Surviving Exile Island, Episode 11: Triple-Play

Last week, Bruce became the second person in Survivor history to be evacuated from the game due to medical reasons. Meanwhile, Courtney found out what we already knew – that she is the most annoying person in camp and a poser to boot. Shane found out that people thought he controlled the game but didn’t – but then he still acted like he controlled the game. In fact, he took several steps to try to take more control of the game by making a pact with Courtney (who he said privately he would love to face off against in the final two) and solidifying his separate deal with Aras and Cirie.

This week, the Casayans will have to vote out one of their own – whether on purpose (if they are sure Terry has the immunity idol) or by accident (if they convince themselves he doesn’t have it). Considering the way they splintered over the reward challenge, seeing them argue about which way the vote will go should be amusing. Personally, I think Danielle is in the most danger. Let’s find out!

We begin on day 28. Terry is in the water fishing while Aras is preparing another line, using a hermit crab as bait – a whole hermit crab. Apparently, he’s planning on catching a whale. Terry tells us that Bruce leaving for medical reasons ended up being good for him because he got to skip an immunity challenge. Now it’s imperative to try to make some allies before the next challenge. Good luck, dude.

Shane heads over to “his thinking rock” (as Cirie calls it) with his “Blackberry” – a piece of wood that is the size and shape of a real Blackberry. He plays with it and acts like he’s sending text messages. Indeed, he tells us its features – texting, e-mail, phone, web browser, etc. I guess this just shows how technology has advanced since Survivor 1 Greg’s coconut phone. Shane says it helps him because he can send messages to his business partner or son, and he’s communicating with people not on this island. Hell, I think he’s communicating with people not on this planet!

Danielle goes on and on about how bizarre it is that Shane is acting this way. She concludes with, “He’s nuts.” Danielle is just now realizing this?

We quickly head to the reward challenge and host Jeff Probst explains it. They will be divided into two teams of three. Each member of the team will be connected by a long rope that runs the length of an obstacle course. On go, they need to follow the rope while navigating the various obstacles – like going around a post, under water, etc. When they reach a floating platform, they unclip and, one at a time, race across a series of lily-pad platforms and jump into the water to retrieve a bag. When they get all three bags, they go back, clip onto the rope again, and go backwards through the course. First team to the finish with all three members and all three bags wins reward.

What does that team win? They fly to their own private island and have a barbecue feast of steak, sausages, soft drinks, and chocolate cake. The teams are randomly drawn and end up as Terry, Danielle, and Courtney vs. Shane, Cirie, and Aras. This should be an interesting match-up.

And they’re off! The first obstacle has them going over a hitching post. Terry’s group get into the water first and make it to the platform. Shane’s group is behind a few yards and Cirie needs help getting out of the water.

On the platform, the two ropes are intertwined so they have to do some untangling to move forward and Shane’s group really can’t advance. Terry’s group is in the water again and going under and over floating posts. Cirie gets tangled and Shane’s group has to stop to figure out what’s going on. As Probst says, “They’re really in a mess.” Meanwhile, Terry’s group makes it to the end of this part of the course and are back out of the water again.

Terry unclips and heads across the lily-pad portion. He jumps in and retrieves the first bag, almost losing his swimsuit in the process. Probst yells at Shane, Aras, and Cirie that they need to get moving and are taking too much time – they haven’t moved from the last time I mentioned where they were!

Danielle goes across the lily pads and gets the second bag. Courtney follows and retrieves the third, so they’re heading back. Shane’s group clips back onto the line and away they go. Probst meanwhile says the other group looks like they’ve almost given up. Almost? “Get your asses out of that water!” he adds. Cirie does just that as the team has finally made it to the platform.

Shane unclips and heads to get the bag. Terry’s group has a huge lead and nothing to worry about. Aras goes for the second bag, but he doesn’t even get it to the platform before Terry, Danielle, and Courtney cross the finish line. They win!

So Terry will have the chance to try to convince Danielle and Courtney to side with him as they celebrate with a BBQ. But first they have to decide which of the losers goes to Exile Island. Terry suggests to the women that Aras is the biggest threat and being at Exile Island will weaken him for the immunity challenge. Um, since he’s supposed to be their ally, you’d think they would therefore not want to send him to Exile Island. But they apparently don’t think too hard about it and let Terry send Aras packing.

After Cirie and Shane are sent back to camp, Probst drops a little bomb – the three winners will compete in an additional challenge to see who wins a special reward. This new challenge involves firing marbles with a slingshot at three ceramic tiles. First person to knock out all three of their own tiles (by the tile breaking away from at least two of the ropes holding its corners) wins… a fully-loaded 2007 GMC Yukon. Jaws drop and “Oh my God”s are spouted as Probst pulls the key out of his pocket.