In Week 10 of “Survivor: Nicaragua,” things are starting to heat up.
Brenda thinks she owns the tribe, acting like she has everything all figured out.
Elizabeth: She needs to go. Her sassy attitude is getting on my last nerve.
Hilary: Brenda is really cocky and annoying, which means she needs to go.
Reward Challenge
For this week’s reward, the tribe was divided into two teams, and the challenge was to get from point A to point B using just four barrels, ten planks of wood, and ten feet of totally unnecessary rope. The winning team would go, by helicopter, to the Cerro Negro, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, to do some “volcano boarding” and pizza devouring.
The blue team, consisting of Chase, Kelly, James, NaOnka, and Fabio, easily won the reward. Instead of four barrels, they decided they only needed three.
Elizabeth: This probably is my favorite reward yet. I love pizza, and the contestants seemed to love it also. Actually, they seem to love every scrap of food they can get.
Hilary: Pizza sounds really good right about now. I love pizza, so I cannot imagine how the contestants feel right about now.
Back at Camp
“Survivor: Nicaragua” is on fire — literally.
When the other half of the tribe returns to camp, they find nothing but a pile of ashes. Well, actually, their shelter is still standing, but the tarp on top is melted and their food is completely gone.
NaOnka takes Fabio aside and tells him that Brenda is running the show and needs to be voted out.
Elizabeth: For once, I actually agree with NaOnka.
Hilary: NaOnka may be self-centered and a complete jerk, but she knows when someone is becoming a threat to the tribe.
Chase then takes everything everyone told him about Brenda and runs to her to fill her in. She was surprised but not impressed. She thinks her alliance will save her, and she does nothing to save herself.
Elizabeth: Chase is like a dog. Running around the tribe fetching every little piece of information he can get and then running straight back to Brenda to deliver it. Seriously Chase, grow up, and stop sucking up to a woman who has no interest in you.
Hilary: Chase needs to become a man and not give into Brenda’s every need. Brenda is a jerk.
Immunity
The immunity challenge was simple but required endurance. It was conveniently held in the same pool that Fabio had peed in earlier in the season. The contestants had to hold on to a rope while leaning backwards, moving back one knot at periodic intervals. Dan managed to hold on more than three seconds “using those guns, you worked hard for those guns,” Producer Jeff Probst said to Dan. It ultimately came down to the fittest guy on the island and the oldest woman on the island.
Just as Jane was about to give up, she said “I’m gonna let go.”
But Probst wanted her to hang in there. “Why are you going to let go? Don’t you dare give up on this challenge,” Probst said.
And she didn’t, and surprisingly, she beat out Chase.
Before Tribal
When Chase continues to feed Brenda the information about the tribe voting her out, she says “the last thing I want to do is start scrambling. It just shows that you are desperate.”
Elizabeth: Yes Brenda, you are desperate. And you have a reason to be. Are you just going to give up one million dollars? Many other survivor winners were in your position at one time, and they “scrambled” and earned a million-dollar reward for it. Why are you out here if you are just going to give up when things start to not go your way?
Hilary: We are playing “Survivor,” right? The last time I checked, you tried everything in your power to avoid being voted out. Apparently Brenda thinks she’s on some other game show where you don’t have to play the game to win. Pity.
Tribal Council
Brenda was voted off, which is no surprise. The real surprise was when Chase voted to send Brenda home, despite his alliance with her. What’s up with that? He must have been getting sick of her sassiness as well. Way to be a man, Chase!
Elizabeth Tauber can be reached for comment at [email protected]. Hilary Weidner can be reached for comment at [email protected].