''Survivor: China'': Fallen Idols

Of course, James could have saved himself in the immunity challenge, which involved kung fu throwing stars. My hope that the contestants would toss the instruments of death at each other was immediately dashed when the players were instructed instead to chuck them at shaded-out targets. I did enjoy Probst's comment to Todd that ''the mark to beat is zero'' after Peih-Gee came up empty. (Does zero even count as a mark?) James did not win, and Courtney (who I am not entirely convinced is not a bratty 11-year-old in a New York waitress' body à la Tom Hanks in Big) started winking like an idiot to Amanda. Because nothing spells subtle like a very public wink and smile after your alleged alliance member screws up at a challenge.

Of course, Courtney's adolescent antics were nothing compared to Todd's straight-up laughing at James' ouster at tribal council. I don't get this. James was your alliance member. You guys may not have been best buddies, but you seemed to get along okay. He got a bit cocky, so you blindsided him (only you weren't smart enough to do it; Amanda was). It was a good move, but why are you laughing at the dude? Don't you want his vote should you make it to the finals? Think mocking him is going to help? For a guy who fancies himself to be something of a Survivor expert, Todd sure does make a lot of questionable calls.

As for James, he has no one but himself to blame. At seven people left you have to use one of your hidden immunity idols, if for no other reason than to worry people enough later so they won't vote for you out of fear of you'll using the other one. It's simple really — if they don't think you'll use it, they'll vote for you. If they do think you'll bust it out, they won't. And the only way to make them think you'll use it...is to use it!

You know what they say, use it or lose it. And James lost not only both idols but the game, and must now enjoy a heaping helping of humble pie. When it comes to pies, it's certainly not quite as tasty as Amanda's apple.

Was last night the beginning of the endgame? If so, will Amanda be the grandmaster of the Survivor chess match? Should Denise go all chop-socky on somebody to get her way? Can you believe that Courtney and Peih-Gee have lasted this long? Will one of them be the next to go?

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