Surviving the Cook Islands, Episode 5: Mentally Checked Out?

Last week, J.P. was ousted after getting a little too comfortable and being a little too bossy. Thus, the revenge of Billy continues – two members of original Aitu have been voted out in a row since they threw the challenge to rid themselves of Billy. Will the curse continue with Cristina or Ozzy? Or will somebody else go home this week? Sit back, relax, and let’s find out!

We begin at Raro on day 12. Adam and Nate are cleaning their teeth with sticks and complaining that the ladies are sleeping in and don’t do anything all day. Whoa, talk about role reversal. Nate tells us the guys will have to watch their backs as a unit because the women could go after them. Uh, Nate, they could have done that anyway because they have always outnumbered you. Where have you been? Anyway, he says the guys need to let the women know the men are needed.

Cue shots of the men working hard – gathering firewood, fishing, collecting crabs, getting water, etc. Parvati is happy to see the guys really stepping it up. She thinks they’re trying to prove themselves to the women. Bingo.

Over at Aitu, Cao Boi is gathering food while Candice, Becky, and Sundra sit around comparing how much hair they have under their armpits. I kid you not. This is what a lack of TV drives people to! Cao Boi is annoyed that they are relaxing too much and says that while he hopes they keep winning challenges, if they don’t, the women “will be eliminated.”

Treemail arrives, announcing a reward challenge that they’ll compete in as duos, though it looks like the whole tribe will be rewarded if the duo from that tribe wins. We quickly move to the challenge itself, which host Jeff Probst describes. He says each tribe will select three pairs. Each pair will stand on a platform with each person using one arm to hold onto a handle connected by a rope to a hanging hook. Every two minutes, members of the opposing tribe will load up one of the pairs with five-pound weights on the hook. Last pair standing wins reward for their tribe.

And what is that reward? More fishing supplies, spices, and wine. Also, the winning tribe will send one of the losers to Exile Island until the immunity challenge.

The pairs are chosen as follows. Aitu: Jonathan & Yul, Sundra & Candice, Ozzy & Jessica. Raro: Nate & Adam, Rebecca & Stephannie, Cristina & Brad. That leaves as the loaders Cao Boi & Becky, and Parvati & Jen.

The first set of weights are loaded up. Adam & Nate each get five pounds, as do Candice & Sundra. So a difference in strategy here – Aitu is putting the weight on the strongest while Raro is going for the weaker link.

Time passes. Adam confides to Parvati that he hopes they continue to pile it on him and Nate, because they’ll hold it as long as they can. More weight is added, with Nate & Adam getting more, but Yul & Jonathan getting their first five pounds. Probst says they will “wait a little more” and Jonathan chides him on his bad pun.

More weight: Nate & Adam again, but Jessica & Brad get their first. How are Adam & Nate feeling? Nate says he feels like they’re getting some wine tonight. Jessica counters that they will be “whining” tonight. That elicits some laughs all around.

More weight is added, but we see only glimpses. Here is where we’re at: Adam & Nate and Jonathan & Yul each have 30 pounds. Dang. Brad & Cristina and Candice & Sundra have 15 pounds each. Jessica & Ozzy and Rebecca & Stephannie have 10 pounds each.

Yul & Jonathan are struggling with the weight. I expect Jonathan to drop first, but Mr. Muscles, Yul, is the one who causes them to go out. More weight is added: Rebecca & Stephannie and Jessica & Ozzy.

Jessica is struggling. So is Nate, and Adam clasps onto him in a bear hug to help him out. Cao Boi jokes that they are handsome boys and make quite a pair. Nate starts singing “Ebony and Ivory.”

Rebecca drops her weight, so she and Stephannie are out for Raro. Sundra drops her weight and Candice is visibly annoyed. So it’s down to Jessica & Ozzy for Aitu – and they aren’t looking so hot. Jessica starts singing, “Oooh she’s gonna drop it,” etc. to Cristina. She taunts them a little bit more, but Brad & Cristina are having none of it.

More weight is added. Obviously, Jessica & Ozzy get theirs, while Cristina & Brad get for Raro. I think that’s a mistake – they’re already struggling, so they might drop without adding anything. They should have put it on the strong guys. Then again, the guys are having problems of their own, though Adam pulls through.

Cristina almost loses it, but recovers. Jessica looks like her arm is being pulled out of its socket, but she struggles on… for several more seconds and then loses it. Raro wins! I have to say, not really a surprise in a strength-based challenge. So who do they send to Exile Island? They choose Jonathan for a return trip. He is, needless to say, thrilled.

At Raro the next day, the wine bottles are empty and people slept well. Adam is already up and fishing, and returns to camp with a small octopus stuck to his foot! With Nate’s help, he eventually pries it off. They plan for a nice meal as Cristina talks about mixing it with coconut as Jenny tells us Cristina may think she’s an asset because she cooks, but coconut stew isn’t that difficult to make. Jenny says Cristina orders people around, too.