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For 39 days, 16 castaways were stranded in Asia.  Every 3 days on the island became a 1-hour show.  The first contestant eliminated pockets $2500.  Each successive eliminated contestant wins more money, through the next-to-last Survivor, who receives $100,000.  The final Survivor wins a million dollars!

Images (C) 2002 CBS, Inc. and Mark Burnett Productions. This page is in no way associated with CBS, Mark Burnett Productions, or the Survivor production.

Day 34: Mirror envy.

The big news, of course, is the total demolition of the Sook Jai tribe. All that's left of Chuay Jai are Chuay Gahn. Factor in play now or down the road? Well, a few people agree: "The game has arrived." Quoth Helen: "We are the Chuay Gahn tribe who started out as the joke team, as the old people. But you know what? We never lost focus and we never gave up. Now that Jake left, the game is on and we have to vote each other out. The game is on full speed ahead." Brian, on the other hand, plays the ice skater role, all the while trying to milk that metaphor for all its worth. You get it? I don't.

Tree mail:

"Behold the magic mirror; you've never looked so great!
This is no illusion; you've really lost some weight.
Compare yourselves to these photos taken just before the game;
You may return to regular size, but you'll never be the same."

Attached are five portraits of the players and a full-length mirror. Among the most noticeable changes are Ted's guns reduced to noisy crickets and Jan 's thinning out. But that's all we see, as Jan notes: "The women could barely see themselves because the men took over the mirror. That was pathetic. They were admiring themselves."

Day 35: Insert Incubus song here.

Later, another tree-mail comes. This time, all business. Afterwards, Ted asked Brian if he still had a deal. Sensing that Brian may have played him, he says that "Brian saying everything is business and not to take anything personal sent a signal to me that he is wavering in our alliance."

R-CHALLENGE: Letter Hunt - for a day at a spa and a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer.

Jeff drove the players to the challenge in the reward, a new SUV. A five-tiered obstacle course awaited the Survivors this go-round, each with a letter that spells out a two-word activity. Letter one: directly under the start gate. Most players miss it. Letter two: In a trough of Thai characters and English letters. Letter three, up a flagpole. Letter four: on a pole amongst Thai characters. Letter five: hanging from a tree. Letter six: up a cargo net with a key that will unlock the final two letters in a treasure chest. Brian is the first to unscramble his letters... almost. He spells "road trip" RAOD TRIP. Ted hears Brian answer out loud, so he spells it right to win. Jeff gives him the option of a mate to carry with him. Ted goes into a spiel about how he couldn't have gotten this far without someone 's help. Brian gets his hopes up. Ted chooses Helen. What a downer.

The reward:

Ted gets to discuss strategy with Helen until they arrive at the site of the reward. Two Thai masseuses greet our wayward travelers with "dinner, shower, and massage." Dinner: Helen enjoys it, while Ted gets stuffed too quickly and enjoys the wine (mistake #1). Shower: Helen just calls it "heaven," while Ted literally gets aroused (mistake #2). Massage: Helen sleeps it off. Ted says "I love you." (mistake #2... and a half). "It wasn't my reward, it was Ted's reward. So being the polite guest that I was, I let him enjoy his night," Helen noted. "My body is drunk, but my mind is clear," Ted rebutted. See, Ted, it always begins that way.

MEANWHILE...

Brian discloses that he's playing both sides of the fence. That's pretty much it, folks, as Teddy Bear and Helen of Thai return. "Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!" And instantly, this is the holiday show.

I-CHALLENGE: Step Up

Ten-step program, the hard way. At the other end of the zones are ten pieces to a ten-step staircase. From bottom to top, players must assemble their steps and reach the top. The first one to the top wins immunity. It's a lock between Clay and Brian, but Brian pulls ahead and nonchalantly walks up to victory.

Day 36: The game is here.

"I think at this point in the game everyone is playing everyone. It's only natural for people to be on pins and needles and really observe what's going on around camp," explained Ted. Meanwhile, Brian felt totally in control of his own destiny and explained his confidence: " I have three 'ins' to the game. One person is disposable: Jan. I have a loyal soldier in Helen, and a good friend in Clay. When I choose to use them against each other is yet to be seen."

Night 36: Tribal Council.

Most of Tribal is spent reflecting on the tribal divide of old, as the tide turns in favor of the Sook Jai on the jury. But Helen put it best: "No matter who they vote for, they will be voting for a Chuay Gahn, so it'll be on merits."

Helen - TED
Ted - CLAY
Clay - TED
Jan - TED
Brian - TED

Four to one. Ted, THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN. As I've said before, no good has ever come out of Durham.