The final TC clearly deserves a post all on it’s own. I’ve seen some of the final Tribal Councils get heated, but nothing like what went on with this one! There was yelling, lawyering, craziness, and all sorts of oddities that led to what I thought was a very predictable ending. After all, I called it WEEKS ago. It just don’t get better then that!
But first things first:
Back at camp, Dreamz apologizes, and I told they understand and debating who’s going to get torn up most by the Jury. Earl is worried because he voted Yau-Man. Dreamz knows he’s dead meat, and even Cassandra thinks she’s going to get bit into a bit. Dreamz just keeps going on and on about how he hopes they respect the decision, but don’t care if they don’t.
The next morning, there’s the traditional Final Meal, which was airdropped on the beach - they even made an X on the beach for it to land. Unfortunately, they missed and Earl had to swim out and get it. And for the first time - I actually hear that Cassandra can’t swim.
Uh. HUH? Cassandra can’t SWIM? What kind of person goes on Survivor without knowing how to at least dog paddle? It does explain why she too so long to get her rope and ball back in the previous challenge, though, don’t it?
They have a farewell bonfire, where they clean up everything in the camp and burn it. Including someone’s “dirty drawers! Those really gotta burn!”
And so it begins. Final Tribal Council, where the power shifts to the Jury and all the crazies come out to play!
First, each of the final three give a statement to the Jury, explaining why they deserve to win the million.
Earl: He says he played an honest and clean game, and played it the hard way to make the right move and put himself in the right position. His name was never put down, and he never had to win immunity, which says a lot about the kind of game he played. He doesn’t want the sympathy vote, or the underdog vote; he wants the respect vote.
Cassandra:
She started the game pretty slow, but wanted to be sure everyone had someone to talk to and befriend. She stayed as positive as possible and stayed true to her alliance and hopes at the end of the day everyone can still be friends.
Dreamz:
He says he’s going to get to the point (hahahah) and for a guy who doesn’t want the sympathy he goes RIGHT for the “You know my life story because I’ve opened up to all of you.” Everyone knows him, what he’d do with his life, help him help his life and other people.
Michelle (OMG how cute is she? I really want to just tuck her into my pocket and carry her around everywhere with me…) starts things off by asking everyone what they think is the biggest hardship they were faced with, and thinks they have to work pretty hard for a million bucks.
Dreamz says the sleeping in the dirt was something he’s done before (WE GET IT ALREADY OMG!) but Thirst was the hardest.
Cassandra says overcoming her inability to swim, and Michelle asks if fear of water earned her a million bucks, and Cassandra adds that creating her alliance and staying true was also hard.
Earl says he knows suffering, being the only Ravu remaining, pushing and then being sent to Exile Island - he suffered more then anyone else in the game.
Edgardo is next up, and has one question for Earl. He asks him how he found out who had the immunity idol, and Earl says straight up “Dreamz”. That’s all Ed wanted to know.
Mookie asks Dreamz if he told anyone about the immunity idol, because apparently he wasn’t paying attention when Edgardo asked the question of Honest Earl. Dreamz says yes, and is asked if he considers that betrayal. Dreamz: No, it’s lying. (Uh, aren’t they sorta the same thing in this instance?) Mookie presses and Dreamz says if that’s what you consider betrayal, then it is. Mookie tells everyone tonight is not the night to get caught in a lie.
Alex asks Cassandra a moment where she had to struggle with her integrity. She mentions over-hearing a conversation about her being voted off. And Alex goes OFF on her - says she’s either lying about what’s the biggest integrity moment now, or was lying when she took Stacy close and nurtured her. Cassandra says he has the situation wrong, and he interrupts her and says STOP TALKING over and over again, and becomes uber asshole and moves on to Dreamz.
Dreamz, you cheat, lie and backstab to get here, how can he reconcile that with wanting to help kids and be a role model. Dreamz says it’s just a game and you have to do what you have to do. Alex finishes by saying “I’d wish you luck, but I’m a man of my word and so will wish you no luck at all. Can’t hide from karma forever, (Airquote) my friend (/airquote).” He used AIR QUOTES. OMG.
Earl is again, asked nothing.
Next up! Lisi, who is as crazy as ever and goes Eenie Meni Miny Moe catch a liar by the toe… She then asks to see Cassandra’s water shoes for some reason, and that it means she was completely unprepared because they’re the worst shoes ever. Cassandra looks confused, as do everyone else. But Lisi says that greed propelled her, and Cassandra says no, and Lisi cuts her off and goes to Dreamz
She asks him how many zeros are in a million, and he answers 6, and she has to think about it and Dreamz is like “You think I’m stupid?” And well, she moves right on…
And accuses Earl of putting on a show for the Jury when Yau-Man was voted off when he put his name down and helped it. He says it was more surprised that it had come to that, because of Dreamz. Lisi says many times “you could have voted off Cassandra” and Earl finishes by “It’s a choice, it was a smart choice.” and she finishes off with “It’s amazing how smart becomes interchanged with lying and backstabbing.” and thank god for small miracles, she’s done.
Stacy’s turn, and she tells Earl that the only difference between him and Dreamz is that he’s sophisticated, and will end up on his feet, but that the money would change Dreamz’s life and if she should vote based on need, or the game.
Earl answers honestly - it’s a game, everyone is there for the million dollars, and it would change all their lives. He shouldn’t have to feel bad because he has a car, because he was educated. They’re all there for the money, all to play the game, vote based on that. (You go Earl!)
Next up - Rocky. Here comes more crazy.
He wants to know how everyone manipulates the best, so finish the sentence “I’m the biggest kicker because…” Cassandra tries to paint herself as someone people could go to and talk too. Rocky interrupts and says he doesn’t want to hear positive stuff, and she says she doesn’t feel she manipulate anyone, and Rocky moves on.
Dreamz “..because I manipulated my way to the to everytime I was on the chopping block. I manipulated Yau to keep me around, you understand?”
Earl “I have to be the biggest kicker, because no one thought I was even playing the game.”
Rocky ends with a “good on ya brother, good luck.” and that brings us to…
Boo. I didn’t expect the crazy from Boo, but BOY did he deliver.
“Wipe the smiles off your faces boys and girls. First of all, I want to tip my hat to Yau, he’s the best player here.”
He asks Dreamz if he was playing Yau-Man when he accepted the truck, as a Christian or if he changed his mind later. Dreamz cannot answer it straight up, and says he was playing the game. And Boo, he goes all preacher on him, and how he believes in Dreamz, but that he’s immature Christian, and how dangle all the money in the world before him, but this Christian isn’t for sale. Oy. Vey.
Yau-man has the advantage of not having testosterone overload, and can admit to making a mistake. He took responsibility for putting Dreamz in such a position and to enjoy the truck without regret.
He asks again if Dreamz was playing the game, or if he has the gonads to admit that he changed his mind. Dreamz said he didn’t change his mind, he knew what he was going to do.
Earl -simple question “Why would you not want to take me to the end.” and Earl has a very honest, heartfelt answer, and tells the truth. “Because I would not win. Because you played the best game by far.”
I’m pretty sure right there is what cinched Earl for every vote on that council. If anyone was wavering (I don’t think they were!) they were solidified after that.
And it’s time to vote, and of course they are not revealed until the finale.
And, as we all know, in the first time in Survivor History, Earl is named Sole Survivor!
Reunion Highlights Tomorrow!
Survivor, Survivor: Fiji!, Finale, Immunity, CBS, Jeff Probst, Reality TV,
Richard Hatch, winner of the first Survivor in Borneo, has always protested his innocence on the charges of tax evasion for which he’s currently serving a simply hellacious 52-month sentence. [Why my snarky emphasis? Well it seems he's got email access at least, and hell, I could do 51 months standing on my head if I had internet access! Ahem, anyway...] Since he’s always proclaimed his wrongful imprisonment, he felt it necessary to speak up about Scooter Libby’s presidential commutation. Instead of spending two years in jail, Libby will only be given probation and a rather large fine.
Over at 
