Survivor Caramoan Finale Recap: Revenge of the Nerds!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Survivor is like pizza and sex.  Even when it's bad it's still pretty good.  This season and this finale definitely proved that.  I would of been happy with three of the final five members winning but unfortunately it was not to be.
Although not a great one as far as Survivor finales go, it does start off with a lot of excitement but also a lot of disappointment when Erik, one of my three picks, collapses immediately after last week's vote.  And I do mean IMMEDIATELY!  It doesn't even take place after a long hike back to camp but happens right after the tribe is exiting tribal council.  Medical comes in and determines he's severely dehydrated and malnourished.  Thanks Brandon.  You took away your tribes food supply and now your best buddy is at death's door. (Of course I'm STILL wondering what happened to all that rice and beans that Andrea won!)
The doctor is able to administer an IV on sight.  After Erik asks what this will do something even more shocking happens.  Probably the most shocking event of the entire season when village idiot Eddie gives a very clear and articulate explanation of what's happening with Erik and how the IV will benefit him. 
Probst asks for a verdict as to whether Erik can stay in the game.  Unfortunately the doctor says Erik's condition is so severe he need to be hospitalized immediately.  It's no surprise when John and Dawn waist no time to clamor for Erik's vote.  I've never seen such a phoney and disgusting display of manipulation and fake displays of affection.  Dawn is like "I love you!  Blah blah", then she snatches Erik's bag so she can hand it to him while he's being whisked away by the van, however she doesn't go into full crybaby mode and for once holds back a major meltdown.
I have to say I'm a little disappointed in Erik.  It's obvious he was in a lot of pain but I can't imagine there would be any amount of pain that would keep me out of the game at any stage but ESPECIALLY at the final five!  If I'm conscious and that close to the end they would have to literally drag me kicking and screaming.  However, Erik does no such thing and he ends up finishing fifth place just like he did last time and just like last time he goes out with a very good chance of winning had he been able to make it just a couple more days.
So now we're down to two "favorites" and two fans, two guys, two girls and it would seem that the game is now Eddie's to lose.  There is now just one more immunity challenge left and out of the other three his biggest competition is probably Dawn.  John realizes this and makes a bee line for Eddie to negotiate a deal as soon as they get back to camp.  Of course it's one he has no intention of honoring should he be put in that position.
At the reward Probst calls the players in and Dawn and everyone else have somehow managed to get over the tragedy of losing Erik and come in smiling ear to ear, fake teeth and all!  The challenge is a redo of the last immunity challenge that Ozzy won during his Survivor career.  This happened in Dawn and John's season but they were out of the game at that point so they have no advantage of experience with the challenge.  In case you forgot you have to build a tower of cards while holding onto a pully that is connected to the base of the cards.  However, this challenge is not for immunity like in South Pacific.  Like the last "reward" challenge last season this challenge is for a chance to win and advantage in the final immunity challenge.  Boy they're really gettin desperate on the kinds of twists they add to a season.  This one is so lame.  I also really miss the days when castaways got to play for a car.
The challenge itself is pretty riveting.  I've never seen a challenge go back and forth so many times in Survivor history.  At one point Eddie is just inches from winning, which would almost certainly result in a spot in the final three and probably the title of sole survivor.  Unfortunately he loses concentration (what a shock) and knocks over his tower.  Both Dawn and Sherri come close to winning a few times as well but Sherri in particular is so nervous she can't make it to the finish line.  After all the times John knocks over his tower I'm fairly certain he's not winning this but to my surprise he pulls himself together and does indeed win the challenge.  Naturally, as soon as he wins Dawn rushes over to him and congratulates him to try to stay in his good graces.  Of course I'm sure she was being totally sincere and NEVER would of done that if Sherri or Eddie had won the challenge!
After the challenge were subjected to John once again bragging about what a great challenge beast he is.  Then amazingly we suddenly stop seeing John being buddy buddy with Eddie.  Then something even more amazing happens when it becomes clear that the final four are completely oblivious to just how hated Dawn is by the jury.  I'm not surprised that Dawn fails to realize this but Sherri and John not seeing this is very unexpected.  Now suddenly Sherri and Eddie are buddy after a month of hating each other. 
Dawn of course is completely paranoid about being voted out.  She pleads to John for his assurances.  To her face he completely reassures her but in private he's implying that he might want to cut her loose, which I really can't understand.  That would be like wanting to cut Russell loose at the final five.
On day 38 the tribe gets tree mail that informs them of the impending right of passage of fallen comrades which will be followed by the final immunity challenge.  There are some pretty amusing remarks by the four during this stage.  We hear Sherri say how Shamar was "misunderstood".  Ok.  Then we hear Dawn accusing Brandon of letting his personal life affect his game too much.  Alrighty then.  Reminds me of when Brandon's uncle was crying about getting lied to.  Then we hear Matt give the incredibly insightful remark that Survivor is one of the hardest games there is.  Gee thanks a lot.  I never knew Survivor was a hard game.  Hard to believe such an insightful braniac failed to make it to the merge!  Then John talks about how grateful he is to of been under Phillips "tutelage" and I really want to smack John.  Then we get a soundbite from Phillip where he takes one last opportunity to swoon over his idol Boston Rob!
At the end we hear Eddie boasting about how he is ready really bring it home at the challenge despite John's advantage, because he's done so great in individual challenges so far this season.  The challenge consists of running up a three story tower and retrieving three bags that are tied up and contain puzzle pieces.  They must then propel themselves down a slide and when they have all three bags they must untie them and form a puzzle that's in the shape of a flame.  Before the challenge begins John's advantage is revealed which is having bags that are already untied. 
Naturaly John is the first to start on his puzzle but the rest of the pack aren't far behind.  Eddie really needs to win this but unfortunately the fireman is more accustomed to destroying fires rather than creating them and he doesn't even come close, even if its just a depiction of a fire.  Both Dawn and Sherri actually pull ahead of John at first but then, just like the last challenge John pulls it together and is able to win the challenge.  Watch out John!  If you're not careful you're going to be knocked over by Dawn who is rushing over to you for a very disingenuous congratulatory hug!
The odds are really against Eddie now but he gives it the old college try to plead his case to vote out Dawn.  Although his case is weak he actually does a pretty good job with his argument.  Sherri has nothing to worry about because John is convinced she can't win.  The question is does she still want Dawn out and is she willing to force a tie if John isn't convinced of that strategy.
At tribal Dawn talks about how Eddie is a huge threat because he hasn't pissed anyone off.  Probst gives Eddie the opportunity to retort and Eddie is like "duhhhhh".  With a little more prodding by Probst he finally gets an actual sentence of out Einstein, who agrees with Dawn that the jury doesn't hate him but probably don't respect his game since he only voted out one person.  Remarkably he never mentions the deal John made with him.
Predictably, John and everybody else play it smart and vote out Eddie.  Naturally, as soon as this happens, Dawn jumps up, hugs Eddie and tells him how much she's gonna miss him.  I'm sure.  What's interesting about this is Sherri's vote.  She was very vocal about her apprehension in going against Dawn in the final three, although I have no idea why.  I'm guessing John realized long before tribal council that Eddie was too dangerous to bring to the end and probably warned her against voting for Dawn.  In his confessional Eddie states that Sherri has a zero percent chance of winning so it's painfully obvious that John is going to win. 
Never the less we have to still go through the motions of the day 39 breakfast and preparing for the final tribal.  Reflecting on her chances of winning Dawn states that's there a part of her that thinks she doesn't deserve to do good.  Well that's at least a little reassuring.  At least Dawn is completely evil if there's a part of her that realizes she is in fact a total scumbag.
At the final tribal, Dawn is the first to give her opening statement.  She seems enormously proud of herself and is completely unaware of cold stares she's receiving from the jury.  She tries to defend her behavior in the game by saying since Survivor is football she had to be willing to tackle.  Survivor IS football?  I was never aware that Survivor IS football.  Go figure.  I guess you learn something new everyday.
Sherri is next and is so nervous she just starts babbling complete nonsense which includes talking about how well off financially she is, making it more and more obvious that John has this in the bag, even though he is also very nervous and like Sherri he verbalizes this.  It's hard to believe he was never told in Harvard Law School to never say you're nervous when speaking in public and you should fake it until you make it.  However, he gives the most logical opening and all of his answers are also very logical and persuasive.  They're also complete horseshit in a lot of cases.  He tells Malcolm that he was able to make it to the end because he's so much more insecure than Malcolm and he assures Eddie that he will be happy to share a beer at the bar with the amigos after the game.  Of course he doesn't tell them how just a few weeks earlier he was saying how he would never want to engage in any kind of tom foolery with those muscle heads.  John is a big fan of the game and knows what kind of questions are typically asked.  I'm pretty sure he planned on giving that insecurity answer to any of the amigos who might ask it.
The jury is of course, very hard on Dawn, although there not as damaging as the heroes vs villains jury was to Russell which was a disappointment.  She consistently says how she was just playing the game when she betrayed people who were strategic threats, but I would of loved to have heard someone ask her how she would of felt had John decided to do that to her. 
The two best are Reynold and Brenda.  I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for someone to call Dawn out on being such a phony and Reynold hits it right on the head.  He talks about her always being the first one to give an over emphatic hug and to say "that's hilarious" when someone makes a joke but she's not even laughing, which I thought was very observant. 
As Reynold is telling her this Dawn is acting completely shocked by these accusations and claims she has no idea she is the least bit phony.  I think up until this point Dawn believed, and maybe still does, that she's perceived by everyone to be this incredibly noble and caring person.  While there probably are a few dimwits out there that think this, or maybe I should say "thought" but of course it isn't true.  I'm pretty amazed that Dawn can't see Reynold's point but the funny thing is I think she was being sincere when she claimed ignorance of this character flaw she has.  To me, this is just further proof of just how truly insane Dawn actually is.
Micheal seems to be a little bit more sympathetic to Dawn.  He asks John if he thinks all the heat she's getting is warranted.  John dodges a strait answer by saying he doesn't know, but he's happy to see so much venom directed towards Dawn. Of course he wasn't asked what he knows he was asked what he thinks so it would of been nice if John had actually answered what he thought instead of saying he didn't know.  Upon hearing this Dawn gives a very sarcstic "thanks Cochran" like she's surprise he would be happy that the jury hates her.

Then of course, there's Brenda and they save the best for last.  First she gets Dawn to admit that she would not of actually quit the game like she claimed if Brenda had not found her teeth, then Brenda demands Dawn prove it by taking her teeth out and letting everyone see her the way Brenda saw her that day.  At first she refuses but quickly flip flops and says she'll be "happy to humiliate herself" for Brenda and actually does it!  We then get a great money shot of Dawn flashing her tooth challenged smile.  I don't know why Dawn did this.  It should of been clear to her at this point that she had no chance of winning so she had nothing to gain by doing so.
The backlash Dawn received was no surprise but I was very surprised by how hard Sherri was attacked by the jury.  Malcolm basically tells her there's no way she's getting his vote.  Phillip excommunicates her from Stealth R Us, while Erik and Eddie both accuse her of doing nothing.  I think this was very unfair of the jury.  I will admit that that "paybacks a bitch" comment she made after Corrine got voted out was really dumb, but Sherri was put into an impossible situation at the merge.  Her original tribe was outnumbered 2 to 1 and everyone on her original tribe hated her. 
The fact that she made it to the final three is nothing short of a miracle!  I'm sure if you went up to Erik or Eddie or Malcolm and asked them what chance someone would have who was in that situation, of making it to the final three they probably would of answered that that person would have to play the game of a lifetime to make it to the final three.  It would of been extremely stupid of Sherri to try and make some big strategic moves right after the merge.  She did the smart thing and wormed herself into the majority alliance and then made a strong sub alliance with John and Dawn.  I was really hoping Sherri would win this game and I believe she's much more deserving than John.  Maybe she did some really stupid mistakes in her interactions with the jury that we never saw but I just don't get the hatred that is directed at her.  I think in the case of Phillip he probably made some advances toward her and was rebuffed so he is very bitter about that. 
So John wins and he wins by unanimous decision.  This is pretty shocking.  Given the fact that he betrayed all the same people Dawn did and with his inherent hatred of Alpha males which made up about half the jury, it would seem Sherri should of been able to win this, but she doesn't get a single vote, which unfortunately means Dawn gets to tie her for second place. 
How did this happen? 
Well, the first time John played, most of the cast were really annoyed by his eccentric personality.  For some reason everybody this season seemed to find it very endearing.  Never in all my years of watching this show have I ever seen a game fall into place so perfectly for one person.  He was never in danger of being voted off.  His tribe dominated before the merge than at the swap even though his tribe lost every challenge he had the numbers to stay safe.  Then after the merge he always had the numbers.  So John becomes only the second male to win a season that featured returning players.  He's still a nerd though.

Survivor Caramoan Episode 13 Recap: Cruelest Blindside Ever!

Tonight's episode will probably go down as the most heartbreaking episode ever!  It was so emotional, that for the first time in 26 seasons, even Probst was brought to tears at one point.  However, I think a valuable lesson was learned and it can finally be established that if you ever go on to Survivor, NEVER, under any circumstances do you win the reward for the loved ones visit!  Doing so puts a huge target on your back!  Let's look at the last five winners of this challenge.  Mike, Ozzy, Kat, Malcolm and now Brenda.  In each case, each person was voted out the moment they were not safe.  Even when they give up their reward like Mike, Ozzy and Brenda did!  It doesn't matter!  If you win the loved ones reward the only way you're making it to the end is if you have immunity for the rest the game.  Like Fabio did in Nicaragua.  For the record Mike wasn't actually voted out but that's only because he had already been voted out when he won the reward.  But had he won the final redemption island duel he almost certainly would of been voted out the moment he was vulnerable.  It doesn't make any sense to me.  Even though I agree with John that at that point likability is a liability, I just don't see how people can be so cold blooded.
Oh well, let's start from the beginning of tonight's episode.  The day after tribal, John is talking with Eddie about what will happen next.  Eddie knows he's got his back against the wall.  When John asks him who he thinks will go home if Eddie wins immunity, Eddie tells him the group will probably go after him.  This stuns John because after all as he says he is so nonthreatening!  Wait a minute.  Wasn't John boasting just a few weeks ago about how he was the greatest challenge threat in the Caramoan and he was going to keep winning and winning.  Of course since then he hasn't come close to winning a challenge.
For once Eddie might actually be right, because Brenda is plotting with Dawn to take out John.  After finding Dawn's teeth a couple episodes ago she still feels completely bonded to her.  Dawn however is conflicted.  Imagine that!
Meanwhile Erik is really starting to lose it.  He claims to be starving which is odd since Andrea just won them a shit load of food two episodes ago.  But he is fixated on this gigantic coconut tree and hears them laughing at him.  That's right.  Apparently the Phillipies have laughing coconuts.  I can't believe that's never made the news.  Anyway Erik is so desperate he tries to climb the tree which appears to be about a thousand feet high, despite the warnings of Dawn and other tribe mates.  He doesn't make it though but lucky for him he doesn't fall off and crack his head either.
Dawn makes it whole five minutes into the episode this week without crying but when Eddie brings in tree mail which promises a visit by loved ones she of course loses it after giving Eddie a huge hug and kiss.  As always there's a sprint phone with video teasers from each players loved one.  Upon watching these we learn that John is apparently demanding to be called by his last name even to people outside of the game because his mom addresses him as "Cochran" in her teaser.  I wonder if Jeff Probt's mom calls him Probst?
At the challenge the survivors are reunited with their loved ones and for once Dawn isn't the only one crying.  Probst actually gets choked up at seeing the love between Brenda and her dad. 
The challenge consists of unspinning three poles, hanging them on a rack, then flinging three ropes at the poles.  Brenda and Erik are competing hard, as usual Sherri is completely irrelevant but John is actually playing it smart and obviously holding back because he's watched enough Survivor to know how dangerous it is to win this challenge.  Not that he had a chance with his senior citizen mom.  Oooops I just said something about John's mom, guess he's gonna come after me now, because that's practically what he threatens to do to Probst when he accurately reports on Mrs. Cochran's lackluster performance.  Probst actually backs down and tries to redeem himself by complimenting Mrs. Cochran for looking so good for her age.  Sickening.  I'll never understand why Probst has such a huge mancrush on John!  Sometimes I think he likes John more than Boston Rob.
Brenda wins the challenge and is told to pick one person to join her.  I'm surprised to see Eddie begging Brenda to pick him.  Did he actually think he stood a chance?  Unsurprisingly she picks
Dawn "for so many reasons"!  Now I'm sure most people have the perception that this phase of the game is done out of compassion by the producers but in reality it's a method of creating a lot of drama on the show and fucking someone over.  This season though they really up the stakes when after Brenda picks Dawn and is told there is a huge barbeque waiting for them, she is given a horrific dilemma.  First she is told that everyone has a SECOND loved one waiting to see them, then she is told she can either choose one other person to join her and Dawn to visit their loved ones or she can sacrifice her and Dawns visit and let the four remaining players visit both of their loved ones.  This causes Sherri to have a bigger meltdown then Lisa Whelchel had last season, as she collapses to the ground and starts crying harder than Dawn. 
This is why you should never try to win this challenge.  First of all the winner is going to piss someone off and even if you don't win you have a very good chance of still enjoying the reward when you're either chosen to join the winner or the winner is given the choice of forfeiting their visit.  But if you forfeit it usually doesn't carry any weight whatsoever with the remaining players like in Survivor Amazon when Matt gave up his visit and only one person that he was so generous to voted for him to win the million.  Often they just see you as a threat and want to get rid of you because you're now so likable.  Well, Brenda chooses to give up her reward, which of course causes Dawn to start blubbering worse than she has the entire season.  Even worse then when she lost her teeth!   
Brenda was pretty much screwed the moment she won this challenge but I think she could of played this a lot better a couple different ways.  She could of put the heat on Dawn and asked her to decide what to do.  She could of chose another person to come with her, that way it's a lot more even.  I might of made a counter offer to Probst and asked if I could give up my visit but still have the food.  If he would of said no I would said "sorry, I'm really starving".  At least that way it looks like you made an attempt to be more generous. 
To add insult to injury the reward takes place just 50 yards from camp on a floating barge.  At the reward John is going on and on about his Dad's amazing ability to ummm, flip burgers.  Yeah that's so impressive.  To make it even worse the crowd is shouting out to the beach how they're not missing out on anything.
At camp Dawn is acting like a spoiled brad, as she's pouting and breaking bamboo and slamming things around.  My heart really goes out to Brenda as she tries her best to comfort Dawn, but she does nothing but lash out at Brenda.  This must of been one of the most uncomfortable days for any Survivor.  Dawn has got to be the most immature person to ever play this game.  As bad as I feel for Brenda I feel even worse for Dawn's husband.  I can only imagine the hell it must be to be married to this lunatic.
The immunity challenge is a redo of one from One World where participants must hang unto a rope as they are facing down towards the water.  Every so often Probst lowers them further towards the water.  Mr. Challenge king, John is once again the first one out.  Followed by Eddie than Erik.  Sherri soon follows which leaves the only two people who didn't get to visit their loved ones.  Although we didn't exactly see them enjoying any of the barbeque, we did see a shot of the rewardees carrying what appeared to be left overs to Dawn and Brenda so it's not like they had the disadvantage of an empty stomach. 
Dawn pleads with Brenda to drop out and offers to share the immunity with her.  That's odd.  I've been watching Survivor for 26 seasons and I never knew you could "share" individual immunity.  Brenda, however, declines the offer.  Somehow Dawn wins the challenge though.  It's not really clear if Brenda let her win or if Dawn actually beat her.  She seems to imply that she did let her win I'm not so sure if this was actually the case. 
Brenda seems really happy that her new BFF Dawn won so now she doesn't have to waist a lot of energy relieving Dawn's pathological paranoia.  Unfortunately Brenda is completely oblivious that John is putting operation blindside Brenda into effect.  He starts by recruiting Sherri then gives his pitch to Dawn.  Even with immunity Dawn is still a bit of a basket case.  It's clear she doesn't share the loyalty Brenda feels towards her but is also reluctant to let the fit Eddie slide through another vote and possibly win the next two immunities.  All signs point towards Brenda getting screwed though.
At tribal, Dawn and Sherri give academy award performances to subdue any suspicions by Brenda.  John however is a lot more cocky and blatantly states how voting out Eddie might not be the best move.  Eddie, however, says for the umpteenth time that he's sure his time is up.  As it turns out, he's wrong again and Brenda becomes the victim of one of the cruelest blindsides in Survivor history.  She's smiling at first as she tells her alliance she was genuine with them but is in tears shortly after Probst snuffs her torch.  Of course crybaby Dawn is going to really be in tears after betraying her savior Brenda, wait a second!  What is that on Dawn's face?  She's actually triumphantly smiling at her successful betrayal! 
So now, next to Russell, Dawn is officially the biggest scumbag in Survivor history and has completely killed what little chance she had left to win the game.  When this game started she was probably considered by many as the favorite to win if she got to the end but now it's impossible for her to beat anyone.  This is confirmed when Brenda arrives at Ponderosa.  Although she was completely violated by her so called friends she is greeted with unbelievable compassion at Ponderosa.  Even Andrea who was blindsided by Brenda and the others gives Brenda an extremely warm embrace and goes out of her way to comfort a very disheveled Brenda.  It's pretty obvious that everyone on the jury is completely disgusted by Dawn and she probably won't receive a single vote if she makes it to the end.  It's true Dawn couldn't of beaten Brenda at the final tribal council but she has no chance of winning now anyway.  She basically has pulled a South Pacific Coach who chose to look like a scumbag and lose to Sophie rather than nobly losing to Ozzy.
There's been some criticism of Brenda's lack of strategy this season but we learned at the reward challenge this week that her father had advised her to be humble.  That's what she did but unfortunately, this may have been her downfall.  Had she played a little bit more stronger like she did her first season she may have gotten to the end.  She's still my favorite player this season though because of her enthusiasm and compassion.  So, PLEASE VOTE FOR BRENDA TO WIN PLAYER OF THE SEASON!  I know the producers have been trying like hell to brainwash us into voting for John but Brenda deserves it much more than that Harvard nerd.


THIS SUNDAY ON SURVIVOR!  John's the favorite to win at this point but I really hope Erik or Eddie can sneak there way into the final three. 

Parvati Shallow talks about her 2nd place finish on Survivor: Heroes Vs....

Just watched this today.  I love Parvati's theory on why Russell was able to win player of the season.  She says because CBS gave him so much air time he was able to brain wash people by saying his name constantly.  I'm really surprised to hear her say she was surprised to be on the Villains side.  I will say while she should NOT have been on the heroes side neither should the rest of her black widow alliance from Micronesia, have been heroes!

Survivor Caramoan Episode 12 Recap: I'm Going Nowhere!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                "I'm going nowhere!"  Reynold loudly proclaims during tonight's first immunity challenge.  All I can say is, "you can say that again Reynold!  You're going nowhere in this game!"
The tribe is surprised when tree mail comes and reads that the next challenge is for immunity and not reward but when they get to the challenge Probst informs them that the challenge is for both immunity and reward.  The reward is "information in this game" which is exactly what Malcolm was told he bought at last weeks auction so it's safe to assume the information a clue to the hidden immunity idol and probably the same clue Malcolm got last week. 
It's amazing just how cocky John has gotten since winning an immunity challenge with an advantage!  Earlier he declared he wasn't the same Harvard nerd who was trembling in the bushes last time and then he actually shows up to the challenge showing off his ehem, manly chest.  I got news for you John, even if you end up winning the game you will ALWAYS be a Harvard nerd!  I can just imagine how he would of tore up Abi had he played with her and she called herself the greatest challenge competitor after winning immunity with an advantage!
The challenge is balancing on a triangular floating perch in the water.  Each side has two narrow strips to brace your feet on.  Every 15 minutes you move up a level until your standing on top of the perch.  Almost immediately Probst comes out with a temptation of a glass of milk and a plate of doughnuts.  Erik who is so thin that you can almost see through him decides to take it which isn't very shocking but what is shocking is that EDDIE decided to jump off with him!  I can't imagine what this lunk head was thinking.  He didn't seem to be at a point of giving up but he must be.  Sure there's a good chance they will all target Reynold before him but if Reynold wins he's almost certainly done.  Unless of course Eddie figured out the reward was a clue to the HII and hoped Reynold would win and would then share the clue and idol with him.  That was really Frick and Frack's only hope. 
When they get to the next level Probst comes out offering three hotdogs and a glass of soda to whoever jumps off.  Self proclaimed "greatest challenge competitor of Survivor Caramoan" John Cochran announces he wants to take it.  When he gets no encouragement he whines about his thighs aching but still the only who encourages him is Reynold and Probst is only too willing to quickly point that out as he hands John his food. 
Crazy Dawn starts eying Reynold like a buzzard circling it's prey.  This is when Reynold releases his obnoxious announcement.  After moving to the final stage Dawn soon falls off followed by Sherri who swims directly past Reynold splashing as hard as she can to throw him off balance but it doesn't work.  I'm sure she knows if Reynold wins and finds the HII she'll probably be the target. 
So this leaves Andrea, Brenda and Reynold.  Reynold nearly falls in twice but makes a great recovery but about 10 minutes later he loses his concentration and falls in.  Even though the winner is redundant at this point both Andrea and Brenda refuse to give up.  They have an interesting dialogue where they try to get the other to jump off with Brenda saying things like "are you worried or something?" and Andrea offering to share the clue with Brenda if she jumps off.  Ultimately they don't agree and stay up there for another two hours before agreeing to ad a fourth stage of balancing on one leg.  Probst counts them down and reminds them that this is their rule not his.  Moments later Brenda falls off and Andrea wins immunity.  As I've said before both of these girls are very tough.
Back at camp Andrea reluctantly shares the clue with Brenda.  Personally I don't think she was under any obligation to do this since Brenda didn't actually jump off but I guess she didn't want any drama.  It is indeed the same clue Malcolm got and Andrea decides to share it with her entire alliance.  They rush off to find the idol leaving Eddie and Reynold to prepare for their arrivals to Ponderosa.  Erik finds the idol and much to John's dismay immediately hands it over to Andrea.  That is the fair thing to do since it was her clue though.  He would of looked like a real asshole if he would of stuffed it in his pocked in front of everyone. 
Most of the group is relieved that they will be able to get rid of Reynold or Eddie next.  Everyone that is except for Andrea.  She is dying to make a big move and is desperate to blindside someone.  She says "blindsides need to happen before someone blindsides me".  I think a big part of it is she's seriously crushing on Eddie and doesn't want him to go anywhere yet.  So she starts discussing the possibility with John and Sherri.  She suggest blindsiding Dawn or Brenda.  John considers possibly going after Brenda but definitely does not want to take out Dawn since she has turned herself into a goat to ride to the end.  So Andrea goes to Dawn with the idea of blindsiding Brenda and as I wrote a few weeks ago Dawn is already starting to turn on her savior Brenda.  As she herself says "The biggest obstacle is not having an opponent out here the biggest obstacle has been my mind"  Couldn't of said it better myself.
Despite the little bit of drama at camp the tribe sticks with the plan to take out the two guys.  They split the vote just in case, but not equally with two going towards Eddie and four going towards Reynold, which is enough.  Reynold and Eddie don't even try to squirm their way out of the inevitable and throw the votes at Erik and Sherri.  So Reynold goes home but is very gracious in his confessional and declares he had the time of his life. 
With Reynold gone now the girls outnumber the guys for the first time!  Not for long though!  Because tonight there are two immunity challenges! 
Back at camp everyone but Eddie is celebrating Reynold's departure and Andrea is still itching for a blindside.  Careful what you wish for Andrea!  For some reason she is again discussing this with the biggest weasel in Survivor history John Cochran.  Naturally the goes running to Dawn and Brenda and drops the dime on Andrea wanting to take one of them out.  Incredibly Dawn does not completely explode in paranoia and stays relatively calm and collected.  She doesn't even shed one tear.  At least not on camera. 
The immunity challenge is similar to the challenge Andrea narrowly lost to Rob who almost died beating her before she was voted off the first time on Redemption Island.  They both involved retrieving ladder rungs to climb to the top of a wall, the difference is this one is not as high and you must maneuver a buoy through a bunch of obstacles located in shallow water, to release a key that unlocks a chest that contains the ladder rungs. 
The challenge is a huge blow out by Erik.  His closest competitors are Brenda and Andrea.  "Mr. Incredible Challenge Force" John Cochran wasn't even a factor having gotten bet to the ladder stage but everyone including Sherri!
So now operation blindside Andrea is in full effect.  The trick is not to let her know because she still has the idol.  This is what happens when you get too impatient to make a big move in Survivor.  It often back fires on you.
They do a spectacular job and convince Andrea that they are all turning on Brenda.  Andrea even says how she feels bad for Brenda because she feels so comfortable which is how she felt when she got blindsided. 
Andrea reveals the plan to Eddie who says for the first time in 30 days he feels comfortable with who's going home.  I wonder if Eddie has ever said anything in his entire life that turned out to be right. 
Andrea then starts planting the seeds of a final three with Eddie to John.  John then confesses how he hasn't been able to mention Eddie's name to Andrea for the past 10 days without Andrea saying "Eddie's harmless I control his vote".  Apparently she's still saying this even after he voted for her!  So this really worries John who becomes more determined than ever to take out Andrea.  One odd thing he says though is he wants to be a part of everybody's plan and if he's not a part of Andrea's plan he doesn't want her to be a part of his, even though she told him her plan was to take Eddie to the end with John. 
So unless Andrea plays her idol she's done for.  However, they again play it safe and decide to throw two votes at Eddie, which would result in a tie between him and Brenda if Andrea plays her idol and IF Erik agrees to turn on Andrea.  This seems like it might be a long shot since Erik went along with Andrea to take out Corine.  Not to mention the fact that Andrea promised Erik final three, of course she's also promised this to John and Eddie, but no one else to my knowledge has promised Erik that.  This would seem to suggest that it will be a close call.  I would think Andrea would be the favorite to survive since she seems to be thriving from the game and looking hotter and hotter each episode.  Brenda on the other hand, while still hot, isn't nearly as hot as she was on day 1 and just appears to be so beaten down by the experience. 

But as it turns out that may have been what worked to her advantage.  Even though John kind of screws up and reveals that not only does he believe people have falsely promised him final three but that he has also falsely promised people final three.  Andrea admits this makes her nervous but it's not enough of a red flag for her to play the idol.  The reading of the votes is pretty exciting.  Andrea is shocked when she sees her name the first time then on the second time she cries out "what?!" and pretty much knows she's been taken.  I guess she should of asked Erik to give her the necklace.  Speaking of which, I can't believe Probst missed a great Survivor moment by not asking Erik if he wanted to give up immunity.  Remarkably though, Andrea appears to be actually excited by being blindsided and not the least bit bitter.  I guess she realizes how foolish she was not to play the idol.  Especially since there will probably only be two more chances after this tribal to play it.  She has a big smile on her face as she carries her torch to Probst and says "that was really good".  Meanwhile Reynold, with his John Holmes mustache, practically creams all over himself when he sees his bro Eddie has dodged yet another bullet!  So just like that we're down to six.

NEXT WEEK ON SURVIVOR!  The previews make John look to be in trouble so that means he's obviously safe as a kitten.  Unless Eddie wins immunity, which he has yet to do, he should be going home.  The really big question is will Andrea wear her immunity necklace to next weeks tribal council?  The finale is scheduled for a week from Sunday so it looks like we'll have a final 5 finale again!