We are down to the final two episodes of Survivor Caramoan and tonight we will get the traditional Family Visit that always makes me realize there is dust in my eyes causing them to water.
Someone is going to have to make a move tonight. The easy move is to vote out Eddie but at this point that makes no sense. A big move is needed to win the game and Eddie is a vote for someone.
I am predicting either Cochran or Brenda win be going home. If they are smart it would be Cochran but I think Dawn will stick with him over Brenda and I think he will keep Sherri. If Eddie follows the boobs he will side with Brenda so once again it could come down to Erik who has proven to be one of the dumbest swing votes ever.
I’ll be back later with my recap and as always feel free to discuss the hour below!
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Now that you are done reading about American Idol and The Voice you can now read my recap for Survivor. Thanks for coming in and following it.
The episode starts with a quick recap of the last few weeks before heading back to the camp on the morning of Day 35. Eddie is pretty sure he’ll be next gone which Cochran agrees with but then Eddie tells him that he thinks Cochran would be targeted next because that would makes sense. Cochran is a little surprised because he thought people would want to take him to the end but now he knows he needs to rethink the game.
Brenda approaches Dawn about working with Erik to vote out Cochran. Dawn had planned to work with Cochran and Sherri but now she knows she has options. She also knows she will need to make a move to make people believe she deserves to win the game.
This leads into Erik slowly losing his mind as he “celebrates” playing the game of Survivor for 70 days. He is low on energy and the coconuts in a crazy high tree are mocking him. He starts to climb the tree and in an interview expresses that he thinks that falling would be ok if he left the game injured because at least he tried. It is actually quite depressing to watch hum slowly break down and I hope they have some good therapists at Ponderosa.
All this before the episode’s opening credits. Back from commercial Eddie connects a Sprint phone for their Video messages from family. Jeff Probst promised tears so I am adamant I will not be crying. The videos have Erik turn around emotionally. He says he has not been here this long to go home with nothing. It also happens to be Dawn’s wedding anniversary so there is no way the winner doesn’t have him stay.
This challenge is actually quite important because who the winner chooses to stay can turn around the game. For those who watched last season Malcolm allowing Lisa’s family member to stay is what turned around her game and made her a little ruthless in how she played so the consequences could be good or bad depending on what happens.
Brenda’s father comes out and says that he has inspired her and taught her to be humble. Crazily this is the one that gets Jeff teary. We are followed by Erik’s brother, Sherri’s husband, Cochran’s mom, Eddie’s father, and Dawn’s husband. She breaks down as she hugs him on her 21st anniversary.
For reward each castaway will work with their family member. They will spill around a pole unscrewing three beams which they will place on a post. They will then throw balls tied by rope until they hit three of them. They are playing for a floating platform that will hold a backyard BBQ. I am banking on Erik and his brother winning.
Erik and his brother finish one and are followed by everyone else. Brenda and her father unscrew the second one first but he wipes out dizzy and are passed by Erik and his brother. It’s a quick challenge as but in the end Brenda and her father Raymond pull it out. It was close with Dawn and her husband as well as Sherri and her husband close behind.
As expected she gets to pick someone else to go with her and she picks Dawn. This is where it gets both harsh on the producer’s part. Jeff hands Brenda a Sprint Evo and the video shows for the first time ever that each Castaway has a second loved one on the island. As she discovers that her son is on the island she breaks down. The twist is that she can choose one other Survivor to join them or she can give up her reward and Dawn’s participation to give the reward to the other four survivors and their loved ones.
It’s a hard decision. In most cases you give up the reward to the other people to gain possible votes and favors but on the other hand it’s a huge reward to give up and affects Dawn as well. It is both mean and brilliant to do this to the winner.
Brenda gives the reward to the other four which breaks Dawn. I have to admit I teared up as she said goodbye to her husband. Not only do the other four people get the reward but it is just off the island from camp so Brenda and Dawn can see it happen.
Not much happens at the reward so we are “treated “to Brenda and Dawn sitting on the beach watching everyone else celebrate. The whole segment is actually depressing as Dawn breaks down while the other people wave from the BBQ and thank Brenda. Brenda tries to tell her to keep faith and stay strong.
Brenda says that it can either be good because they will not want to vote her out or it could be her downfall. Cochran proves my point by sharing that his mother told him that Brenda will win the game but he will do what is needed to make sure that doesn’t happen. It goes back about how I said winning the challenge could ruin your game.
It’s now time for the immunity challenge. It’s an endurance challenge where each person will hold a bar behind them with their hands behind their back. Jeff will slowly turn a crank that will lower people closer to the water and when it is too painful you will just let go and fall into the water. Last person standing wins immunity and makes the final five.
Cochran wants to make sure Eddie doesn’t win so that it won’t be a stressful afternoon. Eddie says that he knows he needs to win because he knows he is next to go. Cochran falls in first and Eddie and Erik fall in next. Sherri falls in next.
This is where Brenda continues to ruin her game. Dawn asks for the immunity and Brenda declines because she wants to test herself. She continues to make herself a huge threat and people will notice now especially if she doesn’t win.
Brenda falls in giving Dawn her first ever individual immunity. After the loss Brenda implies that she eventually fell in to give Dawn the win and keep her happy.
http://youtu.be/pQxy-jX9-9U
Going into the closing of the episode and I think it is time to take out Cochran or Brenda. If not now you may not get another chance at either one of them. If they are smart Cochran will be going home but I think Brenda’s actions of trying to gain favor with the voters by giving up the reward could hurt her.
Brenda says that it needs to be Eddie next and everyone else seems to be on broad. Of course Cochran wants Brenda gone and knows he needs to do some work. Cochran knows that Brenda can go on a winning streak; she has not backstabbed anyone, and earned favor by giving up reward.
Sherri is instantly on board but Dawn is not fully sold. She is worried Eddie can also win some challenges and if Brenda stays in the game she is the Swing Vote at final five. She is in a good position and will most likely make final three no matter what.
We open tribal with Dawn celebrating winning immunity, Brenda was happy with Dawn winning since Eddie fall out. Jeff points out that every tribal seems to be Eddie’s last tribal and he never goes. Brenda says that it sucked to give up the reward but Dawn and Sherri say that it also gave her instant gratification from the other castaways.
Cochran points out that Eddie is the easy vote but that doesn’t make it the smartest vote. You need to weigh the short time gratification vs. long-term benefits. Eddie is saying is farewell speech and says he loved his time in the game. They show Sherri vote for Brenda, and Brenda vote for Eddie. I’m smelling blindside with Brenda going home.
Two quick votes for Eddie and a vote for Erik. This is followed by three votes for Brenda as she is sent packing. She tells the tribe that she was genuine with them and it hurts what they did to her. She walks off crying. The streak of people not holding grudges when being voted out may have just ended.
http://youtu.be/QXnnt4GG078
Next time on Survivor we have the Finale with the final five. I will see you all on Sunday for the Finale and the Reunion Show where someone will be crowned the Survivor winner and $1million winner.
http://youtu.be/HbZ6Z4Sl6kg
