Surviving Guatemala, Episode 13: Rafe’s Angels

Last week, Danni completely turned the tables on Judd, who suddenly found himself on the wrong end of a vote. He showed himself to be a hypocrite by getting upset even though he said throughout the series that it should be played as a game and not taken personal. Now we’re down to five and it’s time to pick a side to ride to the end. Which three will band together? Or will somebody try to worm their way into a foursome and be doomed to failure? Let’s find out.

We begin the same night as Tribal Council, as the remaining five are gathered around a fire at camp. They talk about the way Judd reacted and note that he almost turned into Jamie! I would say he didn’t – Jamie reacted in a funny way when he was voted out. He truly understood that it was a game, while Judd just pretended to when it suited him.

Cindy is a bit annoyed that nobody told her. Stephenie says she wanted to tell her, but doesn’t explain why she didn’t. Rafe tells her that Judd is gone and she’s still here, so she shouldn’t worry. But Cindy sees a pattern – they didn’t tell Judd they were voting out Jamie. Jamie went home. Then they didn’t tell her that they were voting out Judd. Judd went home. So how does this pattern continue? “Next thing you know, I’m going to be gone,” Cindy says.

The next day, it’s pointed out that Rafe is the only guy left. Rafe notes that on “the hardest Survivor ever, it’s the gay guy and four women in the final five. Heh. He says it’s like “Rafe’s Angels” around camp. I guess Judd was Bosley.

Speaking of Judd, Stephenie asks Rafe one thing he won’t miss about Guatemala. His reply: “Naked Judd.” Ew. Rafe tells us that with Judd gone, it’s like the cool kid is gone from class and they can all be a bit dorkier and have fun. And oh what fun they have! They take turns trying to cross their eyes. Woohoo!

Lydia tells us that Rafe is “gentle” and they look at him as “one of the girls.” Rafe tells us he has a close personal friendship with all four of the remaining women, which he hopes will get him to the end.

Danni and Rafe get treemail, which is a car key. Gosh, wonder what the reward challenge might be. Stephenie tells us that she has never owned a car, so she really needs it. Lydia says she hasn’t really won anything, so this might be her opportunity – and her 17-year-old son needs a car.

The tribe arrives at the challenge and a car that is not a Buick Lucerne is awaiting them (considering that Lucerne was on both The Apprentice: Martha Stewart and The Amazing Race, I fully expected it here as well). The challenge is “Second Chance,” where they combine elements of previous competitions.

It begins with a race across a balance beam, untying three sets of macanas (what the heck is a macana?) along the way. First three across move on. The next round involves using the macanas (oh, yeah, one of those throwing club things from way earlier in the game) to try to break a single tile 30 feet away. First two to break a tile move on again. The final round is attempting to solve a puzzle based on the Mayan calendar. When they finish the puzzle, they hop in a cart, cut the rope, and race down the hill. First one to the finish wins a 2006 Pontiac. Also, they will head down to an archaeological dig for a feast of steak, sausage, veggies, rum, etc.

And they’re off! Stephenie takes an early lead, but everybody is untying at about the same time. Stephenie, Cindy, and Danni are about even. Danni almost falls but stays on the beam. Stephenie has her second macanas untied and maintains the lead – until she falls off and has to go back to the start!

Danni leads, followed by Cindy and Rafe. Lydia falls off. Rafe falls too, so Stephenie is back in it. Cindy is almost at the end but falls. Lydia falls again. Danni unties the last knot and finishes. Cindy does likewise. Rafe and Stephenie race to untie. Stephenie gets it first!

So those three are ready to throw their clubs. They have to throw at the same time, so it’s a test of accuracy, not speed. Everybody misses with their first throws, but Danni gets a piece of the tile with her second – not enough to break it, though. Cindy shatters her tile, meaning it’s down to Danni and Stephenie. It’s Stephenie!

Puzzle time! Stephenie seems to take an early lead, but it’s hard to say for sure. Cindy pulls ahead and finishes her puzzle first. She jumps in the cart, cuts the rope, and rides off to victory.

Host Jeff Probst and the other four contestants meet Cindy at the bottom of the hill. Probst tells Cindy she has the right to invite one other person to join her at the barbecue feast – but before she answers, he wants to point out to her that in ten seasons, the person who has won the car reward has never won the game. Some people believe it’s “the curse of the car.” So he’s going to give her the opportunity to fight the curse. She can give up her car and instead, each of the others will get one!