Survivor Worlds Apart - April 15/15 Episode Recap

Livin' on the Edge

Last week, Joe kept up his winning streak which kept him in the game and they teased us with the girls possibly teaming up to take out Dan but all for naught, Hali was the one to go home.

Merica - Night 22
They return from Tribal Council with Dan & Shirin still fighting, he's being his condescending self "I can't believe a super fan like you doesn't know the difference between flipping and a blindside" - Shirin,"you're so right, you know so much better than me."  Absolutely no love lost between these two.  Shirin says she's voting for Mike to win at the end and Dan says, "Yes, because you'll be on the jury." (Just shut up you donkey, didn't you learn when you piled on Sierra how that can come back to bite you?)
Shirin tells the camera she's just hoping that Blue starts to fracture sooner rather than later, if there is one willing to turn they have to capitalize on that....  cut to Rodney saying he doesn't agree with Dan that flippers never win, flippers win at the right time with the right blindside.  Rodney don't need no more friends, he needs zeros in his bank account... he's going to take out Mike, Dan & Sierra and they won't even know it's coming.
-Jen is talking like she's over this game, she says she's kinda stoked to be voted out.  Shirin totally understands where she's coming from but for selfish reasons she wants her to stay in the game because Shirin wants to stay in and she wants to go far.  Shirin says she's got to prove herself to try and gain a new alliance.

Merica - Day 23
-Shirin goes to Mike & Sierra - she tells them her numbers are done, her back's against a wall and she needs a new option, "I want to work with you guys."
-Mike says he'd be willing to entertain that thought but he'd have to be able to trust her.  He tells the camera no one would expect him to pull Shirin in so it could be to his benefit.
He asks her who her first target would be and she says Carolyn, she's got Will and Rodney in her pocket and Tyler is totally with her - Mike says he can see that and realizes Shirin is smart enough to see that there is a division within their group.  So, he's going to give her a name before next tribal and she's to write it down to prove she's with him.
-Shirin is willing to vote as they want her to vote for now, she's not in the drivers seat but she could be backseat driving.

REWARD CHALLENGE
They are out on the water for this one and will be divided into two teams of five.  On Jeff's go, one person per team will dive in the water and make their way through a series of obstacles - there's a balance beam, a net run, climbing up a big slide down... once the person gets to the end platform the next person will go.  Once all their team members reach the platform, one team mate will use a grappling hook to retrieve rings out in the water - first team to get all five rings wins reward: The Chocolate Cafe - Snickers, M & M's, Twix, Dove chocolate... I think some of them were actually crying. 
Then Jeff gives them each ONE M&M to whet their appetites.

Teams are: Blue: Mike, Shirin, Dan, Sierra and Tyler
vs: Red: Rodney, Carolyn, Will, Jenn & Joe

Off they go... Mike & Rodney start it off and they rip through it - Rodney takes a fall at the very end of the balance beam but made it - Next were Dan & Will - Dan slips and falls hard on the slide, Will kind of oozed over the top and slid down like a lifeless dummy... Dan makes it the rest of the way and Will takes his time before starting across the balance beam then slips and wipes out at the end... but makes it - out go Tyler and Carolyn he's got quite a lead but they both fall off the balance beam and have to start over, he makes it, she doesn't.  Blue has the lead but Shirin loses it for them on the balance beam (she has no balance that girl) and Jenn passes her easily.  Joe makes it at the same time as Shirin and Sierra is the last person for Blue. 
They both start grappling hooking the rings and it's back and forth... but it's BLUE winning the chocolate and they celebrate like fools.

Jenn has a little "whoa is me" moment and Joe basically tells her this is what we signed up for, suck it up buttercup. (Funny, because she was like that with deaf chick in the beginning, losing Hali seems to have taken all the wind out of Jenn's sails.)

REWARD
-They walk up to the chocolate bar and they are all just stuffing their faces with chocolate.  Mike has a nostalgic moment with his first snickers bar... and on a sugar high, Sierra says she loves them all.  Shirin tells the camera she is the luckiest person out there being on the reward and hopefully finding new life with Mike & Sierra.

Merica - Day 23
-Losers get back to camp and the boys have decided they're going to eat one of the chickens.  Well Joe and Rodney are talking about it and Jenn is sulking because she's made pets of the chickens and nobody asked her if they could kill a chicken.  She says this would suck less if the people sucked less.  None of this is fun, I've got nothing out here except for despair (wow, melodramatic a little?)
-They're all gathered around the fire and high on chicken it seems when Rodney breaks out his Mike impression and has them all laughing (he nailed it!  See, Jenn, you can still have some fun.) Joe sees this as an opportunity, part of Rodney does not like Mike and Joe's looking at how he can use that to his advantage.

Merica - Day 24
-They get tree mail that tells them they have to keep on their toes to win.  Joe's ready to go 4-0 but Jenn is ready to go home and she wants to take matters into her own hands to make sure that happens - she tells Joe if this challenge gets down to just the two of them, he should let her win so she can give him the necklace - It'll be hilarious! (It'll be hilarious if you don't give it to him.) He tells her he wishes she would change her mind, he doesn't want her to go... but he's totally willing to double his chances at the challenge if she's going to offer him immunity, he'll take it.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They have to balance on their toes with a block wedged between
their head and the top beam.  The longer the challenge goes, the more fatigued their legs become and if the block drops, you're out.  Last man standing, wins immunity.
-Off they go - they cannot touch the sides of the structure, it's just toes and head... and Joe is the first to wobble... but it's Carolyn who is the first to drop his block, followed quickly by Will and then Shirin.   Joe nearly lost the block again but he saved it... Rodney drops, Dan drops and makes a big show, not at all mindful of Jenn who is right beside him (Dan's an idiot)... Joe's in an awkward position but he's holding it... Sierra falls out... and Joe is out - Jeff has to rub it in, "Joe will be vulnerable for the first time at tribal tonight."  So we're down to White Collar Tyler, Blue Collar Mike and No Collar Jenn - Mike is the next to lose it and we're down to Tyler and Jenn who are both pretty solid.
-30 minutes in - they're both still there but getting a little wobbly - Tyler has a fly buzzing around his face but it's Jenn who loses the block and TYLER wins individual immunity.
-Jenn fought so hard to win her ticket out - but she's still got a plan to get herself sent home and screw up everybody else's game.

Merica - Day 24
-Joe knows he's livin' on the edge again - he knows he's on the chopping block but he's going to fight until the bitter end.
-Shirin is constantly running the numbers and she knows there are 7 on the one side and the three (Joe, Jenn & Shirin) on the outs - with a possible hidden idol in play the seven will split their votes probably four for Joe and three for Jenn, if Joe and Shirin vote for Jenn that will send Jenn home instead of Joe and screw everyone's game - Jenn looks all dreamy, "Could ya?" She knows it's wrong to want people to vote for you but she just doesn't care - she wants to go and if she can help Joe stay and screw with the others, that would be her perfect scenerio.
-Then we see the seven making exactly that plan - four for Joe and three for Jenn - Mike wants to make sure that 'the goat' (who would be Jenn in this instance) doesn't go home tonight, he's going to tell Shirin to vote for Joe.
-So Mike does tell Shirin to vote for Joe and she knows she's being tested -  she has to choose between voting for a friend who
wants to go or helping get rid of Joe, who is the bigger threat.  Shirin is just reveling in the fact that she could really rock the vote tonight.
-Joe's back up plan is to go make himself a fake idol.  He's socked away all the materials he needs and as a pretense to leave camp without everyone checking up on him he pulls Dan off with him to make his fake plea - Dan says there is nothing he can do and he walks away but as soon as he's out of sight Joe takes off running to his stash and, being a jewelry maker, he's fashioned a piece of wood, some beads and some twine into a passable necklace.
-Mike meets up with Dan and asks where Joe is - when they realize he's gone, the search is on... Mike not wanting anyone to know he found the hidden immunity idol has to pretend it's still out there and they don't want Joe to find it.
-Mike is the one to find Joe and Joe tries to make a deal with Mike saying he will give him the hidden immunity idol and vote for Jenn tonight if he will guarantee that the numbers will be in Joe's favour.  Mike says he'll have to have the hidden immunity idol before tribal but Joe says if Mike does switch his vote, he'll give him the idol tomorrow... (I'm pretty sure this is not going to fly.)  Mike has the idol to the clue that Joe got, but he's still not sure if there might have been another one that Joe might magically possess... If Joe gave him a hidden immunity idol, he would switch his vote... maybe.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
They sit down and Joe hands Mike his fake idol on the DL and whispers, "Here you go buddy." (Really? He's going that far with the fake? Look at the cojones on Joe.)
Then Hali comes in as the first member of the jury which makes Jenn light up (hmm.)
Jeff start with Jenn saying he's not sure if she's enjoying her time out there - can you want to be here and still not want to be here?
-Yes, definitely - there are so many things in this game - certain parts I don't enjoy but certain parts I really do.  She mentions that she didn't think much of Rodney but now she thinks he's the funniest guy out there.  She tells Jeff she tried really hard to win immunity because that would be a cool thing to win and if she had
won she would have given it to Joe, just to see the look on everyone else's faces. Because they'd all be so pissed.
Jeff asks her then, why not do the ultimate No Collar thing and just walk out?
-That would be quitting and I don't quit.
-Joe says he was rooting for her the whole time because he wants to play - he waited his whole life to be there and Jenn's already quit mentally, physically, and to think she'd stay and just get pulled along because someone wants to sit beside her at the end because she didn't even play the game and he loves the game too much to just not fight for it.  And yeah, he'd have to win the next nine immunity challenges to make it to that goal but at least he'd make it fun.
-Shirin says she totally understands why Jenn wants to go and she's been closer with Jenn than with Joe who is the bigger threat to her but then the fact that Jenn says she doesn't want to be there now makes the rest of them want to keep Jenn over Shirin (so I think she just said Jenn is actually a bigger threat to her now.)
Jeff's about to tell them it's time to vote when Mike pipes up with a question.  Jeff, can you verify something for me?  And he pulls out Joe's makeshift immunity idol and asks if this is a hidden immunity idol?
Jeff says he cannot verify that until he decides to play it.
-Mike says well it's the determining factor tonight if someone stays here or if they go home.

And with that it's time to vote.
Tyler votes for Jenn and whispers to the camera, "I have no idea what's going on." (That made me laugh.)
Rodney votes for Joe and says he has no idea what's going to happen tonight.
Joe votes for Jenn and says hopefully his idol play bought him one more vote and it's her and not him.

Tallying the votes:
Jeff asks if anyone has a hidden immunity idol and wants to play it, now is the time to do so.
Mike jumps right up and hands over the faux idol, saying he's playing it for Will.
-Jeff tells them, "This is...NOT a hidden immunity idol.  Any votes cast for Will will still count."

Votes:
Jenn - 1
Joe - 1
Jenn- 2
Joe - 2
Dan - 1 (That must have been Jenn)
Jenn- 3
Joe - 3
Jenn - 4
Joe - 4
Last vote is for...JOE.  Jenn says, "damn it!"
Shirin looks over and gives a smiling nod to Mike, then says to Jenn, "I still have you." (Jenn looks none too happy about that.)
Joe is classy to the end and says he loves them all and they seem to genuinely all respect him - but he still had to go.
And with Joe leaving, that takes: Ian G., Manny W. and Sue S. out of the pool.

Next week - Will blows up on Shirin, "All you do is run your mouth. Nobody even likes you." And he says to the camera, "Oh, it's on."
But it's Mike who may blow up the game when he accuses Rodney of flipping and Rodney goes off calling him a whack job and telling him he better relax (Frankie says so... and if you get that reference, you old.)

Joe's final thoughts: He tried to stay in the game as long as humanly possible.  It's hard to leave when he feels he still had so much game in him to play.  It's kind of an indirect compliment that they all wanted him out - it's bittersweet but he'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Have a great rest of your week,

Coleen

The Amazing Race - April 10/15 Episode Recap

Smells Like a Million Bucks

Last week the teams headed to Munich, Germany where Bergen & Kurt couldn't get it in gear (how could neither one of them drive a standard) and went home.

-Aly & Steve came in first and each won a 2015 Ford Focus.  They are also the first team heading out at 9:00am - they get the clue that they are heading to Monaco.  First they'll fly over the Alps and land in Nice, France where they'll be outfitted appropriately (in formal wear) for their helicopter arrival in Monaco.  They head for the airport.
-Matt & Ashley next out at 9:57am - they're going to be shooting for the win every leg so they can win themselves a honeymoon.

-At the airport Aly & Steve get a flight arriving at 5:05pm, Matt & Ashley's flight doesn't get them in until 6:15pm.

-Jackie & Jeff head out 10:38am - they may fight but they get it out and over with, Jackie says they really do like each other and are having a great time.
-Jelani & Jenny - 10:41am, Blair & Hayley - 10:47am, Tyler & Laura - 10:58am - they're all excited to be dressing up fancy and heading to Monaco.  These teams all get the same flight getting them in at 5:55pm (hmm, where did Matt & Ashley get their flight?)

-Mike & Rochelle are the last to leave at 1:03pm - she says they do well as underdogs, they're going to keep fighting and hopefully stay in it.  At the airport, they get a flight that gets them in at 8:45pm -  oof. 

-Steve & Aly are boarding their first flight out and Mike & Rochelle happen to see them and think, hey, let's see if somebody doesn't make this flight and they can squeeze us in... and it works - they are now on the first flight out with the Olympians! (Way to go TruckStopLove!)

-2nd flight heads out with four teams on it and they're all thinking that Mike & Rochelle are about 1.5hrs behind them... uh oh, I hope they don't race like they have a cushion, that could be a team's demise right there.

Laura & Tyler do know that Matt & Ashley booked the wrong flight and are getting in after them at 6:15pm.  (So, if they are not allowed to buy and return tickets to improve their flight, how were Mike & Rochelle allowed to standby...? I'm sure it's some loophole.)
-Last flight heads out with Matt & Ashley on board.

Nice, France
-Aly & Steve are the first off the plane but they all end up at the Westminster Hotel getting suited and gowned up for their arrival in Nice.  They try on the dresses and the guys get their suits measured then are given a ticket when they can pick up the clothes tomorrow (oh, so they'll all be together anyway.)
-2nd flight arrives at the hotel as first two teams are finished their fittings and everyone is shocked to see Mike & Rochelle.
-3rd flight lands and they are showing everyone getting dressed - all the girls are in black dresses so far except Jackie who they put in RED. 
-I think Blair looks like Ryan Gosling in his suit but Hayley laughs and says he looks like Pee Wee Herman (wow, these two really don't like each other.)  Her dress is nice but then she opens her mouth and she's not pretty anymore. 
-Laura & Tyler look fantastic together, she's in a black column dress with gold sequin sections up both sides and he's very dapper in his suit.
-Last team getting dressed and Ashley's also got a colour to her gown, it's aubergine (dark purple) but she says she hates the dress, "This is an 8th grade dinner date dress." (Wow, who were you going out for dinner with in 8th grade?... that dress would not be appropriate, let me just say.

8:15am, next day - they're all decked out in their evening attire and getting on their helicopters to Monaco.
-Steve & Aly are first out and first to the ROADBLOCK - Who wants to treat their partner? 
-Roses & Chocolates - travelling by foot one team member will have to pick up Grace Kelly's favourite chocolates and a dozen roses named for her, then they'll have to find their partner on a luxury yacht in Monaco's harbour.
-Steve, Mike, Jenny, Laura, Hayley... are all doing this Roadblock and I think it was a bit more physical than expected.  Steve was the first out and he asks directions... and they point straight up and on the other side of the palace - yup, there is going to be lots of running up hills and own dale in this one... in suits and gowns.  Steve is used to running but poor Mike is dying, "Uh, it's pretty warm in this suit."
-Jenny & Laura decide to work together... since Jenny has a map she knows where they need to go... and they are running in their dresses, luckily they are in flats because doing this in heels would be torture.

-On the Yacht, Rochelle's on the look out for sweaty Mike, Aly can't wait to eat the chocolates, Jelani & Tyler are just sitting back and laughing that their girls are doing this one as they have some drinks.

-Back out on the street, Hayley is complaining to the camera that she's getting a blister... and there is no running - she tells us later in an interview with Blair that he's been carrying their team so she did this one to prove she could contribute too (yeah, right.)

-Steve's got the flowers and chocolates, now he's just got to find the yacht... which he did with no problem - they read the clue to head to the Casino de Monte Carlo.

-The rest of the teams arrive in Nice and Jackie and Matt are going to be doing the Roadblock as well.

-Mike's got the flowers and chocolates but he's not sure which area the yacht is in so he heads up to the look out to see if he can find the marked yacht (read the clue, it tells you where the boat's moored.)
-Laura & Jenny have the flowers and are picking the chocolates and Jenny tells us since she was doing all the work to gather the chocolates she picked all her favourites.
-Jackie did the same, picked her favourite chocolates.

-Mike finally makes a decision to head down to the boats and finds out he's at the wrong quay (see, if you read the clue, it tells you which marina - just shaking my head.)  He is the next one to find the yacht though and Rochelle thanks him for the gifts but he gets no hug - cause, so sweaty!

-Steve & Aly get to the Casino and it is beautiful inside... they head to the roulette table which will determine their DETOUR - if the pea lands on red they will have to do Don't Slack Off, if it lands on black, Win By A Nose.  Both tasks will require the teams to pick up a Ford Fiesta from the valet.
-Steve & Aly get black and Win By a Nose (we still don't know what that means.) They go pick up their car and have to drive to a church.

-Jenny & Laura finally show up at the yacht and Tyler & Jelani are bowing to them "We're not worthy" - Jenny plays it up, smacking him with the roses, "Here are your damn roses and chocolates." 

-Jackie's picking up the flowers and Matt's picking up the chocolates...

-Hayley gets to the yacht and you can tell she's trying to be nice - these two get along better apart for sure.

-Mike & Rochelle get to the casino which was another up-hill run (poor sweaty Mike) and they also get black and the Win By a Nose Detour.  They head out and pick up a car.

-Jenny & Jelani get red and Don't Slack Off. (Oh good, we can see what that one is too.)
-Tyler & Laura are also doing black - Win By a Nose... and as these two are heading out to pick up the car, Laura reveals that she has Jenny's map (oh no, asking for Race karma to get you there.)

-Mike & Rochelle's car is finally brought around but they don't know where they're going so they run over to a business to ask directions and we see that Mike's suit back is completely sweat soaked (yeah, I wouldn't want to hug that either.)  Back in the car Rochelle is enjoying the best chocolates she's ever had.

-Meanwhile, Jenny has realized she doesn't have the map and is blaming Jelani for losing it... this is while they are at the valet and Laura is behind them... just as it looks like she's about to offer the map back to Jenny, Tyler pulls her away.  And Jenny escalates her annoyance with Jelani to extend to them again trying to drive a standard - she takes over and he seems fine with that.
-Laura & Tyler get in their car and decide they should choose new boushy names to go with the boushiness of Monaco - so they go with their middle names: Magdelena and Haze do Monaco (and it totally works) - but please stop saying boushy.)

-Jackie finally makes it to the yacht with the roses and chocolates.  Matt is the last to the yacht... Ashley is so proud of him and she got roses and chocolate out of the deal (that makes it sound like they are going home.)

-Steve & Aly can't find the church and when they ask directions, they also can't understand what the woman was saying...

-Blair & Hayley also land on black - Another Win By A Nose.
-Jeff & Jackie get red to go with her dress and Don't Slack Off.

-Steve & Aly get stuck on a narrow road behind a police incident (of some kind, cop car blocking the way) so Steve runs back to the car behind them who tells them the church just up ahead is where they want to be - so he parks and they take off on foot (but Aly's not so sure.)  And for good reason - it's the wrong church, they head back to the car, "Why is this so hard?"
                                                           
-Matt & Ashley are the last at the Casino and they get Don't Slack Off.

-Aly & Steve decide to read the clue again and realize they should have headed to Eze (another town) which the woman had tried to tell them but Aly didn't understand... now they've wasted a lot of time and still have to drive to the other town.

-Mike & Rochelle are the first team to the courtyard of Notre Dame (which was another run up a big hill) - Mike's getting his work out today... and Phil tells us the task: In Win By A Nose - they must mix a bottle of signature cologne and perfume under the guidance of Fragonard perfumiere.  Using a recipe provided, they must try to mix the 12 essences exactly to match the scents - to get the next clue.
-They start and Mike's focused like he never was in chemistry class... Rochelle messes up her second measurement and admits that she never took chemistry (but you can do this, it's just measuring!)

-Jeff & Jackie stop to ask for directions and Matt & Ashley pass them on the road - oops.
-But it's Jenny & Jelani who are the first team to reach Don't Slack Off - and Phil tells us this requires the teams to be daredevils - zip-lining 2000ft above the city and then walking the slack-line back to get their next clue.
-Jenny says as long as they don't have to drive anymore, she's all in.
-Matt & Ashley get there and start suiting up just as Jenny starts her screaming zip-line across.

-Magdalena & Haze (aka Tyler & Laura) are the next to get to Win By A Nose.  Mike & Rochelle have been bickering, he's looking over her shoulder, she's telling him to just worry about his own... so this added pressure may not be good for them.
-Tyler & Laura decide instead of working on one each, she'll find all the essences and he will measure so they get them done together.

-Jelani has zip-lined over and Jenny is starting the walk back - it's a beautiful view but it's also very windy and not easy to walk a tightrope, even when you're tied off.

-Steve & Aly have finally arrived in Eze and if she could keep her shoes on they may actually make it to the perfumerie.
-Blair & Hayley have made it there before them and they are comfortable with this as they both minored in chemistry (whatever) she's going to tell him what they need and he's going to do the measuring (she's trying so hard not to be a harpy, it's awkward and uncomfortable to watch.)

-Mike & Rochelle are down to the mystery fragrances - some of the essences are just numbered and they have to smell them to find, vanilla, for example. (Oh, that makes this much more challenging.) Rochelle says it starts to give you a headache after a while and it's hard to differentiate the smells.
-Laura & Tyler have gotten down to the mystery essences too and they were tricky by putting those fragrances near the end of the recipe...
-Steve & Aly finally get to the By A Nose challenge and he's saying he's got an excellent sense of smell - we shall see.

-Don't Slack off - Jenny's so fake, I can't stand it.  She's giving us a commentary with no emotion, "This will go down as one of the craziest things I've ever done!" (ugh, I'm not buying her manufactured for the camera excitement.)
-Jackie on the other hand, I believe when she says she loves heights... Jeff is not so keen.
-Matt & Ashley do the zip-lining and there are a lot of "Oh yeah Baby!"'s coming from Matt.
-Once Jelani makes the slack line walk back they get the clue to the Pit Stop - Plage De Passable.

-By A Nose - there is still tension between Mike & Rochelle but Blair says it's so amazing if you dress up a woman she's in a good mood all day and even agreeing with him Hayley tries to talk over him (even when she's nice she's annoying.)  Steve is trying to figure out the mystery scents - he smells Cilantro (huh?) - Tyler smells coconut and Laura thinks it's caramel... yeah, after a while they're all going to smell the same.

-Ashley is walking the rope back with her eyes closed because every time she realized how high up she was, she almost threw up in her mouth... and it's so windy (that would be pretty scary.)
-Jeff is getting ready to do the zip-line and he's afraid but the quick across is the easy part.
-Ashley finally makes it back to land and hugs the first rock she sees - solid ground under her feet feels so good.

-Meanwhile, Mike & Rochelle are finally getting their perfume and cologne tested by the expert - Rochelle gets a pass on the perfume but his is not vanilla... darn it!
-Laura & Tyler are next up and he says it smells like a million bucks... but no, their sweet grass concoction is not correct.

-Matt & Jeff are both doing the slack-line walk across and Matt is not talking for once so he must be scared.  Jeff is shaking like a leaf and he full on admits it was scaring the bleep out of him.
-Matt makes it across and Jeff is not too far behind, he may have peed his pants, just a little. (HA!)  Jackie gets on the slack-line and just shuffled at mach speed across - she killed it cause she had no fear, it's amazing what the mind can do.

-All the perfumers are still at it, mixing their scents again and Laura asks Hayley which one is caramel and she tells her... what? 
-Steve & Aly are the first team to get the clue - on their first try, so if they had gotten there first, they could have... anyway, these things happen on the race.
-Laura & Tyler are the next team to complete their scents and get the clue to the pit stop.
-Hayley & Blair get a pass on their perfumes on the first try and head out.
-Which leaves Mike & Rochelle, first in, last out - but they finally get a pass and everyone is heading for the Pit Stop.

-Blair & Hayley are in a shop asking for directions. 
-Mike & Rochelle ask a lady on the street for directions. 
-Jenny tells Jelani to read their map and he sends them on their way towards Nice... hopefully (for his sake) that's the right way. 
-Matt & Ashley flag over a lady in the middle of seemingly nowhere to give them directions. 
-Steve & Aly are asking for directions. 
-Blair & Hayley are proud of how they did today, especially since they didn't really fight all day (and I'm ashamed to say it was boring.)
-And then we find out that Jelani did tell Jenny to turn the wrong way so he's in the dog house and they have to head back the way they came.
-Jeff & Jackie get to the Nice airport... hmm, don't think that's right.
-Jenny's still berating Jelani and he's just laughing at her - what else can he say, he thought he was giving her the right directions, she says they'll talk about this later and he laughs, "I'm sure we will."
-It boils down to every team hoping that the other teams got as lost as they did...

Here's How They Finished:
1) Blair & Hayley - they won a trip to South Africa - they figured if they had one leg without an argument they could win first place and they did it, so now she has no doubt they can win the whole thing. (We'll see if they can sustain the no arguing.)
2) Steve & Aly - They smelled so good.
3) Mike & Rochelle  - and he gets a kiss. 
4) Matt & Ashley - yes, we'll take it!
5) Jenny & Jelani - in the car he was saying he's not having fun, he's so over this, as she's blaming everything on him.
6) Tyler & Laura - so relieved to still be in it and they got date night again but they are not kissing and telling Phil anything.
7) Jeff & Jackie - ***ELIMINATED*** She was crying that she didn't want to go home but he said it was an experience like none other - they are actually one of the teams that like each other.  He got the most bad-ass girl out there and she says she couldn't have had a better partner to share this with, he's going to be in her life forever. "I'm going to give him my number." (Hahaha, so he wins after all?)
And with Jeff & Jackie leaving us this week, that takes Denise R., Katie L., Cindi C., Jasmina J. and Bernice R. out of the pool.

Next week: it's a 2 hour episode and they head to Namibia - they're going to have to deal with some wild animals and car troubles.

Have a wonderful week everyone,

Coleen
 

Survivor Worlds Apart - April 8/15 Episode Recap

Keep It Real

Last week the tribes merged, they named themselves Merica, Joe won the first individual immunity, Blue Collar thought they were running the show but Jenn made an epic play of a hidden immunity idol which took Kelly out of the game.

Merica - returning from Tribal Council
Will proclaims, "Welcome to Survivor ladies & gentlemen. It  just got real."
-Rodney is really mad about Kelly going out like that and he blames Mike.  The vote was supposed to be Hali, but Mike changed it to Jenn to test Will. (None of them even considered a hidden immunity idol - they're just girls after all.)  Rodney thinks Mike's a stupid red-neck, plain and simple.
-Rodney pulls Will aside and does his mile a minute strategy talk saying they're going to let Mike think he's running the show but once Joe, Hali & Jenn are gone they'll take him out. (Whatever, Rodney's all talk, he just steamrolls over people, doesn't take the time to finesse the desired results.)
-Mike congratulates Jenn on a great job, it wasn't his desired result but he respects her play.  She says she's sorry to still be there to disappoint him... but she's really not. 
-Jenn is still there to have some fun.  If she can mess with the other alliance, that will provide her with entertainment.  No Collar is still there to play and win!

Merica - Day 20
The girls are making food and Rodney has to have his nose in everything, he tells them to add more rice, he's trying to take the skin off the salami and they girls want it on... he tells the camera ever since the merge Joe's crew has been in charge of the food and he's tired of it - he feels like his alliance is running the game and he has no respect for anyone that hasn't earned it (Oh, please let Survivor karma get him this episode, please!)

REWARD CHALLENGE
They have to make their way across a series of balance beams collecting bags of puzzle pieces as they go - the first three to collect all three bags and make it across will move on to the final round where they must use the puzzle pieces to make an anchor puzzle - the first to finish their puzzle wins Reward of - zip-lining from the jungle canopy to the bottom where they'll have a pizza picnic.

Off they go: Dan & Shirin fall off almost immediately - but they all start getting their bags across... except Shirin who apparently has no balance.
-Joe, Mike and Hali make it into the final round.
-Mike gets out to a fast start, but Hali starts to pick up the momentum and Joe starts getting his together too... Mike starts to talk himself down "settle down, settle down"... Joe & Hali get stuck with a few pieces left...  JOE Wins Reward! and gets some polite golf claps but no one is that excited he won.
-Joe gets to pick 3 people to join him on the Reward and he chooses Tyler, Will, Mama C (which they are calling Carolyn) and, of course, Jeff tells him he can choose one more.
Rodney starts running his mouth that he's been the hungriest out there and Joe says he also eats the most... which puts Rodney on the defensive (he can do whatever he wants after all) denying he eats more, then he takes himself out saying he doesn't care if Joe picks him, he's keeping it real (just. stop. talking.)
-Jeff tells Joe to pick and Shirin pipes up, "Super fan", and Joe reluctantly calls Shirin over - she's super annoying but it is a once in a lifetime experience and she will appreciate it (besides, Joe wants to work on Will and the White Collars - can't have a pesky Blue Collar around.)
-Rodney is still grumbling about keeping it real and Jenn mumbles, "I hate you." (I love Jenn.)
-Mike is devastated that Joe won another challenge - the kid's amazing, he's not sure how he can beat him.

REWARD
Zip-lining through the jungle - it looked like a lot of fun.  Both Shirin and Carolyn would have had more fun if the other wasn't there - but, Pizza!
-Carolyn saw Joe's pick of no blue collar as a smart move.
-Joe noticed a clue in Carolyn's bottle of soda and said he wished he had more soda... she offered hers up right away and Joe tried to chug it down and take the clue in his mouth but it was too big and Tyler totally saw it - he didn't out him though - they both made a couple veiled comments which basically meant - I saw that and you better share.  Tyler is curious about what new options may open up if Joe finds a hidden idol... and they are the only ones who know about it.

Merica - Day 21
It's barely dawn and Joe & Tyler are wide awake with Mike playing possum beside them.  Joe gestures for him and Tyler to grab the dishes and they're going to go have a read of the clue.  Mike follows because he knows there must have been a clue to the hidden immunity idol on the Reward and he wants it now that Jenn showed him the value of having one.
-Mike climbs a tree to watch as the other two read the clue and Mike doesn't understand why Joe would be showing Tyler the clue unless he wants to woo him over (oh, d'think?) Mike then goes and joins them which freaks Tyler out - did Mike see them reading the clue? Tyler doesn't want to alienate the group he's currently with so he tells Mike that Joe has the clue and then tells him basically what the clue said... thus began the mad dash of insanity as everyone on the Blue/White alliance sets out looking for Joe.
-Mike is fixated on getting Joe out and convinced that he needs the hidden idol to keep himself there.  Mike finds Joe but didn't see him find anything... but he pretends he did and tells everyone that Joe found the idol.  Joe is saying he has no idea what he's talking about but then he starts playing along, figuring maybe everything thinking he has the idol may be just as good as actually having the idol and maybe they'll leave him alone to look for it more.
-But Mike is the one doing the looking.

-Dan & Shirin are talking down by the water and he talks to her like he talks to all the women, he's such a condescending, self-important a-hole.  He says he's surprised at her, a super-fan, siding with the short side - "another super-fan that can't do basic math." (Please sweet Godupus, get rid of Dan as well.) HA! and at the same time I was writing that, Dan is asking, "for the love of God will someone just slap this woman and shut her up" - he can't even be bothered to learn Shirin's name because she annoys him so much. 
-Shirin felt sorry for Dan as he kept running his mouth trying to cut her down... he goes on and on pointing out how poorly she's playing and then tops it off by saying, "I'm just trying to be nice, I truly am." (Are you kidding me!?!  What a complete gluteous maximus! I will not be sorry to see the last of Dan either.)

Merica - Day 21
-Mike is again up a tree looking for the idol - no luck - no luck, but he does find some termites to snack on (ew, you don't have to keep eating everything you find, we get it.)  Mike is getting choked up talking to the camera about how he has to find the idol... he says people that find idols in this game are the people that work the hardest... and voila, Mike finds himself the idol!  And cries... then does a happy dance.  And he says he's not going to share it and he's set his sites on Joe - Joe has got to go.

Day 22 - IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They will race to move a puzzle piece through three slide mazes - once they get that same piece through the mazes they will then have to use the piece to complete a slide puzzle (I suck at those so much - hopefully Joe's good at them.)  First to finish wins immunity.
-Then Shirin has a little back and forth with Jeff acting like a weirdo super fan...saying this should be right up her alley if she can control her excitement.

-Off they go and Joe makes it to the puzzle first, closely followed by the rest of them.  Dan thinks he won it... Jeff comes to look at his puzzle - and he's wrong.  They all go again and Dan thinks he has it again... and he's wrong again... leaving it open for JOE to Win Individual Immunity for the second time!  Way to go JOE! 
Polite golf claps again... but Joe is definitely the one to beat which Rodney is still blaming on Mike because if Rodney had his way Joaquin would be there instead of Joe and they'd all be sitting back eating rice & beans.

Merica - Day 22
-Shirin was hoping she could achieve a life goal by winning a challenge but Joe won, Joe wins everything.  However, now everybody thinks she's so weak and non-threatening in every way that she's hoping it buys her a few more days. "I'm not that concerned." (Oh crap, that's the kiss of death - I may be out tonight with what's her name.)

-Mike, Dan, Sierra, Carolyn & Tyler are talking about voting out Shirin tonight - Tyler is saying he's pretty sure she doesn't have the immunity idol from the White Collar camp because she was looking
for it to the last day (oh, and Carolyn has it).  Dan says he doesn't think Shirin's game is good enough for her to keep her mouth shut if she did have it, but she could be an idiot savant, though he's leaning more towards idiot (this guy needs to stop running his mouth and think - they know Shirin doesn't have it because...)
-Mike thinks Shirin is a never going to win anything so why bother with her at this point - he's thinking that the three No Collar are so tight they should take out one of the tri-pod and they'll crumble.  So he wants to take out Hali.  He'll vote Shirin if they all want to go that way but none of them thought Jenn had an idol either.

-Next we see Hali, Shirin, Jenn and Sierra having a chat down by the water and Shirin fills them in on the horrible things Dan hurled her way - Sierra can't help but pile on, Dan said some very unnecessarily hurtful things to her as well and she hasn't forgiven him for it - if they could take Dan out that would be amazing.
-Sierra wants to go with the girls if she can, she doesn't want to be stuck with the Blue Collar guys in the end.  The girls decide if Dan's going to go misogynistic on them, the girls are going to take him out... if they can find another vote - because despite what Dan said, they can do math.
-Shirin goes and talks to Tyler (can we trust this guy?) she makes a good argument that this could be the last shot they have to take out one of the strong Blue Collars and even it out a little more - she tells him that Blue has no allegiance to him, he's a threat to them.  Tyler looks to be considering it... (Oh please!)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Tyler said a lot of people were bummed out after last tribal council, Kelly was well liked, but despite the things that were said about the chainsaw dividing up the tribe, he said that didn't happen, there was still a lot of talking among the survivors.
-Sierra agrees, she said the line wasn't completely drawn in the sand and she can go with whichever alliance she wants to.
-Mike knows that he is 155K% sure of what he's voting tonight but they all know how to tickle peoples ears - are you going to go with someone who gave you pizza or someone that provided for you the whole time you were out here?
-Dan says, as a fan of the game he knows the bomb can drop at any time and you just have to hope it's not going to drop on you.  But you have to trust in your alliance and the three magic words: Flippers... Never... Win.
-Shirin pipes up that Dan is flat out wrong. Tony flipped a million times and still won, Epically.  It's like a fear tactic that he's using with his alliance so no one will vote against him.
-Hali thinks Dan's sending a message but he needs to remember that they are Tribe Merica and if you look at history, what if the colonists never flipped on the greatest empire in the world.  I think flippers have a great historical record to win this game. (It was both silly and highbrow - love it.)

And with that - It's TIME TO VOTE:
Mike votes Hali
Shirin votes Dan

Tallying the votes:
No one played a hidden immunity idol

Votes:
Dan - 1
Hali - 1
Dan - 2
Hali - 2
Dan - 3
Hali - 3
Dan - 4
Hali - 4, 5, 6... Darn it! Sierra!  We said goodbye to Hali and have to suffer through more Dan next week.

And with Hali leaving us Cameron A, Maureen M. and Amy K. are out of the pool.

Next week - there is a really hard challenge that beats them all up on the water and Jenn is talking about throwing in the towel, "There's nothing out here for me but despair." (Oh come on, now.)

Hali: "I was shocked, I didn't think I was going home tonight."  She thought they had the girl thing going but she understands the game play.  She's just ready for a shot of whiskey and some ice cream.
(Good for her!)

Have a great rest of your week everybody,

Coleen.

The Amazing Race - April 3/15 Episode Recap

Get in That Lederhosen, Baby

I know it's been a couple weeks - but quick recap of the last leg, the teams were in Thailand, they chose water or land routes which dictated the tasks they had to perform - Rochelle kicked butt taking a transmission apart - though no love lost between any of the blind dating couples, Bergen & Kurt managed a first place finish and Jonathan & Harley went home.

Friday night's episode opened with Laura & Tyler enjoying their date night on a boat in Bangkok watching fireworks - these two are getting along but not wanting love to distract from the Race they both agree they're in the friend zone and are focusing on remaining an A Team.

Bergen & Kurt were first to depart at 3:03pm - they find out they are heading to Munich, Germany - once in Munich they must make their way by train to a specific clothing shop and choose the proper costumes to take part in Oktoberfest! (Yay, I love when they have to dress up!)
-Bergen tells the camera that he's really nervous that Kurt is going go give up on him because he was only it in for love, he doesn't need the million dollars and these two are definitely not loving each other.

... Speaking of not loving each other, next we see Hayley & Blair who admit to sometimes hating each other but now they are putting that behind them and they're going to win a million dollars (and probably never see each other again.)
-The Olympians, Aly & Steve, say they first met in Munich at a dinner prior to the Sochi games - that's where the magic started (these two are on a mystical Olympic journey all their own I think... but keep it up, they're my team and mama needs a new washer & dryer.)
-Laura & Tyler were 4th out - they show us nothing cause they already got their time with the date night segment.
-Jeff & Jackie get in a cab and he comments that her arm is sticky (bug spray ) and he doesn't like it.  Her face says it all (like I care) but she tells the camera that their relationship is progressing but he says they are still learning about each other and how they can work best together.

-All 8 teams are on the same flight to Munich - they don't show us the Lawyers, Hairdressers or TruckStop Love but they are all there.... for their 14 hour flight to Germany from Thailand (oof!)

-Once they land it's a race to the clothier - Tyler & Laura get there first and find out the guys have to put on lederhosen and the girls dirndls - then search for their next clue at Alter Peter Tower.
-Jeff & Jackie are next, followed by Kurt & Bergen and then they are all stacking up waiting to change - Jelani just wants to get dressed so he can have some beers (can't fault him there, but I fear there is much to be done before that can happen.)

-All suited up, Laura & Tyler get to the tower and the clue tells them to climb to the top and look for the marked Ford Focus' on the street below - then they will have to drive themselves to Schwarz Metal Manufacturer to find their next clue.
-Looks like not all the cars are in the same spot so Tyler & Laura head one way and Jeff & Jackie head to a different location.
-When Tyler & Laura choose a car, he takes off his fanny pack to get in the back and Laura has some issues driving the standard transmission so they decide to switch cars to the one in front of them so she can just pull forward... and he leaves the fanny pack in the back of the first car.
(with all their money and passports in it - Not so bueno.)

-Oh, apparently Jeff & Jackie went a different way because they couldn't translate where they saw the cars to the actual street level (they are kind of pretty, these two.)
-Hayley & Blair and Kurt & Bergen are the next two teams to find cars, Blair knows how to drive a stick and tells the guys to follow them - Hayley with her shrill voice is yelling at him to take off so no one can see where they are (I don't wish anyone ill, but I really wish she would lose her voice, I cannot take her much longer - and even though Blair is not the greatest guy, I think he deserves a medal for not killing her.)
-Next we see that neither Kurt nor Bergen know how to drive a standard (I guess they both expected the big beefy man they were going to be paired with to be able to drive...) anyway, Bergen is willing to try all day long but Kurt tells him as soon as he gets freaked out, he's getting out.(Really?)

-Matt & Ashley are fine, he can drive a stick.  Aly & Steve, she gets him to drive because he knows how to drive in Germany.

-And we have a few teams who cannot find the cars on the street level - Jenny & Jelani, Mike and Rochelle and Jackie & Jeff.  Jeff is frustrated they still haven't found the car and cuts Jackie off when she was talking, which sets her off.  They finally find the car that Tyler & Laura abandoned and find their fanny pack in the backseat - they still take the car cause no one is around and continue the fight... with her saying she'll just sit there and shut up - he feels bad he was short with her until she blows it all out of proportion - "Don't disrespect me Ever!" "Just shut up already!" (Oh, trouble in paradise.)

-Steve figures out that there is GPS in the car and they get to the destination much sooner than anyone else. (Not just a pretty face.)

-Bergen asks Kurt to help him with directions and he doesn't even seem to want to do that... wait, does Kurt have a smart phone?  He's still saying he's all freaked out that Bergen can't drive and he wants out.
-And we are treated to more of Hayley's fishwife shrieking at Blair for no reason - apparently he's pissed her off to the point of no return.

-Steve & Aly at the factory read the clue that they have to drive their Ford Focus in reverse through the winter wonderland set up inside the building and use the rearview camera to piece together their next clue (signs showing parts of the word backwards as they go...) Schliersee.
-They get it first shot, no problem - and they have to drive themselves on to Schliersee to get their next clue (looks like rowing boats in their future.)

-Laura & Tyler show up at the factory and read the clue - he tells her there are pens in the fanny pack... WHERE IS THE FANNY PACK?  But to their credit, they don't totally freak out and turn on each other, they do the task then decide to just wait until the team with the other car shows up - unfortunately they have no idea who has the car they abandoned.
-They get the clue and take a selfie (don't get me started) then hang out in the parking lot.

-We visit Jeff & Jackie and their fight is over, they agreed they both looked silly and he apologized for telling her to shut up - good for them they can clear the air and let it go.

-Kurt & Bergen are still kind of herky-jerky driving in Munich, Bergen has a moment of "I don't know what to do" and Kurt says they should just pull over and call a cab because they're not going to be able to do this.  Bergen doesn't really fight with him, he just agrees and does it but then tells the camera he's really disappointed because he wouldn't have given up - (HUH? Then why did you?  I think these two are just totally over spending time together and I guess it's not worth a million dollars to drag Kurt's unwilling carcass around the world.)

-Jenny & Jelani are also having trouble with the driving... (did no one prepare for the Race, seriously?  If you're going on Survivor, learn to make fire, if you're going on The Amazing Race, learn to drive a standard... that's a given.) And Jenny is being Debbie Downer in the back of the car, "I don't think we can come back from this."

-Not to worry though, Rochelle can't drive the standard either and gets them lost to boot - Mike takes over driving duties (Truck Stop guy can't drive standard either?) we'll see how that goes.

-Olympians Steve & Aly get to Schliersee and find row boats - they have to row out to a buoy and grab a clue to the DETOUR: Stein or Stack?
-In Stein - they must figure out how to carry 22 steins, full of beer, all at once and deliver them without dropping them through the hall of Oktoberfesters in order to get their next clue.
-In Stack - they must stack 15 empty beer crates into a single tower, with one person climbing and stacking as they go... eek!
-Aly & Steve decide to do Stein.

-Back at the factory, there is Tyler & Laura hanging out and praying the next team has their fanny pack... but it's Matt & Ashley who show up and they don't have the right colour car.  Matt & Ashley head inside.
-Blair & Hayley show up in a blue car and Laura asks him if this car was on the sidewalk (where they left the other one) Blair says no, why what's up?  And Hayley shrieks at him to just go get the clue, (how dare he want some normal human contact?) They get back to the car and she's telling him to just get in the car and she'll read him what to do...
-Tyler & Laura are just laughing at them, Tyler says he'd rather be sitting in that parking lot all day than be with her [Hayley], "That chick is nuts." (I hear ya brother.)
-Matt & Ashley get the clue to Schliersee and it tells them they are allowed to use the navigation system (Steve & Aly don't get in trouble so I guess it was okay the whole time, just not everyone knew that.)

-Meanwhile, Bergen & Kurt's taxi has arrived - Bergen makes a remark about how it's an automatic, 'wouldn't that be nice.'  And he explains to the camera that Kurt gave up so easily and he felt like he was dragging him along, so he just shut down at that point.

-Back at the factory, Blair & Hayley get the clue and Blair tries to ask Tyler & Laura what's going on with them again - Hayley, "Who cares, just pay attention to what we're doing." Blair, "I'm just craving conversation from happy people, that's all." (That kind of shut her up for a second.)

-Steve & Ali get to the STEIN detour - and as usual make it look easy.  They remark that they are heavy but Aly's from Wisconsin so she has an appreciation for beer and she also fed off the energy of the music and the beer drinking revelers.... they  get the next clue to head to the Markus Wasmeier Museum to get their next clue.

-Back in the car with Jeff & Jackie, they are discussing what they should do with Tyler & Laura's fanny pack.  Jackie says they can't get very far without it so it might work in their favour...

-Kurt & Bergen get to the factory and Laura runs over to them asking if they had a blue car (which they did) but they didn't drive it there - Kurt & Bergen get a 2 hour penalty because they couldn't complete task since it had to do with the driving the car through the building.  Tyler & Laura think this is the best news because that team is done.  Bergen just hopes that Tyler & Laura can't find their passports and they get eliminated.

-Steve & Aly get to the museum and find the clue to the ROADBLOCK - Who wants to Woo?  Singing a different tune.
-One person will have to learn a traditional Bavarian song and then sing it to their partner.  If they forget the words or sing off tune, they'll get doused with water and have to try again - if they pass, clue to the Pit Stop.

-Hayley & Blair get to Schleirsee and decide to try the STEIN detour.

-Jeff & Jackie finally show up at the factory and Laura runs over asking if their car had been up on the sidewalk - they both play dumb, "Uh, I don't know." Tyler asks Jackie directly if they found a fanny pack and she says, "No, I don't know." (Uh huh) Laura roots through the back seat and finds the fanny pack stuffed under the seat (really?) They know that they knew and now the game is on.

-Kurt & Bergen are just standing around watching the other teams arrive and leave - Jeff & Jackie leave, Jenny & Jelani get there and the boys still have 1:30 on their penalty.

-Back at the museum, Aly is on a ladder making her first attempt to sing the song to Steve who's on the balcony - but she messes up and gets a bucket of water over her head!  Much to the delight of the singing instructors looking on.  Poor girl has some more practicing to do.

-Hayley & Blair get to the Stein task and he takes 14 steins to her 8... and she still cannot make it through the hall - granted she's not that big a girl (if only her mouth could carry a few.)

-Mike & Rochelle are still lost - they haven't even made it to the factory yet - they stop for snacks (and hopefully directions) at a gas station.

-Back at the quaint Bavarian museum, Aly is making her second attempt at the song (and they let them read it off a sheet - which is way easier than we've seen in years past) - and she gets a pass, the bucket hold a clue this time - they must drive themselves to Lake Spitzensee, the Pit Stop for this leg of the Race.

-Jeff & Jackie, Jelani & Jenny and Tyler & Laura get the DETOUR clue and all decide to do STACK.

-Meanwhile at Stein - Hayley is saying that she's got it as she's almost bending over backwards to keep the steins off the ground... but still she fails.  Matt & Ashley show up and finally Hayley concedes that they might have to switch Detours... when Matt & Ashley get it the first try - she's ready to switch but he wants to give it one more try and tries to give her some pointers - wrong move, she's really mean to him and won't try again, then browbeats him into changing Detours because they've wasted too much time there, like it was his fault... (I feel so sorry for that guy.)

-Matt is being serenaded by Ashley and it's pretty horrible, especially since she keeps giggling like she's embarrassed... he is embarrassed she's so bad - and that's a dousing. (Hahaha... it's always funny when they get the water, even Matt laughed.)

-Jeff & Jackie get to the STACK task and we learn this is way harder than it looks.  After 10 crates are stacked, there is no more holding from underneath... eeek.  Jackie is going to do the stacking.
-Jelani & Jenny get there too and she's going to start the stacking.
-Laura & Tyler also use the smaller girl strategy to get the stacking done.
-As soon as Jeff lets go of their first attempt, over it goes as Jackie wasn't really balancing the stack just letting him hold it - yeah, there is some strategy that needs to come into play here.
-Blair & Hayley show up and she's so happy to see a bunch of other teams.
-Jenny falls, Laura falls... looks like Blair is suited up to do the climbing and they are stacking the first 10 before he even climbs one (hmm.)

-Mike & Rochelle are still lost somewhere - they don't know where they are, where they're going or how to drive a stick... but, despite Rochelle saying she's going to have a nervous breakdown, they are still surprisingly upbeat.

-Ashley is singing again and taking it more seriously, Matt even feels it this time and the bucket comes out... with the clue to the Pit Stop.

-Back at the crates Blair's stacking from the ground strategy didn't work so he rethought it and figured out how to balance on top as he added crates underneath himself.  Everyone follows suit and they finally start getting up there - though Jackie falls again and Laura falls - Jenny & Jelani decide to switch out so he's climbing now, Tyler took over the climbing too.
-Blair is on his final crate.... and disaster! It all falls down and they have to start again.

-HEY! Mike & Rochelle finally found the factory and got the clue to Schliersee - Bergen & Kurt wish them well as they still have 49 minutes on their penalty.

-Jackie is the first one to complete their beer crate stack - they get the clue to the Museum.
-Tyler is the second one to finish his tower... just barely - but they get the clue.
-Jelani gets their tower done and Blair finishes right behind him to Hayley's shouts to get down so they can take off (barely a 'good job' before she's shrieking out orders again - sigh.)

-Bergen & Kurt have finally waited out their penalty and get the clue to drive themselves to Schliersee...

-All the other teams are showing up for the singing and Jackie tries it without any practice - she has a really nice voice but still gets the bucket of water in the face much to Jeff's delight, "That's great!"  All the guys are on the balcony laughing it up.

-Kurt & Bergen decide to take a train to Schliersee (why?) Kurt says you're always in the Race until you see big daddy Phil (ugh.)

-Mike & Rochelle get the Date Night in their Detour clue and they decide to Stack (Oh, I bet these two could have Stein'ed it up easier.)

-Back at the Museum - we are suffering through Jenny's first attempt at the singing - she gets the water in the face (thank you) And all the guys laugh.
-Next, it's Laura and she gets the bucket. Tyler, "That was well deserved. She's certainly no Beyonce." (Wow, these guys are awful.)
-Jackie's back and she is only one really trying to sing, she was great and got the first applause of the task.  They get the clue to the Pit Stop.
-Jenny tries again and is praying for no water... they get the clue.
-Blair is the only guy that did the singing and even though it was sub-par at best he doesn't get the water (what the??? I think the bucket girl thought he was cute.)  They get the clue.

-Mike & Rochelle are starting the stacking and Mike is trying the climbing but he can't stay balanced.  Rochelle takes over the harness, even though she's afraid of heights.

-Laura is the last singer left and, though still no Beyonce, she finally gets the clue to the Pit Stop.

-Bergen & Kurt get to the Detour clues and choose STACK... then head back to the train station to take a train to the Stacking place.

-Rochelle is whimpering the whole time and whining the stack is so high, but she's doing it. (We know you can do anything, so suck it up, sheesh.)  She tells us later that she thought of her son and why she was doing this which helped her gain her composure and she finished the stacking!  Mike tried to hug her right away and she shied away from him (hmm) of course she probably had that harness in the most uncomfortable place at that moment... yeah, dude, maybe give her a second.

-Bergen & Kurt get off the train with no urgency and kind of wander around.

-Mike & Rochelle get to the Museum and Mike is the second guy to do the singing - he did a good job and Rochelle said he made her heart flutter (awww) and the sexist water girls didn't douse him either - they head for the Pit Stop.

-Bergen & Kurt couldn't find the stacking and just head back to the train station.

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Steve & Aly - Yay, my Olympians each won a 2015 Ford Focus.
2) Matt & Ashley - they say this is where the game is going to turn around, looks like the singles are falling apart.
3) Jeff & Jackie
4) Jenny & Jelani
5) Hayley & Blair - Phil says something about them having heated words and Blair says she made him feel as big as a blade of grass next to Phil's foot all day.  Then Blair tells the camera that he made the commitment to himself to see this through no matter what faults his partner may have... but sometimes he wants to run away. (At least he's able to keep some good humour.)
6) Tyler & Laura - he says today is their last day of stupid blunders, "Mark my words" (hopefully those aren't famous last words.)
7) Mike & Rochelle - it's dark and late but Phil is pleased to tell them they are still in the Race.
8) Bergen & Kurt ***ELIMINATED*** - They just sat at the train station and Phil came and found them.  He made them stand up so he could tell them they had been eliminated from the Race.
-Kurt said he thought there had been some tension today but HE's not bitter. (What? Why would you be bitter.)  Bergen says there are no butterflies and rainbows here today, it was awful (In other words, HE is most definitely bitter.)
In separate interviews at the end:
-Kurt is fine with the choices they made today, they weren't meant to win the Race.
-Bergen, "no it's not fine, we're in a bleeping race - you signed up for this, you can't just give up when you find out you're not going to find love. He gave up, I'm pretty disappointed."

And they went opposite directions out the train station doors.

So with that bitter departure: Danny R, Dream Team, Lois & Dave L, Carol-Anne D and Natalie O. are out of the pool.

Next week: They head to Monacco, dress to the nines and have to walk a tight rope across a canyon (eep.)

Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend.  It was great to have the Amazing Race back on!

Coleen

Survivor Worlds Apart - April 1/15 Episode Recap

The Line Will Be Drawn Tonight

Last week, after the switch up, a bromance between Rodney and Joaquin proved too threatening to the Escameca tribe and they voted Joaquin out.

Escameca - Night 16
-Tyler congratulates the tribe on the nice juicy blindside... but they got rid of his one ally on the tribe with Joaquin so he knows he's on the bottom.
-Rodney went off and pouted by the fire, Mike approached, knowing he was p*ssed, and tried to do some damage control.  Mike tells him they saw Joaquin reeling Rodney in and Rodney made some sports analogy - basically saying he was playing Joaquin for the good of Blue Collar (liar, is that what you're telling yourself?) Rodney is just mad that everyone obviously listened to Mike and ganged up behind his back.  Rodney feels disrespected and threatens the people that did him wrong better watch their backs. (I really can't stand this guy.)

Nagarote - Day 17
Tree mail - tells them to come with everything and they'll be eating... Kelly thinks they are going to be merging and Carolyn makes a comment about they taking out Blue collar one by one.  Jenn asks Kelly if she's tied to them and she says she's got no ties with Blue Collar (but even I can tell she's lying, is she really an undercover cop?) She tells the camera she's with blue collar til the end.

MERGE - The two tribes come together and there is no Jeff - they open the chest full of food and read the message that they are merged!  They get their new purple buffs and learn home will be the old Escameca beach.  Rodney feels new life with this merge, he's got to get his head right and start making plans.
-Tyler also has new found hope, he's not on the bottom anymore.
As they get down to eating, the old White collar's ask about Joaquin - they thought he and Rodney would have bonded and Dan says they did, that's part of the reason for the vote. Rodney's not too happy with this line of discussion.  Carolyn tells the camera that you
cannot show when you have a strong bond with someone.  She and Tyler have been together since day 3, he's the only person she told that she has an idol, but they will never be pair that anyone knows about or you could be out of there.  Game on Baby!

Merged Tribe - Day 17
-They get back to camp and everything is GONE!  Their first team building exercise is to re-build a shelter, get fire going, gather water and wood...
-Mike and Kelly fall in gathering wood and she's so glad to be back with her people - he tells her that he, Dan & Sierra are still strong, they're hoping it's still the 5 blue collars and if they can recruit two more they'll have the numbers.
-But someone else is running the numbers, Jenn & Hali are talking about what they'll need to do from here - she sees that Kelly is back with Blue collar right away and Jenn is thinking that the No Collars need to join up with the White Collars to take the Blue's out.
-Joe is happy to see his former tribe mates, he knows he dodged a bullet when they got rid of Joaquin... Jenn asks if Rodney is smart and Joe's look says it all (ha!)
-Rodney, meanwhile is cozying up to Will, he felt so disrespected by his Blue Collars he wants to take out the three that did him wrong (Dan, Mike & Sierra) so he has some convoluted scheme "me, you, Kelly and Carolyn, that's four.  I stay Blue Collar strong but then we four take them out in the end." (I don't know, I'm sure the Rodney logic makes sense in his head but it's not adding up to me.)
-Rodney is trying to make this vision happen though, he's now working Carolyn and Kelly with Will tagging along, giving them the song and dance about them being the seven with Mike, Sierra and Dan until they can turn on them and cut their heads off. (Does he not realize that Mike and Kelly are tight? Or is he just so wrapped up in his own genius he's oblivious that others have ideas counter to his... I think that's more like it.)
-Carolyn isn't totally in with Rodney's blue heavy plan but "it's nice to hear your wanted in the final four." (Her ego is going to be her undoing as well, I fear.)
-Then Carolyn & Tyler are talking and he acknowledges that they are the tightest alliance out there but they can't be seen as a pair (yup, these two are on the same page.) So she's tight with the No Collar and he's had experience with the Blue Collar - they feel like they're
the swing votes and they'll decide which way they want to go (don't get cocky, that means death in this game.)
-And even with all these mechanicians going on, the new merged tribe was able to get a pretty decent shelter built... I think they have done a pretty good job cutting away the dead weight to this point.

Merged Tribe - Day 18
-We start off the day with Dan getting stung but a jelly fish or sting ray or something - former lifeguard Jenn tells him to put it in hot water right away but he's fine, he peed on it.  She tells him that doesn't really work and to go put it in hot water... when Shirin offers to pee on it for him. (Ha!) But now he's acting like the hot water was his idea and he makes sure we know nothing this minor is going to take him out of the game (darn it.)
- Everyone around the fire and they decide to discuss a new tribe name, Mike suggests 'Merica (no, I'm not joking).  It represents red, white and blue, like their former tribes - 'MERICA (F*CK YEAH!)
-They all agree, and to my surprise Hali, the aspiring defense attorney is the most excited, she thinks the Constitution is the greatest blueprint for justice (or some such sh*t... I stopped listening because I was in shock - do Americans really not know that 'Merica is a punchline for the rest of the world?)
-Oh Shirin proves there is one among them that is aware - she's horrified that their new name makes them seem like a bunch or red neck idiots that don't even know their country's name.  She's embarrassed and can't believe Mike is so proud of this abomination of a name.
-Mike is working his Rodney maintenance and puts up Joe for their first vote if he doesn't win immunity.  Rodney's still playing along with the Blue forever and he says he loves Mike but there is still no forgiveness for them voting out his bro.  Rodney says he's putting on his hustle pants right now (okay, love that 'hustle pants') but he's ready to cut Mike's head off in the end.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Here comes Merica! 
-Jeff unveils the individual immunity necklace and informs them that this is the good ol' hold onto a pole challenge.  There are shallow grooves but not enough for a good hand or foot hold - last person clinging to the pole and not touching the ground wins immunity.

Off they go - and the big man Dan struggles immediately - he's slides down belly out all the way - followed quickly by Will and then Tyler.  The bigger and heavier you are the harder this challenge.
Jeff tells us this Survivor classic has been won by a man three times and a woman three times... equal opportunity torture in this challenge.
-Sierra is the first woman starting to slip and she can't save it.  Shirin and Kelly follow right behind her.
25 minutes in - Rodney and Joe do some adjusting - everyone looks like they are in pain except Carolyn.  Rodney asks her if she's got this cause he's gotta go... and out of nowhere, Mike just drops. (Huh)Rodney slowly slides down and he's out too.
-Next thing you know, Jenn gets stung in the inner thigh, "Are you serious life?" She's laughing and crying, as if this wasn't hard enough.  Suddenly Hali loses her footing and she's out.
-Then it starts to rain... like downpour on them.  And we still have Joe, Jenn and Carolyn clinging to those poles after 55 minutes.
-Carolyn is just starting to show some fatigue when Jenn falls out and Joe is doing a lot of adjusting (Hang in there Joe!)
-Carolyn slides down to the last foothold and can't keep it, she falls out making Joe the winner of the first Individual immunity... Which does not make Mike or Rodney very happy.
-Jenn is happy that Joe won though, she hopes they can rally the White collars to vote with the No Collars and take out the real threat, Blue Collar.

Merica - Day 19
-Mike is not happy that the Golden Boy, Joe won the immunity but now they have to adjust their target to Jenn or Hali.  Rodney is sure he's got Will (working the new bromance) but Mike doesn't trust Will so they're going to tell Will to vote Hali and the rest of them are going to vote for Jenn.  If Mike sees Hali's name written down, he'll know he can trust Will. 
-Will knows this first vote is crucial in determining who's loyal and who's not.  He's not sure if he should stick with No collar and try to recruit the White collars or if he should throw in with Blue collar, it's hard to know who to trust when you merge with twelve people.

-Kelly is talking to Carolyn, they bonded over on Nagarote and she feels like Carolyn will be an asset for Blue - Kelly suggests that Jenn & Hali should be split up and Carolyn agrees 100%.
-Jenn & Hali go and talk to Shirin proposing that Red and White take out the Blue.  Shirin thinks they should target Kelly, that will cripple the Blue Collars (I wouldn't go that far.)  But she tells the camera they realize that even though the Blue Collars may all hate each other, they are still going to vote together and there are five of them. Her worry is if Blue Collar wins the vote tonight, they will keep the vote until the end of the game.  So she's swinging No Collar.
-Mike approaches Tyler and Tyler plays hard ball with him (hmm, not sure that was a good idea) but basically Tyler tells Mike if you wnt me to play with you, you gotta loop me in.  If you don't loop me in I'm looking around for someone that will.  Mike tries to tell him that they really Tyler with them - but subtext is he's not spilling any secrets and Tyler says, that's really nice but he's still weighing his options.
-In comes Tyler's next option when Hali comes to him and says the No Collars want to vote with the White Collars to target Blue and take out Kelly.  He says he's already been stabbed by Blue, he's in way over his head with them but he also doesn't know Red at all - she doesn't push, tells him to go talk to other people and I guess hopes that he chooses her side.
-Tyler then goes and talks to Carolyn and asks if she's ready for the key-party because they can be swingers tonight. (Ew, that's not a visual I wanted.)  He lays out that they can choose to vote Kelly or Jenn... and I think personality wise, Carolyn would rather take out Jenn but for her game, Kelly is probably the smart move. (We'll see what they do.)
-Jenn tells Hali they need to figure out if one of them are going to be the vote tonight because, Jenn finally reveals, she has a hidden immunity idol.  Jenn tells the camera that if she gets an inkling that she could be going tonight, she's going to play her idol (eeek, I'm kind of excited.)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff asks Will how it was back at camp after the challenge.
-"Jeff, you could get voted out tonight.  That's how it was."  They all laugh but it really was so up in the air.
-Kelly acknowledges that they have all been strategizing, no one's safe, it could be any one of them going (except Joe of course.)
-Joe agrees that everyone knows it's a game and they all have a knife knowing it's stab or get stabbed (hmm, not liking the stabby talk) you can't take it personal. That's what makes it fun.
-Will tells Jeff that after all the talk throughout the day he sat down with himself and knew which way he had to go - his vote is going to show people that they can count on Will.
-Mike confirms for Jeff that the three White Collars are definitely the swing votes between the five Blue Collars and four No Collars tonight.  They have to make a decision they can live with going forward.
-Tyler says he was approached my numerous people and he has to make a decision about where he can fit in and make a home, hopefully for the rest of this game.  He says yeah, we're all laughing but someone is going to take out an ice pick tonight and carve it down the centre of this tribes back (Jebus! What is up with all the stabby stuff, 'Merica, take it easy.)
-Carolyn agrees that lines will be drawn tonight and people will know where they sit.  You gotta hope you made the right decision because once it's done, it's hard to go back the other way.
-Shirin, says people talked to her today but it means nothing until the vote plays out - and she wanted to make very clear she doesn't see herself as a swing vote (whatever, not acknowledging it doesn't  make it untrue.)
-Jenn says it was crazy today but there is always that bottom layer rumor that remains so they all kind of have an idea - she just hopes that her idea gets the most [votes?]
Jeff asks Rodney about the elephant in the room, that is a hidden immunity idol.
-Rodney says to his knowledge he hasn't heard nobody speak as they had one, it's all about who feels safe, who feels they may be in jeopardy, so we'll just have to see what happens.

I checked out a bit, Jeff just kept asking people stuff and we kept getting repetitive answers... just let them vote already, sheesh.  Oh - -Dan said something about it not being an ice pick, it's going to be a chainsaw.  And finally, it's...

Time to Vote:
They don't show us how anybody voted.

Tallying the Votes:
Anybody want to play their hidden idol?  Jenn looks disinterested... but then, "Jeff, I really don't want to go home tonight." And she plays her idol!  You Go!  (Rodney's just shaking his head.)  Shirin loves it!

Votes:
Hali - 1 (that made Jenn swear, but then...)
Jenn - Does not count
Jenn - Does not count
Jenn - Does not count
Jenn - Does not count
Jenn - does not count
Jenn - Does not count
Jenn - Does not count
Kelly - 1
Kelly - 2
Kelly - 3 - and KELLY is the first person voted out of MERICA.  That has Rodney swearing and Will looking scared because I'm sure he voted for Hali.

Jeff says during Tribal Council they used the word knife, ice pick and chainsaw but based on the results, he thinks it was more like a bomb.

So with Kelly getting the boot that takes out Carol-Anne D., Heather G., and Lois & Dave L.

Next time; Rodney looks to make a power move to take out Mike and Idol paranoia takes over as finally Blue Collars realize the value of finding their hidden immunity idol.

Kelly was just as boring in her exit interview - The girls played the idol which was brilliant, they were probably mad at me that I didn't stick with them.  She still loves her Blues, hope they bring it home. (Whatever.)

Have a great Long Weekend everybody,

Coleen
 

Survivor Worlds Apart - March 25/15 episode Recap

Odd Woman Out

Last week they doubled the pleasure and took out big mouth Lindsey and, after a surprise switch up, super fan professor Max...

Nagarote - Day 15
-Shirin is left totally blindsided after her biggest ally, Max, was voted out.  Her tune is totally changed from last week when she was so cocky - she goes to Carolyn with her tail between her legs asking if she's not going to play with her anymore.  Carolyn tells her she values true loyalty, not fake loyalty...
-Shirin then tries Hali and she just tells her that Max was annoying and they find Shirin annoying too.  Shirin then breaks down to the camera that this is tapping into her childhood insecurities growing up in a rich neighbourhood with beautiful, skinny people where she just didn't fit in and desperately tried to find acceptance.  She's determined that she's going to do now what she couldn't do then - adapt, fix it. (Oh boy, this could get ugly.)

Escameca - Day 15
-Dan is regalling the new tribemates with his loss of the underwear story and Rodney is ready to kill himself having to listen to the same boring stories all over - he was hoping for some new blood to mix things up.  He's looking for a little bromance, an east coast homey to chill with... like Joaquin for example.  Rodney start spilling stuff about Mike - he goes to church, he's celibate... something Rodney can't fathom and Joaquin is playing right along - Rodney, "we're apples and oranges.  We work hahd and play hahder." 
-Rodney tells the camera that he's Batman and Joaquin can be his Robin - all those that think he's an idiot, wait until they see what he's got planned for this game.

REWARD CHALLENGE
-Joaquin seems stoked to see Max was voted out.

-The challenge - on Jeff's go both teams will race up a tower through a series of obstacles - once they reach the top, one at a time, they will try to launch sandbags from a big slingshot, to hit targets out in the field.  First tribe to hit all six targets will win Reward of: A turtle migration under the stars... and they get to feast on beef stew, mac & cheese, hot chocolate...(yeah, natural wonder... not so exciting, but food, they get excited about.)
-Escameca sits Dan.
-And the guys take off like a shot - Escameca has a huge lead getting up the tower but Rodney can't hit a target.  Jenn is the first one to hit a target for Nagarote (that must sting.)
The girls are better shots, they are up 2 to 1 but they tie up - then the guys take a 4 - 3 lead... and Shirin ties them up again...Joe takes the lead but Will ties them at 5 and ... it's JENN and Nagarote that win reward! (I think the girls and Will will enjoy the turtles more anyway.)

-Shirin hopes this reward will give her the chance to bond with these people more, because she knows her butt is on the line.

REWARD
-Nagarote gets to their picnic dinner and Hali tells us how excited she was that they won that challenge like David and Goliath, "Just put a slingshot in our hands and we took down that giant!"
-Carolyn said they were having a good time eating the food, they were even tolerating Shirin.  While Shirin thinks this is a great bonding moment.
-Then they go watch a poor turtle lay 120 eggs and the guide tells them maybe only one of those baby turtles will make it back to the ocean.  Jenn takes that and applies it to her odds in Survivor - she has a way better chance at winning a million dollars than those turtles have at life, so that's pretty cool. (Deep and yet simple, that's our Jenn.)

Escameca - Day 16
-Mike, Dan and Rodney take off to check a crab trap and Joaquin takes that opportunity to talk to Sierra - asking if she has an issue with Dan.  She tells him that she hates them all, which is music to Joaq's ears.  He tells her Tyler is the most trustworthy guy out there (his White Collar bro) but he doesn't want to take Joe too far in the game (No Collar ringer)... he asks how she feels about Rodney and she says he's awful.  Joaquin, "Not even Rodney?"  Joaq is pretty sure he's got Rodney under control but Sierra doesn't know if she can play this game with him.
-Rodney comes over and I guess he's trying to be nice to her - he acknowledges that she may still be mad at him but she just needs to get over it and together they can make it to promised land and have a prime time story to tell for the rest of her life.
-Rodney tells the camera that he's got numbers everywhere, he's so confident he's going to win this thing he can see his arm being raised like Rocky Balboa at the end. (Oh please, let the Survivor karma get him!)

-Rodney then goes and talks to Mike and tells him that he's controlling Joaquin like his puppet.  All they have to do is throw the next immunity and take Joe out of the game before the merge - and the thing's won.  In his mind, once Joe's gone, who does he have to deal with?
-Mike is letting Rodney think he's the mastermind, but he knows very rarely does throwing challenges work in your favour.  Mike feels like they are in a special circumstance though since his real alliance is with Kelly who is stuck by herself on the other tribe - Mike thinks if they can throw a couple challenges and keep her safe, he'll have his alliance back when they merge. (Well, it's a more noble reason than Rodney's but still, it's always bad to throw challenges... unless you're voting out the devil [Russell Hanz] that was the one time I was totally behind a tribe throwing a challenge).

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-It's a memory challenge.  Jeff will show them a series of items, once they have them memorized, they pull the lever that drops the curtain and then they have to go recreate the same series of items in the same order.  First to get it right wins a point, first tribe to get three points wins immunity.
-Escameca sits Joaquin.
-Off they go:
-Rodney vs Carolyn - she quickly memorizes the items and drops the drape - Rodney has no idea (or does he) and totally messes up the items - First point to Red.
-Sierra vs Hali - and with both of these two actually trying - Hali still is the first to get it right and Red is up 2 - zip.
-Will vs Joe - Joe pulls the drape and he's the first one finished... getting the first point for Blue.
-Shirin vs Dan - and Dan flies through this one tying it up 2-2... which of course makes for more drama when the next paring is...
-Mike vs Kelly - Will he throw it or won't he... I think he was trying to throw it but apparently Kelly has a horrible memory so they are both wrong and they have to go again.  Mike whispers to her when they get back to look again that he is giving it to her... she looks confused... then he talks her through memorizing the order and when he gets it wrong again... she gets it wrong too - what the?? Is she not letting him throw it or did the knock to the head scramble her brains - shouldn't cops be able to remember details?
-They take an item away and literally Mike tells her, I'm going to mix up the bottles so copy me just switch the bottles.  Then he puts on a show like he was really trying to get it right and Kelly finally does have it right, painfully winning Immunity for Red - Nagarote. 

-Kelly tells the camera when she knew Mike was throwing the challenge, that's the first time she ever truly trusted somebody (oh, that's sad) but she can't wait to get back with her Blue tribe, where she belongs.  (I'm thinking this may bite Mike in the butt which will make Rodney just as happy and that just makes me mad.)

Escameca - Day 16
-When they get back to camp, Mike is genuinely apologizing to his tribe - he tells the camera, by throwing the challenge a part of him died in this game - but only Rodney knows the truth.  And Mike's not really trusting Rodney anymore as he watches Joaquin totally pulling him in - those two are quickly looking like a power couple and in this game, a power couple has to be broken up before they start making power moves... (Oh, make it happen Mike, please!)
-Mike talks to Rodney, well as much as you can, Rodney is all bluster that everyone's on board for Joe, no need to talk anymore, it's a done deal.  Rodney tells the camera that they had one purpose in the challenge which was to throw it and he's just as happy that Mike had to look the idiot to get it done.
-Then "Rod-quin" has a powwow - Joaq is saying how they can't lose Sierra but Rodney tells him, "this game is about me and you, I don't care about anybody else, bro."  They start bro-ing out, both of them giddy that this should be a walk in the park from now on. (Oh Survivor Godopus, please bring your wrath down on these two idiots!)

-Next we see Mike and Dan talking to Joe - Joe says he's up for anything, he's tried to talk to Joaquin but whenever he does he's got a Rodney shadow and they just won't talk to him.  Mike tells Joe that Rodney is wanting to take him out tonight... so they set their sites on Sierra.  Mike says she's still really mad at Dan - who interjects that he's done nothing but grovel (seriously?) - Are they going to throw Joe at her?  But no, it looks like Dan has seen the light.
-Mike and Dan go to talk to Sierra and Dan point-blank tells her he screwed up and wants to earn her trust - they point out how close Rodney and Joaquin have become and say they need to split them up - Joaquin needs to go first (OH! You should offer up Rodney, she'd go for that!)
-Sierra likes the feeling of having both sides fighting for her vote, it's refreshing, but after they hurt her so bad (oh come on, you can't let hurt feelings get in the way of a million $) siding with her old tribe makes her sick to her stomach. (So I guess Mike and Dan are the old tribe and Rodney's okay now?  She needs to look at the big picture, or take some control and say, I'll vote with you if we take out Rodney - Can you tell I really dislike Rodney - a lot?)
-Dan is prattling on then he tells her to close her mouth, open her ears and just watch what happens. (I can't even... you just lost any ground you may have gained back - how does this guy survive in the real world?)
-Sierra knows right there that these people don't care about her, she says she hates Dan and she's very angry.  They just want to use her for the moment but they're not going to keep her around.
-But as they are leaving for tribal she is saying she's not sure which side will be better for her in the long run... she's still not sure how she's going to vote.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
-Jeff asks Joe if the Blue Collar four where a united front after the switch up.
-Joe says they seemed like one big happy but they have been looking for the cracks (huh, not outing Sierra, is that chivalrous or strategy?)
-Dan says they were definitely trying to find their way in, were there cracks in the armour?  No doubt about it, there is dysfunction here and he's definitely concerned.
-Tyler says they really didn't have to do anything, what they found was bad blood, animosity and a lot of it seemed to revolve around Sierra (ouch, throwing her directly under the bus, way to go dude.)
-Sierra totally agrees; after last tribal she was mistreated - she was told how she sucked in challenges, how she didn't help around camp - they totally picked on her (Mike interjected that not all of us picked on her) but Dan and Rodney are hanging their heads a little.  Sierra does acknowledge that Mike made them stop railing at her but she tells Jeff she's felt more appreciated in the 24 hours with the new guys than she did in 11 days with the three blue collar guys.
-Mike knows this is not good news, they may have been together for 16 days but he doesn't feel like they are a foursome - he is definitely afraid that the new people have woo'ed some of them away.
-Rodney then can't help himself and has to get his two cents in - that's the beauty about dropping your buffs, opportunities open.  I got three new people over hehre and three people here that have been driving me nuts - I mean, what's going to be the best opportunity for me?
-Joaquin agrees with Jeff that he didn't think it would go this way after the switch up but when people come up to you and explain their reasons for hating each other, it couldn't have been any easier for him.
-Joe doesn't really know who he can trust, at least Joaquin has Tyler, poor Joe has no one.
-Jeff is trying to figure out why Sierra would throw away the time/trust/knowledge she'd gained of the blue collar guys just because new guys showed up and she again says they attacked her personally and killed any trust there.  Mike is trying his best to be nice and woo her back but she's got to figure out who she can trust at this point.
-Mike says hopefully you can rely on the trust you made early on, or the trust you made with new people (he's looking at Joe) but you never really know who you can trust until you're leaving Tribal Council and that's a very scary predicament.

With that, it's TIME TO VOTE:
Joaquin votes Joe Cool
Joe votes Juaquin
Sierra votes JO... (Oh, tricky.)

No one played a hidden immunity idol.

TALLYING THE VOTES:
Joe 1
Joaquin - 1
Joe - 2
Joaquin - 2
Joe - 3
Joaquin - 3
Final vote is for... Joaquin!!! And Rodney is flummoxed!  Well, Survivor karma hit quickly but somehow bounced off Rodney and took out Joaquin.

Next week: Rodney feels betrayed by his tribe, ganging up behind his back - they're done-zo.  But then they also MERGE! Wow, things are moving rather quickly.

Joaquin's final thoughts - he didn't see this coming (that's why it's called a blindside) he's sure Mike thought he was getting too close with Sierra and Rodney and took him out - but this was his fate so he'll take it with a smile on his face. (Yeah, don't really have a choice, bro.)

And with Joaquin leaving, that takes Ritch G., Cara & Alex L. and Shane B. out of the pool.

Have a good weekend everybody,

Coleen.