Survivor 15.8 "It's almost like a pageant!"

Since I'm a full four weeks behind, I'm just gonna throw out some quick observations and get get back on track. :D

My favorite thing that happened this week was the introduction of a new credit sequence. Same kick-ass music, same awesome cobra, but only those still in the game are shown now and each week, it shows who's still in the tribe and who's moved to the jury. Love it!

One of the key moments in the reward challenge was when Denise wound up odd person out, and her "free agent" status continues to be in play as we approach the finale. James, Todd, Amanda and Jean Robert wind up visiting a 1000 year old village, where Jean Robert is shocked to learn of the existence of an Immunity Idol. The joke is on him, since James has two of them in his possession, and it was comical to watch the "card shark" get played. Todd grew more bitter over the fact that James didn't offer to give him one of his Idol's, since it was Todd who actually found them, so he hatches a plan to blindside James while he still feels safe.

The Immunity challenge, in which they had to sit as still as possible to maintain their balance on those barrels was a lot of fun, and Courtney continued to be a hoot. When Jeff pointed out that she hadn't moved in 32 minutes, she quipped, "I am lazy," and she accepted the Immunity necklace like a beauty queen accepting a crown. Then Eric finally started playing the game, telling Jean Robert that James had both Idols. This prompted JR to confront James, who played innocent. Jean Robert refused to tell him outright that Eric told him he had the Idols, instead relying on his "I'm a poker player, oooo, I just know things about people, ooooo," bull crap, which didn't impress James one bit. Jena Robert is so hacked off at James's betrayal, he goes to Todd (who, of course, is also betraying him) and tells him they should blindside James, but Todd is so egotistical, he decides to target Jean Robert instead. See, he didn't want JR thinking he was smarter than Todd for coming up with the idea that Todd was already working, so Todd flips on Jean Robert. Now, I hate JR, so whatever, but he was a better dupe than James.

At one of the coolest Tribal Council's ever, the thing played out like a whodunit, and you didn't know who was gonna be the victim and who was gonna be the killers. Peih Gee and Eric (the only ones to bring their stuff) are aiming at James, unaware that the others are about to do in Jean Robert, and the reaction shots--the raised eyebrows, the nervous smiles, in every reaction shot--genius. This should be their Emmy episode.

Jean Robert is booted in 9th place, where we lost Greg, the coconut phone guy. In the Outback, finger-wavin' Alicia was cut down and in Africa, Kelly was targeted by her own alliance when Lex wrongfully decided she had voted against him (she hadn't). In the Marquesas, Johnny Pots and Pans was booted in a wonderful, surprising coup and in Thailand, we lost Erin, yet another unmemorable contestant in that forgettable season. In the Amazon, Dave the rocket scientist was shot down when the all-dude alliance crumbled in like, two seconds and Ryan-O was kicked out of the Pearl Islands at this spot. In Vanuatu, Sarge was stabbed in the back by Twila and Colby went crazy and talked his way out of Palau in 9th place. In Guatemala, we bade a painful second goodbye to sweet Bobby Jon and in exile Island, Austin was sent packing. In the Cook Islands, Nathan was rewarded for supporting Jonathan with a knife in his back, and last season, Edgardo was cut loose in yet another surprise-filled and awesome Tribal Council

Peace Out! Christine :D