Watching Survivor

It’s time, once again, for the stunning cinematography of the Picton Castle sailing the heavy seas, with cutthroat pirates tending her sails!

So to speak. Heh.

We rejoin the crew after the last Pirate’s Court, where Sean congratulates Joe Don for not needing the pardon, but he says “it’s only money” and it was insurance. Ben and Nessa are mourning the loss of Cheryl, and that it sucks how they have to let someone go every week. Awww. That’s the way the game is played though. He and Nessa look awfully close and cuddly… Of course, Nessa freely admits to using her cuddling and flirting to get her way - but man. The pirates, they are looking grubbier by the day! Specially the men! I’m thinking cuddling would be the last thing on my mind!

Sean is watching their little display of affection, and Sean admits straight up to hating how she’s working. Flirting can only go so far. Moments later, Sean and Nessa have it out over voting Cheryl off. She says “He’s talking out of both sides of his mouth. He can’t keep lying to people and expecting it not to come back and bite you.”

Jupiter doesn’t like Nessa either, or her flirtations. She chooses Sean’s side straight up. Sean calls out Nessa for flirting, and she’s all “What are we, in jr. high? That’s pathetic!” And seals her fate in Sean’s mind. He wants her gone!

Dawn comes, and along with it the time to set sail. Captain Louie wakes up his crew, and admits that he’s becoming more about the treasure, and if he wins again, he will take a larger share - but if a captain takes more then 2 shares, he’s greedy, and he won’t do that. Azmyth and Joe Don hoist the flag, and they start working to set sail. Louie, unlike the captains before him, works side by side with his crew! Hurray for Captain Louie!

Christa takes fate into her own hands, and for the first time climbs the masts to unfurl the sails. It’s the first time she’s done so, as she’s terrified of heights - her grandfather died when he fell off a ladder. It’s a major triumph for her. She tearfully confesses that she is in this to get a better life for her and her daughter, and she’ll do whatever it takes.

Pirates to the Quarter Deck!
It’s time for the next treasure hunt! This treasure was hidden by the Ships Pilot, who’s a notorious gambler - his game was blackjack. Time to pick teams!

Black Crew: Louie, Nessa, Sean, Joe Don, Christa and Jow
Red Crew: Azymyth, Jupider, Laural, Kendra, Ben and Jay.

Jay wants Sean gone, but is concerned about his apparently weak team - well sounds like they’re gonna win for sure, then, doesn’t it? It’s how it’s gone before!

The Teams get into their longboats, Cameron Daddo shoots the starting pistol, and they’re off! They must row to the anchor, then race to find the next clue in the Voodoo forest, where they have to search for a face card on a tree that matches the Ace their map is printed on to make 21.

The black crew hits the beach first, which scares the crap out of Jay, who prefers to be first, but they are not that far behind. Nessa, in the lead, hits a tripwire that sets off a booby trap, that has nets and branches and debris in their way, which allows the Red Crew to close the gap even farther! Louie’s all excited about the VooDoo mask things and being in the right place. Everyone searches the trees, and they’re neck and neck.

Black crew finds theirs first, and Sean discovers a canister with a spyglass in it and a clue. They’re off to the beach where they landed, where they have to use the spyglass to find a heart, which will match the heart on a gravestone, where they will find the next clue.

Black crew can’t figure out how to use the spy glass, as it had gotten wet, and was basically useless. and as the Red crew finds their card, glass and clue, and come back into view, they just hop into their boat and head off toward the islands they are looking at - figuring they’ll see the heart soon enough. Red Crew actually USES the glass, and Azmyth sees the heart, and that the Black Crew have guessed which island correctly, and the race is again on!

They paddle across to the heart, where there was really no clue what to do, exept for the rope leading them up the cliff. It’s a tough climb, and everyone is pushing to get to the top. Nessa finds the grave, and they find the clue that points to the palm tree at the top most part of the island where the treasure is buried. They hide the clue, and take off.

Red crew finds the clue shortly thereafter and it’s a race to the palm tree in question. The black crew starts digging in barely contained chaos. Red crew was right on their heels. Louie climbs the tree, and everyone is scrambling.

Jay sees them digging, and knows the Red Crew still has a chance!. Christa (Black Crew) digs a small hole and moves on. Jay moves in behind her, digs farther in her hole and finds the loot! She’s crying because she knew it - and should have found it, and Jay is laughing. He says he’ll just start following Christa and digging around her from now on, because she’ll do the hard work and he’ll reap the rewards!

Nessa is already moaning about having to fight tooth and nail to stay on the ship, while the Red Team celebrates with a “We’re BACK, baby!”

Back at the Picton Castle, Louie sits with Joe Don, and clasps his hands, and says “No more is there vengeance in my heart. I have lost the dreaded blue jacket, and I am back to a lowly seaman.”

The bag of gold, that seemed small, actually had large pieces in it and was worth $40k! The Red Crew puts Azmyth as captain once again. Jay finds him fair, but with an air of ‘no mercy’ as well. Azmyth picks Jay and Ben as his officers, going for strategy this time, wanting two strong men at his side.

Below deck, everyone congratulates Laurel on finally being on a winning team! He splits the treasure evenly again, which gives each of the Red Crew $6k.

Nessa goes and eavesdrops from the roof of the galley, and hears Jupiter and Sean conspiring for her being set adrift. She says that the people out to get her had better hope she doesn’t win - she vows revenge!

The next morning at breakfast, Nessa approaches Joe Don about the pardon, and he asks her how much she’s got to throw down. She says $6k, and he tells her that he’s tempted to give her a loan of $2k more, and if she adds another $1k, he feels that she’ll win it for sure. He admits to a certain amount of fondness for the little flirt, because she’s a “fresh face” among a somber crew. He doesn’t want to go. He ends up giving her $2,500 to add to her bid, knowing he’ll get it back when she wins the pardon and has to pay him for it.

Jay is pretty confident that he controls directly or indirectly everyone on the ship, except for Laurel. Laurel feels he’s constantly lying and just doesn’t get him.

The Captain and his officers choose and deliver the black spots. They figure that Nessa will be buying the pardon, and strategically decide not to black spot her to make her pay for something completely unneeded. They decide at last on Sean - they don’t trust him at all and all three want him gone. They choose Louie because he expects to be there after last weeks comment that the fallen captain should always face crews judgment, and Laurel is blindsided to receive a black spot herself.

Nessa is stunned not to have a black spot. Laurel is a little stunned to have one. Sean hopes he put enough money in his bid for the pardon. Louie is hoping he doesn’t get bit by that pardon, because if Sean does have enough for it, and Louie gets the second amount of votes, he’d be gone. Kendra finds Laurel a liability, and insists that she’ll vote that way. Jupiter won’t vote for Sean, and knows that’s the target. Jay hopes that Sean goes, because if he doesn’t? Jay’ll have hell to pay for sure, as he’s doing his best to puppet-master this whole vote to go his way…

Time for Pirates Court!
Cameron Daddo asks the Captain to explain his choices. He picked Louie because he felt each captain should be put on the stand to speak his peace. Laurel is very middle of the road, and they don’t know what side she is on. Sean is saying things to some people, and other things to others, this is his chance to clear the air.

Louie says that he stands there because of what he said and he meant it, and is ready to take the test he felt he was a fair captain.

Laurel addresses Captain Azmyth, confused. “I’m not on anyone’s side, I didn’t know we had sides!” Azmyth tries to backtrack and say exactly the same thing, and that she doesn’t work very hard on missions and….well - he’s very confusing and everyone is very confused and he says “I take it back.” and whatever. Laurel says she pushes herself harder every expedition and says she will try harder to work around the ship as well.

Sean says it’s a game, and people are talking to each other about who may have to go. And he wants to be there - he wants to run with them, be with them, bleed with them, and cook them a great dinner tonight as well.

Time to Vote!
(cue the drums and violin!)

There are no ballots for mutiny - Captain Azmyth remains in control of the ship!
There are no votes for Laurel and she is safe and able to rejoin the crew.
Sean and Louie both received ballots - Sean received the most (5-1). However, if he was top bidder for the royal pardon, he will be saved.

The winner of the pardon is Nessa, with a $9,000 bid.

Sean’s voyage is over, he is cut adrift, as Jupiter gets teary-eyed.

Sean says he was blindsided, but figures they’re trying to cut off the stronger competitors and he got railroaded by the guys in power who connived to black spot him and sway the votes! Aww… poor Sean!

Next Week: Captain and officers form a threatening Triad, the pirates are desperate for a change of power. Friendly flirting gets serious! (Is that Joe Don kissing Nessa? GASP!)