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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!

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We open the episode with a picture of a snake slithering, which is appropriate, since Jon has slithered around in every camp. His victims included Darrah's partners Tijuana, and now Sandra's partner Christa. Sandra, of whom the person Jon has backstabbed, can take it out on Jon by teaming up with the women (as they have been discussing previously), but she decides to take it out another way - sabotage the camp. She decides to hide all of the tools, the cooking utensils, etc. until the remaining survivors have nothing to survive with. 'I know I'm going down, but they're going to feel it more than I am.'

Meanwhile, on the way back, Sandra knows that she's vulnerable, while Jon and Burton are laughing about the way that they blindsided Christa. They also think that Sandra is a weakling - and that the next target is Darrah. Lil isn't happy about it, but they figure that she will play the role of Jan and be happy about finishing in third place.

Problem - Lil is not Jan. 'I figured if they can screw her over, thy can screw me over.' she rationalizes, and it looks like she may finally be developing some brain power. She is not satisfied with third, and she is trying to figure out how to improve her status without getting screwed.

Someone is not going to get screwed on the reward challenge - they will be playing 'Second Chance' which gives them a chance to relive their old reward challenges. They have to untie themselves, use a map, build a pole to get out of a jail, use a slingshot, and then complete a jigsaw puzzle. Whoever unscrambles the puzzle and reads off the name of the person in the puzzle will get to spend a night in the New Panama City.

Lil is the first person to untie herself, but Jon is the first person to work on his pole. Jon, however, is overtaken by Burton and Sandra, and Burton gets out of the cell first. He completes the slingshot challenge while everyone else is still in the cell and him yelling out 'Jolly Roger' to win the reward challenge is a fait accompli.

Burton gets to pick a partner - and he selects Jon. 'I was looking to go on a reward with someone who would be fun with.' says Burton, where they both feel that they can step away from camp and not worry. They go out to the pier after they dock, when they see a new SUV Envoy. Jeff gives Burton the keys - and we find out that Burton wins the car, too. They take the car and navigate the route to their hotel. Jon tells Burton 'You are the only person that I like in this game.' as they enjoy their feast and sleeping quarters. AwwwwBarf.

They are embracing as Burton says that the girls have been riding on their coattails, but that leaves 2 problems for the guys - 1. All of the women know that they will bringing each other to the final 2, and 2. them leaving to celebrate leaves them all alone on the beach plotting to get rid of them. Lil already tells them that Darrah is the next person to go, and she says that she couldn't lie anymore.

Lil continues to worry that she will finish in third, regardless of where they are - but Sandra reminds her that she will have a much better chance to win final 3 immunity against them then against Jon and Burton. The strategy seems sound - vote off the guy who doesn't win immunity, and Burton if he doesn't win immunity. Sandra's only complaint - that she can't sabotage anything else before the next Tribal Council. Heh.

Lil can't sleep, because it hurts that she has to lie to Burton - or it could be menopause. Her biggest concern is that 'he's going to get immunity, then Jon goes, then he's going to attack.' The women see this - and they realize that they could turn Lil back if Burton doesn't win immunity. Sandra says that she will act and say that she'll follow what the guys say - but will vote for someone else. 'The sooner we get Burton out, the better.'

Meanwhile, they think that the women are strategizing to get rid of them - but they also realize that you only need to turn one of the women against the group. After some more spieling against the women and how they have been in control of the game for the last 20 days, they head out to visit Darrah and Lil - who says that Sandra wants to leave.

Burton isn't buying what they are selling, but he is going to lay low and see what he can find out. Burton talks to Lil, who says that she's tired and hungry and she's ready to leave. Jon talks to Sandra - who makes Jon swear on his dead grandmother (who is still living). Jon makes Sandra swear - but she swears that she would screw Jon and Burton.

Immunity will decide who will be wielding the power. The castaways have to complete a bridge - and they doing it by filling a canteen with water, and putting the water into a tube, which rises a ball. Attached to the ball is a key that releases the next plank. Whoever creates the bridge and gets across it first wins immunity.

You would think that this event would be an even challenge - but it favors the women as they can reach in there longer with their now lanky arms. 'All that weight loss coming in handy.' comments Jeff. That would bring 2 people in the forefront - Lil and Darrah. Jon tries to catch up but it's all Darrah as she completes the challenge and wins her third straight immunity.

So the person who the guys want to get rid of - Darrah - is the person that they can't get rid of. What to do? Backstab someone - either the person who Jon promised - Sandra - or the person that Burton promised - Lil - to go to the final 3 with them. The women, of course, have another plan all-together - get rid of Burton, who thinks that Lil has broken down. 'Her actions have told me that I can't trust her right now.'

Jon asks Lil, who replies that she is feeling miserable and to stop tag teaming her with him and Burton. Jon sees what's going on - and he and Burton go after Sandra, who says that she will put Lil's name on the sheet. Burton thinks that it's very cut and dry, while Jon thinks that the women here don't have a collective brain cell.

Will he feel the same way at Tribal Council? Darrah says that she's holding up well, while she says that she's running out of energy and Sandra says that they don't have energy to talk. Jon says that he is impressed by the women while Lil doesn't think that she would have made it this far. Jon says that this has been the SURPRISE Tribal Council - and he doesn't want to be on the receiving end of it. Burton doesn't like it - but that guarantees that someone doesn't reverse it and YOU get blindsided.

Truer words were never spoken, as the men vote for Lil - but the women vote for Burton. Since 3 is greater than 2, Burton is gone. There seems to be some payback from the jury, as Rupert and Christa trade high 5s and even Ryno cracks a smile. 'I've got to hand it to you guys - you are the masters of the blindside - which should make these last 3 days interesting, because although, judging by the 3-2 vote, there are three of you together, there's only one problem - ain't nobody playing for third.'

Thus ends the episode - and thus ends my tenure on this season. Thank you very much for reading the recaps, as I step aside for Chico, who has the finale.