Surviving Fiji, Episode 11: “As Snaky-Ratty As It Gets”

Last week, we saw an awful lot of strategizing and scrambling. Dreamz, Stacy, and Boo all switched sides, and then Stacy led the Earl-alliance (I’ll just call it the Earlliance) in switching targets just in case Dreamz was playing a triple-agent. In the end, Edgardo left, Alex and Mookie were probably not too thrilled at Dreamz, and Dreamz was probably wondering what the heck happened to switch things. Let’s see what everybody is doing this week!

When the tribe returns from Council, Mookie and Alex quickly come to the conclusion that they’re dead meat and Dreamz double-crossed them, and was probably playing them all along.

The double-crosser, meanwhile, tells Stacy he’s not a liar. She says they were just afraid the others were feeding him misinformation. Uh huh. He buys it, and even says, “That was smart.” He tells us he’s comfortable with their explanation.

Earl talks about how “brilliant” the move was (OK, I do have to give them credit – it was pretty good) and says the power is on their side. I really hope he doesn’t get too comfortable, because after only two more votes, if that, the Earlliance is going to have to turn on itself, and it might not work out so well.

Stacy says Mookie and Alex’s days are numbered so they don’t even have to stress out. “They’ll be lucky if they get fed.” Good to see she’s still the same Stacy we all know and, well, hate. Alex supports her for his entire time on Moto, and then ensures she stays while Michelle goes, and she’s ready to see him starve. Nice.

The next morning, Alex and Mookie are still complaining to each other about Dreamz. They say he is “a true traitor” and it would be nice if he’d at least come over and say, “Sorry, but it’s a game.” Yeah, ‘cus I’m sure that would make them feel soooo much better and they wouldn’t lash out at him or anything.

Then Dreamz does wander over and ask why they aren’t hanging out together anymore. Alex is like, “Why do you think?” Dreamz claims they all were outwitted the previous night. Alex says Dreamz turned on them, but Dreamz denies it. He admits to voting for Mookie, and says something about how when the Earlliance had the Horsemen, he’d have to go with them… or something. I really don’t understand what he’s saying or whatever logic he’s trying to use. But he insists he didn’t turn on them, that much I know.

Dreamz explains to us that he told them a story about him not knowing what was going on. I still don’t understand how that plays with him voting against Mookie, though. Anyway, Dreamz says as much as he wants them gone, he’s going to need their votes at the end, so he wants to remain friends.

We are quickly whisked away to the reward challenge, where the players are randomly divided into two teams. One person from each team will be on a platform, launching balls into a mud field, where one of their teammates will attempt to catch it in a “catch basket” that looks a bit like what is used to play jai alai. You can also catch the other team’s ball, of course. First team to five wins reward, which is: stuff to get nice and clean. But they won’t take it to camp – they’ll board a seaplane and fly to a luxury spa resort, where they will shower, sleep in a bed, and return in the morning. Of course, the winners also send a loser to Exile Island, where they will find a new clue to the rehidden immunity idol.

The teams are: Orange, consisting of Yau-Man (launcher), Boo, Cassandra, and Mookie. Green, consisting of Stacy (launcher), Dreamz, Earl, and Alex.

And they’re launched! Yau-Man launches his too long, while Stacy waits a few seconds and Earl has it… but loses it. Next launch, Boo outgrabs Dreamz to get an Orange point from Yau-Man, and then Mookie steals one of Stacy’s to get a second point for Orange.

We see several misses, including one in which Cassandra puts a choke hold on Earl! Earl complains and Probst says it’s up to them to determine how physical they want to get. Oh, then Cassandra better watch out.

Dreamz scores the first Green point with a deep one from Stacy. In the next launch, Boo and Alex are moving for the ball together, with a little bit of pushing going on (I’d say professional basketball level). Boo slips in the mud and starts yelling in pain. He can’t stand up and says he thinks it’s his ACL – his knee. That doesn’t sound good, and Probst calls for medical attention. He stands up and moves it around a little and we can hear it pop back into place! Everybody shudders – I don’t, ‘cus my knees are like that, so I’m used to it. He bounces around a little bit and declares himself fit and ready to continue.

The injury doesn’t stop Boo from trying to get the next Yau-Man launch, nor does it stop Alex from knocking his arm away and making sure he misses. Dreamz scores another for Green, tying the score.

Yau-Man launches a short one for Mookie, who catches it to put Orange back in the lead. Then Dreamz easily catches another Stacy launch, tying it again.

Stacy shoots one towards Alex, but Cassandra trips him. Yau-Man hits Mookie again, so Orange is only one point away from winning. Mookie breaks left and Yau-Man fires, but Alex sticks in his basket and steals it to tie things up!

Boo misses Yau-Man’s shot, but Stacy goes after her favorite target and Dreamz catches it, winning reward for Green! He raises his hands in victory – and really, he was the Green team.

Green sends Boo to Exile Island because he’s been “living the life of luxury” since he arrived (so has Stacy). Although I think it’s really because they don’t think he’ll find the immunity idol. Then they all pile onto the seaplane as they are, full of mud.

On Exile Island, Boo finds the new clue. It says the idol is back at their beach, close to a single tree and easy to reach. Despite the fact that he got back into the game, Boo says his knee does hurt. Plus, he’s out of water and nearing heat exhaustion.

Meanwhile, as the seaplane heads to the spa, Alex tells us the first thing he plans to do is try to wiggle his way “back” into the alliance. Um. “Back”? He was never in it! Anyway, he knows he’s in a bad position, but he’s going to give it his all.

When they arrive, it’s time to hit the shower and use a lot of sponsor products. They have dirt and mud everywhere. Then it’s time for dinner, which looks good!

Stacy tells us everything was good, but it was “extremely awkward to have Alex there.” Alex himself starts talking about what a gentleman he is in playing the game, minimizing showboating, etc. Stacy adds in, “sometimes.” God, she really is a bitch, isn’t she?