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Sherri interviews about the vibe at camp, with all of these muscle-men threatening to dominate every challenge and throwing around immunity idols all over the place, and how you can’t help thinking “that they are unbeatable. And if you can’t beat ‘em, you join ‘em."

That night, Malcolm sneaks off into the jungle, and Andrea watches him go. Malcolm has followed the directions to the hidden immunity idol, and seems to have been there a while – or at least enough time for the camera to switch from night vision to all-grey twilight vision – when Andrea and Cochran walk in on him. “I love the smell of fresh dirt,” says Andrea. Malcolm is totally busted.

Andrea and Cochran sit down on the well, but soon Cochran has to go to the bathroom. Malcolm is left without an option but to hang around too. He should do an imitation of water running. Andrea interviews about her motivation – that it will probably be her doom if Malcolm finds an idol – and then Andrea asks him “is this a stand-off?” Obviously it is. “I’m just going to come back later,” says Malcolm, “Are you not leaving?” “You can do what you want to do.”

Later still, Malcolm gives up and sits down on the well. “I’ll go back with you,” he says. “You’re the little sister I can’t get rid of.” They are so going to get it on when the show is over.

Probst sighting! Immunity challenge! “Come on in guys! There are poles and big clay masks with names underneath them! Awesome! Is this the “smash the other person’s name so they can see who’s on the bottom of their alliance” challenge that I’ve been waiting two seasons for? Unfortunately, no. It’s the “hold onto a rope connected to a log” challenge where the rope has knots and the castaways start at the top knot and go one knot down every five minutes until the rope falls out of their hand and smashes the clay mask.

Cochran has an advantage in this challenge, and he reads it out to the group. At any point in the challenge he may go two knots higher up. Cochran does not claim that he has a hidden immunity idol, then rip up the paper. Eddie interviews that Cochran may have an advantage but he is no physical threat, which is what I thought right up until Eddie’s interview. Now I know Cochran could actually win this thing. Thanks, Eddie.

The challenge is on, and if you are interested, each castaway is holding up one third of the body weight they started the game with. Things move down to the third knot without any casualties, at which point Cochran declares he will use his advantage. It’s obviously the best time to use it.

Things are uneventful until the 25 minute mark when everyone but Cochran is down to their last knot. Brenda is out first, and then Erik shortly after. Dawn is bending right back trying to hold on until she can move down beyond the last knot and use the short pause in between to give her arm a break.

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