Survivor: Samoa – Tastes Like Chicken – Recap

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 09:33 PM | Survivor
Tags: Recap, Survivor: Samoa, Tastes Like Chicken

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(By popular demand, I’ve written a longer well-thought-of recap. Please comment and join the discussion!)

After the previous tribal council where Erik got blindsided, the old Galu tribe talks about Evil Russell and how stupid he was to play the hidden immunity idol. Laura says it was a win-win because if flushed out the idol and gave them their next target who is Evil Russell.

In the morning, Natalie kills a rat! Woohoo. She didn’t realize she was so hungry. They have it for breakfast. “It tastes like chicken,” says Natalie.

For the reward challenge, the tribe gets divided into 2 teams. Since there are 11 people, randomly, Natalie does not participate. She however, chooses the yellow team to “root for” and if they win, she gets to join them in the reward: lunch and a trip to some fancy waterfall. The yellow team does not win.

The other team are made up of all Galu members including Shambo, and one of the “rewards” was a clue that the hidden immunity idol was back at camp.

Back at camp… with no lunch and waterfall backdrop, Evil Russell looks for the hidden immunity idol again. Woohoo. I found myself strangely rooting for him. And then after going around the camp at different “landmarks” — HE FOUND IT. Un-f**king believable. If Evil Russell survives week after week to win this game, he will be the greatest player ever. Right now, he’s definitely one of the all-time greats. Seriously.

Evil Russell shares the info with his strongest ally, Shambo. They plan to get rid of Laura, but if Laura wins immunity, they will vote out Kelly. The other option, Monica is on the outs with the men of Galu, and could be voted off without a blindside.

Immunity challenge. Some hook your playing pieces thing, and then the top 3 move on to the fill-in the peg puzzle thing.

Mick in. Shambo in. Then Evil Russell gets beaten by Laura for last top 3 slot. Did he throw it away?

After slow start, Laura wins immunity!

So Plan B: Kelly.

Evil Russell lets his old tribe Foa Foa know. (And Mick really looks like my doctor.)

I was a bit scared that Natalie might squeal, and let Galu change their plans of voting off Evil Russell. They were already suspecting or fearing that he might have found the hidden immunity idol again — but he’s not supposed to know right? Or does he even need to know? Natalie’s name gets thrown around.

Tribal Council. Erik arrives and gives them the evil eye. Hahaha. Go Erik.

For a second tribal in row, my heart was pounding as I watched the TV. This is some exciting stuff going here this season on Survivor. It’s amazing. The friggin “pounding music” is also helping induce the heart attack.

No clue at how they will vote with Jeff Probst’s Q&A.

Votes.

Evil Russell plays the hidden immunity idol. Erik cheers. Puzzled looks from everybody.

Jeff reads the first vote: Russell!

The former Galu tribe including Shambo vote for Russell.

And then the Foa Foa votes: all Kelly. Kelly is voted off.

Jeff says the hidden immunity idol is placed back in play somewhere.

Now that is how you play an immunity idol. When the target is firmly at your back, you play it, negating the majority votes against you. The result may have been better with Laura, but Kelly will do. Now it’s back to 5 vs. 5 knowing that Shambo is working with Russell. This game is on!

Galu: You should have listened to and kept Erik. Hubris is the enemy. (Which worked against Erik too, but still).

This was another “one of the best tribal councils ever” on what has been a surprisingly great season.

Next week: the Galu tribe chases Evil Russell around camp as he looks for the hidden immunity idol! Hahaha. I love this show!

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13 Comments for Survivor: Samoa – Tastes Like Chicken – Recap

1

LOL @ the screen caps Rickey. You have no shame. ;p

Survivor wins.

That chase thing next week looks so juvenile. Hahaha.

Klope62 on November 12, 2009 at 10:05 pm
2

OMG… my heart was POUNDING during that tribal council! My husband couldn’t stop laughing at me. I was SO nervous that Russell wasn’t going to use it. OMG I freakin cheered, jumped up for joy, fist pumped a little when former-Galu tribe faces were wiped of their smug looks.

I loves me some Evil Russell! The show would not be as entertaining without him.
I only hope that it lasts for a while, but I don’t know how that can happen. I just REALLY don’t want any of the Galu people to win this game. They’ve been so damn smug… they make me sick.

Shollia on November 12, 2009 at 10:07 pm
3

Best Survivor episode in a lonnnnng time!I love rooting for the underdogs. Hopefully now that the teams are 6-4, we may finally see a Galu or two flip to the Foa Foa Four.

And did you see the office pool for this week, Rickey? Not a single person put a single point on Kelly. We got bamboozled!

Robnaros on November 12, 2009 at 10:13 pm
4

BEST SURVIVOR EPISODE EVER!!! I was laughing out of shock. At first I was really getting ticked off at Russell, and also since Erik is gone, I’m really rooting for Russell to win. I can’t wait till everyone hears that he’s manipulated everybody through the whole game ; )

mardal on November 12, 2009 at 11:29 pm
5

Awww…Survivor Izzie’s gone. For me, she looks a lot like Katherine Heigl.

Angela on November 12, 2009 at 11:30 pm
6

Evil Russell is truly making this one of the best survivors in a long time. If he can pull this off and win he’ll be the best to ever play this game.

I didn’t even think of the 5 on 5 with Shambo…this is going to be good.

Jobe on November 13, 2009 at 12:27 am
7

Russell is fast moving from evil-Russell to fan favorite-Russell. If you kind of forget about the mean and nasty things he did in the first few episodes (pouring out water, burning socks, lying about hurricane Katrina) and just look at the player he is now….he’s a great player.
But did anyone else think he lost the immunity challenge because he took the time to smirk/gloat to Jeff that he had hooked his second puzzle bag? If he’d stayed focused on pulling it in maybe Laura would not have beat him.
The look on Laura’s face at tribal – priceless!

carol on November 13, 2009 at 1:45 am
8

My husband thought he could’ve thrown the immunity challenge. Just so they would still have to vote for him. B/c if he had won it, then who knows who they would’ve voted for instead. I’m not saying he wanted Laura to win (UGH).. but whatever. She really needs to go.
So do the Galu guys.. specially the older guy with the weirdly shaped head.

Shollia on November 13, 2009 at 3:01 am
9

Dave is an idiot. The other Galu members came up with the plan to split votes in case Russell had the hidden immunity idol but he dismissed it. Serves you right.
But I’m worried for Brett. He’s my favourite (and a cuuuuuutie) and doesn’t deserve Galu’s bad name. LOL

amiroamor on November 13, 2009 at 6:56 am
10

I still think the best survivor/tribal council ever was when the mean guy used the “FAKE” idol that bob gave him a few seasons ago (or was it last season???)

Deb on November 13, 2009 at 4:28 pm
11

They couldn’t split the votes, as the second vote getter would only have three votes even if Shambo went along with Galu. They would have had to get Shambo and Natalie to vote with them, which wouldn’t have happened. They both know that Russel is their best option for long term survival.

Judging by Russel’s expressions, he didn’t want Laura to win. But it’s good for him that she did. Two reasons:

# Shambo will vote against her
# Laura has won back-to-back immunity now

So all they have to do is convince one more person to vote against Laura with the “she’s a threat” line and it’s 6-4 with Laura going out.

It would be great if Russel pretended to find another hidden immunity idol, and they voted for Laura to flush out his idol.

mateo on November 13, 2009 at 11:19 pm
12

Finally watched the episode and I too now heart Evil Russell. There’s no way he would get jury votes to win, but I hope he gets 2nd place.

Loved the reaction of Erik when Russell played the idol. Rarely does an idol change the direction of the game so that was fun to see.

BruinJulieg on November 14, 2009 at 12:58 am
13

BEST. EPISODE. OF. THE. SEASON. Loved the facial expression at the tribal council. I want another shocker next week! I’m also thinking the same thing as mateo had mentioned above. with a 5-5 votes, it’ll be a tie. now if foa-foa + shambo can swing one galu to their side, it’ll be 6-4, but I doubt that’ll happen even with the likes of monica. so i’m thinking it’ll be a tie and a fire-making tie-breaker will happen.

anoni on November 15, 2009 at 2:21 am