An "Insider" Look at Survivor: Guatemala, Episode 9: Pulling Out the Idol

Bobby Jon’s Final Words: He has to tip his hat to Gary because he kept fighting. He doesn’t know how long he had the idol but it was a great move. There’s nobody to fault, even himself, because he was just part of a remarkable adventure. He could have won immunity but he didn’t.

He was very surprised, he had no clue Gary would pull out the idol. Right then, he knew he was going home. He had a couple of hard feelings going into the game, but he stayed a little longer and was able to iron them out. He would like to say that he has regrets about not finding the idol, but he got a full plate. Everything happens for a reason.

As for Palau vs. Guatemala, in Palau he learned more about himself and about nature, it’s just gorgeous out there. He got in tune with nature there. In Guatemala, being at the ruins just trips him out because he doesn’t see how they build them by hand. Also, he learned a lot about communicating with people.

He’s never died before (no kidding), but if he were to die, he died on day two, when his body completely shut down. But he bounced back. No matter how tough it is, you can get through it. That’s something he’ll always take with him forever. He was told this was the hardest Survivor yet, and it lived up to expectations.

At the beginning of the game, Stephenie was on his bad side because she lied to him in Palau. But then, he points out, he lied to Blake here, so what makes him any different? But that was different because Blake was going anyway. When they went to the merge he wanted to vote her out. But it’s not healthy to hold grudges or get angry, even though he did get angry and held a grudge. He wants to be a healthy person, and this experience helped him know how to get over those feelings. With Stephenie, she’s one of the best players out there, and she’s good competition.

His final words to his tribe are to hang in there and keep going. They’re all good people, whoever wins that million dollars is going to be very deserving.

Bobby Jon, the Day After: He’s feeling good, he never wanted to be the one who hoped to make it to the jury, but having never made the jury, it is beneficial. He didn’t want to leave the game and just go home. He wishes he were still in the game. He knows he could always have done better, but he didn’t. He gave it 100% and it didn’t work out.

What a clutch move by Gary – two out, bottom of the ninth in the World Series (wrong sport!) he hits a homer and scores the winning run. That will go down in history. The whole tribe were practically telling Gary he was about to go, and at the last second he pulled out the idol. He’s playing the game as honestly as he can. (snicker)

When Gary pulled out the idol, he got his stuff ready because he knew he was gone. He knew during the merge, it was obvious, it being 6-4, he knew he might go. He went straight to Stephenie, he told her he wanted to stay. She told him she wanted him to make the jury. It’s like trying to lie yourself out of a lie. You don’t want to do it but you have to do it. Another day in Survivor is another day closer to a million.

Last time, he was intrigued by the beauty of Palau. This time it was more about bonding on a personal level. It was an honor to be asked to come back. He still wanted to do more than he did, but he did his best. He could have found the immunity idol, but he didn’t. That’s life. It’s still setting in for him.

His best memory was the tribal switch, because he’s never been in a switch. He never saw it coming. He doesn’t know what’s about to happen, but the game is not going to go how he thought it was. The worst moment was on day two, when he just shut down.

When someone asks him what Survivor is like, he says it’s the real deal. No one gives them breaks or food. It’s the real deal physically, spiritually, and morally. You can better yourself in all those ways. It seems like yesterday he was walking down the temple to join the tribes. It seems like a blur. But to explain it to someone, it’s impossible. But it’s something he’s always going to cherish. There’s things he’s going to face that are a lot tougher than this, and he’s going to use this experience to get through them.

Break My Heart: It’s after tribal council, and Jamie’s fewwings were hurt. Aww. It was in the episode.

Atlatl: The reward challenge. Regular readers know I love them “native weapons” challenges, and this was no different. It’s like a cross between jai-alai and Jarts. I was about to write that atlatl doesn’t seem like an effective weapon, but then, there’s a reason Jarts aren’t around anymore.

I Love You, Man: Rafe talks about how wasted Steph and Judd got during the reward. Steph asks if everyone hates them, and Judd says yeah. Gary says it got a little out of control, that Judd wanted to thank the waitresses but had no money, so hugged and kissed them all. We see video footage of this. Judd says he left them a big tip, whatever he can give, he’ll give it. He gave them a little piece of his lips.

Bridge It: They think they’re on Amazing Race now? This is the immunity challenge. Although it was pretty brutal, it was still boring.

Judicious Judd: Judd tells us that Jamie told him that Stephenie wants to get him (Judd) out of the game. So it seems Jamie is an even bigger shit-disturber than we previously thought. What’s stupid is, he’s putting the focus on him where it wasn’t before. Judd told Steph that he didn’t believe it.

He thinks Jamie’s going “a little AWOL,” he never stops thinking of the game. Judd thinks they should just stick to the gameplan. Jamie is a loose cannon, you never know what he’s saying. Judd has a game plan, if Jamie wants to shoot his mouth off that doesn’t affect him. What he says is always so stupid that he immediately regrets saying it. And this is JUDD making these comments. Jamie being an idiot spices up the day a little, it gives them something to talk about. As long as you’re not the one being talked about, it makes you feel good.

This was a fun little clip, and it makes me like Judd all the more.