Nuinui
After the vote, Ben admits to voting Kenzie. His explanation is…something. His mind drew a blank, and genuinely didn’t know who to vote for, and somehow landed on Kenzie. He even says this in a confessional, so he must be telling the truth. Just wild.
Maria breaks down on the beach while talking to Liz, Q, and Charlie. She was really hurt by what Venus said at Tribal Council. Sure, fine, but Venus was actually right. Soooo? Maybe the whole food reward debacle wasn’t intended to be a show and a farce – as Venus put it – but that’s definitely how it came across.
It’s put up or shut up time for Charlie. He’s been working with Maria since Day 1. Now he has to choose whether or not to see that alliance through to the end, or make the move to take her out. I think he needs to take her out. His game is closely tied to hers, and Maria has played the more visible game. I honestly believe Charlie has played a better game so far, but it’s a tougher game to prove at a Tribal Council with Maria right there.
Reward Challenge
The castaways race over an obstacle, to collect a bag containing a ball, which is hooked onto a rope. They cross a ladder bridge, moving the bag along to release it. The crawl under another obstacle, and finish by moving the ball through an elevated table maze. They’re playing for a Chinese food reward.
After lots of back and forth, everyone dropping several times, Charlie pulls out the win. Charlie gets to choose one person to join, but before he does, Jeff reveals those who go on the reward will get to read their letters from home. Charlie picks Liz, and Probst lets him take one more, and picks Kenzie.
Reward/Camp
Charlie, Liz, and Kenzie read their letters. K. I’ve become less and less interested in the letters throughout the recent seasons. They need to bring back the on-island visits. Even if they do it like Australian Survivor and wait until the final immunity challenge where all the remaining players’ loved ones come out to watch. It doesn’t have to be a reward that only a handful of players get. But really, it simply makes it so much better than just watching these players read a note. Or better yet, bring back letting the loved ones compete in the challenge! The absolute best.
But more interesting than the letters, the three discuss voting out Maria. She is the consensus #1 target, and Charlie believes Ben is solid as the all-important fourth vote.
Back at camp, Q, Ben, and Maria are busy looking for the idol. And Q finds it! And then he shows Maria, telling her he’s willing to play it for her. The two discuss voting Liz next, but Maria also acknowledges Charlie might actually have to be the next vote. Very interesting to see them both come to this realization at the same time.
Immunity Challenge
Climb to top of tower and jump off, race over a series of obstacles to the finish, solving a dolphin puzzle.
Maria wins. Hopefully this doesn’t mean Charlie goes out. But I also don’t want Q out, or Kenzie. We haven’t seen anyone mention Ben yet, so I doubt it will be him. Maria and Q had at least noted their desire to vote Liz, so hopefully that will be the vote here. We’ll see.
Pre-Tribal
Q pitches the Charlie vote to Liz and Kenzie, but Liz and Kenzie remain set on Q. They tell Maria they’re in, so they can vote Q instead. Charlie wants Q, but doesn’t want to leave Maria out. If she’s left in the dark, she could easily turn on him and Ben right away at the next vote. So he goes to Maria, who of course agrees to his face.
Tribal Council
Q!!! ANOTHER PLAYER IS VOTED OUT WITH AN IDOL IN THEIR POCKET!! WHAT IS THIS?! That makes five for the season (six if you count Randen’s medevac). And not just that, but it’s now four. In. A. Row. FOUR IN A ROW!! Absolute nonsense. I’m devastated to see Q leave the game, but so thankful for what he gave us this season. Going into the finale, I’m all in on Charlie or Kenzie taking home the win. This also might have given Charlie the leg up in the final fight with Maria for that pole position.
Things I Liked
- Q finding an idol
- Charlie and Maria both wanting to move forward with voting the other out at the same time. You’ll see players want to turn on their closest ally, but I feel like it’s not often at the exact same moment like it is here.
- Kenzie – just playing solid, keeping things easy, breezy with everyone else, playing an excellent social game right where it might count the most
- Q – in a pretty mundane episode, he at least got a few laughs to brighten things up a couple time
- A FOURTH consecutive player is voted out holding an idol
