Static Zombie

Homeless, But Not Broke

It should have been Terry.

Update: Because a couple of readers asked so nicely in the comments, some more thoughts. Of the final four contestants, the game could have gone to any of them but Danielle. The jury rightly snubbed her utter lack of game. Like Vescepia before her, Danielle survived to the end not because of her endearing personality, strong relationships, keen strategic thinking, or impressive performance in challenges, but because everyone else always had bigger fish to fry. That steady beeping you heard throughout the game was Danielle backing into the finals. As we saw in the reunion, the cash was Terry's had he just won the immunity challenge and gotten to the finals. And had Cirie won the fire-building challenge, she'd have won the game: Aras would have won the final immunity challenge and taken her with him to the finals, where the jury would have danced a merry jig as they unanimously bestowed the prize upon her.

The final immunity challenge was horrible. Burnett hit on right on the mark his very first at bat with the stand-on-the-stump challenge from season 1, and he continued to stay true to its essence with all of the "how badly do you want it?" physical exhaustion and willpower challenges that followed. I thought they stumbled last season with a challenge that so obviously favored taller players over shorter ones-- with her lanky frame wedged against the supports, Danielle never seemed to be struggling at all while Stephanie gave it everything she had-- but this time their pratfall channeled Chevy Chase. Endurance had nothing to do with this challenge, it was entirely about balance. It wasn't enough to "want it" this time. Cirie would have been gone on the first platform. This time the advantage was with the shorter players, not to mention the freaking yoga instructor-- Terry never had a chance. On any other season, Terry would have walked away a millionaire.

A note to sanctimonious flower-child Courtney: There is no high road. You wanted the money just as much as everyone else, and you lost. Where do you get off lecturing others about their life's journey? I doubt even Probst was fooled by your gibberish. Good riddance.

They're giving Exile Island another try next season-- perhaps the immunity idol will come into play this time. And was anyone else surprised they burned the torches, which they usually auction off for pediatric AIDS?