Now, that’s what I’m talking about!

My sister and I have had a long tradition of Friday morning phone calls where we dish about the crafty craftiness of the previous night’s “Survivor.” We used to call it the magical deliciousness. But the current season in Samoa has been neither magical or delicious. Actually, it’s been sort of tough and chewy.

But last night, which marked the debut of the merged tribe, Aiga, was magical. And delicious. And seasoned with buckets of Backstabbing Sauce, with a side of paranoia salad. Because the merged tribes accomplished three amazing feats: Voting off Erik, who stuck his big, scheme-y head too high and got it lopped off, making Russell so crazy that he played his beloved immunity idol, which he wound up wasting because nobody voted for him, and making everyone so generally cautious that they can’t remember who they’re supposed to turn on first.

See? Magic.

Also, last night was the first time that I was able to recognize every castaway by sight.

Erik delivered one of the most masterful exhibits of self-sabotage I have ever seen on this show, because instead of trying to convince people not to vote for him, he waved his superiority all over Tribal Council. He also messed with Jaison. And Momma don’t like that.

He didn’t even play his immunity idol, which was kind of stupid. This guy was such a prig that he actually made me want to save Russell. And my distaste for Russell is well-documented. I believe that the word “tool” has been used. So, there you go.

You know, this turn of events just might prove the method of the madness that has been the editing this year. I could not figure out why the show was so set on showing Russell and his supposed “king of the game” shtick and outright ignore other members who I didn’t even know were there. But now that he’s down – he had no protection without that idol, and because he engaged in some stupid gameplay by showing everybody but Probst his idol – his desperation could be entertaining. Normally, I don’t revel in the desperation of others, but this dude, with his menace and his laughing derision of everyone, including women, is asking for it.

In other fun developments:

— John and Laura both won individual immunity this week. Laura, another Survivor whose supposed superiority grates, needs to stay another week just to get rid of Russell. He’s gunning for her because she told him, point blank, that he wasn’t running nothing but scared, and he can’t have women challenging him. Also, Shambo can’t stand her, which normally would mean nothing, because Shambo is sort of sad and has no power. But since the guys are using her as a blunt instrument, they can use her alienation and really annoying persecution complex to their advantage.

— Jaison, who hasn’t done all that much lately but look miserable, brought back the awesome that he displayed back when he took Ben’s racist, sexist self down to Chinatown, and then left it there with no bus fare. Stupid Erik was all “You’d be the perfect player if you didn’t stink so much, Jaison!” and Jaison was like “I have worked too hard to put up with this.”

And also, have fun beeing booted!

Oh, this is good. Well played, Aiga. And well played, “Survivor.”