CANOE -- JAM! Television - TV Shows - Survivor3: Africa: Episode Eight: Lex betrays Kelly

Paranoia is a powerful feeling. It can turn your stomach and head into a nest of writhing snakes. Just ask Lex van den Berghe, the self-appointed leader of the Boran voting alliance on 'Survivor: Africa'. Lex was so consumed with finding out who cast one solitary vote against him at last week's Tribal Council that the bonehead almost destroyed the Alliance's unstoppable control of the game. Convinced that it was teammate Kelly Goldsmith who stabbed him in the back, Lex turned the Boran Alliance against her and brought Samburu foe Brandon Quinton into the fold as her replacement paving the way for her exit from the game on last night's show. By taking the action he did against Kelly, Lex also secured himself four more votes in the process.

In reality, it was Teresa Cooper who was the guilty party. Cooper had kept her promise to Clarence Black casting her ballot for Lex last time out. Fearing Lex would have the Boran Alliance vote her out, Cooper kept her mouth shut and allowed Lex to believe what he wanted to believe when they returned to camp. The alliances did shift as Cooper had hoped but not enough for the Samburu Alliance though. Quinton's desertion permits the Boran Alliance to maintain that all important one vote lead at Tribal Council and because of the deal he struck with Lex, Quinton has been guaranteed that he will finish no lower than fifth in 'Survivor: Africa'.

The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:

Moto Maji Tribe

Moto Maji Tribal Happenings (Day 22)

Lex is on the warpath. He's not at all surprised Clarence threw a vote his way. He just can't figure out who the other person was. The mystery is eating away at him. Sherlock Lex (minus the pipe and deerskin cap) lines up his suspects and begins questioning them. Chatting with Kelly, Lex tells her that he will "slit the throat" of the person who betrayed him. Kelly finds it silly that Lex is freaking about one vote. It's "Survivor'. You're going to get votes cast against you sooner or later. Brandon is amused by it all. He believes Lex's ego has gotten the better of him. Brandon kinda wishes he was the one who did it based on all the confusion it has caused.

Sherlock Lex approaches Teresa. To her credit, she retains her composure under fire. Lex tells Teresa that he doesn't suspect her at all. Teresa says to us that her mama didn't raise no fools and even though she hates lying, she can't let Lex know it was her. Lex's gut tells him that Teresa is the "real deal" so he trusts her. Teresa plays along playfully stroking Lex's head as she would a small child. It seems that Teresa is following Tina Wesson's lead playing the sensitive Southern Pollyanna who carries a sharp knife behind her back at all times.

Reward Challenge

There are nine stands with baskets on top of them. Below each stand is a catapult-like device. In each player's box are nine items. By placing each item on one end of the catapult and stomping on the other, the contestants must fling all nine items into their baskets.

Reward

Two goats and a day at a local village to barter them for goods.

Result

Ethan, the soccer player, dominates the challenge. Kelly keeps messing up her plank and does the worst out of everyone.

Winner: Ethan Zohn.

Moto Maji Tribal Happenings (Day 23)

Ethan gathers some items from the others to swap at the market. He has many hats and a pair of sunglasses. Host Jeff Probst escourts Ethan to an awaiting truck driven by the same smartass who chauffeured the Survivors at beginning of the game (Hurry up! Down! Down! Down! Hurry up!). As Ethan climbs aboard, Probst informs Ethan that because he is going to need help corralling the goats, he can select someone else to join him on the trip. Thinking quick on his feet, Ethan announces to everyone that he is selecting Lex because he finished second in the Reward Challenge.

The ride is a bumpy one and both Survivors have a hard time keeping the goats calm and seated. Lex terms the trip as a "ball buster". Once they arrive at the small town of Wambi, Lex and Ethan have all sorts of trouble getting the goats off the truck. The locals gather around and snicker at them. Herding the goats through town, Lex and Ethan try to pawn them off on anyone they encounter. Finally, they receive $2000 shillings from a man who takes the goats directly to a nearby butcher shop. Ethan had visions of the goats running free on a farm after they sold them but alas, it is not to be. Oh, well. Time to eat.

Ethan and Lex decide to buy a meal at a restaurant that resembles a shack more than the North American greasy spoons they are used to. Lex sees some cats roaming around. Presuming they are probably part of the menu, Lex thinks they should order french fries and stay well away from the meat dishes. Somehow, I don't think they eat cat-on-a-stick or cat pot pies in Kenya, Lex. Nevertheless, the boys order some french fries floating in grease. Lex has a beer and Ethan a soda. Ethan's stomach goes into shock and he beats his feet to the bathroom which is nothing more than an outhouse.

Lex and Ethan buy some goodies for the tribe. Ethan even trades the shirt off his back. Ethan spends some time with a small group of children. Ethan has a grand old time playing hacky sack with them. Though it was his Luxury Item, Ethan gives the sack away to one of the kids who is all smiles. As Ethan and Lex drive away, they see that some of the locals are wearing the items Ethan bartered away. Lex and Ethan agree that the experience was nothing short of amazing.

Back at the camp, Teresa chats with Brandon and Kim. They agree to join forces with her and Frank once again. Teresa is hatching a plot but they must execute it at the upcoming Tribal Council or they are done like dinner. Ethan and Lex arrive back. They deliberately return with sedated enthusiasm so as not to make the others feel bad. Ethan hands out the treats. A box of cookies for everyone to share is devoured. Ethan gets lots of hugs and thanks.

As Kim Powers and Kelly complete a water run, Kim tries to persuade Kelly to jump ship to the Samburu Alliance. Kelly politely declines the offer. Kim vows to keep trying.

Immunity Challenge

Probst shows the players a box with nine compartments. In each of the compartments is an item. He asks them to study it and commit the items and their locations to memory. The Survivors each have a box of their own which is empty. Probst will call out items by their compartment number and it is up to the Survivors to find the item in the nearby brush and put them into their box.

Reward

Immunity from Tribal Council.

Result

During the first round, both Kims and Frank are gone. During the second, Teresa and Kelly. Brandon, Lex, Tom and Ethan are shown a new box of items. They are sent to gather as many of the items as they can. Brandon and Tom get six, Lex has five and Ethan wins with eight.

Winner: Ethan Zohn.

Moto Maji Pre-Tribal Council Happenings (Day 24)

Sherlock Lex pulls Brandon aside. He clues him into the result of his "investigation". Lex points the finger at Kelly. He offers Brandon a deal. If he joins the Boran Alliance, turns his back on his friends and helps vote Kelly off, Lex pledges that Brandon will make the final five.

Sherlock Lex meets with Tom. Tom is not sure about Lex's conclusions or kicking one of their own. Tom asks Lex, "Are you sure?". Lex replies "I'm sure". Kelly tells us that every since the Immunity Challenge things have been different at the camp. Lex chats with Kelly. Tipping her off to what he really thinks about her, Lex says "Alliances aren't what they used to be." Kelly tells Lex it wasn't her. He isn't buying it. Kelly informs us that since Lex has turned Boran against her she has no alternative but to defect to the Samburu Alliance.

Kelly hunts down Kim and says that she accepts her previous offer. Kim rushes back to discuss it with Teresa. Teresa isn't sure they can trust Kelly but they really don't have a choice at this point. Teresa states that their plan will only work if everyone in the Samburu Alliance is on the same page. Brandon tells us that he never expected to be in the "swing vote" position and is not sure which faction he will side with.

Tribal Council

Probst asks the Survivors to remember that anyone voted out from here on in will sit on the jury. Ethan is asked about the good week he has had. Ethan describes his experience at the town as a "ten" and no matter what happens to him during the game, he won't ever forget that day ever. Tom affirms that there was more scheming at the camp with Ethan and Lex gone. Kim Powers doesn't think anyone would even dream of throwing a challenge just because they would miss what goes on at camp while they are absent. Lex says that seeing his name on one of the voting cards really shocked him.

Lex votes for Kelly. If he is wrong about her, he apologizes but he smells a rat. He believes Kelly has been playing both sides and if so, good riddance. Kelly selects Lex and expresses her dislike of him. She will gain satisfaction from casting a vote against him even if she is booted tonight. She doesn't want Lex to make it to the finals.

Final Voting

Parting Comments

"I love you mom and dad. I can't help but be myself. I've never been too good at sticking to one clique. I always kind of float around. It was hard for me not to have friends in different places and that kind of screwed me but hey, I made it passed the hard part with the boulders and whatnot. For a skinny girl that's kind of a big deal." - Kelly Goldsmith.

Episode Rating: A+.

Powell's Comments

Next time on 'Survivor': Tom's body begins to rebel. It looks like he is experiencing some sores. Brandon is in the dog house after abandoning his former teammates. The Boran Alliance questions Lex's decision to kick Kelly. Lex says he regrets the choice he made.

We all knew 'Survivor: Africa' would get better once the tribes merged and we were not disappointed. Tonight's was one of the best episodes of any season of 'Survivor'. The trip to the town was a welcome break not only for Lex and Ethan but for us the viewers too. It was nice to see some humour and kindness balancing out the ruthlessness that goes on. Ethan's stock has just skyrocketed. It would be safe to say that he will make it to the final three unless he pulls a Colby and begins hoarding all the rewards and immunities. That might turn the others against him. Despite all their conniving, the Samburu faction is no better off than they were before. I am sure they won't welcome Brandon back after what he did so unless another Boran defects, Samburu's hopes of turning the tables on them are slim at best. Just like Tina Wesson, Teresa Cooper is a master manipulator though. That's about the only thing Samburu has going for them.