I’m still reeling from all the excitement from last week’s blindside. I haven’t been this excited for a new Survivor episode in years. It’s all about the “Foa Foa Four” during the recap and their plight as the underdog. One by one they’re knocking the former Galus out the game despite being doubled in numbers when the tribe merged. From the sounds of the recap, look for Foa Foa to take out another Galu this episode.

The episode titled, “The Day of Reckoning” starts off with Aiga returning to camp in the wake of Kelly’s blindside. I absolutely loved the ominous music playing in the background, as the survivors headed back to camp in slo-motion. While the former Foa Foas are reveling in their mini-victory, Laura and her posse are trying to pick themselves up. Understandably, Russell is feeling like he’s on top of the world. He even claims he’s like Picasso and last night’s shake-up was his best masterpiece ever. And the jubilation even extends to others as well. Shambo and him can’t stop laughing at Laura’s misfortune. She even hopes she finds the hidden idol, only to give it to Russell so they can sock it to Laura again. Should’ve been nice to Shambo at the beginning, Laura…tsk tsk.

Even though the former tribes are still split 6-4 in favor for Galu, Shambo has clearly aligned herself with Foa Foa, thus evening the numbers at 5-a-piece. Trying to avoid a tie vote at council, Shambo starts working on John to have him flip over to their side. Even though John doesn’t commit to Shambo, he promises to keep their conversation private. At this point in the game, Shambo can no longer hide her disdain for Laura and calls her viperous, beastly and all other kinds of names.

Click on the picture above to view the Survivor: Samoa Season 19 Gallery.

REWARD CHALLENGE
I know I’ve been giving the producers a hard time for recycling challenges, and tonight will be no different. Taking a cue from a previous season, the survivors are split into two random teams- yellow and purple- and select a person to be responsible for grabbing flags. While one member is hoisted up on a moving platform, the other four team members pull on rope to sway them back and forth, up and down so that they could grab one of 15 flags. In the end, the purple team- Dave, Laura, Nathalie, Russell and Brett- defeats yellow- John, Monica, Jaison, Mick and Shambo. I swear to God, the yellow buffs are cursed. Seriously, no matter what the team configuration is, the yellow team never seems to catch a break.

POST CHALLENGE
This portion of the program is sponsored by Palm Prie and your friends at Sprint. God, I love product placement. Russell, Laura, Dave, Nathalie and Brett board a tiny plane and head over to an island which Laura describes as Gilligan like. Waiting for them there are hot dogs, pies and other delicious high-caloried items. While partaking in the fruits of their labor, they are instructed to read a memo on their Palm Prie. Clues on where the hidden immunity idol are cryptically placed in said memo. To illustrate the video function from our sponsors, a video is also provided showing that the hidden idol is underneath some mossy rock. Meanwhile back at camp, Jaison is working Monica hardcore to switch over to their side. Without giving any names, he informs Monica that they a former Galu on their side. Exactly how sure? 115% to be exact.

After enjoying their reward, the winners return to camp and it’s a free-for-all to look for the hidden idol. Dave and Laura decide to shadow Russell instead of looking for it themselves. Once Russell suspects where the idol is, he takes off in an attempt to lose Dave. When he loses Dave, he returns back to the spot and voila… Russell finds another hidden idol- it’s his third to be exact. At this point, I can totally she why he’s coming back next season- he’s friggin’ great TV.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Heading into the next challenge, Laura feels it’s imperative to win as she feels her head is on the chopping block. I swear, the producers this year- when not recycling old challenges- have a hard-on for the two-part challenges. In the first round, each survivor is given a rock to throw at breakable targets. The goal is to hit as many of your own colored targets as possible with your lone rock. If you hit none, you are immediately eliminated from the challenge. If by chance you hit another person’s target, that person gets advances to the next round and receives an arrow. After they all have their shot, the only ones to advance are Mick, Jaison, Brett (he hit two) and Monica who was there solely as a result of Dave’s bad aim. After each taking a turn shooting an arrow at the bullseye, Mick wins and receives immunity. The best part of this challenge was when Laura missed her targets and Shambo busted out in hysterics and laughter. Shambs, you have to wait ’til the beyotch can’t hear you before you laugh at her misfortunes.

SURVIVORS SCRAMBLE
Now that Laura finally doesn’t have immunity, Operation “Behead Medusa” is into effect. At this point of the game, Shambo has no problem showing her allegiance to Foa Foa and informs her former tribemates of her decision to vote with them to get rid of Laura. At one point during Shambo’s conversation with Brett, poor guy looked like he was going to cry. I can’t believe, after ten episodes, we still no squat about Brett- dude hasn’t had one defining moment yet.

In a last ditch effort, Monica concocts of a plan to inform the former Foa Foas, that they are voting out John. Her goal is to mislead them into voting for John while Shambo votes for Laura, thus ensuring their five votes controls who goes home. Not a half-bad idea and decently executed. Only glitch is… they didn’t include John in this scheme until it was already set in motion. Feeling like he’s being thrown under the bus, John talks to Russell about a potential tie situation. He makes a deal with Russell that if he flips to their side, the next member to go will be a Foa Foa. Obviously, Russell agrees to this to avoid the dreaded “purple rock” situation.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
With still at least ten minutes left in the show, I sense a re-vote is likely possibility- that or something uber dramatic happens at council. Probst conducts his Q&A segment and pretty much makes fun of Galu for letting their lead go. A whole much ado about nothing occurs and then they begin voting. Surprise, surprise, there is a tie vote between Laura and Nathalie. Probst instructs them that everyone but those two have to cast their votes again. As suspected, John flips during the second vote and votes out Laura. Watching the former Galu’s faces when Jeff revealed the last vote was outright hysterical. Not only did I enjoy Laura getting blindsided, but Erik did as well. At this point, it’s actually more fun watching him on the jury then listening to what’s going on at council. He’s whispered comments are downright hilarious. My personal fave was when he uttered “Man, this is good shit.” as Laura was leaving. Priceless.

Now that a villain has left, who will the former Foa Foas target now? Will they start to target their own? Will Russell have to play his idol soon? Would love to hear your thoughts.

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