TVSquad

(S15E09) Whatever you do, don't eat the apple. Eat the fried chicken, the mashed potatoes, the cheeseburgers, and the fries. You can even quaff the beer. But you know what happens when you eat the apple.

As expected, the biblical words of wisdom came from James. But to whom was he referring? A lot must be happening behind the scenes with the quasi-couplings going on. Must we be like the Letterman question?

"Was there any hanky-panky going on?"

I didn't find this the most exciting of episodes although the challenges weren't reruns of previous seasons. There were the typical after Tribal Council rumblings. Denise felt blindsided by the vote to oust Jean-Robert. Courtney and Amanda knew she felt blindsided. Denise tried to work her way back in with James. James made the decision he'll never go to Tribal Council again without his treasured immunity idols. After all, he got three votes he didn't expect. He should expect that people will come gunning for him sooner or later.

Okay, not literally gunning for him. I think that's against the rules.

James, in a way, isn't doing much to help his own case. Peih-Gee tried to talk to him and he went on the defensive a bit too much. Now, if I were in his shoes (which so wouldn't fit), I think I'd just nod my head a lot at her. While she made a dirty move with the kidnapping and throwing the challenge in Zhan Hu, you never know. Why deliberately be so argumentative? Why not only burn the bridge, but dynamite it as well? I like James, but he's getting way too smug. That can bite him in the butt if he doesn't watch it. I see Todd sees it.

Tree mail came with a drum and it was a foretelling of the rewards challenge. Instead of banging the drum slowly, it was walk and bounce a ball on it while going through obstacles slowly.

It was yet another schoolyard pick followed by rock, paper, scissors to decide which team would go first. Jeff appointed Erik and Peih-Gee as the "captains" and gave them first pick. I was so glad that Courtney was the last pick instead of Denise once again. I hate schoolyard picks.

Peih-Gee jumped right on James despite their words. She had told us in confessional how much she wanted to win something ... anything.

Ah, but it was not to be. The yellow team of Erik, Frosti, Amanda and Courtney really got a rhythm going with the bouncing ball. Or, should I say Erik and Frosti did as they did most of the work. The red team -- Peih-Gee, James, Todd, and Denise really never caught any kind of rhythm with the ball at all.

Although Peih-Gee later lit into James claiming he threw the challenge and I saw him laughing and lagging as they had to keep returning to the start, I don't think he threw it. They were so bad at the challenge that it was laughable and it was pretty obvious at one point that they wouldn't be able to catch up with the other team.

At least that's the way it seemed to me. I don't think James was taking the challenge too seriously, but deliberately throwing it? I don't think that's his style, not at all. I think the larger problem was that Frosti and Erik were so good at it. Frosti reminded me of a border collie -- his eyes never came off that bouncing ball.

But it gave us more opportunity for another Peih-Gee and James showdown. Okay, we get it. Oil and vinegar, those two. And we also get you haven't won anything, Peih-Gee. But it wasn't all James' fault. Peih-Gee dropped the ball more than he did and Denise was practically useless in the challenge.

Then James told us something that they didn't show us before. Why, Courtney is all over Frosti! That brought about the line used as the title. Plus, it was Frosti, Courtney, Amanda, and Erik who won the reward -- an overnight cruise with dinner.

The castaways might have enjoyed the food and the break from the game as much as the scenery, but I found the scenery absolutely stunning. Maybe if I had Frosti rubbing my shoulders, I'd feel differently. Wait ... with the age difference, that would just be weird. I'd be totally taken in with the scenery anyway.

The cruise gave us the opportunity to find out that Erik may have spent too much time with farm animals.

When they saw some goats along the bank of the river, I thought it was the goats making the little goat noises. Nope, it was Erik. Strange, but he really has the goat call down pat. No one asked him why he learned to do that and some things might be better left unasked.

As for the apple, it's not just Courtney and Frosti. Amanda's pretty interested in Erik, goat noises and all.

When they returned to camp, they lied and told the others that they had Chinese food. In actuality, they had a huge feast of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and cold drinks. Keep in mind that Courtney ate and she ate very well. Amanda thought it best to lie to them about the type of food so the non-eaters wouldn't hold it against them. That was probably a smart decision.

Todd told all four who were on the cruise about Peih-Gee going after James and accusing him of throwing the challenge. Of course, after what she did to him, she really shouldn't say boo to anyone about what they do or don't do in challenges. Both Erik and Frosti were relieved that Peih-Gee is more of a target than they are. They're already worried about each other in the pick off standings.

But things can change with a single immunity challenge, can't they? I couldn't believe that Todd, Denise, and Courtney were so darned sure they were safe that they went for the bribe of cheeseburgers and fries and gave up a chance to win immunity! James knows he has two idols and can save himself in a moment if the thinks he's in danger, but the others? Plus, Courtney had just pigged out! Yeah, she's skinny, but ...! She's not all that well-liked by all and should be worried!

Or, in hindsight, perhaps not. But foresight might be a better strategy than hindsight, right?

The immunity challenge wasn't a thrill a minute, but it was different. Other than using the Chinese zodiac signs once again, it was different. The four who played for immunity -- Amanda, Eric, Frosti, and Peih-Gee -- had to remember a small list of signs Jeff told them, then stab the signs from a board in the correct order. To me, it didn't seem so hard. I didn't have my knife nearby, but easily remembered the order.

In the end, it was down to Frosti and Peih-Gee. Both of them were freaking out, certain that they made an error. Finally, Frosti did.

Much to the dismay of all, the sure target for being voted out this week, Peih-Gee won individual immunity. James almost choked on his seventh cheeseburger. Todd sat with a shocked look on his face. Courtney just shoved as much of a burger as she could in her mouth.

So, it threw all the best-laid plans of mice, men, and skinny waitress girls with smart mouths aside. Even though they voted Jean-Robert out and he was one of their own, there were reasons. It's back to Fei Long casting Zhan Hu out with the tide. Or down the river, so to speak.

The targets were Frosti and Erik. Frosti may have made more friends or better friends, but he's a lot better at challenges, thus a larger threat. Todd asked Courtney if she could vote out Frosti and she said she didn't know.

In Jeff's interrogation at Tribal Council, it was very obvious that Frosti and Erik were the most worried. Neither campaigned against each other, but they each ended up voting for each other. That was the only vote Erik would get. The others unanimously (even Peih-Gee) voted out Frosti. Zhan Hu is down to two. Unless they win immunity, they have two weeks and both will surely be gone. It's Pagong all over again. Jean-Robert was an aberration.

Then something odd happened. After Frosti left, Jeff told them it wasn't over, they weren't going back to camp and still had more business. Then it cut to the credits. The promo for next week supplied no clues. Hmmm ... wonder what's up?

I'll miss Frosti. I liked the kid. I didn't think he'd win it all, but he tried his best. As he said during Jeff's interrogation, had he taken the food it wouldn't have been doing everything he could to stay in the game. And I loved his closing comment -- "I was beat by a tiny flight attendant, a sassy waitress, and a woman with a mullet." Heh.