Episode 13- "Don't Say Anything About My Mom"

As soon as Enil Edam returns to camp, Eddie wastes no time in declaring that he's totally screwed. Any female that he has tried to connect with has immediately been eliminated. He also feels that once he's gone, the next person to go is Cochran. The next day, Erik discusses that it's his 70th day playing Survivor. He feels trapped and bored on the island. He decides to change things up by climbing a very tall tree for some coconuts, risking life and limb in the process. He reaches the top and climbs back down safely, but only to find out there's no coconuts anyway. The tribe then receive videos from their loved ones in the tree mail, only to find out that they're currently on the island.

Everyone gets to the reward challenge in high hopes. For the first time in 13 years, Jeff started to cry at a reunion when Brenda is reunited with her father. In the challenge itself, the castaways worked with their loved ones to unscrew three railings from posts. Once the rails were made into a ladder, the pairs had to land three ropes with balls on each end on the rails. It was a close race, but in the end Brenda and her father won an offshore barbecue that they chose to take Dawn and her husband along to. But the decisions didn't end there. Brenda then had to choose whether she and Dawn met up with a second loved one at the barbecue, or if they gave up their loved ones to allow the rest of the tribe to go to the barbecue and see their second loved ones. Eventually, Brenda decides that Cochran, Eddie, Sherri, and Erik get to see their second loved ones at the barbecue.

When Brenda and Dawn get back to camp alone, Dawn has a complete breakdown over the fact that she didn't get the choice whether she gets to spend time with her husband of 21 years or not. Brenda tried to cheer her up by reminding her that she'll see them in four days anyway. The other castaways are also trying to tell them that they're not missing out on anything at the barbecue in front of the camp. Everyone thinks that Brenda is a saint for giving the reward to them, except for Cochran. He feels that her likeability is the most threatening thing about her at this stage, and wants her out for it.

At the immunity challenge, the castaways stand on the edge of a platform while holding onto a bar tied to a wench behind their back. Periodically, Jeff lowered them closer to the water. As soon as the challenge began, Erik was asking for possible food bribes, which to me shows that he is feeling secure with his place in the game still. The three men were the first eliminated from this challenge. In the end, it came down to Brenda and Dawn, neither of which wanted to just strike a deal. About five minutes later, Brenda falls giving Dawn her first individual immunity challenge win in Survivor history.

Brenda and Erik are very determined on taking the obvious vote of Eddie out of the game. Meanwhile, Cochran has Sherri convinced that Brenda needs to go. So, the question comes down to, will Dawn remain loyal to Cochran, like she has since her first season of Survivor, or will she remain loyal to Brenda like she has much of this season? Eddie's vote is inconsequential knowing he's going to throw it away under the belief that he's going home.

At Tribal Council, the big question is raised. Do they go for the obvious vote? Or is there a vote that's more beneficial at this point in the game. Eddie feels like a broken record by saying he's packed and ready to leave once again. Once again, the game is rocked when Dawn votes with Cochran and Sherri and eliminates Brenda.

The game is extremely up in the air at this point. I believe that Dawn and Sherri are sitting pretty to just walk into the final three. Cochran also has a really good shot, Eddie and Erik are the two on the outs right now, but by the looks of the preview of the finale, anything can happen. It all comes down to who was injured in the middle of the night and evacuated from the game. If it's Dawn, Cochran, or Sherri who is injured, I believe that it could be Erik's saving grace, but if it's Erik or Eddie injured, it'll be Cochran, Dawn, and Sherri in the final three. It's anyone's guess as to what's going through the jury's heads as we approach the finale. It comes down to how bitter they are towards the people left at the end.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my views? Please leave your thoughts and predictions in the comments below! Sunday night, I'll have a special edition of the blog for the finale, with a season wrap-up, and putting the final puzzle pieces into place for the season. And with that, until Sunday, the tribe has outspoken!