by Gina Scarpa

It seems that each episode of Survivor: Caramoan, someone can't help but succumb to the pressure of the game. Okay, most times, it's Dawn and last night, she almost lost it again but it was surprisingly Erik in the beginning of the episode who seemed ready for the loony bin. The guy needs a meal stat, and a friend to talk to while we're at it. He doesn't seem particularly close to anyone in the game and that must not be helping matters.

A little peace of mind comes in the form of a Sprint phone loaded with videos from their loved ones - let's get to the challenge! Brenda and Eddie have their dads, Cochran has his mom, Sherri and Brenda have their husbands, and Erik has his brother. Of course, there were tears galore but it was Brenda's emotional reunion with her father that even broke Probst after 26 seasons! The pairs spin around unscrew ladder rungs, and then must land three bolos on it. Brenda beats out Sherri and Dawn for the win, then chooses Dawn to also spend some time with her husband, with whom she is celebrating 21 years of marriage.

Though it's tough for the others to take, they understand why Brenda would've chosen Dawn and everyone makes peace with saying goodbye to the people that just flew halfway around the world to see them. Then, Probst offers perhaps the worst choice in Survivor history: Brenda can give up time with her dad and force Dawn to make the sacrifice as well, for the others to not only see their loved one, but a second one that came along as well. Brenda decides to give it up, without much thought, as Dawn struggles to keep it together. It's a lose-lose situation for Brenda: if she keeps it, she's seen as selfish and if she gives it away, she's seen as trying to win the favor of the jury.

As if losing time with your loved one isn't bad enough, the party for the other four and their family members takes place just 50 yards off shore from the camp. Brenda and Dawn have a front row seat to what they missed out on. Brenda tries to cheer her up, saying that in a few days, they'll be smiling. You gotta look at the big picture! What seems like the end of the world now won't even matter in just a few more days.

In the immunity challenge, players hold on to a bar behind their back while Jeff cranks them lower and lower to the water beneath them. When they can't hold their weight anymore and fall in, they're out. This seems like a challenge for a female to win and almost as quickly as it started, Cochran goes out, followed by Eddie and Erik. Sherri drops and Dawn tries to strike a deal with Brenda, but she won't budge. Dawn ends up winning while Brenda alludes to the fact that she gave up so Dawn could have the win. Throwing challenges! How very Phillip Sheppard of you.

While Eddie may seem like the easy vote, it's always best to blindside someone when they least expect it. Cochran, knowing there's some attention on him, decides to strike first. At tribal council, he, Dawn, and Sherri band together and blindside a shocked and hurt Brenda. As she's walking away, she lets them know she was true to everyone in her alliance then cries to the camera about what just took place. In retrospect though, she has to know what a threat she was to win, especially after giving up time with her father.

Well Survivor fans, the finale airs Sunday and my hopes and dreams rest with Cochran to take home the win. Who are you rooting for?

The finale of Survivor: Caramoan airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

(Image courtesy of CBS)

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