Night 27, and Stephenie explains to Judd that they didn't tell him about Jamie because they knew he was close with him and they didn't want to put him "in that situation." Good one. The game of Survivor is a non-stop situation.

Gary and Lydia are the first ones awake the next morning. They talk about the game by the fire. Judd wakes up and quietly watches him. He says, "Her eyes are bulging out of her head, 'Yeah, Gary!'"

Later Judd tells Rafe and Steph about it. Rafe tells us he's tight with those two but he's worried about Cindy. Judd is upset because of Gary previously saying Lydia didn't deserve to be there.

Next up is That Challenge. You know, the one they've been doing ever since the Rotu 4 fell for it on Marquesas. Each person starts with three pots then Jeff asks trivia questions and if you get the question right you get to smash one person's pot until everyone but one is potless. I'm glad it's only a Reward Challenge this time since winning isn't really in your hands.

The prize is a trip to a hot spring waterfall that pours into a cool-water pool, plus food and a massage.

The point of the game is to get people to reveal who they don't like, so here are all the hits round by round (thanks to Jamie getting voted out, I can now use single initials for everybody):

J>G, L>S, D>S, C>G, R>D, G>C

L>S (out), G>J, C>G (out). Stephenie is very angry at Lydia. Lydia announces she's doing this because Steph has already eaten a lot.

L>J, D>J (out), C>D, R>D (out). After eliminating Stephenie, Lydia goes after Judd. So much for her alliance.

R>L

C>L, R>L (out), L>R. It's down to Cindy and Rafe and they each have two pots left.

Cindy gets the question right but Rafe does not. The same thing happens with the next question and Cindy is our winner. She (obviously) gets to bring someone with her, and she chooses Rafe.

Why do they fall for this Challenge every time? Lydia couldn't have played it any worse. Even if her old alliance was giving her the benefit of the doubt in talking with Gary, that's long gone. On the flip side, anyone doubting where Cindy sits shouldn't be concerned any more. Her first four votes went for Gary, Gary, Danni and Lydia.

Now, if we learn later that Cindy was just voting that way for show and she's planning an end run later in the game, I'll very impressed.

Back at camp Stephenie is still steaming. She calls everyone together to say she hasn't eaten more than anyone. Could you calm down? Why take a silly Reward Challenge personally? Lydia tells us the others are putting Steph on a pedestal. Preach it, sister.

Cindy and Rafe eat and talk about Lydia being brainwashed by Gary. Rafe says he's in with Cindy now "for better or worse."

After the winners return, Stephenie, Rafe, Judd and Cindy confirm their foursome. The next day Gary says their alliance is clear so he and Danni talk about who they could get on their side. Gary says he'll work on Rafe.

The Immunity Challenge is the old Rudy Memorial! I love this one. Rudy running around answering each question with "I don't know" is my favorite memory of the first season.

It takes seven flags to win. Everyone gets their first question right except Judd and Steph. Ha ha. It comes down to a battle between Gary, Rafe and Cindy. With two flags left Cindy gambles and chooses an answer without assembling the puzzle with the question. She's wrong and it's over for her.

Gary and Rafe come down to the final question. They both get it and it's a race to the finish with the younger redder head prevailing. Later Rafe laughs about the "little gay Mormon" winning all these Challenges. He's like Boston Rob with a very (very) sensitive side.

Lydia and Gary both think they're going home. Gary approaches Rafe who tells him he doesn't trust Judd.

We move to Tribal Council and Bobby Jon throws gang signs. Lydia says people always pick Stephenie for the Rewards. Jeff asks who is in charge and Lydia says Steph is "running the show." Stephenie gets offended and says she was just setting the record straight on the food.

Gary says people are awestruck by Stephenie. He recommends they wait and get her autograph after the show. This causes Bobby Jon, Jamie, and Scott to laugh hysterically.

Judd again says he hasn't lied but he calls out Gary for saying Cindy and Lydia didn't deserve to be in the game and then trying to make an alliance with Lydia. Gary says that isn't lying, just playing the game. Gary then tells everyone how Judd lied about the location of the Individual Immunity Idol. Wait, he didn't tell anyone about that till now?

By the way, Andrew wrote in and said they showed the clip of Gary finding the Idol on the CBS Morning Show. If anyone knows if that footage is available online, please share.

Judd votes for Gary. The tally goes Gary, Cindy, Gary, Gary, Gary. No touchdown for you.

Next time on…Survivor: Danni faces some pressure, Lydia works on Judd, "the tribe is shocked," and Rafe laughs as he says, "This is so random!"

So Gary had caught Judd in a huge lie and he kept it to himself. With Gary voting for Cindy, and Danni voting for Gary, he must have seen it coming. Why didn't he say something when Rafe mentioned doubting Judd? That would've been a perfect time to take Rafe to the spot where he found the Idol and put more doubt in his mind.

Oh well, you can't complete every pass. I thought Gary played very well and he certainly went down fighting. It'll be interesting to see how much garbage he gets at the reunion for the landscaper thing.

I greatly enjoyed all the shots Stephenie was taking this week. She's already had a much better run than last season so it's time for her to depart. I hope Rafe and Cindy's new massage bond puts them in charge.

Oil it up!

Back to the Survivor 11 Index
Dang Fun Home