May 3 2008

So, the women have decided that all of the men must go. Last week, under Natalie’s direction, they blindsided Jason, and this week only James and Erik remain in the game. Medical services arrive to look at James’ infected finger. He does not want to leave the game, and tells them it does not hurt that much. The cut is cleaned up, and he’s given a shot, but the medic tells him that if it doesn’t look any better the next morning, he’s going to have to leave the game for surgery. James tells the girls about his situation, and only Amanda looks upset.

The next morning, Alexis reveals she had a nasty fall overnight, and her knee is scraped up and swollen. She doesn’t want to go see a medic because of the game, but she admits she is in pain. Cirie interviews that she feels guilty, as a nurse, for not looking at both James and Alexis’ injuries, but it’s a game and $1M is at stake. That’s what the Mystery Micronesian Medics are for.

THE CHALLENGE

On the beach they see statues with their likeness. Jeff tells them that they have to answer questions, privately, about each other. Then they will get to put up name cards to see if they can answer the questions in front of Jeff collectively about whose name came up the most. Every time they get an answer correct, they can cut one of three cords tied to another player’s statue. The winner will get to swim in Jellyfish Lake with a loved one, and one person will be sent to Exile Island to look for the newly hidden immunity idol. Parvati’s mom shows up; Erik’s brother; Natalie’s mom; Alexis’ brother; Amanda’s sister; James’ dad and Cirie’s husband. Erik reminds us how young he is hollering about his beard and telling his brother “That’s Jeff Probst, man!” Amanda’s sister says she doesn’t smell as bad as she did last time. The game starts. The first question is “Who does the most around camp?” Of course the answer is James, and everyone BUT James gets the answer correct. They all get to snip a rope of another player. Most of them answer that Parvati never shuts up. They also say that Parvati thinks she’s in control of the game. The say Alexis is the most honest. Huh? She doesn’t talk. What about Erik? The least likely to be invited to your house for dinner? The all said James! They got some ‘splaining’ to do on that one! Parvati is out first. Then James. Alexis wins the challenge and chooses Cirie and Natalie and their loved ones to go swimming with the jellyfish. She sends Amanda to Exile Island.

Back at camp, medics take a look at James’ finger and decide he needs surgery ASAP. He agrees that it’s more important to get his finger taken care of and leaves with no regrets. Erik and Parvati, who seemed all broken up over it, are alone on the island, and Amanda finds all of the clues to the hidden immunity idol on Exile Island. She only needs to get back to camp because it’s buried under the Dabu flag. That night, the others arrive back at camp and find out that James is gone. Cirie says that they need to beat Erik out in the challenge, or they’ll have to start picking each other off. Uh, isn’t that going to happen anyhow? Parvati asks Alexis if she would want to be voted off since her leg is hurt and she should probably get medical attention. Alexis tells her no, and interviews that she doesn’t trust the way Parvati asked her. Natalie says she doesn’t think she would win over the jury against Amanda. Parvati says she won’t vote Amanda off because the promised to take each other to the finally three. And we all know Parvati keeps her word…

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE

Amanda returns and is shocked that James has left the game. For the challenge, they have to aim at colored bottles with a rifle. First to burst three of their own bottles wins. Of course, Erik wins and throws a monkey wrench into the “get rid of the guys” plan. Back at camp, the cattiness begins. They want to know if Amanda found the idol. She empties her bag in front of them to prove she did not find it. She says it’s buried under water, and the current was too strong for her to get to it. Later, she tells Parvati that she knows were it is, and is going to get it. Honest Erik tells Amanda that he will probably vote for her at council because he views her as a threat. She tries to convince him that he shouldn’t, but it doesn’t work. Cirie tells Amanda that she is confused about which way to vote. As they sit around boiling chicken, Amanda goes off and gets the idol and hides it in her bag. Parvati explains Amanda’s absence by saying she told her she was a little salty under the armpits, and needed to freshen up.

TRIBAL COUNCIL

The jury assembles, and James joins them, I.V. in tow. He explains he had his surgery and everything will be fine. I wish I was there to help take care of his finger, or feed him, or… but I digress…. Eliza, Ozzy, Jason and James sit silently as Jeff starts right in on the obvious questions. No, Amanda does not admit to finding the idol. Duh! Yes, Cirie thinks that both Erik and Amanda are threats. Then the votes are tallied. Jeff asks if anyone wants to play the idol, and Amanda ponies up. She says that when she told them she didn’t have the idol, she didn’t! The players are shocked. The jury is shocked. Eliza is catching Micronesian flies with her mouth. Jeff tallies the votes. None of the votes for Amanda count. Alexis gets two votes, and limps off the island. Preferably to the Mystery Micronesian Medical Office. Jeff says that this season, the players have perfected the art of the blindside, and that is either good, or bad, news. Ciao!