Surviving the Cook Islands, Episode 13: “Being Foolish”?

Ozzy tells us he’s been playing the game individually since the beginning, and he’s still thinking of number one. That could mean joining up with Parvati while he has the chance. Hmmm. Truth or red herring? I think the latter.

Back at camp as the winners are returning from the spa trip, Becky tells us how she missed Yul and has been having some thoughts about new strategies and how she’d like to get Ozzy out sooner. Yul can immediately tell that something is a bit tense with Becky, so they go out to talk.

Becky gives Yul her thoughts on Ozzy and how he needs to go. Yul admits he wouldn’t want to face Ozzy at the end – anybody would lose to him. The jury, Yul says, probably sees Ozzy a guy who has been playing on his own, winning challenges, and not building coalitions. Yul says they need to decide whether they take the high road and bring Ozzy to the final four or they really play the game and get rid of him.

Next, Yul talks to Sundra and Becky, mentioning how Parvati was giving Ozzy the hard-sell flirt. Yul believes she’s a threat because of that, but they could also eliminate part of that threat by getting rid of Ozzy. They decide to see what happens at the immunity challenge.

Which, not so coincidentally, is right now! Probst brings in Adam and goes on to explain what they will be doing: They have to carry four bundles of big puzzle pieces (one bundle at a time) over a series of balance beams that step up in height along the way. Once they have all four, they use them to create a table maze. And then they use the maze to maneuver two cannonballs past decoy holes into two corner pockets.

And they’re off! Without even watching yet, I’m going to type: Ozzy takes an early lead. Let’s see if it’s true. … Yup! He’s the first across as Adam falls off just before the end of his beam and has to go all the way back. Becky jumps for it and makes it just as Ozzy is across with his second. Parvati keeps falling, as does Sundra. Yul has his first bundle. And Ozzy has his third!

Parvati has her first and Yul has his second. Adam and Sundra are pretty much done. Becky takes a nasty fall. Ouch! Ozzy is across with his fourth. Parvati has her second and Yul has his third.

Now Yul has his fourth as Ozzy is untying his maze. Parvati has her third. Adam and Sundra should just sit down now. Parvati has her fourth.

Yul and Ozzy get their mazes together at about the same time, but Yul’s isn’t correct. Ozzy drops in a cannonball and starts maneuvering the maze. He gets around the first decoy hole and the second, and into a corner pocket it goes!

Yul is trying to fix his maze while Parvati is figuring out how to put hers together. But it doesn’t matter – Ozzy gets his cannonball into the second pocket easily and wins! Well, I guess they won’t be voting him off!

The tribe returns to camp and Yul tells us, “Ozzy won immunity… as usual.” He believes his group knows they will be voting out a Raro – but which one, Adam or Parvati? Adam drops by to ask if he’s going. Yul says he doesn’t know for sure, but he doesn’t think so. He’s pretty sure he can work it so Adam stays. Adam tells us Yul is the puppetmaster. Adam figures as long as he gets to stay a little longer, he’s fine with it. He doesn’t want Parvati to go, but if it has to be one of them, well, goodbye, Parvati.

Now it’s time for Parvati to talk to the puppetmaster. Yul honestly tells her she’s probably the bigger threat because she has better coordination as far as balance and agility (which she showed in the immunity challenge). But then he confuses me by saying that since Ozzy is better than she is, that means Adam is actually a bigger threat. Huh?

Parvati and Adam talk in the shelter while Ozzy is lying there, and Adam says he doesn’t know who he’ll vote for – one of the other three. Ozzy chimes in that he’s going to vote for Sundra. Wha? Adam and Parvati just kind of look at him, stunned. But then Parvati asks Ozzy who he’s voting for and he says he doesn’t know. OK, now I’m confused.

Adam asks if there is any way Ozzy would vote for one of his allies. In particular, he notes that Becky and Sundra are just along for the ride. Ozzy says he feels his position is already so precarious, if he did that and then didn’t win immunity, he’d be gone. Adam says that’ll happen anyway because he’s such a threat.

Ozzy tells us that he knows he dominates the challenges, but his three allies might turn on him if he loses at some point. So he’s trying to cover all his bases. Not sure what he means. But he once again suggests Sundra.

Speaking of whom, Sundra notices that Ozzy is in the shelter with the two Raros. Yul wonders if they’re trying to work him over. Nooooo. Don’t be silly. They’d never do that. The next question he asks is if they think he might listen. Well, yeah, they think he might.