And then there were two...
I can't wait to see how this plays out. Don't they have to merge at this point, even if we don't want them to. What would happen if they didn't merge? Plus, did anyone see the commercial for this week's episode, where Ian says the final four will be him, Tom, Katie, and Steph? The plot thickens.

Here's hoping Bobby Jon wins all the individual immunities.

ok, the drubbing of ulong has reached its nadir of predictability. presumably the teams will have to merge next week. what was once amusing is now depressing.

so now the real fun starts. koror has built confidence and an undercurrent of team unity, in spite of the fact that they all know they're going to have to start eating their own sooner or later. survivor has never had a team get along so well--aside from the occasional spat between caryn and katie and the odd pout or two from coby over not being as rugged and manly as tom, these folks seem to genuinely like each other. in his post-ejection interview, even willard, the first koror to go, said that for the most part he really respected all of his teammates. while a little advance scheming has taken place, there's no real intensity to it, and everyone is too well rested, fed, and spiritually buoyed by their record win streak for any serious animosity or paranoia to set in.

next week, the carnage begins.

it's hard not to want ian and tom to make the final 4--they treat everyone with respect, dominate in challenges, keep the tribe well fed, and thrill the audience with ridiculous stunts like shark hunting and feeding on the flesh of venomous snakes--but what gang of fools would overlook a chance to get rid of robinson crusoe or friday? the two would be wise to lure both steph--who is desperate to be among some winners for once--and bobby jesus, who seems ready to join tom and ian's man-boy love-club--before coby has a chance to rally the weak majority against them. with katie (who would be hopeless without having hitched herself to batman and robin's wagon) along for the ride and gregg vacillating between the long-term goal (the final 4 and a shot at a million bucks) and the short-term (taking jenn to pleasure town), colonel kurtz and captain willard may yet join the slim ranks of survivor finalists who could actually last a few days in the wilderness without pringles and home depot.

I predict no merge yet. I think Steph and Bobby Jesus lose yet again this week and are forced into an immunity challenge of their own to see who stays and who goes. Something like the old stand by fire building challenge or something similar. Then the person left will merge with the other tribe. Anyone want to wager against this happening?

Rick D.

I agree, Rick D. I don't think they're going to merge--everyone has been expecting it, but I think they are trying to be different this season. Plus, at least without a merge there is a chance that what's left of Ulong can defeat a portion of Koror in a challenge instead of just getting picked off post-merge.

I think that they will split BJ and Steph up and make them choose new tribes from the larger tribe....although the thought of an immunity challenge bewteen BJ and Steph is DELICIOUS!

Steph is delicious. Yum.

Ibrehem is the laziest muther f**cken tribe member since Osten. This guy doesn't paddle, yank a bottle, push people half his size off a float, or make noise for a passing plane. I shuddered with excitement when he did show some testosterone that one time. Maybe he's depressed that people will see his patchy male patterned baldness. I'm totally disappointed in him cause i thought he would step to the plate this episode. I guess Allah has other plans for him.

Bobby Jon suck some big ones. Way to give your "unofficial" word and stab a bro in the back. At least tell the guy Stephenie gots more balls than him so she's staying.

I'm gonna miss that eye candy though.

At first I was thinking that they absolutely HAVE to merge this week. The two remaining tribe members can't vote for themselves and can only vote for the other person. That cancels out the vote. Now what? I do like the idea of having BJ and Steph do an individual immunity challenge. (Notice how we all assume the losing streak will continue? Well, of course it will!)

However, I LOVE the idea of having BJ and Steph choosing new tribe members from Koror and divide up.

I also noticed the Ian/Tom/Katie/Steph alliance comment. When did THAT happen? They were dropped into the ocean in episode one and told to playground pick the tribes. After that, the tribes never even saw each other except at the challenges. Weird!

I think if Ulong loses immunity, Koror will decide who gets voted out and who joins the tribe. Makes the most sense.

"I think Mark Burnett has been brilliant to hold off on any merges or tribal swaps"
What show are you watching? Mark Burnetts plan to not merge the teams this far into the game has ruined the season. Who wants to watch a tribe of 2-3 people just sit around? Also the challeges on this episode were awful and pointless. WORST episode yet!

Bobby John is HOT!

I don't think Koror deciding who gets voted off makes any sense. It also doesn't make any sense that Bobby Jon and Steph would get to pick new teams from Koror. Why would they be rewarded for sucking? And, yes, Bobby Jon is hot.

I think the non-merge has been great. Chances are had there been a merge, the ulong people would have been picked off. yes, you never know what sort of divides might happen, but I think this is an interesting experiment. Every week we think Ulong can't possible lose again, and yet they do. Then it's like, well, who are they going to vote off? Will that save the bloodletting? It's sort of a different type of season. Less about the scheming and more about one team's struggle to simple stay in it.

I do think the people from Ulong would be voted off first, so why would they even want to merge. But that's what we thought about the Vanuatu guys, and Chris ended up winning the whole thing.