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Today's challenge is eerily similar to last week's. This time, the Survivors must hang or hold onto a slotted pole. It's another situation where a lot of the women have a huge advantage due to their smaller size. Sandra does quit almost immediately because her leg is shaking, but Colby drops out even before her. Probst berates him for awhile before moving back to the other non-quitters. In the end, the final three are Candice, Parvati and Danielle, with Candice making the odd decision to quit despite the fact that she was feeling no adverse effects from the challenge. Probst considers this to be a maddening decision, but the following one is even more important from a gameplay perspective.

After a brief negotiation, Parvati agrees to dismount, ceding immunity to her lady-in-waiting. Evil Loser Russell has just spent an inordinate amount of time creating a smoke screen that the only reason Parvati remains in the competition is because she used a hidden immunity idol at the previous Tribal Council. Were this true, there is absolutely no chance she would simply give up immunity to anyone - even an ally. After all, Parvati knows that the Heroes are so desperate to eliminate her from competition that they gave a hidden immunity idol to a virtual stranger to secure such a result. A crafty player would notice this stuff immediately. We'll see if any of them are smart enough to make this determination.

What are JT's first words after the break? "The only thing that concerns me is the way Parvati stepped down at the challenge."

"We tell Russell it's Parvati and then vote for Sandra," Colby replies. The two Heroes come to an accord that either Jerri or Sandra could go.

You know how we're always talking about how Evil Loser Russell is not that smart and makes a lot of dumb moves? Remember a couple of episodes ago when Sandra nonchalantly manipulated him into voting off Coach, his only true ally in the game? Yeah, if you thought that was stupid, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

Unsolicited, ELR walks over to Parvati, who possesses a hidden immunity idol he doesn't know about, and gives her...a hidden immunity idol. His reasons for doing so seem to be motivated by...well, a blood rush in the body area generally hidden by shorts. This pleases Parvati greatly, and she even gives Evil Loser Russell a hug. Humorously, she does rub the troll germs off her shoulder the instant he turns his back.

A fascinating discussion ensues in the final segment before Tribal Council. Amanda and Parvati, who had previously agreed to work together, are now feeling each other out before their first joint vote. Parvati has a sense that she is safe at Tribal Council as demonstrated by her actions during the Immunity Challenge. Amanda explicitly tells Parvati that she needs to use her immunity idol, but the Queen Villain sees through that ploy immediately. The unmistakable disappointment in her eyes and body language when she realizes that Amanda is not fully with her is quite clear, but she does handle it "professionally" by smoothing over any potential ill will by advising Amanda to vote with the Heroes. We aren't sure what has been resolved here. We had believed they might join forces, but it's possible that Amanda has done all she can for her sort-of ally.

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