Are You a Psychopath?

This is the season finale of Survivor: Japan - Civil War

Previously On Survivor...
Thirty-seven days ago, twenty Americans journeyed to Japan for the adventure of a lifetime. The oldest man and woman in the group, Lawrence and Donna, respectively, conducted a schoolyard pick to determine the tribes. Lawrence's tribe, consisting mostly of people thirty and older, was Ashikaga, Donna's tribe, which was built mostly around younger people, was Kamakura. Kamakura dominated early, winning all of the first six challenges as Donna formed a women's alliance, which she believed would dominate the game. Ashikaga was quickly whittled down to six members, but their youngest member, Landon, formed a core alliance with Kyle and Hannah.

On day 11, a surprise tribe swap resulted in the two tribes becoming three, members of the original Ashikaga and Kamakura suddenly forming the majority on the new incarnations of their rival tribes, and most of the women's alliance joining the new Tokugawa tribe, along with Landon. Over the next week, each tribe lost a member, all of them from the old Kamakura.

When the tribes merged on day 19, it quickly became apparent that affiliations were based on past tribes, with the original Kamakura tribe still holding a slight advantage due to Donna being the merged tribe's daimyo by virtue of age. However, Landon had formed an additional alliance with her ally, Emma, and attempted to sway her to join the Ashikaga alliance. At the merged tribe's first tribal council, Landon boldly announced that they were plotting to vote out Donna, tricking Chuck and Dave, who had formed a minority alliance on the old Kamakura, into giving Donna their idol, which she played. This proved to be a fatal mistake as Emma flipped, voting out Dave, the second most strategic member of the Kamakura alliance.

This was to be the first in a series of convoluted acts of trechery, at the end of which Landon, new daimyo Kyle, and Emma formed a majority. However, while Landon got cocky, Emma once again betrayed her alliance by tipping off Shannon to Landon's plan to vote for her. Shannon played her hidden immunity idol, blindsiding Kyle. Now, with two immunity challenges left, only five castaways remain:


 * Emma, a coffee barista from Schenectady, New York. An early target due to perceived laziness, Emma betrayed all three of her alliances over the course of the game while winning three immunity challenges along the way. Will her duplicitous gameplay catch up to her, or can she sway the jury with her social skills?


 * Landon, a straight edge pizza delivery boy from Bellingham, Washington. The youngest contestant at eighteen years old, Landon has played a robust strategic and physical game, but was on the wrong side of separate blindsides that took out both of his original allies. With his back against the wall, will Landon be the next to go, or can he fight his way to the end?


 * Patrick, a gay waiter from Maui, Hawaii. Despite being on the outs for nearly the entire game thus far, Patrick has only received two votes. Will he finally be taken out before the jury can reward his social game, or will he make a fatal mistake?


 * Phoebe, a pre-calculus teacher from Chicago, Illinois. The master of the under-the-radar strategy game, Phoebe has subtly helped Landon control the game before eventually turning on him. Can she continue to outwit her remaining competition, or will her strategic prowess encourage them to vote her out?


 * Shannon, a retail salesperson and single mother from Iowa City, Iowa. As Phoebe's partner in crime, Shannon has also flown under the radar, largely being seen as a non-threat. Is her use of the hidden immunity a sign of things to come? Or will she fall at tribal council before she can make any other game-altering moves?

Two challenges, two tribal councils, and a soon-to-be nine person jury stand in the way of these five castaways and the title of Sole Survivor. Twenty castaways, thirty-nine days, one Sole Survivor!

Challenges
Reward/Immunity Challenge: The castaways must race out to a series of stations with a certain number of objects (crabs, fish, bo staffs, rocks, masks, and machetes) at each station. The number of each of the objects must then be used to unlock a combination lock, which will release a bamboo rod that the castaway must use to break a tile.

Reward: An advantage in the final immunity challenge.

Immunity Challenge: The castaways must work their way through a three-story obstacle course to locate and untie four bags of puzzle pieces, bringing one at a time up a staircase leading to the very top of the structure. Once all four bags are brought up, the castaways must then solve a puzzle.

Kasai
When the remaining five castaways return to camp, it begins to rain.

Landon: How'd you guys know we were voting for Shannon?

Phoebe: Just a lucky guess.

Landon: Did somebody tip you off?

Shannon: No, it was just luck. Nothing more.

Patrick: You don't think we could have outwitted you? Well, take a look who's not here. Obviously, you've met your match.

Phoebe: I think I noticed Emma nudging Shannon in the elbow when Jeff gave us the opportunity to play the idol.

Landon: Just as I thought.

Emma: So this is the thanks I get for helping you guys get out of an impossible situation? You throw me under the (bleep)ing bus?!

Phoebe: I didn't accuse you of anything.

Emma: He asked you if he thought somebody tipped you off, and you specifically said that you think it was me!

Phoebe: Okay, now you're just putting words in my mouth.

Emma: You're acting like you never said what you said!

Phoebe: And you need to grow the (bleep) up!

Phoebe: Look, we've been out here for thirty-seven days. We're all starting, and we're all-

Emma: Just (bleep)ing don't talk to me.

Phoebe: You know what? Fine. It's not my fault you can't be reasoned with right now.

Reward/Immunity Challenge
"Jeff Probst: Come on in, guys!"

The final five enters the beach challenge area. Upon greeting them, Jeff asks who the new daimyo is, and Patrick and Shannon agree that it's Phoebe. Jeff then explains the rules of the challenge to the five of them, reminding them that the winner is safe from the night's vote and guaranteed a one in four shot at winning the game, while the rest are vulnerable. Additionally, he reveals that the winner of the challenge will receive an advantage in the final immunity challenge.

"Jeff Probst: For immunity! Survivors ready...go!"

All five castaways run toward the stations, which are all located around the bend on the beach. Phoebe and Shannon arrive at the stations a little later than the other three do, and take their time counting the bo staffs and crabs, respectively. Landon counts fish and masks while Emma counts machetes, bo staffs, and rocks. Patrick counts only the fish before running back to his combination lock. He sets the combination lock so that the correct number is facing him in an effort to throw off anyone who attempts to copy off of him. Soon, Landon and Emma arrive at their combination locks and enter the numbers they have gathered.

When Patrick comes back with his calculation for the number of bo staffs, Phoebe and Shannon come back with theirs for both the bo staffs and crabs. Landon soon returns with his numbers for the bo staffs and rocks while Emma returns with numbers for fish, crabs, and masks. She attempts to enter the combination lock so the metal rod will be released, but she discovers, to her dismay, that the combination was incorrect as Patrick returns with his number for the masks and Landon returns with his numbers for the machetes and crabs, also trying and failing to unlock the combination lock.

As Phoebe and Shannon lag behind, failing to unlock their combination locks, Patrick continues to count one thing at a time. On his next trip back, Landon copies from Patrick's station, mistaking the numbers on the lock for the ones Patrick calculated. This proves unsuccessful, and he has to make another sprint back out.

Now with four numbers entered, Patrick decides to go ahead and count the number of both the crabs and machetes, the last two he has not yet counted, before returning to his station. He then enters the numbers into the combination lock and attempts to pull out the metal rod. The rod is released and Patrick smashes his tile with it.

"Jeff Probst: Patrick wins immunity!"

Patrick jumps up and down, shouting wildly, while the women look indifferent and Landon grimaces, knowing that he is most likely next. When Patrick has calmed down, Jeff places the immunity necklace around his neck, reminding him that he will last at least one more day in the game. He then reminds Emma, Landon, Phoebe, and Shannon that one of them will go home, and that they have the afternoon to decide. He then sends everybody back to camp.

Kasai
Phoebe and Shannon congratulate Patrick on his immunity victory when they return to camp.

Shannon: Great work in the challenge today, Patrick. Congratulations on winning immunity for the first time.

Patrick: Gee, thanks. So the plan tonight is Landon?

Phoebe: We'll have to think that out more thoroughly.

Phoebe: Have you realized that Landon isn't the only remaining member of the Tokugawa tribe? Emma was on that tribe, too, and I'm willing to bet one of them has a hidden immunity idol.

Patrick: You think so?

Phoebe: I'm pretty sure. So here's what we need to do; we need to split the votes between the two of them in case one of them plays it; it's the last night that they can, after all. If one of them plays it, a re-vote will happen, and we'll vote for whoever doesn't use the idol. If Landon doesn't play the idol, we'll vote for him in the re-vote regardless. I'll cast both of my votes for Landon, and you two vote for Emma.

Shannon: Okay, that sounds good.

Meanwhile, at the well, Landon and Emma discuss the upcoming vote.

Emma: What are you going to do to save yourself?

Landon: I don't really know right now, to be honest. I mean, the only person who I think I could convince other people would be a major threat is Phoebe. She's got two votes, and Shannon pretty much will not leave her side. So I can pretty much forget about getting a majority.

Emma: Think we can talk Patrick into voting for Phoebe?

Landon: After that final three deal Phoebe attempted to strike with you, I'm sure he's feeling on the outs right now. I'll give it a shot, but even then the most likely best case scenario is that we have to draw rocks.

Landon is quick to seek out Patrick, finding him chopping firewood while Phoebe and Shannon are swimming in the ocean.

Landon: Hey man, I need to talk to you.

Patrick: You're scrambling, aren't you?

Landon: Bingo. But hear me out.

Patrick: I'll do that.

Landon: Phoebe offered Emma a spot in the final three last night. That leaves you and me on the outs. I'm probably going home next, and unless you win the final immunity challenge, you'll be next. We need to vote out Phoebe tonight, man. Or at least force everyone to draw rocks. Since you're immune, you risk nothing by doing this.

Patrick: Why Phoebe?

Landon: If Phoebe gets to the end, this game is hers to lose. I don't think anybody's written her name down even once, so she could sweep the jury votes, even if you do make it to the end.

Patrick: I'll think about it, man, but no promises.

Landon: Alright. Thanks for hearing me out.

Patrick: No problem.

Later, as Patrick goes to collect water from the well, he is approached by Emma.

Patrick: Don't tell me; you're going to ask me to vote with you.

Emma: This might be our last chance to get rid of Landon. We can't squander this one.

Patrick: Oh, so you really are turning against him.

Emma: He's still a threat, so what choice do I have? Besides, Phoebe isn't exactly a challenge dominator, so we can just get rid of her tomorrow. Shannon should be smart enough to realize that she'll win if she gets to the end, so convincing her to help us vote her out tomorrow shouldn't be an issue.

Patrick: I'll think about it. Don't worry; whoever goes home tonight, it'll be one less threat.

At sunset, the remaining five castaways grab their torches and depart for tribal council.

Tribal Council
The Kasai tribe enters the tribal council area, greeted by Jeff.

"Jeff Probst: We now bring in the members of our jury. Dave. Hannah. Donna. Chuck. Bryce. Reyna. And Kyle, voted out at the last tribal council."

Dave offers the remaining castaways a smile and a wave as he takes his seat next to Bryce on the jury bench.

Jeff Probst: Landon, last night, you seemed to be in a very good position moving forward. Now, here you are, on the outs, and without immunity around your neck.

Landon: It's really nerve-wracking, Jeff. I don't want to go home tonight, but I'm prepared for that to happen. I haven't had much to work with today.

Jeff Probst: Shannon, what do you make of Landon's fall from grace?

Shannon: I think it's just another instance of a young person getting cocky, then being brought back down to earth. His chances of getting past this vote, much less winning, appear to be very slim right now, but hopefully it'll teach him not to get cocky when things are going his way.

Jeff Probst: Patrick, do you agree with this statement?

Patrick: Partly, Jeff. I don't think Landon's really been humbled by this. I don't think he really takes anybody but Phoebe seriously as a threat in the game.

The revelation elicits raised eyebrows from some of the jurors.

Jeff Probst: Phoebe...Would you agree that you're the only threat to win the game other than Landon?

Phoebe: Not at all, Jeff. Patrick's played a good social game, and has been a bit underrated in challenges, so I think he's a dark horse.

Jeff Probst: Emma, do you think that if Landon goes home tonight, the last two days might only be formalities before Phoebe walks away with the million dollars?

Emma: It's possible. I won't deny that. But I don't think Landon's quite done yet.

Jeff Probst: Landon, what does Emma mean when she says that she doesn't think you're done yet?

Landon: I'm going to try to force a tie.

The jury, Jeff, and all the remaining castaways except Patrick look absolutely astonished at the news.

"Landon: I still consider Emma to be an ally, and now I'm trying to bring Patrick into the fold. He's immune, so he won't have to draw rocks with the rest of us. He wouldn't risk anything whatsoever by going along with my plan."

A stunned silence falls across the tribal council area for a minute before Jeff concludes his grilling of the castaways.

Jeff Probst: So what do you say? Should we get to the vote?

Landon: Yes! Let's get to it.

Jeff Probst: Alright. It is time to vote. Landon, you're up.

One by one, the castaways cast their votes.

"Jeff Probst: If anyone who has a hidden immunity idol would want to play it, now would be the time to do so. This is your last chance to use a hidden immunity idol."

Everyone looks around expectantly, until, after a few tense moments, Emma gets up, revealing the hidden immunity idol she found at the Tokugawa campsite. She walks up to Jeff to play it, but hesitates.

"Jeff Probst: I'm playing this for Landon."

Every single person present stares at Emma in shock.

Landon: No (bleep)ing way...You're serious?

Emma (smiling wickedly): Oh yes. I'm serious, alright.

Emma gives the idol to Jeff and returns to her seat.

Jeff Probst: The rules of Survivor state that if a person plays a hidden immunity idol, any votes cast against that person will not count. This is a hidden immunity idol. Any votes cast against Landon will not count. I'll read the votes.

...First vote: Landon. Does not count.

...Landon. Does not count.

...Phoebe. One vote Phoebe.

...Landon. Does not count.

...Fifteenth person voted out, and the eighth member of our jury: Phoebe. That's two votes. Tonight, that's enough. Please bring me your torch.

Phoebe: You've got to be kidding me.

Emma grins smugly at Phoebe as she gets up and grabs her torch, bringing it to Jeff.

"Jeff Probst: Phoebe, the tribe has spoken."

Jeff snuffs Phoebe's torch, eliminating her from the game.

Jeff Probst: It's time for you to go.

Phoebe: Get to the end, Shannon.

Phoebe leaves the tribal council area and disappears into the forest while the jury looks around at each other with "what the hell just happened?" looks on their faces.

"Jeff Probst: Just like last night, the takeaway from the vote is that nothing is set in stone. Tomorrow, you all will meet me for the final immunity challenge. Grab your stuff. Head back to camp. Good night."

The final four all grab their torches and depart for camp.