By: Mary Cavaliere

Tonight’s episode started with a challenge right off the bat.  Each tribe was given a catalogue earlier in the day where they could choose what they wanted to be awarded if they won the challenge.  The Favorites (Airai Tribe) opted for Shelter, a Lighting Kit, and a Survival Kit while the Fans (Malakal Tribe) opted for a Fishing Kit, Shelter, and a Kitchen Set. 

With war-paint on their faces, both tribes headed into battle against each other.  The playing field was the shallow end of the ocean marked off similar to a football field.  The football was replaced with large sacs that each team had to keep in their possession for as long as possible.  The winning tribe had to accumulate a total of five sacs in their end zone in order to win.  Men from the opposite tribe were throwing women around without so much as a second thought that they were the weaker sex.  It was obvious that both tribes would do what they had to do to win.  The Favorites won their chosen reward, and once again they sent Kathy to Exile Island.  Joining her from their own tribe (again, I don’t get the point of this), was Amy who volunteered to go. 

The main focus of this episode was each tribe trying to win Cirie’s loyalty since she was probably the swing vote between the two groups of four.  To my surprise, while out boating she made a pact to go to the end of the competition with Parvati and Amanda.  She made both girls promise that even if James proposed to Parvati and Ozzy and Amanda had children together, the alliance would remain intact.  That was pretty funny.   Both Parvati and Amanda agreed, but if I were Cirie, I wouldn’t trust either one of these girls.  On the other side of the fence Jonathan was doing everything in his power to get Cirie to remain in alliance with his group and wanted to vote Parvati out because of her alliance with James.  Then later on the group decided to vote out Eliza instead, and Cirie had no problem voicing that she had no intention on changing her vote which annoyed Jonathon to no end.

The second challenge was focused around shooting coconuts into the opposing tribe’s pseudo basketball net which was being held in the air by rope supported by four tribe members.  I really thought James and Jonathon, with all their muscle, had the advantage.  I was a bit surprised that the Favorites lost the challenge.  So off to tribal council they went where a verbal mud-slinging match ensued between Cirie and Jonathon.  It was obvious which side Cirie chose in then end when Yau Man was the second one voted off the island.  I think if both tribes wanted to play it smart they should have temporarily aligned together to vote off Cirie, thus eliminating the need to even worry about a swing vote (until the next week of course). 

Not much was said about Mary being voted off last week in spite of the fact that I thought we would see Joel and Mikey tangle about it this week.  If they did, it wasn’t aired. All of the action was centered on the battle for Cirie’s vote.  I’m sure both of these situations will rear their ugly head again next week for sure!

You can read more of Mary’s television blogs at  www.myspace.com/italiangirl57

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