Surviving China, Episode 8: “The Worst Move in ‘Survivor’ History”?

Last week, the Fei Long alliance rejoined and added Frosti, leaving Jaime, Erik, and Peih-Gee out in the cold. Jaime tried to use a non-idol, which host Jeff Probst tossed into the fire, and then her fire was snuffed. Do I think she really believed it was an immunity idol? For that answer, check out Why Jaime Lost.

Right now, James has the two real immunity idols. The previews suggested that Todd might try to blindside James in order to remove those from the game. Personally, I think Peih-Gee will be sent home as the Zhan Hu get Pagonged. Let’s find out if I’m right!

We begin back at camp after Tribal Council. Jean-Robert tells the others that when Jaime pulled out the non-idol, he was freaking out. They all pile into the shelter, but Erik is left out in the cold. James tells Jean-Robert to move his butt so Erik can get in. When Jean-Robert makes a comment about how he almost went home, James asks him sarcastically if he wants a hug. Ha! James tells us they still need Jean-Robert’s vote so they just have to deal with him and keep him in line.

The following day, James is out fishing and telling us how he’s back with his original tribemates and they have to stick together. All their personalities clash, but they pull together and they won challenges together. The other team clicked personally but couldn’t win – it was a “high school friend contest.”

Before James can even fully spread out the net, he catches a nice fish. Amanda says James is in a great position because he’s a strong physical and mental player and he has both immunity idols. She’s afraid he could win the whole thing.

And just like that, we cut to the reward challenge. Whoa, that was quick. There must be some heavy duty stuff that goes on later to get to this so early. Probst explains that the tribe will be divided into two teams of four for the challenge. One member of each team will sit in a small boat while the other three from the opposing team throws buckets of water at the boat, trying to sink them. The person in the boat can bail water out while they sit there. The first team to sink the other team’s boat twice wins reward.

At this point, if I’m a player, I’m praying Courtney is on my team, because she will add nothing to the weight of the boat.

Anyway, what are they playing for? The winning team will be taken to an ancient village where they will enjoy an authentic Chinese meal. They will also take a sealed message to open while on their reward.

They draw randomly to see who the team captain is, and then pick teams. Peih-Gee is captain of the red team while Jean-Robert is captain of the yellow team and picks first. He stupidly picks James for his strength rather than thinking about the fact that he needs a light person in the boat. And since Peih-Gee is already on the other team, he really needed to choose Courtney. Peih-Gee doesn’t see this either and goes with Frosti. James picks Todd, while Frosti goes with Erik. So far, it’s Fei Long vs. Zhan Hu. Todd picks Amanda and Erik has the final pick. Somebody finally understands the necessity of having somebody light in the boat, which Peih-Gee whispers to Erik. So he picks Courtney. Poor Denise is left out in the cold – she can’t participate and can’t win the reward. Well, that sucks!

It turns out that each round will feature somebody different in the boat. Well, that means it was even more critical to get light people. Todd starts as the sailor for his team while, unsurprisingly, Courtney is it for hers.

And they’re off! Each person in the boat can hand-paddle around a small square area surrounded by walkways. Courtney is surrounded on three sides and water is coming from all directions at her. She whines that she hates all of them. Todd is also getting hit, but not to the same extent.

Somehow, Courtney ends up right next to one of the walkways, and all three opposing team members are dousing the boat. Todd is doing a good job staying in the middle and bailing. Courtney is busy wiping water off her face rather than bailing, and she is just getting dumped on. And Courtney’s ship is sunk.

OK, so maybe having a light person isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – especially when that person is Courtney and doesn’t have a clue.

Round two begins with Amanda and Frosti getting into the boats. The water throwing begins again. Peih-Gee and Courtney already look tired of using the buckets. Mind you, Courtney has been doing it for all of a few minutes, tops – and her throws are not even making it to the boat.

Somehow Frosti ends up against a walkway and the opposing team just dumps a ton of water into the boat. And that’s it – he’s sunk!

It’s just like old times – Fei Long kicks butt and Zhan Hu sucks. And Courtney sucks too, but that’s no surprise. Oh, and apparently, I’d suck at picking teams.

The winners are taken to the Chinese village, where they walk down a road and into a place with a table. They sit down and take out the message Probst gave them. It is a clue to the location of the hidden immunity idol. This comes as a surprise to Jean-Robert – and Jean-Robert only, seeing as the others all know James has both of them. The final clue says:

OK, so it doesn’t really. But that would have been pretty funny! Well, I think so, anyway. Frankly, they don’t even read the clue aloud for us – and why bother? We know the score even if Jean-Robert doesn’t.