Survivor: Last Resort: Cape Verde 1.8 - Episode 8

Survivor: Last Resort: Cape Verde 1.8 - Episode 8
Writer: Chad Taylor

The eight remaining castaways return to camp, a bit in a celebratory mood. They have now passed the halfway point and the end is in sight for some. For Jim and Jose, the last vote was a bit demoralizing as it means they are the only two left from their original tribe. Despite often switching from enemies to friends and back again, this sense of isolation has made them form an unlikely bond and they seem to be on as good of terms as they have ever been. This is not the first time they were the two outsiders in a group of eight. They agree that they need to build upon the Francis animosity from the last few days and put the target on him.

Francis is alone in the woods, venturing off by himself. He tells the camera that he knows that he has rubbed some people the wrong way so he needs an insurance policy. His search for a Hidden Immunity Idol this time becomes successful as he finds out hidden in a pile of rocks. As the biggest Survivor fan out here, he pumps his fist in the air and has a huge smile on his face. Since Rajon did not tell him about the HII he found earlier in the season, Francis is going to repay the favor and keep this to himself.

Meanwhile, Laura starts to build upon the connection that she and Rajon had formed on the previous reward trip. In confessional, she talks about how she was initially worried he would be roped in by another duo like Megan and Fiona so this was a power play. But over the course of the last few days, he’s become a real friend, which she never would have expected coming in. He seems genuine, whereas Francis seems to only think about the game. In his confessional, Rajon echoes this sentiment. He says it is not too crazy that a DJ and a social media influencer would be friends but its moreso their socioeconomic background that makes them so different. She came from an affluent family that allowed her to put time into becoming famous online while he has to work gigs every night to make a living. He reiterates that his goal is to win this game and buy a new DJ kit so that he can continue pursuing what he loves.

At the immunity challenge, the castaways are each standing on a tall narrow platform in the open waters. Each castaway must use a canteen to pour water in a tube that will lift a key to open a lock. The lock releases a rope, allowing the castaway to lower a plank into the water. First castaway to lower five planks and walk them wins immunity. Given that he is the most physically fit of the bunch and has the best sense of balance, Chase makes quick work compared to everyone else and runs away with the challenge. Chase wins individual immunity.

Megan and Fiona meet in private to discuss their path going forward. They believe they have the strongest bond in the game, which will beneficial in getting to the end. Megan is a bit more laid back in regards to the strategizing while Fiona is focused and has her eyes on the prize. She is determined to win and, if not her, then Megan. They debate whether or not they should final pacts with either Chase and Laura or Jim and Jose.

With his Hidden Immunity Idol as an insurance policy, Francis is determined to put his gameplay into a higher gear this vote. He approaches Laura and Chase - his old allies - and asks them where their head is at. He wants to know if they are interested in forming an alliance with him and Rajon, who can run the game until the end. They play along with his scheme but can tell they are non-commital. So he pulls out his wild card and reveals to them that his wife Sarah was on the Togo tribe to start the game. Since she was the first to be voted out, he has been devastated ever since and often wondered if he should quit or not. This does seem to gain some traction, especially with Chase. He proposes to the duo that Jose - easily the most conniving castaway left - be their next target. In confessional, Francis tells Sarah he loves her and that he hopes she doesn’t mind that he used their marriage to gain sympathy from their tribemates.

Laura and Chase discuss their options with Rajon, who is still conflicted about his feelings toward Francis. He justs wishes Francis would be honest with him for once. He tells Laura and Chase he will go with whatever they decide. Laura smiles to Chase, acknowledging that her work has paid off as they now have a solid third ally. Meanwhile, Fiona and Megan convene. Megan reveals that Francis told her in secret that his wife was on the Togo tribe. Fiona is shocked by this but - unlike Chase and Laura - she doubles down on the need for him to go. Him using that sympathy card in front of the jury could lead to him winning so they need to cut that out that knees. Megan, a fairly compassionate person, is surprised to hear Fiona be so cutthroat but she likes it.

At Tribal Council, the castaways discuss making to the halfway point. Francis says that literally every small move they make could end up being what wins them the game or gets them voted out. Chase says that this forces them to think long and hard about who they align themselves with. As the jury of Chase and Bonds watch on, Jose waves at them and says that everyone also has to start thinking of their perceptions from the people they vote out as they are who decides who wins. After some more small talk, Jeff tells them it is time to vote.

After everyone has voted, Probst says that if anyone has a Hidden Immunity Idol, now would be the time to play it. Francis slowly stands up and stretches as he pulls one from his pocket. He looks at the pairs of Fiona and Megan and Jose and Jim and tells them he hopes they had a back-up plan. He hands Jeff the idol, who spends a moment examining it. He says that this is not a Hidden Immunity Idol so any votes against Francis will still count. Francis is stunned while Jose looks to Chad in the jury section and gives him a sly wink.

First vote...Francis

….Francis

….Francis

….Francis

Four votes Francis, four votes left

….Jose

…….The ninth person to be voted off of Survivor: Last Resort and the third member of our jury: Francis. The tribe has spoken. He slumps his shoulders in defeat but says that at least he went out swinging.

In his post-show confessional, Francis has a big smile on his face, saying he doesn’t think he could’ve gone out any other way. It is unfortunate that this alliance with Rajon, Laura, and Chase didn’t materialize but it’s all in the past now. He does say kudos to whoever created the fake idol, if he ever finds out then that is who will get his vote in the end.

Brimstone 1.7 - Ferril

Brimstone - Ferril

Genre : Action / Horror
Executive Producer: David S. Goyer
Writer : Mark Newton
Cast: Holland Roden, Stephen McHattie, Manu Bennett, Tom Riley, Lydia Hearst, Meghan Ory and Oscar Jaenada

Dozens of humans are lined up in front of Kagan (Manu Bennett) and Jorge Wolfe (Oscar Jaenada), getting their throats slashed. The bodies are then bled out into a sort of aquaduct draining the blood toward the body of Beliar, which is slowly soaking up the blood to regain its life. Ferril (Meghan Ory) arrives and informs her father that she has learned that her brother Xerx has been killed. Kagan doesn't have to ask her who did it, he already knows that Rayne is responsible. Kagan orders Ferril to track down Rayne and what remains of the Brimstone Society and make them suffer. Ferril tells Kagan that she will do as he wishes and leaves Morton to track down Rayne.

Rayne (Holland Roden) and Tremaine (Stephen McHattie) are making their way towards Morton, Mississippi on foot. Tremaine is getting weaker and sicker by the day. They stop to rest. Tremaine gives Rayne his Brimstone Society medallion. He tells her that it will be up to her to rebuild the Brimstone Society after all this is done. He trusts that she will do everything in her power to rid the world of supernatural menace after he is gone. Rayne doesn't want to talk about this subject, but Tremaine says there's no point in avoiding the inevitable.

Ferril stands over the body of her dead brother Xerx and uses her advanced sense of smell to start tracking Rayne and Tremaine. She conjures up some daemites and she has them follow her as she tracks down the remaining members of the Brimstone Society to hunt them down.

Ephemera (Lydia Hearst) feeds Severin (Tom Riley) more of her blood to maintain her control over him. She takes him around Morton on a leash, observing as the line of bodies grows, and the body of Beliar soaks up more blood as the demon beast regenerates further.

Rayne and Tremaine continue on their journey toward Morton, but they have to stop when Tremaine has a coughing fit, coughing up a bunch of blood. Rayne proposes that they stop for the day and continue their trek in the morning. Tremaine doesn't want to stop since they're not in a secure location, but the coughing fit has drained him and he doesn't have enough energy to continue on so he relents and stops to rest.

Rayne and Tremaine sleep in shifts so that they can keep a look out for enemies. While Rayne sleeps, Tremaine hears a noise and goes to investigate. He is attacked by two Daemites and Ferril. The three surround him and demand to know where Rayne is. He refuses to tell them, so the daemites start bonding with Tremaine to take over him as a host. Tremaine struggles against the daemites, so Ferril grabs Tremaine by the throat as they take over his body. Tremaine pulls the pin from a grenade, killing all three of them. The explosion wakes Rayne and she rushes out to find the two daemites, Ferril and Tremaine all blown to pieces. Rayne sheds a tear and starts to walk toward Morton again, determined to end this once and for all.

Miami Vice 1.8 - Golden Triangle (Part 2)

Miami Vice - Golden Triangle (Part 2)

Genre: Crime / Action

Director: Peter Berg

Writer: Roy Horne

Based on the television series

Cast: Josh Holloway, Taye Diggs, Andy Garcia, Katrina Law, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Brad William Henke, Troy Garity, Mike Epps, James Hong, Li Bingbing, Russell Wong, Hoon Lee, Rich Ting

Plot: Crockett (Josh Holloway) and Tubbs (Taye Diggs) offer to help Castillo (Andy Garcia) find his wife, but Castillo is reluctant to take them off of their assigned cases. Crockett points out that if Lao Li is as powerful and dangerous as Castillo says, and if he has come to Miami to expand his business, and that if Castillo's wife is involved, then she is their business. Castillo relents, telling Crockett and Tubbs that Li would have likely been brought here by Dale Menton, Li's former CIA contact. Crockett and Tubbs find Menton (Jon Bon Jovi) at an Asian massage parlor and bring him in.

At OCB, Menton and Castillo reminisce about their days working in the Golden Triangle, the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Castillo asks who was responsible when his DEA team was ambushed and wiped out. Menton reminds Castillo that the DEA agents in the area had specifically been ordered by the CIA to leave Lao Li's heorin alone, as his product was being financed by local politicians friendly to American interests. Castillo had refused to follow these orders. Menton then admits that he was the one who sold out Castillo's team, giving Lao Li their position and strength so that Li's men could hit them from behind. Enraged, Castillo grabs Menton by the throat and begins choking him. Crockett and Tubbs pull Castillo away and restrain him. Menton mockingly tells Castillo that he's no threat to anyone anymore. As he leaves, Menton writes Lao Li's contact information on the Vice board and tells him he's waiting for Castillo's call.

Castillo tells Crockett and Tubbs that he had set up an ambush to intercept one of Lao Li's convoys when they were attacked. Most of his men were killed in the attack. Castillo himself barely escaped with his life. Once Li learned that Castillo survived, his men destroyed his house with grenades. Castillo had been told that his wife died in the explosion. Crockett is shocked to learn that two American agencies would betray each other like that, but Castillo simply points out that the DEA and the CIA had different objectives in the region.

Castillo gets into a limo for a private meeting with Lao Li. Castillo orders him to leave Miami, but Li responds that he is there to retire and, as he has broken no laws in the city, Castillo can't touch him. Li gives Castillo his wife's address. Castillo points out that he only brought her to America to serve as an indirect hostage. Li responds that he has no intention of harming her as that would be against the law. Later at his home, Lao Li tells his family that until Castillo loses interest and moves on they must adhere to all local laws with the strictest adherence.

Castillo visits his wife, May Ying (Li Bingbing), and is shocked to find that she is now married to a man name Ma Sek (Russell Wong) and has a teenage son. She tells Castillo that her husband was offered a job with a textile firm in Miami, which is why they have moved there. Meanwhile, despite Lao Li's warning, his grandson (Rich Ting) visits a Thai restaurant owned by Chan Wong (Hoon Lee). The two are planning to start dealing drugs together. At OCB, Castillo orders the Vice squad to blanket Lao Li's family and track their every move, hoping they'll uncover some evidence of criminal activity, while he personally protects May Ying. In a meeting at Lao Li's house, Menton tells Li that Castillo's surveillance is nothing to worry about as long as his family adheres to the law. As Menton leaves, he finds Lao Li's grandson fitting a musical air horn to a new Lamborghini. Menton warns him against being so flashy, but the young man ignores him. The Vice squad have a team meeting over dinner. Castillo admits that he cannot justify dedicating all their time to one case, and tells them that if nothing breaks in the case in the next 24 hours they will all be returned to their regular assignments. Crockett asks what that means for Lao Li. Castillo says he will handle Lao Li on his own, even taking a leave from the police department if necessary. That night, Gina (Katrina Law) and Trudy (Megalyn Echikunwoke) find Izzy Lamont (Mike Epps) at a strip club and ask him if he's heard of any drugs coming in from Asia lately, but he doesn't have any information for them.

The next day, Switek (Brad William Henke) and Zito (Troy Garity) are driving the surveillance van down the street when they see Izzy hanging out in front of a burger place. They approach him and after a little convincing he tells them about a supply of China White courtesy of Chan Wong. At Wong's restaurant, Lao Li's grandson arrives with a sample of the product, leaving it as a gift. Sqitek and Zito pull up across the street just in time to see the grandson leave. They then head inside the restaurant and bring Wong in for questioning. At OCB, Wong, who faces a drug possession charge after Switek and Zito found the sample in his pocket, tells the Vice squad that a deal is going down that night. The team plans and executes a raid on the restaurant where Lao Li's grandson is arrested. Castillo personally goes to Lao Li's house to inform him that his grandson has been arrested for dealing heroin. Meanwhile, Crockett and Tubbs go to see Menton to inform him of the bust. He tells them to get out, but they inform him that they will be able to confiscate his assets because of his connection with Lao Li and his grandson. At May Ying's house, Castillo tells May and Ma Sek that the textile company Sek works for is actually a front for Lao Li's drug operation. He tells them how dangerous Lao Li is and that the police really need the two of them to cooperate. At OCB, Castillo orders Lao Li's grandson put back on the street instead of jail, much to the surprise of the squad.

Lao Li's goons quickly snatch the grandson and take him to a warehouse where Lao Li is waiting to hear an explanation for his actions. The grandson is defiant and wants to know why he can't run his own drug dealing operation. Li orders him to be killed. Switek and Zito's surveillance catches the execution order on tape and the Vice squad moves in as thugs start strangling the grandson. Lao Li, Menton and all of Li's gang are arrested. As he is led away, Menton threatens to call his friends in Washington, but Castillo tells him that he is in American, no Asia, and he has broken the law. His friends in Washington can't do anything to help him. Outside, Lao Li tells Castillo that he has respect for him, even if he is an adversary, and states that he hopes their relationship will continue in the future. Castillo doesn't respond. Later, Castillo puts May Ying, Ma Sek and their son on a plane back to Thailand. After the plane leaves, Crockett suggests that the squad all goes out for a drink. Castillo accepts, mentioning that in the months they've worked together, they've never gone out as friends.