Surviving Palau, Episode 10: “Survivor Isn’t Always About Fairness”

Last week, we saw the long-awaited merge – more of a simple addendum of one person, really – and then Coby committed game-suicide. The end result not only surprised Coby, but Janu, who thought for certain that she was the one heading home.

Meanwhile, alliances are still in a bit of flux. We know about Tom, Ian, and Katie. We think that includes Stephenie, but we (and perhaps they) aren’t sure. Gregg and Jenn think they are part of that alliance but also think that they might turn on that alliance. And Janu and Caryn? They’re on their own. Basically, if Gregg and Jenn want to have any chance of turning things their way, they need to get Janu and Caryn on their side now and hope they can get Stephenie as well. Otherwise, they’re dead meat. So let’s see what happens!

We begin on Day 25 with Janu telling us how shocked she was that Coby was sent home. She says she was taken aback and felt “betrayed” because nobody had told her anything. Hmmm. Considering that she thought she was going, I think she is crazy to complain.

Apparently, I’m not the only one. Katie thinks she’s flat out “a crazy person.” Katie tells Jenn that she didn’t like the weird jack-o-lantern smile Janu gave at the end of Tribal Council. Unfortunately, Katie doesn’t have the quietest voice in the world, and Janu overhears. She confronts Katie and says this is silly – she has nothing against Katie because she doesn’t know her. Katie says that Janu was being creepy, but Janu wants to know why she didn’t tell her to her face – why did she go to her little friends instead?

The guys sit around trying to look busy while all of this is going on around them.

Katie apologizes but Janu isn’t really interested. Janu says if she has something to say to Katie, she’ll say it to her face – no games. Katie tells us that Janu is talking in circles and not making any sense. I dunno, she seems to be making some sense. She’s upset at Katie. Doesn’t get much clearer than that.

Katie again apologizes and Janu says it doesn’t matter what she says, because she’s done with the conversation. Gregg tries to mediate (bad idea – he should have just kept looking busy) by saying he doesn’t want this to turn into anything. Janu says it will turn into what it turns into and it doesn’t matter because eventually they will all turn on one another. Well, yeah, that’s pretty much the game.

Gregg says Janu is no fun to have around, but he’s not going to vote somebody out because he doesn’t like them. He’ll get over it because she plays a bigger role in his strategy while Stephenie threatens it. Good thinking, Gregg! Smart man! He continues that some may think Steph deserves to stick around, but, “in the grand scheme of things, winning this game is hardly about deserving. … If you have a role in my strategy, you deserve to be here so you can help me win a million dollars.” Like I said, smart man!

Time for the reward challenge. Koror is randomly divided into two groups, each of which will try to build a tower in the water. They need to work as a group to transport six pieces of scaffolding, one at a time, into the water. Once the tower is secure, one person will climb the tower to grab a flag. First group back to the beach with their flag wins. What do they win? The four people on that team will take part in a Palauan feast, meet the high chief, drink local beer, and have food and dessert.

The first group is Stephenie, Katie, Ian, and Jenn. Second is obviously Gregg, Tom, Caryn, and Janu. I’d say those are fairly balanced. And they’re off! Both teams head into the water with the first piece of scaffolding. They drop them to the floor and then dive to start putting it together. But on Team 2, Caryn and Janu just hang out while Tom and Gregg dive in. Meanwhile, all four members of the first team help out, which Jeff Probst notes makes it a lot easier.

Eventually, Janu goes out to help, and Team 2 actually gets their piece in first. Both teams head back with their second piece. Janu helps again, and Caryn even aids the cause. Team 2 gets their second piece in moments before Team 1. But Katie is lagging behind, making it difficult for the first team to catch up.

Team 2 gets their third piece, and again a few seconds later Team 1 does as well. As the second team brings their fourth piece out, Janu struggles but eventually overcomes. By now, the towers reach out of the water, so they have to climb up to put new pieces on. Both teams get their fourth pieces done, with Team 2 still in the lead. The placing continues for the fifth piece.

Time for the final piece. Team 2 is still ahead, and Katie is not helping her team catch up. Team 2 gets their final piece and Janu climbs up to get the flag and then she, Tom, Gregg, and Caryn make it back to the beach for the win!