The Hidden Immunity Idol

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The Hidden Immunity Idol
Episode Information
Version	United States
Season	Guatemala
Episode Number	8/15 (162)
Original Release	November 3, 2005
Viewership (in Millions)	18.28
Ratings/Share (18-49)	6.6/17
Episode Chronology
Previous	"Surprise Enemy Visit"
Next	"Secrets and Lies and an Idol Surprise"
Subpages

The Hidden Immunity Idol is the eighth episode of Survivor: Guatemala.

Story

“	Survivors learn that there is an Immunity idol hidden in the Guatemalan jungle, and the hunt begins. Given the choice to feast or challenge, several castaways choose to enjoy a large feast in front of the others instead of competing for Immunity. Is this a smart move, or will their hunger be their demise?	”
—Episode Synopsis

Night 18

After Tribal Council, Yaxhá, carrying their torches and their new red buffs for themselves and for Nakúm, visit Nakúm's camp in the middle of the night. Waking up Nakúm, the Yaxhá tribe inform them that they must exchange their old buffs for new ones. It clicks in Nakúm's minds fast: this is indeed the merge. Tensions between Jamie Newton and Bobby Jon Drinkard continue to flare.

Day 19

Once the sun rises at the newly merged tribe's camp, they all get to work in collecting firewood. Brandon Bellinger talks about how the merged tribe is nowhere close to being one big happy family. Him and his old tribe are outnumbered 6 to 4, and it makes Brandon feel on edge, as he knows he could be the next to go. Lydia Morales and Rafe Judkins walk to Tree Mail, where they find a new tribe flag and instructions on what to do now that both tribes have merged into one. As Lydia reads it aloud to everyone, she would read there is a Hidden Immunity Idol somewhere in the jungles surrounding their camp. She reads further that it is about 6 inches tall and is made of stone, while Stephenie LaGrossa immediately exclaims "What!?". Rafe goes on to read the rules of Hidden Immunity Idol. It can be played at ANY Tribal Council, and the owner of the idol does not have to tell anyone that he or she has it if he or she chooses not to. Lydia finishes the mail by saying that the idol's power expires at the Final 4. Everyone scrambles to find it, looking all over the pyramid, around camp, and everywhere in between, and confessionals from everyone reveal just ho important this little idol will be for their game.

Day 20

While everyone is looking for the idol, Lydia asks some of the tribe if they've come up with a name for the merged tribe. One of them thinks of just combining parts of the two old tribe's names, and the name Xhakúm sticks. Lydia lets off a little dance and a Xhakúm chant. She also sits down with the paint and tribe flag, and each tribe member paints their names, and Lydia paints the Xhakúm name on the red tribe flag.

After a break, the tribe continues to scour the jungles for the Hidden Idol, and Judd plainly says that he's given up looking for it because it's driving him crazy. Rafe talks in confessional that he is terrible at looking for things, so his chances of finding the Idol are extremely slim. Unfortunately for Rafe, he ends up sticking his hand near a hornet's nest, and he can be seen sprinting away. He later states that that was the will of the Mayan gods that he isn't supposed to get the idol.

Gary Hogeboom prepares a hook on a string before he goes out to fish, as Stephenie talks in confessional about how badly she and the other tribemates are starving. Gary, Brandon, Bobby Jon and Danni Boatwright head out to the boat and fish, with Brandon talking about hating the fact that they're the ones who have to do all the work while the old Nakúm members sit back at camp and do nothing. Even though the tribe is all aboard the plan of Pagonging the old Yaxhá tribe members, Rafe confesses in private that he doesn't like this plan at all.

Day 21

“	"I don't need practice." former Survivors have said "Carrying a pot around on my head?" So if you feel safe...ignore this note. Just be prepared to cast your next vote.	”
—Tree Mail

Tribe members start to practice holding the pots on their heads and getting ready for the upcoming Immunity Challenge. Jeff Probst calls them in, and on a table is a huge helping of food, to the shock of everyone. Probst takes back the tribal Immunity Idol as well as the bag of old buffs, stating that tribal immunity is no more, and that the Immunity Necklace is now what they covet. Jeff asks the tribe of their new name, as well as how things are going at the merged camp, then gets to the rules of the challenge. He also says that the merge feast, although a tradition, will continue, but with a twist. Each tribe member can partake in the feast, but only by waiving their right to compete for the Immunity Necklace. Stephenie, Jamie, Rafe, and Lydia opt out of the challenge, while everyone else will compete. After an hour, Cindy Hall, Brandon, Gary, Judd, and Bobby Jon are still in the challenge, where they will now have to race to the top of the nearby pyramid while still balancing the pots on their heads. Cindy is quickly out, but Gary and Brandon are out to shared lead. Gary makes it to the top first and wins the first Individual Immunity Challenge of the season.

After coming back to the Immunity Challenge, Judd lets off some frustrations he's having with Jamie, while Bobby Jon and others in the tribe look on. Rafe talks about how he's feeling more and more unhappy about being in a majority alliance that feels they don't have to do anything at camp while the minority has to do everything and then some. Bobby Jon and Jamie get into another argument about whether Brandon or Bobby Jon is going to be voted out next while Brandon watches it unfold and saying nothing. After Jamie leaves, Bobby Jon and Brandon talk about how Jamie could possibly be going home at Tribal Council. They both grind corn for a little while, laughing, and then go off into the woods and look for the Hidden Immunity Idol before it's time to go to Tribal Council.

At Tribal Council, Jeff starts by asking about the Immunity Challenge, and Jamie's comment about how Judd is playing to protect the old Nakúm lead. Rafe answers by stating that although he knows that this is a game about numbers, he still feels bad about that fact, talking about how Survivor is also a game about respecting one another. Bobby Jon immediately goes for the jugular by stating that what Jamie said then had absolutely no class. Jamie retorts it's still a numbers game, and Bobby Jon fires back by telling Jamie to just shut up. Cindy talks about how she can eat when she gets home, and that competing in the game of Survivor is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Gary talks about his morality being put into question in this game every time the tribe goes up to vote, and Cindy agrees with Gary's sentiment. Before the vote, Jeff asks that if anyone has found the Hidden Immunity Idol and want to play it for themselves or someone else that now would be the time to do that. (Guatemala is the only season in which this rule is in play. This rule would be changed in subsequent seasons.) However, no one presents the idol, and the tribe go up to vote. Brandon's early fears about being on the chopping block were proven correct, much to other tribemates' wishes in voting out Jamie, and Brandon would be voted out in a 6-4 vote.

Challenges

Immunity Challenge: Pot Head
Each castaway would stand on a wooden cube with a pottery pot on their head. If they dropped their pot, they would be out. If there is no winner after an hour, the remaining castaways would race up the ruins to the top. If they dropped their pot during the race, they would be out. The first one to the top without breaking their pot wins.
Additional Stipulation: The castaways were given the option to sit out of the challenge and eat the merge feast instead of competing.
Winner: Gary Hogeboom

Tribal Council

Tribal Council 9: Xhakúm
Voted Against	Voter
Brandon (6 votes)	Cindy, Jamie, Judd, Lydia, Rafe, Stephenie
Jamie (4 votes)	Bobby Jon, Brandon, Danni, Gary
VOTED OUT: Brandon Bellinger

Voting Confessionals

Judd “ (voting against Brandon) Brandon, unfortunately, this is a numbers game, but you're a hell of a dude, and I'm glad I got the pleasure to meet you. Good luck. ” Lydia “ (voting against Brandon) You're a tough competitor, and I'm very proud of the way you played this game. Good luck to you. You're a great person. ” Jamie “ (voting against Brandon) I have the utmost respect for you. We bled together, and we fought together. You're going out as a threat. I hope that means a lot to you, 'cause you're not sticking around because you're weak and people are keeping you along. I'm sorry you had to go; maybe if we had met and been on other teams together, we could've allied. You're a good man. I hope you do well in life. ” Stephenie “ (voting against Brandon) Brandon, I respect you so much. You're a great guy. You're a threat, though, and you don't play into my strategy, so you need to go so I can get further in this game. Good job out there. ” Gary “ (voting against Jamie) Jamie, I really do think you're a good guy down deep; my heart just says I have to vote for you tonight. I can't vote for anybody else. I'll help you any way I can in the future. Take care. ” Rafe “ (voting against Brandon) This isn't a game of absolute right and absolute wrong. For me, tonight, this is the right decision. ” Brandon “ (voting against Jamie) Jamie, too many times you've showed disrespect, and I don't think you're as deserving to be here, but I do respect you, man. ” Cindy “ (voting against Brandon) I think you said it best when you said you hadn't changed much in this game; probably, because you don't need to. You're a great guy the way you are, and I hope you have a really great future. Nice to get to know you. ” Bobby Jon “ (voting against Jamie) You talk about having Southern pride. Well, part of having Southern pride is being a Southern gentleman. And, no, you don't have any class at all. ” Danni “ (voting against Jamie) Jamie, you're such a little peckerwood. It should be you going home tonight, not Brandon. ”

Final Words

	Brandon	“	I played the game I came out here to play. And I think I played a pretty good game. A pretty straight-up game. I wasn't always all about the money. I was playing the game for myself. And you can take me out of this game before you can take my pride. And I think I did a pretty good job of that. I think I can walk away from this and you know, take something good with me.	”

Still in the Running

Jim 18th	Morgan 17th	Brianna 16th	Brooke 15th	Blake 14th	Margaret 13th	Brian 12th	Amy 11th	Brandon 10th
Bobby Jon Xhakúm	Cindy Xhakúm	Danni Xhakúm	Gary Xhakúm	Jamie Xhakúm	Judd Xhakúm	Lydia Xhakúm	Rafe Xhakúm	Stephenie Xhakúm

Trivia

• This is the first episode where the Hidden Immunity Idol is introduced.
• This is the first time when the merge occurred right after a Tribal Council.
• This episode featured the first challenge where players were offered to sit out and participate in a feast before it began.
• In the Survivor: Guatemala DVD, this episode is incorrectly titled as The Hidden Immunity Doll, rather than The Hidden Immunity Idol.
  • On Paramount+, this episode is listed as "The Hidden Immunity Tool".
• As of this episode, Bobby Jon has improved on his previous placement; he previously placed 10th in his first season.