The Dragon Slayer has been slain.
In one of the best ‘Survivor’ episodes ever produced, controversial personality Benjamin ‘Coach’ Wade went down in defeat but his exit from the series was indeed the stuff of legend. With the editors having the time of their lives enhancing every twist and turn with bombastic opera music and quasi-religious shots of The Almighty Coach meditating about life, the universe and everything.
It was a thing of beauty, my friends. A thing of beauty.
As my old pal wrestler Diamond Dallas Page used to say, "Love me, hate me, you will never forget me." Nobody will soon forget the Almighty Coach and that was his strategy all along.
The Almighty Coach has finally taken his seat on the ‘Survivor: Brazil’ jury and we now have our final four: Stephen, Taj, JT and Erinn. As the finale and cast reunion looms on Sunday, I hope that Jeff Probst puts the players on the spot and demands to know why they let JT, the biggest threat from Day One, just run away with the game? It could be that there were just too many beta personalities (followers) and very few alphas (leaders). I mean, it is one thing to battle every inch of the way and quite another to be cheered on by your rivals and handed the game on a silver platter.
The Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
The Forza Tribe
STEPHEN FISHBACH
TAJ JOHNSON-GEORGE
JAMES "JT" THOMAS JR.
ERINN LOBDELL
BENJAMIN "Coach" WADE
Episode 12: "The Martyr Approach": Highlights
Forza Tribe – Night 33
The final five arrive back at camp and the wool is pulled over The Almighty Coach’s eyes. JT claims that Debbie was gunning for him and that is why they voted her out. They just couldn’t tell the Almighty Coach that for fear he wouldn’t believe them.
The Almighty Coach not only buys the story, he thanks everyone for watching his back? What the heck…?
The Almighty Coach to JT: Thanks for saving me.
Forza Tribe – Day 34
The Almighty Coach meets with JT and Stephen. He offers up Erinn and Taj as the next to go while playing up his asthma. Coach says breathing in the campfire smoke has exacerbated the situation and that is why he really doesn’t want to go to Exile Sand Dune.
Stephen doesn’t think Coach can cook or build a fire and therefore would probably die on Exile Sand Dune.
JT says The Almighty Coach should be more of an adventurous soul and he will test that by sending him to Exile Sand Dune.
Reward Challenge
The players must make their way through a maze with their feet shackled, make a pole and retrieve a bag, then knock down some targets.
Reward
A luxurious overnight trip to a governor’s retreat and the power to send one player to Exile Sand Dune.
Result
The others actually cheer JT on as The Almighty Coach trails.
Winner: JT.
The Almighty Coach is sent to Exile Sand Dune and JT picks Stephen to join him on the reward.
Coach discusses how he will not eat or drink on Exile Sand Dune. He is going to use the time to just meditate.
Erinn accuses Coach of trying to belittle everyone else’s experience on Exile Sand Dune by pretending to be some sort of martyr.
The Almighty Coach: Kick me when I am down. Hit me with your best shot, Pat Benita.
Reward Happenings
JT and Stephen shower and eat then reflect on the game. They are both not impressed with Erinn’s comments or the fact that she kicked Coach when he was down. She definitely cannot be trusted.
Forza Tribe – Day 34
Erinn tells Taj she regrets ripping on Coach. She fears her words will be held against her.
Taj: He is a jerk.
Taj and Erinn question whether The Almighty Coach really has asthma.
Exile Sand Dune Happenings
The Almighty Coach walks and walks in the sun.
Coach: This is like a vacation for me, to be away from those people who don’t have honour. I am unbreakable. I am unyielding. I am unmovable. I am invincible. I could stay out here a week with no food.
The Almighty Coach finds a stick and carves a cane for himself. It is his Dragon Slayer cane.
The Almighty Coach lays in the water so he can get in touch with himself. He has achieved "mental focus".
The Almighty Coach: Through our greatest adversities do we achieve our greatest successes.
Immunity Challenge
The Survivors must balance their feet on ever shrinking ladder rungs.
Reward
Immunity from the Tribal Council vote.
Result
Coach arrives on the scene limping with his cane.
Taj: What a drama queen.
Coach calls Exile, the "best time" of his life. Stephen gives him some water to drink. The Almighty Coach and JT are the last players left standing. Jeff Probst reminds Coach that he always wanted to battle the best and now he is. Coach buckles under the pressure and falls to the ground. Stephen and JT come to his aid.
Winner: JT.
Pre-Tribal Council Happenings
Erinn doesn’t think there is anything wrong with Coach.
JT promises Coach that he will vote against Erinn based on her cruel comments.
Stephen thinks Erinn’s comments were totally classless but he is not sure whom he is voting for.
The Almighty Coach is sure he will be the last Timbira standing at the end of Tribal Council.
Tribal Council Happenings
Erinn thinks Coach was trying to minimize what others went through on Exile Sand Dune. Coach claims his past experience helped him through it. He admits to opening his mouth and making a fool out of himself a number of times. Coach doesn’t believe the vote will be a surprise. With Probst’s permission, Coach then rattles off a poem about warriors and integrity.H
Final Voting
STEPHEN FISHBACH: BENJAMIN "Coach" WADE
TAJ JOHNSON-GEORGE: BENJAMIN "Coach" WADE
JAMES "JT" THOMAS JR.: ERINN LOBDELL
ERINN LOBDELL: BENJAMIN "Coach" WADE
BENJAMIN "Coach" WADE: ERINN LOBDELL
Tribal Council Victim: BENJAMIN "Coach" WADE.
Powell’s Thoughts
I have never had so many laughs watching ‘Survivor’ ever. I hope that viewers understood that the editors were celebrating and mocking Coach at the same time with their approach. "White wizard" was really the "evil wizard"? Too funny. They must bring this guy back for the entertainment factor alone. Come on. Dude was a riot. When it comes to the game itself, heck, I would rather match wits with a guy who admits he is manipulative like Coach than a sneaky, little weasel like Erinn. Wouldn’t you? Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
After everyone was cheering JT during the Reward Challenge, I really did lose respect for them. Are they true competitors or just JT’s own personal cheering section? That’s okay, I cannot believe they allowed him to remain in the game. Do these people want to win or not? It is like Thailand all over again. Sigh.
My picks for the finale will be on the Tale of the Torch over the weekend and my finale recap on holiday Monday.
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