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'Survivor' castaway James Miller. (Photo courtesy of CBS) |
When you live by the sword, you die by the sword. James Miller, the 33 year-old steel worker from Alabama, made a point of singling out Ulong tribe member Ibrehem Rahman for blowing last episode's 'Sea Salvage' Immunity Challenge. On the "Jellyfish and Chips" episode this week, the shoe was on the other foot.
Serving two years in the U.S. Navy, James was sure one invincible knot would do the trick when both tribes were asked to make a box "impenetrable" for the Immunity Challenge. The knot didn't work and neither did James at the challenge. Instead of spending his time securing the box, James fiddled with his toga for minutes on end. A fact that couldn't have impressed the rest of the tribe...or what is left of it at this point.
Having lost their fifth Immunity Challenge in a row and setting a new 'Survivor' record, the hopeless Ulong Tribe fractured as the individual players began pondering life after a merge. Bobby Jon Drinkard and Stephanie Lagrossa made an alliance to take out both James and Ibrehem if they had to and stick together if a merciful merger surfaces.
The Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Ulong Tribe
1. Bobby Jon.
2. Stephanie.
3. James.
4. Ibrehem.
Koror Tribe
1. Ian.
2. Katie.
3. Tom.
4. Janu.
5. Gregg.
6. Jennifer.
7. Coby.
8. Caryn.
Ulong Tribal Happenings (Night 12)
Returning from their home away from home - Tribal Council - Ulong mopes. Ibrehem: That was the craziest Tribal Council I have ever been to.
Stephanie tells the others that they have to start listening to each other if they want to succeed. James agrees.
Stephanie blames Ibrehem for their Immunity Challenge loss and is going to vote for him the next time. Nothing will change her mind about that.
James unloads on Ibrehem telling him he should have been honest about not being able to dive that deep. Keeping his cool, Ibrehem says he tried to but...nobody was listening.
Stephanie: We need to win now. James: We have to focus.
Bobby Jon is not happy with Ibrehem's feet being held to the fire. Bobby Jon: We win as a team. We lose as a team. The tribe needs to get over the beef stew deal.
Ulong Tribal Happenings (Day 13)
Able to get away from everyone, Ibrehem is engaged in his daily prayers. At Tribal Council, he thought he was a goner. He believes God had a hand in him staying. Ibrehem: Only when something is almost taken away do you learn to appreciate it. Amen to that, brother.
Koror Tribal Happenings (Day 13)
There's a bunch of busy bees at Koror. Ian claims everyone has an energy rush from the stew. Ian: It is just another day in paradise.
Tom: Everyone is full of energy today so they have decided to work on various projects to save themselves work down the road.
While everyone drags timber and hammers stuff, Katie sits on her duff weaving necklaces.
Coby: It was craft day at Koror. While everyone was working, Katie made necklaces. God love her.
Katie: She thought 'Survivor' would be harder than this. She is sure there are tough times ahead and she is ready for them.
'Cryin' Caryn: All Katie does is entertain people. Beyond that, nobody is sure what her role at camp is.
Katie and some others put on a sock puppet show. Someone mocks Angie's reaction to the beef stew. Katie: I am Bobby Jon. I love everyone and look like Jesus Christ.
With all the religious references this episode, you just knew a miracle was gonna happen. Jenn speaks! That's right. I said "speaks" not "giggles" like an idiot. Don't celebrate though. All she comments on is how Koror wants to win another challenge. Sigh!
Koror stands around and makes growling sounds to psyche themselves up. Don't ask.
Reward Challenge
As Ulong arrives, Probst points out that Angie was voted off. Coby rolls his eyes in an "Oh, well" sort of way. It is time to shoot stuff. The Survivors will take turns at using a 50 calibre cannon to fire at the other tribe's targets.
Reward
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Bobby Jon Drinkard takes aim at the Reward Challenge. (Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS). |
Drinks and chips on a boat and then a swim with some jellyfish.
Result
Koror sits out Katie, Jennifer, Ian and Janu. Steph is like The Punisher gunning down everything in sight. Supposedly used to firing guns, James misses every time. It all comes down to Caryn and she flubs it.
Winners: Ulong.
Probst congratulates Steph on her great shooting. Probst: I don't know if there has ever been a tribe who needs a reward more than you.
Ulong Reward Happenings (Day 13)
Steph: She is really freaking out. This reward is sure to boost everyone's spirits and morale. Stephanie: "This is a new chapter for us."
Ulong arrives on the boat to find chips and drinks waiting for them. The chips have Survivor trivia printed on them. Steph finds it curious that more women have won Survivor than men. Once docked, Ulong heads up a mountain to a crystal clear lake teaming with jellyfish who have lost their ability to sting prey.
As Ulong swims, Bobby Jon calls the experience "euphoric" and is something he will cherish always.
Stephanie: Ulong feels strong and confident. It is like they are a tribe again.
Koror Tribal Happenings (Night 13)
With powerful winds and rain, a typhoon drenches the camp. Many Koror huddle together and cover themselves in tarps. Ian is sure the shelter will hold up against Mother Nature's assault. Tom figures the winds must be clocking in at 40 miles per hour.
Koror Tribal Happenings (Day 14)
Janu lays in the hammock and cries. She has never felt so alone or vulnerable. Tom sits down beside her. Tom: "Hang in there. I feel so far away from my family too." Janu sobs about how it is such a horrible day. Tom: "Let today be a bad day." Janu: "It is so hard." Tom tells Janu that she is going to make the merge and be on the jury. If they don't watch out, she might be one of the finalists. Janu: "I don't have the strength." Tom: "I agree. You don't have it today but you do have it."
Katie: Janu is always in a tizzy. I thought I was the drama queen, apparently not.
Ulong Tribal Happenings (Day 14)
With their tree mail, Ulong receives a crate and a piece of rope. Inside the crate is Koror's flag. Ulong is instructed to make the crate "impenetrable" using the rope. James cites his Navy background and claims they only need one knot. It is a special knot that just gets tighter when someone tries to untie it. Since James looks like he knows what he is talking about, everyone just follows along. Boneheads. One knot? One freaking knot? What is wrong with these dullards? Would you listen to Cletis?
Reward Challenge
Out in the water there are piles of lumber. The tribes must retrieve the lumber and build fortresses around their crate. They will have 20 minutes to do so. At the end of that phase, they switch sides and attempt to retrieve their flag from the crate. First tribe to raise their flag wins.
Reward
Immunity from the Tribal Council vote.
Result
As Katie and Janu secure their crate with more knots, James stands around and tries to secure the toga he is wearing. Sitting next to Caryn, Coby provides the running commentary. How Ulong thinks they are ahead but they are not and how Koror didn't tie enough knots. Coby: "This is so nerve-wracking."
Winners: Koror.
Ulong Pre-Tribal Council Happenings (Day 14)
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Castaways James Miller, Bobby Jon Drinkard and Stephanie LaGrossa of the Ulong Tribe. (Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS). |
Ibrehem claims he will base his vote on who hasn't preformed well during all of the Immunity Challenges.
Stephanie and James conspire. James is sure Bobby Jon won't vote for him. Steph is going to ask Bobby if he will vote Ibrehem tonight.
James: Ibrehem has overstayed his welcome. It is only through the grace of Allah, that Ibrehem is still in the game. James: "My god says he goes tonight."
Bobby Jon: He is sure James voted for him last time. Since he threw a dart at him, Bobby will return the favour at Tribal Council.
Stephanie and Bobby Jon meet. Bobby Jon expresses his belief that James voted for him. The handwriting looked "male". Steph lies and says she didn't vote for Bobby Jon.
Stephanie: I hate lying but if I told the truth, I would be voted out.
In front of Bobby Jon, Stephanie swears to God she didn't write his name down last time. Bobby Jon and Stephanie form an alliance to further each other in the game.
Bobby Jon: He is thinking of the future now. If Stephanie is playing him, he will find out soon enough.
Stephanie feels torn between two sides. She doesn't know where she stands.
Ulong Tribal Council Happenings
Probst comments on the fact that Ulong hasn't won a single, solitary Immunity Challenge. James thinks it is because when the tribe hears the word "Immunity", they subconsciously sabotage themselves. Ibrehem feels confident he can play the Survivor game. James doesn't think it is fair to base your vote on someone's performance in one challenge. Stephanie: Ulong is almost out of numbers. She wants to win one Immunity Challenge before she leaves. Bobby Jon trusts everyone. When Probst points out that Ibrehem, James and Bobby Jon are all from the same state, he wonders if that makes Stephanie feel paranoid. Stephanie: She has worked her butt off. It isn't her time yet.
James votes for Ibrehem. James: We just don't get along. We clash. Bye. Ibrehem writes down James' name. Ibrehem: Sorry, brother. Stephanie takes a long time deciding whom to vote for.
Final Voting
1. Bobby Jon: James.
2. Stephanie: Ibrehem.
3. James: Ibrehem.
4. Ibrehem: James.
The votes are counted. Since it is tied, Probst calls for a re-vote.
Tie-breaker Vote
1. Stephanie: James.
2. Bobby Jon: James.
Tribal Council Victim:
James Miller.
Stephanie apologizes to James. James tells everyone that he understands. Probst calls Ulong the first tribe of three in 'Survivor' history. He is dead wrong.
Parting Comments
"It wasn't my time to go. I didn't feel like it. My gut told me nobody is going to vote me out. My gut failed me and I am sad and depressed but I have accomplished things that not many people can say they have and that makes me proud. I am glad that I got a chance to go on 'Survivor' and see if I have what it takes." -- James Miller. .
On the next 'Survivor': Television.
"Next Thursday, a relationship gets complicated. Greggifer is shown. Tom: Their little romance could be a monkey wrench. Bobby Jon scores for Ulong. Bobby catches a fish. Bobby: Getting that fish felt like making that extra point to win the game. Tom makes a slam-dunk. Tom and Ian are shown spearing a shark on the beach."
On the next 'Survivor': Internet.
"Two Survivors battle to provide for their tribe. One brings home a clam; one brings home a shark.
Sitting out a Challenge, one Survivor finds it hard to watch from the sidelines and doubts the tribe's ability to win. A tribe member is suspicious of a potential alliance forming between two very friendly tribemates that could spoil a game plan. During a crucial Immunity challenge, one Survivor takes over for a struggling tribemate. Will it be enough to win?"
Powell's Thoughts:
Probst's blunder: There have been at least two tribes of three in 'Survivor' history. In 'Thailand', Ken, Penny and Jake were the last of Sook Jai Tribe while in 'Marquesas', the Marraamu Tribe was left with Paschal, Neleh and Kathy at the end. Maybe Probst should buy some of those special chips and bone-up on his 'Survivor' history.
Ulong shoot and scores: It brought pleasure to this old, blackened heart to see Ulong win something...anything. The writing is on the wall though. Ulong ain't gonna survive. Gossip has it that they don't win one, single Immunity Challenge.
The P.O.W. puzzle: Rumours are flying that next week Ulong takes either Bobby Jon or Ibrehem as a P.O.W.. It could be as part of a Reward Challenge. If that is the case, we could see Stephanie and Ibrehem or Bobby Jon square off in a special challenge next episode or the following one to determine who stays in Ulong and who goes. A trip to Tribal Council would be utterly useless since their votes cancel each other out. It remains to be seen if this much-rumoured scenario plays itself out. If it does, it will be another 'Survivor' first as Probst promised.
Foreshadowing for Steph?: Stephanie saying she wants to win Immunity at least once before her torch is snuffed seems like a dead giveaway that she will claim the title at least once...maybe twice?
To read Powell's 'Tale of the Torch', go here and follow all the latest 'Survivor' news in Jam! 'Survivor Palau'.
