Surviving the Exile Island Reunion: Winners, Losers, and Fan Favorites

Now that the finale is over, it’s time to return for the live reunion! Probst begins by congratulating Aras and making the obvious joke. He says he has one piece of advice after receiving the check: “Pay your taxes.” (In case you haven’t been following, you can read a summary of why Probst is saying this in The Reality TV Hall of Shame induction of Richard Hatch.)

Probst wants to begin by talking about what might be the most significant personal rivalry there has ever been on the show – between Aras and Terry. How big a role did it play? Aras says it was huge – Terry is an awesome competitor and beat him at almost everything he did. It was great to go up against somebody like that. Also, from a strategic standpoint, if Terry hadn’t won immunity and somebody else did, Aras would have gone home (because of the hidden immunity idol).

What is Terry’s take on Aras? Did he respect the rivalry? Yes, completely. For Aras to apologize near the end was great, and Terry had to act like an adult too, to listen to what he was saying. It was two mature guys competing and making it happen.

Probst congratulates Terry because he didn’t have the numbers on his side and had his back up against the wall, yet he continued to dominate. But when he made the comments (about moms not being as important as wives, and getting mad at Cirie for leaving her torch lying around), how much of it was frustration and how much was just him? Terry says Cirie had it right when she said that he was mad about Shane getting voted off. He was Terry’s last ally, his last real shot. The others stayed strong and he could not crack them. Whenever it was about to happen, they realized it and got rid of the person who might flip to his side. He gives credit to them, and yes, it frustrated him.

Probst notes that Aras came in a bit nutty – remember that he was trying to start a fire by having everybody put their hands together and feeling the heat – but what did he get out of it? Aras says it felt like a right of passage, especially going up against “ultimate dad” Terry.

Danielle played a quiet, subtle game, Probst says. That’s one way of putting it. I probably would not be so complimentary, but I’m not the host. Then out of nowhere, she won the last challenge and chose Aras. He knows she explained why, but he’s not buying it. What was the real reason? She figured everyone took a liking to Terry near the end, and it was really a 50/50 shot – they were the two most competitive and smartest guys, and she thinks they played the game the best. So she figured either way she was taking a shot.

Does she think she could have beaten Terry? She thinks it would have been tough. So Probst wants the jury to show hands for who would have voted for Danielle. Only Bruce and Cirie raise their hands. I’m actually surprised about Cirie! But the main point is that she would have lost no matter what, as I figured. Probst rubs it in on Terry a bit, noting that he was that close to a million dollars.

So from where Danielle sits, does she think Terry would have won because of a vote out of respect for Terry or did she lose favor with the tight Casaya group? She thinks she lost some favor and also, Terry didn’t vote people out – she and Aras did. Since they voted the same people out, she figured the animosity would be split. That’s actually pretty smart thinking. Consider me shocked.

Probst has a lighthearted question for Aras that was passed along by a kid he met: How did he keep his hair puffed up like that for 39 days? He says it was Cirie, but all the women helped.

Next, it’s time to talk to Cirie about her move from being afraid of leaves to catching the biggest fish out there and almost winning the game. Probst notes that when they first met her in casting, she was a “giddy bunch of nerves.” There were many reasons not to put her on the show and one reason to put her on: her spirit. There was something so compelling, and he says it was one of the best moves they made because she was a delight to watch.

What made her get off the couch? She says she just decided to take a chance. What was the first day like on the beach? Cirie says she hated her friends and family for not telling her not to do it! It was horrible and she just didn’t want to embarrass the family by being the first one off.

How has her life changed? She says she’s off the couch (and indeed it looks like she’s lost weight). She feels that America has seen the best and worst of her. The fear of disappointing people and the fear of failure is gone now. Cirie’s husband, HB, is asked if he is proud. He says he’s very proud and was impressed by the fact that Cirie was taking command and telling him what to do. He’d never seen that side of her before. He can barely talk and ends up getting all teary.