Survivor China - Episode 7

Given that the last 2 episodes have been absolutely compelling, episode 7 has a lot to live up to. Here’s where we stand:

- With 10 contestants left, a merge could well occur in this episode.
- Zhan Hu’s 4 members include former Fei Long tribesman James, who remains loyal to his old tribe in general and his alliance with Todd and Amanda in particular.
- Fei Long’s 6 members gives them a 2-man advantage (3 if we count James), positioning them to pick off Zhan Hu in the event of a merger.
- James has one of two hidden immunity idols, and he knows that the second idol is one of the 2 matching carved emblems nailed to either side of the cross-piece of the ceremonial gate that marks the entrance to the Zhan Hu camp: nobody on Zhan Hu knows about this – several members of Fei Long do.

Here we go:

We start in the Fei Long shelter, the tribe settling in after evicting Sherea. Jean-Robert expresses his surprise at the depth of Courtney’s dislike for him, which she revealed in detail at tribal council. The others express their neutrality. What’s between JR and Courtney stays between JR and Courtney. This offends the skeletal blond Manhattan waitress, who expected friends Todd, Amanda and/or Denise to take her side.

Next morning at Zhan Hu. PG, whose daring episode 5 plan came crashing down last week, tells James, “Well, James, I hope you trust us now, because we told you we were going to stick with you.”
James makes no reply. “You know that?” PG presses.
James, knowing she can’t hurt him at this point, responds with a doubtful, “Yep.”
PG asks, “We don’t seem like loyal people to you?”
James snickers. “To each other, yeah.”
PG keeps trying to get James to ally with her, James remains non-committal.

Later the same morning: James standing under the crosspiece bearing the two emblems, one of which is the second immunity idol. In a voice over, he talks of Todd and Amanda’s clumsy recovery of the 1st immunity idol (they gave it to James so he could save himself should Zhan Hu try to evict him). “I’m not going to do like Todd did and be impatient. There’s so many times when you can be alone.”

But, like many of us, he finds his own the advice the hardest to take. Left alone briefly, with the others still very close by, James pries off one emblem. It doesn’t say on the back that it is an immunity idol, as does the one Todd gave him. He pries off the second emblem, which has the authenticating writing on the back, just as Jamie and Erik approach the camp. James hurries off to hide the immunity idol in his pack, leaving the false idol lying on the ground, in plain sight, near the gate.

Morning at Fei Long. Courtney spoils Todd’s good mood by bringing up his lack of support for her in her war against JR. Todd tells her that numbers are all that matter at this point in the game and he’s not going to vote out people who vote the way he (Todd) wants them to. He expounds to the camera on his thinly veiled threat. He tells us that he is concerned that Courtney will continue voting against JR no matter what. “All the other tribe, if there is a merge, needs to know is that one person is voting against Jean-Robert and they will automatically have Jamie, PG, and Erik voting with Courtney against Jean-Robert and that’s a campaign to get him off which is losing one of our numbers.” To say nothing of the forging of a 4-person alliance that could battle Todd-Amanda-Denise-James with Frosti as the swing vote.

Zhan Hu, Day 19. Jamie notices a missing emblem. Erik walks over and finds the false idol. He slips it in his pack on the chance it is the idol. Erik tells Jamie he thinks he may have a hidden immunity idol. That night Jamie, with Erik standing guard, rifles through James’ pack and finds his two emblems/idols. Critically, she does not look at the back, does not see that James's idols have written authentication, and so does not know that Erik’s emblem is not also an idol. Jamie’s discovery raises the possibility, in her mind and in Erik’s, that they have an authentic idol.

Next morning James notices the emblem is no longer lying on the ground. The thought of Jamie or Erik playing a false idol at tribal council tickles him no end.

The tribes are called to what they think is a challenge, only to find out it’s a merge. They are given new buffs. Fei Long’s camp becomes home. They are to come up with a name and design a flag, but before that happens they get a celebratory feast with traditional Chinese food, entertainment and alcoholic drinks. Jeff warns them before they leave for the celebration, “Remember: this is a game that never stops.”

Back at camp the new tribe brainstorms for a name for the new tribe. The ones they come up with sound either like a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor or something eighth graders would come up with for their rock band. Speaking of which, best name ever lifted from a reality series to serve as a band name: Sass the Donald. There is no such band, yet: but with a name like that, I should be able to get a decent rhythm section together, no problem.

Jeff shows up and is somewhat miffed when the majority of the Survivors can’t be bothered to stand to welcome him. He announces that this week’s challenge is a test of recollections of events that happened during the feast. One wrong answer and you’re out. Pained expressions from many: it seems that some tribesmen had a few too many drinks at the party. The pained expressions are deserved - 40% of the contestants get the first question wrong. 4 more questions and Frosti wins individual immunity.

The dealing begins.
PG tries to get a commitment from James, to no avail.
James tells Todd about Erik and Jamie thinking they have an immunity idol.
Todd counts off for James the votes that they have – and Courtney is pointedly excluded from the count.
Amanda thinks Jamie is more subtle than PG (who isn’t shy about brushing up against JP while wearing her cutest bikini) and should be the one to go.
Amanda tells James flat out that Courtney can no longer be perceived as an alliance member, and warns him that Courtney will align with Zhan Hu if they will vote against Jean-Robert.
James is shocked that Courtney would rather act-out her personal animosity toward one player than be in an alliance that is playing perfectly. Using a phrase that is going to bring me a chuckle for years to come, he tells the camera, “She does stray off and fall in love with any swinging Dick or Harry.”
Courtney stroking Frosti, who doesn’t look like he enjoys it.
Jean-Robert and Todd. Jean-Robert wants PG to go. His reason is that she is turning him on and he doesn’t want to have that distraction around.
Todd assures JR that it will be the 2 of them and Amanda in the final 3.
Todd assures the camera that he will vote off JR whenever it’s in his own best interest.
PG and Jamie still can’t figure out if James is with them or not. PG says she thinks Erik and Jamie will be the target, because they are obviously a couple. PG has found out that Courtney voted for JR last time and they decide to vote as a block with Courtney, making Frosti the swing vote. PG has seen Courtney and Frosti cuddling and thinks they might be able to swing him.
Jamie and Erik tell Frosti they have an immunity idol. Frosti, who only knows James has one idol, has her describe it and is left with no choice but to assume her idol is authentic.
Jamie tells Todd she has an idol. He plays it perfectly – never cracks a smile. “She is,” he tells us, “on the small bicycle in back, peddling to catch up.”
Jamie tells us, “I’m not as dumb as I look and maybe they’re figuring that out.”
Jean-Robert tells James he’s going for PG, no matter what. James makes him back up. “No. You are not going to do that. We are going to pick who it is and we are all going to do that. JR agrees.

Tribal Council. Jean-Robert is asked how the merge has affected strategies. He and Courtney get in it. James sighs in exasperation. Jeff asks him what’s wrong. James tells JR he talks too much – and he does it in such a bemused manner you think JR may actually be listen. Before the vote is counted, Jamie plays the immunity idol. Jeff disallows it. JR realizes how close he may have come. The final vote: Jamie loses to Jean-Robert, 6-3 with one vote left in the box.