Survivor: Exile Island – A Look Ahead at Episode 11

With Bruce gone due to medical reasons, the Gitanos tribe has to get back to the business of the game in Episode 11. By now it seem to be obvious to one and all that Terry has the hidden immunity idol, which means the former members of Casaya need to do what we’ve all been waiting for and turn on themselves whether or not Terry continues his impressive immunity challenge winning streak.

His challenge skills will be tested tonight in a difficult endurance competition that requires the contestants to literally carry their own weight or end up getting dunked. But before that, the tribe will be split into two teams of three to compete in the reward challenge that requires them to work together to navigate a difficult obstacle course. Then there is a special additional challenge for the winners to see who wins a GMC Yukon.

But the most important part of the reward challenge is not the car – it’s the fact that one team of three ends up at a private barbecue. So the tribe will be split, which of course allows all sorts of possibilities for new scheming, plotting, and brainwashing. We’ve seen such attempts before, especially from Terry and his allies, and all have gone for naught. Will he have better luck this time around?

I can say this: With all the maneuvers being attempted, one player tries what might be the biggest move in Survivor history – a triple-play that has one group convinced they are voting out a particular player, a second group convinced they are voting out a different player, and a third group convinced they are voting out yet another player. Considering there are only six people in the game, that will be quite a feat… if it’s pulled off.

But the episode isn’t all about strategy. Shane appears to be losing his mind as he plays with a piece of wood he calls his Blackberry. He says he can communicate with people not on the island, but viewers will wonder if he’s communicating with people not on this planet!

Also, Cirie goes fishing for the first time. Will the woman who was afraid of leaves accomplish what so many of her tribemates could not by actually catching something worth eating?

And just wait until Tribal Council. With Bruce’s medical evacuation last week, there was no time or place to discuss the outcome of the reward challenge, with Courtney having been labeled as most annoying, the person who wouldn’t shut up, and the biggest poser. Will that cause another explosion from her or has she calmed down? And, getting back to strategy, will it impact how people view her as they look ahead the possibility of reaching the final two? I can answer the latter – yes, it will play a role. But how much of a role? And will it be enough to swing any votes? That will have to wait.

No matter what the outcome, the eleventh episode of Survivor: Exile Island may well go down in Survivor history as one of the best – especially if the triple-play works. Even if the plans all come crashing down, we can rest assured that somebody from Casaya is going home, and that will only be the beginning of a new phase of the game – a phase that will take somebody all the way to a million dollars.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Survivor articles:

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at RNO@pobox.com.

Be sure to sign up for our e-mail update so you can stay informed about new articles on the site! And take a look at the rest of the site. You can find all of our recaps and other info on this show at the Survivor: Exile Island page, and take a look at our The Amazing Race 8 page and our Apprentice: Martha Stewart page. You can even buy reality show stuff at our Reality TV Store!

For more news about Survivor, be sure to check out SirLinksALot: Survivor and Survivor Fever!