South Pacific Episode 7: The Sacrifice

Three tribal councils, and three meltdowns for Brandon. Rick expresses to Coach his concerns that Brandon could be a liability if he has another blow-up after the merge. Come on, if they were going to get rid of Brandon, they would've done it by now. He's going to get taken to the end, because he can't win.

If Mikayla's so good at challenges, why isn't she acing this?

The duel involves constructing a bridge out of planks, and then using the planks in a puzzle. It's pretty close between the two girls, but Christine finishes her bridge first. Mikayla thinks she has the puzzle first, but she's wrong. Christine gets it, sends Mikayla home in tears, and can't quite believe it.

Ozzy tells Cochran he has a plan to ask his tribe to vote him out if they lose the next challenge, so that he can beat Christine in a duel. This ignores the fact that Christine would probably flip anyway. Cochran approves of the plan, which is no surprise - the kid probably can't believe his luck!

That old familiar sight

Coach does some martial arts on the beach and says a prayer. The tribe is split so he needs the idol to bring them back together again. Sophie points out the hypocrisy in praying for an idol he knows he already has. Just how far is Coach willing to bend the truth and still claim to be an honorable man? Anyway, Sophie and Coach retrieve the tree mail about the challenge, which says the best pair will win. (Best pair? That would be Semhar's, right?) On their way back, they let it be known they have the idol. Brandon says he loves having God on their tribe, and I don't think he means Coach.

Ozzy tantrums are becoming a recurring thing

I liked the matching war paint in the challenge, especially Brandon getting a painted-on bra to match Edna's. The challenge is a tough one, which involves navigating a rope course blindfolded. Rick is the caller and yet still barely speaks. Edna gives a decent account of herself in the challenge despite banging her head. It remains a close one all the way through, until Cochran screws up the ropes, getting Ozzy frustrated. Albert and Sophie match up the masks to give Upolu a victory and another prayer session. Ozzy flips out and kicks a wall. Whoa.

Upolu go to the cinema for a night at the movies. Is being forced to watch an Adam Sandler movie the worst "reward" ever? I said the same thing about "Gulliver's Travels" in Nicaragua. If anything, it should've been the losing tribe that had to watch it. At any rate, it seemed like a fun bonding experience, even though it proved Coach should never be a film critic.

Upolu at the movies!

Ozzy gives Cochran a lot of heat for the challenge, who claims he feels awful. A few of them get it into their heads that Cochran should be the one to go to Redemption Island in order to literally redeem himself. Cochran says he doesn't really feel the need to be the hero, as he doesn't want to go.

Luckily, Ozzy does want to be the hero, and tells the rest of the tribe to vote him out following a dream he had. Yes, really. Keith and Jim have reservations, particularly as if the assumption that a merge is soon is wrong, they're stuck on a tribe that has Dawn as their 3rd guy and Cochran as their 4th guy.

Cochran's idea of staying strong: not crying when you screw up

Probst runs scenarios through with Ozzy at tribal, possibly trying to make him understand how this could end up with him looking very stupid. The move is based on a lot of assumptions, probably good ones, but I would never assume anything on Survivor. Hell, if I were the producers I'd probably delay the merge just to teach them a lesson. Ozzy leaves his idol with Cochran of all people, and departs to Redemption Island enthusiastically. Man, Cochran is the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.

Is Ozzy's plan going to work? It's certainly risky, and will have to rely on better acting ability than he displayed in his last scene with Christine.

STAR OF THE WEEK: OZZY LUSTH

I'm not really an Ozzy fan, but I enjoyed him in this episode. I don't think his plan is a good idea. I think it's a pointless risk, and he's doing it for attention and to make good television. But, I kinda have to thank him for it, because it's a bold, noble move that makes things more interesting.