Owen is still wanting to drive a wedge between Karla and Cassidy, with the plan to vote out Karla next. Once Sami played his Shot in the Dark, Karla made the decision to go with the Sami vote. So Owen decides to stir the pot and tells Cassidy he heard from Jesse that Karla was trying to target Cassidy.
Cassidy asks Karla about it, and Karla tries to play it off, saying it would have been a stupid move to go after he number 1 ally. Karla senses that Cassidy doesn’t fully believe her, so she pretty much has to double down on voting Cassidy; she even pulls out some fake tears to try to convince her. Karla asks Jesse to vouch for her, but Jesse just tells Cassidy the truth.
Reward Challenge
The six are divided into two teams of three. One player is strapped inside a giant ball, tasked with guiding the other two teammates, who are blindfolded, through an obstacle course to table maze. The player in ball guides the still-blindfolded teammates through the maze. They’re playing for a trip to the Survivor Sanctuary.
Blue: Owen in the ball, Cody, Karla
Red: Cassidy in the ball, Jesse, Gabler
Blue gets a big head start on the maze, but Red manages to catch up and make a match of it. But Blue drops their ball with Red right there as well, sending Owen, Cody, and Karla on reward.
Reward/Camp
At the reward, Karla talks about the target on her back due to the (true) rumor that she has an idol. She leaves Cody and Owen for a bit, and they both agree that they don’t think she has an idol. They think she would have played it by now. They agree on voting Karla, or Cassidy if Karla wins immunity again. In order for them to win, they both believe they need to get rid of Karla.
Gabler pitches to Jesse and Cassidy that they go to the Final 3 together, as they would have three very distinct stories. With that, he wants to go after Cody or Karla. Cassidy confirms to them that Karla does in fact have an idol. Interestingly enough, Jesse then confirms in a confessional that Cody has left his idol in Jesse’s bag.
Immunity Challenge
The contestants race through a series of obstacles, collecting a bag of number tiles. They use the tiles to open a combination lock to release a key. Then they’re up a cargo net, and use the key to unlock pieces to the final puzzle, a hanging bat.
Cassidy, Cody, and Karla are right there, but Karla’s hands start cramping. Cassidy thinks she has it, but is wrong, but gets it right on her second try, finishing just seconds before Cody.
Pre-Tribal
Owen and Gabler are in shambles. With Cassidy’s immunity, Karla and Cody’s idols, it certainly seems like it’s either one of those two or Jesse. Cody talks to Karla about working together, in a scenario where they both save their idols. The plan is to just tell everyone they’re playing the idols, to scare the others away from voting them. Then they don’t play them, and vote either Gabler or Owen. Owen and Gabler both tell Karla they would vote the other if it comes down to it.
But then. Cody goes to Owen with another plan: use the idol bluff plan to vote out Karla. He gets the numbers at first, but Jesse isn’t so sure about it. doesn’t want Cody to have this big move on his résumé, especially with how tied together their games are. As much as he’s bonded with Cody during the game, he’s in this for more than the experience. As he puts it, he’s there to secure his family’s future.
So Jesse goes to work. He wants to play the idol, so Karla will get spooked and play hers, allowing them to vote Cody. But a wrench gets thrown into this plan when Cody asks for the idol, to show Karla to give her peace of mind heading into Tribal. Jesse has no choice but give it back.
This was just an incredible segment to watch. Constantly flowing and changing plans, players thinking and adapting on the fly, and with good, logical, sneaky plans. They’re not just reacting, they’re actively planning against the information they receive as they receive it. One of the best – maybe the best – strategy segment of the season.
Tribal Council
Jesse plays Cody’s idol for Owen. And then right before, Jeff starts reading the votes, Karla plays her idol, for herself. One vote is negated each for Owen and Karla, and the next three are all Cody, sending him out of the game. He’s clearly hurt by Jesse’s betrayal, but seems to understand. He and Jesse hug it out before he leaves. Jesse says he’ll explain more later, but Cody says “There’s nothing to explain.” I’m taking that as he gets it, and accepts it.
But what’s more baffling, WHY DID CODY GIVE THE IDOL BACK?!
So Jesse clearly has to be in the driver’s seat heading into the finale, and with his idol, he’s guaranteed a shot at fire making at the very least. If he makes it to the end, he’s winning the game, there better not be any question about that. If he doesn’t, though…that’s where things could get interesting. Karla is probably in the number two spot, and then it gets muddy.
Gabler has been doing his thing, and that thing has been more subtle and effective than I think he’s getting credit for. Can he own that game in the end? Owen has the scrappy underdog story. And then I think Cassidy is in the 5th spot. We haven’t really seen her involved in much of the key strategy this season. I have to believe we would have seen something from her by this point if she was the winner. Sure, she can still make a big move or two in the finale, but it would have to be too little too late. But we’ll just have to come back here next week to see how it all plays out!
