Arrrghh, Terry!!!!!!!! My hatred for you grows exponentially each week! What the devil kind of leader is he to endlessly screw his trusted minions up? Shouldn't Terry have let Nick or Austin win? It's so obvious. Casaya would've all voted for Terry. LaMina would've all voted for Shane. Terry pulls out the shrunken head. Shane is out. This shakes things up and makes it a bit more even. It buys time to get a swing vote too. Right? Is that how it would've gone? But he's such a hot dog asswipe, he has to win the immunity challenge too. Now LaMina can (potentially) get plucked off one by one with Terry getting no use out of the thing. Use it as a bargaining chip? With 10 people left. So dumb. I'm so irritated about this. More annoying than usual, sorry, crabby and exhausted.

Holy Crap, Jeff has a third testicle and a third nipple? On his butt no less. B-Side, you had me bustin up laughin while I was reading this. I was thoroughly disappointed that Bruce is so completely RETARDED. It would have been smart for him to switch because chances are he is gonna be the first one to go after La Mina is all gone.

I wanted Shane to go home so bad. He is completely insane. Whats with all the unity now and their little hoorah cheer? I cant help but think what all of these people are thinking as they are watching themselves on TV. Is Shane going "what the hell is up my ass? Do I really walk like that?" Is BRuce watching and thinking "Holy shit how could I be so stupid???"

Has anyone read Austins first book?

OH and dont you think just maybe someone would have mentioned that the camp floods quite often so just maybe they could have built the shelter like La Mina and raised it off the ground??? Oh maybe they like sleeping in a lake...

Lizardqueen, I was thinking the same damn thing. I think he's thinking that it's still in his best interest to have both immunities, because then he could use the other one later. But I still think he'd get picked off... though if anyones going to pull a 10 game immunity streak upset, it would be him.

Was I the one who laughed shamelessly when Bruce got macheted in the tooth? Don't get me wrong, I love the man, and if it had been serious, I would have thought differently. But just that look on Nick's face.

I can kind of understand why Bruce didn't switch, but I really hope he isn't buying all that 2-faced "you're the man" crap from Aras & Shawn. He's GOT to know he's the lowest man on the totem pole over there; I really wish he'd switched over.

They are touting it on the preview to be some sort of big twist next week, tables turned... how many wanna bet it's going to fall through and be all hype?

Am I remembering correctly...three weeks ago in the preview for this episode, they showed someone being taken away on a stretcher...right? They didn't even show any footage of anyone being "taken away!" What a bunch of crap!

Umm... what happened to the show's namesake "Exile Island" this week? I realize it was a merge and all, but isn't that a great time to have someone sent off into exile -- to shake up the normal, predictable tribal imbalance issues?

Pandora (#3), I too laughed shamelessly when Bruce got hit by the machete. Apparently, CBS producers loved the scene too. They even gave it an ESPN-style slow-motion replay, something that has never happened on Survivor before (I think).

But Bruce is a tough guy. After bleeding for a bit, he just laughed it off. Nothing fazes the karate master.

I'm just disappointed that he decided to stay with Shane Vader and the Dark Side. It was the right move strategy, but... *sigh*

I meant "it was the right move strategically." I sounded like Bruce in that last comment. "I made right move strategy! Hai!"

Lizardqueen, I thought the same thing. Even after winning immunity, Terry could have given the necklace to Nick, then whipped out that immunity idol. Shane would have been toast. It would still be 5 Casaya to 4 La Mina but there would be more time to turn someone. Of course, Terry doesn't seem to be very good at that.
I really hate it when one tribe gets picked off by the other. It makes tribal council so boring. La Mina needs to start talking to these people and get the bickering going again. I don't think any of them are bright enough for that, though.
Pandora, thanks for reminding me. I feel ripped off. We were promised someone getting hauled off and nothing. Maybe it will happen next week. Maybe it's a member of Casaya and then tribal council will have a tie. That would make for some good Survivor tv!

Too bad Nick wasn't with Shane.
With the Machette.
In the Zen Garden.

hb

Nick was just too hot for that island, he turns me out.

KH

Machete to the face! It gives new meaning to my favorite insult "Go cut a rope." My real life version is "Go throw a taco." But that's another story. I'm so disappointed in Bruce. He reminds me of that kid in school who was always on the periphery of the "cool" crowd. He was allowed to hang around when he had a bag or his parents were away. Told annoying anecdotes. Thought he was a great deal smarter than he actually was. I hope it's just the editing, because he's too old for that crap.

I still can't get over Terry's foible. zevonia I think winning and giving the necklace away would have made it too obvious that he had the idol. They would've just voted for Austin. He and Bruce must've had a prayer history right? He wouldn't just walk up to Bruce and start a last ditch to save his ass prayer, would he? And why do they always reveal information before the vote? If Jeff asks you a question you don't have to answer. Deny everything.

You're right, Lizardqueen, I didn't think of that. Letting Nick or Austin win would have made more sense. I don't think Terry is a big picture kind of guy.
I really hoped Bruce would vote for Shane. I mean what have these people ever done for him? But Bruce isn't the only one hanging on to a bad alliance. Has Cirie forgotten where she stands in the pecking order on Casaya? I would have jumped ship just to see the look on my old tribe mates' faces. She may not improve her chances but it's better than just sitting there.

Or maybe Cirie and Bruce know what their tribe is like and are aware of the precarious position Shane keeps putting himself in. If neither of them have spoken to the two other women in their tribe about final four, I will be extremely disappointed.
And of course those two should be speaking to Sally right now. Once Austin is gone, everyone will be focused on Terry. They can easily convince the others that Sally's no threat and get Shane and/or Aras out. Final five could easily be Cirie, Bruce, and the three left from the original younger women.
OR...
Aras, who is slightly smarter than Shane, could at that point talk to Cirie and Bruce about final three.
Dang, it would be nice to see a tied vote again. I really hate this fear of a tie that plagues Survivor.

the item nick tossed back (to cirie) was a pair of heavy-duty wool socks. nick explained in his early show interview that good socks are a major luxury during the cold nights, and that before tribal council he'd promised cirie (whose socks were shredded) that if he was voted out, he'd leave her his pair, which was given to him by dan under the same circumstances.

terry, terry, terry. what a jerk. it's probably pointless for him to try to hide his military-officer-alpha-male tendencies (he wouldn't be fooling anybody at this point), and he may be able to ride his challenge strength and his trump card the the finals, but he never ceases to baffle us with his faulty logic and ruthless, militaristic snap-judgments.

terry telling bruce 'i'm a man of my word' was just a joke. ask dan and ruth-marie how much terry's word is worth. and terry's 'strategy' of offering shane and cirie '2 more guaranteed weeks' was laughable.

cirie has a good position either way--because she is not perceived as a challenge threat, getting rid of her is not a priority for either alliance--but she still has a better chance against the casaya psychos than against the la mina YMCA.

you can't really blame terry for wanting to save the hidden immunity idol, but he really blew an opportunity to shake the game up by either throwing the immunity challenge and drawing the target to himself or bringing it out to save nick. with casaya apparently believing that neither terry nor sally had the idol, la mina could have handpicked the boot--the best candidate would have been aras. shane may be the guy calling the plays in the casaya huddle, but aras is really the brains of the operation. it might not seem bright for terry to use the idol to save someone else, but now there are only 3 la mina left, which means if terry reaches the finals, he will have a hard time winning with only two strong allies on the jury.

where was sally this episode? she is actually in a great position, but she needs to take advantage of it. while aras and shane are obsessing about getting rid of terry and austin and keeping bruce in the fold, sally could be working a final 4 alliance with the other 3 women.

sorry for the over-long post; guess i've just been suffering from survivor withdrawal. gotta go drop a deuce--

I was hoping that Shane would stick around long enough to be on the jury so we can all enjoy his mad tirade. Next week BOOT his sorry ass OFF! Especially now that his poser actor self has been outed. I know most folks on reality TV are in it to self-promote their acting/modeling careers, but for some reason, Shane's self-promotion REALLY irks me. Maybe my irritation comes from his many self righteous diatribes about his son and how he doesn't even need to be on Survivor because he makes so much money as a "marketing exec." *shrug* Get rid of him.

I missed Nick's final words ~ but DAMN! now that I have read them, I wish he had had more screen time. Sounds like he is trying to use his 15 seconds of fame to make a statement about how young people can make a difference in the world. What a breath of fresh air his comments are instead of the usual drivel about what a life changing experience his time on the island was. Kinda like when George Clooney got all political at the Oscar's instead of merely thanking Jesus.

Why didn't anyone approach Danielle and Courtney? Seems like it would have been pretty easy to turn them to La Mina if they were going to get Shane out.

I'm dying for an all female final 4. I hope Sally, Cerie, Courtney (as much as I hate her) and Danielle stick together.

I'm so happy Shane is still around, he makes for great TV.

Your first comment was a good one LQ, but I don't think that Terry would EVER be selfless enough to use the individual immunity idol on someone else. He still could have whipped it out to save Nick, and Shane would have gone home. Then, he could have convinced Bruce to flip to make a 5-4 majority by promising to take him to the final 2. Bruce is still in a good position now b/c even if the whole Casaya tribe remains as the final 6, he can stick with the boys against the 3 girls. Or vote with the girls to oust the two strongest players left.

I'm waiting for one of the immunity challenges where they get to pick who they take out. Terry will be out first, and if no one knows he actually has the idol- THAT Tribal Council will be a good one!

great recap B-side! I especially liked you calling the necklace a bib. It is indeed grandiose!

zoobabe, those challenges where they get to pick who take out are for reward not immunity, unfortunately. I don't understand why the women don't get together on this-why Terry considers Sally to be a guaranteed vote on his side. He was going to vote her out until she got sent to Exile Island! Sally really needs to get with the other women on this. All women Final Four!

Victoria- are you sure that there's never been one of those for immunity? I think there has. As for the women banding together- you'd think they would, but we've seen time and time again that they don't. What does that say about our gender?

I think Shane may get a lot farther than anyone suspects--he's actually calmed down a lot since the beginning, and yet this is pretty much the first time he's gotten a serious vote against him. Also, who would you want to be sitting next to in the final two? Frankly, I'd want to be sitting there with the jacka-- insane guy that everyone hates. I think the smartest move would be for someone to get in a final two alliance with Shane--his ego is so big he'd never suspect that in that scenario, he's the easy option.

And speaking of egos...Bruce's must be ENORMOUS to have fallen for ArAss and Shane's crap (though why ANYONE likes Aras, I don't know--he's such a patronizing jerk all the time, often even worse than Shane, yet everyone loves him. Why? I hate him, at least.) Bruce can't honestly believe that after weeks of trying to marginalize him, his team suddenly realized that he's the leader.

All these people are crazy--with the possible exceptions of Austin and Cerie.

While I am new to this party, here are two cents on what I've read/think. I am not sure that it would have made any sense for Terry to give either of his immunities to Nick or Austin as one or the other would have gone given that no one flipped. Also keep in mind that it looks like he's going to start to use it next week, so the guy is not dumb, just not the best delivery when it comes to giving anyone reason to flip (YET). While I generally see some things coming, I never considered using the idol for bartering.

While I've love to see a more likable win, Terry is kicking butt. Cirie is my girl and Sally (now that she SEEMS to have removed those ridiculous 10 feet long socks, what's up with that) seems to have the potential to be a comeback kid. Shane should be shot and I CANNOT believe that none his tribemates (esp. those out of the initial alliance or increasingly annoying Danielle who talks a big game) did not flip as the guy is trouble. I think that Cirie should have considered a counter-proposal to Terry's oh so exciting offer ;-) Maybe she still will.

Bruce has gone from underdog to the most annoying Napoleonic freak with all the false comments made to him. Great flag, man, but his huge head will soon be as small as one of the initial immuity idol heads when he either gets voted off or finally realizes that while he may enjoy hot air up his butt, it's not rea.

What else is on my mind this week. Aras and Nick would have beautiful babies together but while great eye candy neither has much too add my satisfaction with the show.

What is up with all the covering up of people's most minimal show of skin. The sensors see a little plumber's butt and the whole screen is covered.

I loved this week's challenge. Simple in theory and brilliant in nasty positioning. Some of the challenges in the past few seasons have gotten so visually complicated that I am not sure what is happening.

Great season, great site, and I love your comments! Keep them coming. I am a hard-core fan, and for some reason this show (even when it's bad) is the best adrenalin rush.

Lizardqueen--that's what i wanted Terry to go for. let Nick win so he can swallow up the votes and have Shane go off. i've liked him up to this point. great leader, douchebag...
you're the stronger player. you can win immunity any-fucking-time. you could've given up the idol right there.

Did you see Shane almost shit himself when the first 4 names that were read at TC were his? I'll bet that really puckered up his butt cheeks and started to make him sweat. I think he's starting to get the hint. I'm afraid "Mr. I'm In Control Around Here" is about to have a mutiny on his hands.

Great recap B-Side, too funny :)

I'm glad those people had more imagination than calling the new tribe 'La Casa'.

Honestly, I fell for Nick's fakeout; I screamed when Nick turned this arm to reach for his bag and I thought he'd produce the immunity idol Terry COULD have given him. All he grabbed was nasty socks?! Damn you Mark Burnett & co for making it all slow-mo. Those socks better bring luck to my dear Cirie. I liked Nick's little public service announcement speech though, he wasn't nasty crying or bitchy, just trying to talk to the youth, lol. Nick, you were so hot, I'll miss you and that bony 6-pack of yours. Yum.

Oh and "Medical emergency"? My ass, CBS. They lied. AGAIN.

Sounds to me like the stinky socks of doom are a bad omen. Dan tossed them to Nick on his way out and then Nick tossed them to Cirie on his way out. Could Cirie be next? I don't think anyone wants to catch that bridal bouquet.

Don't say that RealityTV4Me! :) Cirie will be ok!!