Chet. Chet. Chet. Chet. So Chet is gone, and Cirie is the luckiest mofo in the game thus far. The evacuation of Jonathan solved a serious problem that was looming for her on the other side of the game (Jonathan and Eliza, both good players, getting together with likable Alexis, nonthreatening Kathy, and easily manipulated Jason, for instance), and the voluntary exit of Chet took care of an otherwise near-certain tip of power against her on her own tribe. She got incredibly lucky here, having obstacles she created herself (first alienating Jonathan, then alienating Ami) removed without her having to do anything. Had she been forced to play out the consequences of what she did without the lightning-strike luck of medical emergencies, assuming she didn't get bounced tonight, she'd now be in a minority position on a tribe that would undoubtedly continue losing immunity challenges and would have voted off Ozzy, then her and Amanda if necessary before the merge, and she'd basically have no allies after the merge if she made it that far, because she wasn't likely to wind up with Jonathan, Eliza, and Ami after she voted out Yau-Man, and so forth. Luck is absolutely part of the game, and there's nothing remotely unfair about getting lucky -- people have gotten lucky since the show started (heh), and there's nothing wrong with that. But I can't remember any situation where, in a single episode, two major events have happened that were entirely unforeseeable and entirely out of a player's control that have so perfectly conspired to save her ass from her previous missteps.

But anyway, Chet is snuffed, which he deserves in a few ways, and he's sent off. Interestingly, earlier this afternoon, he hobbled up and put his arms around Cirie and Amanda as if he could barely stand, and as he walks away, I can barely see a limp. It's not a great shot of him, but...it's interesting. (See? See? I am doing the thing! I am doing the thing where I question the necessity of your voluntary exit!)

Jeff tells them that they're down to six people and might want to start winning challenges. I hope Jeff didn't spend too much time developing that advice. I'd love to see Jeff's tribal-council advice made into a book. I mean, there have been more than two hundred tribal councils; there's enough. Page One: "I think what we've learned is that trust is really important." Page Two: "Winning is going to put you in a better position than losing." Best-seller! Oprah's Book Club! Fortune-cookie franchise!