***Bump***

New episode tonight!

Tonight:

- merger
- another "twist"
- someone gets medivaced off the island

interesting. For the first time in forever someone from the majority tribe didn't flop at the merge. Of course now that Casaya is up by 2, they will start arguing amongst themselves and decide that they can afford to get rid of Shane, thus unraveling a can't-miss trip to the final six. Always happens.

I'm just sad we have to put up with Shane on the jury now.

Have we ever seen a tribe come into the merge so cocky? Even Richard wasn't so outwardly cocky that first season. Plus, he had the brains to back it up. These people are just idiots. I liked Bruce and Cirie up until they stayed with those idiots. What, are they playing for fifth and sixth place? If Shane, Aras or Courtney make it top two, I swear I'm quitting this show.

It's a shame Terry's going to have to use the immunity idol this early in the game.

As annoying as Shane is, at least he's honest. All other alliances try to make it look like its a big secret and that all members of the new merged tribe are all hunky-dorey. He just lets it all hang out and does it in the open.

Hateable? Yes!
Good player? Maybe.
Did he get voted off yet? No!

I was very dissapointed in Bruce as well, I didnt think that Cirie would flip.

I am kinda pissed off we were mislead about this whole major accident thing, they clearly showed someone being medivacced off of the island.

Daval, just because we didn't see it last night, doesn't mean it didn't happen. I think making up that kind of footage is way out of bounds for Burnett and co. We'll see.

Mister Coaster, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. For guys like Aras and Shane, they couch everything as "being honest," then, when you have a problem with it, they turn it back on you. "Hey, I was just being honest with you when I called you a fat loser and told you there was no way you could win. Can't you take honesty?" Those two, along with Courtney, work my very last nerve. I really think, if they'd been in different tribes, they'd have been long gone by now. Unfortunately, someone's going to look at one of these idiots as an excellent choice to take to the final two with them. Ugh.

I think the medvac teaser was a "in the second half of the season" as opposed to specifically last night.

And I think Terry reveals he has the immunity idol for two reasons. One, it means they can't vote him out, and two, he can choose to give it to someone else if he wants. Thus, he's probably angling something like "You vote me out I'm using it, if I win immunity I'm giving it to Austin or Sally, but you won't know which, so what are you going to do about it?"

That's kinda what I thought about his showing the idol.. but that would only work once.... even if he gets immunity, gives the idol to whomever gets most votes, the next week, he is out of luck.. that is assuming the idol is a use once item.

I never said I liked Shane, I'm just saying that despite his many personality flaws, he is managing to get pretty far. I agree that he needs to go, but at the same time he's entertaining to watch because he's such a train wreck.

I guess I don't understand Terry's use or non-use of the immunity idol. With the tribes at 6 to 4, if he had given it to someone like Bruce last week in exchange for them voting Shane off and joining his tribe wouldn't 5 votes have done the trick, and wouldn't his tribe now have the majority?

Now they are at 6 to 3 and it will be more difficult to use it, I think. Unless he can continue to win immunity or make some kind of deal, he gets to use the idol once and then he's gone. Even if he can break up the other tribe he is going to be on the chopping block and his only chance may be to keep the idol and try to keep winning immunity.

how this immunity idol works is still very unclear

The actual use of the idol is pretty straightforward. If the person with the idol has the majority of votes, they produce the idol and they are safe. Pretty cut and dry.

The question is what happens then? Does the person with the second most votes get voted off, or do they do another vote? The other sticky point is exactly HOW to make it work for you before it actually comes down to that. Reveal it or don't? Use it as a bargaining chip, or strike a deal? Perhaps give it away in exchange for a trip to the final 4? Decisions decisions.

yes, the person withe second highest vote total is gone. Jeff mentioned that early on

I knew it! Terry could've saved Nick and taken out Shane at the same time.

He would have to be sure that Nick was going and give the idol to Nick, or give immunity to Nick and hope they target him. He's smart by holding on to it, but it appears this week he reveals to some of them that he has it.

So since they merged no one gets sent to Exile Island?

Looks like 2 people go this week (as per mid-week ads)

A little side note from a part-time at best follower. The local TV network that shows this in Oz has usually showed this very close to the US release date (for obvious reasons). This year they were telecasting the Commonwealth games and pushed this back (I think they are showing week 3 this week). This season has seriously tanked with less than 1 million viewers last week. Talk about really stuffing up one of their flagship shows.

These shows only work if their is tension regarding who is voted off and without that the show becomes a lot less interesting.

ok, so the immunity idol power play didn't work with danielle and bruce, but what happened with austin? didterry give it to sally instead?or didhe keep it because he promised it to danielle?

In either case, it looks like terri is going to have to run the table of immunity challenges to get to the final two (unless something unexpected happens, which it always does)

I am very, very dissapointed in Bruce. he could go much farther in this game if he would just see the light and join Austin, Terry and Sally. Thats two weeks now he has dissapointed.

I also think Danielle is stupid for not taking the idol. If she switched she would have basically guaranteed herself a long run in the game.

I would assumed that Terry gave the immunity idol to Sally (since there was talk of her being booted). But I guess we'll never know.

Those three are dominating the game yet getting kicked out by the losers of the other side, its depressing :(

I think the whole deal of Terry giving the idol to Danielle never actually happened. They played up that possibility pretty hard (and they sure had me going). Terry COULD have given it to Austin and that would have spelled the end for Aras, but I guess Terry figures he'll just keep getting immunity because he's so damn strong.

Excellent episode. Looks like the cat is out of the bag and Terry will be under a microscope.

Well I think the deal was that she would get the idol if (and only if) she helped vote off Aras. That's probably why Terry didn't give it to either Sally or Austin (as there was not guarantee that they would then give it to Danielle). I'm sure both Bruce and Danielle have gone back to Shane & Co. with the news that Terry has it though.

Don't assume we'll never know. We'll find out next week, that's the motivation the editors built in to force us to keep watching. Damn those editors!!!

It's too often that people don't take matters into their own hands when they have the opportunity. Most are too content to follow some other group around than to be proactive.

Sorry, but Terry is so toast. It will be fun when the hidden immunity idol gets used.

Terry has to run the table it seems, though next week's teaser hints that Shane may shake things up. Perhaps he's so sick of Danielle and Courtney that he chooses to go final 4 with the guys (Aras, Bruce and Terry)? Otherwise the game will get interesting if/when Casaya has to start going at one another for the first time.

Im dying to know who gets hurt and how!!!!

Well even if Terry doesn't win immunity, the hidden idol will be coming out. So no matter what Casaya is going to start shaking up. I bet Arus get's the axe this week.

Imo, Bruce needs to go next. He's too frakking wishy-washy for my taste.
I used to like him. Now, not so much.

They are teasing it was Bruce (him being buckled over in pain in the previews), but that could just be a swerve and it could be someone else.

They need to kick out Shane or Arus next. Those are the strongest players. I bet the girls take over now. They'll be the last 3 standing, unless Terry can win out on immunity challenges and uses the hidden when they are down to 4.

I'm pretty confident that this group of girls isn't clever enough to turn this game to their advantage

too bad about Bruce. That had to hurt like a muthatrucka

Can shane be anymore of a bad loser? good god I am SO sick of him

I hate it for Bruce, I really do that had to be an awful thing to go thru, Im glad it wasnt his appendix though

Indeed, that must have been seriously painfull, it hurt to see how badly his hands were shaking that he couldnt even take the puffer.

On the other hand, Courtney and Shane having a sulkfest was pretty funny.

Danielle is so mega hot!

Also, isn't "Master Sensei" a bit redundant; kind of like "Head Leader"?

A doctor told me that an impacted bowel is in the top 10 worst pains that a person can go through.

Hmmph.

Good episode, as I had missed a few with real life getting in the way of my precious Survivor.

Well, down to the count, and I am surprised that Shane is talking about bringing the Most Annoying Girl to the final two. You can always weed out the real good strategists when they start discussing bringing the dead weight with them into the final.


So, what next?
If I was producing the show, I would switch up Outcast Island and turn it into a 5 star resort. The other folks are thinking that they "won" a challenge, and they are punishing someone by sending them to the island. In fact, the outcast is loading up on carbs, getting a massage, good nights sleep in silk sheets, even getting comfort from home (letter, phone call, or loved one with them).

I like spinning things, so that is just me.

The Vehicle Challenge is soon, as is the Loved One Visit challenge. Dude is still around with his hidden idol, and I think those things can splinter whatever alliance is left.

Who do you guys think will be in the final 2? I say Shane and the Annoying Girl.

I don't honestly think he's thinking about this as a first option, I think it was his backup when he was freaking out about Cirie flipping on him. He's so nuts it's unbelievable, but the entertainment value he adds is immeasurable. I still can't believe no one has looked ahead and broke off with Terry, esp. those who will obviously be at the bottom of the pecking order when it comes time to boot of anyone but Terry. I have to say despite the lack of flopping, the constant guessing and secret idol have kept things interesting in what would have been an otherwise extremely boring season - post merger.

What was the Catch phrase? Oh yeah, getting "Pagong'ed".

The show does lose something when everyone knows who is going next. The producers must actively combat that, in new and interesting ways.

Actually, for those two it's the perfect matchup. Everyone hates her so it's good for him and the only person more hated than her is Shane. He's the only one she can beat and vice versa.

Last night I was really impressed with the way Cirie talked to Shane. He was livid and she calmed him down quick.