Benjamin "Coach" Wade's plan from last week prevails on 'Survivor: Tocantins'

Before the end of last episode, there was a lot of maneuvering going on at the Forza Camp. Team Secret's existence was in jeopardy, and it seemed like a new alliance with Coach, Tyson, Stephen, and JT at its core was being born. Then, at the last possible moment, Jeff informs all interested parties that there will not be an elimination that evening, and Joe is out of the game for medical reasons. This evening, we will get the chance to see the effect that three days have one people's plans. Will something happen in so short a time to change the game, or will we see all the plans made last week played out. Twists and turns at Survivor: Tocantins FTW!

It must be the biggest lie ever told in Survivor. Everyone is feeling let down by anticlimactic happenings of last week's episode. Coach tries to pick everyone up by telling a story about how he was captured and beaten by an Amazonian tribe before escaping with his life. He may have gone too far this time, as no one at camp believes in him. C'mon Steve, JT, you HAVE to see how far out to lunch this dude is! How can you be part of his alliance!

Competitions in the Wizarding World. While Coach's descent into madness continues (doubt me? Listen to his "dragon slayer" speech again,) Erinn makes overtures of alliance to JT. Erinn's missing Joe, and JT is happy to take her vote. It's worth noting that JT names members of what he feels to be his alliance, and doesn't name Coach or Tyson. Has JT's blue collar common sense seen through Coach's faux enlightenment?

At the reward challenge, the tribe is split up into teams to break tiles. Once a team's tiles are broken, that team is eliminated from competition. Perhaps there is a rift between JT and Coach, as Coach target's JT's tiles. After many tosses, the team comprised of Debbie, JT and Brendan possess the last tiles standing, and select Stephen for Exile. Coach's words of wisdom for Stephen? "Be the Wizard, Stephen." Okay guys, I think we've got a case for another medical elimination. This one for clinical insanity.

Brendan's got a brand new bag. Stephen reads a clue to the idols that he already knew about, deducing that there are no new idols in the game. I'm starting to wonder if any idols are ever going to be played in this game. Certainly Taj, at a minimum, has felt threatened.

JT's challenge team thoroughly enjoys their reward, and the high spirits help JT and Brendan bond, and Brendan attempts to make plans for alliance involving our beloved cattle rancher. Unfortunately, we are not privy to the specifics of his plan. But based on the way that Brendan's talking when he gets back to camp, perhaps JT's off Coach's crazy train. I sure do need to see Coach watch his alliance slip through his fingers.

Deja vu. Immunity challenge sees the Survivors working their way through obstacles while attached to ropes. Tyson, JT and Brendan make it out of round one, and compete in the final round for immunity. Tyson's skinny frame helps him snake through the course to claim immunity for the second time in a row. Coach names Brendan for elimination, and Brendan does the same for Coach. O.K., I'm actually a little worried that I am going to be denied the chance to see Coach watch his game fall to pieces. So much less satisfying to see him blindsided.

Tyson and Brendan gather their respective alliances together.  Tyson and Coach's plan is the same as last episode's, to split their votes between Brendan and Sierra, while Brendan targets Coach solely. JT and Stephen, as the swing mini-alliance, discuss their options. They are firmly in control and it might just come down to the fact that JT and Stephen know that Coach is insane. But, does this make him a good person to ally with, or a bad person? Does it make more sense to keep someone who's fully sane or insane to compete with in challenges? As much as I do like Brendan, it's now time to start choosing who you want to face at the end of the game, and I'd compete against Coach over Brendan any day of the week.

 At council, Coach pads his story about the brush with death in the Amazon, and alludes to several more moments where his life was at stake. Man, I am actually going to miss this maniac when he goes! After Jeff leads a discussion on who is a threat at this point in this game, Brendan makes the announcement that he has one of the hidden immunity idols. All right, he must be playing it tonight, or else why would he say that he has it? Sure, pretty much everyone believed he's had it for weeks, but for what reason should you confirm this? Yet, Brendan does not play the idol. As it turns out, he should have as he is eliminated from the game.

Bittersweet! I'm not very happy about Brendan going home, but I'm happy that I'll have the opportunity to bear witness to more of Coach's Colonel Kurtz-esque performance on the show. Coach and Tyson may think they are in power, but I'm pretty confident that JT and Stephen are in a better position with their own mini-alliance than anyone else in this game. They are the decision-makers, and Erinn and Taj are votes in their pockets. If Sierra is eliminated next, expect Tyson to follow as he is too dangerous to keep around, and Coach will remain as long as his weaknesses benefit JT and Steve.

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