Survivor Recap: A Bonkers Negotiation Leaves Two Power Players At Risk
White rice used to be a staple on Survivor in the days before Winners at War. Now, players in need of quick carbs must forego something major if they want to secure a bag of milled grains for the remainder of the game. In Wednesday’s episode, history was made, as the rice negotiation both carved new ground and left a couple of huge targets feeling extra vulnerable.
So what did the players offer Jeff in order to get him to fork over some food? Let’s break it all down!
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But first — hey, we’ve got some hurt feelings over here! (I don’t mean to be overly sadistic, but the new era’s “kumbaya” nature gets exhausting after a while, right?) Teeny feels humiliated over the fact that Genevieve left her out of the Sol vote, which is more than understandable. They’re all original Lavo members, after all. But while Teeny is playing with perhaps too much emotion, Genevieve is trying to be a stone cold strategist, so their approaches could not be any more different. But Genevieve knows a turning point is coming soon. After all, no one is sharing a million dollars. But whether these two can or will work together any more seems entirely up in the air.
And while Genevieve’s recent bobbing and weaving has been impressive, it has raised Sam’s hackles. Sure, they can opt to cut Tuku down to size at the next Tribal, but Genevieve is now an established threat, out in the open, leaving Andy slithering his way in between the big dogs and the bottomfeeders. How the heck did that happen?! Let’s think that one over as we barrel straight toward the next challenge.
SANCTUARY | Rachel, Sam and Kyle win a yummy lunch at the reward challenge, allowing for a conversation about cutting Gabe. Even Kyle is down for it, knowing that eventually, Gabe is going to come for him. Sam and Rachel also use the time to have a private chat. Sam says he wants to work with her, but she calls him out (AS SHE SHOULD!) for going directly to Sol with the information she gave him last week. Though working with the guys to get Gabe out might make sense, she has her other eye on Genevieve who she feels is the most on to her. And she’s no dummy! Why not hear Sam out and learn about his plans? She can pivot later if she decides some other move is best for her game.
Back at camp, Andy’s making strides to try and pull a Tuku member close. That player? Sue. He tells her that Kyle calls her and Caroline “tweedledee and tweedledum” which sets us up for a beautiful montage of Sue hating on Kyle to the fullest. (You gotta love the heaps of horns that cover up a plethora of expletives. A+ editing!) Meanwhile, Gabe is bringing up Kyle’s name to Teeny, Caroline and Genevieve. It’s not a secret that Kyle’s a huge threat to win the game, but as we know all too well, timing is everything in the game of Survivor. Is now the right time to take him out?
Sam returns to camp to pitch a gathering of the “outcasts,” which includes Teeny and Andy. (Please, Sam — don’t give us flashbacks of Burton and Lill rising from the ashes! It will always be too soon.) But whatever plans ultimately form will all depend on who wins that necklace.
IMMUNITY IS BACK UP FOR GRABS | This week’s immunity challenge also happens to be the rice negotiation portion of our program. Probst says that in order for them to get the goods, he needs four people to sit out of the challenge. And he’s resolute on four. Caroline offers up two players’ Shots in the Dark. That’s a no-go. But when Kyle offers everyone’s Shots in the Dark, Jeff’s ears perk up. Sam puts up a bit of a fight. His argument is that playing from the bottom, a Shot in the Dark might be his last saving grace since no one seems to want to work with him. Fair. Gabe makes a couple counterpoints. Rice could potentially help Sam win an immunity necklace. Plus, a vote is worth way more than a 1-in-6 chance at safety. With that, Sam relents, not wanting to stand in the way of everyone’s eats. Jeff collects all of the little dice and it’s a done deal. (No sweat off Rachel’s back — she already played hers!)
The challenge is the “balance on a beam while holding balls on a plate” game we’ve seen a dozen times before. By the time the final round hits, the only players left are Kyle, Sam, Sue and Teeny, but no one can stand in the way of Kyle winning that necklace for a fourth time. A wowing feat!
STRATEGY | Genevieve or Gabe? That is the question. To Kyle’s point, if Gabe goes, then he swiftly becomes public enemy No. 1. Rachel’s pushing for Genevieve, and Genevieve clocks the fact that no one’s in a rush to talk to her about the vote. Could be a bad omen. But can they really allow Tuku to continue forward with a large majority of four? As the gang takes that long walk down the beach, both Gabe and Genevieve note that if they can just make it through this one vote, the game will be wiiide open. Unfortunately for one of them, that’s not gonna happen.
THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN | The tribe speaks on how the current target is forever shifting, as everyone is starting to plan who they want to sit next to at the end. Andy says the mentality is “threat hunting,” that people want to defeat the threats at Tribal Council so they don’t have to face them in the final three. And speaking of threats, Genevieve admits to feeling insecure without her Shot in the Dark. When it’s her turn to vote, she votes for Gabe and he returns the favor. But when all is said and done, the Tuku target is the one the majority aim for, and Gabe watches his torch get promptly snuffed by Probst. (Read our Q&A with Gabe here.)
Who would you have voted off? You know what to do! Hit that comments section and go full tilt boogie!
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