The first ones to meet in the middle are Denise and her husband. Amanda and her sister get very close to each other using the birdcall method, but they've got a couple of barriers between them. Peih-Gee and her dad find each other. Courtney's in the middle, but she can't find Dad. "Courtney, still lookin' for her father!" Jeff calls out. "Oh, stop it, Probst," says Courtney. He smiles, but it's interesting, because much like Jonathan, I don't think Courtney sees Jeff Probst as a real authority figure. But in the end, Denise is the first to get her husband through the maze, and they step up on the platform victorious. Bet you didn't see that one coming. Everybody takes blindfolds off. Jeff hands Denise her Sprint phone. Denise now is confronted with probably the hardest decision of its kind all season, because she has to pick two people who get to come with her and bring their family members. Peih-Gee looks at her kind of pleadingly, because you'll recall that Peih-Gee just took Denise on an incredibly awesome reward last week. Denise's first choice is Todd, whom I think she undoubtedly felt obligated to take because of the bad family news, and she's probably not wrong. She says that the second choice is very hard, but she takes Amanda. Again, here's Denise, doing the most conservative, stand-pattiest thing she can do to assure her position as the person who will make it to F4 and be eliminated.

So now, everybody else has to say goodbye to his or her loved one. Everybody tears up, including Erik's mom, who tells him, "Don't lose any more weight." And yes, that's "any more," and not "anymore," stupid show-captioning idiots. Why the fuck are there mistakes like that on this show, which generates maybe 100 words of captions a week? It's absurd. Isn't anyone embarrassed? I mean, besides me. It's so cute when Courtney's very English, somewhat stoic dad starts to tear up as they say goodbye. He's like, "Love you, um...very-well-then-gotta-go-crumpets-are-burning!" Erik, Peih-Gee, and Courtney go back to camp. Jeff tells the rewardees and loved ones that when they've had their boat trip and meal, the loved ones will be staying overnight at camp to see what it's like. They try to look happy about the dirty water and lack of toilet facilities. Hope you went #2 before you came, guys! You know what's back up for grabs later? The limited supply of clean, smooth leaves.