Episode 2

Despite losing Jim, Totoket was feeling optimistic about their future.  All it would take was winning the next immunity challenge to even up the numbers.  Angela was particularly vested in the challenge as the last vote showed her to be on the bottom of the tribe.  They left their camp and headed to the challenge site with heads held high.

As Totoket arrived at the immunity challenge, Metacomet members craned their necks to see who was no longer on the Totoket tribe.  Simply put, there was visible shock on at least half of the Metacomet faces to realize that Jim was gone.  This served as an early wake up call to anyone who thought they could coast to the merge.  “Excellent” thought Amanda, “game on.”

The second immunity challenge was called “Blind Leading the Blind.”  Four bags of puzzle pieces were scattered across a field.  Pairs of blindfolded castaways tied together at the wrist would be directed to retrieve a bag by their tribe’s caller.  After all four bags were gathered, the blindfolds would come off and the tribe would race to the puzzle making station.  The first tribe to complete their puzzle would win immunity!

The tribes strategize

Metacomet being a person up decided to sit out Josh believing he would be more useful in future challenges and bearing in mind that the same person cannot sit out back to back challenges.  Amanda, with her strong voice and leadership was elected the tribe caller.  Angela, knowing how much was on the line for her personally in this challenge, volunteered to be Totoket’s tribe caller.

Survivors ready?

Once the challenge got underway it was far from a smooth operation.  Melissa took a quick tumble and was dragged along the ground briefly by Nicholas until she was able to recover her footing.  After a hard collision, Steve ended up on the ground looking worse for wear.  It was hard to tell whether Josh cringed or smirked at this from the sitout bench.

A meeting of the minds

Fighting for her life in the game, Angela led Totoket to an early lead in collecting all four bags.  As they raced to the puzzle making station, she called out that she and Larry would assemble the puzzle.  Before Totoket could even finishing emptying their puzzle pieces from the bags, Metacomet finished collecting and raced over to begin putting their puzzle together.  Diana and Christine quickly got to work.  Despite Totoket’s early lead, Metacomet soon caught and passed them.  The outcome quickly became clear as Metacomet assembled their last couple of pieces.  Christine once again found herself in the role of challenge heroine while Diana had her first taste of glory on the big stage.  Not one member of Totoket took their eyes off the ground as Metacomet was declared the winner.

Larry and Angela get to work...

...but they can't hold off Diana and Christine

Shortly thereafter, Metacomet returned to camp.  Christine and Diana continued to relive their come from behind victory while Steve went for a walk.  This presented a perfect opportunity for Josh, Amanda, and Dennis to search for the hidden immunity idol.  The three journeyed down to the beach and headed toward the rock wall that was mentioned in the clue.  After some time searching, Dennis noticed a funny looking spot in the wall.  He brushed aside a small rock and plunged his hand into a crevice.  It emerged holding a hidden immunity idol!  He shared his good news with Josh and Amanda and pledged to use the idol to protect the three of them.

Steve suspects the idol clue has been found

No sooner than one minute after the Totoket tribe returned from the challenge, Melissa made a solo expedition to seek out the hidden immunity idol.  Angela jumped at the chance to be left with the rest of the tribe.  Knowing that there was some support to vote Melissa out at the last tribal council, she tried to gauge interest this go around.  She made her case by pointing out challenge performance (she lead Tokoket to a strong start while Melissa was being dragged on the ground), health (she only had a slight cough while Melissa’s ankle continued to be a worry), and loyalty (here she was talking to the group while Melissa looked for the idol alone).  This argument got Larry, Nicholas, and Meredith thinking. 

Will Melissa find the idol?

Angela, having made her case decided to see if the rest of Totoket wanted to join Melissa in searching for the idol.  The four of them went down to the beach and split up.  After less than five minutes of searching, Meredith was on to something.  She noticed a faded brown color against the gray rocks from a slight distance.  After moving closer, her suspicions we confirmed.  There lay the second hidden immunity idol wedged in between two medium sized rocks!  She quickly snatched the idol and pocketed it.  In a veteran move, she continued to search for the idol so as to not raise any suspicion.  A little while after, Totoket abandoned the search and began to make preparations for tribal council.

Larry, Angela, and Meredith go idol hunting

Angela reminded Larry, Nicholas, and Meredith of her arguments before wandering off.  As the three conferred, Melissa came and sat down with them.  She simply asked if they were sticking with the plan and voting out Angela.  She received three affirmative answers.  Satisfied, Melissa left the group to collect seashells down on the beach.  “It looks like we have a decision to make” said Nicholas.  The other two nodded.

Meredith ponders how best to use her idol

Totoket was none too happy to be going back to tribal council.  Larry said that the Totoket tribe was stronger on paper than Metacomet but something was just not clicking in the challenges.  Meredith added that they were one watermelon bounce and a couple of puzzle pieces away from having sent Metacomet to the first two tribals.  Angela said that she would not be surprised if she were voted out but felt she had a strong case to be spared.  When asked who her case was against she didn’t hesitate to say Melissa.  This bit of news didn’t bother the young quantitative consultant.  She said that Angela had made her bed at the first tribal council and must lay in it.  She too could have flipped like Larry but she chose to stick to her now wiped out alliance and must pay the price.  Nicholas said that there were no worries about a hidden idol being played because it had not been found.  There was no way it could have since during the search everyone kept a close watch on each other.  Meredith tightened her grip on her bag.

It was time to vote.  Angela voted Melissa and hoped that there would be three more votes going the same way.  Melissa voted Angela and said that the result was a foregone conclusion, but nothing personal.  It was not to be though for Melissa as Angela had convinced the rest of the tribe to side with her!  The votes came down 4-1 for Melissa and the relief that showed on Angela’s face was evident.  This seemingly unified Totoket was hopeful that this vote would begin their turnaround.  They had no more time to waste.

Melissa's smile (and flame) would soon be extinguished

Nicholas and Totoket choose their side

Next time on Survivor:

     - Diana looks for someone to trust.

     - It’s do or die for Totoket!

     - One tribe member secretly plots to throw the challenge.