SURVIVOR: BLOOD VS WATER – 12/4

So next scene she does the one thing she shouldn’t do, and reads the clue aloud to Tyson, Gervase, and Monica while the four of them are out fetching water. Okay, maybe this is a good way to stay tight with her alliance, but let me ask you: If you were in her place, would you have shared the clue with your alliance?

As I just mentioned ONE PARAGRAPH ago, this is the stage where you need to be looking out for yourself. Does she really think that if Tyson or Gervase finds it, they’re going to hand it over to Ciera and say it’s hers? Methinks not!

So then Hayden and Katie decide to join the hunting party because, why let 4 out of the remaining 6 people be the only ones looking? They try their best to figure out where the others are looking but without reading the clue, it’s really just looking for a…hidden immunity idol in a haystack. Hayden knows this is one of his only options to remain in the game, and he understands what he’s up against here.

“This is stupid…”

And with a simple zoom of the camera, we see how close Hayden was to the idol the moment he uttered those words.

Next scene, we see Tyson running off and doing his own searching for the idol. He reveals in an emotional ITM (yes, there are still some emotions to experience this season) that winning the game is the only way to make up for not swapping with Rachel when he had the chance. So as he searches in the same tree that Hayden stood next to, the camera tells us once again how close someone is to finding it. And in what may portend what’s to come later, Tyson tells us:

“I’m so close, and I still feel like it’s gonna get pulled out from under me…”

And with that, Tyson climbs another branch of the tree, and finds the idol. Boom! And once again, Tyson moves back up to the top of the totem pole, with apparent immunity next Tribal Council. Only question is where to hide the idol, since he has no pockets.

“I have to put it right in my crotch, where no one will suspect a bulge.” Classic friggin’ Tyson. Get this guy a writing gig on “The Millers”!

What Hayden needs to do is consider what few options he has. He approaches Gervase to see where his head is. Since Gervase knows that Tyson is playing the game really well, he has to look out for his own best interests, which may be making a move with Hayden. But Gervase has gotten this far with Tyson, so he’s not gonna get in the sinking ship with Hayden, but he’ll explore his own dinghy to see what floats the best.

Up next is the Immunity/Reward challenge, and it looks like a doozy. I saw the challenge preview on the CBS site, so I know it’s gonna be tough. And again I’ll ask: do the guys get wider boards to balance on? No? I didn’t think so… So much for gender equality in challenges…

I’m kidding.

So in the challenge (I’ll spare you the details of exactly what they have to do) it’s Monica once again with an early lead. She’s looking fit as a fiddle and still has the whitest teeth on the island. Close behind her is Gervase, and then Tyson.

I have to comment on something here. As I’m watching this challenge, I’m seeing everyone looking down to place their feet, but no one’s looking up to see how the ball is balancing or how straight the pole is. Shouldn’t the challenge involve alternating your gaze from one to the other? Again, I’m not on the island, but now that my kids are in bed, f**k it, I’m gonna yell some s**t at the TV!

But Monica and Gervase can’t hear me, so they just continue to dominate the challenge. Take that, young ‘uns! Monica gets to the final stage (throwing sandbags) a few seconds before Gervase, and instantly starts knocking over the bamboo pegs. Jeff reminds us she’s been on a tear this season, but Gervase will not be swayed by Jeff’s plaudits. He goes on a tear of his own (knocking over 3 with one throw!) and then after a short lull to get the last one, finally knocks it over. Gervase will wear the necklace and get to enjoy an ice cream social…

But of course he gets to share the reward, so Mrs. Culpepper, come join your Ice Cream Man… And why not make it a party? Tyson, you’re invited, too. I sure hope everyone is going to order the Pig Trough, like they used to serve at Farrell’s, just so we can see some fat Filipino guy in a straw hat run around the camp banging on a huge drum. (Man, my 9th birthday was the best ever…)

Kasama tribe (Day 32): While Gervase, Tyson and Monica are getting stupid on ice cream, Hayden is full steam ahead trying to get SOMEONE to come over to his side and blindside Tyson. First up is Ciera, but while she’s playing coy with him about what his plans are, she’s telling us in an ITM that she has no intention of playing with him or Katie. It just doesn’t make sense for her.

Next up for Hayden are Gervase and Ciera together. The trouble, however, is that they’re like everyone else who thinks they’re playing a better game than they are. And for some reason, these two are only seeing “EVERYTHING” they’ve done, and nothing what Tyson has done. Seriously, he’s orchestrated the whole season (the parts he could take a part in) and is truly the favorite to win the game.

At least Hayden has the guts to tell Tyson what he’s trying to do, since everyone is now listening to Hayden’s pitch to Gervase and Ciera. And judging by Tyson’s reaction to this, something pops into my mind. This is where the biggest difference exists between guys and girls. You see, if this were two women, the second one (the “Tyson”) would be pissed off that the other is gunning for her. But these dudes, they’re just like,

“Hey, I love you man. I’m just playing the game…”

“Cool, bro…”

And it’s done.

Even going back to the campfire chat after last Tribal, Hayden was spot on to call out Tyson and tell everyone they’re playing for second. But since these lemmings are too scared to do anything about it, Tyson seems unbeatable at this point. Once again, I’ll say it, BIG MOVES win the game (s**t, even Hayden knows that and tells Ciera the same) but at this juncture, no one has the stones to make a big move). Or do they…?

In the final bit before the break, Hayden reveals how little he likes to lose (was he about to cry?) and promises to “blow it up” at tribal “guns blazing.” Times like this, I wish I would have seen how he played Big Brother; because maybe then I’d have a bit more insight as to how he’ll react when cornered. As I mentioned at the beginning of this recap, I’m expecting something big at Tribal. “Something that made the cameramen gasp at Tribal” is how Jeff Probst teased back in October. Off to Tribal we go…!