Other thoughts:

So Colton reemerging as a detestable asshole is the world's least surprising development. How long until he says something racist this time? Fortunately, it seems like nobody on his tribe has time for his shenanigans. Aras calling him "gay Russell Hantz" was spot on.

I was slightly nervous that John was going to get voted off because DEAR LORD he is at least in the top 5 most attractive men ever on Survivor. I need my eye candy!

Hayden seems like he's playing the same "likable guy but cutthroat player" game that let him win Big Brother.

Tyson's girlfriend Rachel seemed like kind of a nonentity so her being sent to Redemption is whatever.

Whoever thought bringing back Colton was a good idea needs to be put in a room with him for eternity.

It was a good idea, though, because he is starting to create sensationalist drama and conflict.

Ummm, everybody is on him already. If they lose he will be the first one voted off. And it seems like he could give up next week.

I bet he will "find a way" to stay in the game longer, no doubt by convincing a few people to compromise their morality and align themselves with him.

I'm really enjoying this season so far. Colton quit again like the little pussy bitch that he is, and for once I didn't mind Probst getting all douchey and lecturey on someone. Why is Caleb, who seems patient and nice, even with Colton? I don't understand. Bye Colton!

Also, Rupert and Colton are the first two out of the game. Amazing. The only two I can't stand.

In other news: I love Aras (the Aras/Vytas dynamic is so fascinating BTW), Candice is kicking butt on Redemption Island, Brad Culpepper is obviously this season's fun douche, and John cannot be off my TV screen yet because he's way too hot.

Oh, and I used to hate Tyson and find him creepy but now I sorta love him. Who knew.

Thank God Colton is gone. Hopefully whoever brought him back is fired too. What a waste of a spot on Survivor. His boyfriend has to be some kind of a saint to put up with a person like this.

Hopefully Brad is the next one to go. He's too smug and people are onto him.

In which the most likable character and the least (and thus most watchable) character left in the same episode.

NOT GOOD SHOW. I'm upset

Tyson's girlfriend was a non entity. I don't even remotely see how she could be anyone's most likeable character?

Fun tribal council tonight.

Wait, what? That tribal council was so nutty, Brad Culpepper'd himself right out of the game.

Great episode. It'll be an interesting relationship at Redemption Island next week.

Pretty great tribal. Can't wait for next week.

I swear Candice threw the challenge on Redemption Island. She appeared to be moving notably slower than usual, both in building the bridge and in haphazardly assembling the puzzle, on purpose.

Damn it, the end of Candice. I was really appreciating her emergence as a badass this season.

Tina is a bit of a cunt.

You've gotta feel kind of bad for Kat. In her original season, she was voted out immediately after declaring she "loved blindsides." This time, she makes the serious error of trying to stir things up and gets sent out for her troubles. She's like the perpetual bumbling comic relief of Survivor. It's interesting Monica still really didn't trust her even though they played together before.

If Kat told upfront she threw Monica's name out I think she would stay. she dug herself in. But I'm glad. I like Vytas.

The Kat melodrama on Redemption Island deserves an in-depth psychological analysis.

Hmm. While I like Vytas quite a bit, it seemed a tad bit foolish of Tina, Monica and Katie to vote out Laura B. They don't really need Vytas for his strength since they'll merge soon, and he's a total wild card. Laura would have been totally loyal to them, in all likelihood.

Weird seeing Hayden shed tears at Redemption Island. He played a fairly cutthroat, emotionless game in Big Brother that allowed him to win.

In terms of the Redemptionites coming back next week...I want John for the eye candy but I think Laura M. coming back would be more interesting.

I'm glad Kat is gone. It was obvious she was hoping Hayden would switch with her even though he is actually in a good position in the game while she had no chance at all of winning.Watching Vytas survive another tribal has me thinking he could win it all. He's just so likeable.

I'm not a big fan of John like some of you here, but wasn't that Duel really, really unfair to him? That's never a challenge for bigger guys.

I'd like to think that Aras is done but he'll probably Ozzy all the Duels.

I'm sad John is gone. Laura (not Richard's wife) is the better choice of the two Laura's though.

Looks like Tina's going crazy next week. LOL.

Yep, it was almost too obvious the producers wanted to get the male/female balance closer with every single previous Redemption Island challenge being puzzle-orientated (from my recollection).

I didn't mind Laura M coming back though - she's a big player who wants to strategize.

Really loving Tyson and Gervase's total control of the game. Hopefully the excitement keeps up!

Aras' blindside had obviously been telegraphed for weeks (especially with Vytas' smugness earlier in the episode) but I was still sad about it. He's hot and sweet and nice. Plus we lost John earlier in the episode so there goes much of the eye candy all at once.

Laura M. getting back into the game is interesting; the weird inner dynamic Ciera is feeling is probably exactly what the producers hoped for with this family theme.

This season is actually...pretty great? I'm really surprised, I was expecting it to be mediocre when I first heard about the gimmick. But it's actually worked really well.