Surviving the Cook Islands, Episode 3: Serious Plotting

Jonathan tries to pressure Jessica by saying he thought they had a tight bond, etc. Meanwhile, Yul talks to Cao Boi, who says Becky is a “weak link” and “a princess.” Yul says she’s been strong, while Cecilia has not been. Both push the Cecilia idea, saying they’ll then have numbers. Jonathan tries all sorts of logic on Jessica, and it appears to be going in one ear and out the other. I don’t know if it makes sense to listen to him or not, but I don’t think Jessica is even really hearing him. He’d have more luck talking to a tree.

Cao Boi tells us he doesn’t like the scheming going on, and then talks to Jessica. She says she has a hard time trusting Jonathan, and Cao Boi agrees. But Cao Boi says they have a point. But he also says the two of them are really not part of a crowd. But, but, but – hell, I don’t even know where he’s going anymore! And Jessica is totally confused as to what she should do.

Jonathan says there are different ways to play the game. There is I like you so I won’t vote for you. But there is also I like you but I have to vote for you so I can go further. He’s not sure which will win out.

Before we get to Tribal Council, recall that Yul commented earlier about possibly using the hidden idol to help Becky. Since they all know Becky is being targeted, he could give her the idol, watch as the other side votes against her, and then reveal it. Their votes would be canceled and only the votes of Yul, Becky, and Jonathan would count. They’d knock off one of the opposition, and still be four strong when Candice returns. I don’t know if it will happen, but it could.

The players arrive at Tribal Council and Probst immediately begins questioning them about the shuffling. Does Jonathan think the fact that tribes had been split along racial lines added anything to the shuffle? Nope.

Probst notes that Sundra is the only person from her former tribe, and suggests she has become powerful in that everybody wants her vote because she has no allegiances. I’m thinking the opposite – the others could easily have joined together to pick her off (though we didn’t see that happening). She says essentially the same thing – either valuable or vulnerable.

What does Yul think the best direction is for the tribe? He says people have different priorities as to what they’re looking for out of the game. Some are strategizing and came to win, while others came to find a personally fulfilling experience.

Jonathan says the people who came for the experience are still playing the game, and those who came to play are having to deal with the personalities and the experience.

Is the game more complicated than Jessica anticipated? She says she’s not used to the manipulation aspect of it and trying to figure out what people’s intentions are. Are they being nice or trying to get her on their side?

Ozzy is asked how the tribe will be different after the vote. Ozzy should say, “It will have one less person,” but he apparently doesn’t have my sense of humor. So he says he will know where everybody stands in comparison to what they’ve been saying.

Probst explains the rules on the hidden idol, in case anybody has it. He says if the person in possession of the idol receives the highest number of votes, they can present it to nullify those votes. Then the person with the second highest vote count is booted.

With that, it’s time to vote. Yul votes for Cecilia, saying he’s really sorry but his loyalty is to Becky. Cecilia, meanwhile, votes against Becky, saying it will be better for the tribe. Sundra votes the same, without a word. Becky returns the favor, saying it’s nothing personal, just strategy. Ozzy votes against Becky and says she made no effort to get to know him at all. So I guess for him, it is personal. But it’s not for Jonathan, who says Cecilia is very classy but it’s strategy.

Of course, we don’t see Cao Boi’s or Jessica’s votes. But Probst tallies and reads ‘em: Cecilia, Becky, Becky, Cecilia, Cecilia, Becky, Cecilia, Cecilia. Wow. OK, consider me shocked. I thought Becky was going all the way.

Cecilia gets a hug from Ozzy before her torch is snuffed and she walks off. Probst says it’s clear the tribe is not unified. Thanks for stating the obvious, Jeff. He continues that this soon in the game, it’s certainly risky. Um. Okay. Not sure where he’s going with that. It’s not like most tribes just line people up and agree on who should go each time. Ah well. Whatever. With those words of confusion, he sends the tribe back to camp.

In her last words, Cecilia says the vote was “insane” and a testament as to how quickly the game can change. She has no regrets and had a great time. It was amazing and she got to do things she never thought she’d do. As far as the tribe, she doesn’t think voting her out will strengthen them, but may in fact weaken them.

Next time: At Raro, new lines are drawn in a battle of the sexes, with the women working and guys… not so much. At Aitu, Cao Boi goes too far as he raids a bird’s nest and knocks out a baby bird. Jonathan says Cao Boi is a wild man and he doesn’t trust him. Hey, dude, he saved your alliance’s bacon this time around!

I have to say, I’m not really sure how Jonathan and Yul pulled this one off. I’m going to have to mull that over for a while. But I have a feeling Cao Boi and Jessica will live to regret it.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Survivor: Cook Islands articles here on RealityNewsOnline:

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: Cook Islands 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: Cook Islands and Survivor Fever!