Survivor: Samoa - The Day of Reckoning - Recap

Can I say it? Survivor: Samoa is one of the best seasons of Survivor ever. OMG. For a third week, another blockbuster tribal council. And in the words of Gabe: "That was beautiful."

But first a brief recap:

It's Evil Russell vs. Laura vs. Shambo! Who will win?

A lot of politics in Aiga after Kelly got voted off when Evil Russell played the hidden immunity idol last week.

SPOILERS

At first I thought Shambo made another strategic blunder by confiding in John that she was behind the Foa Foa tribe decisions, particularly in voting off Laura. I guess if you are handsome, people will spontaneously tell you things, LOL. However, later on, this was just the perfect seed to get the fireworks rolling.

Reward challenge:

Some odd cradle and rope thing. The team of Evil Russell, Laura, Natalie, Dave and Brett win a trip to an island. They have a picnic and get a clue to the hidden immunity idol. It's underneath a moss-covered rock! Evil Russell is on it!

Back at camp, Mick and Jaison spill the beans on Shambo to Monica. Okay, it's out in the open now -- as if it wasn't obvious. They are trying to entice her to be the sixth vote in voting off Laura just in case she doesn't win immunity.

When Evil Russell gets back to camp -- the chase for the hidden immunity idol is on! As in literally.

And then when nobody is looking Evil Russell found the idol again! I am aghast. Who is this guy? And who are the idiots who are with him in this cast of Survivor? Geez.

Anyway, the Immunity Challenge:

Laura fails to make it to the second round of this "break a tile, then fire an arrow challenge"... and Shambo laughs.

Mick wins immunity by having the closest arrow to the target, beating Brett.

So now politics!

Monica makes a move and tells Foa Foa that she will vote for John. This has got to be one of the lamest strategies ever employed on Survivor that the producers actually made us witness on TV. Monica is an idiot -- she had zero negotiation skills.

And then we find out in John's POVs that he thinks that his Galu tribemates are idiots: By targeting Shambo and Evil Russell -- and the dumbest move of all, voting off Erik in a 30 second decision. (Agree on Erik, that was the beginning of the end).

John makes a deal with Evil Russell after finding out that Monica and the others were going to make him the pawn without telling him.

Tribal Council:

The votes:

Laura - 5
Natalie - 5

Deadlock! Tie! Revote! If it is another tie, then the tribe will randomly pick rocks -- and someone will be voted off by chance (excluding Laura and Natalie who will both be safe at that point). Dave says: "You've got to make big moves in this game in order to win, and I say there's nothing bigger than lady luck. I'm ready to roll the dice, let's go." Hahaha! For someone obsessed with the "guaranteed" number superiority of Galu moving in to the merge -- he thinks luck is the biggest factor? You guys had an 8-4 advantage, which was a 1 in 8 chance of a million dollars getting in. Is he stupid?

Laura and Nat can't vote in the revote:

Laura - 5
Natalie - 3

Shocker! John turns.

Laura is voted off and becomes the third member of the jury. The revenge of Erik. Unbelievable.

How shocking that Shambo is now the deciding vote if the tribe goes down old tribe lines next week -- unless the entire tribe votes her off first. Should be exciting!

I think that John made a great decision. He needs to convince everyone that Shambo should go next week, or the Evil Russell / Shambo alliance will steamroll.

The hidden immunity idol in Evil Russell's hands is now more powerful than ever. He found 3 idols, OMG.

Video clip: