Kaoh Rong Episode 9: Two Sides Go To War

IIIIII can't stand it, I know you planned it...

Tai, Jason and Scot have realized the girls are together and they're on the bottom...but they have one major ace up their sleeve: the superidol. Scot also decides to hide the machete in order to stir things up. When the rest of camp notice this, Debbie calls them out on poor sportsmanship. Undeterred, Cydney decides to roast a coconut instead and open it with a saw. Looks like Scot has only succeeded in pissing himself off when he sees how unbothered they are. Congratulations, you played yourself. Scot decides to end the speculation and just blatantly pour water on the fire in front of everyone.

The reward challenge is to unravel the ropes tying them together and then throwing beanbags to knock down blocks. Jeff offers to let them pick their own teams, since there's clearly a split in the tribe. Tai, Jason and Scot need a fourth member, so Julia volunteers. Joe is sitting out but has backed the girls to win. Julia's switch pays off as the boys team get the first part done much faster. Jason starts chucking and does really well. The girls catch up however once Debbie starts killing it and it takes a team effort between Jason and Scot to stop them.

As the winning team eat takeout, Scot and Jason try to sway Julia to their side. And she sees the benefit in joining up with them, since their latest antics have pretty much destroyed any small chance they had of getting jury votes. Debbie has complete faith that Julia will stick with them, but Cydney finds it suspicious that she immediately asked for their plans for the next tribal after coming back.

Julia going to the dark side

Even Tai is getting in on the sabotage now, as he puts out the restarted fire. Luckily for him, Scot ends up getting the blame. Aubry thinks that Scot's shenanigans are a deliberate attempt to draw votes, and that their smartest move would be to vote off Julia next. Debbie disagrees, which is frustrating for Aubry.

Tread lightly

The immunity challenge is to stack blocks like dominos, whilst being careful not to knock the frame they must step through and knock everything down. Michele makes quick progress, whilst Jason and Scot both face early disaster. Tai looks to be the only one that can catch Michele, but then he loses his stack. Michele gives it a go, but her last one doesn't quite reach. Debbie then makes two attempts and fails. Jason tries stacking from the other side, but it doesn't seem to help. Julia's slow and steady approach works when she pulls off a perfect connection and wins immunity.

Debbie the dictator

Debbie says they're splitting the votes between Tai and Scot, but Aubry doesn't like that she gave up the plan to Julia so quickly. That concern proves justified when she rats them out to Scot, who tries to get her to exploit the split and vote Cydney. Aubry and Cydney now need to come up with a new plan for damage control, and consider cutting Debbie loose. They'd need 4 votes. Michele is willing to do it, but Joe bluntly refuses. Which means they now need...Julia, the person Aubry originally wanted to get rid of.

Jason stirs the pot

At tribal council, Debbie lets it be known she is not impressed with Scot's antics, which has jeopardized their literal survival. Julia is asked how people reacted to her siding with the boys at the reward challenge, and she says they were OK with it since someone had to do it. Tai and Jason decide to light tribal up by pulling out both their idols. with Jason saying he's gonna do Rochambeau to decide who between him and Scot gets to save themselves. Whispers start to happen, and now it's not clear how ANYBODY is voting.

After the vote, Scot and Jason duel it out as planned, but Jason has a change of heart and decides to give his idol to Tai....who doesn't play it. The vote is 2 for Scot, 3 for Cydney and 4 for Debbie...which blindsides both Debbie and the boys. Well, this is when the game is at its best...everybody swinging for the fences and trying to one-up eachother. But now the superidol has got even more powerful, and Nick's words seem prophetic when he says "they're gonna be around for a while".

STAR OF THE WEEK: JULIA SOKOLOWSKI

I was pretty skeptical of Julia's flip-flopping at first, particularly as it seemed so transparent, but it worked out for her. She ended up being the most powerful person tonight and the deeper she gets, the more valuable to both sides she becomes.