I started thinking about what we learned about the Whitlow/Wolf alliance last week, and it's really amazing how much that's affected the rest of the contestants. Given that both people were solely focused on self-preservation, Whitlow by getting to be leader for the last week (and getting that amnesty), Wolf by going all out on the missions, the results each week look a lot different.

Episode 1: Whitlow breaks ranks by helping Wolf try to save Park - it doesn't work out but that's okay for her because it forces the alliance. The trust is there, even if the results aren't.

Episode 2: Haar gets voted out as a mercy issue, Pupo, who doesn't fit in, gets taken. This doesn't fit in as well (though one could claim that Wolf complained louder about the lack of leadership by Hutak on the mission in order to hurt any leadership role she might take with the women.)

Episode 3: Thomson leaves, but the women wanted to get rid of Wolf. They had the numbers to do it and were talking about doing it - so why didn't they? Maybe Whitlow convinced them otherwise, with Wolf giving her the opening by working on Meyer all afternoon. That's a slight reach, but someone has to convince the women that Meyer, who was voting with them at the time, was not just a threat to them, but more a threat than Wolf. That didn't just magically happen. At the same time, Wolf starts attacking Brown - who still has leadership coming.

Episode 4: Wolf, having convinced his allies that Brown is the leader (it doesn't appear that anyone in the female group really was the leader - some just spoke louder than others), tries to get Lauder to take Brown if he gets voted out, knowing full well that Lauder is toast. On a whim only truly understood by him, Lauder instead takes Hutak. 

Episode 5: Of the 8 that are left, Jackson, Brown, Moretty, Whitlow, and Coddington all had not been leader, with Jackson taking his shot this turn. For Whitlow to ensure that she's getting that last shot, two of the others had to go. Coddington's picked, because they have the reason they can convince the rest of the squad on already there (her injuries - Brown and Moretty weren't really holding in their anger about that in too well that week) and because Wolf and Whitlow know she'll take Yaney, who's the most unpredictable wildcard left. Since he doesn't have an alliance, they can't use that to get him to make the votes they need like they have the rest, so he has to go and Coddington (who didn't keep her pick much of a secret either) gives them the opportunity.  

Episode 6: That still leaves 3 people and 2 opportunities, and with Moretty becoming squad leader, Whitlow has to take out Brown and tried to convince Moretty to help her do it. And she told Wolf to get him to go along...

And I think the alliance must have been going on different plans, because Wolf told Brown (who he seemed to also string along - maybe as a back up plan, knowing that she could end up in the finals thru the leadership immunity as well?) which he had to know would end any plans to vote out Brown - and get the focus on to Jackson, who had done a wonderful job of making himself a target. Brown's the bigger target for Whitlow, because they both want to be squad leader, but with an alliance with both, it doesn't matter to Wolf which ones leaves - he's already thinking ahead to Jackson in the Gauntlet. Even better - if Brown did get voted out and took Whitlow, Wolf is left with no one. (This is totally inappropriate but it's almost like Wolf was the pimp and he was trying to keep his, um, girls in line so they both don't die on him.)

Of course, this prompt the question: If he wanted Jackson gone so bad, why did he vote for Moretti? Between Brown and Whitlow, he had to get at least one message about which way they were going and who was gonna go - but they key is him knowing about Moretti also turning on Jackson. Before the vote, the editors established that Jackson didn't trust Wolf, but we never got the impression that Moretti stopped trusting him or stopping thinking they were allied. Wolf knew that - Wolf was planning on using that, so he couldn't blow it by voting for Jackson. He knew the votes were there and, assuming no one turned, his vote wouldn't be needed to put the mover the top. And if things went wrong and Brown or Whitlow were gone, Wolf could save face by saying to have 'accidentally' voted for the other one, while not actually doing it. Voting out Moretti wasn't even considered, so there'd be no way Wolf would have got exposed for turning by doing that (which he knew.) Jackson stayed loyal to Moretti (which Wolf counted on - sure, Jackson figured out that Wolf couldn't be trusted, but he had Moretti's WORD that he wouldn't vote for him) and took Brown (which was the plan, though given the gamble, Wolf took a big risk that he wasn't taken right then - the fact that this helped Whitlow was a minor detail for Wolf but a ticket to the finals for Whitlow.) 

Moretti was left counting the votes, assuming that Wolf and Jackson stayed true to their word and vote for Brown, and guiltily realized that if he voted with them, Jackson might still be around. Wolf had was loyal, he was not, that wasn't gonna happen again.

Episode 7: After that, this was a lot more basic - Whitlow (and Wolf) convinced Moretty to vote out Moretti on the belief that he'd take Wolf. Wolf and Whitlow knew full well that Moretti was still stuck on the last vote and couldn't repeat the turn in the most important vote of all - he didn't have the stomach to do it again. Wolf and Whitlow make it.

That line by Moretty last week naming Wolf as the leader and Whitlow as the secret assistant looks very firmly the case - and it makes me think that she might really know the answer to the "Did Whitlow set me up?" question she was stuck at last week.

The way I look at it, the vote comes down to each person's feelings on Wolf - is the way he played the game "right?" A common saying/excuse in reality games like this is that anything you do is right, because it's a game. That's easier to take when you're still playing the game, though; looking from the outside in, how are those who saw Wolf play those games going to feel? Sure, Whitlow did some of her own, but as shown by her plan getting run over by Wolf's, she was just a pawn on Wolf's chess board, just as much under his control as everyone else. From even the first show, Wolf was forcing the situation into one that was most advantageous to himself, no matter who it meant leaving behind. 

On the other side, I've not talked much about Wolf's hard work on the missions, in order to try to complete them successfully. And if this is all (or even more complex) than I've figured it, Wolf does deserve credit for skillfully playing these people against each other. If you're gonna manipulate, you ought to do it well, and he did.

What do they do? Endorse Wolfs tactics and help him with the money? Reject them by giving the vote to Whitlow instead? Thought ultimately, with Wolf's near domination of the events and Whitlow's rapid demise into lunacy, the votes may not matter much, but it'll be interesting to see what they say about these six people.

(If you ask me, there are ethics in game playing - and that's probably why I'd never do a show like this. And Whitlow gets my vote.)

Anyway, this is what I think of when I can't get sleep but want to do some of the Boot Camp recap before the show is actually on.

THE SHOW ACTUALLY STARTS HERE.

Same open as last week, I think. All the collected time we've seen in Katherine as part of the opens was more than we saw her on the show.

Last week, Brown and Whitlow discovered how hard the Gauntlet would be. Wolf got Lauder's dog tags in the saluting contest, Whitlow got Haar's in the 1.5 mile run. Wolf's better mental state allowed him to take Park's and Moretti's dog tags in more memory based tasks. Both thought about the votes to come, and the voters thought about it too. Three events to go, and then the votes. Wolf leads 3-1.

Day 30, 800 - Gauntlet Event 5, Meyer's March. We are now 32 hours into the Gauntlet. Whitlow and Wolf can't believe what's next. And then they have to go back and do Coddington's Crossing. McSweeny explains that the event is named after Meyer, because he marched to a different drum. This challenge torture is carrying a pack weighing 20% of their body weight, and marching 10 miles. They'll start at opposite ends of a 10 mile course and move towards each other. They won't know who won until Dismissal Hill, because they end up at opposite ends. 

They're quickly moved to the starting positions and are off. We're told it's 41 degrees out. Both choose to walk. Wolf's pack weighs 30 pounds. He starts running. They've been up for 49 hours. Whitlow's weighs 29. They both talk about how tough it is and has been. Wolf seems more optimistic. They cross at around the five mile mark, with Whitlow doing a skip to let Wolf know she still had energy in her. They both start running - they're afraid of what they other is doing. Mile 7 for Wolf, and he starts naming the body parts that hurt him. Whitlow starts doing a cadence for herself. Wolf sees the end and starts running - he finishes at 2:04. Whitlow is 9 minutes later, at 2:13. Tag goes to Wolf, and he's up now 4-1, but he only knows about 1 of them.

1400 - Gauntlet Event 6, Jackson's Hold.  Even before they get there, they have to walk up a large hill, nice. You get the feeling that whoever wins the money, they've earned at least part of it by going through this. McSweeny explains the naming (Jackson almost held on to the end) and then the rules - each person stands on a platform, putting their right (strong) arm through a metal donut disk. One set of Jackson's dog tags (held by a low hanging bracelet) is put on that arm, so that the dog tags are dangling over a pool of red liquid. The first person to get Jackson's dog tags red/bloody loses.

And they start. Like Lauder's Last Stand, this just straight endurance. It's cold, which doesn't help. Whitlow talked about how much pain she was in - so she decided not to fight someone she wasn't going to beat, and gave up after 21 minutes. Wolf is now up 5 - 1. If he captures the next event, he only needs one person to vote for him to win. They only know he's up 2 - 0.

1500 - Meal Break. Wolf can't believe it's almost over. Wolf must have a pretty crappy normal life to be so bummed out that this pain is ending. I'd be so stoked to be gone that it'd be hurting my performance. Whitlow says she's counting the hours till it's over. They both talk about what they've learned and how much they win and no one wants to hear that. McSweeny gives them advice about making their rations warmer and they make fun of him when it doesn't actually help. They feed each other (probably on order.) Whitlow hopes they get some sleep before the final Dismissal Hill. Wolf just realizes that Recruit Katherine's not voting - he sure is a quick one. But since someone said "voting", it's time to go back to the voter's interview kaleidoscope.

Moretty says she's going to decide at the last minute, and then does what the caption claims to be a "sinister laugh", but not really.

Thomson says that they're the same people, so it's hard to pick which one is harder.

Hutak says that Wolf's true colors came through with the whole Yaney/Rope situation. Oh wow, it's gonna be funny if Wolf loses this not because of anything stupid that he's done (because he has done stupid) but for what people thought he did. We're shown clips, which McSweeny narrates and explains the situation again for those who forget. He knows what happened, but he thinks the recruits are still confused about it, and it sure sounds like Hutak is. Of course, it is partially Wolf's fault for not paying attention either. McSweeny also says Yaney shares a part of the blame, maybe for leaving it in the first place and maybe, as squad leader, to let the situation get out of control.

Wolf's not going back to go school if he wins the Gauntlet. Whitlow asks him again, and he says he's gonna take a semester off. See, Wolf may win a half million today, but I'm a college graduate and he's not, so I got something going.

1700 - Event 7 - Gauntlet Event 7, Coddington's Crossing. Take 2. 41 hours in. Shot of Wolf with his shirt off for all the ladies. It's a nice mix of muscle development and food deprivation. Whitlow sheds some clothes too. Wolf psyches them both up - don't get hurt, and remember that after this, they only have to go to Dismissal Hill. I think Wolf wants Whitlow to take it easy for his own sake maybe, but I'll try to think nice things about him. 43 degrees out. We're reminded of last week's times - 15:18 for Whitlow, 12:42 for Wolf. The person who improves most wins Coddington's dog tags, and, all in all, it looks like Whitlow's got to win them to have a chance.

And they're off. Wolf takes the early lead again. Wolf hits the mudpit at 8 seconds slower than his first time. Like I said last week, I think it's going be a matter of who falls the least more than any increase, though Wolf might be able to make up some time on the kayak. Whitlow is 10 seconds FASTER, so let's forget about that for a second. She is moving really slow now though. Wolf picked up the pace to the next obstacle, finishing the tires only 2 seconds behind his old pace. Whitlow gets to the tires 20 seconds faster than last time. Throughout this, the Drill Instructors praise the job the these have done to get here, and to finish the gauntlet. Wolf manages to pick up more time on his way to the wall, getting there 10 seconds AHEAD of pace. He's slow getting over but still okay. Whitlow gets to the wall 23 seconds AHEAD, but she struggles again with it. We see her repeatedly fail to get over the wall, and it seems like she's gone. Wolf is still ahead of his pace. McSweeny joins Taylor at the Wall and still struggles. Wolf finishes at a time of 12:14, 28 seconds in front of last time's pace. Whitlow has to finish better than 14:50 to win. Wolf says that he was worried that she was injured when he didn't see her behind him. We're shown Whitlow's frustration after the 12th failed attempt. She stares at the Drill Instructor like "what do you want me to do?" Back at the finish line, Wolf says that Whitlow was the one recruit that he was the closest too. Back at the Wall, Whitlow is trying for the 25 time, and she's almost over, but she can't do it. Rosenbum tells us that he and Fransico found out what happened and went back to the wall for moral support.

It's been 43 minutes since Whitlow got to the wall, and it's been long since this was about winning this event - it's just about getting over the wall. Whitlow stares, and then tells us that she thought about quitting and then Rosenbum showed up so there was no way that could happen. They all encourage here. Again no. 39th attempt. Franscio tells us that he wasn't sure if he could it. Whitlow slips down and hurts herself. 58 minutes. Whitlow again stares out in to space. 47th attempt. She's up to the top of the all, now she just needs to swing herself over. She's got her front over, now a leg, now they make her yell "The Gauntlet Rules!", now the other leg over and climbing down. And she runs off for the kayak - off into the darkness. She says that kayak trip was the most special moment of all - all by herself, for herself. 

Back to the finish line. Francisco's yells to guide her to the line. She crosses at 1:27:00 but it doesn't really matter. Wolf's a dork for not going back and helping but maybe they didn't let him. All the drill instructors are proud of her for never giving up and finnaly doing it. Whitlow says she's glad Boot Camp is over, and even if she doesn't win the money, she did win because she beat that wall - it's worth more than a half million to her, especially if she didn't did out, because it would haunt her forever. Cue emotional happy music, while the graphics tells the story - Wolf leads 5-1, though he only knows he's up 3-0 with 3 events unrevealed.

Here's a bit explaining all this again, for the slow, because we needed to stretch this out into a full second hour.

2300, Final Dismissal Hill - Francisco congratulates both the recruits for making it this far, and then explains the rules again. We get bits explaining why each voter was discharged. Moretty had some time to get some makeup between now and then. We're also reminded that since Katherine quit, she gave up her vote. I wonder what they would do if there was a tie?

Moretty is first up to the voting podium - we get the normal montage of everyone voting without getting to see their votes. Everyone must vote for Whitlow for her to win.

Rosenbum gives them a speech about how tough the Gauntlet is, and (voice over here - why does that happen with him a lot?) that it's now time to reveal the winner of each event. That means that the votes aren't affected by who's ahead in everything else, because they're done prior to the results being given - everyone doesn't know that a vote for Wolf wins him the game (but if someone did vote for Wolf, they will know what it means while they're standing there.) Lauder's to Wolf. Jackson's to Wolf. Coddington's to Wolf. Haar's to Whitlow. (Whitlow smiles - she's got a chance.) Park's to Wolf, who taking a deep breath after each one. Moretti's to Wolf. We see Pupo's reaction - sigh? I dunno. Meyer's to Wolf, who's feeling calm. It's 6 to 1, Wolf. 

Now each recruit will get a chance to say who they voted for and why...

Moretty: We're reminded that Whitlow is hoping for a loyal vote. Moretty says she was with them the most, but has had the least time to think about it all. She voted for the person who most consistently put forth effort - and that's Whitlow. She did it throughout, not just at the very end when it was about the game.

Commercial break, because it's 6-2 and might be over any second.

Let me pause for a second to complain about the many many shots that are obviously not matched up either with the right time or what's being said, but just edited in for the sake of creating the scene someone wants, instead of what they get. There are a lot of voice overs added as well - maybe this didn't go too well when they did it? One wonders if they went back and put whatever votes for Wolf as far back in line as possible to increase the drama even more artificially.

Hutak: Whitlow thinks that she'll get this one out of loyalty. Hutak tells us that she came to Boot Camp because she want the boot camp experience (and maybe not the money so much.) She was amazed and the improvements people made - and she hopes to do the same for others, as she wants to be a drill instructor now. Drill Instructor school would be one scary place. Anyway, Hutak says that integrity and loyalty is very important to her, so when Wolf didn't speak up about the missing rope (shot of Moretty - maybe looking guilty?, shot of Wolf looking unhappy), it cost him real big. He let down the whole team, so she's voting for Whitlow. 6-3.

Brown: Wolf versions of some of the above events is that Brown woke him up and asked to form an alliance - it backfired on her so he hopes she doesn't take revenge her. Brown tells us that it wasn't an easy choice between them, because Wolf's arrogant and Whitlow is untrustworthy. Brown shows a piece of paper she found in her returned clothes - "a piece of paper that we all know pretty well" (I guess the rule list for how they were supposed to act, based on) "and it says, in bold, 'there will never be an occasion to say 'I', 'we' or 'me'." Like Hutak, it boils to one incident, and the I/we/me thing - Wolf and the rope. Hahahaha. Instead of taking the fall, he let the whole team do push-ups, "worst of all, Yaney who obviously adores you." (the heck?) He wasn't a team player, so Whitlow gets another set of dog tags. 6-4.

Another commercial break. They did go a long time without them, but there shouldn't be another one. There may be.

Thomson: Wolf says that Thomson was one of the guys and he tried to be his friend, so Wolf counts on this vote. I think we're not getting a winner till we get to hear from Yaney (and since he'll probably vote for Whitlow, maybe down to Pupo), so he shouldn't hold his breath. Thomson says he and Wolf were close, even though they were opposite sides of strategy. Whitlow was a good person and very consistent. Tough decision, but it was based on consistency - and the tag go to Whitlow. 6-5.

Pupo: Oh, wow, they're saving Yaney for last. Either Pupo votes for Wolf here and they want to save Yaney for last because he's the one we'd most care about hearing after the winner was decided, or it's all gonna come down to a piece of missing equipment. Whitlow says she just has a feeling that Pupo will vote for Wolf - especially if she's heard what Whitlow has said about her. We hear Wolf's lame speech about them both being from Philly and sticking together. I will never ever watch this show (that's not so big, so maybe any reality show) if that's the reason he wins. Pupo isn't surprised that it came down to these two - especially after how "cozy" they got when they thought no one saw them. "Anyway, you remember when that pig farmer lady [Haar] said I wasn't a team player? She was absolutely correct!" Pupo's a lot cooler than we knew, so let's giver her a moment to let it all out.

"Because, the truth is, there's no such thing as a team player, all right. Come on, let's be honest - everybody here was ultimately out for themselves. The only thing that was ever at stake here was money. I wasn't in the game long enough, uh, to form any meaningful opinions about either one of you, but I did make some observations. For starters, Whitlow, like I told you on the first day, the Drill Instructors were going to were going to yell at us no matter what, and so, no I never bothered sounding off any louder, or moving any faster, or pushing any harder than absolutely necessary. For what? So you guys would think that I was a 'team player'?  In the end, all the other team players go home exactly the same - battered, bruised, and beaten. So as far as I'm concerned, between the two of you who wins, who cares? I flipped a coin - my tags go to Whitlow. Good Luck." 

Easy lines: Fiona Apple comes to Boot Camp! Her and Meyer would have made a great alliance! A FRICKING MISSING ROPE IS GONNA DECIDE THIS ALL AND IT'S OKAY BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE WOLF. I wonder if Whitlow would have bothered with that Wall at all if she knew it was gonna be tied 6-6 with Yaney left.

Shot of Whitlow smiling while Wolf works on his patented gulp. After a look at the score, a look at a very very nervous Yaney. He knows who won, and he's the only one. SO LET'S TAKE A FRICKING AD BREAK! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGH.

I should've known - they hadn't done the live ad for the 9:00 news yet, which is always the last ad break.

For the expression on Yaney's face, they either did a really good job editing or this is the real order.

Yaney: Wolf thinks so, because they were bunkmates and together so much. I bet Wolf forget about the rope when he was doing these interviews. I bet he never forgets about it again.

"I can't get a break. Um...when I first came here, I remember I was afraid of heights. I wasn't afraid of heights, I was afraid of falling. What I'm getting at is that, uh, over the last five weeks, I've learned courage. I've gained a lot of courage. And right here, looking at two people I that I went through five weeks of peril with, and cried with and laughed with and looked at for support and we all helped each other out and worked together - to stand here and tell one of you that you're not gonna win is tough. You both mean a lot to me. This isn't...personal. It's part of the game that we're all involved in. And, uh, right now I'm not voting for the best recruit or the most improved recruit, I'm voting for one of the last two recruits. Um..."

Francisco: (with his "dubbed in" sounding voice and shots of the participants that could have been taken at any time) "Recruit Yaney, we're waiting. You must reveal your final your final decision. Do it."

Yaney (hasn't reacted at all to Francisco's 'voice'): There was an incident what a D-ring, and I think not taking responsibility is going to cost somebody. I pledge my dog tags to Whitlow."

Whitlow wins. Wolf got no votes, losing three because of something that wasn't (mostly) his fault and another by a coin toss. 

She cries, than laughs, and can't seem to believe it. She winks at someone. Wolf hugs here, than the rest do. Whitlow says it was just relief at it being over. Everyone hugs everyone. They're all very cold. Yaney (he's got hair!) says that he couldn't let Wolf winning, knowing that he let a whole squad suffer to save himself, and he felt Whitlow deserved to win.

Wolf's excuses: It was all a matter of voting, and Brown played them all, all game. She got mad because she got booted of and looked for revenge. If it wasn't the rope, it would have been something else. We see Wolf standing at attention and not joining in with the celebration. (Despite saying that he came here to win before) Wolf says he's happy because he's going home with 100,000. I'm not at all sad to see you get screwed here, Wolf.

Francisco kicks everyone who didn't win off the hill. Whitlow says she just wanted to win - to get the cash was bonus. She stares off as the show ends.

You know, instead of artificially stretching the show out, they could have made a much more compelling show if they just stuck those 8 in front of a TV/VCR with rope mystery revealed. I'd like to hear interviews (Moretty!) after that happened, but now we'll never know.