TVSquad

(S15E06) Now that I've been reviewing Survivor: China using the actual episode titles, I have to worry that the world might run out of exclamation points. Everything is always so ... so ... emphatic in these titles. Perhaps the castaways, Courtney in particular, should save energy and not exclaim so much. I mean, after all, there has to be wasted calories, right? Todd doesn't have much meat on his bones, either.

At least it won't be a reenactment of the Donner Party, I guess. Although that might be better than the seasonal gross foods challenge which took place in tonight's episode.

Over on Zhan Hu, Peih-Gee was initially extremely confident that her plan (shared with Jaime) was a stroke of genius. Last week they threw immunity with impunity ... or so they thought. James, on the other hand, has a plan of his own to try to save his butt. Stroke of genius? Not so much. Knowing that the others threw the Immunity Challenge and plan to do so again with him as a target next, he plans on keeping them rested so they'll do well. Say what there, James?

Over on Fei Long, sharp player Todd let Amanda in on the hidden Immunity Idol clues. He has a plan of his own, y'see. He wants Fei Long to win Reward so that they can kidnap James back for a while. Oh, it's not so much that he wants James back -- he wants the clue that James will come bearing. I have to say Todd thinks ahead in the game. Sometimes he might think too far ahead and you know about those greatest plans of mice and men.

Tonight's Reward Challenge was only quasi-interesting to me. It's not all that similar to anything they've done before, but I didn't find myself getting all that excited. The tribes, one member at a time each, had to enter an abandoned Chinese house retrieving tied-up boards with writing on them. The boards were in the tribal colors and once all the pieces were retrieved, the tribes had to put together a puzzle. It was a well-known Confucious saying, but still ...!

A few interesting things happened during the challenge, though. Peih-Gee tried to tell Sherea that Zhan Hu was still on her side. Sherea listened, maybe even nodded, but didn't seem all that excited about it. And Frosti worked hard for Fei Long and didn't pay his old Zhan Hu tribe any notice at all.

Todd's first part of his plan went down like clockwork -- Fei Long won and kidnapped James. The reward itself was a trip to a tea house out on an island. Fei Long members were pampered with tea, snacks, baths, and plenty of Charmin product placement.

Jean-Robert got a chance to be lecherous and leering at Amanda and Courtney while we got a chance to see James' blurred naked butt. The girls say it's nice, but it was all a blur to me.

Todd moved his plan along by telling James he would save him with the clue that he knows the kidnapped person delivers. James, knowing he's pretty much dead meat on Zhan Hu, agreed that he would work to throw the Immunity Challenge and target Jaime to be voted out. Since his vote would probably be the only vote not for himself to leave, it's a done deed. Jaime is voted out and James is safe. Win-win. "That's love, baby! That's what makes you strong!"

Unless it doesn't work out according to plan, but both James and Todd tucked that thought in the back of their heads. With James being the only real powerhouse on Zhan Hu and the rest of the tribe intent on throwing the challenge, what could go wrong? Just about everything, but a bit later for that.

In between the Reward and Immunity Challenges, a few noteworthy things happened.

First, over on Zhan Hu with no ex-Fei Long members around, it dawned on Peih-Gee that they may have lost Sherea and Frosti. "He wouldn't even look at us! I tried to tell Sherea we had her back and she didn't seem to care!" Oh, time to rethink their throwing challenges time! Switch the game up! The numbers have gone bad! Win Immunity! (Uh-oh. Now I'm using up all the exclamation points.)

Then, at Fei Long, with the last clue in hand, Todd knows where the hidden Immunity Idol is in both camps. It's the wooden arch with the decorative plate depicting bats, the two shiny bats in particular. Unlike the wise man of the previous season, Yau-Man Chan, Amanda and Todd started going for the hidden idol right in front of the others! Duh, Todd. Smart kid, dumb move.

Frosti, seeing fun at hand I guess, jumped right in to help them and unwittingly became a part of the Cult of the Hidden Idols. The look on Todd's face and reaction to Frosti's "help" was a hoot! It's probably a good move for Frosti as it brings him closer to Fei Long. He really hasn't any bonds with his previous Zhan Hu tribe. Is it a good move for Fei Long? Only time will tell. As promised, Todd gave the idol to James before he returned to Zhan Hu, also telling him where to find the hidden idol in his own camp.

But then the worm turned. Or the eel. Or could it have been the balut? Yes, it's time for the gross food eating challenge! Unlike others, this one is a bit tougher to throw ... or to throw up, maybe

Pitting a member of each tribe against each other, the food got worse as they went along. Ten chicken hearts, no big deal. Three eels (including heads), a bit trickier. Three baby turtles, ew. Two balut, blech! I've seen these before -- they're chicken fetuses complete with feathers, beaks, and all. Denise, although she knew of the plan for James to throw the challenge, just couldn't handle the balut. He tried his hardest to not win, but eventually had to swallow. Then it came to the last gross food - 1000 year old eggs. I have to say Frosti tried his hardest to do it, but Erik had a slight edge on him.

Zhan Hu won Immunity.

There go those best laid plans of mice and men. Todd thought he had a perfect plan, a genius idea and ... BASHED. Time for Plan B. Since Frosti was in on the idol scheme, might possibly be trusted, and might be used to their advantage down the line, he wasn't seriously considered as a candidate to vote out.

Then there's Sherea. She's not a part of their tribe, so it would work for the numbers to remove her. They don't think they can trust with the exception of Courtney.

There's also Jean-Robert who is hated by Courtney. But he's strong and is a part of the Fei Long numbers game.

What to do? What to do?

In the end, Courtney's feelings were a bit hurt as no one listened to her. She and Sherea voted to oust Jean-Robert while the rest of the tribe voted out Sherea. The tribe has spoken. Buh-bye mouthy Sherea.

A few closing observations on this episode and Survivor: China in general:

• Todd is trying to think too far ahead and is involving more people than he should. He should go far, but if he trusts too many, one of them might beat him in the end.
• Courtney needs to approach her dislike of Jean-Robert a lot less smugly and loud. She should stick to confiding in others, not confronting him at Tribal Council.
• Jean-Robert better watch his hack. His tribe is slowly turning on him. They may decide they like and can trust Frosti more.
• I'm glad I don't have to look at Sherea's tattered nasty underwear anymore.
• Speaking of underwear, James is a shoe-in for being an underwear model for men! (Insert wolf whistle here.)
• I'd like to see more Chinese interaction and culture such as the fishing birds family.
• Why did they go from brutal physical combat challenges to tame ones so completely? Because Dave's not around to get nude?