We suspect the "Survivor" editor was beginning to understand the robin footage was sort of undercutting the show's danger themes. For the first time, we watch the group in the actual physical presence of elephants.
The Boran are slowly coming to understand in what tatters the Samburu tribe camp was. They get bits and pieces of info from Frank, Teresa and Silas.
"It was like all-out war," Clarence marvels.
The remaining original Samburu are terrified that the three will find out that Lindsey has votes against her.
The newly configured Samburu also see that they're physically out-gunned as well.
"We're outmanned so drastically," sobs Lindsey. "If the challenge is in any way physical we will lose!"
"They have Silas and Clarence and Ethan!" Brandon gripes.
The only good thing is that everyone sees how annoying Lindsey is. We see her crying uncontrollably. It's some of the most satisfying footage "Survivor" has yet telecast.
But then follows, as if in punishment, an extended scene that will go down in "Survivor" lore with the footage of Richard Hatch running around in his birthday suit.
Lindsey gets a tick on her ass. Tom takes charge of the extraction, quipping all the way.
"This is one of the nicest jobs I've had to do here so far," he says.
It turns out he's not quipping. He and Lex spend a lot of time pouring hot water on her butt cheek to get the thing to let go.
Lindsey is forced to bend over to give the boys access to her ass, which allows the "Survivor" camera to do its best to get shots down her shirt front.
CBS -- still the Tiffany network!
After what seems to be the passage of several eternities, a rueful and chagrined tick is removed.
Tom slaps Lindsey on her ass. "It was good for her and good for me," he says with satisfaction.
We're the ones who feel violated.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The reward challenge is simple and fast. There are 40 goats in a pen. The first group to herd 20 to another pen wins!
Jeff Probst, King of All the Hyenas, is wearing a fetching cowboy hat.
It was just as Lindsey feared -- Clarence and Silas and Frank make mincemeat out of the Samburu.
They don't exactly herd the goats. Mostly they carry them.
We see African tribesmen, in full get-up, laughing.
Brandon stands around and scowls.
It strikes us, suddenly, that Big Tom, the rumbling tub of lard from Virginia, should have taken the lead in this endeavor.
He is, after all, a goat farmer!
You'd think he's be a veritable Schwarzkopf in this situation, marshaling materiel and personnel to wreak havoc on the enemy.
The "Survivor" producers either miss this angle entirely or are so contemptuous of his plain-talking farmer shtick that they ignore him.
Last season we had a cook who couldn't serve up rice. Right now we have a goat farmer who can't herd goats, and an army guy (Frank) who can't start a fire in the bush.
Next you're gonna tell us that Brandon can't serve up a Jell-o shot.
Next page: Brandon: "I'm sure glad I'm gay!"