Cochran Works to Move Up in the Te Tuna Hierarchy

After surviving a Tribal Council in which Dawn and Whitney were sent to Redemption Island, Cochran knew he stood at seventh out of the seven remaining players. He knew he has to start working to not get taken out by the “family” (cue his references to Helter Skelter/Charles Manson).

He seemed to be fitting in well. The Upolu all said they feel like a happy tribe now, but you know everyone can’t be that happy considering someone has to be voted off.

Sitting around, Cochran shared tales with Hantz about how in fifth grade he started to become rambunctious. He would make prank calls to girls and say things he didn’t even understand. Edna, Rick and Lil Hantz were all enjoying it, but Sophie was not pleased.

She said she doesn’t like him, but she was probably a little worried his personality will take him further than she was willing to let him go. She was basically shooting daggers at him with her eyes. She obviously wanted him gone, an impression I didn't have heading after the last episode.

Cochran talked more about how the Upolu “family” is sorta cult-like, again referencing the Manson Family. In one of my favorite Cochran quotes, he said “I don’t want to be Sharon Tate in this scenario.” (Refresher: Sharon Tate was murdered by members of the actual Manson Family). He also didn't want to be given the poison Kool-aid (a mixed cult metaphor, this one is referencing
the Jonestown mass suicides).

So he gathered the tribe and reminded them of the huge risk and sacrifice he made to help the Upolu and how he would like the debt to be paid back by keeping him around for one more tribal.

He left Upolu to discuss: Coach and Albert want to keep him, Sophie definitely does not. Can Coach pull over another vote?

At Redemption, Ozzy, Dawn and Whitney had to balance a bunch of dishes on a pole. As they add dishes, the stack becomes more unstable. Dawn goes out first, and Whitney next, leaving Ozzy as the winner. He remains on Redemption Island another three days. Dawn and Whitney join Keith and Jim in the jury.

Again we saw Ozzy up a tree, Ozzy in the sea … being Ozzy. He looked very much at home by himself. He seems to be far more suited to win the game from Redemption Island than he probably would have been on the island with the rest of the cast. On Redemption Island, his awful social game can't get in his way.

Back at Te Tuna, Edna grumbled about Albert not doing much work around camp. Albert said it’s “outwit, outplay, outlast” not “out clean, out work and out organize.” Ha ha.

Meanwhile, Cochran went fishing with Lil Hantz, whom he noted seemed the most devout of all those in the earlier prayer circle. Lil Hantz caught a fish and gave it to Cochran to hold. Cochran was afraid it would come back to life and attack him. (It’s really small, too.) But he was trying to make himself part of the team because Upolu seems to put a lot of weight on that in Tribal Council. He felt bringing the fish back will ingratiate him to the tribe more.

The tribe started to speak out about their disdain for Albert. They talked about how he’s like a prince, expecting them to wait on him.

Cochran joined Coach again on the beach for some “Coach-Chi.” Cochran looks pretty uncoordinated, but he was trying hard and enjoying himself. Coach talked about how he loves to find someone on the tribe who can be his student, someone he can guide … ha. Cochran said he was completely unstressed after their session and was ready to go win immunity.

The immunity/reward challenge is a two-stage process, using former games: bean bag toss and slingshot coconuts. Rick, Albert and Sophie got past the first round and got to shoot coconuts. Albert won immunity and a reward of a massage back at camp.

Jeff Probst told him he can bring one person, and he chose Coach, but asked if he can bring someone else. When Jeff said no, he asked if he can give his massage to someone in exchange for perhaps some food later. He gave it to Cochran, whose told the tribe his birthday was in two days.

Not sure that was good for Cochran. I wouldn’t want to be away from camp on such an important day when people will be strategizing without you.

Coach and Cochran showered and got their massages, where Cochran told us it’s not really his birthday in two days. It was six months ago. Ha! He seemed to think adding the birthday lie would help get some sympathy from Te Tuna. Regardless, he was skeptical of Albert's gift. He suspected Albert was either trying to curry favor or offering a goodbye gift of sorts.

Coach told Cochran he’d fight for “my man Cochran with my dying breath.”

When they got back to camp, Cochran talked to Albert to thank him and find out what was going on. They realized Coach is ready to get rid of Rick, and Cochran told Albert that Rick calls him “princess” at camp, which made Albert against Rick even more.

Albert seemed amenable to voting Rick, so Cochran goes to Edna and poses the same question: Would she vote Rick? She emphatically agreed she would. She said she felt indebted to him for helping Upolu at the merge.

It seemed like the plan is laid, but when Cochran went to Coach, he was hesitant. Which is not a good sign. He had nothing to lose with this vote, and he professed to Cochran he wanted him to stay. Then Coach gave a Shakespearian soliloquy about the situation and about how his vote is the most important vote. Blah blah. I still don’t know why four of them don’t vote him off. He’s cruising to the end, and he *still* has the hidden immunity idol.

At Tribal, it was more of the same. Cochran said how he feels like he is owed something from Upolu. Albert agreed, but others didn't. With the talk from last tribal about how no one knows who is 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., at some point, Upolus will go home soon.

Lil Hantz spoke up and said Cochran is now and Edna is next. Edna was upset because apparently she didn’t realize that at this point they’ll have to pick themselves off. Lil Hantz cried again.

Cochran said that you can’t reason or sway Lil Hantz, so it’s not really worthwhile to be in an alliance with him. Jeff said, “What if something happens and you have to switch up your plan?”

Sophie said, “Nothing will happen.” But Cochran posited, “What if Edna wins immunity?” at which point everyone got silent.

Cochran was very frustrated. He was worried his move was for naught, and in the end, it was. Neither Albert nor Coach voted Rick as they said they would and Cochran is the 13th person voted out. He joins Ozzy on Redemption. Boooo.

But to the end, he’s a fan. He was so excited Jeff snuffed his torch that he almost falls down off the platform.

Next week we’ll see Cochran battle Ozzy on Redemption. Could the skinny super fan beat the super player? He's not out yet, so let's go Cochran!