This week on the island ends in a bit of a shocker with who heads home and how. Before tribal council, though, there's some time spent building towers, dining with chiefs and struggling for breath in an underwater cage. Oh, and someone dances in the moonlight with a glow of self-sufficiency.

We're getting close to the end of 'Survivor,' with week 10 finding just one tribe trying to survive the island and their "friends." We're also going to try a bit more of a "live" blog this week -- more snark, less quotes. Tell us what you think. So this week you get what can be typed in the space of an hour; let's see how fast I can really type. (I do, however, promise to at least run a spell check when I'm done.)

Palau is a lush jungle until you get to camp where, apparently, a swarm of flies thrives.

Janu's surprised that Coby got voted off, and she lets us know. She also looks more alive than she has for many, many days. Katie and Jenn are griping in the ocean while brushing their teeth.

Katie: "Janu is ... crazy, she's a crazy person."

Caryn gives us more about her hatred for Katie and the fact that Katie was talking loud enough for Janu to hear. Janu does get in Katie's face about it -- this is not the first time someone from Koror has told Katie to not gossip or be all passive-aggressive about things.

Katie does the whole arms-crossed-and-looking-frustrated bit. Body language, Katie. Crossed arms isn't always a good thing.

Gregg is getting tired of Janu as well, as he tells us in a private interview. But he also thinks Steph is a bigger threat, and he's all about winning the million dollars more than finding who "deserves" to be on the island.

The first challenge starts early. They'll divide into two tribes and then construct a tower in the water. Someone will then have to climb the tower and grab a flag. The winning foursome will leave the island and go to a Palauan feast at a bai with chiefs.

There'll be food, beer and dessert. What is it with the alcohol and lack of food?

Tom, Gregg, Janu and Caryn are going up against Ian, Jenn, Steph and Katie.

Tom and Gregg take the lead for their team -- meaning just two people are doing actual work. On the other side, all four members are doing the work. And the tower pieces are difficult to put together. You've got to have all hands on board. The pieces look awkward and they have to go far enough into the water. It looks like everyone may get tired early. Heck, even Janu is working now.

Tom's team takes a lead, but not much of one. Katie is slowing down her tribe -- last one to the shore, walking instead of running. Katie's ticked off her tribe mates too much to be a slacker.

Once the towers are finally above water, they look easier to put together.

Janu gets tired, almost sucked under some scaffolding while they're swimming. She does make it to a platform to take a bit of a rest. She still doesn't look good -- but she is moving and Katie is moving slowly as well.

Ian and Steph are rocking the house -- they are totally keeping their team in the game, although they are behind. Breaking up the Tom and Ian team is really hurting that teamwork.

Gregg, Tom, Janu and Caryn get their final piece of scaffolding together and Janu climbs to the top and grabs the flag. They're racing back to shore and Janu is in the lead.

Whooohooo! They win the feast and everyone's amazed Janu was such an integral part.

Katie is in trouble -- she was the slowest on her "team." Steph, once again, loses a challenge. I bet she's wishing she wasn't in alliance with Katie now.

Pringles leads off the first commercial break. If you ever watch 'Survivor' you'll find out that apparently potato chips are the meals of champions. And what, exactly, is so cool about printing trivia on actual food? I don't mind reading while I eat, but rarely do I read what I eat.

The Palauans seem to be a really friendly people, opening up their island to strangers. This dinner is a great chance for Tom, Gregg, Janu and Caryn to get to know more about the actual culture of the island they've been living on. Caryn is overwhelmed with emotion when the chief welcomes her and blesses her.

There's an exhibition of dancing and culture for the four winners before the feast begins. The long hut they go into is decked out and the table is low with pillows surrounding it. Janu whips out the phrase "epicurean delights" and once again we're all amazed.

The tribe mates chow down, with Janu eating a bit too much and having to excuse herself. Yep, apparently you can't just wolf down food after not eating. And there's a great shot of Janu recycling the feast. Dang, people.

The four adventurers make it back to the tribe (what happened to all the scenes of the Palauans?) and they rub in the fact they just ate a ton of food. Then, BOOM! Gregg tells them there's doggy bags for everyone. There is much joy in Koror. BTW, where did they get aluminum foil to wrap up the food?

Uh-oh. Janu, not thinking, picks up some of the food and eats it -- this after having thrown up her meal earlier. Katie lets us know she's unhappy and that Caryn also ate some of the dessert. There's a bunch of politics to come, I'm sure.

At least this group of commercials doesn't start off with Pringles.

Back at Koror, Jennifer heads off for tree mail. There they find a small window with bars and a riddle asking about claustrophobia. Tom, Steph and Jenn immediately start talking about a cage underwater.

Steph is worried about winning immunity. She's heard she's a threat because she's the strongest girl (thanks, Coby).

At the challenge, Host Jeff gets Tom's necklace and starts right into the challenge. Today is a test of patience and finding the Zen. Everyone will get in a cage and as the tide rises, the water will get closer and closer to covering them up. The first person to quit will be taken and abandoned on a new beach with just a few supplies. The last person wins immunity. Steph could totally handle either.

They start off with water up to their chin. Ian starts telling jokes, "This man walks into a bar." Everyone chuckles.

Tom talks about quitting just to get a break from the tribe. Janu's already starting to get cold -- the woman needs to sound stronger. She totally wusses out. Six minutes. She lasted only 6 minutes. I could last 6 minutes.

The water's beginning to rise now as Host Jeff lets Janu think the tribe doesn't love her. That's right, Jeff, prey on the weak.

After half an hour, everyone's got their faces pressed up to the bars. Janu is resting on the platform -- probably wondering how she's going to survive the night.

Caryn drops out after 52 minutes. She won't get immunity, but she gets to stay in shelter. The water isn't quite completely over everyone's faces, but it's close. Katie drops out. Jenn is totally underwater. Steph goes under, then Ian.

Jenn and Steph drop out. All of the woman drop out while all of the men are left. Ian, the dolphin trainer, better do well. Tom's got a "hand snorkle" going on and doesn't look close to quitting. Ian finally has to drop out.

Tom wins immunity -- again. He better keep winning it because now everyone knows who they have to get rid of.

Right away, a boat comes to get Janu and her small, small pack of supplies. Will she be able to make fire? Will she just quit?

And, thank goodness, there's another Pringles commercial. I almost forgot potato chips existed in the last 15 minutes.

The boat ride looks fun for Janu, even if it is to be abandoned. The beach doesn't look too bad and Janu gets started trying to make fire, she's hoping the light will help keep her fears at bay.

She gets sparks and smoke from her attempts, but fire continues to elude her. It gets dark and she still doesn't have a flame, but she keeps trying. Maybe she needs to spend this time getting some faith back in herself.

And then there's a roaring blaze! It's a miracle! She gets a heck of a bonfire going and her voiceover begins to sound more and more confident. She dances a bit on the beach and revels in her aloneness. This could be just what she needs to get back in this game and since no one sees her as a threat, she could go much further.

Jumping fish!

Back at Koror, the politicking starts. Tom and Gregg talk about who should go. Tom says the girls want Janu gone. Gregg tries to talk him into voting Steph out. Tom listens to this, and reminds us all about the alliance between Tom, Ian, Steph and Katie.

Gregg still pushes for Steph to leave -- he recognizes that she made it through 11 tribal councils and she's a strong competitor. Tom wants to break up Gregg and Jenn sometime.

Ian talks about voting off Steph.

And then Tom talks about letting Steph go -- even though he's in the alliance.

Janu joins the tribe again and looks refreshed. The tribe seems glad to see her and congratulates her on her fire. And they say she looks better and happier. She lets them know what a good night she had.

Janu, in a private talk, tells us she didn't really want to come back and that she knows that people are being catty and a bit untrue. She does seem stronger.

Steph lets us know that she really thinks she's the one to be gone at the end of the night, even though she thought everyone had agreed to send Janu home. She never got a chance to talk to anyone, and that she sees that as in indicator. Steph is a smart girl.

At tribal council, Coby comes back fit and well dressed (yes! we don't have to see his underwear). He's the first member of the jury.

Host Jeff talks to Janu about her night alone. She's so proud of making it and succeeding and having a good time.

"In the morning the sun rose, and it was a whole new day," she says. It was, indeed.

But she says she didn't buy the happy goodbye the tribe had given her as she was taken off in the boat.

Caryn seems a bit angry, apparently forgetting how she had behaved the previous day.

Tom talks about how the votes are all about the game now, not about who's nice or who's annoying. "Eliminating competition is part of this game," he says. Yep, Steph is gone.

Gregg lets us all know that he views everyone as a threat and he's voting by threats.

Katie says the tribe should keep her because she doesn't pose any threat, "especially as far as challenges go."

Janu, once again, says the tribe should vote her out. This woman is confusing. She's either the smartest person to play or way too honest. The tribe looks amazed.

Host Jeff asks Ian why they should keep someone on the island who doesn't want to be there. He says that person can always put down their own torch.

Steph gets upset -- crying -- because she thinks she's going to be voted out and she wants to be there while Janu will probably stay and she doesn't want to be there.

"It kills me that someone (who) wants to basically go home that bad, these people will keep around just because ... just because I show too much heart and too much will," she says through tears.

Tom talks about the dilemma about who to vote for. He says Steph would fit right into his firetruck's team, but he's got to vote competition.

Janu says she would ask the tribe to vote her out and keep Steph. Then she says she'd be willing to lay down her torch so Stephenie could stay in the game. Shock!

Steph said Janu shouldn't lay down her torch just for her.

Host Jeff tries to clear things up.

Janu says she will lay down her torch. She looks happy and everyone else looks amazed -- except for Stephenie who's wearing a bit of a grin.

Host Jeff puts out Janu's torch. She leaves the game, but she joins the jury. Coby and Steph exchange eyebrow lifts. Interesting game this evening.

And that, viewers, leads us into the final commercial. By the way, If you can hear the buzz, it's too late.

Next week:
Steph gets the women together for a gender alliance that could actually work

Closing comments:
I asked them to please let me go home and it didn't work so I made the last move, and I decided to take myself out of the game. I guess I did make a major power play, and I guess I did ruin their plans. Even though I did lay down my torch, no one will ever be able to take away this most unforgettable experience. No one.