- Castaways drop their buffs and form two new tribes. Meanwhile, a decision made on Day 1 could lead to a castaway's elimination and the battle for immunity proves which new tribe has the most Brawn.
- Previously on 'Survivor': Brice was booted from the Beauty tribe, leaving Morgan on her own. The Brawn tribe was winning, but some started focusing on getting Cliff out. They tried to throw the immunity, but the Brains tribe lost again. Kass and Tasha faced a challenge in deciding whether to keep Spencer, who is stronger in challenges, or J'Tia, who they believed to be more loyal. They booted J'Tia, giving Spencer a reprieve.
Back at camp: Spencer "couldn't be happier" to still be in the game. He tells the other two women he's not sure what went into the decision, but he's happy with it. Kass and Tasha realized they would be right back at Tribal Council if they'd kept J'Tia.
The next morning, it's sunny and a reward challenge seems to be in the offing. Tasha tells us the decision to keep Spencer will be tested in the next challenge.
Reward challenge: First, Jeff tells everyone to drop their buffs. "Brains, Brawn and Beauty is no more," he says.
Two new tribes will be formed. They draw buffs and the Brain tribe is all still together
Aparri: Sarah, Spencer, Morgan, Kass, Tasha, Jeremiah and Alexis.
Solana: Woo, Cliff, Trish, Jefra, LJ, Lidnsey and Tony.
Sarah is the only one of her tribe left on her new tribe. Tasha is excited for the fresh start, saying she thinks her new Aparri tribe will be good in challenges. Jeff introduces the challenge: One person from each tribe will grab and hold on to a pole while two members of the other tribe try to pull that person off the pole and across a line drawn in a sand a several feet away. The first tribe to successfully pull the other tribe's player over the line twice wins reward: a spread of baked goods and coffee.
In the first round, Morgan and Sarah will attack for Aparri first, trying to remove Lindsey from the pole. Meanwhile, Trish and Jefra will attempt to Tasha.
Morgan and Sarah nearly make quick work of getting Lindsey off the pole, but she grabs back on and at one point scissors her legs around Morgan's neck and face. Tasha, meanwhile, is digging in and not budging from the pole. Lindsey is eventually pulled from the pole and dragged, putting up a good fight the whole time, across the line.
In the next round, Spencer and Jeremiah for Aparri will attempt to remove Cliff from the pole. Solana's LJ and Trish will try to remove Alexis. Alexis is pulled from the pole almost immediately and LJ just drags her by an ankle across the line to tie the match up, 1-1.
Finally, Spencer and Jeremiah of Aparri will try to get Cliff off the pole. Lindsey and Tony from Solana will try to get Sarah off the pole. Sarah is pulled off quickly, but battles while Tony struggles to drag her across the sand. Cliff hangs on long enough for Solana to win. Spencer is frustrated.
Back at Solana: The tribe celebrates the win and LJ is worried about his and Jefra's fate. He surprises Trish by saying he's from Massachusetts. She makes a connection, and he knows it, saying it's "a moment of beaming sunshine" for him. Lindsey is annoyed by Trish.
Woo and Cliff talk about being happy they're still together, except that Trish also came along. He's immediately worried about what's going on with her and LJ.
Aparri: Sarah tells us it's a scary position to be so outnumbered. She immediately asks about whether anyone went for the idol. Morgan's lie -- she'd said nothing about the idol choice -- is exposed. Alexis doesn't trust Morgan.
Alexis pulls the Brains aside and asks them if they're up for teaming with her. Spencer tells us her desperation shows they can play some of the Beauty tribe members against each other. Morgan also gossips about Alexis. Jeremiah then reveals that he doesn't feel solid with his fellow Beauty members. Tasha feels like the Brains are suddenly in control.
Solana: Trish reveals to Jefra that she and Lindsey are not aligned, and that Lindsey is aligned with Cliff. Jefra is happy to have a spot where she and LJ can possible squeeze in. Cliff is lurking, watching Trish's moves, and Jefra says hi to him as they pass.
Immunity challenge: Each tribe will use a large log to smash through two wooden walls, then maneuver their log through a table maze and bang a gong with it. The first team to do it wins immunity. Aparri can't figure out who should sit out, and Morgan and Alexis finally "rock, paper scissors" to figure it out. Morgan sits.
Solana gets through the first wall first, but Aparri catches up as Solana loses momentum. The tribes are neck and neck and get to the maze almost exactly at the same time. They work through the maze at nearly identical speed, even making the same critical mistakes almost at the same time, but Aparri comes through for the win. Tony is stunned. He tells us LJ is a threat and has to go home.
Back at Aparri: Everyone is bummed about the loss. LJ is worried about himself and Jefra. LJ knows he's the target, and pleads with the others to keep him around. Cliff, though, is aware of Trish's Massachusetts connection and thinks it's trouble. Woo and Cliff are on board with getting rid of LJ.
Trish, meanwhile, is telling LJ that he's "in," and says that she and Tony want Cliff out. LJ is happy to hear it, even though he says he doesn't really understand why the Brawn tribe would start turning on each other. Trish is excited about getting Cliff out.
Lindsey tells Cliff and Woo that she's worried Trish is going to flip on them. Trish and Tony take a walk and she starts telling him Cliff should go first. Tony tells us Trish's idea is "crazy." He wants to get rid of LJ. Tony tries to tell Trish that Brawn is "five deep" and they shouldn't take each other out. Tony tells us he agrees Cliff can be dangerous, but he doesn't trust LJ at all. Cliff talks to Tony alone and Tony stumbles through recounting his conversation with Trish. Tony doesn't seem to want to reveal Trish's plan to take Cliff out.
LJ tells us he's putting "a boatload of trust" into Trish and Tony, and he'll play his idol if he needs to.
Tribal Council: Jeff asks LJ who's in charge of the camp. LJ says he was intimidated and uncomfortable. Cliff tells Jeff it should be "just that simple," but suggests there's always going to be a person who may jump and play with emotion. Woo agrees, and says "you're got to trust" what you're part of. Trish says "numbers are important, but numbers are only important if they're also going to work for you," and if they're not then "maybe you have to make other arrangements for yourself."
Jefra pounces and says "somebody's the bottom man in that five." Lindsey says they should all stick together. Cliff says being at Tribal Council gives him and others a chance to see how people are truly thinking. Tony says the vote will show whether they're going to move forward as a team or step back and move forward with a different team.
The vote: Woo writes down LJ's names and says, "Sorry, buddy. The last thing we need is for you to make the merge and reconnect with your Beauty tribe." Jefra writes down Cliff's name, saying he "can't call the shots forever and hope everybody else sticks with the plan. We don't see the name Tony wrote down, but he says, "Nothing personal, just strategical."
Jeff asks if anyone has the hidden idol and wants to play it. No one responds.
Jeff reads the votes: LJ, Cliff, LJ, Cliff, LJ, Cliff, and the fifth person voted out is Cliff. He smiles and gets up. Woo and Lindsey are stunned.
Jefra whispers to LJ, "It worked." Lindsey leans over to Woo and says, "Oh my God."
Cliff's last words: "I got too comfortable with my four alliance. I thought I was staying up on what was going on around camp, but it's tough. It just goes to show that when you think things are going the way you expect them to go, boom, you get blindsided."
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content