by Gina Scarpa

 

Well, here we are Survivor fans. It's finale night, and we've been left with one of the best final fours in the history of the show. At the end of the two hour episode, one person will win the million dollar grand prize so let's get down to it!

 

Going into the final challenge, it appears Malcolm and Skupin have a deal to be at the end together, which puts Lisa and Denise in danger. Everyone seems to think Malcolm is a lock to win, but Skupin is convinced he has the better story. While that may be true, it all depends on what characteristics the jury values in a sole Survivor.

 

First, we have a reward challenge and the winner will get an advantage in that last immunity challenge. As Jeff said, it could mean the difference between being at the final tribal council or sitting on the jury. Players race through a series of obstacles, collecting puzzle pieces along the way, then use those pieces to complete a dragon puzzle. Skupin is the first to the mat with his puzzle pieces, with Denise, Malcolm, and Lisa behind him in that order. The puzzle proves to be a bit too complicated for Skupin, and the golden boy wins another challenge.

 

Considering they have similar stories in the game, Malcolm starts to really worry that sitting next to Denise in the end is a bad idea. She must've sensed that he had doubts, so she approaches him for a solid final three deal, but can't get him to commit. That's right, Lisa and Skupin. Just sit back while those two fight to take the other one out. The question is: who are they going to side with?

 

Before they can figure that out, the final four take a journey to remember all of the Survivor players this season. Oh man, you guys, remember Zane?!

 

In the final immunity challenge, players have a wooden cylinder and have to keep adding pieces onto it, while balancing a ball. If you drop the ball, you're out. Malcolm's advantage is that if he drops his ball, he gets a second chance. That would be huge, except he drops his ball first, then shakes uncontrollably once he gets back in the game. He goes out first, followed by Denise, leaving Lisa and Skupin to battle it out. She gave him a good run, but Skupin holds on longer (and probably just solidified the million).

 

With all the power in Lisa and Skupin's hands, it's either Malcolm or Denise that will take that last jury spot. The former Matsing tribemates go after each other in front of the jury, while Lisa says flat out that she has no reason to take Malcolm to the end. Skupin must have decided to listen to his alliance member because by a vote of 3-1, Malcolm exits the game one day before it's over. He should win fan favorite, or come close, even though I'm pulling for Penner.

 

In her opening speech at the final tribal council, Denise promises to make no excuses and says she's proud to have made it this far. Lisa says her strategy may not have been pretty, but she played her own game. Skupin thought that coming in, that he was doomed as a returning player, and said because of it, he played his guts out and doesn't know how to do it any other way.

 

Artis tries to be all big and bad, doesn't ask a question, and says karma's a bitch. That made absolutely no sense. Moving on to Carter, who asks Skupin how he felt when he realized he needed to vote him out. Skupin answers he was too likable and needed to separate friendship from the game. Pete compares to Lisa to Judas (way over the top), then asks Denise why her game was better than the others. She points out that she's been on three different tribes, went to every tribal council, and always had to give reasons why people should keep her around.

 

RC points out that she wanted Lisa out from the first day, and Michael promises her that he had no idea she was getting voted out on Day 19. Malcolm goes after Denise when it's his time to talk, telling her to stop appeasing everyone, and she fires back by saying she's sitting in the final three and he's not. I'll be surprised if she gets his vote. Jeff admits to being bitter, and asks Skupin if he made things happened or watched things happened. Of course he's going to say he made things happen!

 

Abi-Maria takes the floor next, saying all three of them called her unlikeable, and that her heart is broken. She confronts Denise about her honest words, which she says she stands behind, but apologizes if it demoralized her. Penner gets the closing remarks, congratulating everyone, then gets tough. He tells Denise that she showed her bitchy side, predicts Skupin won't get a single vote, then puts Lisa on blast as a former teen star. She asks him if he told anyone what job he had as a teenager. Man, I am loving her tonight!

 

We see that RC votes for Lisa, Jonathan votes for Denise (whaaaa?), and Carter votes for Skupin.  With everyone's names written down at least one, it seems it's still anyone's game.  At the live finale in Los Angeles, Jeff reveals the votes: Lisa, Denise, Skupin, Denise, Denise, and with another vote, the winner of Survivor: Philippines is DENISE!!

 

Check out our red carpet interviews with the final four:

 

 

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

 

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