Episode 10- "Zipping Over the Cuckoo's Nest

As soon as Enil Edam gets back to camp, Phillip pulls aside Stealth R Us to discuss what they're going to do next. They decide that looking for the now re-hidden idol is a good idea.

The next day, Dawn goes for a swim. When she takes a drink of water, her retainer with her false teeth falls out, which thoroughly embarrasses her to tears. She actually thinks about quitting the game over it. She calls for Brenda, who finds them for her. Brenda then says that she will always have Dawn's back because she knows Dawn would do the same for her.

At the reward challenge, the tribe splits into two teams of five. They compete in an obstacle course where they run along a balance beam, go down a water slide, through a mud pit where they find a bag of balls, and go under a beam through some rice. Once all five team members complete this, they must throw the twelve balls in to a basket high in the air. If they're the first to complete this they won a trip to a resort with food, a shower, and a clean swimming pool. The purple team took an early lead due to Malcolm finding all of the bags of balls for the orange team. The purple team's lead lengthened when Sherri took forever to get through the course. So, of course, the purple team, consisting of Phillip, Dawn, Reynold, Erik, and Cochran, won the challenge.

At the resort, Phillip caused a stir by skipping the shower, and jumping straight in the pool still covered in mud and rice. Erik also takes the opportunity to turn it into a metaphor for the way he played the game so far. After they return to camp, Dawn brings up her concern that Andrea has been spending a lot of time with Eddie and Malcolm and that she may be flipped. Dawn also breaks down over the stress of the game, reminiscing that it's the same day in the game that she was voted out before. Cochran comforts her, but also worries that she's the next Brandon of the season. After a good night's sleep, she feels better. Phillip then pulls Stealth R Us aside for a briefing to plan on splitting votes between Reynold and Malcolm.

At the immunity challenge, the castaways competed by swimming laps under a platform, and moving rings along above the platform. Phillip chose not to participate due to a childhood incident that created a phobia for him. Reynold and Andrea won the first heat, Malcolm and Brenda the second heat, which put them in the finals. After a grueling five laps under the platform, Reynold narrowly beats Malcolm for immunity. This sits very well for the three outcasts, now that Stealth R Us isn't holding it.

Phillip is still determined to split votes between Malcolm and Eddie. Meanwhile, the outsiders search for the idol, along with Dawn and Andrea. Malcolm finds it, which puts him in possession of both idols, something that only he knows.

At Tribal Council, while they're discussing the seven to three split in the tribe, Malcolm pulls out the idol that everyone knows he has and puts it around his neck. He then drops a bombshell by giving the second idol to Eddie to protect him. The rest of the interview phase is spent with Stealth R Us whispering back and forth in chaos while they try to figure out what to do. They talk about voting for Andrea, but they can't relay it to the group without Andrea seeing. Finally, Phillip loudly declares that they should just stick to the original plan, and if he goes, so be it. After the vote, Malcolm and Eddie predictably play their idols to protect themselves. Phillip is voted out with a surprising four votes and becomes the second member of the jury.

 Malcolm, Eddie, and Reynold are safe for another week, and they may have a chance to get some more numbers. Erik was the fourth vote for Phillip tonight, which means he may be willing to change his loyalty to Malcolm, thereby helping to even up the numbers in the tribe. Andrea may also swap, now that her leader has been eliminated. I think Malcolm has a really good chance of making the final three with Eddie and Reynold now. It just depends on how well they reel in part of Stealth R Us, now that it's in total disarray.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my views? Feel free to put your views in the comments below. Also, don't forget to vote in the weekly poll in the right hand column. Until next week, the tribe has outspoken!