Survivor One World - May 13/12 Finale Recap

Perception is Not Always Reality
(subtitle: All Kim, All the Time)

I'm just going to say, there seemed to be a lot of filler in the first two hours because there really wasn't anyone interesting left... or was it just me?

After the extendo recap of the women taking out all the men (which I did enjoy) we get down to the final five this evening.  Alicia and Christina are aligned and Chelsea and Sabrina are aligned and they all think Kim is on their side (and more importantly, they all still like her.)

Sabrina: teacher from New York who's strategy it was to tone down her natural personality, hang back a bit and now she's ready to go in for the kill.
Kim: bridal shop owner from Texas, she played the ultimate strategic game but she's terrified it will come back to haunt her.  She says she's been in the driver's seat the whole time but she feels like the tunnel could be closing in on her (humble-brag - not buying it.)
Christina: career consultant from California, she's been the ultimate underdog the whole time but she's not going to give up now (she'd have us believe this was her game plan - I'm calling bullpucky on that.)
Chelsea: medical sales rep from South Carolina, she believes she's worked for everything she has, she wasn't a kiss ass and the million dollars is going to be on her mind the whole time (I think her perception of herself is different from what I saw.)
Alicia: special education teacher from Chicago, city girl with attitude that no one thought would last - she says she is "one smart, confident woman.  Home girl from the city killed it." (No one is a bigger fan of Alicia, than Alicia.)

Tikiano - Night 36
They return to camp from voting out Tarzan and the mood is jubilant. 
-Alicia tells the camera she is feeling bitter sweet since she had to get rid of one of her powers (seriously? You have no power.)  She says she is confidant that Kim is going to stick to her word and Christina, Alicia and Kim will be in the final.  She goes on to say her dream came true to have an all-girl finale and she believes she is there because she played one hell of a game. (She is a legend in her own mind, that's fo sho.)

Tikiano - Day 37
Kim and Sabrina go and get tree mail and talk.  Sabrina says she wants to see Alicia be the next to go and Kim says she thinks Chelsea would get more votes at the end... Sabrina is a little floored to hear Kim talking about taking out Chelsea (she's been talking about it for the past couple episodes.)
-Sabrina asks Kim, if they were to take out Chelsea, who else does she see in the final 3 - why Christina - no one will vote for Christina. (Well, that makes me want Christina to win immunity and show those b*tches.)
-Sabrina sees herself as the next most liked person out there so it could easily be her going home next. She's got to get her head in the game for Immunity.
-Alicia sees Chelsea as the hurdle in her way of winning a million dollars and hopes she sucks today.

Immunity Challenge
It's a long tough one.  They have to walk a balance beam maze, where, if they fall off they have to go back to the beginning, if they come to a dead end, they have to back track... but when they get through the maze they then have to climb on a net and untie 5 bags of puzzle pieces - once they have all the bags of pieces they have to solve the puzzle (and it's a lot of pieces.)  Once they have the puzzle assembled they have to read it; it tells them to count the number of skulls, the number of words and the number of puzzle pieces - once they have all three numbers, they have to climb up to a platform then use the numbers as a combination to release their flag - first person to do that wins immunity.  I know, a toughy... I will keep it short and remind you of the subtitle - KIM wins Immunity. (And no one seems overly happy about it.)

Back at camp - Kim & Chelsea go 'fishing' and sit and talk - Chelsea says she wants to take Alicia out tonight and Kim lets her think it's her idea.  Kim tells the camera she has two options, take out Alicia or she could take out Chelsea which she thinks is her easier route to the money.
-Chelsea is telling Kim that she knows Kim thinks she [Chelsea] can win, but she sees it opposite, "I think you can win this game, and you're going to."  Kim gets all teary and says, "Thanks for just saying that." (Oh she is good.  Playing the insecure follower to Chelsea when we all know she's been running the show all along.  Kim knows how to work women - owning a bridal salon, she has to know how to deal with women at their best and worst.  I bet she's pretty successful in the real world.)
-Chelsea trusts Kim 100% - she jokes that Kim should tell Alicia and Christina to vote for her [Chelsea], then she could play Kim's idol and fireworks would go off. (That would be at least some drama.)
-Kim is regretting telling Chelsea that she found a hidden immunity idol - now that Kim won immunity today, Chelsea expects her to play it for her - she doesn't want to just play all her cards just for the hell of it.
-Kim goes and tells Sabrina that they are voting out Alicia tonight.  Alicia watches them talking but she's 100% confidant that Kim will keep her word to her because why would she want to go to the end with Chelsea and Sabrina and have all those votes just split.  She tells herself not to over think things, she's got this.
-Kim then goes and tells Alicia and Christina that Chelsea has no idea it's her - so she's not freaking out.  Alicia thinks it's funny that Chelsea thinks it's her [Alicia] tonight. Kim tells them to just leave it alone, it's done.
-Kim is in the sweet spot - she reminds us that she could still go either way at this point.

Tribal Council #1
Jeff is trying to draw something out of them but they all say it was quiet at camp today, there was no scrambling.   He gets Kim talking about Loyalty which has Kat shaking her head.  Kim goes on about it being hard to separate heart and head in playing this game - blah blah blah.
Anyone have anything else to say?  Nope, they're all good.
Troyzan can't believe no one is taking the opportunity to speak up.
Jeff seems to be awed by the faith they all seem to have in Kim.

They vote and... ALICIA is voted out. B-bye!
(Oh, and Kim did not give her hidden idol to Chelsea - she knew she wouldn't need it.)
(Kat whispers that Kim back-stabbed her and Alicia - whatever lady, get over it already.)

Alicia says she sees the mistakes she made in this game - definitely giving up her power by voting out Tarzan (uh, no, you had no power).  She says she is not a sore loser, she's proud of Kim, she totally fooled her.  Also digs at Christina, "I brought you there, every one of those girls wanted you out (no, they didn't care one way or the other) Enjoy it Christina, cause you suck right now. (What was she saying about sore loser?)

Tikiano - Night 37
Kim apologizes for lying to Christina for such a long time.  Christina, "It's okay. I know it's a game so..."  Kim calls her one of the most resilient people there and genuinely appreciates the fact that she says she knows it's a game.  Kim avoided a guilt trip with Christina who seems to have no gumption - do you want to be there?
-Christina tells the camera that she thinks they think that she is still the best bet to take to the final, she's been coat-tailing the whole time - but she never seems to say this to anyone...
-Kim and Chelsea say if Christina wins immunity tomorrow they're going to cry, but then they agree that Sabrina may not be the person to take to the end.  Christina is definitely not as well spoken and if she has to explain how she played the game to the jury, "it's gonna be a joke." (Hmm, maybe she doesn't need to say anything.)

Tikiano - Day 38
Christina gets tree mail and realizes she HAS to win immunity tonight - she says she's been mediocre the whole time by design but now it's time to step it up... SERIOUSLY? Too little, too late.
-Then they have to do the walk of shame (NOOOOOoooooo - this show had so much filler it wasn't funny.) I'm not going to subject you to it but they did the walk of remembrance and then burned all their names - you are dead to me :) 

Immunity Challenge #2
It was something new they hadn't done before - how exciting!
They used a long pole with a half circle on the end that they had to use to pick up a small bowl and manoeuvre it through a zig-zaggy channel of rebar.  Once they successfully get the bowl through the channel, they have to place it on top of the structure, then continue to pile the bowls on top of each other until they have all 10 bowls balanced on the top of the structure.  One other thing... it's on a spring, so if they tap the sides of the channel at all, it will sway and could topple all the bowls and make them have to start over.  (EEeek, this looks challenging - I can't wait.)

Off they go and it's Kim and Christina neck and neck through this thing.  Maybe Christina has been playing possum... down to the 9th bowl and Christina's structure starts swaying so she has to wait it out and Kim's stack is really leaning... but it is (all Kim all the time) KIM that wins final immunity (surprise.)

Back at camp, Kim is relieved she won this immunity especially, she can relax tonight knowing she's made it to the end.  Christina approaches her and says she just wants it out in the open if it's her and Kim says yes, it's her, "Sorry."  Christina, "Agh, it is what it is." And that's it, no scrambling, no trying to change their mind, Christina says Kim was pretty adamant things weren't going to change (I'm sorry, did I miss you trying to change her mind?  She did nothing)  She figured she was going to make the day as peaceful and enjoyable as possible - Yup, Christina deserves to go.

Kim tells Chelsea that Christina talked to her and they hugged.  Kim was surprised that Christina didn't try to fight for it.  It solidified for her that Christina would not get any votes in the end.

Tribal council #2
Jeff again tries to find out if it was a busy afternoon and nope, there was nothing.  Christina knew she was going and that was that. (The jury is all just shaking their head.)
Jeff can't believe she didn't try and change anyone's mind.  And Christina says her argument against Sabrina is that she sucked at challenges and didn't do anything strategy-wise (so you are the same.)
"Trying to break alliances is really hard." (So, let me get this straight... it seemed too hard, so you didn't bother - yeah, you deserve a million dollars.)
-Sabrina says just because she wasn't scrambling doesn't mean she didn't know what was going on. If she thought her name was on the block she would have done everything in her power to change that.
-Christina tries to say she didn't give up but then goes on again about not knowing how to change their minds... so she admits she sucks at this game - move it along, Probst.
-Kim says Christina is potentially not a bad person to take to the final.  She had a lot of arguments today she could have made for herself and she just didn't.  You have to weigh your options.  Everything is not always what it seems. (Hu-uh? That got Sabrina and Chelsea's attention... What's that now?)

They vote... and it's CHRISTINA who leaves.  (Duh - that was a no-brainer - I don't think any of the jury would respect someone who took Christina to the end, especially after that Tribal Council.)

Christina's final words - she's proud she made it as far as she did but she wishes she had played the game differently... and she's still trying to defend her non-action saying she had no idea how to change their minds. (And that is why you are OUT.)

So, we are down to the Final 3: Chelsea, Sabrina and Kim.

Tikiano - Day 39
-Sabrina is sitting on the beach - crying. (Huh?)  She says she's a teacher and she was laid off just before coming out there.  She wanted to tell the kids of Brooklyn about the sand, the water, the view... and she hopes they aspire to see more than just their block.  (She is actually a great teacher role model on this show - finally.)
-The three girls are walking to tree mail and Kim says her plea to the jury is going to be, "I know I've lied to you all and voted you out, but I have no boobs left, so have mercy." (You could argue she didn't have much to begin with... but have you seen those abs? holy...)
-They get food and mimosas... yum.
-Chelsea says her family is proud of her and if you come out here for the adventure, it's worth way more than the million dollars (that's how a loser talks!  Haha, but seriously, it did kinda sound like she didn't think she was going to win.)
-Kim tells us this has been a rough year for her, she was recently divorced and this experience has definitely given her some of her confidence back. (It must have been hard for a bridal shop owner to be going through a divorce and still have to go to work with people getting married all day - of course it could have been good training too on hiding her emotions and getting the job done like she did throughout the whole season.)

FINAL TRIBAL COUNCIL - The Jury Speaks

Chelsea gets to go first with her opening remarks and she asks if she can stand, "Is that okay?" (And she's lost right there - just do it if you want to... sheesh.)

Chelsea - everybody knows in Survivor that a pair is very important.  It's been no secret that Kim and I have been a pair.  Every single tribal we would get together and map out who should stay and who should go (I don't think she's helping her cause here) - that being said, my game changed at the merge.  Jonas, you seem like such a good person and I had such a hard time writing your name down.  That's when I told myself I was playing the game all wrong and I had to check myself emotionally or I wasn't going to make it in this game.  That's when I became the hard-ass, cold-hearted Chelsea. (Was I watching the same game she was on?)  She says that's where she and Kim differed - Kim had an emotional connection with them all and Chelsea doesn't - I could be in trouble if that's how you vote but in the end, I trust however you vote. (What?)

Kim - I love this game.  I've always seen it as a game.  In the beginning I saw it as poker and you do everything you can do to make it to the end.  So that's where my head was at coming in, I played with everything I had, I strategized until I was blue in the face and I'm proud of how I played it strategically.  I don't know how I could have done it any better.  Every time I sent one of you home, that took a toll on me and that's been really, really hard (somehow I don't believe that) but she says she was thinking of her family and what she hoped to do with the money to make their lives better.  I hope you can forgive me, I hope you can see it as a game because that's how I saw it and I can't even say I would take it back because my end goal was to be here and I am sitting here tonight. (Usually, the forgive me plea is the kiss of death but she is so believable... she could sell ice to Eskimos that one.)

Sabrina - We all come in here with a strategy but you have to have balance - you take it to far to the extreme one way and you're going to have a target on your back.  There were times I had to scale back physically in the challenges and that was part of my strategy.  Then when we merged the social game became more evident and that's when she played operation white shield and hid behind Kim & Chelsea.  She consciously chose not to step up and go to people face to face, she left that to Kim (so she could take all the blame - nice.) But she realizes that could bite her in the end.
Stepping outside this game I teach inner city children in Brooklyn and I was laid off - I came into this game and it wasn't an option for me, I had to win this game.  Me sitting here in the top three is a blessing.

In my estimation - Kim won that round.

Now the Jury:

Jonas: Just want to lay the ground rules for this question. When I say your name, you must answer, "Yes, Master Jona...hahaha"  He couldn't keep it together, that broke the tension, got them all laughing.  He said he's totally happy for all of them.  He tells Sabrina he loves her, if it was the most popular person getting the money I would totally vote for you - I still might - but at challenges it was amazing how badly you sucked.  I mean, you were getting whipped by a guy one year short of being a senior citizen (that's Tarzan, hamming it up for the camera).
  - Absolutely, on some of those challenges I did suck.
He tells Chelsea she's cute and she blushes (I think she has a a little crush on the chef - aww) he proceeds to tell her that all the guys think she is the hottest chick out there (Kim - gee, thanks) but that is not what his vote is based on.  He wanted to know the hugest move she made out there, not something that Kim thought of, but her boldest, game changing move.
 - It was my idea to take Kat out. (That's it... okay.)
Kim, you kicked my ass, but that doesn't mean you're getting my vote - I think you played a flawless game up until the last tribal council when you didn't take Christina... I was floored.  I'm trying to wrap my head around why you didn't take her.
 - Yeah, honestly I got to this place that I thought if everyone absolutely hated me for the decision I'd made, then Christina would beat me.  But if everyone votes for the person they think played the best game, then I could sit here with these two guys and I'd win, and it wouldn't matter.
Okay, well, we'll see what happens.

Christina: She asks Kim if she had to take one of the two remaining out who would it be. 
 - Kim says she thinks she has a better chance of winning against Sabrina so she would take Chelsea out. (They have quite the girl-mance going on those two.)
Chelsea, why do you hate people?
 -  Oh my...  I don't hate people, at all.  I think there is a time you have to take your heart out and play with your head.  Kim kept reminding me of that.  If you knew me outside of this game, I'm not the cold-hearted b*tch. (I never got that impression of her at all.)

Jay: Congratulations, no hard feelings.  Sabrina, that whole mentality of taking it easy in challenges, you seemed to take that into camp life as well, no crabbing, gathering wood, you did squat - so, I'm questioning if it really was your strategy [subtext: or are you just lazy?]
- Sometimes in real life I can be overbearing so I knew coming into this bunch of strangers that I had to sit back and [let them wait on me] not bulldoze people.  It's a matter of balance.  And I just learned to swim before coming out here (I'm leaving that one alone) so I'm not going deep sea fishing.
Fair enough. 

Michael: Kim, define a blindside.
 - Sending someone home that has no idea they're going home.  And convincing them they're not going home so they're shocked.
And with that definition do you feel like you've perfected the art of the blindside?
 - I think in this game that blindsides are necessary and at the point when you were still here it was a big deal because you were the only guy that Troy was willing to send home.  He disliked you, didn't trust you, so I picked you, not because I wanted to send you home but because he was the only guy he wouldn't think twice about voting out.
There is a whole jury over here and myself that know you missed one key factor, blame.  You took all the blame for every single blindside you did, you didn't pass it off on your alliances, you took all that heat and that's the one thing that you missed.  (Actually, I would call that taking CREDIT - you all know who outwitted, outlasted and outplayed you - Kim.)
We have to decide if you are smart for doing that or incredibly stupid.  That's all I want to say.

Tarzan: I want to thank God for giving me these [big word] moments of adventure near the end of my life. (Is he dying?)  So, thank you God.  And thank you ladies, for keeping me despite all the [big word] of this game and allowing my wife to actually set foot on this island.  I will forever be thankful. And the third statement was [big word, big word, big word] he started getting choked up talking about his wife, embracing her, feeling her heartbeat with his... (Okay, does anyone else think their relationship is a little creepy?)
- Chelsea says his romance with his wife has shown her what she wants in a partner.  She will not settle for less because she knows it's real. (Okay, maybe it is just me.)

Leif: Getting voted off is a sore spot and I'm trying to sort out my feelings.  How did it come about?
(What I heard was a pouty, 'You hurt my feelings.' - Really? Suck it up, buttercup.)
- Kim tells him she just never knew if she could trust him.  His votes never seemed to line up with what he said he was doing.  She knew he had voted for her and felt he was going to do it again so she had no problem telling him to vote for Christina that night.
- Sabrina, at that point in the game Kim was the messenger giving the messages (we know she was the brains lady, don't try to confuse things calling her a messenger.)   I knew you were going home but I punked out, I couldn't tell you cause that would hurt me.  It was just your time to go.

Alicia: Kim, you and I played this game very similar.  I was a kingpin.  I had my pawns in Tarzan and Christina and you have your pawns in Chelsea and Sabrina (oh, so delusional).  Home girl, you know if I was sitting next to you, you'd be bleeping bricks right now.   (They all just laugh along, sure you had a chance of winning... uh huh.)  Because I would have had more chance of winning than any of yous.  And actually, I'm super flattered (everyone's looking at her disbelievingly now) because who would have thought, Miss Peurto Rico over here could have been a threat? (Do you have a question?  No?  Then sit your ass down.)  Kim, you played a hell of a game.  I could strangle you.  I love you and good luck. (WHAT WAS THAT?)

Troyzan: Nice to see he dressed up in his good pajamas - what were those pants?
Congratulations, I suppose that sounds strange but I don't hate your guts.  My main beef is with Kim so I'll focus on her.  You did play a great game but so did Chelsea and Sabrina so I'm going to ask you one question and if you answer correctly that will show me if you really are the great player you think you are... So, there was a point in this game when a decision was made against me.  Tell me the moment you made the move to totally demolish my chances of winning this game.
 - Taking Jonas out of this game.
That's your answer?
 - That's my answer.
Okay.
Are you going to tell us if she got it right or not?
No.  The Survivor gods have spoken and it's uno, dos, adios.

Kat: (Maybe she'll give us something good?  Susan Hawk award worthy?)
Being voted out I was really really upset, all three of you hurt me very very badly.  And Kim, I'm just destroyed by you.  But I have a secret I want to tell you.  I went through two open heart surgeries when I was 12 years old and, in order to have kids in 12 years I'd have to have another so, 22 baby, next year I'll be having another (hold on, let me do the math, 12 plus 12 is 24... Kat is pretty.) Anyway - she says she had to hide that weakness from them but she also doesn't have time to be angry (she has them all tearing up - really? I'm I just a cold-hearted b*tch?  Don't answer that :).  She says she's going to base her decision on who she felt played the best game.  And to the jury she tells them to seize the day (pretty much) and don't base your decision on anger.  I wanted this more than anything but it takes a lot more energy to be angry than it does to smile and be happy.  So, (back at the final three) I want to say, I forgive you.

TIME TO VOTE:
Oh, Kim must have gotten the answer wrong because Troy voted for Sabrina.  (I'm sure he wanted her to say, you were just too strong a player, I could never win against a big, strong man like you.)

Kat voted for Kim, she says she's so upset with her but if she didn't vote for her that means she didn't learn a darn thing in this game.

Jeff gets the votes then keeps on walking to New York City... where he is going to read them:

Tallying the Votes:
Kim - 1
Sabrina - 1
Kim - 2
Sabrina - 2
Kim - 3, 4, 5 - KIM is the winner of Survivor One World.  It was All Kim, All the Time - and really, it had to be, it would have been a travesty if anyone else had won (though it might have been more interesting to watch.)

And with Kim winning the game: Susan MacLennan, Fred/Gary Moderow and Nancy Clapham have also won the pool.  Congratulations to all.

I'm not going to recap the reunion other than these points:
-Colton assures us he is not a racist and says he did not mean to offend anyone.  His mother apologizes for his words and actions. Colton realizes how mean he was... but I never really heard an apology from him.
-Mayim Bialik - TV's Blossom - comes to Colton's defense and says she'd watch him play again.
-Alicia cries about calling Christina 'special needs' and says she is sorry if she offended anyone.
-Jeff was getting people's names wrong and mixing up when people left... has Jeff been drinking?
-Tarzan's wife needs to reduce those boobs - your husband may have some connections.
-Kim also won the Sprint fan favourite prize money ($100,000) over Chelsea, Tarzan and Troyzan.

Next season - Three previous player,s that were medically evacuated from the game when they played before, will each be on one of three tribes in Survivor Philippines.  (I have a feeling we will be seeing Colton again.)

SO, there you have it.  Have a great Summer everyone.  I'll see you all again in the fall.

Coleen

Survivor One World - May 9th Episode Recap

It's Human Nature

They recapped the awesome blindside of the overly confident Kat at last Tribal Council... she was right, it was fun and exciting :)

Tikiano - Night 33
Tarzan thinks the girls are stupid for not voting him out.  He has a subplot where he makes it to final three.

Tarzan approaches Kim lobbying for 4th place - he tells her he thinks her best shot is to go to the final with Alicia and Christina because no one will vote for Christina and he tells her he will be able to get people on the jury to vote for her.  Kim is torn on having to turn on her best friend out there, Chelsea.  Alicia comes over to see what they're talking about.  Kim leaves and Tarzan goes to work on Alicia, tells her that he will get people to vote for her on the jury... oh yeah, he's working it, that's for sure.

Tarzan's been taking this game in segments: don't be the first voted out, make it to the merge, make it to seeing his wife... and now he thinks he can make it to #4, maybe 3rd if he's lucky and if he doesn't win, no biggie, he just won't buy shocks for his car. (Really?  Million dollars, no big deal... sheesh.)

Tikiano - Day 35
Chelsea feels the game is 3 vs 3 - Chelsea, Kim and Sabrina against Alicia, Christina and Tarzan - Chelsea knows the other three think they have Kim in their alliance and she's alright with that, she knows Kim has her back (Kat thought that too, just saying.)
-Chelsea tries to reel Christina in a little bit, tells her she would take her on a food reward if she wins - then tells her Tarzan can't go to the final 3 and you can't tell Alicia I said that.  Christina runs and tells Kim, Tarzan and Alicia about the whole conversation.
-Kim was just worried about Chelsea blowing her cover because Kim is playing both sides right now but Chelsea didn't say anything about her - so Kim goes and tells Chelsea that Christina told them everything she said.
-Chelsea, "Noooo.  Makes me want to kick her butt right now."  Kim is still balancing between the two sides and hoping they don't put it together.

REWARD CHALLENGE
They will race to release a disc by spinning around a pole while unscrewing it - this will make them dizzy (ya think?) - they have to do it three times.  Once they have all three discs they will stop to vomit (ha! just kidding) they will put the discs on a table to create a decoder, once they're lined up properly they will decode a lock combination and release their flag. First person to do that will win an afternoon on a yacht, food, shower, sleep on the boat.
-The spinny-drunk walk was hi-larious!  Sabrina and Kim were the first to the table but Chelsea was the first to try her combination, it didn't work - Alicia is trying numbers as well, not working... CHELSEA finally gets her combination and wins the Reward. 
-When Chelsea is told she gets to pick someone she makes a speech about Kat catching grief for the people she picked so she's going to be fair and choose Sabrina since she needs the food.  Jeff tells her to pick one more and she says, "I want Kim to go."  (So, Chelsea did exactly the same think Kat did, chose her friends...even after telling Christina she'd take her - what an idiot.)

REWARD
They get taken out to the yacht, get clean clothes and a shower... being clean is worth everything.
Chelsea thinks she knows what's going on at camp so they can just relax and know the three of them are going to make it to the end.
Kim felt the same, that the Reward helped clear her head, put things in perspective and rejuvenate her for the game.

Tikiano - Day 35
-Christina says she's livid and Alicia has to say she's more livid... how is it fair to take Kim on a 3rd reward?  Christina finally gets out that Chelsea told her she'd take her but Alicia said it at the same time - oh no, Alicia was talking and they just better listen.  They need to vote for Chelsea if she doesn't win immunity... and they have to get Kim to stick to their word to them and vote with them or it will just be a tie.
-Tarzan tells the girls he believes Kim & Chelsea are a team and they're deceiving them - he floats the idea that they will have a better chance if he is in the top three with them (Can you imagine, a Tarzan, Christina and Alicia finale??  Just keep the money, CBS, that would be ridiculous.)
-Alicia is true to form and totally flip flops - yeah, we need to keep Tarzan and get rid of Kim.

REWARD
-Sabrina calls Kim on her ability to lie believably and win everyone over - Kim agrees, "I can't even tell when I'm lying sometimes." (Oh, she's a little too relaxed on the boat I think.)

Tikiano - Day 36
-Tarzan has woken up in grumpy-old-man mood today.  He has his plans and will have none of the girls trying to change them.  He wants to make coconut stew by sifting the coconut through his dirty, stanky buff - Alicia and Christina try to take the chore away from him and he tells them he's doing it!
-The other three return in the midst of this petty argument and land with a thud right smack back in the game.

-Alicia tells Kim what Tarzan said while they were gone - that they need to test Kim and see if she was a traitor - and Kim knows he's trying to get her out and insert himself - she voices my fear, "If they were to keep Tarzan and he wins, it's like the men win in the end."  (Exactly!  The last time a season went all girls and kept one guy in the end- the guy won.  Do not do that again, please!)
-Kim and Alicia finally talk and find out that Tarzan told them both the same thing about him getting them votes on the jury - "We were going to get Tarzan'd and look like morons."  They're on the same page now.  Tell Alicia she looks like an idiot and she will swing anyway you want her to. (She's like a fish out of water that one - flip-flopping all over the damn place.)
-Christina joins them and tells them that Tarzan asked her if she was worried about Alicia.  And Alicia was like, "Oh hell to the no!" She almost got Tarzan'd.  She says if Chelsea wins immunity, they are taking Tarzan out.  Alicia lets her ghetto Peurto Rican out (her words) and says "Chelsea has been trying to run her game on me and you don't run your game on me.  I'm the most powerful player." (She's also a legend in her own mind - delusional much?)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
They have to use large fish hooks shaped like S's to pick up bags of puzzle pieces (like barrel full 'o monkeys) then they will have to use the puzzle pieces shaped like fish bones to complete the puzzle of a fish skeleton - to make it more interesting, they have to do the whole thing with one hand tied behind their backs.

Off they go - Kim & Alicia are the front runners throughout - Chelsea is last.  Kim blows her lead on the third bag of pieces - it's ALICIA that wins immunity, by seconds over Kim.

Tikiano - Day 36
-Alicia is all proud of herself and stuff... Tarzan calls her a bitch and says he should have won that, it wasn't even physical. (I think he was serious but trying to pretend, not very well, that he was joking.)  Alicia says she has the power over three votes [hers, Christina's and Tarzan's] but she doesn't trust him and also isn't sure if she wants to give up her power.

-Kim tells Sabrina that she's got Alicia and Christina excited to take Tarzan out by showing them how hard he's been working them all.  Sabrina thinks it's fantastic Kim's gotten into Alicia's head but she's not counting on that for sure, you never know with Alicia.

-Kim tells Chelsea she's got Alicia freaking out about Tarzan but that they still want to take Chelsea out first and she's not sure what to do.  Chelsea says, "I could play your idol."  Kim, "I'll have to see how I feel.  I'm almost willing to risk it." (Yeah, that was a, "No, you're not getting my idol.  Goodbye.")  Kim tells the camera she's not going to risk her position by struggling to keep Chelsea there.  If Alicia is still voting Chelsea, she'll vote with them.

-Chelsea tells Sabrina she's just upset that people like Christina, that did nothing all game, will be there longer than her.  Sabrina tries to tell her this game can change hour by hour so she shouldn't dwell on leaving.

-Sabrina has complete faith in Kim's power of persuasion and believes she can get Alicia riled up enough to vote out Tarzan.

-Alicia and Tarzan are walking she reassures him that they are still taking Chelsea out tonight and Kim's on board with it.  Tarzan knows that Alicia can't totally trust him but he did help them take out all the rest of the guys.  He just hopes he hasn't ruined everything by being erasable the last few days.  He starts working her about Kim and her angelic face and blue eyes she could win the whole thing.

-Tarzan dresses for Tribal in a pink tank top and puts Kat's old bathing suit bottoms on his head... "I hope this isn't offensive to anybody." (What? It's just gross, is what it is.)
-Alicia says she doesn't want to have to blindside Tarzan tonight, they have a father/daughter relationship out there but at the same time he could reunite with Sabrina and take Christina with him and she wants to avoid that.  (I think she's safe since his antics are killing Sabrina.)
-Alicia wants to trust Kim but she does have a feeling she could be playing her.  She's not sure who to go with.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Kat is miss pouty-poopy pants coming in with the jury.

Jeff asks Sabrina if she's surprised to still be there.
She's not surprised.  She's kept herself in the mix the whole game and thinks she could still win it.
Tarzan, you're still here.
Only by the grace of God he's still there.
Why do you think you're still here?
-Because I helped the ladies get rid of the guys.  My time is just about over but if someone wants to take me to the end, I'll go.  I'm not stupid.  But it wouldn't be a bad tactic. These guys are going to vote for a millionaire?  I don't think so.  (This has Alicia thinking, I can smell it burning from here.)
Here's a guy who doesn't think he can win, and no one else thinks he can win, can he become an asset?
Sabrina - to a degree, but we're still women and he's still a man, and at the end of the day, they could just not want a woman to win. So, it's a risk to take him to the top.
Tarzan, there is very little room to hide.
I think our game is solid at the moment, they've kept their word and inevitably the right person has gone every single time.  He knows the jury wouldn't agree with that, it's human nature when you're voted out to think you've been wronged.  They're not introspective enough to realize they were not in alignment when the game was afoot.
But they thought they were.
I'll give you that. (Mighty big of you there.)
Do you often feel misunderstood in this game?
I would say so, yeah.  Today I wore something and they were worried about microbes not knowing what I knew about that...
Wait, what were you wearing?
Alicia - He's wearing Kat's tank top...
Tarzan -Well I'm wearing this but I also put her panties on my head. I thought it was funny. (This makes Kat cry, really?)
Sabrina, this is Survivor at the base level - Tarzan puts on Kat's shirts, thinks it's funny but he still might be the one to take to the end.  These are the decisions you weigh, right?
-Right.  And what's weighing on my mind is, could this brilliant man with panties on his head be playing us the whole time? (That has Alicia nodding, oh good, we're back) I just want to see my wife, have the adventure but now you're starting to play the game... yeah.
Alicia, what was the reaction at camp when Sabrina and Kim were picked to go on the reward and you were left back at camp?
She picked Sabrina which I thought was a fair choice but was Kim a fair choice when [Tarzan & Christina] haven't been on a reward in a while?  It's up to the person who's picking and you know, Kat picked two people who she liked...
And she was voted out.
Right.  (Kat says, "Bitches." What happened to Whatever? Touche? Hahaha.)
Christina.  Frustrated when Chelsea didn't pick you?
Yeah, we did have a conversation that we would take each other, so I was a little disappointed.
You felt she had broken her word.
Yeah.
Chelsea - She also broke her word to me right after that conversation, that's why I didn't take her.
So what will save you tonight? [Chelsea]
I think people are starting to get a feel for what Tarzan is up to.  I think it's more than just an adventure for him and I think he's playing some people more than they think.
Tarzan pipe up - Jeff, I'm not playing anybody and that's all I have to say about it.

On that note, it's time to vote. (Jeff's a poet and didn't know it.)
Tarzan votes Chelsea and he has doctor's handwriting.
Chelsea votes Tarzan - she hopes he gets the hell off the island before he drives her crazy.

Tallying the votes:
No hidden idol played.
Chelsea - 1 (Kat whispers, Goodbye Chelsea.)
Tarzan - 1, 2, 3, 4 - TARZAN is voted out. (Yay, I was really worried they would keep him around.)  He addresses everyone and thanks them for allowing him to see his wife and play this game (Michael gives him the finger... oh, sour grapes from the jury box.)

And with Tarzan leaving, Charlotte W, Kevin R and Hannelore & Sue are out of the pool.

May the best woman win.

THIS SUNDAY, May 13th is the SEASON FINALE of Survivor One World - who will Outplay, Outwit, Outlast them all to win?

Tarzan's outgoing speech was said in rhyming couplets... I'll spare you - then he did a Tarzan yell. (Ugh, just go away.)

Who is still in it to win you ask?
Alicia: Julie T, Shelly P, Jessica C
Chelsea: Jeff T, Bryon L, Kelvin H
Christina: Lindsay J, Lynne B, Vikki M
Kim: Susan M, Fred/Gary M, Nancy C
Sabrina: Nenad M, Lee G, Cheryl J.

Good luck everyone.  And Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms.

Coleen

The Amazing Race 20 - Finale Recap (May 6, 2012)

It's a Great Place to Become Millionaires

We are down to the final four and there is one more elimination before the final leg... Dave & Rachel are the first team to get the clue that they are flying to Hiroshima, Japan... and everyone is on the same flight so no drama getting to Japan - Dave & Rachel, Brendon & Rachel, Vanessa & Ralph and Art & JJ all arrive in Japan and they have to make their way to Miyajima Island... and this is where the drama begins.  Art & JJ, Vanessa & Ralph and Dave & Rachel all buy bus tickets from the machines no problem... this is apparently too much for Brendon the PhD student and Big Brother misses the bus.  Rachel blames Brendon and yells at him for not listening to her... while she puts her make up on - (because that's what's important right now.)  She accuses him of being like every other man and not listening blah, blah, blah (I find that ironic since she's always the first one to whine, "But I'm only a girl." Ugh.)
-The first bus gets to the train station and while those teams are trying to figure out how to buy bus tickets Brendon & Rachel arrive, and with the help of a nice local that Brendon befriended on the bus, they buy tickets and are the first team on the train - this time it's Dave & Blond Rachel that end up missing the train... by seconds - and we all know what happens when something doesn't go Dave's way - he blames Rachel (that poor woman - she deserves a medal, seriously.) If she hadn't taken her time... (whatever.)  She can't take his pessimistic attitude when there is nothing they can do.  She stays calm and carries on, he stews and blames her for all their troubles.
-The first 3 teams get tickets on the last ferry leaving at 10:42pm... the next ferry doesn't leave until 6:25am... the next day - and Dave & Rachel miss the last ferry.  (Oh, that poor woman.)  Dave basically tells her she's cost them the million dollars - and she grins and bear it (I don't know how she does it, seriously, I would be a shrieking harpy at him right now.)  Having no choice, they find a place to bed down and wait until 6:25 to take the first ferry across.
-On the island, the teams find out, "Your clue will arrive with the rising sun."  So Dave & Rachel will be there in time to get the next clue. (See Dave.) Oh, and JJ described Ralph & Vanessa as Conan and the Kardashian (Hahaha - that is so perfect! I think that is my favouritest nickname of all time.)

-Next morning - Dave & Rachel get the ferry over and catch up to the other teams - they find out the clue isn't there yet and Blond Rachel says, "I think Dave can take his poopy pants off now." (Ha, I kinda love her, we are of similar minds.)   The old guy arrives with the clue to make their way to the Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome - where they have a moment. (Everyone was moved by what happened there, they reflect on war, etc.  But I could see it in JJ's face -" Can we just get racing?")
A guy comes and gives them their next clue - to make their way to a TV station in Osaka.
-All four teams take the bullet train to Osaka where Dave & Rachel and Brendon & Rachel transfer to the subway while JJ & Art and Vanessa & Ralph head out on the street to catch cabs to Studio 8.
-Art & JJ are the first team to reach the TV studio... Vanessa & Ralph were taken to the wrong place (d'oh!)
- Art & JJ get the clue to the ROADBLOCK - Who wants to bring home the chicken?  and it's going to be Art appearing on a Japanese Game Show!  He has to run on a treadmill/conveyor belt and jump up to grab three rubber chickens then jump off the treadmill onto the finish mat to get their next clue.(oh, boy, this would be tiring!)  JJ says the fact that Art looks so ridiculous makes him feel all warm & fuzzy inside.
-The fact that Art isn't that tall makes it that much harder to reach the chickens - there is a lot of falling down... I feel for him, it's so hard to jump on a moving treadmill.

-Vanessa & Ralph are in a new cab and the other two teams ended up at the wrong building as well so now they are all in cabs heading to the TV studio.

-Art finally successfully dismounts the treadmill and they get the clue to make their way to the Umeda Sky building and head up to the floating observatory on the roof to get their next clue in the form of videos on touch screen monitors. 

-The other three teams arrive at the game show and it's Brendon, Blond Rachel and Vanessa that have to complete this Roadblock (since they can only do a certain # each.)  It proves easier for Brendon because he's taller but he still has to take a few runs at it to stick the dismount.  Blond Rachel is impressive and capable as usual, she makes short work of it as well.  And then there is Vanessa, I almost felt sorry for her, she was working with a badly sprained ankle and this would not be forgiving of that type of injury... but I think it's karma catching up to her.  She is looking at Ralph and whining, "I don't know what to do."  He yells at her to "stop, come here, just stop, we'll take the penalty" (and if he had said it with even an ounce of sympathy she might have listened but his tone was not empathetic at all.)  Vanessa stuck it out and, to her credit, finished bringing home the chicken (but I still can't like her.)  In the cab, her first priority was fixing her false eyelashes - Ralph, "Priorities." (I know, right?)

-Art & JJ get to the floating observatory and find the video clue to the DETOUR - Photo Cut-Out or Bingo Shout-Out.
-In Photo Cut-Out; they have to go out on the street with a camera and 3 life size sumo cut outs then convince 10 sets of people to pose behind the Sumo cut-outs and take their pictures.  Once they have 10 pictures with different people in each one, they will get their next clue.
-In Bingo Shout-Out; they have to go to a sushi place and, as the chef calls out names of sushi, they have to correctly identify the type of sushi with the correct letter stuck in it to get a bingo on their bingo cards (I know, it sounds complicated.) When they have a bingo, they have to call out SUSHI! and, if they are correct, they have to eat all 5 pieces to get their next clue.
-Art & JJ stay true to form and choose the opposite task than I would have (but it seems to work for them) they are doing the sushi (cause Art is hungry.)

-Dave & Rachel and Brendon & Rachel get to the observatory and Dave & Rachel decide to do the Photo Cut-out.  Brendon & Rachel decide to do the sushi Bingo.
-Getting into the cab, Dave drops something out of his bag and immediately starts berating Rachel, "If you unzip my bag, you have to tell me." I think it's worse because he doesn't yell - but she finally has enough and shouts at him, "I DIDN'T UNZIP YOUR BAG! I'm so sick of you."  He comes back with "Silence and golden" and she retorts, "Well, shut the F*CK Up then!" (And I love her a little more.)

-As Brendon & Rachel are getting into a cab to head to the sushi place, Ralph & Vanessa arrive and Big Brother can't believe they caught up.  Better get moving then.  Vanessa & Ralph are going to do the sushi - Vanessa is so excited they'll get to eat something.

-Art & JJ arrive at the sushi place and everyone is so enthusiastic!  There are locals at their tables to help them identify the sushi (that's good) but it's pandemonium. 
-Dave & Rachel are politely trying to get people to stop and have their picture taken but it's a hard sell in the beginning - and it's Rachel's fault, she's not using her flowery personality - she's losing people... (I really want to smack him.)  Once he starts helping and herding people towards the cut-outs, it starts going faster... (oh, hey, if they work together it goes smoother, go figure.) Sumo!

-Art & JJ have a lot of sushi on the board but they haven't made a bingo yet, JJ is confused on how it works.
-Brendon & Rachel show up and if Art & JJ don't get it, you can imagine these two rocket-surgeons.

-Vanessa & Ralph's cab driver is lost.  Vanessa, "Good day."

-Dave & Rachel are the first team to finish the Detour (SUMO!) and they get the clue to the Pit Stop, Osaka Castle.  Last team to arrive WILL be eliminated.
-Art & JJ are the first team to get a Sushi BINGO!  They inhale some sushi and get the clue to the Pit Stop... and Art stuffs a couple more pieces in his mouth.
-Rachel is just yelling at Brendon - he can't seem to get the letter thing. Bicker, bicker.
-Vanessa & Ralph show up for some Sushi Bingo.
-Big Brother finally get a bingo and head out.  Vanessa & Ralph are not giving up and they get a Sushi! and head out too.

Here's how they finished the first leg:
1) Rachel & Dave - tied the record for the most first place finishes and won a trip to New Zealand.
2) Art & JJ - despite walking all over the castle and getting in a foot race with Brendon & Rachel they did make it 2nd.
3) Brendon & Rachel - and Rachel cries - surprise.
4) Ralph & Vanessa - **Eliminated** "Oh, cheese & crackers."  Phil says Vanessa should be proud of herself... yeah, yeah.  They enjoyed their time in the race and it does seem to have solidified their relationship.

2nd hour... oh my.  I'm going to have to try and actually just give the highlights here.
4:15pm - Dave & Rachel get the clue that they are flying to Honolulu, Hawaii - once they land they have to figure out they need to find the Twin Towers and that is where they'll get the next clue.
They are determined to prove themselves the winningest team ever to run the Race - Rachel is excited about Hawaii (me too, heading there is 3 weeks) and Dave says, "It's a great place to become millionaires." (Hmm, don't think that's going to happen for me though :)
-Art & JJ are the next team out at 4:47pm - They are ready to go balls to the wall.
-Brendon & Rachel head out at 5:05pm... but it doesn't matter, there is only one flight a day to Honolulu so they area all on the same flight.

-They hit the ground running - Dave & Rachel are the first ones in a cab and their cabdriver solves the riddle of where they need to go.  Art & JJ jump in a cab and Art tells him to just follow Dave & Rachel, much to JJ's chagrin, he's bitched about followers the whole race and doesn't want to be one- (Whatever dude, it's the final leg - just keep moving.)  Brendon & Rachel are coming up the rear, they want to Google the clue but their driver finds out where to go - okay then.

-Dave bonds with their cabdriver over their Army service and they get their driver to lose Art & JJ's cab.  JJ is just muttering about how stupid they are, Art just rolls his eyes. (Well, make a difference then - figure out where you're going dummy.)

-Dave & Rachel get they Route Info clue - Ascend and Rappel - they will have to use all their upper body strength to pull themselves up the outside of the building by ropes, at the top they will search for their next destination, then they have to rappel back down the building.
-While Dave & Rachel are getting strapped in, Brendon & Rachel arrive at the towers and get the clue.  The Rachel's agree that it's good news for them since the guys will have more arms strength.
-Art & JJ are still driving around blind.  Art is blaming himself - they head to a hotel to try and find someone to decode the riddle - at the hotel they're sent to some statues... oh crap.

-Dave makes it up the outside of the building quickly and he's actually pretty encouraging to Rachel while he waits for her.  Dave has some time to scout the next destination and when she gets up there they are ready to head back down. 
-Brendon & Rachel - Big Brother Rachel is whining that she's scared and this is hard... whine whine.

-Art & JJ find a woman who could decode the riddle and they are finally heading towards the Twin Towers.

-Dave & Rachel start making their descent... oh yeah, they have to rappel face first - looking down (I think I would be sick.)
-At the top, Red Rachel is liking their odds, since Art & JJ haven't arrived yet - she thinks it's 50/50.

-Dave & Rachel get back in their cab and Dave tells her in no uncertain terms that he will direct the cab driver (so shut up and look pretty, is what I heard.)
-Art & JJ arrive and aren't giving up, they run over to get strapped in for the ascent.
-Brendon is talking Red Rachel down, she's freaking out about the height and I can't say as I blame her.  Brendon starts down and loses his footing so he's spinning (EEK).  They make it down.
-JJ does not enjoy heights... this should be fun.  They make it to the top and see the marker.

-Dave & Rachel get to the park and get the clue to the ROADBLOCK - using a samurai sword, they have to shave 15L of ice off a huge block - when they reach the marker on the container, they'll receive their next clue. Dave is doing the task for them.
-Brendon & Rachel arrive and Brendon is doing the task for them.  The guys quickly realize, it's not as easy as it looked.

-Dave & Rachel finish the ice first and get Route Info to make their way on foot to helicopters waiting in the outfield.  Dave makes sure the pilot knows he's an aviator himself (shut up and just enjoy the ride, sheesh.)

-Brendon's slowing down on the ice and Art & JJ arrive - JJ is doing the task for them. There is no small talk.
-Brendon and Rachel finish and apparently don't read their clue because they jump in their cab and get the driver to head to a baseball stadium.
-Art & JJ pay up with their taxi and head out on foot to the helicopters - they are stoked that Big Brother hasn't found it yet.

-Brendon & Rachel get to the stadium and it's closed, there are no helicopters there - they re-read the clue and when she reads, "on foot" he proves she's not the only drama queen in this relationship - and she snaps at him defensively, "I know, I screwed up!"  They have to head back to the park. 

-Dave & Rachel land and run over to a surfboard with clues attached.  They have to play lifeguard (are they putting them in red bathing suits, a la Baywatch? Come On) But no, one person will drive the Ski-doo like waverunner and the other will be towed on a boogie type board behind - they have to go out, scoop up the distraught swimmer and, when they are all safe back on shore, they'll get their next clue.
-Rachel wants Dave to be the person on the back dragging the swimmer in, he's not sure she can drive the waverunner.  Not to worry though, he directs her the whole way - they get the swimmer no problem and head back in to shore.

-Brendon & Rachel - he's trying to get her to run and she's a whiny baby - She says she hates him right now and I think I hate her right now... so there you go.

-Dave & Rachel get back into shore and get the next clue - they have to make their way to the Coral Kingdom Gate and follow the marked path to get the next clue.  They hop in a cab.

-Art & JJ get to the lifeguard task and think it'll be easy for them - Art used to do the search and rescue for the border patrol so he's experienced.

-Dave & Rachel's cabdriver is making a U-Turn, they've been driving a mile in the wrong direction (uh oh).
-Art & JJ complete the rescue and get the clue to head to Coral Kingdom gate.
-Brendon & Rachel get to the lifeguard task and she's driving... poor guy.

-Dave & Rachel think they're at the Coral Kingdom gate...
-Art & JJ get to the gate and see the marked path - they have to climb up a grassy hill.
-Dave & Rachel find a dock with a sign that says they have to ride their paddleboards across the fish pond to the marked dock (but they didn't use a marked path to get there...) they both start paddling.
-Art & JJ get up the hill and get the clue to the ROADBLOCK - Hawaiian Games (the person that didn't do the ice, has to do this one - uh oh) - they have to sled down the hill, then roll a puck shaped lava rock into a small goal to receive their final clue.
-Art oils up the super narrow sled and takes off down the hill - but he keeps falling off.

Finish Line
Dave & Rachel arrive at the finish line and Phil tells them they are the first team to arrive but they have not finished the Roadblock.  They have to go do the Roadblock before he can check them in.  Rachel kind of laughs nervously - Alright (OMG! I can't stand this... My team has a chance!)  They jump back on their paddle boards and head back trying to figure out what they missed.

-Art is still finding it difficult to balance on the sled (it is less than a foot wide... maybe if he sits on it instead of lying down...)

-Dave & Rachel get back to the dock and she's figured out they didn't follow the marked path - they have to run about 1/2 mile back to the gate.  Rachel tells Dave not to talk to her for a while.

-Brendon & Rachel finish the water rescue and take off for the Coral Kingdom gate.

-Dave & Rachel get to the marked path and she's bagged - then she has to do the Roadblock.
-Art & JJ see Dave & Rachel show up and they realize they are in the lead - maybe that will improve his balance (COME ON!)
-Rachel starts sledding and she falls off her first try - Ohhh, I could still have a chance.
-Art falls off again - and again - and Rachel makes her second run... JJ is not happy, "Gut wrenching to be handed a million dollars and just throw it away."

-Brendon & Rachel get to 1/2 mile away from the gate.

-Rachel is bowling the pucks and Dave keeps yelling at her about her technique - she tells him, very sweetly to "Shut the f*** up right now."  And she makes the goal.  They get the clue to the finish line, but they already know where they're going.

-Art falls off the sled, again. JJ is finding it hard to stomach.

-Big Brother gets to the sledding and Rachel has to do it for them - more crying and whining.   But she makes her second run.  Now she has to try and get a goal.

-Art FINALLY gets to the bottom of the hill on the darn sled... and he's bowling as well.

FINISH LINE (again)

RACHEL & DAVE won the AMAZING RACE!  They are also the record holders of the most legs won.  They say this Race has definitely brought them together, he says he has a new appreciation for who his life partner is (I should hope so!)

Art & JJ are 2nd - Art was a better bowler than sledder. Bittersweet - priceless experience but they still would have liked to win.

Brendon & Rachel - came in 3rd.  (I will be happy not to have to listen to her whine ever again.) Now that the Race is over, they don't give a crap about the drama anymore - they thank everyone for the experience.

With Rachel & Dave winning, that means: Jeff T, Cara L, Karen F, Miranne D and Charlotte W have also won the Amazing Pool! Congratulations everyone!

Have a great summer Race fans,

Coleen

Survivor One World - May 2nd Episode Recap

It's Gonna Be Chaos

So last week they finally got rid of Troyzan, we'll see if any of his machinations carry over tonight...

Tikiano - Night 30
-Kat tells them that Troy told her to "Do It" as he was leaving... why he picked her, she has no idea (of course she doesn't.)
-Kim is just relieved to have Troy gone, he seemed to be her one worry but now it's probably going to be smooth sailing for her.
-Tribal Council made Alicia finally realize that she wants to keep stupid Christina around and get rid of Sabrina who actually has a brain and is somewhat articulate. (Oh, she's finally thinking strategically instead of just mean-girl-ly... yeah, it's not a word, whatever.) And, she's delusional -Alicia thinks she's at the top controlling everything (Bah hahah.)

Tikiano - Day 31
Sabrina and Alicia go to get Tree mail - and it's a Sprint phone - Screaming (Ah, it's the crying show - videos from loved ones.)
Sabrina's brother - Oh, and they are there on the island.
Alicia's sister - crazy curly hair
Chelsea's dad - good ol' boy
Christina's dad - she says he had a kidney transplant last year and only has 5-10yrs to live (why did it not take?) She wants to use the time they have left to make him proud.
Kim's sister - Bor-ring
Kat's cousin Robby - (your cousin?) she says he's her best friend and the most important person in her life (okay.)
Tarzan's wife - she looks pretty good, he must be a talented plastic surgeon (meow, that was bad of me - hehehe.) 
And I realize, he's the only one with a significant other that came to the island, is it easier to play this game and be totally selfish when you're single, I wonder.

Sabrina was moved by Tarzan's wife, she says some people need to see their loved ones because they might not have that much more time on this earth (Christina & her Dad?) but she's talking about Tarzan - they're in a 30 year marriage, he's 64 and they have no kids... She hopes the other girls aren't self... "I'm playing for me and Tarzan today." (Did I miss something?  Did she just say they're old and should see each other cause they're going to die soon?  That's messed up.)

REWARD CHALLENGE
Jeff brings out the loved ones and there are hugs and tears.
-Christina goes on again about his limited time... then he comes running out like a spring chicken (yeah, he looks really infirm - sheesh)
-Kat is so weird, she starts crawling then jumps into his arms - they're like over excited puppies - she is really, really close to her cousin.
-Tarzan and his wife put on a show as well (by this point it just seems like they are just trying to out-emotion each other) She's says she's lost without him and he says they have a quantum entanglement (of course he does.)

The survivors will be attached to a rope that is woven through a series of obstacles - basically there is a rope wound around a long horizontal pole - and they have to go over and around the pole to get to the end.  First person through the course wins the reward - a picnic with their loved one (hmm, the same reward they've been getting for the past few weeks - I never thought a picnic in paradise would become boring.) And Jeff throws in another twist - The loved ones will be tethered to them, they will be running the course together.  (Tarzan should just sit out and hold on to his wife, that's probably all the time they'll get together... oh unless Sabrina wins and take them with her... why else would they have shown her say that?)

Off they go: Sabrina and her brother are totally out of it early on... (Haha, why did they show her say that?)  Kat, Kim, and Chelsea are the leaders throughout ... Kat & Robby win the reward!  She's yelling, "I won one guys, come on" - and doesn't seem to understand why they're not cheering for her. (I know it's petty, but I hope she doesn't choose Kim to go with her, turn about is fair play after all.)  But her first choice is Kim and she also chooses... Alicia - then her explanation is that she's wanted to hang out with these girls, alone, for some time - and GET DRUNK! (Ah, Kat is a party girl - she's got her eye squarely on the Margaritas!)  Sabrina does not look happy.
-The unpicked have to say good-bye to their loved ones and Chelsea and Sabrina say that Christina and Tarzan should have been the ones to go... sour grapes from the ladies left behind.
-Kim seems to agree - she thinks it was very selfish of Kat not to choose Tarzan & Christina (look at her, she wants to party with her friends, why would she want to spend the afternoon with an old couple and a chick and her Dad?  Oh yeah, she's playing a game for a million dollars!)  Kim is getting ready to do some damage control when they get back.

REWARD
Kat - "I won - yeah, I won something, and I deserved it!"  She confirms that she just wanted to hang with her friends - probably not the best decision but she's going to get drunk and deal with it later (Hello, my name is Kat... Hi Kat.)
-At the table while they are all eating Kat starts breaking it down loudly - these are the final three and she thinks Sabrina needs to go before Christina. But she doesn't want to jinx it so she's not going to speak of it (I'm thinking she meant at camp... cause she just spoke of it.)
-Kim and her sister go off and Kim tells her she feels these two are her best bet to win - Alicia is not well liked and won't get votes but she's delusional about it and Kat would be the person on 'how the million dollars ruined my life' in a year - her play to them is that they would both kick her ass... and they probably actually believe it - but she would be surprised.
-Kim doesn't want to vote out Sabrina but if Sabrina could beat her in the end, it would be stupid to take her to the final 3.

Tikiano - Day 31
-Meanwhile, back at camp Sabrina is going off about Kat's selfishness - she's a bratty 22-yr-old that doesn't deserve to go to the end.
-Chelsea asks Tarzan what if you, me, Sabrina, Christina and Kim wanted Kat out and he says that would be an error.  Kat is not a thinker.  People who are thinking in this game will want to keep her around (yeah, he basically just called them all stupid) Chelsea counters that Kat had a social game with the guys and may have built in votes with the jury.
-Chelsea has convinced herself that Kat is too dangerous to go to the end now, and it was Troy singling her out at Tribal that seemed to do it.  Chelsea is anxious to talk to Kim and try and get Kat voted out next. (Really?  I don't think anyone is going to vote to give a million dollars to the girl as dumb as a sack of hammers... but maybe it's just me.)

Tikiano - Day 33
Chelsea is talking to Kim about wanting to take out Kat but she coached it as not wanting to go to the end with Kat - they agree that Sabrina, Alicia and Kat must go but Sab's not stupid, the other two are stupid - Sab should go first.
-Kat is full steam ahead with getting rid of Sabrina - now they just have to hope she doesn't win immunity or it will be chaos... (oh, foreshadowing?)
-Kim has abandoned her strategy of not winning immunity to keep from being seen as a threat - she doesn't feel safe and is going to go for it, no holding back anymore.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE-Oh, there is a platform with ropes set up in the water... that looks like an endurance challenge.
-They will be standing on a ledge leaning out over the water holding onto a handle behind their back (like a water skiing tow-rope) that is attached to a winch.  As the winch is cranked it will lower them forward closer to the water - last person left up on the platform and not in the water will win immunity.
-They're in place and Jeff give out more rules, their feet must stay within a painted space, their feet must remain pointing forward and the rope must be held above their hips... Here we go!
-After 10 minutes, Sabrina steps off and is out of the challenge.  Tarzan follows her soon after.
-Jeff cranks them down some more - and after 20 minutes Alicia says she can't take it anymore and announces she's done - off she goes.  Chelsea announces she can't do it anymore either (what's with all the announcing?  This shouldn't be a decision, they should be trying to hang on.)  Christina says she's giving up too and that leaves it down to Kat and Kim.
-After 1 hour, the two K's are still hanging in there - Jeff cranks it again and looks for comments from the peanut gallery - Alicia says it's very impressive, she didn't think Kim had it in her.  Sabrina says very drolly - "Yeah, very impressive." (Somehow, I don't think she's impressed.)
-Kat starts whining -"I just want to win this one. Kim wins everything.  Come on, Kim." (What a frickin' baby!  Don't let her win Kim.)  And she doesn't.  Kat falls out and KIM wins Immunity!
-Kat cries and pouts about it, too - Kim doesn't owe you anything... Kat really needs to grow up. 
-Chelsea has not given up on her plan, she doesn't think Sabrina deserves to go tonight, she wants Kat out next.

Tikiano - Day 33
-Back at camp, Kat is still pissed off - she was beaten by someone as ancient as 28 years old - "Six years older than me, how embarrassing is that?" (Seriously?  She's not even worth the slap upside the head.)  She's just upset because she doesn't think she'll ever be able to beat Kim in challenges.
-Alicia confirms with Kat they are still voting Sabrina - Kat has no doubt her plan is still in place - "Isn't it weird how we're running the show?" (Yeah, that would be really weird if it were true.)
-Alicia is flip-flopping again (as is her way) - after Sabrina was the first person out of the challenge and Kat was in it to the end - she thinks there is no reason for Sabrina to go next now, Kat is the bigger physical threat and should now go. (Is Alicia's attention span that short?... all Sabrina has to do is say something articulate and she's on the block again.)
-Alicia goes to Kim and says we got to take Kat out next - Kim does not agree - Sabrina comes over and Alicia tells her Kat is the vote and Sabrina is on board - "You guys think she can't win, but she can." 
-Kim wants to keep Kat even though she might have some jury votes because Sabrina is smart and could sway the jury - Sabrina is a bigger threat to Kim's end game.
-By Kim's reckoning - Sabrina and Alicia are voting for Kat, Tarzan and Christina could be voting Sabrina so she sees herself and Chelsea as the swing votes... and you're on opposite sides.  Chelsea wants to stay loyal with Sabrina but Kim wants to take out the smart girl...
-Kim goes to Tarzan and asks if he's been briefed - he says he hears it's Kat but Kim says that's not necessarily so... "A-okay, boss lady." (Tarzan may be eccentric but he's no dummy.)
-Kim says either way it's going to be a blindside - there's no way to keep everyone happy from here on out it's going to get messy.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff asks Kat what it was like going from not being picked last week to being the picker this week.
-She said it was the hardest thing she's ever had to do and it hurts her feelings.
It hurts YOUR feelings?
-Yeah, cause I don't want to see them be mad.  Honestly, I was thinking who would I have a good time with, not strategically and I'm sorry if people didn't agree.
Sabrina says - most people up here would have chosen Christina and Tarzan because of their back story but Kat is 22 and just wanting to have fun - and I think it's something she will regret.
(That got an eye-roll from Kat) - She says she is 22 and naive and she's sorry they didn't like her picks.
Chelsea, do you buy that Kat is 22 and naive or is that just her strategy?
-I think that's her fall back when she screws up - "I'm 22, get off my back" - 22 is not that young.
Kat - Is this whole tribal council about me?  I had no idea this was going to happen. (Well, you're only 22, how could you know they were going to try and throw you under the bus... oh, that's right, you're on SURVIVOR!)
Tarzan, where do you weigh in on this?
-He agrees her age is an excuse - She doesn't think about my circumstance or my wife, things like that don't hit her yet - it didn't bother me at all. (Really? Don't you despair for today's youth like the rest of us?)
Alicia, what about the challenge - Sabrina's first out is it good news that she's not a threat or bad news, you don't deserve to go to the end.
- She was surprised Sabrina was out first - her vote would have been for Tarzan - maybe it's her game not to show herself as a physical threat.
What about the other end, Kat & Kim duke it out to the end.
-I expect that from Kim but Kat, I was very shocked, didn't know she had it in her.  Says she respects her [abilities] more but was surprised at how she reacted - she was kinda mad at Kim.
Kat - I wasn't mad at her, I was mad at myself, my body gave out.
Sabrina - Kim went to give you a hi-5 and you kinda snubbed her.
Kat - Dude, what is this? (Whiny baby wants you to stop picking on her... Welcome to Survivor, b*tch.)
Sabrina, what's the vibe around camp?
-It's getting a little testy, but at the end of the day I appreciate honesty, that's how people get respect.
Kim, is being too honest, if you make it to the end, a threat?
-Yeah, it's bad news.  Honest people who shoot straight are well loved and win the game, it makes me nervous. (This was clunky, and it confused everyone - is Kim admitting she's not honest or telling them all she's gunning for the good guys? It was a little strange.)
Sabrina, are you worried that you are too well spoken and may be too honest and seen as a threat.
-It depends on what people value.  Straight up, I will go with my emotion - someone that pissed me off is not getting my vote and they could be the best player in this game.
Kat, Sabrina, very black and white (I said pardon) if you blindside me and put me on the jury, you may not like how I vote depending on my mood that day.
-Well if it is a blindside it's going to be pretty funny and exciting.
Why is a blindside fun and exciting?
-I don't know, they always are, like, gasp. If it goes down, cool beans, if it doesn't, touche - whatever.

Time to Vote:
Kat votes for Sabrina - I love you so much - but it's time for you to go.
Sabrina votes Kat - you are too untamed to take to the top, I'm sure you'll learn this life lesson later on.

Tallying the votes:
Sabrina - 1
Kat - 1
Kat - 2, 3... no one will look at her... 4 - KAT is the next person voted out and she's shocked! (Still cool beans?)  She goes off sniveling into the night.  And with Kat leaving; Katie L, Tori K and Karen S are also out of the pool - Touche, whatever.

Next week:
Tarzan is the last man standing and he is either losing it or playing the game really hard - he is telling them they'll have a better chance if he's one of the final 3 (they would be so stupid to take him to the end with the jury made up mostly of men.)

Kat - snivel snivel - I don't think it was my time to go - I left before Christina and Tarzan - I'm going to go down as the most naive person in Survivor history.  I'm going to beg Jeff to let me play again so I can redeem myself. (Oh god, no!)

Have a great rest of your week everyone,

Coleen