Survivor: Philippines, Ep. 5 - Malcolm in the Middle

This was the best episode of the season thus far.  It had:

- an immunity idol discovered

- a tribe disbanded

- two challenges

- a player leave due to illness, and

- a compelling decision in the final tribal.

First things first: it is rare to see a player turn his fortunes around as quickly as Malcolm has.  He has an idol, he's on a tribe that can actually win challenges, and most importantly - the tribe is split, and two factions need him as a swing vote.  Pete was upfront to Malcolm that his alliance has the idol, but he also acknowledged that he was initially aligned with Skupin and RC, and is blowing them off (that should be a red flag for Malcolm).  That leaves RC - who doesn't really have any numbers.  I don't know what Malcolm should do except keep winning challenges.  If they do have to vote someone out, I would keep my promises to a minimum (if he can get away with it).  

Denise's fortunes also improved.  I like the way the producers handled the disbandonment of that tribe.  If you merge a six-person tribe with a three-person tribe, the three have big problems.  Maybe one can survive it.  But, the strongest two will be attacked right away.  However, a six-person tribe can absorb only one person with a lot less friction.  It gives that single person a decent shot.  One person coming in is less likely to be seen as a threat and more likely to be seen as an opportunity.   In any case, it's good to see Denise and Malcolm put out of the misery of their initial tribe.  They are both good players.

I was dead wrong about the strength of loyalty Katie had for Dana.  But, it turns out Dana didn't have the same loyalty coming back.  I know, I know, Dana was in severe pain.  My advice:  drink as much water as you can stomach, lay in the shelter, and it will eventually go away.  People fight through those attacks.  Instead, Dana left her allies up Dawson's Creek.  Am I being too tough on Dana?  Maybe.  But last week she was blustering that the male alliance shouldn't "underestimate her because she's a female."  Maybe her alliance shouldn't overestimate her because she's Dana?  I realize that about 1 out of 10 or 1 out of 15 Survivors' bodies shut down.  She still could have fought a little harder (I saw Tom Westman talk Janu into staying in Palau when she was about to shut down).  Dana's quit wasn't as bad as Osten's checkout from Panama, but it wasn't admirable.    

Once Dana was gone, Katie talked about roping in Denise, but did we even see it?  I know there are time constraints, but where was the attempt?  Kent did it without much fuss.  Did Dawson even consider approaching Denise as an option?  I realize life is busy on the island for Dawson.  She has to antagonize Kent and dream about Probst's next visit to camp, but could she have at least found a moment to ask Denise if she wants to vote with her?  She didn't even find time to use her best weapon - her info about Kent's former career.  But, she did get a 30-second cringe-inducing hug from Probst, so I guess it was all worth while.

You get the feeling Dawson wasn't there to win.  She was there to have fun and meet Probst.  So, I'm guessing they made the right decision to dump her instead of Katie.  At least Katie is trying (though she's close to checking out - I know this because the near-comatose Carter observed it, so it must be true).  At least Katie's upset when she doesn't do well.  Dawson only seems to get upset when Probst comes to see Dana, not her ("I'd normally jump on him, but it wasn't good timing").

Other stuff:

- Another week of Skupin not bleeding!  He's actually almost under the radar (though next week's preview suggests that's about to blow up). 

- In the immunity challenge on the axe portion - Penner pinch hit for Kent.  If only he knew!

- So, Kent needs to be bailed out of the chopping portion of the immunity challenge, but according to him, the loss was Katie and Dawson's fault?  Just asking....

-  Was it me, or did Probst mention one time too many that Abi has sat out a lot, and Katie struggled in the early portion of the immunity challenge?  Probst, we heard you the third time!   

- The reward this week included cookies, and the winner of that challenge won immunity!  Angie was right - that's all a tribe needs!

- Abi to Dawson during the reward challenge: "fight like a man, not a b*tch!"  It's just that type of observation that can help any player after the merge (though, Abi might have had a point).

-  I thought Penner said all the right things during Dana's illness.  He was helpful, consoling and understanding.  But, did you get the feeling he was happy she left because he would now have the numbers within the tribe?  I'm sure he wouldn't have been as satisfied if he knew he would lose the next immunity, but I got the feeling, in that moment, he wasn't upset to see Dana go.

Great episode.  Next week, I'll start breaking down people's chances of winning.