With a merge approaching it was time to return to Micronesia. We first returned to Malakal beach where Ami was just voted out. Erik was sure happy about it, as he should have been, and hoped a merge was approaching. That really is the only thing I think that would keep him in the game since well, he would surely have been the next voted out. The next morning Cirie announced to the foursome that it was time for a merge. They were told to quickly pack their belongings and head out to a new location. Erik was obviously excited as was Amanda. She was dieing to see Parvati and reunite the ‘love square’.

Over at Arai they all thought Erik would surely be the one out. I mean he WAS the sole fan left on the tribe so it was 99% clear that he would go. Eliza was the only one they showed commenting on the other sides tribal and she wanted Ami to stay. I don’t think she had any clue that Ami would go and was planning on joining back up with her and the fans come merge. She had no idea that her worst nightmare was about to hit her as the two invisible girls, Natalie and Alexis, announced the merge to the rest.

When the two tribes met at their “new location” they quickly reconnected. Parvati and Amanda clung to each other while the fans flocked to Erik. Eliza and Jason kind of just stood around and it was obvious they were on the outs. With Ami not there Eliza wasn’t to happy. She had no clue why she went and let us know she was basically screwed. Her plan was not going to work, since her main friend and alliance was gone, and Eliza knew she had little time left in the game.

As the tribes started to feast they quickly learned they wouldn’t be staying at their current location. They had decide which beach to go to and everyone decided Malakal would be the spot. The fans tribe was crap, not sure why they put them there to begin with, so Malakal was the obvious choice. A few interesting things went down at the feast. One was James eating a bat. Seriously, why? I mean there is no reason to even try them when you have so much great stuff there to choose from. Of course it was James so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. The other thing was Erik’s tribe name. He told everyone that in Micronesia good translates to “Dabu”. They all believed the kid so I guess that shows how smart the others are as well.

When everyone got back to the beach everything seemed to switch to the girls. Eliza tried to get out of Parvati what was going on with the Favorites alliance and she told her that it was longer happening it seems. Eliza didn’t like that too much but Parvati had other news to break. She’s been making deals dealing with Amanda for awhile now. She finally told Amanda what of a mess “they” are in and Amanda didn’t like that to much. She can’t seem to stand Alexis, since she’s stealing Ozzy away, and wants her gone. Too bad though since Parvati has put her in an alliance with Alexis who oddly has found her time on the show. Jason, on the other hand, continues to dominate the screen for some reason. Maybe it’s his cockiness but for some reason I liked him this episode since he wanted to help Eliza. He promised her he’d give her the hidden stick if he won the individual immunity. Little did she know it was just a hidden stick and not a hidden idol.

The immunity challenge was a copy from the first Palau but at least it was a good one. I was wondering when they’d be doing this one again and was glad to see it back! What they had to do was stand under a great which was in the water. As the tide rose it became harder and harder as they had to keep trying to breath through the great. All the girls dropped out first and then Erik. James was next to go after a long wait and it was then down to the two fish boys: Ozzy and Jason. Both had a similar strategy, to breath through their hands. Ozzy, who was my bet to win, struggled towards the end and gave the win to Jason. Of course he had to ruin it by saying he “dominated the entire challenge”. It wasn’t a challenge anyone COULD  dominate in but I was happy that he beat the once unbeatable Ozzy. Hopefully it knocks him down a bit and I’ll forgive the fact, this time, it was at the cost of listening to Jason say he ‘dominated’ for about the millionth time.

Back at camp things were not looking good for Eliza. Parvati basically turned everyone against her so it was pretty much set she would go. But wait! We have the hidden stick! Jason quickly whipped it out and gave it to Eliza, making one of the BEST moment of Survivor in a long time. She let him have it, telling him it wasn’t an idol and nothing but a stick. Of course he didn’t believe it and she decided to play it anyway. I guess she had nothing to lose. Amanda, on the other hand, made a move to get Alexis out for stealing her man away. Cirie went with it and I think her and Amanda will be very tight from here on out.

At Tribal Council things went a little insane. Alexis out shined everyone by giving Jeff fodder for further questions. Alexis answer to what makes someone a threat basically explained herself and allowed Cirie to call her the “triple threat”. It’s obvious Alexis and Amanda will have it out sometime and hopefully sooner then later. Eliza was the next to be attacked by the one and only Parvati. She told Eliza that everyone basically hates her and that she has played a horrible game. Eliza seemed to agree but then again she thought she had the idol. When the votes were all in Eliza decided to hand Jeff the stick. He let them know the rules of the idol and in the end confirmed what we knew, it was only a stick. Eliza then took the opportunity to let everyone know it was Jason who found it and that Ozzy hid it, meaning he has the original. Ozzy then finally fessed up to it, making Eliza’s departure to have some meaning. She was in fact then voted out, with only Jason and herself voting for Ozzy. Next week it seems Cirie turns the pot again by suggesting Ozzy and the idol get the boot. Will it happen? I’ll believe it when I see it.

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FINALLY we are back in Survivor land. We start off two weeks ago when Tracy was voted out of Malakal. If you can remember that far, she let Ozzy have it during Tribal Council and basically called him out as the ultimate leader of the tribe. When they got back to the beach, Ozzy seemed pretty upset that she called him out like that and I think he finally realized that he isn’t as safe as he thought. He is a pretty big player in the game and he won’t be able to slip through as easily as he thought.

In the morning Cirie and Ami went for a stroll and I think it was to show the others that they could live without Ozzy there. They tracked down, through a morning jungle scene, eight HUGE crabs which seemed to excite Amanda. Ozzy was still on his “OMG I’m a leader” trip and seemed worried that Ami had something up her sleeve. He continued to pout that he was seen as the leader but seriously he’s an idiot if he didn’t realize it before.

Things were a little more interesting over at Arai where James and Parvati seem to be in power. Before all that went down though Jason caught a rat. It wasn’t that big of a deal but, since he’s so cocky, he had to make it one. By calling it the “first time anyone has eaten a rat since the first season” Jason proves he may be a fan, but seriously it’s not that big of a deal. Back to the actual stars of Arai. Parvati seems to be the brains, did I just say that, of the James/Parvati alliance. She realizes that she can’t win against James or Ozzy in the finals so she took actions into her own hands. By aligning with Natalie and Alexis, it shows she’s playing and not just flirting. An all girl final four has never happened and with those four, minus Natalie, things would be very interesting.

A twist was then introduced with the immunity. Each tribe had to choose someone from the opposing tribe to receive individual immunity for that round only and also had to go to Exile Island. The two who were chosen could not play in the immunity challenge and therefore their tribe would, in thought, be hurt. Arai played it smart and took out Ozzy, even though it gave him immunity. Malakal was kind of smart in taking out Alexis, but when has she proven to be good at balancing? I really don’t know as we’ve seen really little of her on the show.

The immunity was about balancing, but only two people had to do it. It was a obstacle course with two from each tribe running it and two others throwing sand bags at those running. The first tribe to get 5 flags from the other side of the course would win immunity plus pizza and beer for their tribe. Both were once again very even until the end, which seems to happen each week. When it came to the last flag, Erik took a really hard hit when trying to jump across the floating pads while Amanda slipped off time and time again. Arai took him their millionth win and we once again will see a Malakal going home. Unfortunately Ozzy has immunity I’m sure we won’t be seeing anymore worry of him being the leader, at least this round.

I kind of feel happy for Arai at this point as they have had it hard lately with both Jonathan and Kathy leaving. Their pizza and beer win was needed for the down and out tribe, even though they aren’t that down and out in challenges. It’s weird how the tribe who has a sucky camp life continues to win the challenges, but it always seems to happen that way. The only one I have a problem with on that tribe right now is Jason. The kid thinks he’s awesome and it really annoys me. He was NOT the MVP of that challenge, Erik did just as good as he did. I mean he is basically saying that Eliza did nothing. She didn’t do much but she DID win something. But then again I guess I shouldn’t think any less from the kid with the hidden immunity stick.

When we get to see Malakal it’s obvious they are hurting badly. Erik took a hard hit in the challenge but seemed fine back at the beach. Although it seemed like he would go for sure, Erik changed things up. He saw Cirie and Amanda alone and decided to tell them how Ami was trying to vote out Ozzy for the past few rounds. She overheard the conversation and let the two know that although it may be true, Erik would say anything to stay. She never said that she did or didn’t try to get Ozzy out but the two girls seemed to buy it.

Thanks to the ’sit out selection’, both Alexis and Ozzy were sent to Exile Island. Ozzy has been there a few times so he basically told Alexis the last clue so he could go up and see if anyone took his false veto bait. Alexis just followed along and didn’t get the clue that where he basically told her was where the hidden idol was. He lifted up the rock and of course it was gone. If Ozzy was smart he would connect Jason’s stupid “Ozzy has the idol” statement to him having the fake. We all know Ozzy isn’t the smartest in the book but I mean it is pretty obvious isn’t it?

With the two girls not buying into Erik’s try for votes, he turned to Ozzy when he returned. He basically pounced on him when he got off the boat and told him how Ami was trying to vote him out with the fans. Ozzy took the bait and went straight to Amanda to make her vote his way. He’s done it before, changed her mind on the vote, so I assume he’d do it again. She’s scared to against him it seems and she’s falling for the same trap she fell into in China. She clings to a stronger player and then cries how she didn’t play her own game in the end. When it came to Tribal Council it really wasn’t clear who would go. It seemed to lean more towards Erik going as Ami cried and cried, but her tears didn’t help. Ozzy controlled the votes again and kept his bud Erik in over traitor Ami. It is sad to see Ami go as she was adding a lot to the game. But next week looks exciting at least!

Next week we finally get to the merge where things go crazy. Alexis is finally in the spotlight and seems to be walking on Amanda territory by flirting with Ozzy. The best moment, which I REALLY can’t wait for, is Eliza telling Jason that his immunity idol is in fact a stick! I really hope he doesn’t believe her and they go into a debate how he’s an idiot and she’s a genius. But then again actually seeing him play it might be even better.

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