Faithful 'Survivor' viewers saw the producers kill two birds with one stone last night as both the Lopevi and Yasur Tribes shipped someone off to Loser Island.
Host Jeff Probst threw a wrench into the works at the combined Reward/Immunity Challenge announcing the contest would be divided into two parts. The tribe who was victorious during the Reward portion would move on to battle for individual immunity during the second stage. Lopevi handily defeated Lopevi. That set the stage for John Kenney to snare immunity for himself after finding pieces of a ladder puzzle and putting them together correctly.
Though it was well past the 15 minutes as CBS advertised, Probst unveiled a second twist. As instructed, Kenney would spend time at Yasur's camp and then bestow immunity upon one of their members at their Tribal Council.
Though inventive, the twists did nothing to alter the predictable tribal dynamics unfolding on the series. The Lopevi Elders continued their dominance and voted out challenge threat John Palyok. Approached by the ever-shrinking Young Studs Alliance (Brady, John P.), Sarge was offered the chance to team with them and ditch the thorn in his side: Rory. Sarge dismissed that idea with his vote.
At Yasur's lynching, Kenney gave Ami Cusack immunity from the Tribal Council vote simply because there was no chance of her being targeted. The Sorority Girls Alliance imploded yet again. This time it was Lisa Keiffer betraying them and siding with the Yasur Elders in pulling the plug on mega motor mouth Mia Galeotalanza.
The Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Lopevi Tribe
1. Chad Crittenden: Teacher. 2. Chris Daugherty: Highway construction. 3. Brady Finta: F.B.I. Agent. 4. Rory Freeman: Housing Case Manager. 5. John Kenney: Mechanical bull operator, model. 6. Lea "Sarge" Masters: Drill Sergeant. 7. John Palyok: Sales Manager. 8. Travis "Bubba" Sampson: Loss prevention.
Yasur Tribe
1. Julie Berry: Youth mentor. 2. Ami Cusack: Coffee server, model. 3. Mia Galeotalanza: Financial manager. 4. Lisa Keiffer: Real estate manager. 5. Scout Cloud Lee: Rancher. 6. Eliza Orlins: Pre-law student. 7. Leann Slaby: Research assistant. 8. Twila Tanner: Highway repair.
Yasur Tribal Happenings (Night Six)
The backs are up. The claws are out. It is a Sorority Girl catfight. Swarmed by the other members, Eliza claims that she had to go where the chips were falling and thought Dolly was out to stab her in the back. As Eliza slinks away, Mia warns the remaining Sorority Girls not to trust Eliza.
Lopevi Tribal Happenings (Day Seven)
Everyone works hard on the shelter. Everyone that is, except for Rory. He is off on a nature walk admiring the local fauna and eating fruit. "Where is Rory?," growls Sarge, his eyes scanning camp and his mind contemplating a court martial hearing. Sarge tells us that Rory doesn't do much physical work. He isn't a team player.
Rory arrives back with a satchel full of fruit. Sarge draws and quarters him. Sarge asks Rory why he always pulls an Invisible Man when there is serious work to be done. Rory shows Sarge his bag of fruit and says "This is why I go." Sarge looks at the goodies. "That's cool," he says. Rory informs Sarge that he has been biting his tongue when it comes to some of the things Sarge does too. Company dismissed! Rory says to us that he is a grown man and doesn't like being ordered around.
Seeing Rory and Sarge butt heads has got J.P. thinking. There might be a slim chance that he can convince Sarge to align with the Young Studs against Rory and he is going to take it.
Yasur Tribal Happenings (Day Seven)
Let's get ready to rummmble! Twila does her impression of Amazon's Matthew and sits on her lonesome sharpening a machete until it can cut a human hair in half. The Sorority Girls babble about being called out as lazy lima beans. Julie believes Yasur should create some sort of rotating shift work so that everyone has to contribute to the chores. Fully aware that Twila is sitting nearby, Mia throws the gauntlet down and says the notion that The Sorority Girls do nothing is just ridiculous. Ding! Ding! Twila and Mia square off. Mia lets Twila know that with or without her, the work would still get done at camp. Mia accuses Twila of playing the "martyr" card as far as workload goes and that strategy will eventually backfire in Twila's face. Mia: "That's the only card you have and you keep playing it."
Twila: The Sorority Girls should get off their asses and do something. Twila: "I ain't here to make friends".
The Sorority Girls corner Eliza again about her doing a Judas at Tribal Council while they retrieve the Tree Mail. Eliza explains again that she was worried about Dolly. Eliza to the others: "I am with you 100 per cent." The Sorority Girls agree to rub out Twila. Mia to Eliza: Let's get that bitch and don't switch. Lisa tells us she will go along with the plan to get Twila out but she has a secondary plan too. The Tree Mail informs Yasur about the upcoming Immunity Challenge.
On the road to being the most boring and useless 'Survivor' personality ever, Leann (You know. The player we often mistake for a palm tree.) tells us that it sucks that Yasur might have to go to Tribal Council two days in a row. Thanks for the revelation, Miss Obvious. You can re-engage your stealth mode and fade back into the jungle once again until the producers allow you to utter your one line quota next episode.
Reward Challenge
Probst informs Lopevi that Dolly was voted out. Sarge: "Barbie's gone". Probst springs the double Tribal Council, Immunity/Reward twist on the players. The first stage involves the players making their way through cage walls blocking their way. The first is tied closed with knots. At the second cage wall, they have to use grappling hooks to retrieve keys to open locks. The third cage is held shut by removable planks.
Reward
A fishing kit and the right to battle for individual Immunity.
Result
J.P. leads his team to victory with his grappling hook skills. Probst mocks Scout for her's. Twila does well for the women.
Winners: Lopevi.
Immunity Challenge
As Yasur sits in the sand and watches, Lopevi has to dig up wooden rungs and solve a ladder puzzle.
Reward
Immunity from the Tribal Council vote.
Result
John P., Chad and John K. are in a tight race. Chad gets a piece out of place and surrenders his lead.
Winner: John K.
Probst explains to John K. he will be deciding whom on Yasur he should award Immunity to by spending some time with them at their camp.
Yasur Tribal Happenings (Day Seven)
At Yasur, John K. takes command. He asks the women to divide themselves into who did and didn't vote for Dolly. John meets with the Elders first. Eliza is with them of course. Eliza blithers on and on explaining why she bailed on The Sorority Girls and voted out Dolly. Watching Eliza's mouth go a mile a minute across the beach, Mia says to the Sorority Girls that she hopes Eliza is digging herself a big, fat hole.
John K.: I wanted to ask Eliza to please stop talking.
The Sorority Girls advise John not to grant Immunity to Twila or Eliza.
John K.: He couldn't care less who Yasur votes out. He just doesn't want them to be angry with him because the tribes might merge sooner or later.
Once John K. has said his goodbyes and departed, The Sorority Girls plot. Scout's name is mentioned. She is so weak at the challenges. Lisa grows a backbone and states emphatically she won't even consider Scout. The Sorority Girls put Twila at the top of their hit list.
Lopevi Tribal Happenings (Day Seven)
J.P. makes a big deal to the others at how good he was at the grappling hook deal. J.P.: Brady and I are dead men walking. While Rory fishes alone, John P. and Brady take Sarge aside. They ask Sarge to think ahead. With Brady and J.P. still around, Lopevi can rule the challenges. If Sarge will support them, they can join forces and sink Rory. All Sarge will say is that he will consider their offer. Sarge goes off and confers with Chris. Sarge is worried about Rory bringing the team down. Chris: "We will deal with that. This is not the time."
Sarge isn't used to the Tribal Council deal. He hates building a team up and then having to tear them down. Something isn't right about that.
Lopevi Tribal Council
John K. returns with the Immunity Necklace around his neck. Chad thinks the tribe has tons of camaraderie. That kind of confidence wins challenges. Brady credits Sarge on being a personable guy. John K. explains how he split Yasur up to expose their alliances. Lopevi praises him for doing so. John P. hopes Lopevi will factor in wanting a strong tribe going into a merger. Sarge characterizes tonight's Tribal Council victim as a "casualty of war".
Chris votes for J.P. Though J.P. is physically stronger, Chris is sure he is mentally stronger. It is just a game. Brady picks Rory. It is nothing personal. John P. selects Rory for being the weakest Lopevi member. Chad votes for J.P. It is just strategy. Probst rips on Lopevi for voting out their strongest members. He hopes it works out for them.
Final Voting
1. Chad Crittenden: John P. 2. Chris Daugherty: John P. 3. Brady Finta: Rory. 4. Rory Freeman: John P. 5. John Kenney: Rory. 6. Lea "Sarge" Masters: John P. 7. John Palyok: Rory. 8. Travis "Bubba" Sampson: John P.
Tribal Council Victim:
John Palyok.
Parting Comments
"Well, what can I say? I survived seven days. I was hoping to stay a little bit longer but there is no way that I think I was outwitted, outlasted or outplayed. Coming to the island and being part of something that I couldn't even imagine, I'll tell you, what an experience." -- John Palyok.
Yasur Tribal Council
John K. gives Immunity to Ami because she was safe from the vote tonight. John K. leaves the Tribal Council area. Ami is shocked. She thought for sure that John would've given immunity to someone who was in danger of being kicked. Scout details Mia and Twila's verbal spat. Mia says Twila's comment at the last Tribal Council upset her. Twila insists she was just telling the truth. Julie rips on Twila for not communicating with her at all. Twila says the Sorority Girls don't make the effort to speak to her either. She gets along better with men. She always has and always will. Ami advises Twila to take the time and get in touch with her feminine side and let the others French braid her hair and do girly things. Twila laughs. She would be up for that. It might be fun. Scout will vote out the person who has been agitating others. Mia knows Scout was pointing her out. She puts the blame on Twila too for the commotion. Eliza supports Scout's idea that there needs to be harmony at camp.
Mia votes for Twila. She cannot spend another day on the island with her. Scout picks Mia. She is like a volcano erupting all the time. Scout wishes Mia good luck in finding a man who will put up with her. Twila picks Mia for having a big mouth and a chip on her shoulder. Eliza votes for Twila. Eliza is shocked when the votes are revealed.
Final Voting
1. Julie Berry: Twila. 2. Ami Cusack: Mia. 3. Mia Galeotalanza: Twila. 4. Lisa Keiffer: Mia. 5. Scout Cloud Lee: Mia. 6. Eliza Orlins: Twila. 7. Leann Slaby: Mia. 8. Twila Tanner: Mia.
Tribal Council Victim:
Mia Galeotalanza.
Parting Comments
"I have met a lot of amazing girls and a lot of people that I never want to see again, one of them being Twila. Twila, you have been extremely deceiving with all the girls. I thought you were absolutely horrendous. I don't think you have the social skills to play this game at all and that's going to wear on the girls. Hopefully, you will get voted off next." -- Mia Galeotalanza .
On the next 'Survivor': Television. At Lopevi, Brady tries to turn the tide. Brady is shown fishing. Brady: "If I can endear myself with the fishing that may change people's minds." Brady holds a guppy of a fish. Someone rips on the haul. At Yasur, close allies become new enemies. Julie tells the Sorority Girls she had a right to change her mind. Eliza: "That bitch."
On the next 'Survivor': Internet.
" Tempers flare at both camps after the double Tribal Council. Alliances seem clearly drawn and several Survivors have trouble holding back their frustration.
The Tribe that wins Reward is surprised by a prize that sends a visitor to their camp for 24 hours.
Homesickness plagues Bubba, who is comforted by a fellow tribe member and is advised to avoid being perceived as weak.
One Survivor plays a puppet master of sorts in an attempt to pit one tribemate against another. "
Powell's Thoughts:
What's that sound? Yep. Pa-gong! Pa-gong! That's the theme of 'Survivor: Vanuatu' and it isn't going to end any time soon. It is unlikely a merge or a shaking up of the tribes is in the cards yet so be prepared for more humdrum episodes, as far as the voting goes. A change-up probably won't occur for approximately four more episodes.
I am still dumbfounded that year after year, series after series, players continue to make the same tactical mistakes. It is a bonehead idea to call someone out if you don't have the support of the tribe behind you. That is the very reason why Sarge can take Rory to task and not receive any backlash while Mia got voted out.
Brady's attempt at getting into the Elders' good graces will not work. He is certainly next on their hit list though you must wonder about John K. showing that he indeed has devious smarts.
Rumours are already swirling that the "visitor" who will come to stay with a tribe after they win the Reward Challenge could perhaps be Rupert Boneham or a local who can give the tribes tips on how to survive.
