The last episode ended without a Tribal Council and a castaway voted off the island. There was no need of one, with Bruce Kanegai's unfortunate illness and subsequent medical evacuation. If he recovers in time, he will join the jury to decide which of the Final Two becomes the Sole Survivor.
Until that time, the remaining six Gitanos tribemates will have to survive the challenges and Tribal Councils to get to the Final Two.
Holding the Hidden Idol, Terry Deitz is safe from at least one Tribal Council, but he needs to win more than that. The longtime alliance of Aras Baskauskas, Courtney Marit , Danielle DiLorenzo , Shane Powers and Cirie Fields is now on shaky ground as they will have to vote their members out if, or when, Terry is no longer a threat.
To stay in the game, Terry needs to persuade some fo the former Casaya members to join him in a new alliance. Can he do it?
In the previous episode, Aras and Shane return from the forest with a boa constrictor snake. Do they know boas are sometimes kept as house snakes? More about boas on page 2.
Episode 11 begins with Terry reflecting on Bruce's departure. He is thankful to skip a challenge but knows he has to keep on winning them as well as make an alliance with some of the ex Casaya tribe members.
Shane plays with a piece of wood he calls his "Blackberry," texting pretened messages, "communicating" with the outside world. Danielle sneers.
At the Reward Challenge, in which there is a water obstacle course involving retrieval of bags from underwater boxes, all complicated by being tied to a rope, the team of Terry, Danielle and Courtney easily take the lead from Shane, Aras and Cirie. They win the challenge, and for their reward, will be flown to a barbecue. As winners, they elect to send Aras to Exile Island again. Shane and Cirie return to camp empty-handed.
Before they depart for their reward, there is one more surprise challenge between Terry, Courtney and Danielle. The winner of the sling shot tile breaking contest wins a 2007 GMC Yukon. The contest narrows to Courtney and Terry, with Danielle missing all her tiles. Terry wins the challenge and the keys for the Yukon which is waiting with all the picnic supplies. They fly off, retreive the vehicle and enjoy steaks on the beach. Terry and Courtney talk strategy and agree to go to the Final Three. Danielle isn't as easily convinced but she listens to Terry's plan.
Meanwhile on Exile Island, Aras knows the Hidden Idol has already been found and spends his time exercising and contemplating. At camp, Cirie takes the fishing gear and while she's never fished for the tribe before, manages to catch a big fish. Squealing, she joyfully brings it in and drags it back to camp singing Happy Birthday to Shane who is astonished and pleased to be remembered. They share a hug. The reward winners return to camp to see Cirie's fish.
Danielle and Terry talk about the Final Two positions and agree that it is fair that whoever wins the first and second spots in the challenge before that will be the Final Two. However, Courtney isn't pleased with that decision. She and Danielle squabble over the strategy.
Aras returns for the Immunity Challenge, which is an endurance test of sitting on a plank above water while holding increasing weight, a percaentage of the players own body weights. Every fifteen minutes the percentage is increased. Shane falls into the water first, followed by Cirie, Danielle, and Aras. With her eyes closed and her face serene, Courtney holds on while Terry seems to struggle. Her team mates call out encouragement, but Courtney can't endure and falls into the water. Terry wins Immunity for the fourth time in a row.
Host Jeff Probst mentions that Terry is the only one to wear the Immunity Necklace so far and the castaways retrun to camp where serious politicking continues. One of the Casaya-ites will have to leave, but which one? Terry campaingns to vote Aras out, as he is the strongest physical threat to him. Cirie masterminds a plan to vote out Courtney, something she's wanted for some time.
At Tribal Council, the players are pleased to see Bruce, looking healthy, join the jury. Terry and Courtney vote for Aras, Shane surprisingly votes for Danielle, but it is Courtney who is voted out. Cirie smirks and Aras looks relieved as Courtney leaves.
Jeff Probst reminds them that from now on, it is an individual game.
And now there are five.
Who goes next?
