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Anyway, we cut to Phillip giving Cochran a lesson in arm wrestling. He even teaches him a wrist pull technique where he drags his opponent’s arm closer to him. It doesn’t do Cochran much good, though, and eventually he is losing to Phillip with both hands. Then, “to butter up his ego,” Cochran claims, he put all his weight on Phillip’s hand and Phillip could still keep it off the ground. Such is Cochran’s demeaning life.

But Phillip is happy, and Cochran is playing him well. The others are prepared to put up with Phillip, but Cochran is the only other person we see actively engaging him. If we have Phillip on the jury and Cochran as one of the final three, Phillip’s vote is already decided.

Then we get another Phillip interview where he talks about his assets in challenges as being the will of a lion and the determination of a gorilla. Are gorillas known for being determined?

Probst sighting! Come on in, guys! Get your look at the new Bikal tribe with Matt voted off.

We’ve seen this challenge in a couple of seasons. It’s the one where each tribe is clipped to a rope and laden with 20 pounds of sandbags while doing laps of a course that is knee-deep in water. Castaways can pull out whenever they want, but someone has to carry their sandbag. The tribes start on opposite sides of the lap, and first tribe to catch up to the other wins. It’s usually a good challenge, but don’t count on it being exciting this season.

And what do they win? Coffee! The castaways all oooh. Cookies! Everyone shouts cookies. Croissants. No one has much enthusiasm for croissants. Brownies! They all orgasm. We see a bit of the pre-challenge strategy, which seems mostly to be about Phillip arguing that he should be in front because he believes he can run faster and doesn’t want to be stuck behind some slow-poke. That should give you a hint about how this challenge will go. Meanwhile, Gota are assuming that the challenge is already won.

The tribes get underway and after a lap Probst points out the discrepancy between the two tribes. Gota is led by the fittest guy in front, who is Erik. Erik? I’m surprised Probst can see past Eddie, Reynold and Malcolm. Meanwhile, Bikal is led by the oldest guy, Phillip. Probst’s assessment looks correct. Phillip is probably right not to run the half of the course where the tribe is thigh-deep in water, but then they turn the corner he takes about six running steps and then slows, his excuse being “Let’s just walk it. The girls will tire.”

“Can we run?” asks Michael. “Nope,” says Phillip. Later “Can we run?” “I think you’ll tire more.” It’s like Phillip is talking to the kids in the back seat who want ice cream. We get plenty more frustration from Bikal, with the non-stop-walking and no running, until Phillip eventually gives in and says “I can’t run, guys.” Gota is now on the same side of the course as Bikal, so Bikal makes an effort to run. Michael even passes Phillip for a time, while Probst mocks Bikal’s strategy.

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