Surviving Guatemala, Episode 9: “We’re All Going to Be Liars”

Last week, the merge hit everybody – especially Brandon. We saw that despite his own alliance’s exasperation with him, Jamie seems to be relatively secure because the alliance doesn’t seem to be budging. This doesn’t bode well for Danni and Bobby Jon, at the very least, though I still think Gary may have a side deal going with Stephenie, Rafe, and a couple others. Will the Pagonging continue? Let’s find out.

We begin as the Xhakum “tribe” returns from Tribal Council. Jamie is upset about being described as having no class by Bobby Jon, but Rafe tries to calm him down, telling him to just take the night and savor being on the jury. Judd even tells him not to bring it up or be angry. Poor Jamie – he isn’t angry, he says his wittle feewing are hurt. Awww.

Bobby Jon loves it, telling us that it got to Jamie because he knows it’s true. Jamie ignores his pals’ advice and asks Bobby Jon why he said it. Bobby Jon says that’s how it came off to him during the competition. He allows for the possibility that he’s wrong, but that’s how it appeared to him. Jamie says his actions might have had no class, but saying he had no class is like calling him white trash. Ooookay. Bobby Jon says that’s how he felt at that moment and tomorrow is a new day.

The others tell Jamie he’s taking it too hard, but he says any of them would have had their feelings hurt too. Judd says no, it’s a competition. Bobby Jon and Jamie shake hands and agree that they’re cool and they don’t want all the drama. Rafe tells us Jamie took it way too personally and may have just been looking for an outlet for all his emotion, so he blamed Bobby Jon. But, he adds, Jamie needs to use this to learn and change or Rafe will “change up this game.” You go, Rafe!

The next morning, Lydia makes breakfast but Judd says he isn’t hungry. Still, he’s happy with the way the game is going – his group is up six to three. Stephenie, Judd, and Jamie reassure each other that they’re playing the right way by planning to Pagong, saying if the other group had the numbers they’d do the same thing. Danni, meanwhile, plans on a trip to the water before looking for the secret immunity idol again.

Bobby Jon tells us he needs that idol now. He goes out to search, realizing that it’s probably his only hope. Danni is hoping to get more clues to where it might be. Gary says one time in the NFL he played against Detroit and was down by twenty-some points; he threw for almost 300 yards in one quarter so his team could come back and win – that’s how he’s approaching this game.

But now it’s time for a different game – the reward challenge. This will test their ability with an indigenous weapon called the atl atl, which gives more distance when used to throw a spear. But they are going to use it to throw an arrow instead – aimed at a large target on the ground (a horizontal target, not a vertical one like a normal archery competition would have). Each person gets only one throw.

They are playing for food – and everybody will eat. But what they eat depends on how well they do. There will be nine meals waiting for them after they leave. First place gets the best meal (steak and lobster), last place gets the worst (definitely not steak and lobster). Also, the winner gets a clue to the location of the hidden idol.

Judd is first – he fires and hits about seven feet from the center, which is damn good. Bobby Jon isn’t even close. Rafe doesn’t do bad – he’s in second right now. Cindy has a nice toss that just misses first, pushing all but Judd back a spot. Lydia makes Bobby Jon’s throw look good – yikes. Danni moves into third and then Gary bumps Rafe again out of fourth. Stephenie immediately bumps Gary. Jamie has the last throw with a fourth place.

But Jamie tells Probst that if it’s okay, he’d like to atone for his behavior the previous day by taking last place and letting the others move up. Probst has no problem with that, and the others applaud. Bobby Jon gives him a nice handshake as Jamie says, “We’re one tribe now. I’m sorry I didn’t see that sooner.” Interesting. Upon questioning by Probst, Rafe says he thinks it shows Jamie learned a lot, which is awesome. Probst asks Jamie if he discussed this with anyone. “No, sir.” Did he plan on it all along? He says he did figure that if he did better than certain other people, yes. Probst says they’ll soon see what exactly he gave up, but he promises it is quite a bit.

Judd gets his own table for his meal while the others sit at a long one across from him – the better to watch his feast. He is brought a huge lobster, steak, beer, etc. Cindy, in second, gets chicken, veggies, etc. in a big plate of food. Danni gets a pile of spaghetti and meat sauce. Stephenie, in fourth place, gets a burger and beer. Probst points out that this is where Jamie would have been in line. Jamie retorts that nothing tastes better than his self-respect.

Gary gets a slice of pizza for fifth. Rafe gets a ham and cheese sandwich. Bobby Jon has a baked potato. Probst notes that Lydia, who is next, moved up a spot thanks to Jamie. She says she doesn’t think she deserves it, even if it’s one cracker. And it is… one small fish – which they find appropriate. She thanks Jamie. Speaking of Jamie, he gets… a few nuts and water from their lake.