Surviving Guatemala, Episode 3: Déjà Vu All Over Again?

Last week, Morgan was voted out after she was accused of being lazy. But since then we found that we by no means saw everything that was going on at Yaxha and in fact it was more likely that the alleged laziness was simply used as an excuse to target somebody other than Lydia. Still, if Yaxha heads to Tribal Council again this week, Lydia may be in danger. Will that happen? Let’s find out together!

Speaking of Yaxha, that’s where we begin, the morning after. Lydia is – as usual – working around camp. She tells us that while Morgan was voted out, she believes her head was on the chopping block. She doesn’t feel she deserves to go, but Brianna does because she’s weak.

We see the two of them sitting near each other, looking mighty uncomfortable, discussing the weather. Brianna tells us she doesn’t get along with Lydia. No, really? She says it’s not that they fight – they’re cordial, but Lydia is not her cup of tea.

Several of the tribe members discuss the Tribal Council result, with Brian taking credit for engineering Morgan’s ouster. He supported Lydia, but he also tells us that if she has to go next, he won’t throw a fit – he’ll do whatever it takes to make sure things go his way.

Over at Nakum, the tribe is lying around while the monkeys scream in the trees. Judd says it’s driving him out of his mind and he hasn’t been sleeping. Cindy wonders how you can complain about being awakened by howling monkeys in Guatemala! Judd doesn’t like the fact that Cindy (a zookeeper) appreciates the wildlife – he just wants it to stop.

With that we head straight to the reward challenge. Host Jeff Probst notes that they are surrounded by Mayan ruins that are in various stages of archaeological excavation, which plays into this challenge. They are going to build an archaeologist’s tent – while blindfolded and tied together in pairs or threesomes. One person will guide them to nine bundles of items that they have to pick up from among the ruins. Once they find all nine, they can take off the blindfolds and start putting it together, with poles, a tarp, rope, etc. First tribe to complete it correctly wins… blankets, pillows, lantern, tarp.

Brooke will call for Nakum, Gary will call the signals for Yaxha – how appropriate.

And they’re off! Brooke and Gary start giving directions. Judd nails Danni in the head with a post, and only after Danni is yelling, “Ow! Ow! Ow!” does Brooke tell her to watch her head. I bet Danni appreciates the timely warning.

Yaxha takes a quick lead with two items, but then Nakum gets three. Margaret gets nailed in the shoulder – who is going to nurse her? Nakum gets their fourth bundle as Yaxha gets their third. Nakum quickly jumps to six with Yaxha at five. Each get one more as Danni deadpans to Judd, “Please tell me when you’re picking up a pole and I’ll duck.”

Nakum is up to eight with Yaxha close behind. Gary guides Stephenie to the ninth item for Yaxha before Nakum. They take off their blindfolds and start building. Nakum finally gets their last item and joins them with something of a time deficit.

Yaxha is facing some confusion on how to build but Nakum seems to be working better together and making up time. Yaxha can’t get their frame built and now they are about even. Nakum gets the tarp up and starts tying it down. Yaxha is doing likewise. Turns out some of the ropes are not long enough to go in certain places, and both tribes have trouble with it. Nakum gets it figured out first and wins reward! Bobby Jon is jumping around for joy while Stephenie disgustedly throws down a rope.

Yaxha returns to camp and Stephenie complains to us that they had a huge lead until they started building, when it became a “cluster mess.” I’m thinking she would have said something a bit different if it hadn’t been for national television. But she thinks they can still pull it out.

Amy says it sucks to lose, but you’ve got to put it behind you and move on. She jokes to the other women about how disgusting they all are – same pair of underwear, using leaves when they go to the bathroom, no soap, etc. They can’t even go swimming because a croc will bite ‘em in the butt! Everybody seems to be laughing it up. Amy adds to us that no matter how bad it gets, she will notgive up.

Nakum is enjoying their winning streak. Bobby Jon says he’s not used to winning, so he’s having some fun. With that, it’s time to rest. The heat, they say, is taking its toll. For example, they want to build a new shelter with the tarp, but no way they can do it in the middle of the day.

So they decide to head to the lake and pour water on themselves to cool off. As Brandon says, you can’t really just jump in “because of the alligators” (yes, they’re crocodiles, but he doesn’t appear to know the difference). However, some of them are too tempted to resist, and get in the boat to head out into the lake. Cindy, for one, is not going along. She says she’s worked with alligators – who behave similar to crocodiles – and there are probably hundreds in the lake.

Bobby Jon, Brandon, Judd, and one of the women row out to the deeper part, thinking they’re safer there, and cautiously get in the water – staying close to the canoe. Cindy says the crocs actually head to the deeper water in the heat of the day to regulate their body temperature. Whoops! Brandon’s answer to all this? “The brave may not live long but the cautious don’t live at all. I have never felt more alive in my entire life.” Yeah, well, one wrong move and he might have never felt more dead in his entire life!

Back at Yaxha, there are no death-defying stunts, just Brianna working at camp because she’s afraid of what her tribe will otherwise think. Well, I guess in a way she is trying to defy her “death” on this show.

She cooks up some corn mush that everybody just loves. Rafe says they’ve been eating the same thing every day, every meal, they just need something else. Even throwing dirt in it might be better just because it’s different!

Time to revisit the bugs as Rafe picks up a termite and eats one. Gary tries one as well. Both agree they’re better than the ants they tried previously.