They are now all the Dara tribe, and they shared a massive merge feast (with alcohol again, they’ve brought it back!).
Nick, originally of he Beauty tribe was everyone’s favourite new guy to make friends with, and he was becoming very close with all the alliances. He’s been fairly quiet throughout the game, so this sort of gameplay was kind of surprising from him. Debbie meanwhile went immediately to Tai and basically told him he’s in her alliance, then told Nick the same. She was very aggressive and it’s looking mostly like it will backfire against her. This was some of the hardest and most immediate game play following a merge. It was also a huge, beautiful mess. Everyone was double teaming everyone and it was glorious. It was so good that they spent most of the episode focusing on the new relationships and alliances (faux and otherwise). Finally we got to the first individual immunity challenge. As per usual with individual challenges, it was all about balance and focus. Nick ended up winning - even though he seems to be the one who needs it least tonight. I’ll say it again, Nick has come out of seemingly nowhere and is all of a sudden playing this game harder than anyone. He even gave a speech about being a pretty girl at the dance which was great. He’s growing on me. Jeff and the doctor had a first where they made a house call, to look at the contestants and make sure any of the infections the players are seeing develop aren’t life threatening. Jeff. Was. Loving. It. The doctor ended up pulling Neal, who had an infection close to his knee that could easily have gotten worse. He will still be a jury member, however, after making it past merge. And because of this, there was no tribal this week. Two medical evacs in one season is crazy.
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Julia spent some time trying to make friends with her new tribe, while people were still working out their strategies with each other.
For immunity Chan Lo (blue tribe) won yet again. But it was close once again. The tribal was filled with a lot of last minute decisions, but Peter ended up getting voted out after someone crossed out Julia and wrote Peter instead. Very intense. Next week we get our favourite - the merge!
Tonight the tribes were told to drop their buffs (and, with the way things were going for Brawns and Brains, it’s about time). The teams shuffled around, but differently than they expected with Caleb’s sudden departure, there were 6 blue, 6 yellow and 1 red, meaning whoever drew that buff would have to return to Brawn beach and fend for themselves. They would not have to participate in the immunity challenge (since nobody can vote them out) and they will then join whatever tribe loses someone at tribal council. I mean A+ drama element from the producers on what would have been a last minute decision. Love. It.
The teams were split into yellow, blue, and the singular red player - Julia. (The girls Beauty alliance, probably the strongest in the game, was split a solid three ways). Sidenote: Tai and Scot are hilarious together based on their sizes. While the two new tribes got to know each other, Julia struggled on her own (she’s only 18!!). The immunity challenge was crazy close all the way through - this entire season is fairly well balanced. But in the end the new blue tribe won immunity, sending the yellow tribe to tribal (meaning Julia will join this tribe next week). Anna (from the Beauty tribe) was voted out, which was smart, but sad to see another Beauty go.
Tonight the girls met Ben’s parents, and it was clear his mother was NOT impressed with her son loving two women. Despite this, his parents clearly liked Jojo more.
Shocker: both girls are worried he loves someone else. Because he does. Unsurprisingly, in the end he chose Lauren B. Jojo knew as soon as he opened his mouth and was clearly over it. GIRL YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN HIM. Ben was all sorts of conflicted over the two girls, but he got over it and called Lauren's dad to ask for his permission to marry her. So he proposed, and gave her a rose, and she said yes, just as she was programmed to as a young robot.
The reward tonight was a Survivor kitchen set for the first place winner, and salt, pepper and a few dishes for the second place team. The 3rd part (of 4) of the challenge took more than 45 minutes in the heat, while they dug in the sand to find hidden bags.
Brain ended up winning first place in the reward, after finding the bags they needed to complete the last part of the challenge far in advance of the other two tribes. It was a tough challenge to even watch, because you could just imagine what they were feeling but with no reprieve. After Brain came in first, they called a medic over to look at Debbie (since she weighs under 100 pounds and was clearly overheating). Beauty ended up pulling out a second place int he reward challenge, leaving Brawn with nothing. Shortly after, the Beauty tribe needed medical for Caleb. And then Brawn needed medical for Cydney. It was insane to watch. Everyone on the crew became essential personnel. We’ve never seen anything like this. Surprise: the reward was medical and every team won. They had to evacuate Caleb after he wasn’t being responsive, but Cydney was okay. It’s also important to note that Caleb has 100% recovered (and hopes to play again). This was terrifying to watch, and super upsetting. Watching how sad the beauty tribe was over losing Caleb was ridiculously upsetting. When they got back to their camps, Debbie was actually a real, normal person in her confessional. She talked about how she didn’t want to call medical over originally because she didn’t want to disappoint her daughters. Meanwhile Brawn continued to gang up on Alecia (and let’s be real, they were pretty sexist during the challenge telling her to “keep cheerleading because it’s all you’re good at”). She was simply trying to stay positive. I just dislike that team so much. Beauty all the way, man. For the immunity challenge they brought the majority of the action into the jungle and the water (coincidence, we think not - shade and water = nobody dying [hopefully]). Brains won immunity (despite falling behind early on in the challenge). Thankfully this isn’t a repeat of the Brain tribe being shitty at the one thing they should be good at - puzzles. Beauty also took home immunity (YAY!), sending Brawn to tribal council. Brawn even tried to make things quick and do tribal AT the challenge, but Alecia wouldn’t give up. At this point though, it was no surprise that they sent her home. Boo, what shitty, shitty men. (Also your Brawn clearly isn't helping, you keep losing). This was an insane episode, and I know this game is all about survival in the elements, but if they keep pushing these contestants in this heat someone is going to end up (even more) seriously injured.
Over on Brawn, Alecia found the clue to idol, and got Cydney to help her find it. Of course this just turned into Cydney finding the tool for herself. Sydney then went and told the guys who ran into the forest to find it for themselves. Of course Douchebag-Stereo-Tattoo is a bounty hunter so this is right up his alley AFTER THE GIRLS ALREADY DID ALL THE FUCKING WORK. I hate the Brawn team so much. Although they did give us a full on brawl which we don’t see often for hidden immunities.
So the guys found the idol, with Jason taking it, but everyone knows that he has it so it loses some of its power. For the challenge this week, in addition to immunity, the winning tribe got to choose between comfort items or emotional items. Second tribe gets what’s left. Beauty slaughtered this challenge like they did that chicken, coming in first and choosing the comfort reward, and Brawn finally didn’t lose a challenge, coming in second, sending Brain to tribal. There was a three-way tie between Liz, Aubry and Peter at tribal council, so there was revote, which ended in Liz getting sent home, and making for an awkward time back at camp. |
