TVSquad

(S15E08) Last week the tribes (Zhan Hu and Fei Long) merged on Survivor China. Jaime was voted off and became the first member of the jury. That would lead us to this week with fewer members of the weaker Zhan Hu tribe, especially since Frosti has all but become a Fei Long since he was kidnapped. Fei Long has the numbers and the strength to survive challenges.

So, that would leave us with the real question at hand going into tonight's episode ...

Will the ex-Fei Long members pick off the ex-Zhan Hu members one by one, leaving Frosti for last out of a sense of loyalty? Or, will they turn on their own numbers to eliminated a threat?

Jean-Robert is worried about Jean-Robert. Jackie is tired of hearing Jean-Robert refer to himself in the third person. Jackie says, "Knock it off!" Jackie says it's really annoying. If nothing else, the entire new Hae Da Fung tribe should vote him out just on the third person referencing. I think that's a solid criteria to get rid of him, don't you? Ah, but as James says, "We need his vote. We're stuck with him for now."

I kind of liked tonight's reward challenge. It brought back memories of participating in the Great Kennebec Whatever Raft Race in Maine -- water fight! Swamp 'em! The tribe was split into two teams of four in a schoolyard pick with Jean-Robert and Peih-Gee designated as captains by Jeff Probst. Naturally, with Jean-Robert taking first pick, he snagged James first. Later adding Todd and Amanda, it was Fei Long in motion again sans Courtney who ended up with Frosti and Erik on Peih-Gee's team. Denise, alas, wasn't chosen and wasn't eligible for reward.

One member of each team was placed in a boat surrounded by a dock while the three remaining members of the opposing team dunked them with buckets of water. You sink, you're out. The team which sank the other two times won Reward. Of course, it was no real challenge. The ex-Fei Long members won.

The winners were off to a 1,000 year-old village with a fine Chinese meal to make it a real reward. I would have liked to roam about the village myself -- it looked fascinating. It definitely was a far cry from Jersey!

Jeff had also given team leader Jean-Robert a scroll to be opened in the village. Um, Jean-Robert was the only one there who had no idea about any clues for the hidden immunity idols! He got himself all psyched to find it and thought he was so darned lucky to get the clue when the others could barely hold back guffaws. I loved it! Jean-Robert got a clue, but Jean-Robert is clueless nonetheless. Heh.

While the four were off having dinner and exploring the village, Peih-Gee was trying to swing Denise for her vote. Denise is already worried because she's the last pick. She thinks she's fat and isn't athletic, so she will remain the last pick until it's time for the others to vote her out. Aw, I feel sorry for her. She's a good worker in the camp and has shown herself to be strong in competitions. I'd rather have her in my camp than Courtney.

Upon returning to the camp that night, Jean-Robert was so excited he couldn't even sleep and wandered around the camp looking for clues. Heck, I would have stayed up to look at the cool frogs and bugs, but that might be just me. He actually figured out that the bat plaques were likely hidden immunity idol doohickeys. So, he snagged them and hid them in the bushes. I'll give him credit for hiding them not in his personal belongings, but that's the only credit I'll give him.

The next day, the quibbling started. I expected it to be Courtney versus Jean-Robert, but instead it was Jean-Robert going after James for eating too much. I think Todd (who told us he's going insane) has a valid point being worried that he literally gave James both of the hidden idols on a silver platter and James hasn't made any mention about giving even one back to him. But instead of asking him, Todd went into blindside James mode and tried to get Amanda to play that game with him. She balked. She wanted to stick with the eliminate Peih-Gee, then Erik plan. Todd confided in Frosti but told him not to tell Peih-Gee. Frosti is sitting in a good spot right now -- he just has to watch for what offers benefit him the most in the game.

It would all hinge on the winner of immunity. Yep, the second individual immunity was at stake. Frosti had to turn over his immunity necklace and worry once again.

This immunity was a bit like riding a mechanical bull, but with no bull. No real mechanics, either. Oh, and it didn't buck either. But other than that, it looked a bit like riding a mechanical bull.

Really.

It was a huge pink snaky-dragon thing set in a swamp. Each person had a section they had to sit on, wading through the swamp to get there. The snaky thing section was filled with water and it would also (a) pour out water and (b) dump them into the swamp if they didn't keep their balance.

It really was a challenge made for people who weighed less and could keep their center of gravity. Hmmm ... who weighs almost nothing on Survivor this season? Is there anyone who matches that description?

Jean-Robert was out first and followed by the others until it was just Frosti and Courtney left in their saddles. Okay, there weren't saddles and it's not a bull. Maybe it's a gigantic people-eating pink snake dragon, a secret weapon! (Or it could be next on the market as an imported dangerous toy.)

I got a kick out of both Frosti and Courtney as they sat on the snake. Yes, that sounds a bit odd, but it's what they were doing! Frosti tried to put himself into some kind of Zen world by singing, but Courtney achieved that Zen by becoming a statue. When Jeff told Courtney she was there for 32 minutes, she replied, "I'm lazy!" In the end, Frosti fell and Courtney won immunity. She didn't really care about it except for the fact that she can't be voted off with it. She didn't care who goes home as long as it's not her.

But everyone else cares. Jean-Robert tried to pull a fast one on Erik, telling he had the hidden idol. Erik, of course, knows that James has both of the idols and he ended up telling Jean-Robert. So, Jean-Robert jumped on the Blindsilde James Bus not knowing that others were already contemplating that ride.

He went to James and told him he knew he had the idols, but James admitted to nothing. Smart James. Then Jean-Robert ran to Todd to rat out James for having two idols. Todd acted like it was news to him. Others talked, but it was still unclear going into tribal who would be voted out. Courtney once again said she didn't care who goes home although we know she would love it if Jean-Robert left. Last week she voted with the others to oust Jaime. Only Peih-Gee and Erik brought their belongings in anticipation of leaving.

Now, I need your help here. I didn't record the show. Did Courtney really say "screw you" or "screw that" when Jeff asked her if she wanted to give her immunity to anyone? Or was it all just in my mind?

Then the votes came down -- Jean-Robert 5 votes, James 3, and the worried Peih-Gee a mere single vote coming from Denise who was left out of the loop

The votes made it obvious that the old Fei Long tribe would rather deal with Zhan Hu than Jean-Robert. However, if they were so worried about James, this would have been the night to nail him. He didn't bring his bad; he didn't bring the hidden immunity idols to Tribal Council. He's a huge physical threat and not too shabby in the thinking department either. Although I would certainly rather watch James than Jean-Robert, I think the others blew the perfect opportunity to get one of the biggest threats out of the game. That might not happen again in such a perfect scenario for a blindside.

Oh ... and Jean-Robert thinks he was voted out because he's such a big threat to the others. No, that's not why, Mr. Poker Dude. You're too annoying. Todd's face said it all as the votes were rolling in.