Scramble

S25E09

When everyone returns from Tribal Council, it's still pretty chaotic. Penner wasn't making any big move by voting for Abi; he just really didn't know what was going on. It's hard to remember that these people are working with imperfect information, since we see so much more than they do. Meanwhile, Malcolm tells Lisa that there are no hard feelings on his end, and Lisa is incredibly touched that Malcolm doesn't hate her personally and understands that she was just playing the game.

Penner has a heart-to-heart with Lisa about how he understands her background, and the struggles she's faced, and how she was brought up to be a pleaser and how she's only now learning who she is. Lisa sobs and really seems to appreciate his understanding.

Reward Challenge. The group is split into two teams again, with Abi left out because no one picked her, ha ha. The teams compete in an obstacle course with a lot of mud. Penner goes first for his team and digs all four bags out of a mud pit so that those coming behind him don't have to search. Once all four team members are through the obstacles, the teams have to get twelve balls into a high basket. Penner's gambit gives his team a huge lead; they get ten balls into the basket before the other team even starts shooting, and they end up winning. That team consists of Penner, Carter, Denise and Malcolm. Their reward is taking school supplies to a nearby village and enjoying a feast with the villagers.

While half the tribe is being rewarded, Abi gives Lisa a super condescending lecture about how they have to vote out Penner and why, and how Lisa should act. I don't know Lisa keeps from smacking her.

The immunity challenge involves balancing balls on an oversized paddle. Pete and Skupin take an early lead, but Pete has a disaster where he knocks off most of his own balls (metaphor?) and Skupin wins handily.

Penner has another heart-to-heart with Lisa where he goes all meta and tells her to think about the story that will be told about this season, and her role in it, and whether she wants to be seen as the loyal soldier who helped a bunch of assholes make the finals or not. It's probably the best argument he could make to Lisa. Anyway, Tandang is voting out Penner and Kalabaw is voting out Artis because they figure Abi and Pete won't give him the Idol.

At Tribal Council, Kalabaw basically says that they hope Lisa and Skupin will jump ship, and Tandang says that they hope that doesn’t happen. Except Abi, who says that Lisa sucks and is probably jumping ship. When the votes are read, it turns out that someone did jump ship, because Artis is voted out 5-4. And that person was Skupin. Nice misdirection, editors. I never really considered Skupin would jump ship, but it totally makes sense, since he's even lower in the Tandang alliance than Lisa is.

The tribe returns to camp after the craziest Tribal Council ever. Skupin interviews that he's so happy that Lisa stood up for him and tried to make a move, and Pete and Jeff Kent were the most outspoken about getting rid of returning players, so either of them leaving was a win for him. Abi snipes at Skupin for voting for her and he says that he didn't. Penner's right there and he speaks up and says that he did, because he was pissed off that people were talking about a Plan B and he didn't know what any plans were. Penner interviews that he still doesn't know what happened at Tribal.

So I thought Penner's vote last week was part of some considered revenge plot against Jeff or at least had a lot of thought and strategy behind it. Turns out Penner was just confused or out of the loop or something. Carter (CARTER! Of all people) has to explain to Penner that there were four votes for Pete, five for Jeff Kent and one for Abi. Penner realizes that he blew it. Well, it would have been a tie at best, but... yeah. Penner interviews what I just said about it being a tie at best and adds that he's a "dead man walking" no matter what, so it's not like his vote matters.

Lisa and Malcolm meet up to talk about their battle at Tribal Council. Lisa doesn't know what to say, and Malcolm says they were both just playing the game. Lisa is so relieved to hear that Malcolm didn't take it personally and she thanks him profusely. So profusely that I think he gets uncomfortable because she hugs him and tells him that he's filled with grace and mercy and he just keeps repeating that it's no big deal. Lisa interviews that she tried to play the game like a real Survivor by betraying and breaking promises, but it's just not her. Look, I get that she's having trouble reconciling the person she is with the person she has to be in the game, but unless she wants to go home really soon, she needs to get comfortable with white lies and half-truths.

The morning is Day 23. Penner interviews that there are five original Tandang left and if they continue voting together, Penner's done. However, Penner thinks he might be able to exploit the cracks, especially between the two Christian parents (Lisa and Skupin) and the three bullies. Penner hopes to appeal to Skupin and Lisa's hearts.

Lisa and Penner talk on the beach. Lisa confesses that she thought people would be angry with her this morning and Penner points out that she's a pleaser, but she was honest at Tribal Council about her actions and her motives and, ultimately, she was working to help her original alliance. He adds that everyone there likes and admires her and he knows that, due to her past, she wants to please everyone and make everyone happy.

By Kim

Then he goes deep and says that, in her past, she had to be really conscious of how she looked and her weight, and how tough that must have been. Lisa is just nodding as tears run down her face. Penner goes on about how Lisa was the breadwinner for her family, so she had to pretty and funny and liked by everyone or her family would go down the tubes. Lisa asks, "How do you know?" and Penner says that it's his business too. And really, anyone who's ever seen or read an interview with a former child star knows that these are the issues she would have. Lisa interviews that she knows Penner is scrambling for his life in the game, but he's hitting some deep issues with her after a lifetime of having to sing and dance and, "Do you love me, Mommy?" (I'm paraphrasing). Penner concludes that she may be finally ready to deal with her what she gave up and what it's done to her. Penner says he loves her and they hug, and she thanks him for showing understanding. I think that was about 50/50 game play and sincere caring on Penner's part; I hope that he and Lisa stay friends after the game. I smell a Lifetime movie! Anyway, Lisa interviews that she's been on stage since she was seven years old and learned to get love from being likable. And she doesn't know if she will survive if she does the wrong thing and people don't like her. The editors have got to be thrilled with Lisa's "journey"; it's one of the most compelling I've ever seen on this show.

Time for Reward! The tribe enters and they have to stand in a mud puddle? That gives you a clue as to what they'll be doing. They will be divided into teams, and each have to scale an A-frame, crawl through mud, dig up a bag, go through rice (EVIL) and deliver the bag to a platform. Once all four bags are delivered, they have to shoot the balls into a basket, which is actually a metal funnel about twelve feet high. The winning team will take school supplies and toys to a local village and have a feast with the locals.

They do a schoolyard pick, but we don't get to see it. Since they have an odd number, Abi is left out -- she doesn't get reward. Here's a shocker as to the teams: one is Skupin, Artis, Pete and Lisa and the other is Penner, Carter, Malcolm and Denise. I do love that Abi was chosen last. After Lisa!

Anyway, they start with Skupin and Penner going head to head. Skupin finds his bag in the mud first, but Penner finds all four bags for his team and pulls them up, so his teammates don't have to dig through the mud. This, of course, puts his team behind... for now. Lisa and Carter are up and Carter catches up to and passes her. The way these people slide down the A-frame, which appears to be made of wood, makes me really nervous about splinters. Anyway, the former Kalabaw team gets all four bags on the platform while the former Tandang team is still working on number three, so they can start shooting baskets.

Here's the thing about shooting baskets: it goes quickly at first because there are many balls and everyone can be shooting at once. Kalabaw already has ten balls out of twelve in their basket before Tandang even starts. And then Tandang gets six in while Kalabaw struggles to get that last stinking ball in the basket. After what feels like a million attempts, Malcolm gets the twelfth ball in the basket and his team wins reward.

The winning tribe arrives in the village and is greeted by a group of children, who are adorable. Denise introduces herself to the women of the village. Penner tells the kids, "My name is Jonathan," and they all parrot back, "Jonathan." He adds that in his country his name is "normal," and they all parrot back, "Normal." HA! That was great. Penner gets to play a piñata game and he hams it up before busting open the vessel as the kids scramble for food. Here's the difference between Penner and Malcolm; Penner is a performer and Malcolm is a communicator. Malcolm sits down with a group of tween girls and asks if they have boyfriends and then points to a group of boys sitting nearby and all of the girls giggle. It's very charming. Malcolm interviews that he was an elementary school teacher in Micronesia and this was a good reminder of how much he enjoys working with kids. Malcolm tries to demonstrate a hula hoop and everyone laughs at him. Malcolm interviews that he's reconsidering his decision to be a bartender, since he loves working with kids so much.

The four winners sit down to a delicious meal and talk strategy. Carter thinks they need Skupin and Denise thinks they can get him. She's not so sure about Lisa. Malcolm points out how horribly Skupin's been treated, but he's staying with his former tribe so he doesn't look like a traitor. Denise doesn't get that at all. Carter actually speaks clearly for the first time this season when he interviews that his group has to try to get Skupin and Lisa or else they're going to be picked off one by one.

The losing group sulks around camp. Artis is still covered in rice, like wouldn't you rinse off in the ocean first thing? Pete interviews that morale is down, but he's glad to get the chance to talk to Lisa and Skupin and cement their loyalty. He adds that he doesn't particularly like Skupin, but he needs the numbers and it makes sense to keep someone who's been sort of on his side all along over someone he can't trust.

Abi comments that they need to get Penner out , as long as he doesn't win immunity. Abi turns and tells Lisa that she needs to stop acting as a double agent, since she wasn't supposed to take information from Tandang to Kalabaw; only the opposite should be true. Lisa tries to explain, but Abi talks over her like she always does and tells Lisa that she's gullible and naïve. You know what? If you find that people are constantly saying to you, "Can I just say something?," maybe you are a bully and a blowhard. ABI. Artis interviews that Abi is a loose cannon and a know-it-all and she needs to shut up. Abi continues her lecture to Lisa about how all five of them need to vote for Penner. Lisa just keeps her mouth shut and says she's with them. Lisa interviews that she wants them to be the Tandang Five again, but Abi is being terrible towards her and now she's wondering if she should go with Kalabaw. However, she's worried that, since she just made a huge stand at Tribal Council about how she's going to be loyal to Tandang, it would look bad to flip, even if it makes sense. So she's torn.

Immunity Challenge. Each person has to balance an oversized paddle on a stand, and roll a ball down it and balance the ball in a hole. They must do this six times and keep all six balls in their spots. This looks impossible. I could never do this. I'm not the only one, as Skupin and Pete are the only ones who seem to get the hang of it and they are neck-and-neck throughout. Skupin has five and Pete has four, but then Pete manages to knock almost all of his balls off. Skupin gets his last ball in place and wins immunity. Artis thinks they can all relax since Penner didn't win.

Once they get back, Penner interviews that he didn't win, so now he's scrambling, and he needs five votes to stay in the game. Abi interviews that she wishes that she could vote out Skupin; Penner is a bigger threat, but Skupin is annoying. I don't get why everyone finds Skupin is so annoying. He wouldn't be my first choice for best friend or anything, but he seems fairly goofy and benign. Abi chops coconuts and one of them splits and half of it hits Skupin in the head. The guy just can't win. Anyway, Abi interviews that Penner is charming but too smart, so it's time for him to go home. She says it's like she's the queen and she's ordering him to be beheaded. I want Penner to stay because I like him, but mostly because I want Abi to be wrong for once. Abi and Pete talk about their plan and Abi is still worried that either Lisa or Skupin (or both) will turn on them. Pete isn't worried.

Denise, Malcolm and Carter have a strategy meeting in the jungle. Denise thinks that Abi will either be selfish and hold onto her Idol herself or she might give it to Pete to play, but she definitely won't give it to Artis, so they should all vote for Artis. Malcolm agrees and so does Carter. Denise interviews that their plan is to knock out Artis and start breaking down the former Tandang alliance, but they are relying on Skupin and Lisa to vote with them or Penner's going home.

Penner sits with Lisa and makes his appeal. He reminds her that the show is a story and they have to think about whom the audience will be rooting for and what the audience wants to have happen. Penner tells Lisa that the audience will see that she's a nice person and they will admire her loyalty, but they won't like that she's helping three assholes (I'm paraphrasing) get further in the game. Penner concludes that she and Skupin can help him stay and tell a better story. Lisa interviews that she likes Penner, but she also likes the idea of being loyal. But then she also needs to consider that her loyalty is the "old Lisa" from her people-pleasing days. Penner adds that he's not trying to get in her head and it's her decision. Penner admits in an interviews that he's playing his ass off, trying to stay in the game and he hopes he can get through to either her or Skupin.

By Kim

So now Penner talks to Skupin. He asks if Skupin can vote with them and be guaranteed final five. Skupin interviews that Penner's making a good case, but he's had an alliance with Lisa since day one and he promised to always tell her the truth. Not to mention that she stuck her neck out at the last Tribal Council to save him and he needs to make sure that she's on board before he makes any bold moves.

Lisa and Skupin go for a swim. Skupin says that there are two questions he's trying to answer to determine his vote tonight. The first is, which group can they go further with? And the second is, which group would they rather play with? He adds that he doesn't see why he needs to be loyal to people who haven't been loyal to them. This is true; they will dump Skupin and then Lisa the first chance they get. At least with the other side, there might be some wiggle room. I feel like Lisa, Skupin and Penner could form a voting bloc. Lisa says that she doesn't want to be seen as a flip-flopper. Skupin says his true loyalty is to Lisa alone and he wants to know if she's even thinking about switching sides. Lisa says that she's really considering it. Lisa interviews that she wants to stay loyal to Tandang, as she's promised from the start, but she wonders if she's being gullible and naïve since the former Tandang is not planning on being loyal to her.

Probst asks Artis if he's surprised that people are loyal to their original tribes this deep into the game, and Artis says that Tandang is one of the more powerful tribes to ever play the game and it's playing out like it's supposed to. Denise looks like she's about to vomit out a response, so Probst calls on her and she says that big moves are always made in the game, because things can always shift so it's a risk to think that things will shift. Artis says he's not totally comfortable and safe, and he knows that he can be blindsided at any time.

Probst asks Penner if Skupin's immunity gets him more than being safe. Penner says that many of them have felt like fulcrum votes and it remains to be seen if things will change tonight. Skupin says that having immunity has been great and he's never felt it before. He adds that he loved Lisa's move last week. Lisa says that her life is bigger than the game, but the game is bigger than her. Probst thankfully asks what she means, because I have no clue, and Lisa says that she thought she could cut out her feelings and play the game, but she can't, because this has been a life-altering experience.

Penner says that he appreciates someone who plays the game and he's hoping the numbers shift so he can stay. Denise adds that she doesn't think Tandang is even away that a shift is possible, although she's hoping for it. Abi says she hopes that Tandang has the numbers, but she disagrees with Denise, because she is aware that they might not. Abi adds that she's not sure about Lisa at this point. Everyone is shocked that she would say that out loud. Lisa says that actions speak louder than words on her part and she might need to look at the actions of her alliance-mates and make a decision. In other words, she was going to vote with them until they treated her like crap and now she might not. So I had a glimmer of hope here that Penner would stay.

Voting. Pete votes for Penner out of respect for his gameplay. Denise votes for Artis because she knows "that selfish mess Abi" will never give him the Idol. Love Denise. Everyone else votes and Probst tallies.

Neither Malcolm or Abi plays the Idol. If Abi were really concerned about her alliance, wouldn't she have played the Idol? Anyway, the votes pretty much alternate until they are tied with four for Penner and four for Penner. And the final and deciding vote is for... Artis. Abi is PISSED! And trying to figure out who voted the other way. I still don't know if it was Lisa or Skupin; it wasn't both. I've had to watch the closing credits voting sequence more this season than any other; turns out that Lisa voted out Penner and Skupin voted out Artis. So Skupin turned. Did Lisa know he was going to? Guess we'll find out week.

By Kim

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