'Survivor: Panama - Exile Island' Ep. 4 -or- "Super Terry, his Talisman and the Psychotic Joke"

I know Survivor has its own titles for each episode. But I always prefer to name the episodes myself. After all, I'm the audience! The very least I can expect to get out of the show is to make my own episode title.

So, tonight's show is titled "Super Terry, his Talisman and the Psychotic Joke."

13 are left. Who will be voted out tonight?

The show opened with La Mina at Day 9. Sally was feeling like a fifth wheel, isolated from the alliance which makes up the rest of the tribe. Dan, Terry, Nick and Austin approach Ruth Marie to make "kind of a fifth person" in their alliance. That's how Austin put it, at least. Right off the bat, it's not a strong fifth. No, not a fifth of alcohol! That would knock the faltering tribe off the map!

Over at Casaya, Bruce, Shane and Aras were gathering tasty escargot for a lovely feast. And, then it starts -- a brouhaha! Shane and Aras question Danielle's work ethic around the camp. She points to a sleeping Bobby in defense of her own actions and Cirie looked like she was going to burst into spontaneous laughter. Cirie decides it's best to stay out of all the drama and just keep working; if the previously established alliance self-implodes, it's all that much better for her.

The Rewards Challenge involved swimming out to and diving down to unclip huge puzzle pieces, lugging them up and over a retaining wall puzzle ring one by one, then assembling the puzzle. Casaya won! Oh. I should mention what they won, huh? It's a brand new spiffy outhouse! With it, fresh towels, soap, a loofah and 5 gallons of fresh water.

They also won the right to choose someone from La Mina to go to Exile Island. They made the obvious choice (which may come back to bite at least some of them) -- Terry. Like Bruce, he's the leading man type and the strong player.

The Casaya Brouhaha continued as Aras and Shane thought the towels and other things should be stored in the spiffy new outhouse rather than using it for a toilet. Bobby immediately closed himself in there to take a dump. I was surprised they didn't argue whether the water should be used for washing or drinking. Cirie kept smiling and, in a confessional, she called Shane a "Psychotic Joke." Yes, that's part of my title. I thought it necessary, don't you?

Wait! Over on Exile Island, Terry's putting together all the clues for finding the hidden Immunity Idol ... he's looking ... he's digging ... he's digging... he's got it! It's actually a talisman rather than a full-sized Idol. And, with it, there's a note saying it's good up to and through the Final Four! Woohoo! So, there's the Talisman for my title. Super Terry? Soon, I promise, soon.

Back over at La Mina, the tribe is falling apart. They can't start or keep a fire going. No food; can't catch fish no matter how long Nick tries. They fuss. They lament. They miss their Super Terry. (There.)

Ah, Immunity is back up for grabs. Neither Terry nor Bruce give any hints about the hidden Idol when Jeff mentions it. The challenge (see image) had them hooked in pairs, walking on planks over water, filling buckets, bringing them to a huge bucket filler person while another sat on a balance scale doohickey (technical term). As the bucket filler person filled the huge bucket, the sitting on the balance person rose into the air with the object being to raise high enough to spring the tribe flag. Have I confused you yet? If not, I can keep going with the technical terms!

Casaya won, so it will be La Mina at Tribal Council. (We know who's safe, we know!)

Then it starts. Sally knows she's a target for the vote and fairly calmly points out how incredible she did at the challenge in an attempt to show them she's someone they should want to keep. Both women know it's a Boys Club and, while they don't campaign against each other, they each campaign for themselves. In the end, Super Terry not only has the talisman, he has the power of suggestion. He said that Dan was the only one to shake hands with Ruth Marie and they should keep Sally instead. And, so it went.

At Tribal Council, Sally stayed and Ruth Marie was voted off. Dan? Yep, he kept his word to Ruth Marie and voted for Sally. The vote was 4 to 2. Sally and Ruth Marie voted for each other, very politely.

The tribe has spoken, Ruth Marie. It's time for you to leave.

I've groused in other entries that I was finding this season a bit lackluster. Well, tonight's episode got me in my Survivor fan mode once again. It's about time!

What did you think of the show? Has the season started yet for you?