yauOk, so I thought the last couple of weeks of this season were the best episodes i’ve seen since season 2. Well, this week cooked up more unbelievable surprises as Yau-man has taken this game to a new level. Who would think that the 90 lb. weakling of the bunch would be such a powerful competitor? It just shows that brains can win over brawn. This week’s recap is loaded with surprises!

At the reward challenge it was disclosed that they’d be playing for a new truck. Not just a pickup but a Ford F350 Super Duty with all the trimmings. The challenge was a multi-faceted competition where they were put into two teams and each teammate tied to each other. They had to traverse a few obstacles in order to reach the finish line first. Yau-man, Boo and Stacy were the winning team which then competed individually by throwing axes at some ropes on a board. Whoever cut two ropes first won the truck. Yau-man was the winner barely beating out Boo. However, in an unbelievable and surprising move, Yau-man immediately wanted to barter the truck away to Dreamz who stated earlier he’d do anything to win the truck. The deal was this. IF Dreamz and Yau-man were to be in the final four together and IF Dreamz were to win immunity he would have to give it to Yau-man. Dreamz went for it, got the truck (and the rest of the reward as well which was to load the truck with school supplies and take it to a local school). The next item was WHO Yau-man would pick to go to Exile Island which the winner got to determine. In another shocking move he chose himself. Now, if we analyze all this you can see the brilliance in it all. IF Dreamz gets to the final four and wins immunity he has to give it Yau-man which assures him a bid in the final 2 or 3. AND, by giving the truck to Dreamz it gets unbelivable ‘good guy’ bonus points from the jury. AND, by going to Exile Island he gets to read the 3rd clue for finding the re-hidden immunity idol.

Back at camp Dreamz realizes the implications of what he’s done. Basically he traded a possible million bucks for a pickup truck as he’s sold his sole to Yau-man. So, he realizes that he only has to honor the agreement IF they both get to the final four. The goal now is to get rid of Yau-man BEFORE they get to the final four. Remembering, though, that Yau-man has the exposed hidden immunity idol. Dreamz gets with Cassandra and Stacy with his plan to vote off Yau-man to which they agree.

At the immunity challenge, Boo wins over Yau-man in a balance beam – rope tossing contest. This puts Yau-man in a precarious position as he’s feeling the bad vibes at camp that he’s the possible target after his truck-for-immunity deal. In the meantime, with Yau-man’s help with the 3rd clue, Earl finds the re-hidden immunity idol which he agrees to ‘share’ with Yau-man if needed. Now both are in play once again but no one knows about this one.

At tribal council Yau-man’s paranoia compels him to play his immunity idol. It pays off as the votes were cast against him. Stacy was the recipient of the other votes and was therefore eliminated. The looks on the faces of those voting for him were priceless as they knew IF he played it they were doomed.

So far this guy has totally outsmarted and outplayed the others. He has completely thought out each possible scenario and brilliantly worked out the sequence that has to occur in order for him to be in position to win. Here is a guy that traditionally throughout Survivor history would have been voted off because of his age or physical stature and is in a position to win this through determination and brains. Plus some timely luck in winning challenges!