Surviving the Cook Islands, Episode 9: Living a Mutineer’s Life

Last week, we said goodbye once again to a person who didn’t want to scheme and plot, but wanted to play the game honestly. And, not coincidentally, this was also the third person to go in a row who admitted they didn’t really watch the show before coming onto it. I’m not sure how many more such people are left, but I bet they’re starting to get the idea of what they need to do in order to stick around. Let’s find out!

We begin at Raro on day 22. Jonathan is continuing to work hard as he tries to stay in the good graces of his new tribe. “Who knew a Jew could climb a tree and get coconuts,” he says. He continues as he talks about how many other food items he gathers. He says that he is alone in the wilderness, “I’m a wandering Jew without a tribe.” Well, he might be right about that part.

“I’m living a mutineer’s life. … I made the game much harder for myself.” Wow, he really has had a lightbulb moment, hasn’t he? “I regret jumping. … It was an impulsive thing. I hope in the long run it turns out to be a good thing.” Yeah, that’s just wishful thinking at this point, Jonathan.

Candice and Adam go off to talk about how much they trust each other and how they’re going to the end together. She feels lucky to have somebody she can trust. Adam tells her how Jenny is the only person who might have an issue with Candice because she knows Adam will choose Candice over her. So they have to make her not think that.

Apparently, making Jenny not think they’re close involves Candice rubbing suntan lotion on Adam in front of Jenny while Parvati talks about how the two of them are the all-American couple. Good plan, guys!

Jenny tells us if they stick to the five of Nate, Parvati, Rebecca, Adam, and herself, they’ll go far in the game. But she’s worried about Candice because she knows Candice and Adam were attracted to each other. She doesn’t want Adam to falter. Oh, don’t worry, Jenny. I’m sure you’re just as secure in your alliance as Brad was in your alliance. Oh, wait.

Candice and Adam continue their plan of not looking like they’re together by lying in the tent and talking again about how much they trust one another while Adam kisses Candice’s fingers. Eventually, it moves to a quick peck on the lips. Once again, good plan, guys!

Over at Aitu, Aquaman is back in action as he voices over that they’re way in the hole and being tested in a way that few Survivors have. But he sees it as an incredible opportunity. He’s happy to be the underdog.

They get treemail, but there is no letter with it. Instead, it’s a small board with various nautical flags painted on it and letters below each flag. It looks like a code key, and Aitu wonders if they have to memorize it before the next challenge. They practice as Yul explains to us that they have to work together as a team or they’re screwed.

The tribes arrive at the challenge and Yul mutters, “Oh, man,” as he sees that Brad was voted out. Host Jeff Probst informs Aitu that Brad became the first juror, which elicits a “whoa” from Yul.

Probst goes on to explain the challenge. Two tribe members armed with a compass and a coordinate will race out to a large 16-point compass in the sand, where they will dig up treasure chests. Each chest has the next coordinate painted on the top. They race back with the chest and two more tribe members go out to retrieve the next chest. And so on until they get all four chests. Then they untie the chests to find seven wooden nautical flags. They have to use those flags to spell out “victory” by using the code they were previously sent. First tribe to get it right wins reward.

What is that reward? A flight to a nearby island to take part in a local feast: pork, fruit, homebrewed wine, etc. In addition, the winners send a loser to Exile Island. Raro sits out Rebecca, Nate, and Parvati.

Raro’s first coordinate is North-Northwest; Aitu’s is East-Northeast. And they’re off! Yul and Sundra go out against Jonathan and Jenny. Jonathan misheard Probst’s coordinate, though. He insists it was North by Northeast, confusing the latter half with Aitu’s. Candice tells him he’s wrong and Jenny moves to the new location, but it doesn’t appear Jonathan believes he is incorrect.

Yul and Sundra find the first chest and dig it out. Jonathan is digging, though it’s unclear if he’s in the right spot. Jenny is just sort of standing and watching him. Uh, that won’t help. Guess it is the right place because Jonathan finds the chest. Meanwhile, Yul and Sundra get theirs out and back to the mat.

The new coordinates say North-Northwest, so Ozzy and Becky head out to dig. Jonathan and Jenny get their chest, which says East-Southeast. Adam and Candice get confused by the directions while Ozzy and Becky get Aitu’s second chest.

Yul and Sundra are back out while Adam and Candice have “finally” (in Probst’s words) found their chest. But Yul and Sundra dig out their third chest before Raro digs out that second one. Ozzy and Becky head out for number four as Adam and Candice bring back their second and send Jonathan and Jenny back out.

Whoops! Jonathan and Jenny jumped the start, taking off before Adam and Candice made it back to the mat. So they have to return to the mat again. As if they hadn’t lost enough time already!

Ozzy and Becky find the fourth chest and are digging it out. Jonathan and Jenny find their chest but their digging techniques come under criticism by Adam and Candice. They try to pull it out too soon and just waste more time. But Ozzy and Becky have their fourth chest back to the mat.

Aitu opens the chests and pulls out the flags as Candice mutters about how she’s going to go to Exile Island. Jonathan and Jenny get the third chest back to the mat, so Adam and Candice can head back out. As they dig, Probst describes their technique as “like slow motion.” I guess they shouldn’t have been so quick to criticize the other two. Glass houses and all.