Episode 5- "Persona Non Grata"

Before I can go any further, I would like to say, "Holy hell! What an episode!"

The fans returned to camp with feeling optimistic about their new way of thinking after voting out Laura for being weak instead of Reynold or Eddie for being on the outside. Sherri doesn't totally share this view because she was close to Laura. We also learn that the hidden immunity idol has been re-hidden at the camp.

At the faves, Brandon talks to the tribe about being homesick and regretting leaving his children to play the game again. He also admitted that he thought about urinating in the beans and rice, and burning down the shelter.

At the reward challenge, the tribes compete for a barbecue meal by throwing coconuts into the nets held by two members of the other tribe. Brandon and Phillip held the nets for Bikal, and Matt and Michael held nets for Gota. At the end of it all, Phillip was the last man holding up his net, which meant yet another win for the faves.

The fans return to their camp feeling devastated that they still lost the challenge. Sherri is particularly upset because she feels that it didn't make a difference that Reynold and Eddie were there over Laura. I see it differently. I think it would have been a bigger loss if Laura had been shooting coconuts instead of Eddie and Reynold. They also show the entire tribe actively searching for the immunity idol. They all feel there's no point in trying to hide that they're looking, so they don't. Reynold finds it again, and decides that only Eddie needs to know about it.

At the faves camp, Phillip starts talking about how he pulled out the win for the tribe, which upsets Brandon, who then calls Phillip out on how self-centered he's being. He feels bad about how he approached the situation, and tries to apologize to Phillip. Phillip proceeds to say, "Don't slap a gimp horse," and also, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

There's a short piece on how the fans are coping with two days straight of rain. They talk about how everything is soaked at their camp, and how Matt's feet appear to belong on a corpse from it.

The action returns to Bikal, where Brandon continues to rant about Phillip's behavior and how he takes care of himself while Phillip does nothing for him. Brandon then tells him to drop the whole "Stealth R Us" because it' a load of crap. They show Cochran reading the tree mail to the tribe. Phillip discusses the possibility of throwing the challenge so that they can eliminate Brandon. Brandon starts in on Phillip again, dumping the rice and beans out on the ground so that Phillip has a reason to get rid of him.

Both tribes arrive at the immunity challenge. Gota is determined to win, while Bikal is looking for a way to end the drama. The fans admit that they think it's all unicorns and rainbows at the faves camp. Corinne announces that the tribe has decided to forfeit the challenge. Brandon continues to melt down about Phillip, causing Jeff to pull Brandon to his side and hold onto him so that things don't get physical. Brandon reminds everyone that he was walked on in his first season, and said he wasn't going to let it happen again. He starts shouting, "I'm the author of my own fate!" Andrea bursts into tears about how stressful this rivalry is becoming. Jeff wonders if it's in the Hantz's blood. Brandon admits that a lot of his family is very outspoken. Erik then hands the idol to the fans before Bikal votes Brandon out on the spot. The fans then leave and Michael is heard saying, "A win is a win."

I actually agree with Brandon's side of things. I just don't like his way of dealing with it. I would have surely called Phillip out, but I would have done it calmly and without the direct attacks to Phillip as a person. I don't think we've heard the last about this rivalry however. I'm sure Phillip is going to go on about it. This episode may very well have been the turning point for this stage of the game. Gota is finally unifying, while Bikal is starting to fall apart.

What are your thoughts on the episode? Do you agree or disagree with me? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below. Also, don't forget to vote in the weekly poll on the right side of the page. Until next week, the tribe has outspoken!