Surviving the Amazon, Episode 9: Completely In Control

It's the morning of day 25. Rob and Matthew sneak away from camp to have a chat. Rob says he is privy to information that some of the women are unhappy that Deena has assumed a leadership role. He goes on as privately he voices over that each day he debriefs Matthew with a wild goose chase to keep his mind busy so he doesn't really figure out what is going on. Today's theme is apparently that all the guys are going to band back together to vote off the women one-by-one. They need Butch to do that. He says this is all on a need-to-know basis. They even split up and walk back to camp separately so it won't look like they've been talking. All the while, some Mission Impossible knock-off music is playing in the background. It's pretty funny.

But then, the spy game continues. Matt, looking quite serious, is out on the boat with Butch. Matt says he is Butch's lifeline - his link in the chain. He sounds like a cold war spy talking to his contact in the field. Matt says he will initiate all contact with Butch. They will not talk. Etc. Matt is a scary dude, let me tell you. Privately, Butch appears to be taking him seriously, telling us that he's a link in the chain, etc.

Meanwhile, Rob is definitely not taking it seriously, as he regales the rest of the tribe with stories he has told Matt. He privately says the fact is that Matt is who the group wants to vote out - he's unstable and may kill them. Rob asks the question to himself of whether Matt is a physical threat and then answers yes - to his safety!

Treemail brings an indication that the reward challenge will involve various weapons as they get a bow and arrows, blowgun, and spear, plus a target. All of them practice a bit. Heidi the gym teacher obviously is not experienced with these things as we get some amusing shots of her trying to shoot the bow; Christy isn't much better. Matthew, however, is downright dangerous and can hit pretty much anything. As for Rob, well, he says the only spears he knew before then was Britney, broccoli, and asparagus.

Matt and Rob talk. Matt says that he won't try his hardest because he doesn't want people to think that he's a threat. Rob tells him that he's finally starting to figure the game out. In case it's not obvious, Rob is not quite being honest here…

The Reward Challenge takes place in three rounds. First, all eight shoot the blowgun, then the top four will throw spears, and the remaining two will shoot arrows from a tower. The reward is an afternoon in the Amazon Café coffee bar. They all get to split a small piece of croissant as a taste of things to come.

Christy goes first and hits the three-point ring. Matt gets a bullseye as Rob makes a "that was throwing the challenge?!" face. Butch hits the five-point ring. Rob hits three. Alex seven. Jenna three. Deena five. Heidi hits… the dirt. Not even on the target. So Matt, Deena, Butch, and Alex move on. Matt gets another bullseye (or darned close to it). Deena hits the dirt. Butch hits the ring three from the center (suddenly they aren't using points anymore). Alex hits the ring one from the center. So Matt and Alex are in the finals.

Matt shoots first and hits the ring three from the center as Rob whispers to Jenna that Matt is a nincompoop. Alex hits the ring two from the center and wins! See, Matt did throw the challenge. (Insert eyeroll here.)

Of course, Alex gets to pick somebody to share his time at the coffee bar. He immediately picks Jenna. They get coffee, pastries, etc. Lots of mmmms and aaaahs follow as they chow down. Jenna says she really really likes Alex. Alex says it's nice to spend some time with Jenna. She says the both like to eat and they're both bottomless pits. They both like to eat? Where does she put it?

Back at camp, Rob is trying to fish with the net, but the only thing he catches is a bush. Deena is also trying to fish - but definitely a different type. Privately she says that the reward challenges tell you who is really here to play and sets up some people in a bad position, a la Alex. He showed how dominant he could be. So as they are sort of watching Rob try to fish, Deena asks Heidi how well she would advance against Matt or Alex. Not well, but they're getting rid of Matt anyway. Ah, but what if Matt wins immunity? Would she fare better against Butch or Alex? Butch, of course. So it's decided - if Matt wins immunity, Alex will go.

Back at the café, Alex and Jenna are happy that they can talk about other people without having to worry if anybody else is listening. They talk about how they, Heidi, and Rob have bonded as a group. Jenna says she doesn't know where Deena is at now - she's hard to get along with. Alex notes that Deena is only a few years older than him, but she's so different. Jenna says yes, and Deena is always thinking of another plot.

Cut to Deena thinking up another plot. She once again says that they all have no chance against Alex. Rob says privately that he has an alliance with Deena until the end - but the others have no clue. Deena says none of them should tell Jenna about the whole "Alex goes next" thing but that she would finesse Jenna when the time came. Rob summarizes that it's settled - if Matt wins immunity, Alex is going.

Deena says she's in control because she always has a backup plan to her backup plan. She's thinking 24/7… and it's making her head hurt. Speaking of people whose heads must be hurting, Heidi just mumbles that it's getting so interesting.