Alabama on ‘Survivor’: Girl fight

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 11 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

“Our happy little family is not such a little happy family anymore.”

That’s how Debbie describes the Forza tribe during Tribal Council. The soap opera of “Survivor” just heaped on the drama tonight, with crying, scheming and fighting galore.

Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile eating his way to victory? Can Debra Beebe of Auburn stomach the drama?

Who’s lying, who’s crying, and which two women are at war? Find out, after the jump …

Debra Beebe and Sierra - Survivor Tocantins

Battled blondes: Debbie, left, and Sierra square off.

The tyranny of the minority: Jalapao came to the merge at a 6-4 disadvantage. The remaining — Taj, J.T. and Stephen — are still outnumbered by the Timbirans 4-3.

Who’s controlling the game and Forza? The Jalapaos. Wild.

And who’s really in charge? J.T. and Stephen.

And who does Coach keep checking in with? J.T.

Stephen, Taj, Sierra - Survivor Tocantins

Survey says: Above, Stephen and Taj play who’s who.
Sierra the statue gets smashed.

Reward Challenge: Pecking order challenge! In which we learn who is hated, and who is most hated. And possibly who will win it all.

Contestants fill out survey questions about each other in private, then guess the most popular answers. Each right answer earns a chop on another player’s rope. Three chops releases the hammer tied to the rope, smashing the idol of the then-eliminated player. Last one standing wins a home-cooked meal and a trip to a spring.

So what were the questions and the group’s answers?

1. Who has not lived up to their potential?	Coach
2. Who would squander the $1 million prize the quickest?	Sierra
3. Who would not survive on their own?	Debbie
4. Who would you trust with your life?	J.T.
5. Who is most likely to stab you in the back?	Sierra
6. Who would you like to least see win this game?	Sierra

And who was eliminated when?

1st out	Sierra
2nd	Coach
3rd	Debbie
4th	Erinn
5th	J.T.
6th	Taj
Winner	Stephen

Stephen wins! (Is this a glimpse of who’ll be voted out in order?) He picks Erinn to go to Exile Island, reminding viewers that he’s sending an ally to protect any Hidden Immunity Idol clues.

He can pick two companions to share the feast, so he chooses … Taj and J.T. (his other allies).

The omnivore’s dilemma: And now, J.T., Taj and Stephen eating …

James Thomas Jr., Stephen, Taj - Survivor Tocantins

Eating for three: Stephen, Taj and J.T. enjoy their reward.

For those keeping score, J.T. has been binging in the previous three episodes: He had pizza during the last immunity challenge, ate similar feasts at the last two reward challenges, plus gorged himself at the tribal merge.

Survival, really?

James Thomas Jr., Debra Beebe, Coach - Survivor Tocantins

Get the ball rolling: From top, J.T., Debbie
and Coach keep their mazes moving.

Immunity Challenge: Players retrieve three useless bags on the ground with a grappling hook attached to a rope. The first three compete to see who can move a ball through a tilting table maze with holes.

Coach, J.T. and Debbie advance to the next round. Coach and J.T. are neck and neck, until J.T. flubs it.

Coach and Jeff Probst - Survivor Tocantins

Giving 110 percent: Coach wins his first individual immunity.

Coach wins, proclaiming “Dragon slayer!”

Oy.

Dramarama: It’s clear from the previous episode that Sierra is doomed. Her ally Tyson was blindsided. Her Timbiran tribesmates hate her. Her Jalapao tribemates mistrust her. She was first out in the Reward Challenge. And Coach and Debbie end up bickering with her more than convincing her to band together as Timbirans to knock out the Jalapaos.

Oh, and let’s not forget her Forzan-inspired high school yearbook superlatives: Most Likely to Squander the $1 Million Prize, Most Likely to Stab You in the Back, Least Wanted to Win.

Once Coach snagged the Immunity Necklace, it became a Debbie vs. Sierra showdown.

Stephen and J.T., the power couple, have several conversations, figuring Sierra is more annoying, but Debbie is more cunning.

Meanwhile, Sierra takes the scorched earth route, calling out Coach as a liar and schemer. The rest of the tribe watches in either horror or amusement.

Debbie leaves, crying: “This drama crap has to stop. I’m too old for this. .., I cannot believe I’m in a verbal combat with a 23 year old.”

Voted out: At Tribal Council, everyone gets a chance to speak.

J.T. says, “I’m scared to go fishing,” because he doesn’t want to give anyone else a chance to scheme while he’s away. And J.T. loves fishing!

Sierra calls out Coach, which sets him off on a lon-n-n-ng rebuttal, including a Bible quote and telling her she’s “23 going on 5.” Taj calls the whole mess an entertaining “soap opera.”

Then, host Jeff Probst asks Debbie a fatal question, if being so popular and winning the previous Immunity Challenge will make her a target. Umm, no?

Besides a stray vote for Stephen(?!) (from Erinn), it’s Debbie and Sierra.

Sierra - Survivor Tocantins