The game opened with Debbie betraying her alliance-member Coach by trying to convince unofficial game leaders JT and Stephen to vote him out next. JT commented to the camera on her motives, "Debbie is playing a very strategical game, and she's scared now ... Debbie may be up to no good around here."
"As far as I'm concerned," Debbie told JT and Stephen, "I'm in an alliance with you two."
This season's auction came up next, with numerous tasty items up for bid. Debbie paid $120 for a bowl of fries, Coach bought chicken parmesan for $320, while JT bid on a mystery item and won a plate of nachos for $160. Stephen also bid on a mystery item, winning a Brazilian delicacy -- a kebab of chicken hearts, but he wasn't put off, eating them happily, saying, "I'm loving it!"
The big winner of the auction, however, was Taj, who paid only $20 for a chance to see a video chat from her family. Why only $20? Taj's teammates realized how much she missed her family, and gave her money for her bid, and then no one bid against her. Taj cried as she watched the video, which included a shocking surprise at the end -- her husband told her, "See you back at the camp!"
Host Jeff Probst tasked Taj with a big decision. She could see her husband back at camp, but then none of her tribemates would get to see their special family member or friend. If, however, she went along with her hubby to Exile, the rest of the tribe would get to visit with the special people in their lives. Taj reciprocated her tribemates' generosity, and happily joined her husband on Exile.
Back at camp, the family members were waiting: JT's sister, Erinn's dad, Debbie's husband, Stephen's brother and Coach's assistant coach, and most of the players got teary as they caught up with their favorite people.
After the visit, it was back to business. Coach, remaining true to his partnership with Debbie, tried to convince the other players to blindside Taj. But after their meeting, JT told the camera, "I feel like I'm really a few steps ahead of Coach … we're not really on the same page right now."
Meanwhile, Debbie approached JT and Stephen again, telling them that Coach should get voted out, and then Taj and Erinn should go after that. She promised them that if it got down to her, JT and Stephen, and she won immunity, she would give it to them,
"I don't know her personal relationship with God, or what her swears to God mean, but it's a lucrative offer," Stephen responded to the camera.
But JT and Stephen recounted the promise to Erinn, telling her that Debbie was probably promising the same thing to everyone. Erin responded, "She [is getting voted off] -- do not let her win immunity."
Brains and brawn were required at the immunity challenge, which involved digging a hole in the sand and climbing under a bar, then going through an obstacle course to get to a series of math symbols. The math symbols then had to be remembered and written down in the correct order back at the beginning of the course in order to solve a math problem.
JT and Debbie took an early lead in the physical aspect of the race, with Stephen having a difficult time of it. When he finally made it through to the math symbols, he spent a long time staring at them, allowing the others, who traversed the course to look several times at the symbols, to prolong their lead even further. However, when he got back to the beginning, he quickly scribbled down the symbols, catching up to JT, and eventually surpassed him to win immunity.
Stephen told host Probst that he had created a mnemonic in his head in order to remember the symbols. "That was one of the biggest come-from-behind victories ever," Jeff told him.
Back at camp, both Debbie and Coach scrambled to save their hides, but JT and Stephen reveled in their place at the top of the pack.
"Right now, we have played an awesome game. No one wants to vote us out," Stephen told JT privately.
"I don't know why not, neither," JT mused.
"We don't need any of them to be loyal right now -- as long as we have a strong alliance, we can pick them off one by one," Stephen pointed out.
At Tribal Council, it was anyone's guess which way the wind would blow, but in the end, it was Debbie who was sent home.
You can catch "Survivor: Tocantins" on Thursday night at 8 p.m. on CBS.
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