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 Leann what's-her-name took the Walk of Shame on 'Survivor'. |
The episode "Survivor Vanuatu" fans have waited patiently for arrived last night. It was the episode that changed the course of what has been a fairly humdrum game thus far. The prevailing Yasur Women's Alliance spontaneously combusted and from the ashes a new alliance emerged. An alliance that has a more than an excellent chance of becoming this season's final four.
In a shocking move, it was Twila Tanner, the highway repair worker who has waffled on many past votes, who finally stepped up and seized control of the game. Fed up with the arrogant attitudes of both Ami Cusack and Leann Slaby, she approached fellow highway construction worker Chris Daugherty, the last man standing from the Lopevi Men's Alliance, and offered him a deal to shake things up.
Twila promised Scout Cloud Lee's allegiance if he could rope in Eliza Orlins. Facing certain eviction at Tribal Council and with Ami holding Immunity, Eliza joined Chris, Scout and Twila in blindsiding Leann Slaby. In a rarity for 'Survivor', the jury members (Chad Crittenden and Lea "Sarge" Masters) even celebrated the vote with smiles and high-fives. Leann, Julie Berry and Ami Cusack were visibly stunned by the turn of events.
For her part, Leann 'Invisible Woman' Slaby really added nothing substantial to the series. Almost completely absent until midway through, Leann will be best remembered for being Ami's lap dog until last night's episode where she followed her conscience and schemed to keep Chris and boot Eliza.
The Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Alinta Tribe
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1. Julie Berry: Youth mentor.
2. Chris Daugherty: Highway construction.
3. Twila Tanner: Highway repair.
4. Ami Cusack: Coffee server, model.
5. Eliza Orlins: Pre-law student.
6. Leann Slaby: Research assistant.
7. Scout Cloud Lee: Rancher.
Alinta Tribal Happenings (Night 27)
As the tribe meanders back from kicking Chad, Eliza spouts one of those ironic and possibly foreshadowing quotes that is pure gold for the editors at large.
Eliza: She thought she was going home again. Isn't it funny how everyone who conspires against her gets booted instead?
As Alinta sits around the campfire, Chris drops a megaton bomb on everyone. He reveals how Twila and Scout approached him with a plan of teaming up to throw Ami to the wolves. Chris swears on his family he is telling the truth.
Chris: I narked Twila and Scout out to mix things up.
Leann 'The Invisible Woman': It is hard to know what to believe. Chris could be just laying seeds of dissent to further himself in the game.
Alinta Tribal Happenings (Day 28)
Leann and Twila have a chat. Twila is sure paranoia is setting in now. Answering Chris' charges, Twila blames Scout. Yep. It was all her idea to join with Chris and sabotage the Yasur Women's Alliance.
Invisible Woman: She thought the women would have waited until all the men were gone until they started tearing at each other's throats. Twila and Scout should've stuck to the plan. Now there's gonna be trouble. It's clobbering time! Nuff said.
Reward Challenge
Get that hanky ready. It is that time in the series when the producers pull at our itty-bitty heartstrings. Yep. Here come the loved ones. Inside a hut, the producers have set up a satellite dish, a laptop from a useless and worthless computer company that is more concerned with making nifty gadgets than stable, versatile computers and a Web cam. The players are going to be asked five questions based on past challenges. The person who gets the most correct will get a one-hour chat with their loved one. To give them a taste of what's to come, each Survivor is permitted a one minute chat.
Twila is first up but asks Jeff is someone can type for her. She doesn't know how. To his credit, Probst doesn't try to embarrass Twila for her shortcomings. He pulls out the Web cam so she can talk with her son. Leann speaks with her best friend, Eliza with her mom, Julie with her pal Justin, Scout with her partner Annie, Ami with her girlfriend Crissy and Chris with his fiancee. Oh, yeah. You can see this twist coming a mile away since the background the loved ones are sitting in front of is pretty much the same.
Reward
Result
Probst surprises no one but the Survivors when he brings out Eliza's mom in the flesh. You see, the producers set up a fake studio for the loved ones' transmissions. Surprise. Surprise. They are all on the island. Probst announces that Eliza's mom will be staying with Alinta overnight. Probst permits each Survivor to greet their loved one before they ship them out. Damn. Where is Johnny Fairplay and his grandma when you need them? Screw Thunder D. He ruined his rep when he botched the Ric Flair strut. There is a figure-four just waiting for him...some day.
Alinta Tribal Happenings (Day 28)
Taking Eliza's mom back to their pathetic hovel, many of the players want to know what is happening in the outside world.
Eliza: She is excited to have mom at camp. She is her best friend.
Momma chows down on some Alinta trail mix. She comments to the others that her daughter's face looks thinner.
Momma Eliza: She was worried about the parasites. She was worried about Ebola. She was worried about the things in the sea that bite. She was worried that Eliza's irritating motor mouth would cause the production staff to commit mass suicide. Okay. Okay. I made that last one up.
Strolling with her mom, Eliza tells her that she was almost voted off because she talks too much. Mom doesn't seem surprised in the least.
Leann and Ami corner Scout on the beach. They want her to explain what Chris was yammering on about.
Scout: She wanted to play the game with integrity but she's not stupid. There comes a time when you have to lie, cheat and steal. This is it.
Scout tells Ami and Leann that it was all Chad's plan to form the secret alliance and target Ami. She is sticking with the plan. It is them in the final four. Leann: I never made a final four promise to you. Ami: We never said anything about that. Scout asks Leann directly if her final four spot has been given to Julie. Leann confirms that it has.
Scout: That comment brought her hackles up. Vengeance is mine sayeth the jury. Wow. Scout pulls a Jules Winnfield. Who woulda thunk it? She just forgot the "furious anger" part.
Alinta Tribal Happenings (Day 29)
As Eliza's mom prepares to leave, everyone hastily makes gifts for their loved ones. Eliza's mom gives her the long-sleeve shirt off her back and departs wearing a bra. Scout: She's our kind of woman.
Twila, Ami and Leann conspire. Twila admits that many players have sought to make deals with her. Ami claims that if one of the men tried to bring her on board she would send him running back to his buddies by saying they have nothing to talk about.
Ami: She isn't sure that Twila has the alliance's best interest in mind. She can't seem to tell right from wrong.
Leann doesn't trust Twila. Twila swears on her son's life she is committed to the alliance and won't waver. Leann feels guarded about the deal but shakes on it with Twila.
Twila: Mumbles something incoherent as she points up to the sky and God. Someone take the marbles out of that woman's mouth...please.
Alinta Tribal Happenings (Day 30)
Chris reveals that Julie is his "informant". She has been passing along to him all of the women's plans. As they retrieve the tree mail, Julie warns Chris that he has to win Immunity. He is next on Yasur's hit list. Chris hopes it is a physical challenge.
Chris: Daugherty is gonna win Immunity. It's a fact.
Immunity Challenge
Probst announces that the players will compete in pairs. Everyone gives him a blank look. The loved ones march in. Surprise. Surprise. They are going to actively participate in the Immunity Challenge. With their loved one blindfolded, the players must guide them to bags containing puzzle pieces. The first team to assemble the puzzle wins Immunity.
Reward
Result
Ami to Crissy: We kicked butt. I knew we were going to win. Chris and his fiancee hug each other. Chris' fiancee: I am sorry we didn't win. Are you going home tonight? Chris: Yeah, I am. Chris' fiancee: I am sorry.
Alinta Tribal Happenings (Day 30)
Without Eliza and Chris, the rest of Alinta gathers to discuss the vote. Plan A is to vote Chris off. Leann objects to that. She feels that Chris deserves to stay. Eliza should be sent packing instead. Ami believes Chris should go next but is willing to sacrifice Eliza if Leann feels so strongly about keeping Chris around.
Ami: She hopes Yasur hasn't made the wrong decision. If Chris sticks around and wins Immunity, it could mess them up...badly.
Julie gives Chris the good news. He is not going home. People feel he deserves to stay more than Eliza. Chris can't believe what he is hearing.
Chris: He didn't have to do anything but sit around the fire. The women changed the game for him.
Twila meets with Chris. She has had it with Leann and Ami's condescending attitudes. It is about time things got shuffled. She proposes a new alliance between her, Scout, Eliza and Chris. Twila: You can change the game completely. You can change the tide. Chris enthusiastically jumps on board. He gives his word. He will chat with Eliza and bring her into the fold.
Chris and Eliza discuss things. Chris in submitting the deal: You don't have to go home. Eliza is not sure if she can trust him, Scout or Twila. Scout and Twila could be playing them. Chris says there is nothing he can do to prove how serious Twila and Scout are but he is not lying. Chris: Please, take this risk.
Alinta Tribal Council Happenings
Eliza says that the family visit made her realize just how close to the end of the game they are. Chris is not disappointed in his fiancee. She tried 110 per cent. Chris: I love her to death. Questioned about not having a serious approach to the Immunity Challenge, Leann responds that she knew her team wouldn't win. She thought it was funny and didn't feel like it was a life or death situation. Eliza is asked about bringing her bag to Tribal Council again. Eliza claims she is not paranoid at all. She has been close to being voted out many times. Chris sees tension amongst the women. He can feel it. They don't always agree on everything.
Julie votes for Eliza. Eliza is her little sister but everyone is sure she must go. Ami writes down Eliza's name. Again, she is sorry. She has to stick with the alliance.
Chad and Sarge rejoice in Leann's exit. The blood drains from Ami and Julie's faces. As Eliza looks back at Chris, he winks. Probst comments that the game has been turned on its head.
Final Voting
- 1. Julie Berry: Eliza.
2. Chris Daugherty: Leann.
3. Twila Tanner: Leann.
4. Ami Cusack: Eliza.
5. Eliza Orlins: Leann.
6. Leann Slaby: Eliza.
7. Scout Cloud Lee: Leann.
Tribal Council Victim:
Leann Slaby.
Parting Comments
On the next 'Survivor': Television. Back at camp, Ami to the others: I can honestly say that was a really nice move. I am still in the game. Twila: We have been waiting for the opportunity to turn this game around. Chris: The bitterness started as soon as we got back to camp. It is gonna be good. Probst: ...and the surprises just keep coming. The players are shown staying in front of what looks like some sort of television.
On the next 'Survivor': Internet.
"One tribe member accosts another for breaking a pact. The tribe is irritated by two tribemates who show little desire to contribute to routine camp life. A suddenly powerless castaway attempts to sway an undecided tribe member going into a crucial Tribal Council."
Powell's Thoughts:
Chris and his grapefruits: He has got big ones that's for sure. He can't be given any kind of credit for the final four plan. It was either Twila or Scout who brainstormed that one. I am guessing it was Scout based on the information she gained from Leann and Ami about her not being in the final four any longer. Ratting out Twila and Scout though in front of everyone was a bold move that could've blown up in his face. Man, this guy just loves playing with fire and I like it.
Stop the insanity: Survivor players have to quit trying to foolishly imitate Richard Hatch and Brian Heidik. People are wise to that behaviour now. Being arrogant and boastful in the game does nothing but light you up for a major missile strike. Case in point, Ami's public comments following the Immunity victory. They kicked butt? She knew she and her partner would win? Bragging like you have the game in the bag in front of everyone is a bonehead move. People don't appreciate comments like that especially after they just gave everything they had in challenge. Survivor Rule 21832: Know when to open your mouth and when to keep your big mouth shut.
Eliza, Chris: They are sitting pretty right now. Scout and Twila must realize that putting Chris or Eliza beside them in front of the jury almost guarantees a win. Eliza has ticked too many people off and Chris...well...he is a male facing a mostly female jury. The only thing that might corrode this alliance is Scout and Eliza's dislike for each other. It will be interesting to see if they can set aside their personal differences to move ahead.
Next to walk the plank: Julie or Ami.
Check Powell's 'Tale of the Torch' for predictions on who will go each Thursday and the updated status of all the players and check out the home page for news about next week's chat.