In a sense, only now are we really understanding the strength of their alliance, a pact that has been casually mentioned and alluded to, but seems now to have been under-emphasized by the show's editors in order to spare us a gnawing sense that we could see exactly how the show would play out.

But here we are. The stars are out, the animals are on the prowl and the survivors are congratulating themselves.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

It doesn't last.

Lex is pissed at Big Tom. Last episode, you'll remember, Teresa told Lex that Tom was working against him.

Lex is driven into the kind of rage that makes him mix metaphors. We're guessing that he's going to say something about slitting throats or cutting off heads.

"I'm not going to let myself be naively be brought to slaughter," says Lex.

And Lex actually matches up both ends of a metaphor as well, mentioning a puzzle and puzzle pieces.

Lex takes Tom out of camp. We see a whirling dust devil.

Lex asks Tom if he told Teresa that he could not be trusted.

Tom says no, and then, in an off-camera interview, says that Lex should have expected the votes against him:

"If you're gonna run in the front with a white horse you're gonna be shot at," says Tom, stealing one of Lex's lines, but managing to make it make sense.

Lex is pissed, but not that pissed. What we really want to know is if he's pissed enough to mix one last metaphor.

"I would not feel right about cutting him off at the knees," he says, "because on a couple of occasions he has fallen from grace."

- - - - - - - - - - - -

The four decided to make a customary hike up the rock formation near their camp. It provides the helicopter a breathtaking shot of the final four up on top.

The image feels very familiar.

Did we see this last season, or did we see it on one of those posters that you can order out of airplane catalogs?

Lex provides the accompanying inspirational message:

"It kind of gives you a different perspective on things, and you just can't help but think about stuff."

We knew he was middle-manager material.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

When the survivors come back they get a torch announcing the next immunity challenge. It's going to be one of those trivia quizzes about their fellow players.

"What's your name again?" asks Ethan.

Dry humor is not one of Ethan's strong suits.

He's not the only one with deficits: "It's another mental game," says Big Tom. "I'm not that strong in that game."

Lex predicts that Kim is going to be good at this game.

This is what the "Survivors" producers do too often -- throw up little red herrings. Kim J. is no Kelly Wigglesworth; she hasn't won a challenge of any sort yet.

Jeff Probst, King of all Hyenas, meets the four survivors at the Tribal Council set. The Jury of the Damned awaits. (The jury now includes Brandon, Kelly, Frank, Teresa and the younger Kim.)

"Ultimately, this is a game about relationships," says Jeff. "And the final vote will come down to the relationships you have formed with the members of the jury."

(Ultimately, it's about marketing, as the prominent sneaker logo on Kim's hat reminds us.)

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