Over at Timbira, Debbie yammers that it was nice of Brendan not to take Taj with him to Exile, because she is completely missing the gist of everything, all the time. Tyson looks at her like "Seriously?" and then sneaks over to tell Coach and Debra that Brendan is "building relations" with the other tribe and has to go immediately. "You cannot tell Sierra," Debbie whispers. "She will not be with us." Man, they must really be bonding publicly if even Debbie is noticing.
Coach conveniently agrees that Brendan should be eliminated. I wonder who will be 'leader' if Brendan goes home? "If we merge, he has control of the game," Coach says, "and then I'm a bystander, and I certainly don't want that to happen." Um, Coach? You're already a bystander and you just don't know it.
Coach is eating when he abruptly looks up and peers into the middle distance. "Feel the breeze shift?" he says. Just when I think he's going to jerkbag-ily translate it into a metaphor about getting rid of Brendan, he tells us that whenever it's about to rain, the wind shifts directions. Of course, Coach tells everyone that he thinks the storm's going to pass them by, and then we get a jump cut to the monsoon that we all knew was coming. Erinn helpfully tells us that Coach is a jackass. "I think Coach really truly wants to be this Survivor-man," she says, potentially violating several copyrights. "I would not be surprised if when this game is all said and done, he went 'Surprise!' and said he was an accountant who's never left Nebraska." If you listen closely, you can hear the National Association of Accountants preparing a press release.
Meanwhile, Stephen and Brendan arrive at Exile. After Brendan verifies that Stephen already knows about the four way alliance (because Taj did her job, Brendan), they go for a walk on the sand dune to compare information. Stephen lets Brendan know that they also have the idol from Jalapao, so now everyone has the same information, which is kind of key. Stephen lets us know that his first impression of Brendan is "positive, but wary", since he's such a threat, being both strategically and physically strong. "I don't want to place my entire faith in this alliance," Stephen says. It's easy to choose your allies when you have the immunity idol.
Suddenly we're at Jalapao on Day 15. Apparently, Day 14 was mighty boring. Sydney makes small talk with Spencer about her boyfriend, and asks him whether he has any girls in his life. Of course, we know that he's gay (and dating Todd from the China season, so...gold digger) and these people don't know that. "There's nothing to gain by letting people know that I'm gay," he says. "I don't like hiding it, but it's the best option. There are guys like JT might not be as accepting of homosexuality, which would make them inclined to get rid of me." This is a really interesting theory, because that could be a wise move, but it's also sort of hypocritical, in the sense that Spencer is judging JT in exactly the type of way he himself does not want to be judged. It's an interesting move, and I'm not touching the implications of it with a ten foot pole.
Immunity Challenge! Two tribe members will launch balls onto the course with a slingshot, and the rest of the tribe will have lacrosse sticks to catch them with. Either ball is fair game, not just your own team's, and the first to five points wins immunity.
JT starts things out by making two really nice catches and getting Jalapao a nice early lead. Then Brendan makes two really solid catches of his own, smoking Taj, who is supposed to be guarding him. When JT goes to snag the next ball, he knocks himself in the mouth with the stick and actually knocks one of his teeth out. JT pauses for a moment, realizes what he did, and then throws his tooth off into the field dismissively and gets back into position for the next round without a thought. The guy just lost a tooth, and he doesn't seem to care. There's a joke about rednecks with no teeth here, but it's way, way too easy.
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Comments (22)
Apparently Taj and Sandy had become unlikely but good friends while out there (most likely it was the fact that they were both mothers). That's why she threw a vote away to Joe, because she didn't want to vote for Sandy and cause her the embarrassment of a unanimous vote (which is odd, because the other four votes this season have all been unanimous, so it's not like she would have been alone).
I actually miss Sandy's random Southern craziness. She seemed like a genuinely nice person and I actually found her funny (having been raised in the South; I can tell you that many older ladies are like that there). Plus, she probably would have been loyal to Taj's alliance. At the same time, if the rest of the tribe viewed her as expendable and annoying, it would have been dumb of Taj to stick her neck out for her.
I do hope you don't have a bias against the old goofy ladies, though. Or people with strong Southern accents. :)
1 of 22 | Posted by User Name | Posted on March 16, 2009 8:24 PM
How could I? I'm from Kentucky!
2 of 22 | Posted by schoonie | Posted on March 16, 2009 8:51 PM
For some reason this week I developed a huge crush on JT...I have no idea why it was the episode where he knocked his tooth out haha. But I do know that I will def be looking forward to seeing him shirtless again!
3 of 22 | Posted by krickledawn | Posted on March 16, 2009 10:36 PM
P.S. I forgot to tell you schoonie how much I look forward to your recaps. No recaps for 3 weeks? This is BRUTAL!
4 of 22 | Posted by User Name | Posted on March 16, 2009 10:40 PM
sorry that last one was me krickle1215, I don't know why my name didn't show up.
5 of 22 | Posted by krickle1215 | Posted on March 16, 2009 11:03 PM
Well Taj wasn't lying, you know. She said "I don't have the idol." meaining "I don't have the idol on me." Remember? She gave it to her "buddy" because he has pockets.
6 of 22 | Posted by geewits | Posted on March 17, 2009 2:18 AM
Dude...you drunk dial your MOM? Weird.
7 of 22 | Posted by aholic | Posted on March 17, 2009 4:34 AM
I feel like I've learned so much just from this recap. It's like an eye-opening, mind-shattering awakening.
Everything is different now! Thanks!
I'm afraid Taj is going downhill fast. It's bad enough that she sucks at the challenges, but her social game really blows too. Wait until she discovers that she's hooked her whole strategy to a true idiot (Brendan).
If Stephen's smart, he'll orchestrate Taj's ouster, then bring JT into the alliance and take it over.
8 of 22 | Posted by itchy | Posted on March 17, 2009 4:46 AM
"Well Taj wasn't lying, you know. She said "I don't have the idol." meaining "I don't have the idol on me." Remember? She gave it to her "buddy" because he has pockets."
Yes yes, it's all very clever.
My point, however, is that saying stuff like this is completely irrelevant for that very reason. Whether she says she has the idol or not doesn't actually provide any useful information to any of these people, or make them feel any less suspicious, so why waste everyone's time playing some stupid word game that changes nothing? I'm sure they all still think she has it.
9 of 22 | Posted by schoonie | Posted on March 17, 2009 6:06 AM
I think Taj is getting a little too cocky. I'm with Itchy, I hope Stephen gets her out and then alligns with J.T.
10 of 22 | Posted by LisaMay | Posted on March 17, 2009 6:17 AM
I do my best thinking in the bathroom, but not necessarily in the shower.
11 of 22 | Posted by Firthguy | Posted on March 17, 2009 6:50 AM
Uh, I liked this:
"If we merge, he has control of the game," Coach says, "and then I'm a bystander, and I certainly don't want that to happen." Um, Coach? You're already a bystander and you just don't know it.
and this:
Jeff, however, does seem to care, because he is now in love with JT for being the manliest man that ever man'd. Like, you can see it in his eyes. He goes from zero to Pepe Le Pew in a split-second. James, eat your heart out!
Both made me laugh out loud.
Uh, Spencer would still be there if he had gone to JT and mentioned something about having "pretty lips." Then JT and Spencer could have developed a "DELIVERANCE" type of relationship. One centered around pig squealing and sex. Spencer is obviously dating Todd for the money cause Todd ain't that cute.
12 of 22 | Posted by Mr Dangerous | Posted on March 17, 2009 8:28 AM
Had to post because I also thought Coach was going to make a douchey comment about Brendan with the whole "wind change" thing. You know someone is an asshole when you just expect every comment out of their mouth to be like that.
13 of 22 | Posted by pixi-stix | Posted on March 17, 2009 9:38 AM
Taj and Brendan had what could have been one of the best alliances in recent years. When they pulled in the other two players they should have just layed low and played hard in challenges until the merge. Taj really should have kept her mouth shut. She could have just bitched to the camera and played it cool at camp. Now neither Taj nor Brendan can afford to go back to tribal council.
Like itchy said Taj has no social game and Brendan is missing a lot of the 'outwit' part of the game. Brendan should have let coach think he felt everyone was wrong and he wanted coach to be the leader. There is going to be at least one more tribla council before the merge and the chance is slim now that Erinn will go next if so Brendan's only hope is that he can try and get Sierra and Erinn to vote three vs three against Coach, Tyson and Deb.
14 of 22 | Posted by Dreamkeeper | Posted on March 17, 2009 12:34 PM
More SWV Fun Facts!
- SWV sang backup on TLC's hit song Waterfall. I know this is true because I read it on the internet. No really.
- The letters S W and V stand for Singers with Vajayjays.
Love ya, Schoonie! Thanks for another great recap.
15 of 22 | Posted by Snootchy Bootches | Posted on March 17, 2009 4:22 PM
Soilent Green is made of people! It's made of peeeooople! HAHAHAHA...
Thanks for the recap. I guess hunger will make you do stupid things (like shoot yourself in the foot). This whole Taj alliance thing seems too easy...I'm sure something will happen.
I miss last season.
16 of 22 | Posted by dani2526 | Posted on March 17, 2009 6:34 PM
OMR Schoonie. Your SWV fun fact had me laughing my little arse off! I just feel bad for anyone who just now starts reading your recaps and has NO idea what you're talking about. LOL. Actually, I'd feel bad for a person who missed any of your recaps anyway. Too funny.
17 of 22 | Posted by zbird | Posted on March 17, 2009 6:40 PM
Aaand once again, Coach does as little as possible in the Immunity Challenge. I kept saying "where is he?' and they never showed him until the very end. He certainly wasn't around any of the action. Am I becoming blinded by my hatred for him, or is he truly sucking?
Loved the recap as usual Schoonie, and it's going to be a long 3 weeks.
18 of 22 | Posted by briar | Posted on March 18, 2009 2:00 AM
Sixteen Candles reference in the caption - pretty cool
Say Anything reference in the caption - priceless
19 of 22 | Posted by trickydick | Posted on March 18, 2009 1:38 PM
Well, at this point nobody thinks that Coach is a threat and they all know that he is a douchebag, so...maybe he is not so dumb, or maybe he has bumbled into a good position.
If he makes it to the merge, he can stop sandbagging and actually try to win some immunity challenges. And as long as he acts douchey (but not TOO douchey), he isn't a threat to get jury votes. Hmmm. Genius or idiot? You be the judge.
I personally don't think he is self-aware enough or smart enough to come up with a strategy (other than thinking he'll win because he is the bestest contestant EVER!), but, unless he really screws up, there are a number of people who could go before him. (Taj, Brendan, etc.)
20 of 22 | Posted by pixielated | Posted on March 18, 2009 9:45 PM
I agree with Pixie; Coach has lucked his way into a great position... no one will trust him long enough to be in an alliance, but people will come to sway his vote (giving him the misguided impression he is powerful), however, his douchiness will ruin his game. Plus, he won't have the votes on the jury, esp. if Erinn is on the jury.
21 of 22 | Posted by slutty_whore | Posted on March 19, 2009 2:33 PM
I also like Taj and JT. I've got one word to explain Taj's behavior-HORMONES! Isn't she the one that recently had a baby and said she was looking forward to losing the extra weight? Hormones are crazy after giving birth, not to mention a lady Taj's age has the painter visit town once a month....I'm just saying...
22 of 22 | Posted by soapboxx | Posted on March 19, 2009 9:41 PM