TVSquad

(S16E08) After a brief hiatus and some odd scheduling due to March Madness, Survivor has returned! Oh, you might not be as excited but after watching so much Big Brother, it's nice to hear someone refer to another as a "lying sack of slop" instead of totally foul-mouthed. Not only did it return, but tonight's show explored a bit of new ground in the fans vs. favorites arena.

Read on past the jump for the full review.

I'm finding out as I watch the season that I'm letting my preconceived notions about the favorites still run rampant in my mind. I adored Ozzy in his season, finding him not only cute but such a competitor in both physical and mental strategies, and I've fallen for him again. On the other hand, I can't recall exactly why I didn't care for Ami in her season, but I know I didn't like her. I still don't.

Since the tribal mix-mash, both Ozzy and Ami are on what's becoming the Ulong of Micronesia along with favorites Cirie and Amanda. Lone fan Erik is on that tribe, Malakal, and is busting his butt to stay in after watching them pick off the fans one by one as their losses pile up. I'm getting kind of attached to Erik. He so wants to be an Ozzy and he's trying so hard to stay in what looks like a losing battle. I think I like the kid better than I like Ami. That, of course, is a good thing.

Erik's doppelganger Jason over on the Airai tribe doesn't give me the same warm fuzzies. He makes a big deal about killing a rat to bring back the tradition of a rat meal not seen since the first season. Um, okay. If he thinks back, that tribe was almost starving. His tribe has fishing gear and James. One rat between six people is not a feast. Well, unless you're talking about those rats in the subways of Manhattan, that is. Jason did well at the immunity challenge, so he dubs himself the MVP. The kid has a big head and seems more like he wants to fit in with the famed players of the past. Erik is just doing anything and everything to stay alive. Although they look a lot alike, I'm definitely getting better vibes from Erik.

It felt a bit odd to have immunity so early in the episode and a good two days early for the castaways. But I liked the concept that they got a hint of the upcoming challenge and a chance to choose someone from the other tribe to sit it out. I liked it even more that Airai chose to send Ozzy, thus giving him individual immunity for the tribal council. He is my man, remember. I still know zip about Alexis, the choice by Malakal. I understand their reasoning that she can balance, though.

In watching the challenge go down, it seemed like two skinny guys were running it all -- Jason and Eric. If Eric hadn't plowed his chest into that wooden dock, they might have actually won. Yeah, Jason did well. But going on about how well he did is annoying. Those heavy sacks seemed the least of the worries as the two men-children ran back and forth. I personally would have pulled an Amanda ... into the water at the first step.

But the fact remains that Malakal lost another immunity challenge (with beer and pizza, too). Folks who don't watch the show always fuss about how they're not really "surviving." Tonight's episode was the perfect example of the show not really being all about physically surviving in the woods or on an island. It is indeed "outwit, outplay, outlast." It's politics. That's the main component.

So we have four favorites and one fan. In the previous three tribal councils, it's been a fan out each time. However, one of the favorites had been trying to ally with the fans before the numbers went down. One of the favorites has been working to get Ozzy (my man, remember) out. Well, to be honest, another has mentioned getting him gone, too. But this isn't about Cirie. It's about Ami.

Erik's only play would be to work tremendously hard and win immunity for his tribe. That didn't work out. He went to Plan B -- the honesty card. He told Cirie and Amanda about how Ami's been plotting against them since the first day after the tribes mixed. They were reluctant, but when he hit Ozzy up with the same information, he found an ally. And, heck, the kid is right. He only wants to stay in the game right now. He's not thinking alliances down the road, he's thinking about the looming tribal council.

Despite all of the tears and shock that she isn't trusted, Ami got her just desserts when she was voted out unanimously. The favorites allegiance to each other was shattered, but I think it was for a valid cause. She was sneaky. She betrayed them. They made the right vote. I think even though she turned on the tears and lied before the vote, she went out with class. She stopped to wish Erik the best in the game and had some pleasant parting words. Tonight was an example of two people with different approaches doing what they thought they must to stay in the game. Honesty and hard work prevailed in a reality show. Who woulda thunk it?

The best lines in tonight's episode:

• James referring to the Malakal campsite: "This is where they bring criminals."
• Amanda night crab-hunting with Cirie: "It's a big-ass crab! I want me a big-ass crab!"
• Jason after referring to himself as the MVP on the immunity challenge: "And I have the hidden immunity idol, too!"

It was a hoot to see that Jason still thinks that fake idol planted by Ozzy is real. And, even better, that Ozzy played along following clues on Exile Island with Alexis and discovered it was gone. I won't bring up the promo they showed for next week. I don't want the moment spoiled!