Jeanine is devastated after the Elie vote. This cements it for her that she’s on the outside of the majority. Noelle talks to her, trying to reassure Jeanine that this was a move against Elie, and wasn’t because of her at all. She advises Jeanine to act okay with the result, like this will be good for her. And to be fair, it can be good for her. It’s early in the merge, so it gives her freedom to move around and make some different relationships. Everyone is telling her the right things to start, but of course they are. We’ll see what the next vote brings.
The next morning, Dwight and Owen discuss their path forward, trying to come up with a solid group. Gabler is technically in that group, but both feel nervous about keeping him around.
The tribe receives Tree Mail, and it tells them they have to pair themselves up for the upcoming immunity challenge. It has some unclear, somewhat cryptic messaging.
“Tribe idols are no more. The necklace now the object of your stares. Its power protects only one, yet today you’ll compete in pairs.” It makes it seem like a possible outcome is one pair will win the challenge but only one person will be immune. We’ll see what shakes out…
Everybody immediately starts feeling uncomfortable, not wanting to be the one to make the first move. They eventually settle on – what else? – drawing rocks.
Challenge
The pairs are:
Owen & Gabler
Cody & Dwight
Noelle & Sami
Ryan & James
Karla & Cassidy
Jesse & Jeanine
This immunity challenge is a little different. It will be run in three stages. In the first, each player has to crawl through a muddy, twisty net, dig up planks, and race back to their mat and plant a flag. The first four pairs to finish advance.
In the second stage, they climb up a cargo net, and use the planks from the first stage to cross a rope bridge, and then drop the wall on the other side. The first two pairs to finish move on to the final stage.
The final stage switches from team to individual to finish things off. Each player holds a handle, which is attached to a bucket holding 25% of their pre-game weight. Last one holding on wins immunity.
Karla & Cassidy, James & Ryan, Dwight & Cody, and Owen & Gabler move on to the second stage. The net looked like an absolute NIGHTMARE. You’re stuck in there with no way out except getting out. You get stuck, you’re muddy, you’re caught in a tight space. Just a big nope from me.
Dwight & Cody finish the second stage first, followed by Owen & Gabler. Cassidy & Karla almost had it, but Karla fell into the net. Ryan & James almost took it, but dropped a plank, giving Owen & Gabler just enough of an opening.
It comes down to Gabler and Cody, and Cody drops out at 39 minutes.
Pre-Tribal
Things have to shift after the first Tribal Council, considering only half the tribe was even eligible to be voted for last time. The early consensus is a split between James and Ryan.
At the water well, Owen, James, Sami, and Dwight find an advantage in a bottle, telling them there is an advantage hidden underneath their shelter. James tells them he’s not going to touch it until after Tribal. But of course he goes and picks it up. And he does so with ease. Nobody is around. Three (three!) other players know he has this, and had all just been discussing a plan to potentially vote James out. So they leave him alone? It’s giving Ben in season 35. How do they let this happen?
Jesse talks the plan through with Karla. They both see Noelle as someone trying to call the shots, and they’re not sure it’s smart to let her wield her power. Jesse goes to Cody next, who says he’s never been a huge fan of Dwight, and thinks now might be the time for that move. Jesse doesn’t want to target Dwight just yet, but if he lets his ally feel good about putting together a move while still at least weakening Noelle, he’s open to it.
James reads the note, and it’s literally just Knowledge is Power. I hate this so much. I already hated this advantage, so I was thrilled when it went out of the game. And now it’s back? Just like that? And in such an easy find, just chilling in the water well? Beyond stupid. James starts telling people, and everyone he doesn’t tell starts planning to protect against the advantage. For some reason, they all guess that maybe he might have the Knowledge is Power?
They start moving advantages and idols around, switching up ownership, so James can’t be sure of who has what.
Tribal Council
James chooses not to use the Knowledge is Power. But Jesse and Cody clued him and Ryan in on the Dwight plan, as Dwight is voted out, and we still haven’t started the jury yet.
One quick programming note. The blog will either be late next week or I’ll skip it. I won’t be able to watch next week’s episode until Thursday, so I’ll have to see what I want to do. Recap will be out Friday, if at all. Talking Llama will be Friday morning next week, the 11th.
