Episode 19
Lava
The tribe discusses the players returning from Purgatory, rightfully scared of the Jordie, Shay, KJ trio. Jordie is still out for blood against Sam, wanting payback for Jesse. Revenge is always a tricky motivator on Survivor, but luckily for Jordie, Sam is the biggest threat remaining.
However, they’re still only three against the rest. There’s definitely an opportunity, but it’s going to take a lot of work. Jordie’s biggest chip to play is still Sam’s idol, which the rest of the tribe is still skeptical about. He wants to work up Sam’s paranoia, hoping she’ll self-implode and do some of the work for him. Sam’s best bet is to get rid of Jordie before the idol is revealed.
Reward Challenge
Auction time baby! U.S. Survivor has done away with the auction, but AU still brings it out, and I love it. Jordie bids his full $500 on a covered item. To guard against him possibly getting an advantage, Mark bids against him. They draw rocks and Mark wins. Not at advantage, but a steak meal. Sam blows her $500 on a covered item of vegemite toast. KJ buys tea, which also included an advantage or something secret. Shay buys a letter from home for $200, and is given the choice to keep it or give it up for everyone else to get their letter.
While this is usually an easy choice and you should give it up, I think Shay should have kept it. Someone like Mark or Josh should give it up. But Shay, coming back from Purgatory? Giving up your letter isn’t going to change their minds about wanting to vote right out again.
Lava
KJ’s clue sends her to advantage. She can choose any three tribemates to return to camp before the vote is cast. They will not be able to vote, but cannot be voted for. It has to be played within the next two Tribal Councils.
Here I was, happy that the returning players didn’t come back with an idol, or safety, or anything, and now this. Production clearly was hoping one of the three would get it. And I suppose this is better than straight up giving them something. But a third of the tribe, or more if she waits, is too much.
Immunity Challenge
The players race down a slide and swim to shore. There they maneuver through a series of obstacles to get to a grappling hook. They use the hook to snag puzzle pieces, which they use to solve a three level puzzle.
Josh wins.
Pre-Tribal
As expected, the majority six is gunning for Jordie and Jordie of course wants Sam. Jordie pitches a 4-4-1 split between Sam, himself, and KJ or Shay. Sam plays her idol and he goes home. Or she doesn’t and they can vote Sam out on the revote.
Josh and Jordan discuss the plan. They’re not fully believing that Sam has an idol, but they are at least starting to consider their moves under the assumption that she does. But they also know how big of a challenge threat Jordie is. That’s weighing on them as well.
Sam and Mark discuss what to do with their idols. If they feel safe enough heading into Tribal, they might leave them both behind at camp. If one gets voted out, the other will come back to camp to two idols.
Tribal Council
KJ reveals her advantage early at Tribal Council. She sends Chrissy, Mark, and Josh back to camp, leaving a perceived 3-3 split. Had she sent the three Purgatory returnees back to camp, it likely would have been Dave voted out. Before leaving, Mark left something for Sam, but we don’t see if it was in fact the idol. They had seemed pretty set on leaving them both at camp. Knowing she is likely to be the target, Sam tells everyone she has Mark’s idol. However, Sam’s voting confessional makes it seem like she does not have the idol.
Sam does not play an idol – showing before leaving that she didn’t have one – but Jordan is voted out, with Dave voting with the Purgatory 3.
Episode 20
Lava
Josh is livid after learning about Jordan’s vote out. But we’ve got a game now! Instead of a clear power majority, we have two tight groups of four. It’s all you can ask for in the end game. But Josh is maybe seeing too much red. He keeps talking to KJ and Dave about how much trouble they’re in, that he won’t stop gunning for them. It’s all well and good to a point. Nothing he says crosses any lines. But at some point, you’ve got to learn to keep your mouth shut.
But to keep things spicy, Josh and Chrissy again discuss a potential plan to flush Sam’s idol. They may try to convince Sam to play the idol while voting out Jordie. The idol has to be flushed, whether they believe she and Mark each have one, or just one in total.
Immunity Challenge
Once again we have another creative twist on a challenge we’ve seen before. They roll a ball up a ramp and race to pick up a block and place it in line before the ball comes back down. If they miss the ball, it knocks down the blocks and you have to start over. Once you have all the blocks lined up, you roll the ball down the ramp to have the blocks fall down like dominoes.
Mark wins.
Pre-Tribal
Jordie pitches Josh about joining forces to take full control of the game by voting out Sam. It’s an interesting vote any way you slice it. With the two groups of four seemingly tight – at least at this point – there’s not much wiggle room. Sam and Mark need to correctly play an idol, someone needs to flip, or they’re going to rocks.
Dave pulls Josh aside for a quick chat. He tries to play off Jordan’s going home as Sam’s fault, by openly saying she was going to play her idol for herself. It was the only play for her, and Josh should be able to see through Dave’s ploy. However, Dave’s playing to Josh’s emotions, which are sure to still be raw.
Sam and Mark are still planning to throw all four of their votes on Jordie and are banking on Dave flipping back.
Tribal Council
Tribal was a lot of talk about trust and loyalty and securing a majority, albeit without any input from KJ or Shay, and just a few words from Chrissy. Wild at this point in the game, but Australian Survivor is what it is. The real thing is, will Sam play an idol? And will Josh turn on his alliance?
Sam does not play the idol, and Jordie finally – finally – gets his wish. The power player of the season is gone, and we’re left with a likely winner of either Mark or Jordie. Though I suppose you can’t count out the possibility of some more chaos and someone bursting through at the end.
But Josh, what are you doing bro? I don’t hate the flip, not at all. But why not make the vote 4-4 and flip on the revote? Worst case, she burns her idol and Jordie’s out. Big threat gone either way. But now it’s a clean flip, and Josh has likely lost all hope of working with Mark, who by the way now has two idols.
Wrap-Up
I wish I could say I was more surprised that we didn’t get anything from KJ after the big move in Episode 19. This could have been a turning point in her game, putting her on a winning path. Still a long shot, but it’s not even close to too late for anyone here to sprint to a win at the end here. But by pushing her into the background and giving Jordie the commentary, it further signals that Jordie is a likely finalist, if not winner. Not that I’m upset about that. I love Jordie. But I wish the edit would make things less obvious. Plus, if KJ – or anyone not named Mark or Jordie (or maybe Josh I suppose) – ends up winning, it’s going to feel even more like it’s coming straight out of left field.
No matter what though, this is still setting up to be a fierce final stretch of episodes. And even with a potentially obvious outcome, I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds.
