An "Insider" Look at Survivor: Cook Islands, Episode 2: Call It Heavy Metal

Yul on Exile Island: Hey, they actually show a NEW clip! Cool! I was all ready for the clip of him finding the idol! I also really like the new video system except that the ads are still MUCH louder than the clips. Yul says that it was bittersweet winning the challenge, because he didn’t want to come to Exile Island. Especially since they had just won tarps and they’d been getting soaked every night. He would have stayed 20 days if it meant finding the idol.

He didn’t think he’d find the idol. He got lucky. He wouldn’t have been able to figure it out from the first clue. It gave good information, but not enough. His clue was just enough to solve it, and if he didn’t get it, the next person would have.

He figured out that he had to make a letter “A” with the mast and the island, so he knew the line, but he didn’t know where along that line to dig. That was provided by the second clue. He just walked until he couldn’t see the southern island, and started digging. He got lucky on his first try.

He would have given himself a 1% chance of finding it, since he wasn’t sure if he solved it right or had the right place to dig. But he found it. When he felt the box, he was in disbelief. It made all the hardships (and he admits, it’s only been five days) worthwhile. I like this guy, he’s down to earth.

He’s not sure what he wants to do with it yet. He’s leaning toward telling Brad and Becky. It’s a huge risk, but he trusts them. Finding someone in the game you can trust is a huge advantage. He’s also thinking of not telling anyone but being ambiguous because they might think twice about voting him off if they think he has it.

If people knew he had it, it would make him a huge target. Being sent to Exile Island says to him that others think he’s a threat. He doesn’t want to be more of a threat than he is.

After he found the idol, he tried to conserve energy and get a fire going. He’s never built a fire, and it was very hard because it’s very windy and the wood was wet. It was a huge sense of accomplishment.

It occurred to him he should cover his tracks. He wrapped the box in a coconut husk and sent it off to sea. He didn’t want to bury it because he didn’t want anyone to find the empty box, and it was too large to bring back. He also tried to cover up any signs of his digging. He doesn’t want anyone to know he found it.

Nate Talks About Hiki: He says the ladies put him in the driver’s seat. They weren’t concerned about winning the challenge, they just wanted to not finish last. One of the women was dehydrated, so she did a good job. On the way back, they were dehydrated and prayed for fire. The ladies accidentally started it and now they’re starting to figure it out. They have fire and water, it’s all good.

He’s amazed at how strong the ladies have been. He’s in charge, so they’re kind of like the Rayletts (Heh. Could have been worse, he could have called them The Time.), but they’re all equal. He’s so happy with them. He’s pulling his weight, which is why he’s so weak right now. The women are lightening his load by getting the wood and keeping the fire.

Stephannie told him that she has his back, since the other two girls will stick together. He helped her when she was sick, so she’s definitely with him. It’s a good feeling.

“The Supremes” are getting tough. Not to the point where they don’t need him, but they can survive. He’s still pulling enough weight so that his presence is felt. He’s still needed, like when he untied all the knots at the challenge. Stepping up like that made his presence felt. They’ll cut themselves up trying to keep him around.

Rebecca is his biggest competition on the tribe. She’s strong, she can maintain the fire, she’s a good swimmer, and she can hold her own.

They’re not playing the game as much in strategy, they’re just trying to keep up morale. They’d rather keep the four of them in the final four. Never heard that before. They’re all close, they just want to make themselves as strong as possible for as long as possible. He doesn’t want to see any of them go. It’d be hard to single one of them out. He doesn’t want to get dirty on them, but he will if he has to.

Tribal Council: Well, at least they stopped the stupid titles. Okay, did they do the right thing? Of course, they shouldn’t have thrown the challenge, but since they were there, Billy was the weakest and had to go.

Ozzy votes for Billy (with the skull and crossbones): “Sorry man. I know your health is the most important thing, but we’re trying to win this.”

J.P. votes for Billy: “If I can’t trust you now, I won’t be able to trust you later on in the game.”

Cristina votes for Billy: I listened to this twice and I can’t hear what she mumbles except for “good luck in the future” and something about Candice. Don’t email me, I really don’t care.

Billy votes for Ozzy: “The only reason I’m voting for you is you are the best player on the tribe. This is just a respect thing and also a crapshoot. Good luck, I think you’re going to win it all.

Cecelia votes for Billy: {snide) “I hope you feel better.” Did I mention I don’t like these people?

Mike DeGeorge is an Accountant from St. Louis and is also Associate Editor for RealityNewsOnline. You can reach Mike at rno.mike@gmail.com.

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