of sugar and you're gonna pour..." Personally, I'm gonna do no such thing. Ted rolls his eyes while Brian and Clay trade expressions of disbelief. In the shelter, Jake and Ken conclude that Brian is a "good guy." Ken proposes that they figure out if he can be swung over to Sook Jai's side along with Clay for the final four. Jake thinks that if he's left alone with Brian a little bit longer, he might win him over. Still he's not completely sure, and Ken agrees that he shouldn't be too confident in Brian's allegiance. He says, "Just remember, he's a used-car dealer. What do they sell? They sell lemons." Tee.
The sun rises on Day 23. After checking the treemail with Jake, Jan rouses the others: "Treemail, children!" Whatever it is, Jake thinks the others will go "bonkers" over it. We see that they've received a giant vial of amber-colored fluid containing a submerged miniature immunity idol. The clue reads, "How you deal with adversity will show who copes the best/ Anyone can shine when it's easy, but how do you deal with stress?/ No physical strength required or power from your brain [sounds like a challenge for Jan!]/ All you need for this one is the desire to win this game." Jake reminds us in an interview that if Sook Jai wins this challenge, they'll be back at even numbers with Chuay Gahn.
The S9 swim up to the challenge site and haul themselves onto the floating dock. The whole emerging-from-water thing is not nearly so attractive as when a Bond girl does it. Peachy explains that the challenge will test their ability to remain calm when their instinct is to panic. Eight individual bamboo snorkels have been constructed, and the S9 will submerge, attempt to fit their mouths around the mammoth snorkel piece, blow out the water, and begin normal breathing. "In theory," Peachy says, they should be able to remain submerged for a long period of time, but the first few breaths might induce panic. He points out that the snorkels are not "traditional," and lack fitted mouthpieces, so they will leak and let in saltwater. As soon as a competitor surfaces, he or she is out of the contest. Peachy explains that the individual times for all members of each tribe will be added together to produce each tribe's final score. In other words, if three members of one tribe come up right away but the last member remains down a really long time, that tribe can still win the challenge. Peachy points out that it's Chuay Gahn's first chance to sit out a tribe member, and when they reveal that Helen's been chosen, he laughingly agrees. She's a swimming instructor; if anyone is comfortable in the water, it should be her. But clearly, if she's submerged and sucking on a snorkel, it would be impossible to share with the others her third cousin's recipe for Zesty Orange Macadamia Schnitzel. Peachy posits that the challenge could take "hours or minutes," depending on how well the S9 (minus Helen) handles stress. He says nothing about "seconds," which as it turns out would be the more appropriate word choice.
The challenge commences on Peachy's count, and Erin and Penny take a really long time to get submerged. I can understand that it might be difficult for the particularly buoyant Erin, but Penny has no such excuse. Dramatic music plays as water spouts out various snorkels. On MTV, someone would be having sex right now. An underwater shot reveals that Penny frantically clenches her snorkel with both hands before quitting at nine second. Nine seconds? Above water, she probably doesn't even take a breath every nine seconds. Who can't hold her breath for nine seconds? That's really pathetic, but even more pathetic is Ken coming up at fifteen seconds. This is so embarrassing. Piglet can do this challenge better. Seriously, we just tried it out in the bathtub. Pandora had some difficulties with the rules, however. Clay follows shortly after at twenty seconds, and Ted at twenty-one. Jan comes up at twenty-three, and Peach says, "Wow, that was fast, guys!" Erin rises at twenty-five, leaving only Brian and Jake below. So Chuay Gahn has a total of sixty-four seconds while Sook Jai has forty-nine. Sook Jai can win only if Jake stays under sixteen seconds longer than Brian. Underwater, Brian is very focused and calm, while Jake appears more distressed. The music swells as Jake finally emerges. Peachy proclaims Chuay Gahn the winner and sends Clay down to pull up Brian. Brian throws Clay an elbow and clings to the snorkel in a valiant attempt to remain submerged. He finally gets the point and surfaces, still looking confused even when Clay insists that they won. Most likely, he can't believe all the others had given up already. No one comforts poor Jake, and Penny looks at the celebrating Chuay Gahns and snits, "Dammit!" A half-dead-looking Brian reclaims the idol from Peachy, who squats by Sook Jai and says that he hates to be the bearer of bad news -- it's just that he's had a chronic, uncontrollable grinning problem since childhood -- but they're going back to Tribal Council. He kicks them off the floating dock and forces them to swim back to their beach.
Waves crash against the rocks, and the new, fancy boat gets tossed around. We see overturned buckets and broken shells, leading up to a sneaky monkey digging in the food supply while a wary Lucky the Chicken looks on. The tribe returns from the challenge discussing the food waiting for them at camp. Clay says the word "hungry" about fifteen times in sixteen seconds. As they prepare to light up the fire, Erin notices that the lid is off the noodle container, and that the contents are dumped out. As Jan points out that the tribe's visitor "got into the real stuff," a monkey hangs on a tree and watches. Helen can't believe Magilla got to it "again," but I can't believe it's happened before and they've taken no preventative measures. And besides, maybe all the talk of Aunt Rosita's Coco-Choco Fudgy Balls made him hungry. Ken discovers that all their saved bananas are also gone, and Brian says, "He must be bringin' the whole family down there." When Ken notices that the monkey also got into the chicken feed, he tells the others that the chicken is gone as well, but reveals that he's joking before they totally freak out. In an interview, Helen tears up as she tells us that the monkey ate their "perfectly ripe" bananas, and that she wants to kill him. She already doubted that the noodles would last, but with "monkey claws taken' 'em out," she's sure they will run out of food. She says that if the monkey takes their noodles, they will be "up a creek without a paddle." Which I guess is better than being up a creek without a paddle or a boat, as Chuay Gahn was just a few days ago. Helen thinks they'll be eating rocks if they run out of noodles. The monkey wants to see the S9 eat rocks, and so do I.
The tribes sit around camp and discuss the difficulty level of the challenge. Erin complains that it was hard to get the water out, and Jan adds that they didn't have enough oxygen to blow out the remaining water if they didn't blow hard enough on the first attempt. Oh, I think these guys blow plenty hard enough. Jake takes the loss personally and feels "totally responsible." He would rather be pissed-off and alone, but he can't do that because he needs to congratulate Chuay Gahn and refrain from berating himself in front of the members of his tribe, even though he feels bad "underneath the core." He grimaces and wonders why he "did it" and why it "happened that way?" As much as I like Jake, it's a little ridiculous for him to expect us to take him seriously for not winning the challenge. He did better than every single other member of his own tribe and yet he honestly thinks he's at fault for their loss?
Erin and Jake whisper together in the cave about the suckiness of the situation, and Erin points out that it's a waste of time because it's not like they can go back and change what happened, although they both wish they could. She says, "This is how our fate is determined, okay?" Despite "all this crap with Shii Ann," they were able to rebuild themselves as a team, and Erin is proud of that. She says they knew the day would come when they'd have to vote out another member of their group, and that Jake has to be strong in his heart, but she grabs for his stomach instead. Erin hugs Jake and says, "And I don't blame you. Penny doesn't blame you. Ken doesn't blame you. None of us blame [sic] you." She completely fails to mention whom they should be blaming their loss on: themselves. Instead, she insists that challenges are part of the game, and then a weepy Jake stumbles off through the tunnels of the cave.
Brian says he felt weird after the challenge because the members of Chuay Gahn were unable to celebrate their victory appropriately when such a disappointing evening lay ahead for Sook Jai. Jake has stumbled his way out of the cave as Ted announces that their win was bittersweet because they were cheated out of a proper celebration. That's a shmucky thing to say, and Erin turns her back on this rude statement. In doing so, she plants her crotch and jutting hip within Clay's eye-line, though he may or may not be staring at them. Penny may or may not be staring at Clay staring at Erin's crotch and jutting hip. The camera angles are all screwy here. Ted says it's a "weird, weird feeling," and then Clay tells us in an interview that he wanted to "jump and holler and scream," but he couldn't because he didn't want such obnoxious behavior to hurt him in the jury vote. He tells us that he and the other members of Chuay Gahn said they were sad for Sook Jai, but really, they "were so damned happy it was unbelievable!" Now Penny voice-overs that both tribes are pissed off -- either because they lost or because they won and can't talk about it. She says it's hard to stay upbeat and keep your mind in the game when you lose all the time.
Magilla eagerly watches the members of Sook Jai debate whether or not to eat Lucky the Chicken. Magilla clearly has a lot invested in this, considering that during the challenge, he planned to sneak back into the camp, break the chicken's neck, feather it, and boil it right up for dinner. Jake thinks they should eat the chicken because Chuay Gahn has been generous with them, and also because all of the people who brought the chicken to camp should be able to eat it. Jake points out that the remaining members of Sook Jai were supposed to be the final four in the game, and Ken responds that it is the final four. Jake laughs and says, "It's the final four out of the final nine." Hee. Penny tells him not to take it so hard, but then joins in the pity party by complaining that it's their fourth time in a row to go to Council. Jake doesn't know what the game will bring, but he hates that this is the last time the four of them will be together. Penny says, "Maybe the four of us should sleep together tonight," and there's a big, giant pause while Jake debates announcing, "That sounds almost...erotic!" Erin rolls her eyes and -- most likely unintentionally -- makes the blowjob-in-the-cheek gesture with her tongue. Now Jake reveals that he intends to keep after a relationship with Brian, as well as to develop something with Clay. He advises the others to develop their own relationships because "whatever [they] do from this point forward, just remember that's where it is." He says that no matter what happens or what it might look like, they are loyal to each other. Wow, he's good.
It's now Day 24, and Jake is going to say "a few words about this chicken." He announces, "This is Lucky; he's been with us a few days." Jan stands beside him in her little overalls, looking like a very concerned, poorly preserved four-year-old. Ted, who is off by himself doing sit-ups, voice-overs that since he didn't grow up on a farm and isn't a hunter, he didn't want to "see the process of, um, bringin' Lucky to the dinner table." He considered Lucky to be a pet, and if it was up to him, he'd let Lucky go free. ["I noticed that didn't stop Ted from eating Lucky once he was cooked." -- Wing Chun] Jake tells the group that in Buddhist philosophy, the Dalai Lama says, "This chicken's dharma is to give sustenance to the rest of us." In an interview, Clay snits that he was raised around farms and ranches and he's "never seen such a ceremony over killin' a damn chicken in [his] entire life." He says, "There's animals put on here for us to eat. Hell, kill 'em and eat 'em. It's not that big a deal." Jake continues sermonizing: "The chicken eats the grain, and then we eat the chicken." The chicken squawks a timely "Amen!" Ted has moved onto push-ups as Jake says they should also have a prayer of Thanksgiving when they stop lauding Lucky and start eating him. As he breaks Lucky's neck, Jake thanks him for giving his life. I'm not sure if it qualifies as "giving" one's life if it's not willful, but whatever.
All of a sudden there's this giant thumping commotion and Jan tears up while Clay laughs. It turns out, according to Jake, that the noise and motion is "just the last-minute muscle twitches of death." Which is a fabulous way to describe what Dawson's Creek is undergoing this season. The chicken continues to flop around as Jan voice-overs that she'd never before "participated in wringing a chicken's neck" so "holding the legs and watching it flap" was hard for her. She calls herself "tender-hearted" and determines that the killing of the chicken was ultimately okay since it had a purpose: to feed her. She concludes that it wasn't a senseless death, so she's okay with it. As Jake cleans up the recently departed Lucky, Jan scurries over to ask if she can keep the legs and head. He says "sure" without asking, which is a smart move on his part. Jan sobs as she digs another hole in her "little pet cemetery," and why in my mind do I hear that phrase to the tune of "Little Red Corvette"? Jan tells us that the cemetery started with the dead baby bat Oliver, to whom she obviously was so close it hurts her to say his real name. Two weeks ago, she called him Oscar. Jan's since added Lucky's head and feet to Oscar/Oliver's grave so "they could be friends." Jan tells us it's okay if we think she's crazy, but permission or not, I'd already reached that conclusion. Incidentally, her favorite foods, according to the CBS website, include steak and fried chicken, so I wonder what her back yard looks like at home. Jan didn't think her cemetery would be "so active" while she was in Thailand. She weaves a second cross as she voice-overs that the cemetery was just to say "thank you" to the dead animals. She tells Oscar/Oliver and Lucky, "Y'all look after each other." Even though it made her cry, Jan is happy that the two dead (one semi-eaten) things are now together.
Of course we move straight from Lucky's funeral to Lucky's feast. Helen is amazed, because there's more meat then she expected. We see that they've made some kind of Lucky noodle soup. Ted, who's not objecting so much now, exclaims, "Man, Lucky really tastes good!" They thank Lucky as they tear him apart with their teeth. Clay pecks Helen on the cheek leading her to boast, "I got a kiss from Clay Jordan! Oh my God, am I queen for a day?" Helen then decides to ruin Sook Jai's meal by pointing out that they're soon headed off to another Tribal Council; she worries whether they'll eat before or after the vote, and is sad that she can't share with the departing member Admiral John Tenning's mother-in-law's recipe for Spicy, Nutty Potato Slaw.
As Brian engages in a game of frivolous golf, Sook Jai has a critical decision to make! Sook Jai is traumatized by the upcoming vote! Sook Jai loves each other! Sook Jai doesn't want to vote anyone out! In three lines I've already repeated myself, so imagine what the members of Sook Jai have done in the thirty minutes devoted to the subject in this episode. It's tired and it wants to go to bed. Jake says that they're Sook Jai's final four, and although they don't want anyone to go, it's an inevitability. He asks whether the others want to reveal their voting intentions now, or wait for the Tribal Council. It makes Erin sick to think about it, and Jake thinks they're all sick over it. He points out how far they've come and how close they've gotten in their time in Thailand. Ken says this is the "real true hard one," to which my husband would respond, "I'll show you a real true hard one." When Jake points out that rain is now coming down, Ken responds, "The Lord's cryin' with us." I think they're tears of laughter, but maybe that's just me. The saddened tribe moves into the cave's shelter as Jake asks again, "If it was you, would you wanna know?" Penny would, because she wouldn't want to be shocked, but Erin doesn't know how she would feel. Ken only wants to know if it's going to be unanimous, so they decide to save it for Tribal Council. This decision is worth a hug, during which Jake tells the group that they're "special, special, special people." And maybe you know what "special" is code for in my book. Penny demonstrates her spitefulness by crying as she says, "You'd like to see them have to experience this!" So it's not that she's sad that Sook Jai has to go; she's bitter that Chuay Gahn doesn't have to go? In an interview, Jake's voice is all creaky and high as he tearfully tells us the vote is difficult because they've been through so much together. He blinks away more tears.
The members of Sook Jai gather up their belongings and bid farewell to Chuay Gahn. Ken tells us he used to laugh over it being a game, but now he's fighting back tears. He used to compare Survivor to Monopoly, but it's not Monopoly at all -- it's "amazing." As if "Monopoly" and "amazing" are mutually exclusive. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who find Monopoly to be a fully life-altering experience. Personally, I'm more of a True Colors sort of gal. In any case, members of Chuay Gahn hug members of Sook Jai, although Clay doesn't appear to be involved in the hugging. Sook Jai regroups a final time at camp to hug while clutching their torches. Ted feels bad for them, and calls the impending vote is a "sad reality."
As Sook Jai arrives at Tribal Council, we see that Penny has worn her buff to emphasize her very large ears. If there were any non-awkward ways to combine "Penny" and "Dumbo," she'd have a new nickname. But "Penbo" and "Dumny" just aren't quite catchy enough. Peachy asks if they're starting to feel more like visitors than residents at the Chuay Gahn camp, and Ken -- suddenly all Wesley Windham-Price -- responds that it's "quite the opposite." With each day that passes, he feels more at home because the Chuay Gahn tribe has been so gracious and accepting. He says they act like family until the competitions, and the situation "humanizes the whole game" because he now talks, laughs, and sings with his future competitors. Peachy doesn't completely believe this "diplomatic answer," and Erin agrees that they are a large family, but that the numbers are catching up with them. She points out that even though Sook Jai has had the advantage the whole game, Chuay Gahn doesn't make them feel bad about being on the flipside of it. She says the members of Chuay Gahn walked them out, hugged them, wished them luck, and waved good bye as they headed for Tribal Council. Peachy asks if, "in the back of [her] mind," Penny feels the need to work with Chuay Gahn. Penny responds that she did have to learn Chuay Gahn's ways, but now they all share in the cooking and "the smashing of the leaves."
Peachy calls out each of the four to ask why he or she should be kept around. Erin says she's a contributing member of the tribe, and hasn't caused any turmoil, drama, or hostility. She's been true to her word, and she's ultimately an asset. Peachy suggests that Penny is a large threat to everyone in the game, but she thinks she deserves to stick around because she's helpful and doesn't "just lay [sic] around unless [they're] all layin' around as a group." She is obviously calling someone out when she says she doesn't go off and take "little naps" by herself. She really needs to work on that smirk. Peachy asks Jake whether he thinks the younger members of the tribe might be planning to "turn on the old guy tonight and get rid of 'im." Jake calmly explains that everyone in the tribe knows he's the strongest person in the water. He also credits being an early riser, doing his chores, and pulling his weight as reasons to keep him around. Ken's only plea is that he's "physically strong enough to get by." Peachy explains again that whoever gets voted off will become the first member of the jury, and will be involved in all future Tribal Councils and the final vote. Clearly, this announcement is intended to maintain the portion of the audience devoted entirely to Erin and her breasts.
We don't see anyone's vote, but we learn that this is one of the most difficult Tribal Councils so far for Jake -- it's up there with all the other "most difficult" ones. Whomever he's voting for has been a great tribemate and "companion." Erin votes and says, "I think you've worked it enough. It seems like it's beginning to wear on you."
The soundtrack singers sigh as Peachy returns from tallying the votes. The members of Sook Jai are holding hands with each other, but in a very convoluted manner. It's half hand-holding, half-Twister. The first vote is for Ken, followed by three votes for Erin. She becomes the eighth player voted out and the first member of the jury. Penny looks weepy and smirky at the same time. Erin grimaces as her torch gets snuffed, then wishes the others well. Ken apologizes as he hugs her. Erin's heart isn't into the hug from Penny, and Penny's vote really made no sense to me either -- I thought she'd bonded with Erin? Peachy preaches to the remaining three Sook Jai members that they're running out of numbers and time, but that they can't run out of hope. He says that anything is possible in this game, which is entirely true, what with the constant rule-changing and all.
time on Survivor, Helen gets pissed because someone has a new car and doesn't need the money. Hey! Maybe we'll find out if Clay has a matching gnomish wife. If so, they sure would make a nice salt and pepper shaker set.
Erin is pleased with the way she played the game; her biggest goal was to make the jury, and she did. Although she wasn't expecting to be voted out, she realizes that it's the game. She's leaving Thailand with a lot more than the "small bag and [herself]" she arrived with, but I think many, many people would agree that "two very large bags" would more appropriately describe what Erin brought with her and with which she leaves.