Survivor South Pacific Recap: “You Reap What you sow”

Apparently Brandon Hantz has mastered the clichés of reality shows when he spouts this gem. Haven’t we heard this saying in every reality show?  It’s right up there with “don’t throw me under the bus!” More on Brandon later.

Redemption Island Duel:

Tonight’s episode starts with the first duel on Redemption Island.  Coach and Stacey are spectators for Upolu and Ozzy and Elyse represent the Savaii tribe.  I think Elyse and Ozzy make a handsome couple by the way.

Semhar and Christine appear in the Redemption Island arena.  Jeff explains the duel.  Each player will balance a tiki totem on top of a pole.  At intervals another pole will be added to the bottom to extend the totem higher and higher.  The first person that drops their totem is out of Survivor.  Semhar decides that she needs to spout some nonsense, which she calls poetry, delaying the duel, while the spectators including Jeff P. roll their eyes and seem annoyed.  (Just wondering if anyone thinks “my boo” is poetic??) Consequently and to the relief of all who are tired of her “spoken word”,  Semhar loses to Christine and burns her buff in the fire pit.  Christine returns to Redemption Island.  Coach looks a tad concerned that she remained in the game.  She clearly doesn’t like Coach but stated that Coach clearly didn’t like her and came after her.  (Christine it just might have something to do with the way you initially greeted Coach?)

At Savaii camp, Ozzy decides that he needs to confide in Keith that he has the immunity idol.  Ozzy thinks this is important because he trusts Keith and he feels they have a strong alliance.  Surprise!  Keith immediately tells Whitney that Ozzy has the immunity idol and exclaims that he’s not happy about it because it gives Ozzy all the power.  He wants Whitney to know just in case Ozzy tries to pull something later.  He tells Whitney not to tell Ozzy that she knows about the idol.

Back at Upolu Brandon is STILL battling his demons.  He decides that because he is such a lover of truth, a follower of the Lord and a believer in Jesus Christ he can no longer continue to lie to his tribe.  Is this the truth or is it just so damn hot he wants to take off his shirt? You decide.  Brandon gathers his tribe and takes off his shirt.  When no one notices his “Hantz” tattoos he announces to the tribe that he doesn’t want to lie anymore and that he is the nephew of Russell Hantz.  Stacey was shocked, Sophie thought it was interesting but it was anticlimactic to say the least.  Mikayla has mixed emotions; she doesn’t understand why Brandon wanted her out.  She asks him for a private conversation.  She asks Brandon, “Did you want me out because you don’t like me?”  Brandon answers “Yes!”  He intimates that others in the tribe don’t like her as well which doesn’t appear to be true, but he’s riding that slippery slope of  psychosis.  His paranoia reaches new heights and he once again gathers his tribe, (They must be getting tired of all these Brandon gatherings) to tell them that Mikayla has just confronted him and that he is done.  He says he wants no more drama!  Uhm.. excuse me Brandon but isn’t your name Brandon “drama” Hantz?  Thus far Brandon has caused all the drama in the Upolu tribe.  Coach and Sophie discuss Brandon losing his grip on reality.  Another reality show cliché, “loose cannon” is bandied about.  Mikayla now thinks that Brandon’s problem is that he is an evil Hantz and this makes more sense to her now.

The Challenge:

The challenge is set up on the beach.  Each tribe has a wheel of rope. The rope is tied to a boogey board. One member of each tribe must race out into the water with a boogey board while the team feeds them enough rope.  They then retrieve a bag from a platform.  Once they obtain their bag their team must reel them in like fish and they deposit their bag in a container on the beach. There are 5 bags. Each bag contains a piece of their flag.  After all the pieces are collected, two tribe members from atop a tall wall must pick those bags up with a grappling hook.  Once all the bags are on top of the wall the two tribe members can then untie them and remove the flag pieces. They must drape the 5 flag pieces in order to complete their flag. The race is close at first.  Coach’s grappling hook skills win the challenge for Upolu.  They also win a reward of coffee, tea, cookies, milk, etc. and an additional clue to the immunity idol at their camp.

Back at Savaii Jimmy who was working side by side with Mark, (Papa Bear) during the challenges, says that Papa Bear is their weakest link.  He feels that Papa Bear actually holds them back in challenges.  Granted we haven’t seen Papa Bear do much but lay in the hammock but is that just editing?  They tell Cochran that they are voting for Papa Bear but that they are telling Papa Bear the vote tonight is for Cochran.  Papa Bear thinks that they are lying so he runs out into the woods in an attempt to find the immunity idol.  Elyse sees him running off and asks Jimmy to go with her to see what he is doing.  He’s searching for the idol and they see him searching.  In a last ditch effort to not get voted out Papa Bear devises a fake immunity idol so his tribe will think he has it.  Ozzy knows this isn’t true because he has the idol and Keith knows and unbeknownst to Ozzy Whitney knows as well.  As Cochran narrates “ He came out of the woods with a big smile on his face and a big extra bulge in his underwear.”  Papa Bear actually told Jimmy he found the idol.  Jimmy is skeptical.

Tribal council:

Jeff P. asks Cochran how it was going back to camp after the last tribal council and Cochran says he’s trying to live up to his word to be strong for the tribe.  Jeff asks Papa Bear and Cochran who the leaders are.  Papa Bear says he’s a leader in real life but not on this tribe.  He says he has nothing in common with anyone and nothing is clicking.  He tries to draw Dawn into his threesome of Cochran, Papa Bear and Dawn being on the outs, but Dawn is diplomatic and vague.  She clearly is trying to survive on a daily basis with the rest of her tribe and worked hard in the challenge. Jimmy states that Papa Bear is just trying to stir the pot because he knows he’s on the chopping block.

Prior to the votes being read Jeff asks anyone if they have the immunity idol and if they’d like to play it.  All eyes are on Papa Bear.  He’s got nothing, just an extra lump in his pants that he can’t play.  The votes come back, one vote for Cochran (voted by Jimmy just in case PB had the idol).  One vote for Jimmy (voted by PB) and the rest for Papa Bear.  Papa Bear’s torch is snuffed and he’s off to redemption to battle Christine.

What’s up for next week?  Can Brandon get any crazier?  Is Ozzy’s strong alliance with Keith in jeopardy?  Will Papa Bear make a comeback or will Christine pull a Matt and go on a duel winning streak?  Until next week……the tribe has spoken!