Survivor Update: Week 11

There is joy as the castaways return to Mudville, the mighty Doom has fallen!  Katurah can’t believe Doom didn’t play his idol.  Why? How can that be?  Emily breaks Rule #1 (STFU) and shares she convinced Doom that Julie was playing him like Kellie did and that she’s gathered the non-Rebas to make him believe he was safe so he wouldn’t play it.  Rulebreaking has its costs, Emily.  At the beach, the Rebas commit to a Final Four – which they can force if they stay together – and take people out like the mafia.

Queen Dee, The Tenacious and her knight, henceforth named Sir Austin grow closer on the beach as he regales her with the tale of Boston Rob and Ambuh which leaves the Queen starry eyed about his calming presence (Points for “Reference ‘in this game’ “to Ricky!).  They’re totally into each other, something Drew (AKA Napoleon Dynamite) and Julie should take note of.  Meanwhile, Jake (AKA Your cousin from Boston) is sad about receiving so many votes (Points for “Reference ‘in this game’ ” to Carol!). He wants Katurah to help him upset the apple cart but she doesn’t know what that means, which makes me feel both old and superior.  Then she tells her backstory about being lesbian, growing up in a cult, and not being allowed to go to school and how she overcame that to become a lawyer and I feel awful and am rooting for her. Thanks, Katurah! (Points for “Reference ‘lgbt or race’ to Dalphyne!). 

 A boat arrives to take someone on a journey and while Your Cousin From Boston wants to go, it’s Emily who winds up taking the ride thanks to random chance.  She recounts how her approach and conversations have grown and changed during the trip, but when she gets to the puzzle she decides not to risk her vote and sails on bock.  No one will believe she did that until they watch it on TV – I know I wouldn’t.  At camp, Emily being gone means she immediately becomes the target for Julie and Katurah, but that wily Katurah spins Jake and Napoleon Dynamite into going for Julie instead. Katurah wants to enlist Austin as well, but this breaks Rule #4 (Know Your Audience). He’d says he’d do it but it will crush his burgeoning showmance with the Queen. .  Katurah makes him swear he won’t tell the Queen `but there’s no way that’ll hold. Now that he knows the plan, he realizes giving Julie his idol is problematic.

 At the individual immunity and reward challenge, they have to untangle and gather rope, go over obstacles and throw sandbags at blocks. The blocks then complete a 2-sided puzzle.  Drew gets to the sandbags first but he’s so bad he deserves to be in this video, finishing first only thanks to his huge lead.  He quickly solves the puzzle but can’t make it stay in place while Austin catches up.  Austin figures out the puzzle but doesn’t realize it’s got to be right on both sides, despite Jeff saying it right to him several times.  Finally, Napoleon Dynamite solves the puzzle and makes it stick! (Points for “Win individual immunity” and “Win individual reward” to me!). Austin finally realizes he has to check the back and laughs at himself.  ND gets to choose two people to go with him on the reward, and decides to make it another boy’s night (Points for “Chosen to go on reward by someone else” to Carol and Marissa!)

 At camp, the girls give themselves sand facials and agree that Your Cousin From Boston is the target while all knowing it’s either Julie or Emily.   At the reward, the boys grossly overeat and settle on Julie, but Austin is only mouthing the words.  When the guys return, Napoleon reminds us that we’re in the stage of the game where every move hurts (Points for “Reference ‘in this game’” to me!) and Austin knows that blindsiding his Queen by voting Julie will ruin his relationship, but telling Dee can scuttle the plan. They didn’t need him to get Julie out. Katurah really blew it by bringing him in to this plan.

 When they finally have some alone time, he breaks both Rule #1 and #4 and tells his Queen everything, trusting that she’ll keep the secret from her close ally.  Do I need to say it? Do I?  Probably not but I will anyway.

 OF COURSE, SHE’S GOING TO TELL JULIE!

  Ok, now that’s out of the way Dee reminds us this is a big decision (Points for “Reference ‘in this game’ “to Ricky!) and that her knight trusted her with this information.  But naturally, Queen Dee breaks Rule #1 and tells Julie who is PISSED OFF.  I get that too – they made a final four deal that day!

 And so, the maneuvering begins. 

• Julie tries to enlist Emily and the Bostonian against Austin if they can get Katurah. 
• Emily tells Napoleon and Sir Austin about Julie’s plan.
• Austin brings the Queen into the loop. 
• Austin doesn’t believe his Queen would betray him by telling Julie, but I say nay nay!
• Queen Dee tells Julie for the same reason Austin told Dee!
• Julie throws out going after Sir Austin to Queen Dee, but she won’t do it because “He’s my #1”. 
• I’m sure that’ll land well with Julie
• The Queen wants Julie to vote Emily out, but Julie is salty against Austin.  Who she votes for might be the only vote!  

At tribal, Julie observes that the cutting the first few people to make jury hurts but “at some point, you have to give yourself permission to play (Points for “Reference ‘in this game’ “to Jen!). A bad sign for Austin, but Emily remarks that there many full bags have been brought to tribal as no one feels safe.  Napoleon Dynamite comments that Doom’s defeat was an inflection point, a new point of history (Points for “Reference ‘in this game’ “to me!). Julie notes that they’re past the “not just me” point but who they want to go to the end with, to which Emily responds that sometimes the game rips your heart out.  (Points for “Reference ‘in this game’ “to Brian!). Sir Austin finishes the commentary with ‘we are all such fans that ending someone else’s game is hard’. Indeed (Points for “Reference ‘in this game’ to Marissa!)

 

At the vote, they do something I cannot recall ever seeing before and show everyone voting for Julie.  Katurah remarks “If this doesn’t work, I blame Austin and his stupid emotional heart”. Sorry, kid.  You should’ve known better. The plan to get Julie worked…until…Julie stands up. (Points for “Play a hidden immunity idol on yourself” to Jen!).  Julie gets 6 votes, none of which count against her but do for us (Points for "Receive vote against" for Jen!).  She cast the only vote that matters, and it’s Emily who’s sent packing (Points for “Received vote against” and “Jury Member” to Brian!) and (Points deducted for “The Tribe Has Spoken” against Brian!). So much for Emily’s winner edit.

 Julie followed Dee's wishes. The Queen wins again, though this time I suspect there will be no joy in Mudville upon their return to camp. Will the Reba 4 stay together to take out Katurah and Your Cousin From Boston?  Or will the backstabbing begin?  And what does that mean for our scores?  

 Thanks to Julie receiving so many votes, and playing an idol on herself, Jen jumps into first place! All while Drew’s Immunity and reward win moves me into the middle of the pack.  Unfortunately for Brian, his inaugural season ends with Emily’s early departure.  See you next season, my friend!

 Current scores:

1. Jen: 40
2. Roberta: 38
3. Carol: 34
4. Marissa: 29
5. Scott/Jay: 28
6. Kristyn: 23
7. Ricky/Brian: 22
8. Dalphyne: 21