Survivor Gabon - Ep. 4

Night 12

Fang returns from tribal council after shooting itself in the eye by evicting competitor Jacquie rather than tits-on-a-boar Kelly. The opening shot of the full moon if amazing, the pock marks and craters as crisp and clear as those on Chef Ramsey’s face in HD on a Sony plasma screen.

Sugar joins her new tribemates, back from her second stay on Exile Island. Crystal tells us in voice-over that she is convinced Sugar has the hidden idol and so, “I have to get rid of her.”

Day 13

Kota pulls in the nets and traps. The 5-fish catch includes one that looks like a baby catfish that sends out an electric shock when touched. Cool.

Over at Fang Matty spies the elephant that has been keeping an eye on them since their arrival. The young bull is across a small bay a short distance from their camp. Matty slips away and alerts the others. They creep up as a group and watch, wide-eyed as toddlers, as the beast pushes over a small tree. Ace and Matty want a closer look and go get the kayak. Matty talks to the camera and it’s clear it was a mystical experience for him.

Luxury challenge time. Kota, like Sugar (anybody else noticed she’s a ringer for Gretchen Moll?), is shocked that Fang evicted Jacquie. The challenge looks like fun. Each tribe starts with a basket of assorted fruit (perfect fruit, by the way; not the local wild bounty). Four high barriers with a large open space at the top have been erected. Each tribe must throw the fruit through the opening in its two barriers to members waiting on the other side. Members from the opposing tribe are stationed in front of each barrier wielding bats used to whack the fruit before it gets through. Most fruit to make it safely through both barriers wins an herb garden, salt, oil and spices.

Crystal at the front barrier, Ace at the back for Fang, Charlie and Bob similarly placed for Kota. Fang takes an early lead thanks to Ace’s good defense. Marcus tells Kota’s throwers to start throwing two at a time. It’s a smart move and Kota closes the gap. When the time limit is up the baskets look pretty even. They are weighed and once again Kota wins, 18 pounds to 16.

Fang looks like a beaten tribe. They elect to send Sugar to Exile Island for the 3rd time. When Jeff asks why, Dan says, “No strategy, purely comedy.”

We watch Kota bring their winnings back to camp. Cut to Marcus talking to the camera. He finds ex-Fang member Dan a little too eager to express his devotion to his new tribes and in consequence doesn’t really trust him. He doesn’t trust ex-Fang member Suzie because she’s too quiet. The only ex-Fang member he doesn’t mention is Randy, so I assume he trusts him (as much as you can trust anybody in Survivor).

We visit Sugar, living the good life on Exile Island. “definitely happy and fat.” She swims in the deep lake, eats all the fresh fruit she wants, rests in a clean, sound shelter and sleeps off the ground in a comfortable hammock.

Back at Fang GC and Crystal get into an argument out of nowhere. Seems the stress of losing so many challenges is breaking down the both of them, much to Ace’s quiet delight. GC talks to the camera. He is finding the game hard. He seems on the verge of tears. This is a beaten man. Sad.

Immunty challenge time. Matty tells the camera, “I think our chances are slim… It’s insanity here.” As they are getting ready to leave they notice GC has disappeared in the kayak to to lick his wounds. Just as the tribe decides to leave without him he’s spotted, making his way across the lake toward them. When told they almost went to the challenge without him he shrugs.

The immunity challenge entails rolling 6-ft high spheres made of woven branches down the steep hill the Survivors climbed for the first challenge. Ramp-like obstacles dot the hillside and at the bottom are a series of side-by-side pens of varying point value. The game seems familiar and it takes me a second to place it – Plinko. The difference between this and the one at the laundromat are the r blindfolded men bearing wooden shields. They are directed by a caller to hopefully intercept the other tribes’ spheres. There will be 5 rounds. Ace is defense for Fang, caller is Sugar. Dan defends for Kota while Randy calls.

Round 1: Kota 2 – Fang 5
Round 2: Kota 2 – Fang 0
Ace gives Sugar shit. She takes it well, knows she had it coming.
Round 3: Kota 0 – Fang 2
Round 4: Kota 2 – Fang 0
Ace gets a shield in the face and has to take a minute.
Round 5: Kota 2 – Fang 0
Randy pulls a brilliant dirty trick. Knowing blindfolded Ace is hurting from the shield in the face on the previous round, as the spheres approach he screams, “Ace! Freeze Ace! Freeze! Freeze!” Ace freezes. Kota wins yet again.

Back at camp GC tells Matty he’s ready to leave. GC relays the news to Crystal. She says let him and passes it on to Ken, who passes it on to Kelly.

While Sugar and Ace are having a lake-side chat Crystal rifles through Sugar’s bag. Ken, Kelly and Matty are present and the talk turns to blindsiding Sugar instead of dumping GC.

At tribal Jeff asks Sugar about the idol. Her response makes it clear she has somehow found out that the others went through her bag and knows she has it. Crystal is thunderstruck. Who betrayed her? Matty? Kelly? Ken? Who has hooked up with Ace and Sugar?

Oh yeah - GC got his wish.