Survivor Recap: Sophie’s Choice

Hey Survivor Fans! Two weeks ago we left off on night twenty-seven! This Survivor season is winding down quickly. Will it be forever known as the Season of the Cult?

Te Tuna arrives back at camp after having just voted out Dawn and Whitney at Tribal Council. Coach says, “We’ve got seven left and really they’re all our family. So, now we got to start sending home some of our own.” Cochran admits, “Tribal Council was kind of alarming for me, because it was made clear that I was the person that was going at seven.” Unfortunately Cochran actually believed the honorable Coach when Coach masterfully manipulated Cochran into flipping at the merge. Oh how naïve a Survivor fan can be.

The next morning, Cochran calls a meeting with his tribe, conveniently leaving out Edna. Laying it out there he asks that they show him some gratitude for the move he made which kept them all in the game. Sophie says she does not feel indebted to Cochran and that she feels more loyalty to Edna. “I think he’s proud of the move he made and I think he still thinks somebody will take him to the end.” Cochrane likens the Upolu tribe to a cult. “Just hearing the word family over and over, you can’t help but think of Charles Manson and the Manson family. The family that committed so many heinous murders. I don’t want to be Sharon Tate in this scenario, or drink the kool-aid.” I don’t know what they teach at Harvard but apparently it wasn’t a class on cults. The Manson Family murders and the Jonestown massacre weren’t even in the same decade! But I digress, Te Tuna tribe then gathers together as Brandon leads them in prayer asking God to help them stay a family. Cochran notes that Brandon seems to be the most obsessively devote member of the family. Cochran mentions that it is his birthday in three days and he would love to celebrate it with them while still in the game. This tidbit of information turns out to be a lie. Cochran then offers to leave so they can discuss. Albert and Coach both say they agree with Cochran and support keeping him around for one more Tribal Council.

REDEMPTION ISLAND DUEL:
Ozzy, Dawn and Whitney enter the Redemption arena and it’s on! This is a nail biter. One will stay on Redemption and two will join the jury. Each contestant will balance ceramic dishes on the end of a long stick arm. The more dishes stacked, the more difficult it will be to keep them stable. When your dishes fall, you are out of the duel. Ozzy, Dawn and Whitney all successfully balance their first five dishes. After adding the sixth dish, Dawn almost drops her pile when she yawns. All three of them continue in the game until the eleventh dish is added. This proves to be too much for Dawn and she drops her pile of dishes and is therefore out of the game. Ozzy and Whitney are left to fight it out for the win. Just after adding the thirteenth dish, Whitney’s stack of dishes starts to wobble and she is unable to recover. Ozzy wins the duel and stays alive on Redemption Island. Ozzie hugs both contestants and says, “It’s been a pleasure ladies.” Before Dawn tearfully throws her buff into the fire and exits the game, she admits that she will encourage her family to pursue their dreams. “I love you Jeff Probst” Dawn says as she throws her buff in the fire. Don’t we all Dawn? Don’t we all? .” Whitney is proud that she proved to herself that she could survive 28 days in the game. As Ozzy walks out of the arena and back to Redemption he reveals, “From this point on, I’m even more excited to go into the duels and beat people that are my enemies in this game.” We then get some great eye candy shots of Ozzy at home on Redemption. What woman doesn’t want to see Ozzy coming out of the ocean dripping wet? The next day, Ozzy goes fishing on Redemption Island. Ozzy admits, “This is my home, Redemption Island. This is how I’m playing the second half of my game and there’s no one better suited to be out here than me.” Keep it going jungle boy!

Back at TeTuna everyone has a different idea of camp life. “To me this game is about doing well in challenges, creating a great strategy and playing a strong social game. So those are what I’m focused on. I leave the housework to Martha Stewart.” says Albert as he lounges in the hammock. Out in the ocean, Brandon is spearing fish and giving fish to Cochran to hold. Cochran feels proud to be part of the fishing team, even if it is just to hold the fish. “ Albert does pretty much nothing except lie around and eat fish and wait for other people to wait on him.” Edna tells Rick about Albert putting out the fire and getting the wood wet after having done nothing else that day. Rick vents, “That’s why I call him Prince Albert. It’s like, well I’m the Prince and you guys work for me.”
Later that day, Edna asks Coach if she is the next person to go after Cochran. Coach confirms her suspicions and reminds her that it is an individual game now. Edna admits, “I definitely have to shake it up right now, because sixth or seventh is not acceptable for me.” Coach feels that keeping Cochran and Edna would be a smart move for him, since neither one would vote him out. Coach is not sure which way to go and says, “Do I want to honor my word, be a man of integrity and stick with the five or do I want to go another route?”
Cut to Coach and Cochran doing Tai Chi on the beach. In Coach’s eyes Cochran has graduated from young grasshopper to a young warrior. Oh Please!!

IMMUNITY/REWARD CHALLENGE: Jeff Probst explains the rules of this challenge, which we’ve already seen in Redemption arena this season. In the first round, each person will throw sand bags, attempting to land them on top of crates. The first three to get a sand bag on each of their crates moves onto the final round. In the final round, the three remaining contestants will use a large slingshot to fire coconuts at targets. First person to knock down all their targets wins immunity. In addition, the winner of this challenge will be treated to a nice Survivor spa afternoon. Back at camp, the winner will enjoy a bush shower and a massage. Albert, Rick and Sophie land sand bags on their three crates before the rest of the Te Tuna tribe and move onto the final round. Albert is the first to hit all of his targets with coconuts, winning both immunity and reward. Jeff tells Albert to choose one more person to join him in the reward. Albert wisely chooses Coach. Albert then asks Jeff if he can pick one more person. Jeff says no. Then Albert proceeds to ask if he can give up the reward for another person, Jeff says sure. Albert says he’d like to give his reward to Cochran as a birthday present. This is survivor dude, are you crazy??? Cochran wonders why Albert gave him the reward. He figures it is either to get his support for strategic moves, to suck up for a jury vote and come off as a nice guy or as a farewell gesture.
Cochran meets with Albert to thank him and to find out where he stands in the tribe. Albert tells Cochran that things aren’t looking good for him and that he doesn’t think that he can get Coach to change his vote. Cochran disagrees with Albert and tells him that Coach will vote for Rick. Cochran makes sure to tell Albert that Rick calls him “Princess Albert” behind his back. Albert is not happy to hear that Rick is calling him names and says, “I have a mind right now to get rid of Rick this vote.” Albert then gives Cochran his word that if Coach will vote for Rick, then he will too. Next, Cochran talks to Edna. He tells her about his conversation with Albert and the plan to vote out Rick next. Edna jumps on board immediately because if Rick goes, she gets to stay longer. Finally, Cochran talks to Coach. He invites Coach to join with Albert, Edna and himself to vote out Rick. As Coach weighs all his options, he admits, “My decision tonight and which way I go is going to determine the rest of this game.” Coach has to decide whether to stay with the original alliance of five or join his new alliance, which includes Edna and Cochran.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
. Cochran says, “I feel like I’m entitled to at least one more night in this game.” Albert and Coach then agree that Cochran did Upolu a big favor when he voted with them against Savaii. Edna admits that she is feeling emotional because she is next on the chopping block after Cochran; even though she was led to believe that she was an equal member in the alliance. Edna! Brandon told you weeks and weeks ago that you were not equal in the tribe! Edna says, “That doesn’t feel very good.” It’s like she’s just woken up from a long nap. Brandon doesn’t want to hear talk that goes against the master plan. and says tonight I vote for Cochran. Coach admits that Brandon is loyal but not malleable. Brandon starts to cry and reveals that he is human and wants to do wrong things but there is something stronger that won’t let him. Okay, I am officially creeped out. Cochran points out that Brandon is not good to talk strategy with, since he will not change his plans and therefore could be a liability to his alliance. Cochran finally sees the light and admits to feeling foolish in making the big move to support Upolu, because it will result in him being voted out seventh, which is a worse position then if he had stayed loyal to his original Savaii tribe. Wow Cochran, it took you a while to figure it out! Not too sharp in math apparently. He says, “I hope this doesn’t go down as one of the most idiotic moves in the history of the game.” Well Cochran, we’ll see what happens on Redemption but in my book it was a really dumb move. The votes are in. Cochran and Edna vote for Rick, while everyone else votes for Cochran, including his beloved Coach. Cochran can’t find the stairs, which was humorous, and he trots off to Redemption Island to battle Ozzy in a duel.

Finally Cochran is at Redemption. What will the duel be? Let’s hope it’s not a math quiz!!