South Pacific Episode 11: The Princess And The Frog

So, now that there's no more Savaii to vote out, Cochran is alarmed to find out he's going next. Really? Right now is time for him to prove his salt as a Survivor strategist, otherwise his move was for nothing, and only served to move him backwards in the hierarchy.

Dead man walking: Cochran's back to scrambling

Cochran is doing his thing, which is telling embarassing stories. He made a prank call to a girl and asked to swap sperm with her because he didn't really understand what sex was like back then. Back then? He also comments on how creepy the Upolu cult is, particularly Brandon's constant praying.



Cochran gives a speech about how Upolu owe him because they wouldn't be here without him. Sophie gives a great confessional in response: "I don't feel indebted to you. Screw you. You made a dumb move, you should've stuck with your tribe". Coach is actually considering switching the vote to Edna. Wow. Thank God Sophie has some sanity.

Almost a game-ending yawn for Dawn

The duel involves stacking plates. Not unfamiliar territory for a waiter and a mom of six, I'm sure. Dawn gives some great expressions as she wobbles and recovers, and it becomes apparent just how delicate it is. Dawn loses her pile first and lets out a curse word! I'm sure she'll be forgiven. If there was ever an appropriate time to swear, that was it. Whitney then follows, and the duel is over.

Dawn is crying throughout her final words, talking about how she's learned that anything is possible now that she's lived her dream. Dawn really did not want to get rid of her buff, but did it because she loves Jeff. Whitney is also crying, and she goes on her way to Ponderosa to be reunited with Keith. We then see more of Ozzy on his Redemption Island "home." OK, we get it, the dude can fish!

Edna tries to climb the ladder

Cochran is also going fishing, with Brandon. He takes one of the fish he caught and tries to take credit for it. Albert puts the fire out, which pisses off Edna. Rick is not an Albert fan either, and apparently calls him "Prince Albert", because he lies in the hammock doing nothing. Edna asks Coach if she's going next and he's straight up with her. She then says it's unacceptable that she's 6th. Credit where it's due, she is playing the game after all.

Target practice: Coach out in front for once?

Coach charges Cochran with some tai chi, hoping it'll improve his performance in the challenge. The challenge, by the way, is one of those second chances ones, where they have to throw a beanbag on a barrel (waitaminute, they never did that) and then use that dreaded slingshot which Coach scored zero with last time. Coach takes the lead in the challenge, and Cochran is somehow ahead of Rick. All that changes when the tai chi power wears off, and Rick books his place in the second round first, followed by Albert and Sophie. Rick takes down two targets first, but Albert comes from behind and wins the immunity. He gets to choose who gets the spa reward, and gives it to Coach (suckup) and Cochran. Intriguing.

Over the massage, Coach discusses the possibility of Cochran staying longer. Cochran wonders if Albert gave him the spa reward because he just wanted his jury vote, or because he still wanted to work with him. Lying about his birthday might've gained him some sympathy points, but not enough to keep him in the game. Albert tells Cochran he wants to keep him in the game longer than Rick, and is especially gung ho about it after finding out Rick has been calling him "Princess Albert". It's funny, because Albert never really struck me as an emotional player.

"Are you kidding me, Rick?" - Albert doesn't like being
insulted by someone he calls "as sharp as a bowling ball"

Coach says that he's the swingvote. He could make life so much easier for himself by keeping his goats around longer, but he's the sort of person that prides himself on having honor and integrity, which might force him to stick to his word. Edna is emotional at tribal council because she knows she's 6th. Why didn't she realise this earlier? Brandon is also emotional because he's struggling with the game, especially after Cochran bags on his lack of strategy and his open book nature. Jim's facial expressions from the jury are great here...still managing to be a star with no lines. The only person not really emotional is Sophie, who doesn't buckle under the pressure of Cochran asking what would happen if Edna won immunity, or when Jeff asks if anyone felt tribal council was revealing, where she just calmly and bluntly stated "no".

Edna and Cochran vote Rick. Cochran winces as his name comes up, wondering if he has miraculousy escaped the boot again...but alas, it is not to be. The other 5 votes are enough to send Cochran to Redemption Island, where he gets to play Ozzy at sports. "Just...take the steps" Jeff tells him. I find it hilarious they left that bit in.

So, Upolu used Cochran to get the numbers advantage and then discarded him when they no longer needed him. It should be clear to him now that his gamble was a poor one.

STAR OF THE WEEK: SOPHIE CLARKE

She's a no-nonsense, reasonable, logical girl and I admire her level head. She seems confident she's got this game under wraps....almost dangerously so.