Surviving Vanuatu, Episode 10: “I Just Don’t Like the Bitch”

Last week, we saw that the female alliance (“Estrogen City”) held strong, despite Twila feeling bad about having been duped by Julie. Sarge went home and Chris voted against Sarge, thinking it would somehow save him. Frankly, I don’t think it will do him a bit of good, but he must be hoping that somehow, someway, he can split the women. Will he be able to do it? Again, I doubt it, but stranger things have happened on Survivor. So let’s find out!

Immediately after Tribal Council, the tribe gathers around the campfire. Chris says that was the hardest vote ever, and now he can tell them why. He says that ten minutes before they left, Sarge asked Chris who he was voting for. Chris said he didn’t know. (So I guess the guys must have known that they weren’t getting any help from Twila or any of the other women.) Then, just before they left, Sarge took Chris aside and told Chris to vote against him – everybody else was. So that’s how Chris voted.

Chad looks shocked. The women look perplexed. Just as I’m about to question Chris’ honesty, he tells us that he made up the story and that he voted against Sarge to stay close to the women. Um. You know, doing that only works if you tell the women you’re on your side. If you tell them you voted with them not because they wanted you to but because Sarge wanted you to, that really isn’t voting with them. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

In this game, you’ve got to get up pretty early in the morning to out-scheme everybody else. So that’s just what Scout does – get up early and talk to us about strategy. She says it’s obvious that Leann has replaced herself and Twila in the final four with Julie (don’t ask me how you replace two people with one, let’s just roll with it for now) – and she’s not going to let that happen because Julie doesn’t deserve it. You go, Scout! So she wakes the guys and whispers to them that she wants to keep them in the game. She just needs to talk to Twila and then she’ll get back to them. Her plan is to take out Eliza first and then Ami – especially Ami, because she’s a strong and manipulative player. My goodness, this is a side of Scout we haven’t seen! And I’m happy to see it!

Treemail arrives, telling them to bring their pig. Some will push, some will dig, and they’ll find out how much the pig is worth.

They all arrive and host Jeff Probst gives the pig a tribal buff before putting him in a crate. Probst asks if it’s been nice having some company in camp – Twila says it’s not when you’re hungry and want some meat!

Anyway, for this challenge they are randomly divided into two groups of four to run an obstacle course. One person is designated a sacrificial lamb and will be attached to a rope the entire time and will have their hands tied together. The other members of the team are responsible for getting that person through the course. First, they go up and over a three-level fence; second, maneuver a series of hitching posts; then it’s over a wall; then dig under a log; finally through a vertical rope maze. The winners will get an overnight visit to another island, where they will be hosted by a local village. They will be treated to cultural activities, including a major feast. It is customary to bring a token of appreciation, so that’s what the pig is for.

The first team is Scout, Twila, Julie, and Leann – Julie is the sacrificial lamb. The second team is Chad, Ami, Eliza, and Chris – Eliza is the sacrifice. I’m betting there are at least a few people who wish they could really sacrifice Eliza!

And they’re off! They are moving Julie up and over and then under a post – one, two, three times. Eliza is behind at first but then they get ahead and run to the second phase. Julie’s team makes it to the second but Eliza’s quickly moves to the third. Julie gets dropped on her head. Eliza practically has her cleavage popping out. Julie’s team has made up some time but Eliza’s still is in the lead.