South Pacific Episode 14: Three Times A Lady

This is it! It all ends tonight! We start on Redemption, with Brandon's entrance. Ozzy's sympathy for Brandon evaporates when he finds out he gave up immunity. "He's trying to play a game of faith, when he's playing with human beings that are greedy and all want that money". Perfect quote to set the tone for the rest of the episode. Back at camp, Sophie loves that Albert looked bad in front of the jury for not giving the necklace back. Coach snaps at Albert for trying to bullshit him.

Well, it was a hell of a ride, Brandon

The last duel begins. Brandon and Ozzy simply have to hang onto a pole for as long as they can to get back in the game. Brandon puts in a mammoth effort but an unbelievably focused Ozzy outlasts yet another competitor. Brandon is jubilant in defeat, because he feels he's won the game of life.

Coach still claims he wants to take Ozzy to the end, but Ozzy doesn't buy it. Ozzy then says he wants to take Coach to the end. I love the way he phrased that, haha. Albert is confident one of the four of them will defeat Ozzy in the next challenge. Let's see if he's right....

The challenge is a crazy one, involving building a stack one-handed. Sophie looks to have a secure tower, but runs out of tiles. Coach comes close, but his stack falls. Ozzy voluntarily dismantles his stack to try a new strategy. Sophie drops her stack and tries to get Albert to drop his and pick hers up. It comes down to Ozzy and Coach. Ozzy calmly does it and wins immunity.

The run continues

Ecstatic at being safe, Ozzy tries to stir shit up at camp. Coach and Albert think Rick is the obvious choice, not just because he sucks at challenges, but because he could actually win. Hard to believe based on screentime, but he's actually quite likable, works hard, and has ruffled the fewest feathers. Ozzy has a different target in mind...Sophie, who he calls a spoiled brat.

Rick is really nervous that he's going out, so tries to get Coach's loyalty. Coach chooses his words very carefully, but tells Rick he won't vote him out. Ozzy tells Albert that Coach gave him his word that he wanted to take him to the final three. Albert quizzes Coach about it, thinking it's ridiculous - yet when Coach doesn't say no, you can tell he remembered Coach is ridiculous. Oh man, and Coach accuses Albert of not understanding the jury?

Why did I ever trust that wacko?

It was funny to see the jury all smile at Ozzy having the necklace. You can tell they loved it. Rick pleads his case at tribal, knowing it is weak. Ozzy and Sophie go at it about the personal attacks they've made at eachother. Sophie is actually reduced to tears right before the vote. Rick is voted out, and rolls his eyes. No Redemption for you! Coach tries to hug Rick, but Rick tells him to have a seat. I think that's the third time Coach has been snubbed for a hug. A pissed-off Rick says he wishes he'd made a bigger move (or...any move?), but he trusted Coach, and Ozzy has his vote.

Ozzy isn't sharing his coconuts, but Sophie won't mind as she's not giving Ozzy any plaintains either. Coach feels betrayed by Ozzy, as he told him to keep that conversation confidential. Ozzy says he didn't trust Coach because of how burned he was by this game last time he played, which touches Coach.

The final four arrive at the last immunity challenge...Ozzy says he's been waiting 38 days for it. He gets off to the best start. In fact, Albert and Sophie are constantly getting in eachother's way and Coach is doing a barrel roll for no reason. Ozzy's got this. He retrieves his fifth bag and has a huge lead. Coach, Sophie and Albert arrive at the table in that order. Ozzy gets stuck on the puzzle, whilst Sophie moves through it very quickly. Ozzy can feel his million dollars slipping away as he hears the last three words he wanted to hear...Sophie wins immunity.

Coach transfers his power

So the three Upolu members are celebrating together pretty openly, having finally defeated their enemy. Coach tells Sophie she's the new dragonslayer, as Ozzy was this season's dragon. Ozzy's last play is to appeal to Coach's need to see who is the more deserving, and force a tiebreaker. Albert's not that worried, but it is Coach...

A legend says Sayanara to Survivor

At tribal council, Rick and Brandon are shooting daggers from the jury. Ozzy talks about his million dollar puzzle and how it'll haunt him for the rest of his life. Then he throws Coach under the bus, but he does not budge, and Ozzy's torch is snuffed for the third time. It's a fitting end to his Survivor career, and he even gets a standing ovation from the jury.

The final three tuck in to the big breakfast on day 39. It's funny, Albert is confident about his chances (he shouldn't be!) whilst even his two remaining allies still think he got lucky to make it this far. All three reflect on what they've learned, and Coach does his final tai chi session.

The final three stay strong after a tough tribal

The final three arrive at the end of the road: final tribal council. Ozzy, wearing pigtails, warms them up by saying the jury doesn't want to vote for any of them. Jim asks Albert why the other two shouldn't win, and Albert immediately breaks his "no compliments" rule. Coach apologises to Rick, who is the most bitter so far. Brandon forgives Coach for his betrayal. Albert then fumbles Brandon's question when he refuses to give a yes or no answer to whether he knew if Brandon was getting voted out the night he gave up his necklace. Whitney calls Albert sleazy and disingenuous and Sophie condescending. Both of them were clearly caught off-guard by the level of hate and Sophie starts breaking down again, like she vowed not to. Edna has no questions, just a statement. Keith asks about the idol, allowing Sophie to mention how the idol was really discovered.

So there we go, a surprisingly great tribal council, with a very logical Sophie, very apologetic Coach and a very nervous Albert. Cochran is the first vote for Coach, saying he played an awesome game. Dawn votes for Sophie. The scene cuts back to L.A. and Jeff reveals the votes, and it's a 6-3 victory for Sophie.

STAR OF THE WEEK: SOPHIE CLARKE

On a night overshadowed by the returning player juggernauts of Ozzy and Coach saying goodbye, let's not forget that this girl just won a million bucks. She did it quietly but effectively, calling the shots from behind the scenes and had her finger on the pulse of the game the whole way.



Reunion show highlights:

• Coach's reaction to his votes coming up was awesome. He seemed to love this season.
• Ozzy ate up way too much airtime. That guy talks a lot.
• I really felt bad for Brandon when he said his family has basically disowned him. I bet he's a good kid at heart.
• I was excited at Probst complimenting Jim, but then by trashing his favorite Cochran he probably dashed his Allstars chances.
• Despite the awful name, I am so excited for One World. It looks like the perfect blend of old and new, and definitely a step in the right direction.