Surviving Exile Island, Episode 12: “She’s My Hero”

Last week, Cirie showed us just how much work she’s been doing behind the scenes for weeks now. She pulled off what might have been the most complex strategic move in Survivor history that was actually successful. As a reward, she was recognized with a Reality TV Hall of Fame Moment (if you haven’t read it yet, go ahead and click – I’ll wait). There are a few who don’t think the move was all it was cracked up to be, though, saying Cirie has ensured she will never make it past the final three. Maybe, maybe not. This episode should go a long way towards helping us determine that.

We begin on night 30, on the way back to camp from Tribal Council. Shane has figured out that Cirie, Danielle, and Aras voted out Courtney – and they didn’t even tell him. He’s actually pretty calm, I expected a lot of yelling. But he asks Aras about it, and he says Cirie sniffed out a plot against him. Then Shane asks Cirie, and she claims they were ten minutes away from Tribal Council when Danielle brought news that Terry was trying to get the women to vote out Aras.

Cirie shares with us that she and Aras came up with this little story to keep Shane calm. It was just that they didn’t have time to tell him. That’s all. It was all perfectly innocent.

The funny thing is that he seems to buy it! He says they should have found a way to tell him, but in any event, now the three of them (Shane, Cirie, Aras) have the numbers. Cirie, of course, agrees. If Terry wins next immunity, Danielle goes. Cirie agrees again. She’s not trying to pull a fast one, right? Her response? “Come on now.” Like it’s so far-fetched she can’t even imagine he’d ask. Gotta love it. Shane tells us it’s all good – Danielle’s next and then it’s the final four. Then, as if to emphasize that it’s all okay, he sits around the campfire and talks about how glad he is that “moron” Courtney is gone. OK, I can’t disagree with him on that one.

The next morning, the remaining Casayans talk about how calm it is at camp without Courtney. Terry is more concerned with the fact that he has failed once again to get numbers on his side. Danielle lied to him, so if she’s next to go, that’s just fine with him.

With that, we’re quickly whisked away to the reward challenge. It’s a four-stage obstacle course involving portions of challenges from earlier in the game. On go, all five of them have to dig in the sand to find a bag; first four to do so move on. Then they have to carry the bag through obstacles and untie a wooden snake. First three to get the snake and the bag move on again. Carrying both, they have to race over a sandhill and into a waterhole where they have to untie a large fish; first two to get all three items out move on to the final round. Those two have to carry all three items through a series of wooden tunnels and towers. First person to the finish while still holding the items wins.

What do they win? Love. The winner gets to allocate who gets to meet face-to-face with their loved ones and how long they spend together. Yikes, I’m thinking I would throw this one – I wouldn’t want to be responsible for pissing people off!

And they’re off! Dig, dig, dig. Danielle is first, followed by Terry, Aras, and Cirie. Shane is out. And they’re off again! They crawl under the bamboo to get to their wooden snakes. Danielle is first again, followed by Aras and Terry. Cirie is out. And they’re off a third time! Aras heads out first while Terry loses his snake. Aras gets his fish untied first and moves on. Terry gets his fish untied and carries it in his mouth (yuck!) while grabbing the bag and snake. Danielle is out.

And they’re off for a final time! Terry again has trouble carrying all his items, so Aras gets a lead. Terry makes up time and they’re dead even. In fact, they’re so even that they get to a crossroad in the tunnel at the same time. Neither is going to let the other go first, so they push against each other – all the while crawling and holding a bag, a snake, and a fish. Terry manages to get through first but almost loses the fish. Aras loses his bag and has to drop to the ground to get it. Aras falls out of contention as Terry crosses the finish line and wins!

Let me correct what I said earlier: I’d throw the competition, unless I was Terry. He has nothing to lose even if he pisses people off, and he might be able to use it as a bargaining chip.

All five remaining contestants line up to await their loved ones. Terry’s wife, Trish, is first. They cannot, however, approach each other. They must stand on lines about 20 feet apart. But she says he looks good.

Aras’ mom, Theresa, is next. “Hey, Mom,” he says. She replies, “You rock!” Heh. Danielle’s mom, Denise, follows, and tears flow from both sides.

Cirie’s husband joins them and they both bust out laughing and crying at the same time. He says he’s proud of her. And then, the real tear-jerker moment arrives as Shane’s son Boston walks out. Shane drops to his knees and cries. “I love you so much,” he says. Boston replies, “I love you too.” Awww.