Survivor Gabon - Recap Nine

Survivor Gabon Week 9 Recap - WARNING! Possible Show Spoilers In This Column! Tonight was a good, old-fashioned episode featuring classic Survivor elements with just enough new touches to keep things fresh and entertaining. Then despite all of that, why am I feeling so crummy?

The episode starts in typical fashion, recapping last week’s events. After the recap, we see Randy, Bob and Corrine discussing their hopeless situation. We are then reminded that the alliance of Kenny, Crystal, Matty, Susie and Sugar will be calling the shots from now on. With that in mind, for no good reason, Bob decides to tell Sugar about the fake Immunity Idol that he fashioned while on Exile Island. I thought Bob was a physics teacher…

Tree mail sends the members of Nobag to a Survivor Auction, a vintage favorite. Randy spends $180 on beer and peanuts and Sugar forks over $340 for peanut butter and some chocolate. Not to be out done, Susie plunks down $300 for a hot bath, while Matty gladly pays $400 for a burger and fries. Randy still feeling a bit peckish, outbids his tribe mates for a $280 plate of spaghetti and garlic bread.

Kenny bids and wins a surprise item, which ends up sending Bob back to Exile Island. Corrine shells out $500 for a message in a bottle, which is to remain, sealed until the next Immunity Challenge. The final item is a $20 platter of chocolate chip cookies that must be shared with the rest of the tribe. Randy ponies up the cash and shares the sweet delights with the rest. Sugar, having a great hatred for Randy, gives her cookie to Matty.

Randy, who didn’t care for Sugar to begin with, is really ticked off! So mad that he comes up with an ingeniously devious plan, which he shares with Corrine. Randy figures that Bob must have found the Hidden Immunity Idol by now and since every one in the alliance already hates him, he will be an even bigger jerk and really piss them off. Then when Bob comes back from Exile Island he will talk Bob into letting him have the Idol. What a stroke of genius! Be careful what you wish for Randy…

The next order of business is the Immunity Challenge. Bob returns from Exile Island and Randy stares at him, desperately wondering if he does have the Hidden Idol. Jeff Probst describes that the challenge will consist of carrying three bags of puzzle blocks across balance beams. The first 3 contestants to finish this task go onto the finals where they must set up the blocks on bridges dominos style while negotiating “trip” ropes. If the domino blocks are set properly they will release a flag that declares the winner.

Before they start, Probst tells Corrine to open her bottle from the auction and read the message inside. The message tells Corrine she is automatically in the finals of the challenge. This means only 2 spots are up for grab in the balance beam portion of the task. Matty finishes first with Kenny barely beating Bob for the third spot in the finals.

The competition is fierce between the trio and Kenny is triumphant and has earned Individual Immunity. Back at camp Sugar convinces Bob to give his fake Idol to the dimwitted Randy. Our resident airhead giggles over the cruel scheme. Thinking Bob has the real Hidden Immunity Idol, Corrine is next in line to tell Bob he has to give it to Randy. Bob does as he is told and hands it over to an elated Randy.

As can be expected, Tribal Council is somewhat of an anti climax. Probst listens as members of Kenny’s alliance discuss what a jerk Randy is. Sugar is especially opinionated, using words like alcoholic, bigot, chauvinist, etc. You get the point – she doesn’t really care for the man. She giggles during the entire voting process and the inevitable happens with Randy becoming the third member of the jury.

I know it sounds like it was a first-rate episode, but I still felt crummy at the end. And it wasn’t even the chocolate chip cookies. Usually at this point in the season I have a good idea who I want to win the million dollars. But I don’t!!! I honestly can’t pick a favorite for season 17.

Matty is nondescript and doesn’t realize he will be the first one ousted once the alliance has to get rid of one of t’s own. Kenny keeps making hat stupid rat face and those weird noises. Susie doesn’t know when to shut her mouth. Crystal isn’t as vocal, but when she does speak it is usually to whine. Plus, I still want to see video of her winning in the Olympics.

Corrine is a loathsome creature driven purely by contempt for others and at this point, Sugar simply nauseates me. She has gone from airhead to obnoxious. That leaves me with Bob. I thought I could pull for him, but after they showed the coming attractions where he was lying to Corrine, well I crossed him off the list as well.

You must be wondering if I feel so crummy about the way things are going, why do I continue to watch. I will tell you why. Because this is Survivor and I love it! I just hope that next week isn’t a review show. We will have to wait and see. Until next time…From Gabon.