Season 2: Episode 9

Angela could not believe what had happened! Her plans had worked perfectly but Jim had flipped the script at the last tribal council. Luckily for her, Josh was sent home and she was spared. Still she couldn’t help but think that it was fine for her to be playing hidden immunity idols at tribal council but when someone had done it against her, they had gone too far. She also was disappointed in Dennis. She had taken him in and provided him with lots of useful information and this was the thanks she got? Angela refused to believe that Dennis felt more loyal to Jim than to her. She realized that she only needed to get through one more tribal council and then all of this wouldn’t matter anymore. There were still plenty of ways to make that happen. But the most sure of those ways would be to win the final immunity challenge.

Angela wonders what happened

The final four assembled at the challenge site where immunity would be on the line for the final time. Dennis handed back the necklace he had owned for the last two tribal councils as Jeff began to explain the challenge. The challenge was called Pile of Tiles. Each castaway would be given five small wooden tiles. Arranging them in a line the long way, each castaway would have to push the two tiles on the end together in order to hold all of the tiles in between. Each round, the castaways would do this and lift the tiles up off of the table. After 30 seconds, the next round would begin with another tile added to each castaway’s stack. The last one left holding their tiles would be guaranteed a spot at the final tribal council!

The challenge is underway!

Being such an important challenge, members of the jury were present to watch how it went down. Each castaway took the time to arrange the tiles to their liking and then lifted them off of the table. Jeff urged the castaways to put everything they had into this challenge and that even a second of distraction could be a million (minus $999,880) dollar mistake. Everyone appeared to be steady but no sooner than Jeff had made his announcement did Dennis lose his tiles. He would have to make it to the final three the hard way!

Dennis drops out leaving three

Round 1 concluded with three castaways still remaining. A sixth tile was added and the stacks were again lifted off of the table. No one in the challenge spoke. It didn’t even look like they were breathing. Midway through the round, the silence was broken by tiles hitting the table. With a disappointed look, Angela had been unable to hold on and was eliminated! Mark and Jim did not let this ruin their concentration as Angela’s elimination did not cause either to lose focus. Jim looked up and told Mark that if he dropped his stack, he would guarantee that the opera singer would be included in the final three. Mark did not take the bait and said that he trusted the necklace a whole lot more than he trusted Jim.

There go Angela's pieces

That was the end of round 2. A seventh tile was added for Mark and Jim to try to manage with. Both lined up their tiles and prepared again for lift off. Mark inched his tiles slowly off the table while Jim did the same. However, Jim wasn’t able to get that far! His tiles would not cooperate and V’d as he lifted the ends. It was hopeless as there was no coming back from this point. Mark had won his second immunity challenge and more importantly was guaranteed a spot in the final three! The jury conversed quietly about this and could only speculate about what was about to go down between the three vulnerable, yet crafty players.

Mark soaks in Amanda's cheers

The Cantwell tribe made their way back to camp from the challenge. Mark could not believe what had happened. He reflected on his journey through the game and how he had been at his lowest low when Rob was voted out at the first tribal council after the merge. Mark knew that each of his tribemates would be seeking him out and hoping that he would not be voting for them. Now with immunity, Mark felt that he could really think about who it was time to get rid of.

Mark is all smiles and into the final three!

Dennis wanted to talk to each of the other three right now but knew of course that he’d have to prioritize. He first went back to Jim. The two had been working together since the very start of the game. Dennis knew that Jim was still unaware of his secret alliance with Angela. He wasn’t sure if that alliance was no more due to his actions at the previous tribal council. All he could hope for was that Angela wouldn’t out him to Jim and watch as they both wrote his name down sending him out just short of the final three. He and Jim had an easy conversation. Both agreed to vote for Angela and try to sway Mark to do the same. Feeling that the heavy lifting was still to come, Dennis set off looking for one of the other two.

Jim can taste the final three

Jim felt that this conversation had went well and as expected. The worst he could expect was a tie. Even then he may not even be the target. Feeling that he knew where two of the votes were going, Jim left his conversation with Dennis and found Mark. Jim’s pitch here was that he had never targeted Mark and always tried to work with him since the merge began but the reason that they had not was all on Mark. Jim noted that he never voted for Mark and could have easily taken him out at the previous tribal council. Turning on the acting, Jim really tried to play up to Mark that if Angela made the final three, her story would be too much for the jury to pass up. She had made a big move with her idol, was a strong social player, and to make the final three a year after having won the game would be a compelling case. Mark and Jim shook on voting Angela out and went to have more conversations.

Mark and Jim think things through

Mark knew that everything Jim had told him was true. He could have himself a relaxing rest of the afternoon if he made his mind up to vote out Angela. But he was too fierce a competitor to rest on his laurels. Mark soon bumped into Angela and the two stepped aside to talk. He asked her who she thought the two of them should target. Angela thought that the correct play was going after Jim. Hearing this instantly told Mark where things stood. Jim and Angela would be voting for each other. He thought she was really working it as she gave him the pitch as to why Jim should be voted out. Noting his “phenomenal game,” Angela listed out reasons why Jim could not go to the final three. She told Mark that he had dragged Dennis through the game, had a huge idol play, and a great story of having gone from worst to first from last year to this year and also overcoming the adversity of losing all four tribal challenges. Mark wouldn’t commit to anything at this time and wanted to have some time to think.

Angela tries to get Mark to see things her way

Angela left this conversation feeling that she had accomplished her goals with Mark. Though she believed some of what she said, the reason she wanted to vote Jim out was that it would be easier for her to beat Dennis. She had leverage over him and could explain to the jury how she saved him and really looked out for him after the merge. Throwing in the bit where he betrayed her would certainly not win Dennis any points. Angela felt that in debating against Jim, he could counteract her idol move and tell a different story than what she had to offer. The two had taken very different paths to this point. Angela found Dennis and couldn’t wait to hear his apologies. Last year’s winner was not as upset with Dennis as she led him to believe. She felt that he was really feeling sorry for what he did and went for it by telling him that all would be forgiven if he voted for Jim at tribal council. Angela concluded by telling Dennis that he wouldn’t have her jury vote if he wasn’t on her side at tribal council and walked away without waiting for a response.

Say you're sorry

Dennis did feel horrible about that and wanted to make it up to Angela. But all this would do was backstab Jim and quite possibly lose his vote. He wandered around and caught up to Mark. The two compared notes and sensed that they were both safe. But now what?

What a dilemma

Just before tribal council, Jim and Angela met up a short distance away from camp. Smiling at each other, they stated the obvious and wished each other luck at the vote. But wait! Why had Dennis gotten off the hook here? The two quickly tried to throw a plan together to vote Dennis out. They certainly didn’t want to leave their fates in wild card Mark’s hands and playing both sides Dennis’ hands! Why not take some bit of power back? The two wrapped up their conversation and made final preparations before tribal council.

Last minute alliance?

Jeff welcomed in the final four to the penultimate tribal council. Three of the four had never been to this point in the game before. Angela remarked at how much of an accomplishment this was and that she knew from experience that the feeling upon reaching the final three was one of great relief. Jim said that he thought he did all that he could both in the challenge and afterward in order to set himself up to advance beyond this point. Dennis stated that he felt that everything that he had built with the others up to this point would help him achieve one of his goals by making it to the final tribal council. Mark noted that he was extremely glad to have immunity because he thought that he might not have been able to hang with the other three if he was forced to scramble and fight for his life. Jeff announced that it was time to vote!

Mark looks skeptical

After tallying the votes, Jeff prepared to read them. With hidden immunity idols having expired, there would be no wrinkles to this tribal council. The first vote was for Jim. A vote for Angela followed. Vote number three also had Angela’s name on it! Dennis knew that he was safe now and felt great sitting in his chair. Angela could only hope that either Mark or Dennis would come through for her and tie the vote up. Jeff unfolded the last vote and turned it around. It was for Angela! Her reign as Survivor Branford champion had come to an end only one step before the final tribal council! Angela packed up her things and grabbed her torch. Her back to back performances in Survivor Branford could be the greatest accomplishment achieved in its history to date. Jim, Dennis, and Mark were left to revel in their position as the final three!

Angela completes the jury

Some took more pleasure than others in making this vote

Next time on Survivor:

·              - Can Jim complete his last place to first place Survivor Branford turnaround?

·                   - Will Dennis be able to roll his story up into one pitch that the jury can’t refuse?

·                    - Would Mark’s improbable run to the final three conclude with being named sole survivor?