Nuinui
Liz was left out of the vote and is doing her best to keep it together. She confronts the group back at camp, asking what about her made nobody want to include her. They try to stave her off, assuring her the plan came together just right before Tribal Council. But the tribe still has the Q problem to deal with. Everyone is tired of the drama and chaos he’s bringing to the game.
However, Maria sees an opportunity. She thinks Q still has some game left to play, and wants to keep that line open. She knows he’s a wild card, but you never know when you might need somebody to become an ally. It’s a smart play by Maria, minimal risk, potentially big reward.
Kenzie talks to Maria and Charlie early the next morning. They discuss Kenzie’s idea from the previous vote about blindsiding Tiffany. Maria thinks Q would be willing to come on board to vote out Tiffany. Kenzie says, “A huge checkpoint on your resume is voting out your number 1 ally.” Um, are we sure about that? You often need to be willing to vote that ally out, but seeing it as a “must do” moment in the game? Don’t think so, pal.
Reward Challenge
For this reward challenge, they race through obstacles to get to a sack of sand bags. They untie them and throw them into a net tunnel, pushing them through the tunnel. Then they crawl through a net crawl on the sand to pick up one last sand bag. They throw that sand onto the top of a tall target. They’re playing for an Applebee’s reward.
Q wins, choosing Tiffany, Maria, and Kenzie to join him. Liz…does not take it well. Being allergic to so many things, she’s barely eaten all game. She loses it, screaming at Q. She blames Q for “almost” blowing up her game (which isn’t his concern whatsoever). She says she wasn’t even involved in the split vote. And Q says, “But Liz, you voted for me last night. I make decisions based on where my head is at in the game, so I’m sorry.” I am 100% on Q’s side here. Sure, Liz has to feel worse than everyone given that she’s by far eaten the least. But come on. Simply an all-time Survivor meltdown.
Reward/Camp
Ben is somehow on Liz’s side. NONE OF THIS IS Q’S FAULT! Liz knew what she was getting into by coming on the show. Q bears none of this responsibility.
Q pitches forming a “new 6” alliance, bringing the Yanu 3 back together with the remaining Siga. But, okay? That only leaves out Venus and Liz. So sure, it can last for two votes, but then what? But the actual reward? It’s the usual overpraising of whatever restaurant sponsored the given reward. And then the bourbon burger comes out, Liz’s go-to. Aaaannndddd none of them eat it. Honestly, that’s even funnier.
Tiffany and Kenzie see through the facade of Q bringing them on the reward, and still want to move ahead with voting him out. Maria, while wanting to work with Q, realizes it might not be worth the fight to try to keep him around.
Charlie and Maria connect again on the vote plan. Q feels like the consensus vote, but Tiff’s idol still looms large.
Immunity Challenge
The castaways hold onto a handle connected to a bucket holding 25% of their pre-game body weight. Bucket drops, you’re out.
Jeff brings out the rice again, with the same deal as before. Four people sit out, or two give up their vote and they get the rice. Jeff makes a new offer. If they can’t come to a consensus for the group, any individual can step out for their own personal portion of rice. Liz ultimately decides to not compete, taking the rice. It comes down to Tiff vs. Charlie and Charlie wins out, his second immunity win in a row.
Pre-Tribal
Q is the easy vote. Maria talks to Q about going with the Tiff plan instead. Maria, Charlie, Ben, and Q are on board, but they need a 5th to make sure it goes through. That leaves them choosing between Venus or Liz. Nobody trusts Venus, with Charlie even saying she’ll cause some random drama or chaos. And then Liz, well, nothing more needs to be said. But with every vote that Tiff makes it through without using her idol, it becomes harder and harder to get her. But Liz is being a terrible Survivor player, wanting to keep the vote on Q as revenge for not taking on the reward.
Tribal Council
Tiff does not play her idol, and it leads to the end of her game. Liz did switch, sending Tiff to the jury with an idol in her pocket. After the lead-up work Kenzie did, she played no part in sending her #1 ally out of the game. But you could argue that’s actually better for her game? A big threat that she was closely tied to is now gone, and she doesn’t have the blood on her hands. The trade off of not making it “her move” could be pretty equal, if not better.
Things I Liked
1-5. Let’s be real here, it’s everything with the reward challenge. I couldn’t be more on Q’s side, and I love how he handled it. None of what Liz was pissed about was Q’s fault, and he stood his ground. And it was beyond hilarious that he acknowledged how hard it must be for Liz, only to pivot and take Kenzie. Then the four at the reward not even *touching* the burger, not one single bite. Pure comedy.
