Only Tai never did hand it over.
Scot looked over at Tai.
He tried raising his eyebrows.
Credit: CBS
He tried looking down at Tais pocket as if to give him visual directions as to what to do.
None of it worked.
Youre not doing it?
No, sorry, came the reply.
This would have made great television no matter who the victim was.
(Sorry, she does not choo-choo-choose you, Ralph.)
So this was going to be a great moment no matter who the players involved were.
But the fact that Scot was on the receiving end of the dis and dismissal made it extra sweet.
He knows he was playing the part of villain this season.
A full-onSurvivorcelebration, ladies and gentlemen!
The other amazing thing about Scots Super Idol-less ouster?
He walked out with Jasons hidden immunity idol in his pocket.
So now its gone.
But was it great for Tai?
I couldnt care less about that.
But thats not ultimately what matters.
What matters is if it was a good movestrategically.
Clearly, the answer is yes for multiple reasons.
Knowing that, it is unquestionably a good move.
Because if Tai gives Scot his idol, he saves an alliance partner but his idol is gone.
However, bynothanding over the idol, Tai now keepshisprotection while, once again, Jason loses his.
That means the six other players all vote to oust one of them.
What if Julia and Michele decided to join the others to eliminate Tai on the revote?
Pretty gosh darn good chance that happens, meaning hes done, just like that.
So Tai giving away his idol likely means he would have been the one eliminated.
Not quite Erik Reichenbach or Brandon Hantz level nincompoop-ness, but close.
Welcome back, you kiss-stealing, chicken-leash-making, tree-scaling rascal, you!
The episode begins back at camp after Debbies ouster.
Because thats what bullies do.
They get their way…or else.
Scot just wanted revenge for getting outplayed.
What makes this even more hilarious is that Scot tells us, Now were being the bigger people.
Were showing our maturity.
HOW IS THAT?!?
BY DEMANDING PEOPLE DO WHAT YOU SAY OR YOULL CONTINUE TO STEAL THE SUPPLIES AND PUT OUT THE FIRE?
YES, SUPER MATURE!
But lets get to something I absolutelydolove, and its not Jeff Probsts orangeSurvivorhat.
I mean, I do love Jeffs orange hat.
This has been clearly established many times over, including previously in this here recap.
But no, not that.
Rather, I love the setup of the reward challenge.
When the pot drops, youre out.
The challenge itself is fine.
Not tremendous, not terrible.
A serviceable contest, to be sure.
But what I love are the bells and whistles the producers place around it.
Not actual bells and whistles, mind you.
Its not a bloody circus.
No, its something else entirely.
Well, Probst and Co. threw out a doozy here.
Ah, but that was not all.
So there was a bit of strategy involved.
There is definitely an element ofThePrincess Bridebattle of wits between Vizzini and the Dread Pirate Roberts at play here.
Oh, by the way, Joe and Julia decide to go for the letters from home.
So we have three contests at once.
Again, I cannot stress how much I love this wrinkle in the game.
Bravo to Probst and the producers for putting it into play.
Naturally, Joe is out first, winning Julia her letters.
Then Scot and Jason fall, giving Michele a bacon cheeseburger that looks roughly the size of Texas.
That means the three people who went for the advantage are the only people left.
Eventually it comes down to Aubry and Tai, with Tai waiting her out for the victory.
That is super-duper powerful!
Stephen even got to subtract a vote from his arch-nemesis Joey Amazing andstillcame up empty!
Nor should it be.
She chats with Michele and Aubry about sending all the votes to Tai.
But Aubry has a backup plan.
Instead, Scott responds with How about this idea?
At the next Tribal, we take Aubry out.
Okay, so that did not exactly go as planned.
It seems like I have no say in our alliance, Tai tells us.
Im not part of the discussion.
Those two boys are running the show.
Thats why Im feeling a bit like an outsider.
Well, what do you expect, Tai?
Get with the program, man!
Wait, sorry, Joes out.
Go ahead and take a seat, Joe.
When the pots drop, theyre out.
YOU GOTTA DIG!
yells Jeff Probst, on the verge of losing his mind.
And as he sees it, his victory makes his entire alliance safe.
What could possibly go wrong?
Scot, Tai, and I, no matter what happens, us three are safe, says Jason.
And from here on out, were unstoppable.
Julia continues to feed the fellas intel, explaining how all the votes are going to Tai.
(Thats a smart move, by the way.
I mean, I dont think they can beat anybody, butdefinitelynot Tai.)
Meanwhile, Aubry and Cydney hatch a plan to vote for Scot.
Im not here to make good friends, notes Tai.
Im here to win that million dollars.
Now why in the name of Russell Feathers would they possibly do that?
Hmmm, I wonder.
Were not going anywhere, boasts Scot.
Tai is clearly uncomfortable with this attitude but claims, This is war and Im committed to these guys.
Wait, stop the presses!
Did Tai just somehow magically morph into a competent liar?
What the hell is happening?
Must we unlearn everything we have learned?
Black is now white!
Up is now down!
Dogs and cats living together!
Otherwise, the world is going to be dictated for you.
Hey, dont you dare talk to a llama like that, mister!
Ill call PETA so fast on you for animal bullying, itll make your pony tail spin.
So everyone goes up to vote, and Julia keeps mouthing to Tai to play his idol.
Meanwhile, Scot is telling him the exact opposite.
So suffice it to say, they were stopped.
Before we finish, I will actually give Scot a little credit.
I chalk this up to Scots experience as an athlete.
I wish Scot nothing but the best for his time on the jury at Ponderosa.
Thats a win-win for all parties involved as far as I see it.
But you dont have to wait three days for some extraSurvivorgoodies.
Weve got an exclusive deleted scene from the episode in the video player below.
And for moreSurvivorscoop, just follow me on Twitter@DaltonRoss.
Did you enjoy watching Jason and Scot feast on Humble Pie?
Were you as enthused by the addition of different choices to the reward challenge as I was?
And who is in the best position now to win this game?
