Episode 7: Arrivederci Amy (merge)

Arrivederci Amy
official title: Surprise Enemy Visit

Summary: Yaxha win Reward and get a bird's eye view of the jungle along with a lot of chocolate. The two tribes enjoy an afternoon pool party before the immunity challenge. Nakum win Immunity and Yaxha vote Amy off at Tribal Council. After TC Jeff Probst announces Merge!

After the recap of last week's episode, Judd (first interview) kind of, sort of apologizes to Nakum for his outburst at Tribal Council last week. He says things like "If someone attacks me I'm not just gonna sit there and take it. I just blew up. I'm really a big teddy bear, I wouldn't physically hurt anyone." In private Jaime tells us that Judd would be a good person to be in the final two with. [Is this foreshadowing?] Over at Yaxha they talk about the wounds they got from the Big Ball challenge last week. Bobby Jon hurt his right shoulder and several of them have wounds where skin was scrapped off. Amy is self-conscious about hers and Brandon tells her "No, it makes you look tough." [I'm sure that's just what a woman wants to hear.]

Reward Challenge
Competition: Wrap Me Up, Wrap Me Down
Reward: zip line jungle tour and chocolate.
Judd sits out.

For each tribe, four poles are set up with a length of cloth wrapped around it (about a foot in width). At the first pole a Survivor wraps the cloth around himself then goes to the next pole where another Survivor joins in and they have to wrap the cloth around the two of them. Then it is on to pole three where another Survivor joins in and then on to pole four (you get the idea). Along the way a fifth tribe-mate can help them (the winder). Then the four have to unwrap themselves without help and cross the finish line.

Amy and Jaime were the Winders. They were about even through pole 3, but Nakum was the first to be done all four wrappings. However Yaxha passed them in the unwrapping stage as Nakum fell down. Yaxha win Reward!

I'm not a big fan of heights but the zip line cable ride through the jungle treetops looked like fun. Chocolate was waiting for them atop one of the platforms up in a tree.

Pool Party
Danni's (pictured) birthday is the reason for the Surprise Enemy Visit on Nakum. On the boat ride over to Nakum to invite them to a pool party, Gary politely asks them not to say anything negative. At Nakum's camp, Judd is all for a party (not surprising) but Cindy is reluctant. They all end up going back to Yaxha's pool. Danni gives them some chocolate and Stephenie is very happy. Bobby Jon tells us that it was all about a day of fellowship. [the fellowship of the pool?] Jaime was very quite and tells us he was figuring people out. He then prompts Nakum to leave and Stephenie was a bit upset, she wanted to stay longer. In confessional Jaime says that it made him sick to see everyone get along so well.

Immunity Challenge
Competition: Archeological Dig, race and puzzle.
Lydia sits out.

Twelve big pieces (about 4 feet by 3 feet) to a puzzle are buried in sand. Each tribe sends a player to collect a piece in turn, everyone must go once then anyone can go find a piece. Once all 12 pieces are gathered they must be assembled, they make a Maya calendar.

Cindy collected the final piece for Nakum at which point Yaxha were 2 pieces behind. Yaxha made up some time in the puzzle assembly stage but Nakum won Immunity.

Scheming at Yaxha
Amy tells us in private that she knows she's a target and in trouble. She thinks she has an out after she talks with Danni. Amy's only hope is to target Bobby Jon on the premise that he doesn't deserve it because he's played Survivor previously. Gary (pictured) tells Amy that he has to go along with the group but if she can get Danni to vote for Bobby Jon then she has his vote as well. Danni does talk with Brandon about voting for Bobby Jon. Brandon tells us in confessional that he has an alliance with Bobby Jon. In confessional Bobby Jon says that he really wants to make the jury and he'll feel real bad if he doesn't. So it looks like Amy or Bobby Jon at Tribal Council, who will it be?

Yaxha at Tribal Council
(paraphrased, not word for word)

Jeff Probst: It's day 18, Danni does it feel good to get this far?
Danni: Yes, but it would feel better if we weren't at TC.
Jeff Probst: Gary what has changed since last TC?
Gary: We are an even tighter group now.
Jeff Probst: It's day 18, Amy how has the experience been?
Amy: It's been the bomb, I love these guys.
Jeff Probst: Brandon is it difficult deciding who to vote for?
Brandon: Yes it is very difficult. It's hard to justify who deserves your vote. [Bobby Jon looks worried.]
Jeff Probst: Is it a dilemma for you Danni?
Danni: Yes, you have to balance the game with the word you have given others.
Jeff Probst: Bobby Jon how do you handle the dilemma?
Bobby Jon: I keep my word.

Time to Vote:
One vote for Bobby Jon is shown to Yaxha, but three are for Amy.

Jeff Probst's Final Thought
I am convinced that you are all really close and now you will have a new challenge. (Merge, new buffs [red I think] and Yaxha are to go directly to Nakum's camp. Yaxha's things will be moved over for them. They will need to decide on a new tribe name. What's the Maya word for argumentative backstabbers?)

Amy's final words:
I'm very proud that I got this far. I learned a lot about myself and made some great friends. I had a great time.

Alliances
The Merge came just in time for Gary because I'm guessing he was next on Yaxha to be voted off. Now the real question is will current Nakum hold together and pick off current Yaxha or will old Nakum reform and pick off old Yaxha? Or maybe something altogether different? [Check back, I'll deal with this in my next Survivor Instinct post.] Next week's episode should be very interesting.

Heroes and Villains
Jaime (pictured) was a jerk about the pool party. He may think he was really playing the game but pissing people off (Stephenie) is not the way to play Survivor. I'm glad that Danni finally got some screen time. She seems calm, cool and collected (and she's easy on the eyes). Judd tried to do some damage control but I don't think many of them were buying any of it.

Won Reward: Yaxha
(zip line tour of the jungle, chocolate)
Won Immunity: Nakum
Voted Off: Amy