Episode 3: Bye Bye Brianna

Bye Bye Brianna
official title: The Brave May Not Live Long, but the Cautious Don't Live at All

Summary: Nakum win both Reward and Immunity and Yaxha vote off Brianna.

After the recap, at Yaxha Lydia said if she had had her way Brianna would have been voted off instead of Morgan. Brianna tells us that she just doesn't get along well with Lydia. Brian proudly states that he engineered Morgan's ouster last week. Over at Nakum, a howler monkey is driving some of the Survivors nuts with its howl. Judd leads the complaints. Cindy, the zookeeper, thinks it's wonderful - "How can I complain, I wake up and I'm in Guatemala listening to a howler monkey!"

Reward Challenge
Competition: build a tent as a team
Reward: comfort - blankets, lanterns, etc.

Each tribe must build a tent, the first one to do so wins reward. Pieces of the tents are strewn all around and all but one tribe member is blindfolded. The caller for each tribe must direct his tribe-mates to collect the tent parts. After the parts are gathered, the blindfolds are removed and the tent has to be assembled. Gary calls for Yaxha and Brooke for Nakum.

Yaxha builds a slight lead and gets their tent pieces collected first. However they have trouble getting the tent frame together and Nakum win reward!

Back at camp, Stephenie (pictured) says that was one of the easiest challenges yet and they blew it. Amy tells the others that they have to just put it behind them and move on. Amy tells us that working in a police station is "a walk in the park" compared to Survivor. She's never been an outdoor person but she won't give up, she'll do whatever it takes to win. Brianna tells us that she tries to work hard around camp. They all complain about eating so much corn meal. Rafe says they crave anything different - termites anyone? He tries some and pronounces them tastier than the ants. Stephenie is grossed out again.

Meanwhile at Nakum, they enjoy their win a little. Bobby Jon (pictured) it feels good to win, he's not used to it. Judd reminds everyone to enjoy the winning feeling. A lot of them complain about the heat and decide to take the boat and go for a swim despite the crocodiles. Brandon tells us that they should "live on the edge a little bit. The brave may not live long, but the cautious don't live at all." [hey, that sounds familiar.] Cindy, the zookeeper, thinks this is a bad idea. It's the hot part of the day and the crocs will also go out to deeper water. However the swimmers (Brandon, Bobby Jon, Judd, maybe a few others too) don't even see a croc. Back at camp, they decide to make a new shelter and Margaret bosses everyone around. Judd and Bobby Jon really complain about her. Judd: "Starting by barking orders this early in the game is not a good idea."

Immunity Challenge
Competition: court-ball, modeled on an ancient Mayan game. (temp. 114 F / 45 C / 318 K)

The game is similar to basketball, but it is played on nets and the hoops are vertically aligned instead of horizontal as in basketball. Points / baskets will be played 3-on-3, first tribe to 5 points wins immunity. Also this is a catch-and-pass game, no running with the ball.

Scoring points for Yaxha: Brian, Rafe and Jaime (1 point each).
Scoring for Nakum: Danni (3 pts., pictured) and Blake (2 pts.).
Nakum win Immunity! Before the start of the last point, Stephenie asks Lydia and Brianna if they know what a pick is? They don't and Stephenie is a little frustrated. Then to make things worse Brianna looks like she isn't even trying. The other Yaxhas are yelling at Brianna to move (she doesn't).

Back at camp, the scheming starts. Stephenie says "here we go again, why can't I get on a good tribe?" Amy (pictured) hurt her ankle during the game. She said she heard two snaps [or pops, but definitely not crackles]. Lydia tells us that she tries real hard. Jaime tells us that it looks like Brianna is going home. He says that he likes women who are "crazy and pretty, she's neither." [I don't know how crazy she is, but Brianna is pretty enough for me.] In private, Brianna says that "if there was a weak link today it was probably me." [Well girl, recognizing the problem is the first step. Why didn't she work the others to counter this perception?] Gary says that without a doubt athletic ability is the most important thing right now so they won't lose any more challenges.

Yaxha at Tribal Council
(paraphrased by me, not word for word)
Jeff Probst: Stephenie is TC getting familar?
Stephenie: Yes, I'm having flashbacks. I hate losing, it makes me sick. I was frustrated today at Immunity Challenge because they didn't know what a pick is.
Jeff Probst: Brianna is that fair?
Brianna: I don't think they hold it against me because I don't know what a pick is. [No, they hold it against you that you didn't really try to win.]
Lydia: I stunk today (at Immunity Challenge), but I did my best. [I think the others would agree with that.]
Jeff Probst: Are you guys outmatched athletically? [A leading question for Gary no doubt.]
Gary says athleticism is very important.
Amy says she's injured a little bit. She turned her ankle but it's not broken so she can play on.

Time to Vote:
Lydia gets 1 vote and Brianna 5 votes. As she leaves Brianna says "stay strong, kick Nakum's butt." As the credits roll, she says " . . . I'm athletic but not as much as the others . . ."

Jeff Probst "Eight days in and you've chosen the strategy of strength over weakness, which can be risky at times." [Does this mean that next week's Immunity Challenge is a hair styling and make-up quiz?]

Alliances
Stephenie seems to hang out with Amy and Lydia a lot. Rafe and Stephenie seem to get along well too. Brian secretly helped Lydia. That leaves Gary all alone. It wouldn't surprise me if he's the next one gone from Yaxha. Over at Nakum it's harder to tell since they haven't been to TC for a while but Bobby Jon, Judd and Brandon seem to hang out together. They didn't seem to like Margaret much tonight. Nakum did select Brooke (pictured) to be their caller at the Reward Challenge so they must trust her at least a little bit.

Heroes and Villains
On Yaxha I like Stephenie, I know she's a little cocky at times ("I'm the strongest woman here, they can't vote me off!") but she's sincere even if she doesn't fully understand this game. Rafe seems like a nice guy, but he doesn't get this game and is just floating by. He's a pawn waiting for someone to pick him up and coach him along in the game. Please let it be Stephenie. I'm afraid it will be Brian, who I think can play this game. On Nakum, I like Danni. The three amigos Bobby Jon, Judd and Brandon (pictured) are entertaining. I think Cindy is a player but I need more time to see whether or not I like her. Brooke is easy on the eyes.

Won Reward: Nakum
(blankets, lanterns)

Immunity: Nakum

Voted Off: Brianna