Caramoan Episode 4: Dishonorable Discharge

Eddie asks the rest of the tribe where they go from here and calls out Laura for being the weakest. Why didn't you vote for her, then? "Just because we didn't go with your plan..." starts Laura, before Reynold interrupts "It was your plan!" Ok, he does have a point there.

Not such an exclusive club now

Phillip decides to induct Brandon into Stealth R Us and names him The Conqueror, because of his performances in challenges. Brandon makes it clear in confessional he still doesn't like Phillip, though. Erik now has the name of The Quiet One. Andrea doesn't seem to like it, and is getting name jealousy or something. "So what, are we gonna give Brenda a name?" she says. Just as she says that, Brenda does get a name - Serenity.

The reward challenge is to ferry your teammates across the water using a platform. The Fans choose Julia. The Favorites choose Brenda. When they get to the second platform, Laura joins in the fun, very shakily. The Faves are transporting Andrea and move into the lead. Now the task is to get everyone above the top of the platform. Shamar asks people to step on him. Both tribes are close, and are waiting on Corinne and Matt. The Favorites get there first and win the challenge, although amusingly Shamar initially thought he had won.

So the Favorites get a native in camp named Tata to teach them a few tricks, like how to cook rice and improve their shelter. Malcolm finds the little guy pretty amusing. Cochran is jealous that he's dancing and flirting with the women. Tata is everything he's not.

Tata is a hit with the ladies

Michael is pissed that the Favorites have won every reward. Shamar is still being lazy and is now demanding rice. Not even Sherri is impressed with this latest stunt, saying she doesn't even wait on her husband. Then Shamar complains about having something in his eye, and Reynold assumes he's once again being a drama queen.

Man down!

The night is rough for the Fans, who not only have to deal with a storm, but are visited by rats. That's not the only trouble for one of them, though. Shamar's eye situation has got so bad that Probst and a medic have to come in to camp. With Shamar's vision threatened, the medic pulls Shamar from the game. The guy cries, because he doesn't want to let his team down, but he doesn't want to lose his eye. So, Shamar gets the hero's exit he wanted.

Malcolm makes a smash

And now the Fans have to take on the next immunity challenge without Shamar. It's the tile-smashing challenge, with an added throwing section. Erik takes the lead for his tribe after Sherri fails to smash in one go. Brandon smashes next for the Favorites and by the time Matt is done, Brenda is also back with the third key. Eddie makes up a lot of time for the Fans, but then Laura struggles with the locks and the comeback is halted. Reynold does really well on knocking down the blocks, but Phillip's headstart is good enough to win immunity once again for the Favorites.

Survival of the strongest

Back at camp, the majority alliance is in a tough spot. Matt knows the only reason they were even close to winning was because of Reynold and Eddie. He proposes to Michael that they should get rid of the obvious weak link Laura. When Matt comes to Reynold to tell him this, Reynold is skeptical because Matt has lied to him so many times before. Sherri is also unreceptive. It's going to be a tough choice.

At tribal council, Matt says he misses Shamar's strength in challenges. Reynold points out how he wanted Shamar out from the start and how that would've given them a chance to bond. Eddie calls Laura out as the weakest player, but Laura hopes that her alliance will save her because when you hit a swap, numbers are important.

Reynold plays his idol and cancels Laura's vote. Everyone else votes for Laura and her time is up. That's a shame, I was really enjoying Laura. So will keeping the less loyal powerhouses come back to bite Matt, or turn the tribe around? Only time will tell.

STAR OF THE WEEK: PHILLIP SHEPPARD

Since when has Phillip been a challenge star? I don't know, but I'm enjoying it. It's also nice to know he can take on the leadership role and do it well. I'm really digging all the new nicknames, too.