Surviving Micronesia, Episode 13: I Should Have Known Better

After two weeks of immunity idol idiocy (including one non-play that led to Jason getting inducted into the Reality TV Hall of Shame), last week we finally saw how the idol should actually be used – including Oscar-worthy acting (and leading to a Reality TV Hall of Fame Moment for Amanda). Unfortunately, James also went home because of yet another injury, bringing us to only five remaining contestants. There is not much time left before three of them have to face the jury – where the other two will be sitting. One of them will end up there after tonight. Let’s find out what happens and who that person is.

The first topic of the night, right after Tribal Council, is what just happened. Amanda tells the others that she really didn’t have the idol when she told them she didn’t – she got it later. Cirie tells us Tribal Council “is getting dangerous.” Getting? She says Amanda really put her through the wringer, but she was good because she had Cirie right at the brink of tying the vote, which is what she needed to see to know she could trust Cirie.

The next morning, Erik is still stunned that Alexis is gone, and shares his thoughts with fellow Fan Natalie. He tries to convince himself that if Parvati and Cirie are smart, they’ll realize what a threat Amanda is and get rid of her. Riiiight. Natalie agrees that it doesn’t make sense for anybody to take her to the final three. She might be right, especially after that move.

On top of it, Erik is upset that Amanda made him feel like a fool at Tribal Council. Oh please, get over it. So he wants to go to Exile Island to find the idol. Hmmm, I wouldn’t think they’d replant it at this point, but maybe they will. He and Natalie agree to send each other to Exile Island if they win the reward challenge. Even so, he tells us he doesn’t trust anybody in the game – though he might have to go along with Natalie.

Meanwhile, the three Favorites talk about how they have to beat Erik to make it to the final three together. Amanda tells us she doesn’t have any questions about Cirie’s loyalty anymore, after the testing she put her through. “I trust my girls,” she says.

The three of them also realize the importance of winning the reward challenge so they can decide whom to send to Exile Island. But Cirie also believes Amanda may be able to get into Erik’s head and convince him that she’s forgiven him – and if she does that, he’ll do whatever she says. I don’t know about that – he’d be pretty dumb at this point to think that the obvious isn’t actually what’s going on.

So Amanda awkwardly approaches Erik and asks what his thoughts are. He says he wants to win a food reward, and they agree to take each other along if they win. Erik tells us Amanda is a very strategic player, so he doesn’t know if he can trust her – especially after the last Tribal Council – but she is pushing for herself to go with him on the reward.

Amanda plays up to him, saying they could team up and be the most physical player (Erik) and the most strategic player (Amanda) against the odds. Amanda tells us that Erik is “very, very naïve” and she believes she can manipulate him into sending Parvati to Exile Island.

Erik tells Amanda that Natalie was pushing for him to go to Exile Island. Amanda says of course that’s what she wants – so he will be weaker for the next challenge. Wow, Amanda is good. She says it doesn’t make any sense for the person playing the physical game to weaken himself. Instead, he should send Parvati, who is so weak she wouldn’t even look for it. Uh huh, riiiiight. Erik tells us he just isn’t sure who to believe.

Time for the reward challenge! The final five show up to a game show type of setting, and host Jeff Probst says they will be tested on how well they know this game they love so well. He will ask questions about favorite moments of past seasons. The first person to get four right answers will win. And what will they win? They’ll board a helicopter to fly over the Rock Islands and land at a luxury resort. There they will get a massage, meal, and return to camp in the morning. In addition, as we know, the winner will choose who goes to Exile Island. And indeed there is another idol hidden – and it can only be used at the next Tribal Council.

The questioning begins:

1. On which season did a castaway have a pet snake? The right answer is Pearl Islands. Cirie (who made a last-minute change) and Erik get it right. Rupert had a pet snake named Balboa.
2. In which season did a shark bite a player, and in retaliation the Survivor bit it back? Oh, that one’s easy – All-Stars, and it was Richard Hatch. Natalie and Amanda get it right. We even get to relive a few moments of Richard describing it. Of course, since then Richard got bitten by the justice system and is in jail!
3. In which season did a tribemate ask another tribemate to pee on their hand after being stung by a sea urchin. Another easy one – Marquesas, when John asked Kathy to do the deed. Erik is the only one to get it right, and he takes the lead.
4. During which season was one of the castaways evacuated after falling into the fire? Oh, come on! They should all get this one! The answer is of course Australia, when it happened to Michael Skupin. Probst points out that was back in 2001, when Erik was only 14 years old. Man, I’ve been covering Survivor for a looooooong time! Erik, Cirie, and Parvati get it right. If Erik gets another one right, he wins. (Parvati turns to Cirie and whispers, “Beat him.” Cirie whispers back, “I’m trying!”
5. During which season were the castaways first divided into four separate tribes? The answer of Exile Island is given by Cirie, Natalie, and Erik – and they’re right!

Erik wins! Now he has to decide who to send to Exile Island. He goes with Parvati, and you just know Natalie is thinking, “Whaaaaat?!” Indeed, I’m pretty sure I see steam shooting out of her ears. The next decision is who to take with on the reward. Erik says he had a deal with Amanda to take each other, and he’s honoring that deal. She thanks him and says he totally redeemed himself. Awww, he’s so cute. And naïve.