Day 28 of Survivor Micronesia and the talk at camp is all about Ozzy’s ousting at the last tribal council. Amanda, of course, is pissed off at Parvati and Cirie for betraying them, but she seems to realize that the others are just playing the game, so she better get into it. I mean, let’s face it, she’s been riding Ozzy’s coat-tails the entire game so far, so his getting voted out might be the perfect opportunity for her to step up her own game. Since she didn’t betray Ozzy, she’s sure to get his vote over anyone else if she can make it to the top. Just a thought. Whereas Parvati and Cirie just pissed off a great many people that will now probably never vote for them if they make it to the final 2.

Cirie noticed a nasty cut on James’ finger that he’s been nursing and putting coconut oil on for a while. I’m not sure if that will matter later, but since they put it in, so will I. Speaking of James, Parvati knows that she needs to make peace with James about her vote. In an interesting conversation with her, James compares her to Eve when he says “You just have to go after the apple.” He says that she was selfish in her choice and when he asked her what her final 3 plan was, she admitted that she was planning to take girls to the finals with her. I think she really made an enemy in James at this point.

Parv also headed over to Amanda to say she was sorry, but that she wants it to be a final 5 of all women. Amanda decides to play it safe and combine forces with the girls and not act too upset about the vote, which is super smart. She is wary, however, of whether they are telling her the truth.

Reward challenge this week ends up being the infamous Survivor auction! Jeff Probst tells them all that there will be no sharing of money or items this year. Each person was given $500 and has to bid in increments of $20. Cirie won a meal of hot dogs, french fries and all the fixin’s for $120. The second item was sold to Erik for $80 and he was given the choice to keep it or trade it for another unknown item. His original one was octopus, but he traded it for a huge tray of nachos. Nice. Next Natalie bought a covered tray of fruit bat soup for $240 which she stupidly would not even touch, so James got for free. A peanut butter jelly sandwich with milk went to Amanda for $280, damn.

Natalie’s next covered item that she bought for $240 turned out to be a good one. She got to choose one person to go to Exile Island and then she could keep the money they had left. One important announcement from Jeff is that a new immunity idol was placed on the island since Ozzy never played his. Natalie chose to send Jason, which he was upset about even though he should have been stoked. I mean, who cares about an extra meal or something when you could possibly have immunity, which is basically another shot at the million?? Natalie took his $500 and he had to go immediately.

The next bid of a covered item was sold to Natalie again for $380. Wow, it was a HUGE chocolate cake. In a twist, though, Jeff handed her a note saying she could share the cake with three other trabe mates and they have 60 seconds to eat it. SHe chose Parvati, Cirie, and Alexis, calling out her new alliance interestingly enough, which should clue in Amanda that she is not a part of it. In a disgusting turn, Erik paid Cirie $40 to lick her chocolatey fingers. And with that, Jeff banged his gavel announcing the auction is over. You would think that after past seasons, people like James would know that you should just spend your money when you have a chance because the auction can be over at any minute. Too bad they didn’t give any rewards like time with family or letters or anything like they have in the past. Those are always the best rewards.

When they got back to camp, Natalie did nothing but complain about Jason getting another chance at the idol. Um… wasn’t she the one who sent him there?? She is crazy!! If she was smart, she would have sent someone from her own alliance, but I think that was a big mistake if he ends up finding it.

Meanwhile on Exile, Jason was making the most of his chance to find the idol. He also was talking about how he would consider sharing his vicotry in finding the idol with Natalie. And… there he goes. Jason found the hidden immunity idol in a flash with no problems and he considers himself part of a successful alliance with Natalie and the other girls.

Back at camp, the girls were discussing strategies such as convincing Jason that someone else needs to win the immunity challenge. They are hoping to make him feel comfortable and blindside him. Natalie knows that he trusts her and she is going to play him. Now, for a girl that has barely spoken at all the entire season, she is really stepping up her game. Of course, by stepping up her game, she is going to piss off yet another member of the jury, which isn’t very smart, but what do I know?

Day 30. Erik’s birthday. They get a tree mail with a puzzle on it to get prepared for tribal council. In a merciful speech to the camera, Natalie confesses that as evil as women can be, they do not want to send Erik home on his birthday so they will try to get Jason or James out at tribal. I personally think it’s awesome that the women are trying to make it all girl final 5, but as in so many seasons before (Vanuatu specifically comes to mind), the women rarely have the chops the stick to their female alliances all the way through.

At the immunity challenge, Natalie pulled Jason over to the side and told him to let anyone but James win. Wasn’t she supposed to tell him not to win and to let her win? She really screwed that up because now Jason is trying to not let James win. I’m trying to figure out if she is stupid or what. The challenge is one of the typical survivor challenges where four people move on, then the next two, etc. James and Erik moved on to the finals of the competition, both fighting with all of their hearts and minds and bodies. The last part was a challenge we’ve seen before where they get two planks and have to make their way across a rope bridge. Erik was slow but steady while James tried something that didn’t work and fell off. Erik barely beat James out though and won immunity on his birthday. You know he has to feel great after that, but James probably is getting pretty worried at this point.

After falling all over Erik for winning on his birthday, all the girls jumped for joy once the guys were out of ear shot because now their plan to blindside Jason was falling into place. Parvati cleverly dubbed themselves the “Black Widow Brigade” which I think is hilarious. So now, Jason thinks that they are all voting for James. In a very stupid move though, Natalie ransacks Jason’s backpack right in front of James and uncovers the immunity idol. What are they thinking in uncovering their entire plan right in front of one of the guys? Jason came right out and told Natalie later on that he has the idol, so her going through his bag was just stupid and risky. Poor Jason, I kind of feel sorry for him because he’s buying every bit of bullshit that she’s shoveling out at him. It makes me wonder if Natalie’s really a Survivor fan or not because she is just making enemies here, which is dangerous this close to the end. But she admits in a private video that she is being more herself now, which is “stonecold bitch”.

Amanda pulled James over to the side to tell him that Jason was probably going home as long as he doesn’t play his idol. Just to make sure that James’ name isn’t the only other name written down, he said he will write down Parvati’s name. Amanda is really being the smartest player in the game right now and if she can make it to the end, she is sitting pretty because she hasn’t lied to anyone or pissed anyone off, but is sort of sitting back and letting the other people ruin their own chances.

At tribal council, Probst points out that the women are no longer needing male providers and that James is probably the next one on the chopping block. James smartly calls Parvati out in tribal saying that she orchestrated Ozzy’s demise. That isn’t exactly true, though. If I remember correctly, it was Cirie that went to everyone and said “Hey, Ozzy needs to go tonight.” No one seems to realize that though, which is good news for Cirie. Wow, Ozzy really still looked pissed sitting over there on the benches next to Eliza. I feel no real pity for him though, because he did have the idol and it was his choice not to play it.

Once again, the girls convinced another guy NOT to play his idol, so I was certain it was Jason going home. In a very strange twist though, the votes were down to 1 vote Parvati, 3 votes James, 3 votes Jason… one vote left. My heart was racing. Who the hell voted for James besides Jason?? Erik maybe, but who else??? In the end though, it was Jason who was blindsided and went home without playing his idol. I had to rewind the very end a couple of times to get a look at the votes. It looks like Jason, Alexis and Natalie all voted for James. I realize now that they did that just in case Jason were to play his idol, the person with the next highest amount of votes would be going home. They were smart to even it out like that since James cast his vote for Parvati.

Probst told James to have his finger looked at by medical on his way out and it looks like it will only get worse on the next episode. What is it this season with injuries?? Maybe since it is only a few days until the end, they will let him stay anyway. It also looks like next week will be family visits as well, which is always fun.