Dawson's Eek

S25E05

Assuming that they will be joining different tribes soon, Malcolm and Denise frantically look for the Hidden Immunity Idol and finally find it. Malcolm keeps it.

When they arrive at the Reward Challenge, Malcolm is assigned to Tandang and Denise is assigned to Kalabaw. The Challenge involves one-on-one challenges where each contestant holds an idol on a platform in one hand and then tries to knock the other person's idol off with the other hand. The person whose idol hits the ground first loses. The first team to earn five points wins the reward. My husband immediately comes up with the strategy of throwing your own idol up in the air as high as possible and then using both hands to take the other idol down before yours hits the ground. No one tries it until the end, when Malcolm uses it to win reward for his team.

After the challenge, the various factions on Tandang are vying for Malcolm's affections. RC flirts with him while Pete reveals that he and Abi have the idol and they want to get rid of Skupin.

Similar things are happening with Denise over on Kalabaw. Dana is also not feeling well and ends up with a sharp pain in her stomach that causes her to flee the shelter, shaking and crying. Dawson and Penner comfort her until Probst arrives to take her for a checkup from the medics. Her problem seems very similar to what happened to Colton last season. The medics tell her that her situations isn't life-threatening, so they aren't required to pull her out – it's Dana's decision. Dana decides that she just can't be sick out there anymore, and she decides to leave. Look, I would have left in five seconds. Being sick is awful; being sick, and hungry, and cold, and wet, and among strangers would be the worst. But I liked Dana! Damn.

At the Challenge, Abi sits out for Tandang to even things up and Probst makes a point of noting that she's sat out of many challenges. In this one, the teams have to traverse an obstacle course and then untie knots to drop a drawbridge. Tandang takes a quick lead, mostly because Katie on Kalabaw looks like she's dying (which Probst makes sure to point out). Once the drawbridge is down, the teams have to chop a rope which will release bamboo pieces, only some of which have letters. The pieces with the letters need to be arranged in a phrase. Lisa and Pete have a big headstart for Tandang, with Penner and Dawson trying to solve the puzzle for Kalabaw. Both teams figure out the phrase but Tandang manages to get the pieces into the right slots just split seconds before Kalabaw and wins immunity.

The men of Kalabaw recruit Denise to their side, and with Dana out, have the majority. They decide to get rid of either Katie or Dawson, both of whom didn't perform well in the challenge. Jeff Kent is starting to figure out that Dawson knows who he is, which gives him added incentive to get rid of her. At Tribal Council, the tribe goes through the various reasons people might get voted out (attitude, alliances, challenge performance) and ultimately Dawson is voted out. I'm kind of shocked that she didn't out Jeff Kent on her way out, but she did take time to embrace Probst. She was stunned to be going home.

Matsing. Malcolm and Denise return from Tribal Council after voting out Russell. Malcolm interviews that he didn't think he'd be on a tribe of two until Day 39, and that they don't know what to expect . As they settle in to sleep, Malcolm and Denise try to get warm and also speculate on the future. They figure each of them will go to one tribe, although there might also be a general tribal mix-up. Malcolm advises us not to count them out just yet. I won't, Malcolm! I like those two, although it could be because they've been shown in the episodes more than just about anyone else.

The morning, Malcolm and Denise wake up soaking wet, shooing away mosquitoes. They agree that something needs to change or they're not going to make it much longer; they don't even have a tarp. Denise finds Tree Mail (remember Tree Mail? Is this its first appearance this season?) that invites them to a Reward Challenge today, which sort of implies that Matsing will be absorbed into the other two tribes, since they have only been doing one challenge as long as they've had three tribes.

Denise and Malcolm realize that they need to find the Idol, even though they don't have the clue. After scrambling around for a bit, they talk about what's always been there since obviously the clue was planted before they arrived at their camp. Denise notes that the rice was there when they arrived and they start digging through the rice while viewers at home curse on their couches and go, "NO! The lid! The lid to the thing!" Or maybe that's just me. Anyway, Denise tries looking under the rice basket and finally Malcolm takes the machete and pries off the Idol. He and Denise are giddy at having found it. Denise interviews that this is great if they go to the same tribe, but if they are split, Malcolm will be keeping the Idol and Denise is kind of screwed.

The three tribes report for the Reward Challenge. Probst asks Lisa a leading question about whether they are a decimated tribe or two people who have survived and then tells Malcolm and Denise to drop their buffs because Matsing is done. Probst tosses Malcolm a pouch and tells them to each pull out a buff to determine which person will go to which tribe. Malcolm is going to Tandang and Denise is going to Kalabaw. So that's that.

The Reward Challenge involves squaring off one-on-one against an opponent while holding a small platform with an idol on it in one hand. First one to knock the other's idol off wins a point and the first team to five points wins reward. The reward is coffee, tea, biscuits and cookies. It looks pretty yummy and I just ate lunch. If I were starving, I might cry.

The first round is Malcolm vs. Jeff. They both manage to knock the idols off at the same time but Malcolm's hits the ground first, so he loses. Kalabaw 1, Tandang 0. Dana goes up against Artis, who is like a foot taller than her so he just reaches around her and knocks off her Idol. Kalabaw 1, Tandang 1. up are Lisa and Katie, who seem fairly evenly matched, but Katie ekes it out so it's Kalabaw 2, Tandang 1. The remaining returnees square off with Skupin versus Penner. Skupin uses the strategy my husband suggested the second he saw the challenge: he tosses his idol high in the air and then knocks Penner's down quickly before his can hit the ground. Everyone applauds, because it was a good strategy and it worked. Kalabaw 2, Tandang 2.

RC goes against Denise, who looks terrifyingly adept but also short. Denise kind of leaps at RC's idol (RC is much taller) and both idols fall, but RC's hits the ground first. Kalabaw 3, Tandang 2. Pete and Carter are up ; Carter is an idiot and holds his idol really close to Pete, because he's distracted by trying for the idol and Pete just quickly knocks it off. Kalabaw 3, Tandang 3. Dawson and Abi go against one another. Dawson seems to be laughing throughout and ends up going for Abi's hair, but still loses. Abi whines about it afterwards and cautions Dawson to "play like a man, don't play like a bitch." To quote Tina Fey, "Bitches get shit done." So step off, Abi. Anyway, Kalabaw 3, Tandang 4.

We're back to Jeff and Malcolm and Malcolm could win it for his new tribe right here. They feel each other out for a while and then Malcolm pulls a Skupin and tosses his idol in the air and then knocks Jeff's off, winning reward for his tribe. I don't get why more people didn't try that. Anyway, Tandang is thrilled, and Malcolm can't stop grinning. It's so nice to see him happy after seeing him miserable for so long. I hope Denise gets the same chance soon. Tandang grabs their reward and heads out. Probst reminds Denise that she still hasn't won a challenge, but Denise says that she's got a new family. Penner interviews that he likes Denise, but he would've loved to have the physical advantage Malcolm offers. Hey, Denise might not be Malcolm, but I think she's at least as good as, say, Carter.

When Malcolm returns to Tandang's camp, he can't believe how much nicer it is than Matsing's camp. He interviews that he didn't realize how down he was until he was out of the situation and he feels like he's "got [his] swag back," but now he needs to find a crack in Tandang, because it would be really easy to get rid of the new guy first. Everyone on Tandang acts really happy to have Malcolm on board, and Lisa interviews that Malcolm brings a really positive energy to their camp. It doesn't hurt that he's good-looking, smart and easygoing.

As Malcolm and Pete high-five because they are both 24 (I don't know), RC interviews that she thinks she would've fared better with Denise instead of Malcolm, because Malcolm and Pete are already bonding. RC goes for a solo swim and she voiceovers that she was bullied in school, but this is different because there's no one to talk to about how she's feeling. However, she resolves to keep fighting and flirt with Malcolm to further her own game. Malcolm starts a fire and RC gives him a big hug and smile.

Pete interviews that he is psyched to have Malcolm join them because it's another strong guy and it makes Pete less nervous about getting rid of Skupin, since they'd be losing a strong guy there. Pete corners Malcolm in the jungle (if a jungle can have corners) and gives him the lowdown. Pete thinks Skupin and RC are useless and annoying and reveals that they have the Idol. Malcolm wisely doesn't reveal anything about his own Idol. I think everyone on Tandang has a little crush on Malcolm and Malcolm agrees as he interviews that he's like the stud football player from the rival school, with everyone pulling him aside and telling him to be in their alliance and not to bother with the other losers. Malcolm grins and says he can't lie: he's enjoying it. I don't know how long Malcolm's luck will last; they have to see him as a threat eventually. But it doesn't suck to see him have some good luck after his miserable beginnings.

Denise and the rest of Kalabaw return to camp. Denise interviews that she's just going to try to settle in and make it through one Tribal Council at a time. Katie interviews that her alliance consists of Dana and Dawson, so they need to add Denise to have the necessary votes to control who gets eliminated , since they're going up against Penner, Jeff Kent and Carter. Katie's whole strategy is to appeal to the fact that Denise is female. I guess there are worse reasons.

Later, the members of Kalabaw are discussing how cold it is and Dana doesn't look great. The others comments on it. Dana interviews that she's dizzy, nauseous and has a sharp pain in her stomach. She rushes out of the shelter, yelling at people to get out of the way, and I guess she's throwing up? She's kind of hiding behind some rocks, thankfully, and then she starts sobbing. She interviews that she's tough at home, but her body won't let her be tough here. Penner interviews that he's having a tough time and he's "a big fat guy," and Dana is a tiny little thing so her body is shutting down. Dana returns to the shelter and hunches over in pain. Penner tells her to get under a blanket and take off her wet clothes and they'll warm her up. Dana is only able to grunt in response to any questions and she ends up huddling in Penner's lap under the blankets. Dawson feels her head and says that she's burning up. Look, if you've ever been in any kind of pain or had a severe illness you know how awful it is, but hopefully you had the comforts of your own bed or at least had loved ones around or, at the very least, you weren't sitting outdoors in the cold rain. I can't imagine how terrible Dana feels and she's in the worst possible circumstances; I really feel for her.

A boat pulls up on the beach and Probst hops out and asks for an update. Dana is completely under a blanket in a tiny heap, so Probst immediately realizes she needs medical attention. Dawson weirdly interviews that she was so excited that Probst was in their camp and she wanted to jump up and down and jump on him but it wasn't the time. This seemed out of place but will be important later.

The medic examines Dana and tells Probst that Dana has tenderness on her right side and it could be because her "tummy" (is that the medical term? Is he a pediatrician?) is irritated or it could be an infection. Dana says that the pain feels like a knife in her guts and it comes and goes. When Probst asks, the medic says that, medically, he would be comfortable letting Dana stay for at least another twelve hours if she promises to push fluids and then they can reassess. That doesn't take into consideration the amount of pain that she's in, though. Probst tells Dana that medical will only pull someone from the game if his or her life is in danger and that isn't the case with Dana. That means that Dana has to decide if she wants to stay or not.

After a commercial break, Probst asks Dana if she's ready to give up, and Dana cries and says that she's got to leave, because she can't stay there when she's this sick. Probst keeps asking her questions about how she wants to go out, and if she wants to say goodbye to her tribe. Like, give her a minute to process, Probst! She's sobbing into the ground right now. Finally, Probst brings the tribe out to say goodbye and explains what happened. Probst points out that Penner went through this and he says that it's devastating and he was also weeping and frustrated when he had to leave. Everyone tries to comfort Dana as she's put on the boat. Katie blows kisses and then interviews that this could not have happened at a worse time because Dana was her closest ally in the game. Yeah, that female alliance isn't looking so great now, is it? Had they even talked to Denise about it yet?

The two tribes report to the Immunity Challenge where Tandang learns that Dana went home. Lisa and Skupin actually look like they feel bad for Dana. Probst quickly explains the challenge, which is your standard team obstacle course, then untying knots to lower a drawbridge and finally releasing and arranging puzzle pieces to form a four-word phrase. Abi will be sitting out for Tandang, since they're plus one person now. Probst gives her a ton of shit for barely doing any challenges. Look, I hate Abi as all right-thinking people do, but is it really Probst's place to point out how many challenges she's missed? Doesn't he think that her tribemates have noticed? I mean, she twisted her knee or whatever, but she couldn't she have done some of the less physical challenges to try to prove her worth. But it's not Probst's place to get all judgy about it. In conclusion, and as usual, shut up, Probst.

Time begins and the teams race down a giant wooden slide to start. Tandang takes an early lead, mostly because Katie on Kalabaw is dragging ass. Penner and Jeff Kent have to take her hands and drag her through the obstacle, a mud pit and then a mud hill. Probst notices that Katie is struggling on "a very easy portion" of the course. Again she is, but shut up, Probst. Maybe she's injured. Maybe she's sick. Maybe she just sucks, but it's not your place to say anything. This does kind of go towards Malcolm's assertion at Tribal Council a few weeks back that Angie was just as good as some of the other younger women on other tribes, but didn't have the luxury of sitting out challenges.

Tandang gets up and over a net A-frame and starts untying the knots on the drawbridge while Kalabaw struggles. Katie is again dead last and, when she finally gets over the A-frame, can barely walk. Is she injured? Is she cramping up? What is going on there? Anyway, Denise and Carter are awesome at untying knots (how would you even know if that's a skill you possess?) and helps Kalabaw make up some time, although Probst happily points out that they are still behind and it's all Katie's fault. Why she doesn't just flip him off, I do not know.

Malcolm chops the final rope for Tandang, releasing the puzzle pieces so that Lisa and Pete can start assembling the puzzle. Jeff Kent tries to chop the rope for Kalabaw, but slows down a great deal and Penner has to tag in. Note that Probst doesn't give Jeff Kent shit for being unable to finish or for slowing his team down. Ugh. Anyway, Penner makes quick work of it and now both teams are trying to figure out the four-word phrase and put their puzzle pieces in order to spell it.

Probst AGAIN notes that Tandang has a big head start on the puzzle and it's all Katie's fault. No, he really says it like that. What a dick. And he also takes another crack at Abi for sitting out again. Penner thinks he's got the answer and starts placing letters. I don't know if he didn't share his strategy with Dawson, his teammate or what's going on, but they are fumbling pieces and grabbing them out of one another's hands and it's a disaster. Meanwhile, Lisa and Pete are just smoothly and calmly placing pieces and I think RC (sitting on Skupin's shoulders to get an overhead view of the puzzle) is the one who actually figures out the phrase for her team. Then there's a mad dash and Tandang gets the phrase completed first, by seconds. Penner interviews that if Katie had been a little faster and if Dawson had been a little more helpful with the puzzle, they might have won. No blame falls on Jeff Kent, who surely cost them as much time as Dawson. Penner adds that now his tribe will be down two people, which might be insurmountable at this point.

When Kalabaw returns to their camp, Katie apologizes for screwing up the challenge. She interviews that she had a crappy performance and she wouldn't blame her tribe for ditching her. Katie and Dawson sit in the shelter and talk about how bad Katie was. They both agree on that point, which cracks me up. Dawson's just like, "You were not good. You were bad." I wish we had seen more of those two.

Denise is also worried because she's the new kid. She and Jeff Kent go to get water and Jeff Kent asks her to be the fourth in their alliance. She agrees and they shake hands with all five fingers. ALL FIVE. He interviews that Denise is stronger physically and mentally than Katie or Dawson. Jeff Kent goes back and tells the other guys that he got Denise on their side.

In an interview, Penner runs down the options: Katie, Denise or Dawson. He thinks Denise is strong, and Katie and Dawson are kind of useless, so it will be one of them going home. At camp, Penner orders Dawson to get more wood so he can talk about her behind her back. Or strategize. However you want to phrase it. The menfolk discuss their options. Carter wants to get rid of Katie because he thinks she's mentally checked out. Jeff Kent blames Dawson for the loss of the challenge, although I'm not sure how it wasn't equally his fault, as I mentioned. Penner is a little more rational in his interview, where he says that Katie didn't perform well in the challenge, but he can't totally blame their loss on her and while Dawson didn't perform great either, she's fairly useless around camp. Either way, he doesn't think it's an easy choice.

The tribe is all lying in the shelter and Dawson is loudly going on and on about athletes and which sports are the best, and she purposely puts baseball last to drive Jeff Kent nuts. Remember that she knows who he really is, so she's trying to get a rise out of him, I guess? I'm not sure what her strategy is here other than amusing herself. Jeff Kent interviews that if people figure out who he really is, he's in trouble, so the best scenario might be to just get rid of Dawson. This is why I don't get Dawson's strategy; maybe she thinks she's not really in trouble this round, but what purpose does needling Jeff Kent serve? To prove to him that she's a threat to his game? To annoy him? None of those things are going to keep her in the game longer.

Kalabaw reports to Tribal Council for the first time. Probst asks Dawson how Dana leaving affected them, and Dawson speaks very eloquently about how it hit them really, really hard. Penner adds that it was just bad luck and could have just as easily happened to the other tribe, but he thinks if Dana had been there, they would have won the challenge.

By Kim

Probst brings up Katie's suckiness again and all Katie can do is agree with him and says that she hopes her tribe knows that it wasn't her best and she's worthy of being there. More proof that Dawson has no idea her name has come up for voting -- when Probst asks her if being good at challenges is enough to consider keeping new girl Denise around, Dawson says, "Absolutely" and reminds everyone that they'll need someone strong at challenges if they want to have any chance of going into a merge with strong numbers. Katie cringes, either because Dawson just made an idiot move or she threw Katie under the bus. I guess Dawson actually just wanted a chance to flirt with Probst, and then she says that her biggest contribution is keeping spirits up at camp. Jeff Kent rolls his eyes.

Probst wants to know what is factoring into the voting decision, like it's any different than every vote ever on this show. What a nothing question. Probst has revealed nothing about this tribe's dynamics through his questioning, other than that Dawson is clueless and flighty. Anyway, it's time to vote, so they do and then Probst tallies and reveals. All of the dudes plus Denise voted for Dawson, so she's gone. And she really had no idea. I don't get that. She knew the men had an alliance. She voted for Denise, so she didn't think Denise was on her side. Did she think Katie was the obvious choice? I just don't understand how she's surprised as she is. Anyway, as her torch is snuffed, she gives Probst the fuck-me creepy eyes and then hugs him and kisses his cheek, which was certainly unexpected but at least all her weirdo comments about being excited to see him earlier paid off. I don't really know what Dawson's deal was, but at least she was sort of interesting, unlike, say Carter, who is useless. I'll miss her a little.

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