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Episode 9: Shocking, simply shocking!

According to the poll in last week's episode, the merger taking place so soon after the return of Lillian Morris and Burton Roberts Burton to their respective tribes caught people by surprise.

Last week's show ended with a mutiny: Andrew Savage, leader of the Morgan tribe, was the first person voted out of the new Balboa tribe, mainly due to Lil's swing vote. Andrew, angry and resentful that Lil was back, was perceived to be too strong and a threat. Couldn't they have voted out Jonny Fairplay intstead?

This episode begins with Lil up at dawn, already working, noting that she had no reason to stay with the Morgan tribe after voting Andrew out. Rupert's told her that he'd give up a Drake to reward her for her actions.

Ryan Opray is depressed, knows he's next on the chopping block, but is determined to go down swinging.

Burton goes spear fishing, and brings back a sting ray. Gutting it, he's shocked, as are Rupert and Lil who investigate. Rupert later jokes that they eat a high voltage meal. He's happy in his role of provider and is glad to see the Morgan tribe members eating well.

At the Reward Challenge, the members of Balboa tribe are reminded that it's individual winners from now on. The reward for hitting a number of plates, releasing a torch and setting a "crow's nest" on fire will be breakfast - the works. Already salivating, the castaways fire by threes, with Ryan, Rupert and Lil going to the finals. Rupert wins the breakfast, and has the choice of going alone, taking someone with him, or giving the breakfast to someone else who can then invite a guest. Rewarding Burton for giving him immunity the last time, Rupert gives the breakfast to him, and Burton asks Lil to join him.

They go by boat to a sandy atoll, where a tent provides shade for a luxurious breakfast. As Burton and Lil toast each other, he with champagne, and she with apple juice, they lay out the strategy. Burton promises "scout's honor" to keep her with him to the end. Together, they decide to go after Rupert.

Back at Balboa camp, interspersed with housekeeping duties, the other castaways are also plotting. Rupert is the universal target, with Jon, Burton, Ryan strategizing, and the women, led by Sandra Diaz-Twine decide they need to learn how to survive without Rupert and the other men. The women now outnumber the men.

It's a busy day, with scheming and alliances formed and reformed and Jon smirking and promising this to that person and the other to someone else. Burton and Jon agree to keep Rupert in the dark and blindside him. Sandra and Christa, who has been strongly allied to Rupert, agree that Burton and Rupert have to go, but remember that they are the ones providing food from the ocean.

Rupert sees how little the Morgans do, and says he'll catch a number of fish and give them to Tijuana Bradley to clean. Christa Hastie complains that the Morgan team is lazy and unmotivated, that all they want to do is lie around and talk. Tijuana retorts that the Drakes work unnecessarily hard, and with them, she has no time to be herself.

On Day 24, the first individual Immunity Challenge has the castaways testing their knowledge of pirate lore. For each wrong answer, the tribe members with the right answer are allowed to place a coconut in the wrong answer's box. As the boxes fill up, the castaways are out of the game. As host Jeff Probst explains, this is also the way they'll see how the others feel about each other.

To Burton, Jon and Ryan's chagrin, Rupert wins the immunity challenge and is safe. Rupert is pleased and smiling. (So was I!) The alliances shift yet again. Ryan tries to gather support, but at Tribal Council, the vote goes against him. By a vote of 8 -1, Ryan is voted off and becomes the first member of the jury that will decide the Sole Survivor. He, and the others voted off in successive Tribal Councils, will observe the remaining councils.

In closing the council, Jeff reminds the players that all their actions will come into play as the jury makes its final decision.

Only three members of the original Morgan tribe are left, all women.

Photo thanks to ClipArt.com