Alabama on ‘Survivor’: Be the wizard
By Wade Kwon‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 9 recap
Coach vs. Brendan. The self-proclaimed dragon slayer vs. the not-so-fiery dragon.
For Forza, it’s judgment day and thunderdome all rolled into one malnourished package on “Survivor.”
Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile be the hunter or the hunted? Will Debra Beebe of Auburn make a power move against her ex-Timbiran tribesmates?
Whose alliance is solid, and whose is shaky? Find out, after the jump …
Pole positions: Erinn, left, and J.T.
re-align their priorities.
Alliance recap: Team Secret is the cross-tribal alliance formed during the multiple trips to Exile Island between Stephen and Taj of Jalapao and Sierra and Brendan of Timbira.
The ex-Timbiran alliance is the majority six of Sierra, Brendan, Coach, Debbie, Erinn and Tyson.
Stephen and J.T. have a bond. Tyson and Coach have a bond. J.T. and Coach and Tyson have a bond. Clear so far?
J.T. thinks Brendan is targeting him as alpha male, but feels secure with his alliance with Coach and company.
Ratty hot! Erinn rockin’ the grunge.
Erinn and J.T. go fishing (J.T. loves fishing!). She feels like J.T. will be useful, and he’s willing to be used if need be. She begins to feel more confident about her game and her position among the majority. And, well, Erinn’s looking kinda ratty. Not hot ratty. Just stranded in Brazil ratty.
Smash and grab: the reward challenge.
Reward Challenge: Each three-person team breaks tiles belonging the opposing two teams to win a rafting trip and picnic. Plus, that team sends one person to Exile Island.
J.T., Debbie and Brendan outlast the other teams to win. They send Stephen to Exile, at which point Coach offers his sage counsel: “Be the wizard, Stephen. Be the wizard.”
From now on, we’re referring to Coach as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Sane.
Land of the lost: J.T., Debbie and
Brendan hit the river wild.
The trio enjoy their whitewater rafting, then head to the sandbar for a picnic feast. J.T. is literally two-handing it with sandwich in one hand and brownie in the other. Somehow, Debbie has magically disappeared, as Brendan works on winning over J.T.
Sadly, J.T. ate two fingers.
Brendan likes J.T., and wants to get him into the final four, even if Brendan doesn’t make it.
J.T. is apparently the man.
Beach blanket bimbos: J.T., left, and
Brendan strategize over sandwiches.
Tales of man: Stephen is the wizard.
Rescue me: Stephen builds a fire at Exile Island.
At Exile Island, he finally manages to light a fire on his own, a skill most of his tribesmates have already mastered. It boosts his confidence as he waits out his two days alone (the first solo visitor to Exile).
Campfire stories: Coach tells a harrowing
tale of survival to mere mortals.
To inspire the Forzans, Coach tells his harrowing tale of being captured and beaten by natives in the Amazon, only to escape using his ingenuity and skill. Several fellow contestants injure their eyes when they roll back permanently.
Flippin’ out: Tyson cruises to a second immunity win.
Immunity Challenge: In round one, players race along an obstacle course, clipped to the rope and forced to navigate its twists and turns. In round two, the three fastest finishers compete in a three-story rope obstacle course.
J.T. wins … the first round, followed by Tyson and Brendan.
In the second round, Tyson wins his second immunity in a row. Brendan had hoped to vote out Tyson to save J.T., but goes after Coach instead.
Coach is salivating at his chance to vote out Brendan, after Joe’s injury and removal delayed his master plan.
Voted out: The ex-Timbirans are sticking with the plan, taking out Brendan, with Sierra as a backup in case he plays his Hidden Immunity Idol. Team Secret is counting on using J.T.’s fifth vote to take out Coach.
J.T. is in the power position. Again. And while all this scheming is going on, Debbie is nowhere to be found. Again.
‘This one time, at ninja camp …’
At Tribal Council, Coach again casually mentions the five or six life-or-death situations he’s faced:
- hurricane
- shark attack
- crocodile attack
- spam attack
- um, deadly ninjas
- really bad paper cut and/or that horrible long hair
He insists he’s playing with honesty and integrity. The Forzans are highly amused.
(Meanwhile, Joe of the infected leg and fake Hidden Immunity Idol is nowhere to be found. Bummer, didn’t even make the jury.)
Host Jeff Probst asks each of the Exile visitors if they have the Hidden Immunity Idol. Each one says no, except Brendan, who admits he has it.
The vote boils down to two for Coach, three each for Brendan and Sierra, with one left.
Eighth out: Brendan, by a vote of 4-3-2.
It’s Brendan, the eighth out and, as Jeff says, first member of the jury.
(Vote breakdown. Voting for Brendan: Coach, Debbie, Taj and Stephen. Voting for Sierra: J.T., Tyson and Erinn. Voting for Coach: Sierra and Brendan.)
Looks like Taj, the brains behind Team Secret, cut Sierra and Brendan loose after the merge snub. Sierra may be next, but Taj and Stephen could be in serious jeopardy.
Video: Brendan’s final words
Video: Brendan at the Ponderosa
Is Coach the true mastermind of the season? Whose side is J.T. really on?
[Video and photos to be added.]
“Survivor: Tocantins – The Brazilian Highlands ” airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on CBS 42.
Previous: Episode 8 – What has 10 heads and 19 legs?
Next: Coach vs. Brendan: grudge match! (Episode 10 – I just threw up on my feet)
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Back up for grabs … more “Survivor: Tocantins” at survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com.
Friday, April 24, 2009, 1:08 am
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