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« Survivor: China
Use It or Lose It
Episode recap: Ready to Bite the Apple
Okay, was that not the coolest Survivor reward ever? Two weeks ago, when dear Frosti was bumped from the tribe and we poor sots thought that that chapter was over Jeff pulled a To Be Continued saying there was “more business”. Wheels started turning in people’s minds. What could this mean? Well, I’ll tell you what it meant: There was another reward challenge to be held immediately after tribal council. It whisked the winner, Peih-Gee, and two of chosen tribemates, Erik and Denise, to the 1500-year-old Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of kung fu, where Shaolin monks still practice this ancient martial art. I mean, come on, that is a fantastic reward.
It was a special treat for Denise who, it turns out, is a near black belt at karate, having studied for eight years. I love that she continues to surprise me and her tribemates with stuff like this. I hope she sticks around a lot longer in the game because it wold be sweet to see her outlast the other players who have marginalized her. Yet it bugs me to see that Denise’s loyalty to her alliance is unreciprocated. There she is away on a reward with the two other outcasts and her alliance is whooping it up back at camp exclaiming how great it is to be just those four. Where’s the love for Denise, I ask? At least our favorite lunch lady got a once in a lifetime, up close and personal demonstration from the monks of something that was meaningful to her. That totally makes up for her being overlooked before.
As amazed as Denise was by the monks I am by Peih-Gee and her staying power. She’s not liked at camp. She’s been on ‘the list’ for a while, yet she manages to survive tribal council time and again. Every week she’s pushing that same old, “if we band together we can vote them out” strategy that everyone ignores. But she doesn’t give up and that’s admirable. Even tonight, last to know Peih-Gee stumbles across James’s hidden idols and comes up with a plan that the remaining Fei Long have already put into play. What is it with Zhan Hu always being a few steps behind? I cracked up when she asked Amanda if she knew that James had the idols and Amanda was like, “Duh! I’m not stupid”.
It’s about time somebody had the nerve to force James Of The Two Idols’ hand. The Former Fei Longers voted against James hoping he wouldn’t use an idol and the remaining Zhan Hu’s voted for Todd –
which, of course, means that his little neck was really on the block. James has been quick to toss out adapted biblical references in this game to keep things inline as he sees them. I’ll do the same: It is better to give up an idol than to keep two of them and lose the million dollars. Yes, James, you made the wrong choice tonight and ended up taking that walk of shame out of the pagoda. In a refreshing move he didn’t leave a bitter goodbye message.
Six are left and one alliance has already started cannibalizing itself. Which way will this game go next? Courtney displayed some skill with the star toss. Todd is losing his hold over his group. Erik, this week’s immunity winner, and Peih-Gee are holding their own in challenges. Amanda wants to make a powerplay and Denise could do the same. To my eyes, it’s anybody’s game now.
For more Survivor: China check out our Online Video Guide.
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Nov 30, 2007 1:47 AM
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I kept yelling at James to tell him to bring out an immunity idol, but alas, he didn't pay attention to me!! Darn it.
Now I really don't know who I want to win it. I'm not very fond of anyone else. Maybe Erik, but not sure of that even.
Amanda isn't high on my good list right now. And even though they're all against PG (initials are easier), I thought Amanda's condescending snotty attitude was nasty. And I hate her blurred out bikini....mainly because I'm just curious as all get out to know why it's blurred! At least, I THINK I want to know. Ewww, maybe not.
Interesting how much the jury enjoyed James getting voted off. I thought Frosti was going to guffaw right out loud!
Next week looks interesting, but I'm sure going to miss my favorite gravedigger.
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Nov 30, 2007 2:09 AM
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Yes! That was the most exciting Survivor ever! Seeing Peih-Gee win reward (I guess it helped being of Chinese ancestry) and taking Erik and Denise with her and appreciating the sights of a country for the first time makes up for her throwing a challenge several weeks ago. And then seeing Amanda and Courtney make a plan to vote for James in the next tribal council? Priceless! When James mentioned the possibility of bringing his two idols, I thought that might actually happen. The fact that he didn't told me how too trusting he was of his tribemates. It was indeed nice he didn't sound bitter at the end. Oh, and Amanda must be wearing a really tight bikini bottom since the back of it is always blurred whenever it is shown!
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Nov 30, 2007 2:14 AM
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Even before the idols were found, I didn't like that the player who had one would have to play it before the votes were read. On the flip side, it was great a few weeks ago when Jeff threw into the fire the fake idol.
And, how can it be a "wrong choice" for James when he thought his alliance was intact? It would have been smart for him -- had things gone his way -- to keep the idols until the final five.
Finally, while it was nice for Denise to go on the trip, let's not give her too many props. I wasn't surprised by Todd's decision to agree to oust James, but Denise had said previously that she was cool with James. What she should have done was told James to use the idol to get rid of Todd. Now, she has no shot to make it to the final three -- unless another twist happens -- because the others will oust the Peih-Gee and Erik next, then her. At least if she had James around, there was a shot for her to make it to the end.
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Nov 30, 2007 8:06 AM
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James had the classiest exit speech at end credits too. What gets me is he can only use the idols until the final four. Surely he could have won immunity once in the next 3 weeks. He should have played it. He should have also told his tribemates that he would share the idol with them to keep the four together. At least they may have felt better about him having them.
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Nov 30, 2007 8:28 AM
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I just have to say STUPID JAMES, STUPID. I was yelling at my tv too, take out the idol, take out the idol. I was rooting for him all along and just can't believe he was so dumb to hold onto the 2 idols. One of the best eps ever in Survivor history, I love those suspenseful moments!! But I was really hoping that since Denise and James seemed to have a special bond, that she would go to him and tell him what they were plotting and would seal an alliance with him to go to final 2 and then they could get with PG and Erik and get rid of Todd, Amanda and that annoying skeleton Courtney!! But they didn't hear my plan and now James is gone. Man!
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Nov 30, 2007 8:38 AM
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I felt that Denise really did clue James in, when, at tribal council, she made the comment about how a person could think they were safe in a group of four but might not be (or something to that effect). That may have been too subtle for James to pick up on, but the moment she said it, we knew she was telling him all he needed to know. I am stunned that he didn't play the idol.
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Nov 30, 2007 9:14 AM
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Great episode! I thought for sure James would play an idol after Denise's comments at tribal ("you never know when 4 people might decide to change their minds and vote out one of their allies" or something like that). It'll be interesting to see how the remaining 6 get by at camp now that their main food provider & cook is gone. While I wasn't rooting for James to win, his fun comments will be missed.
But way to go Erik! I've been rooting for him for a while, so I really hope he sticks around these next few weeks - if he makes it to the final 3, I say he's got a pretty good chance to win. As Todd mentioned 2 weeks ago, he's the only one who hasn't betrayed anyone and he's generally been pretty neutral - who wouldn't want to vote for him? So far, the jury consists of Jamie, Frosti, JR & now James. I'm sure Jamie & Frosti would vote for Erik. Although James' goodbye speech was nice, I wonder who he would vote for - if I were him, I'd be a litte ticked off that my allies blindsided me. And I guess you never know w/JR, but he mentioned several times that you wouldn't want to betray him (which the former Fei Long members did).
If PG is kicked off in the next week or two, she'd probably vote for Erik, and with the way Amanda's now going back & forth with being so frustrated with Todd, I think she might vote for Erik as well. Granted, Erik probably has to win immunity the next couple of weeks to make sure he's safe til the finals, but here's hoping he wins it all!
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Nov 30, 2007 9:21 AM
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UGH! I cannot stand PG and for awhile I have not trusted Amanda. I think she is the type of girl who even outside the game will walk on someone to get her way. I think Todd is shady, but in a crafty way and probably only during the game. Erik is YAWN. I still like Denise and now Courtney is really cracking me up. I am rooting for Todd, Denise and possibly Courtney. It would be pretty funny if she won. Poor James - bad move...or non-move...
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Nov 30, 2007 9:45 AM
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Pinkie - I agree, I'll miss the little gravedigger. I have to admit to sleeping through most of this episode, but I did catch the end.
It disgusts me that they all looked like they were laughing at James being voted out. Honestly, there's not one person left that I like, so I really don't care who wins at this point. I liked Denise, but I agree with Spider-Man, she should have told her buddy what was going on. They would have been a great final two together.
Courtney & Amanda (aka Skinny and Stupid) just irk me. They sit there, grinning, like they're the masterminds behind everything. (and pinkie, the short or undies that she wears on those challenges and such show too much "cheek" and that's why it's always blurred)
Isn't next week the infamous "car reward challenge?"
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Nov 30, 2007 9:54 AM
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I usually seem to find myself rooting for the underdog on this show, so I was pleased with the outcome.
I have tired greatly that Todd keeps asserting that their ascent to the final 4, 3 or 2 is like a birthright to them because of earlier tribal victories. The "alliance" aspect of this game gets tiring. This is borne out with the arrogant manner in which James has carried himself, especially true in his conversation with Erik. Erik has every right to laugh in James' face. And after James enjoyed a laugh at Jaime's expense (on the use of the non-HII), she has every right to get up and laugh right back in his face at the Reunion Show.
On the subject of James and the HII - why has he not offered the one idol back to Todd? I thought that was "loaned" in an effort to help James "survive" during the tribal personnel trade. Has Todd never asked for the idol back? Did we miss something when it was given? At least the HII's are out of play (again!).
During Denise's absences, it was clear that James had her way down on his list of favorites. I was so hoping Denise would not help him.
Amanda and PG are playing smart games. Remaining static in an alliance rarely helps an individual, and to win, one must be somewhat clever, as Amanda has been. As for her "blurred backside" - I watched closely online, and I really believe that Amanda's shorts are uber-tight, with a lot of bum cheek exposed. Knowing how the Janet Jackson-CBS network has to run scared of the FCC, they are covering their own proverbial butts in the process.
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Nov 30, 2007 9:59 AM
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NOOOO - James, I love ya, but what an idiot!!!. He had two idols, if he'd only had one I might understand him not risking it, but he had two, there were clues, use the dang idol!
OK, I like Denise, but I was confused about her Karate. Maybe it takes longer for Karate, but first of all she said she has opened her own studio and she isn't even a blackbelt yet after 8 yrs. I don't want to have martial arts instruction from someone who hasn't yet achieved at least one black belt, that seems odd to me. My daughter has been studying Tae kwon Do since she was 10 yrs old and just received her 2nd degree blackbelt after 4 yrs. She'll have to wait two more years before she can go for her 3rd and then 3 yrs after that before she can go for 4th but in 9 total years of training she could earn her 4th degree blackbelt and Denise hasn't even earned her 1st degree after 8 yrs? That seems way off to me. Even the monk thought she should be an expert by now.
It was cool watching her reaction to the Shoalin Temple and the Kung Fu fignting monks. That had to have been a sweet reward for her. I'm glad PG allowed her to go on it with her.
I actually like that Amanda has made her move. I think it would have been more powerful if she hadn't told Todd. But I guess even though she said she doesn't want to go to the end with any of her current alliance its better not to clue them into her new plan completely. She still has some folks to toss before she'd be in a safe place. I'm now backing her since she has shown that she is not just a puppet to Todd.
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Nov 30, 2007 10:04 AM
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Maybe if James would have clued Denise in on the JR vote, she would have trusted him more and been more likely to clue him in. I still wish she would have, but I can understand why she didn't. It would have been tough to beat James for the million dollars. James is a straight-forward, honest guy, which was his downfall tonight. Even with Probst harping on the trust thing, James still trusted his alliance. I so wish he would have used the idol. I guess we now know for sure that it is Amanda controlling things and not Todd.
GO DENISE!
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Nov 30, 2007 10:08 AM
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I just can't believe that James trusted them so much. Pretty much the golden rule of Survivor should be Trust Noone.(Damages!)I just don't understand how James could possibly think that everyone in his alliance was perfectly alright with the fact that he had 2 idols and was basically gauranteed to get in the final 4. Why would he not have a clue that nobody else is just going to let that slide when there is a million dollars at stake and he just missed getting voted out last week. AAAARRRGGHH! Talk about the stupidest move in Survivor history. Yes he did the most work around the camp but the other players are not going to care about that and just sit back and let him win. Bummer bummer bummer ~ But I just can't have any sympathy for him. He should have realized that he still could win immunity in the challenges and he still had the second idol. Dumb. How could it not cross his mind that everyone else knew that THIS was their chance to get him out?
Wow ~ I'm even madder at James than I thought!![]<img border=](http://community.tvguide.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif) ">
Have a good weekend everybody.
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Nov 30, 2007 10:28 AM
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If Amanda, or anyone else, wants a shot at winning the million, they need to get rid of Todd. We saw last year with Earl and the year before with Yul - the ringleader ALWAYS wins. The little girl who lets him carry her to the end is never recognized or respected for having played the game. James was never a big threat for any of the immunity challenges. Todd needs to go.
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Nov 30, 2007 10:51 AM
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