by Gina Scarpa

On tonight’s episode of Survivor: Tocantins, Coach was shocked that Debbie was voted out of the game.  He says that the move made him almost speechless.  Almost.  He approaches Stephen and JT, begging them not to send him to Exile Island but that only feeds their desire to banish him there for a few days!  It all depends on how tonight’s reward challenge goes down.

For the challenge, the players will have to race through a maze and then build a pole long enough to retrieve a sandbag.  Using the sandbag, they must knock over three targets and then raise their flag.  Oh, just one more thing: they’ll have to do all of this with their feet shackled together.  The winner will get a retreat complete with bed, shower, and feast.  Sounds good!  Between the shackles and the maze, it’s quite a challenge for these players but everyone just follows JT, who figured out where to go quickly. 

Though everyone tries to follow his lead, they can’t quite catch him and he wins reward. 

JT sends Coach to Exile, who says he won’t make a fire or eat and will meditate.  Erinn calls him out and says it’s the martyr approach.  He responds by saying that he wants it to be tough on him and he’s disappointed in her for cutting him down constantly.  Coach goes on about his physical ailments… and on… and on.  JT chooses Stephen to go on the reward with him, leaving Taj and Erinn to head back to camp.  So much for Coach being speechless, by the way.  He just talks incessantly - even on Exile Island with no one to listen to him!!!

No more eating, plotting, or whining.  It’s time for the immunity challenge.  Coach arrives back looking like he just got his ass handed to him by Exile Island.  Have you ever met a bigger drama queen?  For the challenge, players have to use the arms to brace themselves between two walls, while their feet are on very small footholds.  If you fall, you’re out.  Simple enough.  Erinn is out before the thing even gets started really.  I love him but Stephen is nobody’s physical player.  He’s out next, followed by Taj.  JT and Coach, the last two in the game, start trying to make deals to end this challenge sooner rather than later.  Neither wants to bow out and let the other have immunity.  Coach ends up dropping from the challenge and to the ground.  Jeff wants medical to look at his back but Coach doesn’t want anybody taking him out of this game.  JT puts the necklace on and some roll their eyes at Coach.  I’m not quite sure what to make of this guy.  Either he’s certifiable or an actor.

Back at camp, it seems like Erinn will be the one going home after a discussion goes down between Coach, JT, and Stephen.  At tribal, Erinn calls out Coach again for his dramatics regarding Exile Island.  He tries to explain himself, but it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.  Probst asks if the vote will surprise people tonight.  Erinn says yes and Coach says no.  Before we get to voting, Coach says he wrote a poem and most people have a hard time hiding their snickers… including me.  Poem over, now the votes.  Coach.  Erinn.  Erinn.  Coach.  Coach. 

Did I catch that right?  JT purposely voted for Erinn so that Coach would remember that on the jury and give him his vote for a million?  BRILLIANT.

Survivor: Tocantins airs Thursday nights at 8pm ET on CBS.

(Image courtesy of CBS)