Love Is in the Air

Love Is in the Air is the fifth episode of.

Day 13
With taskmaster Dave Cruser out of the game, the Zhan Hu tribe enjoyed a lazy morning. However, the tribe’s losing streak was beginning to depress Frosti Zernow, who wanted things to change for the tribe. Peih-Gee Law tried to lift spirits with a small pep talk, but the mood was down. Sherea Lloyd, meanwhile, was eager for the status quo to be upheaved, as she was feeling on the outs. "zhanhu"

- With Dave out of the picture, everybody’s just kinda peaceful, just chillin’. Y’know, we sleep late. We got a lot of relaxation time.

"zhanhu"

- We should have a really strong team now. But the problem is Fei Long – they also have a really strong team. They’re well-led by Aaron, they’ve got the strongest player – James – and some very intelligent people, so they’re a hard team to beat.

"zhanhu"

- I definitely feel like the outsider on the tribe. Just because the four of them kind’ve clique up sometimes. So I want to spice things up. I want some drama or something going on. I’m really looking forward to something changing.

Later that day, Erik Huffman and Jaime Dugan went for a swim in the river, bonding over conversation about their middle names. They both said that they liked each other, and Erik told Jaime that he was a virgin because he didn’t feel like he’d “found the right person.” The revelation strengthened the trust between them, and Jaime then shared the secret of the Hidden Immunity Idol, telling him that the only way they could get clues was through kidnapping someone from the other tribe at a Reward Challenge. "zhanhu"

- Jaime and I are kind’ve, like, in the Garden of Eden, setting minus all the fruit. It’s biblical in the sense that it’s man and woman. We like hanging out.

"zhanhu"

- Erik and I have been with each other for thirteen days now. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. I can’t find anything wrong with him so far. He’s really attractive. I think it’s great that Erik’s still a virgin. I think it does prove that he’s even more trustworthy than I’d even thought before, so I’m tryin’ to make it with him all the way through the end.

"zhanhu"

- The new word on the street is that there’s an Immunity Idol and Jaime wants to entrust me with the information. That’s gonna hopefully help in the game. I don’t know what’s gonna happen with Jaime and I’s relationship, but she seems like a good all-round person to be aligned with right now at this stage of the game.

Meanwhile, at Fei Long, an unexpected relationship was blooming. United by their strong work ethic, Denise Martin and James Clement were becoming close friends. Denise, in particular, was eager to make the most of the honest friendship to get her further in the game. "feilong"

- I am carrying most of the tribe’s weight as far as work and the challenges, but Denise really does bust her ass out here. She’s the other one that really pulls her own around. I mean, you can’t beat that. I like women like her. She’s a strong, good woman. She’s there to compliment you and work with you. That’s attractive. I like that. If Denise was ten years younger, or if I was older, whichever way, Denise’d be in trouble!

"feilong"

- Right now, the person I trust most is James. Him and I get along very well. He picked up on my work ethic, and I picked up on his. Him and I seem to have a little connection going on. I can trust him and know that I can stick with him and ride his coattail as long as I can.

Soon after, a boat appeared at the Fei Long dock, where two fishermen delivered a message to the tribe. Uneasily, Todd Herzog read aloud the note and the tribe despaired: they were instructed to select the “two strongest warriors” from the opposing tribe to join Fei Long. However, they assumed that Zhan Hu would receive the same message, and likely take James (who sighed, “Oh, the humanity!”) and Aaron Reisberger away from them. Fei Long selected Frosti and Sherea to join them. "feilong"

- I think someone’s gonna get switched, for sure, on our tribe. I think that they’re probably going to get a note that’s quite similar that says, y’know, circle two people from the other tribe that you think will benefits yours and they are now a part of your tribe. I don’t know, but the situation at camp right now is we have to pick two members from the other tribe. We think that Frosti and Sherea will benefit our camp because they’re both tough, they’re both strong and fast and, y’know, they seem like good people. But it’s kinda crazy. It’s almost like everything you’ve devised has to be put on pause for a few minutes while you figure new things out.

Meanwhile, Zhan Hu received the same instructions. However, they assumed that the twist was one-way, with Zhan Hu merely taking two members of Fei Long, and not switching any back. Excited that this would give them a numbers advantage of seven to five, they unanimously chose James. Erik then suggested that they could take the other tribe’s leader, Aaron, and vote him off (“It’s kind’ve dirty, but...”). The tribe agreed, and sent the boat off to retrieve their new tribemates. "zhanhu"

- Oh my god! Now Zhan Hu’s gonna have seven and Fei Long’s gonna have five. I mean, it’s crazy! It’s gonna brutally cripple the other tribe. I mean, a huge power shifted to our tribe today with that crazy twist.

"zhanhu"

- Zhan Hu and Fei Long just flipped. We’re now seven-five instead of five-seven. It’s a huge advantage. We have all the strongest players. So it’s looking really good for us.

Later, a boat pulled up to the Zhan Hu dock with neither James nor Aaron in sight. Zhan Hu thought their new members might merely be hiding out of the way in anger. However, Sherea and Frosti were horrified to discover that they’d misinterpreted the note and that Fei Long had chosen them to join their tribe. Hugging goodbye, Frosti reminded the remaining Zhan Hu members that they now had “control of the two biggest players,” with Sherea urging them to use it to their advantage. "zhanhu"

- Apparently, that wasn’t the end of the twist. Seems Fei Long picked two people from Zhan Hu, and those people were Sherea and myself.

"zhanhu"

- It never crossed my mind that they were gonna take two of us. We’re just like, “Oh, we get to have two strong people.” We ain’t think about it at all. That was really dumb.

Back at Fei Long, the tribe waited in dread for the arrival of the next boat. Their fears were confirmed, with Aaron and James selected to join Zhan Hu. Unhappy about the inevitable, the tribe lamented the loss with as much optimism as possible, with Courtney Yates and James even taking the time to mock Jean-Robert Bellande: “I thought you were our strongest player, Jean-Robert!” However, the departure was saddening for all. "feilong"

- We’ve got a great camp, we’ve got such great momentum, and such a great force on this team and now we’re switchin’ and everything’s messed up.

"feilong"

- I don’t have any ties, anything with Aaron. Goin’ over to Zhan Hu, I’m pretty much by myself. I’m startin’ all over again. I’ma have to work my way into the system again.

"feilong"

- We’re givin’ up our two strongest warriors: Aaron and James. If that’s not bad enough, James is one of my strongest allies in this whole game.

"feilong"

- I was a little upset. I mean, I’ve been getting along with James. James works around here. But, y’know, I mean, things change. Things change for the good, things change for the bad.

The two had barely left camp before Jean-Robert took charge to plan what they were going to do with their new tribemates, wanting to hash out the plan before they arrived. He suggested taking out Sherea first, and then Frosti, and tried to dissuade people from planning to take him out instead. "feilong"

- Todd and Courtney and Amanda – I mean, who knows. They may just decide, “Oh, let’s get rid of Jean-Robert.” Today’s a terrible day for Fei Long, and today is a god-awful day for Jean-Robert.

Out on the river, the two boats passed each other, and the four switched castaways waved to each other as they officially swapped to their new tribes. Zhan Hu welcomed Aaron and James eagerly, and were excited when the fishermen handed them a feast basket to celebrate the occasion. As they ate, James asked who the brains of the tribe was, and Peih-Gee answered that it was a collective effort, in different ways, with Jaime pointing out that she and Peih-Gee did puzzles for fun back at home. James then told them that he was happy to continue as a hard worker, getting water and doing the chores, in order to allow the tribe to prepare for the upcoming challenge. "zhanhu"

- James and I are going to Zhan Hu. We just switched tribes and I’m ready. We’re goin’ in with only two people, y’know, and they have three. So it is, like, a cause for apprehension on my part.

"zhanhu"

- When Aaron and James came over, they brought a little bounty with them, with a big basket full of different fruits and nuts.

"zhanhu"

- Zhan Hu’s gonna be a little bit harder. All my people are over there at Fei Long. These people are happy. Everythin’ relaxed. My people over there are miserable. I like misery.

"zhanhu"

- Of course, James and Aaron know that they’re on the chopping block, so they’re definitely tryin’ to fire us up for winning the challenges. We have control of the two strongest guys right now in the game. I mean, it’s a major advantage. It’s just what we choose to do with it.

Frosti and Sherea were also greeted warmly at Fei Long, and the new tribe were jubilant when they received their feast basket. In their confessionals, Todd and Sherea both expressed excitement that the switch would give them new opportunities for alliances, Frosti was more cautious, knowing that he was on very thin ice due to the numbers disadvantage. "feilong"

- The fact that Frosti and Sherea are coming over to our tribe is kind’ve exciting because I may be able to get great bonds with them, so who knows what I can build there.

"feilong"

- Comin’ over to Fei Long, I feel like I’m starting over, y’know, in the game all over again. So I’m gonna do my best to try to get to know them and try to find my place and fit in. My position at Zhan Hu was not secure in the fact that I wasn’t the hardest worker in camp, so I’m hopin’ over here that they kinda see me in a different light and maybe I can, y’know, step it up some.

"feilong"

- This is a dangerous place for me. Things are really messed up now. I’m out of my comfort zone, obviously, because I’m outnumbered by old Fei Long members with Sherea. My first goal is to figure out what’s going on around here, what kinds of alliances I can sense, to see where I can put myself that’s gonna keep me around.

Day 14
At Fei Long, Jean-Robert rose early to tend to breakfast. However, back in the shelter, Denise began bad-mouthing him, wondering if he was “strutting his feathers” and joking that Sherea was going to have to do the arguing with Jean-Robert now. Soon thereafter, Jean-Robert announced that he was going fishing and began handing out tasks to his tribe. Denise quipped, “Okay, tribe leader,” and when Jean-Robert claimed he didn’t want that title, she told him to stop handing out orders and just ask people nicely to get things done. However, he continued by instructing Sherea to cook and Todd to start work on a “sardine fried rice.” As Jean-Robert left, the women continued to mock his bossy – and chauvinistic – attitude. The dissent amongst the original Fei Long delighted both Frosti and Sherea, who saw it as a possible in-road into the tribe. "feilong"

- This morning, I just felt like I could give us a little headstart because we lost our sous chef, Aaron and James. So, I decided to just come out here and try to build a fire and see the fire goin’. So might as well start getting the rice going.

"feilong"

- Waking up to everybody bashing Jean-Robert was better than the food that we got the night before. To me, that just makes me so much more comfortable knowing that there’s somebody here they already have problems with. So it’s lookin’ like Jean-Robert’s in a bit of a pinch.

"feilong"

- Jean-Robert woke up early this morning – which he never does – and he started cooking breakfast for everybody. He’s trying to save his butt right now.

"feilong"

- Seems like, right now, Jean-Robert’s the one who gets on everybody’s nerves. I definitely think this could be the opening for me, the way they kind of don’t get along with Jean-Robert as great as ‘body. I’m definitely gonna try to make my way in there.

Across the river at Zhan Hu, while James worked around camp, Aaron tried to bolster his social game with the original Zhan Hu, asserting that they had a strong tribe that could do well in the upcoming challenges. He added that James was the “catalyst” for Fei Long’s prior challenge success, but pointed out that while he was an asset now, he would be a problem down the line. However, Peih-Gee was suspicious of him, and pulled Jaime aside later to propose that they throw the next two Immunity Challenges in order to both save their alliance members at Fei Long and eliminate Aaron and James, evening the tribes come the merge. Despite the plan’s risk, both women appeared open to the strategy. "zhanhu"

- This is Zhan Hu. This is my new tribe. Erik and Peih-Gee and Jaime: they’re really awesome people. Y’know, they’re really solid. I feel comfortable here. I don’t know how James feels, but... Everyone has to consider how great of an athlete that James is, y’know, and when there is a merge that comes, y’know, how dangerous he could be if he is what they call an ‘immunity hog.’  That strategy talk: that was a subtle card that I played, y’know, just to save my butt just in case we do lose an Immunity.

"zhanhu"

- Aaron’s smart. He’s athletic. He’s good-looking, which always helps people like you a little more. But I think Aaron is a little bit crafty. He’s probably holding a little bit back. Now that we have Aaron and James over here, Frosti and Sherea are over at the other camp. I don’t know how long members of my original alliance are going to last over there, so definitely I’m gonna try pull Jaime aside and have a talk with her and see what she thinks of everything.

At the Immunity Challenge, Jeff Probst first asked Todd how he felt about the tribe’s new additions, and he responded that although they had lost two awesome people, they’d gained two tough fighters in return. Aaron then stated that the swap put him on the chopping block, but that winning the challenge was the best way to stay in the game. Jeff then took the Immunity Idol back from Fei Long and announced the challenge: ‘’Plunge, Pull, Pop’’. Two members of each tribe would swim out to a platform and alternate turns removing bamboo poles threaded through an underwater cage, gradually releasing twelve puzzle pieces representing the signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Once all puzzle discs were retrieved, they would place them in a boat and row back to shore where the remaining three tribe members would solve the puzzle by matching the discs to the right position on the table. The first tribe to solve the puzzle would win the challenge. To even the numbers, Amanda and Courtney sat out the challenge for Fei Long.

The swimmers, Aaron and Erik (for Zhan Hu) and Frosti and Jean-Robert (for Fei Long), swam out to the platform, with Zhan Hu edging an early lead. The four men quickly became exhausted with the effort, and Jaime called out, urging her team to take a moment to catch their breath, frustrating James who felt she was unfocused on the challenge at hand. Jaime and Peih-Gee attempted to delegate tasks for the solving of the puzzle that would prevent James from having getting too close to it. Zhan Hu maintained their slight lead, retrieving all twelve puzzle pieces first. However, Fei Long was close behind, but almost lost their pieces when Jean-Robert nearly capsized the boat.

Zhan Hu reached the shore first, but as James unloaded the pieces from the boat, Jaime took one piece and threw it out of sight. Fei Long quickly caught up as Jaime and Peih-Gee nonchalantly placed the puzzle pieces on the board without actually locking them into the right place. James grew steadily more frustrated once he realised how badly Jaime and Peih-Gee were doing, and swore at Peih-Gee when she paused to answer Jeff’s question about whether she was good at puzzles (to which she cheerily replied, “I’m good at Sudoku!”). With Fei Long easily taking the lead, the red tribe won the challenge by a landslide. Jeff handed the discarded puzzle piece back to Zhan Hu, and then awarded Immunity to Fei Long.

Day 15
Back at the Zhan Hu camp, Aaron and James were angry about the tribe’s embarrassing performance at the challenge. James pointed out Jaime and Peih-Gee’s dismal effort, but the two girls could barely keep a straight face in light of their successful plan to throw the challenge. However, their apparent inability to take the challenge seriously infuriated James further and he strongly suggested getting rid of one of the girls to maintain a strong team. However, Jaime and Peih-Gee, once alone, broke down in laughter upon realizing that the three men had no idea they’d thrown the challenge. "zhanhu"

- I’m not babysittin’ the children that don’t want to do nothing’ and be funny during a challenge. Them girls about to go thirsty. ‘Cause I just can’t support people who ain’t gonna try. So they can... They might as well send me home, or let, y’know, cut one of them girls.

The former Fei Long members pressed Erik about whether the girls’ behaviour was normal, and he was as puzzled as them. He eventually approached Jaime and Peih-Gee, and was shocked to learn that the girls had conspired to throw the challenge. Erik and Jaime later met again in the river to discuss strategy, with the two reaffirming their alliance. Erik suggested voting out James, but Jaime was eager to take out Aaron. "zhanhu"

- The two girls – they basically threw it, y’know, on purpose. I didn’t know that the girls were gonna throw it. It puts me in a really tough position. I’m forced to - in this situation - to stick with them. Unfortunately, I really have to trust them a lot, so I’m a little worried about that. I just don’t like losing – especially on purpose. But I want to remain aligned with Jaime because... because it’s safe. For now, at least.

"zhanhu"

- Aaron and James are definitely on the chopping block. One of them’s going home. I trust James more than I do Aaron for the simple fact that I think Aaron’s made enough alliances on the other side where he thinks he’s set over there. And I think James probably doesn’t have as many ties at Fei Long. So Aaron will be the first to be kicked off.

Peih-Gee approached a still-angered James to ask him who he was voting for, and tried to assure him that she would work to keep him around over Aaron if he wanted. However, James insisted that Aaron deserved to remain in the game. When Peih-Gee then asked if they should send James home instead, James answered, “Yeah! Send my ass home!” Conversely, Aaron asked Erik who he was voting for, and when the latter admitted that he was going with the girls and voting for James, Aaron latched onto the idea to save his own skin and avoid making enemies should he remain in the game. With Aaron and James commiserating over their miserable situation, Zhan Hu departed for Tribal Council. "zhanhu"

- Well, originally we’d agreed that the first one to go was going to be Aaron from the get-go and we thought that we might be able to get James onto our side. I think, after what happened today, he doesn’t trust us at all, which means tonight at Tribal Council, we probably will have to get rid of James.

"zhanhu"

- I don’t trust really anyone here on Zhan Hu. Y’know, I’m on the chopping block and James is on the chopping block. But I think James is gonna go home. So, tonight’s Tribal Council, I am gonna vote for James, just so I don’t have to vote for Peih-Gee and I won’t have to vote for Jaime or anything like that. So there’s no hard feelings or any kind of vendettas, y’know. So we’ll see what happens.

At Tribal Council, Jeff first asked Jaime about the switch and the rationale behind picking Aaron and James. She answered that they were the two strongest players, and it would hurt Fei Long to lose them. Aaron was then asked for his view, and he replied that it was a “big deal” to go from a successful tribe to being the new people on another tribe, and outnumbered to boot.

Aaron’s answer provoked a smug smile from Jaime, which Jeff pointed out as being peculiar at Tribal (somewhere people shouldn’t want to be). Jaime said she was merely trying to be optimistic, but James interrupted by pointing out that she was simply “chilling” because she had the numbers. Jeff then asked her what had happened at the challenge, and Jaime answered that if the merge came, the original Zhan Hu could be down in numbers and she didn’t want to see people switching back to their old tribe. When Jeff point-blank asked her if she threw the challenge, she admitted, “Yes, sir.” Aaron and James both reacted with dismay.

Peih-Gee reiterated the strategy by pointing out that if the new Zhan Hu had won immunity, Frosti and Sherea would be picked off, setting herself, Erik and Jaime up to be pagonged at the merge. James’ dramatic displays of frustration drew Jeff to turn to him, and James commented that he was shocked that Zhan Hu would willingly lose, because he “couldn’t do that.” Yet Peih-Gee pointed out, “It’s not about winning the battle. It’s about winning the war.”

The response riled James, who segued the conversation to reveal that Peih-Gee had asked him whether he wanted to stay, and he couldn’t deal with being with these kinds of people anymore. Jeff asked if it should be James going home, and James answered, “It should be.” Although he loved being out in the game, he couldn’t take being under the somebody else’s mercy. Aaron was then asked how he felt, and he answered that he wanted to stick it out in the game as long as he could, and although he felt comfortable about the vote, he’d brought his bag anyway.

Erik was then called upon to cast his vote, followed by Aaron who cast his vote for James. Peih-Gee voted. James then voted against Peih-Gee. Jaime was the last to vote before Jeff tallied the votes.

Jeff returned and read the votes. The first was for Peih-Gee, and the second for James. However, the last three votes all came up for Aaron. He became the fifth person voted out of. Reluctantly, he bid his tribe farewell and his torch was snuffed. As Zhan Hu departed, Jeff assured Erik, Jaime and Peih-Gee that while they had made a strategic move, it was all dependent on whether their assumptions of the future of the game were true.

Immunity
Challenge: Plunge, Pull, Pop

Two players swim to a pontoon and climb up, alternate diving down to pull bamboo poles out of a cage, eventually making twelve puzzle discs (each bearing a sign of the Chinese zodiac) float, then transport them to shore in a small boat. The other three use them to solve a puzzle, matching each disc to the corresponding place on a large board.

Winner: Fei Long

Voting Confessionals
"zhanhu"

- Sorry for the confusion. Sorry for the lies. Today was a big mess. But I have to go with my two girls. That's all I got in this game. I hope you understand.

"zhanhu"

- I wish I was, uh, sending all three of those home. It's good to do battle with you, boy.

"zhanhu"

- Aaron, this is purely strategic. I have a ton of respect for you. You're a true warrior in this game.

"zhanhu"

- This is because I stick to my original team mates. That's all I'm goin'.

"zhanhu"

- As you would say, we're "frenemies".

Final Words
"zhanhu"

- I had no idea that I would be going home tonight. I thought it was going to be James over me and I just wanted to say to James I had a great time stepping into battle with you, and I don’t know what’s going to happen to you, buddy. But I’d rather still be there on that island with those people even though I don’t like them anymore, than be here talking about it.

Trivia

 * On the note that explains the Tribe Switch, Jean-Robert's name was misspelled as John-Robert.
 * The episode title ("love is in the air") is never said during the episode, a rare lapse in Survivor tradition.
 * Aaron had the most confessionals this episode, with six (including his vote and final words).
 * Frosti, James, Peih-Gee and Sherea all had five confessionals each.
 * Erik and Jean-Robert both had three confessionals.
 * Denise, Jaime and Todd had two confessionals each.
 * Amanda only had one confessional.
 * Courtney was the only castaway to not have a confessional this episode.
 * During this episode, Denise can be seen wearing a black buff on her wrist in one of her confessionals. This was a mistake made by the editors that indicated that she would make the merge.