Meltdown

Survivor

Episode Report Card

Kim: F | 2 USERS: C

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Meltdown

By Kim | Season 26 | Episode 5 | Aired on 03.13.2013

In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description!

Brandon starts feeling guilty for leaving his family home alone, and tells his tribe that, if they have to go to Tribal Council, he's volunteering to be voted out. Then he admits that he contemplated burning down their shelter and peeing in their beans and rice. Then, the next morning, Brandon decides that he's going to stay and play hard for his family. Oh, Lord.

Reward Challenge. Two team members each hold a net up using a rope while the other team tosses coconuts into the nets. The team with the last net in the air wins. Phillip and Brandon hold the Favorites nets while Reynold, Eddie, Sherri, and toss coconuts. Meanwhile, Michael and Matt hold nets for the Fans, while Malcolm, Corinne, Brenda, and Cochran toss coconuts. Probst flat-out tells Sherri that she's worthless in this challenge, and she kind of is, but it's not like her tribe got to sit anyone out. Brandon is the first to drop his net, and Matt follows. So it's Phillip and Michael left, but they're taking all of the coconuts. Phillip holds out until Michael drops his net, so the Favorites win the barbecue reward.

After the challenge, everyone on the Fans tribe starts searching for the Hidden Immunity Idol and Reynold finds it again. Meanwhile, over at the Favorites, Phillip pokes the bear when Brandon takes offense to the idea that Phillip won the challenge. They have a dustup. Later, Phillip basically threatens Brandon into compliance, and Brandon goes along. Until the NEXT morning, when Brandon decides he's still pissed at Phillip. So then Phillip starts thinking about throwing the challenge.

Brandon gets wind of the fact that Phillip is talking to the others about getting rid of him and he goes on a tirade. He dumps out their entire container of rice and tries to dump some more food before the others stop him. He yells at Phillip, who has wisely removed himself from the situation. The rest of the tribe wonders if they should just skip the challenge and get rid of Brandon.

At the Immunity Challenge, Brandon gives a speech about how the Fans shouldn't let Phillip win the game. Corinne says that they want to forfeit the challenge so they can go to Tribal Council. Probst invites Brandon to come stand by him and figure this out and Brandon goes on a rant about how Phillip is the worst (but times ten). Phillip responds and Andrea starts crying. Brandon and Phillip get into it again because they are both mentally ill and should not be on this show. Yeah, I said it. This isn't fun to watch, it's not interesting, and I'm grossed out, frankly.

Probst finally takes control of the situation, something he should have done like ten minutes earlier. Then he does an immediate vote, and everyone votes Brandon out. You'd think they would have just removed him when he trashed the camp, but I guess that would have been humanitarian and respectful instead of exploitative and trashy. I feel dirty.

Want more? The full recap starts right below!

Immediately after Tribal, the guys on the Fans tribe all agree that they made the right move in getting rid of Laura and this could be the turning point for their tribe. Reynold and Eddie are obviously like, "It was awesome!" Sherri isn't so sure, but she goes along to get along. Reynold says that he hopes getting rid of the Idol will mean better tribe unity. Yeah, I'm sure that will happen. Reynold interviews that he decided to use the Idol so that he could speak his mind at Tribal and tell everyone that they're worthless and the tribe needs him for challenges. Did he say all that? Also, did he forget that, even though he stayed, they may very well be back at Tribal again before a merge? Speaking your mind on this show seems like a terrible idea. That's what the bitter jury questions are all about -- that's when you get to finally speak your mind. That's why they're all so bitter.

They all discuss how -- now that the Idol has been played -- it will be put back into circulation first thing in the morning. They all joke about how the first person to wake up will have an advantage. Michael interviews that Reynold is great at challenges and he's handy around camp, so Reynold getting the Idol again would be one advantage too many.

That same night, the Favorites are hanging out around the campfire, talking. Well, Brandon is talking and everyone else is wishing Brandon would stop talking. Mostly about how much he loves and misses his family. Brandon interviews that he started thinking about his wife and kids and how he left them at home to play a game, and he feels like he's being selfish. Brandon tells the others that his kids don't know what's going on other than that he's gone. Which are valid concerns, but it's not like he hasn't done this before. Unlike the first-timers, he knew exactly what he was getting into. Anyway, Brandon tells everyone that he's volunteering to be voted out of the game if they go to Tribal. He says this like he's doing everyone a favor, but Malcolm interviews that Brandon might want to think about how his actions affect the others before making proclamations to the entire tribe. I don't really get why Malcolm is so upset. I guess he's counting on Brandon's vote post-merge?

Brandon goes on to tell everyone that he thought about setting the shelter on fire and peeing in the beans and rice. What do you say to that? That it's okay to have thoughts that you keep inside your head and save for yourself? Everyone is just like, "I'm glad you didn't... question mark?" Brandon says he's sorry, but doesn't seem to realize what a freaking bizarre idea that was. Did he think everyone would say, "Hey, I've had that same thought!" No one has. No one had that thought, Brandon. You need help. Corinne interviews that hearing Brandon's thoughts makes her want to get rid of him immediately, because Brandon is "spinning out of control" and they don't know what he'll do. Agreed.

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