The Chain

The Chain is the ninth episode of .
==Story==
===Day 25===
Before day breaks on Jacaré, Rob Cesternino is discussing strategy with Matthew von Ertfelda regarding how the women are not happy about Deena Bennett's leadership within the tribe. What Matthew doesn't know, however, but Rob is happy to talk about in a confessional is that what he is telling Matthew to look into are nothing more than "wild goose chases" as Rob puts it. He also dupes Matthew into informing Butch Lockley of the fake intel Rob is giving him. This is the beginnings of what Rob, Matthew, and Butch would later call "The Chain". In the morning, while Matthew and Butch are fishing, Matthew informs Butch of the fake intel he's recieved from Rob. What they don't know, however, is Rob is back at camp with the other tribe members, where they all laugh at what Rob has managed to do. Rob again speaks in confessional about how him and the other tribe members would like to get rid of Matthew as soon as possible, and to also blindside him so "he doesn't find out and kill us all".
Tree Mail arrives not long after, along with various Amazonian weapons, such as a bow and arrow, javelin, and blow darts. Each of the tribe members take turns practicing with them before the upcoming Reward Challenge. Matthew whispers to Rob that he is thinking of throwing the challenge so as to not be perceived as a physical threat. Rob responds by telling Matthew that Matthew is beginning to learn how is meant to be played, though he is also saying this so Matthew will hopefully let his guard down during the Immunity Challenge.
At the Reward Challenge, Matthew and Alex Bell make it to the final round. While Matthew hits the middle ring, Alex manages to shoot his arrow closer to the bullseye, winning reward. After Jeff Probst gives him a choice of who he can bring along with him to enjoy the reward, he chooses to take Jenna Morasca. They feast on donuts and other pastries while drinking their coffee. Back at camp, Deena gathers Rob and the women around and tries to plant the idea to get Alex out should Matthew win immunity, while at the reward, Alex and Jenna talk about their mutual wariness of Deena. In back-to-back confessionals, Rob talks about his secret alliance with Deena, while Deena talks about how she is in control of the game at the moment and trying to put into place as many back-up plans as she can, and that thinking about strategy 24/7 is starting to make her head hurt. When Jenna and Alex return from reward, they share cookies they managed to smuggle out to the rest of the tribe, and the tribe jokingly debate whether to eat Matthew and Butch's share of the cookies since they're on the river catching fish.
As night falls, Jenna and Alex pull Heidi Strobel aside and talk strategy, with Heidi telling them all of Deena's plans. Once the word of Alex's blindside gets to him, he later pulls Rob aside to try and confirm this with him, to which Rob confirms. They make a plan to keep Butch and Christy Smith and instead vote out Deena should Matthew win immunity. While the tribe is asleep, a spider crawls into the shelter and bites Heidi in the knee. The bite has caused her knee to swell dramatically to a point where she can barely even bend it without pain.
===Day 26===
Day breaks, and Tree Mail informs the tribe of a clue of what the challenge might entail. Deena once again confirms her original plan via confessional, though she is unaware that a majority of the tribe wants to vote her out. As Probst tells the tribe to come in for the Immunity Challenge, Alex is seen carrying Heidi to their red-colored platform. At the final round of the Immunity Challenge, Deena faces off against Matthew where they must eat a large live beetle larva. Deena is immediately grossed out by it and barely wants to touch it. In what seems to be a record time, Matthew swallows it whole, to the shock of even Probst who can't believe he managed to swallow it without so much as taking a bite out if it. Matthew mimes how it feels going down and that he'll likely be able to digest it without much issue, while the rest of the tribe hail Matthew as if he were king.
===Day 27===
Sunrise has already broken into the horizon on Day 27, and Deena and Jenna both talk about how Alex is a threat and that it is imperative to get rid of him. Jenna, on the other hand, can't believe that Deena would stab her, Heidi, and Alex in the back and, while talking in a confessional, wants to see Deena get blindsided at Tribal Council. Jenna then relays this info to Alex, where they also talk about how she apparently has Rob and by extension Matthew (and Butch) wrapped around her finger. Rob talks in a confessional about how Deena and Alex are at war in trying to have the numbers to vote the other one out, and Rob is forced to simply watch and say nothing, ready to take part in a blindside of one of his alliance mates.
That night at Tribal Council, Jeff Probst immediately asks about Heidi's knee, and she responds by saying that it'll heal up in a day or two. Heidi then goes on to talk about how she has two assets in this game: athletic ability and intelligence, and that one of them is now gone. Jeff comically rebuts by asking "Which one?" to the amusement of the rest of the tribe. Deena talks about how the game is on, and how there's a power struggle going on, still unaware that she is a target at tonight's vote. Alex also talks about the moral decisions when it comes to voting someone off, let alone when they least expect it, saying that it's all a balancing act. Matthew talks about how important the Immunity Necklace is around his neck. After closing discussions in talking about how a single nasty little grub was only difference between her and individual immunity, Deena is left totally unaware of the vote coming her way and is blindsided in a 6-2 vote.
==Challenges==
<tabber>Reward=Challenge: WeaponsThe first eight will try to hit a target with a blowdart. The four players closest to the center move onto the second round, throwing spears. The two closest climb a tower for the final round, trying to hit the target with a bow and arrow. The player closest to the center wins.Reward: Afternoon at a makeshift coffee barWinner: (shared with )|-|Immunity=Challenge: Amazon MenuFor the first round, the castaways must eat an Amazonian grasshopper. First six to finish move on. Second round, they eat 10 live coconut worms. First four move on. Third round, five beetles. First two move on. For the final round, they must eat live Amazonian beetle larva. The first to finish wins Immunity.Winner: </tabber>
==Tribal Council==
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VotedAgainst	Voter
 	
 	
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===Voting Confessionals===
Edited versions of Christy, Jenna, Deena, and Alex's confessionals were shown in the episode.
===Final Words===
===Still in the Running===
							
							
==Trivia==
* This episode was the first episode to use Buggin' Out as an individual Immunity Challenge. Unlike its use in , this was the first time the castaways competed in the individual version of the challenge.
* The episode title is said by Matthew referring to how him, Butch Lockley and his alliance are part of a chain of information that will be used to further themselves in the game.
==References==
Category:Episodes
Category:The Amazon Episodes
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor (U.S.) Episodes
Category:Survivor: The Amazon